From 1999 to 2004-ish, I was one of the contributing writers for Garrison Keillor's renowned radio show "A Prairie Home Companion." I learned a lot of things there, mostly how to spell 'prairie." It was a solid gig and I'm proud of my work there. But, like any other job, there were...things...
So, with one season under my belt and a summer off, I was ready to begin submitting for the new season in the fall of 2000. If I only knew when to. Would my submissions be welcomed? Would they be required? Who knows? No on contacted me. No one let me in on a schedule or even told when the new season began (October 7th). I kept checking the website until they posted the info and started gearing up on my own. I was a bit annoyed. And my writing started to reflect it. Some of my submissions began to parody PHC. I think this was the first. There was always a fascination with Australia, and summer 2000 they had hosted the Olympics, so it seemed to be a really hot topic. My take was to see what their version of PHC would be like. It's a short bit and could have got a lot bigger, but I tried to slide the parody by them. To an extent. It starts out as a goof on the Aussies, but then segues into a deconstruction of PHC.
Weirdly, it wasn't selected for broadcast! And it's certainly not a sketch that can be applied anywhere else, so it was back to the hard drive for this one. Until today! Join us now as we meet The:
Weirdly, it wasn't selected for broadcast! And it's certainly not a sketch that can be applied anywhere else, so it was back to the hard drive for this one. Until today! Join us now as we meet The:
Outback Home Companion
GK: We've seen such interest of late in all things Australian that we became curious about the country and the radio shows down under. We made some calls and got to meet one of the top Australian radio personalities. He hosts a long running program on Aussie radio and we have him with us tonight via a satellite link. Welcome please Mr. Gary Keller. Hello, Mr. Keller.
(static, clears up)
GK: Mr. Keller, are you there?
TK: G'day, mate.
GK: It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Keller.
TK: Call me Gary, please. And the pleasure's all mine, mate.
GK: Of course, we're broadcasting live, so it's approximately xx o'clock pm here in Minnesota. With the time difference, what time is it there?
TK: Well, Garrison, it's sometime last week. G'day!
GK: It seems America has just fallen in love with your country.
TK: Why not; we're not just a country, we're a bloody continent.
GK: Yes you are. What is it about the land down under that fascinates us?
TK: It's the freaks, Garrison. We're loaded with strange, freakish animals.
GK: Really?
TK: I mean, the wallaby, what the blazes is that supposed to be? Is it a rabbit? A raccoon, what? And the platypus. I mean what in creation is that? Yes, Garrison, our country is littered with these bizarre mutant creatures. The people eat it up.
GK: I was curious about your radio show there. I hear it's very popular.
TK: Extremely. We're the top-rated show in the country.
GK: What is the name of your show?
TK: The Outback Home Companion.
GK: The Outback Home Companion. Really? What do you do on this show?
TK: Well, Garrison, it's a bit of a variety show. I open the program playing the guitar and singing an old song. Then I talk about growing up in me home town, a small little place called Mt. Griefaway.
GK: Mt. Griefaway? Is that so?
TK: Absolutely. I talk about all the quirky characters who live there and the touching moments that make up their lives. And then I wrestle a crocodile!
GK: Crocodile wrestling.
TK: Those crocks are freakish creatures. What are they, snakes? Lizards? Who can tell? Oh-oh, look out, a dingo's got me baby. What are dingos supposed to be? Dogs? Rats? Blimey!
(static builds)
GK: Oh, it looks like we're losing our satellite feed. Well, thank you for joining us tonight, or this morning, or when ever.
TK: G'day, mate.
GK: Good day.
END
