Just like most if not all broadcast stations, PBS has good shows and shows that should never see the light of day, or night for that matter. Just boils down to one’s own personal choice.
I used to live in NY and remember the horrible pledge drives on the Long Island station. it was insulting when they talked about a program they clearly didn’t watch. but it reached a peak during a drive featuring the brit com “keeping up appearances” and had Jeffery Hughes (Onslow) as a guest and you could see him getting steadily more upset. by the 3rd pledge break he lost it.
When they declared “WE brought him here at great expense…”He exploded at them, in character. The phones were manned by coast guard cadets and they were caught up in it “Great expense? You sent me a leaky row boat and one oar! This lot had to come rescue me half way! I’ve seen more authentic…” It was the best thing all night. the coast guard people were laughing and the host just had to stand there and take it with a plastic smile on his face as Hughes lit into him.
Very few ads on commercial radio and TV are as annoying as NPR & PBS pledge drives. I listen to NPR in the car but I switch to the local news station or my recorded music during the pledge periods.
I’m sure if the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (the tax-funded parent of PBS) didn’t get its budget zeroed out in 2017, there wouldn’t be quite so many drives. Maybe it’s funded again by now.
dadthedawg Premium Member over 2 years ago
Just send ’em some money…..
Lucy Rudy over 2 years ago
They never have anything on that interests me except during pledge drives!
nosirrom over 2 years ago
And the Super Bowl is commercials interrupted by tackles.
'IndyMan' over 2 years ago
Why should I make pledges to support programming when they take off all the programming I like and put on programming I have no interest in ????
gopher gofer over 2 years ago
the best sleep aid around…
landyk over 2 years ago
Don’t make it go away. I love NOVA.
potfarmer over 2 years ago
My station relies on their viewers to be responsible adults. Haven’t needed to have a pledge drive in years.
joelucas over 2 years ago
PBS = Parasitic Broadcast Service
david_42 over 2 years ago
The last time I watched anything on PBS, I was on the phones for a pledge drive. That was about 30 years ago.
Mugens Premium Member over 2 years ago
Just like most if not all broadcast stations, PBS has good shows and shows that should never see the light of day, or night for that matter. Just boils down to one’s own personal choice.
Wizard of Ahz-no relation over 2 years ago
I used to live in NY and remember the horrible pledge drives on the Long Island station. it was insulting when they talked about a program they clearly didn’t watch. but it reached a peak during a drive featuring the brit com “keeping up appearances” and had Jeffery Hughes (Onslow) as a guest and you could see him getting steadily more upset. by the 3rd pledge break he lost it.
When they declared “WE brought him here at great expense…”He exploded at them, in character. The phones were manned by coast guard cadets and they were caught up in it “Great expense? You sent me a leaky row boat and one oar! This lot had to come rescue me half way! I’ve seen more authentic…” It was the best thing all night. the coast guard people were laughing and the host just had to stand there and take it with a plastic smile on his face as Hughes lit into him.
rshive over 2 years ago
And sometimes the pledge breaks actually include programming.
Bill Löhr Premium Member over 2 years ago
Interrupting pledge breaks with pseudo programming, imo.
awcoffman over 2 years ago
Very few ads on commercial radio and TV are as annoying as NPR & PBS pledge drives. I listen to NPR in the car but I switch to the local news station or my recorded music during the pledge periods.
Snolep over 2 years ago
Good shows for the kiddies, though.
Ebenezer Stooge Premium Member over 2 years ago
Precipitously Blatant Salespeople.
schaefer jim over 2 years ago
That would be nice, they have some great programming!
Andrew Bosch Premium Member over 2 years ago
I’m sure if the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (the tax-funded parent of PBS) didn’t get its budget zeroed out in 2017, there wouldn’t be quite so many drives. Maybe it’s funded again by now.
JPuzzleWhiz over 2 years ago
Reminds me of this item, from one of Kermit Schafer’s “Blooper” albums:
“We interrupt this bulletin to bring you a program!”
bobgreenwade over 2 years ago
It’s kind of like how other stations keep interrupting commercials with programs.