NPR: It's Hard Out Here for a Blog

It's Hard Out Here for a Blog

Here's the problem with trying to get famous people to come on your pretend radio show. At some point, they realize it's pretend.

This week we had the bright idea to try and talk to Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez about their new awesome-looking movie, Grindhouse (if you see one film this year about a woman with a machine gun for a leg, it should be Grindhouse). We thought they would be the perfect people to have for our big launch, they're well-known and talented and interesting.

So we call the flack (public relations) lady from the movie company and tell her we're doing this new NPR show, and she's all super gung-ho. She's setting us up with a special screening, and she's figuring out where QT and RR (which is how people in the know refer to them) are going to be. We're emailing back and forth like 15 times an hour, I'm feeling really hopeful about things, and then, it happens.

Flack Lady: We're so excited to set this thing up, oh by the way, where can we hear this show again? What's the station?

Luke: Umm... Hey look out behind you!

Flack Lady: What?

Luke: RIGHT behind you!!!

Flack Lady: I don't see anything.

Luke: My mistake. So how 'bout that ball team?

Flack Lady: Are you drunk?

Luke: Somewhat.

Flack Lady: Where's this show going to air?

Luke: When should we show up to interview Quentin?

Flack Lady: This isn't a real show is it?

Luke: It's going to be. In like six months. It's on the Web.

Flack Lady: --click--(dial tone)

Luke: Hello? Hello? (Quiet sobbing.)

Aaaaaand scene!

So that's why we don't have an interview with QT or RR or anyone famous today. Maybe when we have a few more readers to this blog we'll be able to get Scott Baio.

Luke Burbank

6:16 PM ET | 04- 5-2007 | permalink

Comments (Send a comment)

you guys should do stories about setting up interviews with hard-to-reach people. this is kind of funny. otherwise, I still don't really know what this blog/show is about, and I've watched the video and everything.

Sent by Lindsay | 4:58 PM ET | 04-06-2007

Consider the reader count up by 1.

Scott Baio here we come!

Sent by Kat | 10:49 AM ET | 04-08-2007

Hey Kat -- welcome aboard! We're thinking bigger than Scott Baio now -- we're hoping to snag Tony Danza or Judith Light. Sing along with me: There's a time for love and a time for living. You take a chance and face the wind...

Sent by Matt Martinez | 11:19 AM ET | 04-08-2007

Golden girls. Reunion. Enough said.

Sent by Meghan | 11:58 AM ET | 04-09-2007

Why aim so low?

TV's Patrick Duffy. If you can be denied an interview with Bobby Ewing, there's nothing that you won't be able to do.

Sent by Drew Johnson | 8:34 AM ET | 04-13-2007

Send a Comment

Comments are reviewed and edited by NPR prior to display. All comments will be read, but not all will be posted.

NPR reserves the right to read on the air and/or publish on its Web site or in any medium now known or unknown the e-mails and letters that we receive. We may edit them for clarity or brevity and identify authors by name and location. For additional information, please consult our Terms of Use.

E-mail this Page

Recipient's e-mail address:	» Up to twelve addresses, separated by commas.
Your e-mail address:
Your name:
Personal message (optional, 600 characters max):
Your NPR member station:
Are you a member of your local NPR station?	Yes No
Would you like to receive information from your local NPR member station? (see NPR's privacy policy)	Yes No
May we contact you with information about NPR programming and services? (see NPR's privacy policy)	Yes No

(Information collected by NPR will be used solely for internal NPR or NPR member station purposes and only if you selected 'yes' above. See NPR's privacy policy for more information.)

Host

Alison Stewart

Welcome to 'The Bryant Park Project'

This new radio show from NPR comes to you weekdays, straight out of New York City. You can find audio and video from us here and in our podcasts. Bryant Park is not a talk show, but it is a conversation. Intrigued? Read our frequently asked questions and discussion rules.