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Whew! I gotta tell ya, it's been a hand wringing couple of weeks here at BPP World Headquarters. (Okay, most of the hand wringing was mine, which was only calmed by many glasses of shiraz.)
So, here it is. The first full, one hour pilot of our new show. As you're listening, keep the following in mind:
-- The BPP will be two hours everyday, instead of one.
-- We will be piloting one and two hours sporadically until our launch this Fall. So, don't expect a pilot from us everyday. (Though we will continue to pilot segments regularly.)
-- The most important thing: This is our FIRST pilot. The very beginning of a months long process to create a new show.
Here's the show rundown:
SHOW OPEN -- Luke and Alison say hello.
NEWSCAST 1 -- Read by me, Matt Martinez. I am not going to be the newsreader on the show, but I can play one in a pinch. (Dammit Jim, I'm a producer, not a newscaster...)
WHITE HOUSE SUBPOENAS -- Luke and Alison talk with NPR's White House Correspondent David Greene about the subpoenas issued by the Senate Judiciary Committee over documents relating to the Administration's warrantless wiretapping program.
iPHONE FRENZY -- We talk with Ben Steele, iPhone fanatic, about the phone's release tomorrow. And we chat with USA Today technology correspondent, Ed Baig.
PARIS SPEAKS -- Alison and Luke talk about last night's Paris Hilton interview on Larry King.
CONEY ISLAND -- Luke talks about his trip to ride The Cyclone at Coney Island. The roller coaster turned 80 this week.
MAKE ME CARE -- Alison and Luke talk with London bureau chief for Newsweek, Stryker McGuire, about why we should care about Gordon Brown becoming Britain's newest prime minister.
BENOIT -- We talk with Bryan Alvarez about Chris Benoit, a former pro-wrestler who killed his wife and son and then himself last weekend. Alvarez is the editor of Figure Four Weekly, a newsletter that covers pro-wrestling.
CROATIA -- The big holiday destination this summer? Yup, Croatia. We find out why with a chat with Jeanne Oliver. She is the author of Lonely Planet's popular Croatia guidebook. Check out Jeanne's website, www.croatiatraveller.com
THE RAMBLE -- Luke and Alison ramble on about gaydar, M&M honeymooners and New Jersey's state song predicament (they don't have one.)
We hope you enjoy it. We want you to tell us what worked, what didn't. What did you love or hate? What do you want more of? Less of? We are making a news program for you -- so we want to know what you think. Happy listening. Talk with you tomorrow.
Matt Martinez
4:31 PM ET
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06-28-2007
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Filed under: Video
This week the famed Cyclone roller coaster in Coney Island turned 80. The Cyclone is a throwback, all wood and steel, and for nearly 45 years after it was built, it was the fastest roller coaster in the world. It's since been surpassed by more modern coasters, but what it lacks in technology it makes up for with personality. (In other words, this thing is rickety enough to put fear into anyone.) Coney Island celebrated the only way it knows how: With an event that was part boardwalk charm, part freak show spectacle, and all heart. They originally wanted to run the Cyclone full of people who rode it in its inaugural year, meaning people who'd have to be at least 87 or so by now, but they found no takers. Then they wanted to fill it with 80-year-olds, but they could only find three. Then one got cold feet, and they were down to two. But as proud members of a group called American Coaster Enthusiasts, those two men were up to the task. The BPP sent Luke Burbank, Win Rosenfeld, Dan Pashman, and a video camera out to Coney Island to cover the event, and to take a spin on the Cyclone themselves. Click on the video above to check it out.
Dan Pashman
3:18 PM ET
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06-28-2007
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Filed under: Inside The BPP
Credit: Minneapolis Star-Tribune
The BPP Is Doing An Hour Show! That's Swell!
After weeks of planning, lots of late nights (on Matt's part), and 3,487 angry outbursts from Luke during editorial meetings (my bad), it's finally here! A real one hour show! Which you may or may not ever hear!
Here's the scoop--Today we're going to do our first hour-long programming module. (We're still a little gunshy about calling it a show.) It might be a total train wreck, or it might be the best hour of radio in world history. If we think it sounds okay, we'll put it up on the blog and in iTunes for your listening pleasure. If it's lame, we'll never speak of it again (sort of like your Uncle Ricky, who wouldn't come out of the basement for 14 years).
All joking aside, this is a really big day for us. Even if the show is a disaster it will be a very educational disaster. Wish us luck.
Luke Burbank
10:04 AM ET
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06-28-2007
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