Monday, December 15, 2008

Rocky D: Santa loves his gun

Posted by John Stoehr on Mon, Dec 15, 2008 at 4:19 PM

Rocky D, the long-suffering and ever-beleaguered radio-show host, has posted a few images of his Christmas tree on his website. His show on WTMA is called RadioFree Rocky D. His character is a Northerner who found his true home in Old Dixie. Listening to him, you'd think Charleston was an El Dorado of traditional American values, where the men are strong, the children obey their parents, and the women flash their tits (see this picture, for instance, of Donna Darlin brandishing "momma's girls").

Depending on your viewpoint, Rocky is trying to be "edgy." Emphasis on trying. He no doubt thinks he's controversial in posting images depicting his, um, unique vision of Christmas. There are modified ornaments  — a Captain America whose shield shouts not Old Glory but the Confederate Battle Flag. There is a diorama of "Confederates chasing Yankee invaders away from Rocky's Christmas tree!" My favorite is this caption: "Santa exercising his 2nd amendment rights." Which might be funny, except that the ornament doesn't look like Santa. It's just some dude in green pants and a hunting jacket with a rifle and his dog.

I don't mind all this Confederate stuff. The degree to which it's protected by the likes of Rocky D ought to signal its true impotence. Even so, I sense Rocky doesn't take himself seriously. I wonder if anyone else does. Perhaps his character, a thoroughly refined invention, is some kind of elaborate postmodern prank a la Charlie Kaufman. Perhaps Rocky isn't really a conservative at all. Maybe he's just a guy playing a guy playing a conservative, like in Kaufman's Synecdoche, New York — in which you find an actor playing a theater director who's playing an actor playing a theater director.

That might explain why Rocky D says Santa is really a gun nut when it's not Santa at all. Then again . . . —John Stoehr

Topics: Radio

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Thursday, February 28, 2008

Bring This American Life to Charleston

Posted by John Stoehr on Thu, Feb 28, 2008 at 10:01 AM

From Chicago Public Radio's website:

Want TAL to Come to a Movie Theater Near You? Take a Quick Survey!

We're planning a This American Life stage show that would be filmed and sent live—live!—via satellite to movie theaters across the country. It would include Ira performing a radio piece, never-before-seen stories and outtakes from the second season of our TV series, audience Q&A, and more.

No other public radio program has tried this before, and we're very excited about it. But to make it happen, we need to know if you're interested. We'd also like your input on how to craft the event. Please take this short survey; it'll take about two minutes. Thanks!

Topics: Radio

Tuesday, April 17, 2007

Dons and Ho's

Posted by Patrick Sharbaugh on Tue, Apr 17, 2007 at 8:42 AM

Let me get this straight: Don Imus drops a comment about the Rutgers women's basketball team being a bunch of "nappy-headed ho's," and the mediasphere goes nuts.

But Don Ho dies, and you can almost hear crickets chirping out there. Coincidence or conspiracy? Discuss. —PS

Topics: Radio, Concert Music
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