Weekend Roundup

I had to work yesterday. That's because in the timeless words of Jim Lehrer . . . it's PLEDGE week on PBS, and your support helps keep programs like this one on the air.

These days it's rare for us to actually do LIVE breaks. The programs come with the breaks already produced and slotted right into place (instant PLEDGE!). But for three of yesterday's daytime shows, we had a full crew and such luminaries there as Peter Yarrow (of Peter, Paul, and Mary) and Deepak Chopra.

I love LIVE television. I think that's how it was meant to be and what it does best. Still, when we do it so rarely, it can be a bit nerve wracking because when the show segments fade-to-black Master Control switches to the studio, ready or not. Yes, there have been times when we weren't ready, and no, yesterday was not one of them.

The picture (you were wondering when I was going to get around to that, huh) is our guest TD (technical director). Once we let him in that chair he wouldn't get out of it. Even when we told him it was a union position, he reminded us about the Taft-Hartley Act (which sounds like a ballroom dance team, doesn't it?). So, there he was. He got bored with the buttons and levers soon enough. Fortunately we only had to put up with him for one break.

And in the "it's Sunday, do you know where your world traveler is?" files . . . all I can say is here:

Anyone have any guesses?