Totally Tracey Online
Tuesday, October 07, 2008
Wait Wait, Don't Tell Me
CBS has commissioned a pilot for a TV version of the NPR panel show Wait Wait, Don't Tell Me. The pilot was shot yesterday (October 6) in LA, and occupying one of the spots on the panel was Tracey. One member of the audience who is a fan of the radio show posted on his blog that the adaptations of the format to commercial TV, along with the production requirements, detracted from his enjoyment of the program, although he speculated that the final edited product may be better. He was also critical of Tracey's performance on the panel; it seemed to him that she wasn't that familiar with the program and its format, although when she does become familiar with it, "she might actually become a great guest." Hopefully, we'll get the chance to see for ourselves if/when the pilot airs or the series is picked up.
While watching old game shows or panel shows such as What's My Line and I've Got A Secret, I've occasionally wondered how Tracey would have done on those shows, as either a panelist or a guest. Unless someone revives those programs, we'll never know, but clearly others had similar thoughts and got her onto this pilot.
While watching old game shows or panel shows such as What's My Line and I've Got A Secret, I've occasionally wondered how Tracey would have done on those shows, as either a panelist or a guest. Unless someone revives those programs, we'll never know, but clearly others had similar thoughts and got her onto this pilot.
Labels: CBS, NPR, Wait Wait Don't Tell Me
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
A little bit of Fresh Air
In addition to appearing on Tavis Smiley's PBS show last night (March 24), Tracey stayed within the realm of public broadcasting by appearing on NPR's Fresh Air today. She's been on Terry Gross's show at least 3 or 4 times in the past, and her appearances have consistently been interesting and revelatory. Things took a poignant turn today when, led along by Terry's questions, she spoke of her father and how she was with him when he died. She was 6 at the time, and he was reading her a story. He'd had heart trouble in the past and had a heart attack during that story. She went to get her mother, but there was nothing that could be done. There is no doubt in my mind that he would have been proud of his daughter's accomplishments; even now, somewhere in the Afterlife, he is sure to be looking on. I can't help but wonder, though, how things would have been different had he lived longer. Would Tracey have been motivated to develop her talents in the performing arts? Would she have become acclaimed on two continents? Would she have married Allan and had Mabel and Johnny? We'll never know.
Things weren't all serious today, though. We learned that she's no fan of American Idol and the vocal pyrotechnics that it encourages (it's indie rock for her) and points out that Simon Cowell isn't particularly mean; he's just British.
Things weren't all serious today, though. We learned that she's no fan of American Idol and the vocal pyrotechnics that it encourages (it's indie rock for her) and points out that Simon Cowell isn't particularly mean; he's just British.
