Anyone going to see Prairie Home Companion?

[FriarTed]

Was a PHC fan in the 1980s, haven’t listened in years, definitely not an Altman fan (tho did he direct THE PLAYER because I did like that)- out of curiosity & nostalgia for when I did like PHC, I’ll give it a shot.

[Garfield226]

@Snickers

Does it really have the regular actors? See, I didn’t hear that part, and I took offense on their behalf - the PHC actors are all very, very talented, and I was insulted for them that they were replaced by Hollywood stars (even Hollywood stars that I love). Felt like a slap in the face. But if the regular players are indeed in there, then that makes me feel better.

IMDB lists, along with Keillor: Sue Scott, Tim Russell, Tom Keith, Jearlyn Steele, Robin and Linda Williams, Prudence Johnson, Richard Dworsky, Pat Donohue, Andy Stein, Gary Raynor, Arnie Kinsella, Peter Ostroushko and Butch Thompson, all from the regular show. There might be one or two others whose name I didn’t recognize as well.

[Angel_of_the_Lord]

I change the station or put on a CD when PHC comes on, even though I’m usually a hardcore NPR gal. That being said, I really like Robert Altman’s movies, so I might rent it when it comes out on video.

[Zebra]

@Moe

“Powdermilk Bisquits give shy persons the energy to get up and do what needs be done, heavans they’re tasty…”

stregnth to get up and do what needs to be done.

@Garfield226

Each show also includes an off-the-cuff monologue by the show’s creator, Garrison Keillor, about the fictional town of Lake Wobegon (about which he has also written several novels). The man can speak.

Those are not off the cuff. He is a great writer and those stories are all written out in advance. His speaking style seems off the cuff.
Yeah, I’ll see the movie.

(Lindsey Lohan as Meryl Streep’s daughter?)

[anyrose]

@Zebra

(Lindsey Lohan as Meryl Streep’s daughter?)

and, if I gather correctly from the previews, Lily Tomlin as Meryl’s mother

[Garfield226]

@Zebra

Those are not off the cuff. He is a great writer and those stories are all written out in advance. His speaking style seems off the cuff.

I can’t find a cite online right now (besides an unsupported statement on Wikipedia), but I’ve read before that while he may plot out an idea of what he’s going to say, he rarely if ever writes out the whole thing. I saw him speak at my college, and he did a Lake Wobegon monologue (as long or longer than the ones on the show), and either he was improvising or did a damn good job of memorization since he used no notes.

[Garfield226]

@Garfield226

I can’t find a cite online right now (besides an unsupported statement on Wikipedia), but I’ve read before that while he may plot out an idea of what he’s going to say, he rarely if ever writes out the whole thing. I saw him speak at my college, and he did a Lake Wobegon monologue (as long or longer than the ones on the show), and either he was improvising or did a damn good job of memorization since he used no notes.

Aha! I have found a cite to prove myself wrong, as happens more often than I care to admit.

Garrison, My wife and I listen to your wonderful stories with great pleasure. However we have a serious disagreement concerning their preparation. My wife, a writer and editor, is sure you know exactly where you are going. I think you make most of it up as you go along and surprise yourself sometimes. Do you know where one of your tales will end when you begin it? Do you have a script outline and all the characters when you commence your monologue? Or a wisp of an idea that you like?

Lawrence Weisburg New York, NY

Dear Mr. Weisburg, Your wife is closer to the truth. I write the News from Lake Wobegon on Saturday morning. It’s about three pages single spaced. I think of it as a set of notes, and I don’t study it too hard - though I find that a person does tend to remember something you wrote a few hours before - and indeed sometimes I surprise myself in the telling, but I’m a writer, not an improv performer. I’ve seen people improvise and it always seems somehow formulaic to me and full of tricks. But because I work without a script at hand, the News sounds improvised. Those long pauses are most likely me trying to remember where in the world this story is supposed to go next.

A Prairie Home Companion Episodes

[stpauler]

I’m going to see. It was shot about a block from my home (but I never saw any of the actors, just the trucks). And if Prudence Johnson is singing in the movie, it’s got me there, too bad they didn’t get Greg Brown too.

[Sam_Lowry]

@anyrose

and, if I gather correctly from the previews, Lily Tomlin as Meryl’s mother

Lily Tomlin and Meryl Streep are sisters in the movie.

[Auntbeast]

If I actually thought I could sneak out without the baby to see it. I’d be there.