New York City
Dear Friends,
We bring our show to New York every year so that people back home will get the idea that we--re a success. Just like Santa Claus got a big lift when the New York Sun told Virginia that, yes, there is one. A show doesn--t really exist unless it plays New York and goes up against the famed indifference of Gothamites. All part of the lovely mythology of our business, the one that there--s no business like. (In fact, L.A. is the really tough audience because they--re checking voice mail every fifteen minutes, but never mind.) Anyway, we--re glad you braved the subway, or the L.I.E., or the Merritt Parkway, or the N.J. Turnpike, and came in to 43rd Street.
Today--s show brings you the famed guitarist Leo Kottke teamed with Phish bassist Mike Gordon, and, sitting in with the Shoe Band, the rock --n-- roll jug band hero John Sebastian. And the stylish Sue Scott and the reliable Tim Russell. And the fresh-faced Fred Newman doing the creaking doors, cougars, dynamite explosions, men falling into vats of raspberry gelatin, or whatever the scripts call for. Last week, Fred was a talking saxophone, and it--s hard to think of anyone else in America who could do that. Or Canada, for that matter.
I write the show on Wednesday and Thursday and it--s given a read-through on Friday, then re-written, and broadcast on Saturday. An exciting four-day week for me and New York is a good place to do it. Nobody comes here to relax. It's a city for people who've had enough relaxation, they need to wake up. At my age, Lord knows I need the stimulation. On the upper West Side, where I hang out, you see a lot of us elderly on the street, and you think, --Why would anyone care to retire to a quiet haven when you could spend your twilight years in the hustle and bustle of New York?-- Death will be quiet enough. Hand me down my walking cane, honey, and let--s go to Times Square and see what--s shaking.
~Garrison Keillor