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...
Pretending anyone is actually reading this, I've been offline for awhile dealing with stuff. So, to hit the blog again, I present a sketch that parodied a TV show no one remembers. Even people who remember the show "30 Rock" may not remember that it was only one of two shows that premiered that year that was a "backstage look" at a fictional SNL-like comedy show. It came from the team that put together "The West Wing" and, I'm sorry to say, they liked to pretend that the stakes of running a comedy show were on par with the stakes of running the nation. Which means it was very again of its time, since today we have a comedy show running a nation. Anyway, the show was kind of self important and had a habit of people talking about comedy but never actually showing anything funny.
The perfect fodder for a PHC parody sketch! said no one ever.
Yeah, I tried to merge that premise of the show with the idea that PHC would admit they have writers. The title is the name of the theater and the street it was located. Sara Bellum was a name GK would use when he pretended to give writers credit. It's the kind of quick sketch, too steeped in a failed TV show that would not make the cut. And it didn't.
The perfect fodder for a PHC parody sketch! said no one ever.
Yeah, I tried to merge that premise of the show with the idea that PHC would admit they have writers. The title is the name of the theater and the street it was located. Sara Bellum was a name GK would use when he pretended to give writers credit. It's the kind of quick sketch, too steeped in a failed TV show that would not make the cut. And it didn't.
Studio Fitzgerald on Exchange Street
GK: Later tonight on Nation Public Radio comes an exciting new radio drama, “Studio Fitzgerald on Exchange Street.” It’s the story of a fictional long-running radio show and all the back stage intrigue and drama that happens before the microphones get turned on.
SARA: I can’t believe they cut my sketch! Where’s Harrison!
HARRISON: What’s the matter, head writer Sara Bellum?
SARA: You cut my sketch? “Wacky Islams?”
HARRISON: Yes I did. It seemed like a sketch that would cause hard feelings.
SARA: Hard feelings? Do you know what’s going on out there!
HARRISON: Well, yes. That’s kind of why I didn’t want to get them any madder at us.
GK: Yes, a fictional show for these fictional times. Where important issues and themes are turned into wacky sketches, than agonized over.
HARRISON: Wow, Sara, this new sketch is brilliant. It’s amazing. It’s probably the best sketch ever written in the history of sketches.
SARA: Why, thank you, Harrison. It is excellent.
MAN: So, we gonna see this sketch?
HARRISON: No.
SARA: We’re just going to go on about how great it is. You’ll have to take our word on it. Now kiss me, you fool.
MAN: All right!
GK: It’s the backstage drama, tragedy and intrigue you’d expect from radio comedy variety sans comedy and variety. “Studio Fitzgerald on Exchange Street” tonight on most of these public radio stations.
SARA: I can’t believe they cut my sketch! Where’s Harrison!
HARRISON: What’s the matter, head writer Sara Bellum?
SARA: You cut my sketch? “Wacky Islams?”
HARRISON: Yes I did. It seemed like a sketch that would cause hard feelings.
SARA: Hard feelings? Do you know what’s going on out there!
HARRISON: Well, yes. That’s kind of why I didn’t want to get them any madder at us.
GK: Yes, a fictional show for these fictional times. Where important issues and themes are turned into wacky sketches, than agonized over.
HARRISON: Wow, Sara, this new sketch is brilliant. It’s amazing. It’s probably the best sketch ever written in the history of sketches.
SARA: Why, thank you, Harrison. It is excellent.
MAN: So, we gonna see this sketch?
HARRISON: No.
SARA: We’re just going to go on about how great it is. You’ll have to take our word on it. Now kiss me, you fool.
MAN: All right!
GK: It’s the backstage drama, tragedy and intrigue you’d expect from radio comedy variety sans comedy and variety. “Studio Fitzgerald on Exchange Street” tonight on most of these public radio stations.
