We're stoked: KUOW's 'nice as pie' news talk & kaffee klatch, Weekday with Steve Scher (m-f, 9-11a): will present "Pie!" in Monday's prime nine o'clock hour.
Though a day late, they'll celebrate Nat'l Pie Day, (It's today, Sunday, Jan. 23) and who knows what might happen?!
That darn Weekday: They wouldn't mention anyone's name in a promo ('anyone' might be self-promoting!) so it's anyone's guess who's showing-- but we're thrumming at the possibilities of big names in pie who might.
Simple Simon, of course, would be the ultimate "get," though that may be too much to dream for. Can't imagine him being in town without everyone knowing, coming down as he is, off his Food Channel reality hit, Pies, Lies & Video Tape.
We're hoping the stentorian, always authoritative, UW weather bore Cliff Mass will be there for a "pie in the sky" assessment.
Before his Simpsonic installation in the American psyche, the Pie Channel's Crusty the Clown was a pie-packin' hitman for MTV. Few knew that the 'crust' in Crusty is... pie crust! (He may be too mean, "wackie," commercial, or opinionated for Weekday, which never likes its guests with pulses more than 10 or so beats higher than their own).
You gotta hand it to Scher and his crew: They tackle the issues that matter. Seattle will never forget Weekday's groundbreaking 2-hours in 2009 that exposed the Southeast Asian cream-puff cartel and the fake "cream" shipped clandestinely into the state from secret, cowless, underground, New Jersey "cream" factories.
Here are a few pie issues we hope they might consider:
- Savory pies filled with animal flesh: abomination or simply delicious? Not sure it can be addressed in the "vegan optional" predominant culture at KUOW, but we'd love it if they would take it on.
- Pot pies from the "chicken gulag" are controversial in pie circles and beg questions about 'slave chickens' that Big Pie has, so far, refused to answer.
- The masturbatory American Pie and the subsequent Internet cults that have sprung up around the movie and the practice. Worried psychologists, parents, police, and bakeries across the nation are conversing and seeking a "hands-on" solution.
- Is the tart a pie, or a copout for pie makers too lazy to crimp? Is the word a mysogynist slur? (more correct: 'topless pie?')
Many pie fruits are out of season: but that hasn't stopped the Weekday crew! When they get a hot topic, they go... damn-the-logistics! Maybe raisin pies, shoe-flies, pizzas, moon, and clam pies will be examined.
(Steve Scher: "nice as pie," photo: KUOW)
(The Blackberry Channel is pressuring producers to book one of theirs (Marion Berry?) for the Monday show, despite blackberries this time of year are all frozen or shipped-in from Bolivia. They should know that to get on Weekday you can't act like you want to. Besides, there are pressures from the apple lobby, who donate mightily to public radio. Big Apples is a cut-throat crew not unlike the NRA; they've coalesced with Big Nutmeg and The Pie Is Life Institute, (Georgia peaches, Inc.) to dominate pie politics).
We're hoping that the predominantly East Coast Weekday crew and the fruitless season won't cause the program to degenerate to so-called pies like Boston Cremes (it's a damn cake!) or those French abominations using onions, cinnamon and zucchini.
But we trust Scher et al to bring us once again a slice of radio that no one else in Seattle radio would ever attempt to serve up.
Marionberry 3.14 is actually a favorite of mine.
Posted by: sparky | January 23, 2011 at 08:50 AM
Don't laugh, challenging Home Ec programs in schools to include more math and weather is just the beginning.
Posted by: FakeCliffMass | January 23, 2011 at 09:28 AM
not another one of those goozy, pandering food shows. god, weekday is tiring. it is so rare i listen any more, now that luke is on kiro, and there are so many internet options.
Posted by: Lawrence Fishkiller | January 23, 2011 at 09:29 AM
Steve Scher is tired. The show needs a Roto-Rutor and an update... maybe steroids.
Posted by: Avery Garrett2 | January 23, 2011 at 09:32 AM
Now I want pie! My favorite is boysenberry. Then banana cream and chocolate cream. I want some pie!
Steve Scher is still sorta young I think? Fifies? I imagine he wants to hang on but I agree, he needs t bulk up a bit.
BTW, I heard Reynolds had Victoria Chua (I think that's her name) on Friday. She's the Chinese parent who wrote about being too severe. I'm going to to listen to that one online. I'm curious. Lately, we are being compared to the Chinese in education. So, I'm curious.
Posted by: joanie | January 23, 2011 at 10:46 AM
Amy Chua has sparked quite the debate on how strict is too strict when it comes to parenting. Making your kids practice piano? OK. Making them practice for three hours daily, then calling them "lazy" and "pathetic" when they can't master a piece? Hmmm....
People tell me they want us to teach like the Chinese, until I point out it would mean school on Saturdays, no school sponsored sports, no dances, no choir or art during school hours, and, oh yes, if their child is disrespectful, I get to slap them across the face. Also, no pulling your kid out of school the week of the WASL to go to Disneyland, because that is the only week your husband gets vacation!
I have never hit anyone or anything in my entire life, and I would never be able to hit a kid. But that is an acceptable policy in China ( I have a college friend who teaches there--she doesn't hit either, but says it is common). But my point is, when parents find out about these things, they change their minds about adopting their methods.
Or, they don't believe me. heh....
Posted by: sparky | January 23, 2011 at 11:29 AM
I'm listening to Chua (it's almost over) and I have a different take on it now. Cultural norms are different. She gives a lot of anecdotal information that changes my mind a bit. Respect is at the root of much of their actions. Something we could use some work on here.
Ross just asked "is there a best way for all children" and Chua and a caller of course agree there isn't. China does have arts: literature; music; dance . . . So, they're getting it somewhere. And America has a lot of failing children. There must be a middle way. Values and priorities are different but somehow both China and America want their kids to succeed. And Chua says Chinese parents love their kids as well. Does anybody doubt that?
Corporal punishment? I'm not a fan but I think there are different ways of doing it. Slapping faces is not one of them.
Listen here if you like: The Conversation
Or here to get both parts: interview and part 2 questions
She's gotten a lot of pushback and listening to her talk about it is interesting.
Posted by: joanie | January 23, 2011 at 01:48 PM
According to my friend, there are wonderful community/private music programs, although the kids are pressured to belong as well. Same for the arts. She said she only knows what happens in her more suburban town, and that big city schools may have some kinds of programs. But overall, a TON of money goes into sports in the US. And its the last thing to be cut, if it ever is, when budgets grow thin.
Absolutely it is cultural. We put more value on having a little fun thrown in as well as doing the hard work. And some families are all about the fun.
Posted by: sparky | January 23, 2011 at 02:53 PM
You mean the Marionberry?
Posted by: Alaska Charter Boats | May 16, 2011 at 09:18 AM