TV Barn

Border wars! Who's got the better debate format, Canada or the U.S.? Also, my prediction for tonight

aaron@tvbarn.com (Aaron Barnhart/TVBarn.com) — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 10:59:27 -0500

So tonight is going to be the third U.S. executive branch debate, this time pitting John McCain and Barack Obama in the TV-friendly "town hall" setting. The debate will undoubtedly get better ratings than the first McCain-Obama encounter, for no other reason than it's Tuesday night, and people stay home and watch TV on Tuesdays. (The first debate was held Friday, when "HUT levels," households using television, are at their lowest.)

I'm just back from Canada. While on "vacation" I covered the first debate for TV Barn. Since I was on a train last Thursday, I watched most of the VP debate in cud form (i.e., chewed up and regurgitated) over the weekend on CNN. I also watched pieces of the English language debate between Canada's five candidates for prime minister, held the same night as Biden-Palin.

What was up with that Palin incest sketch? Raise your hand if you found it appalling

aaron@tvbarn.com (Aaron Barnhart/TVBarn.com) — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 11:28:37 -0500

If you haven't seen the offending portions of this weekend's "SNL," I've made a low-res video of the relevant clips below.

KOGO's Chip Franklin and I talked about this "SNL" sketch that used insinuations of incest in the Palin family as a punchline ... twice.

(or download now)

And here's the video. Judge for yourself:

The fall season previewed

aaron@tvbarn.com (Aaron Barnhart/TVBarn.com) — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 00:16:21 -0500

Walt Bodine, Gina Kauffman and I previewed the fall TV season on the Walt Bodine Show on Sept. 16.

(or download it)

Your questions answered

aaron@tvbarn.com (Aaron Barnhart/TVBarn.com) — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 00:07:59 -0500

Every month on the Walt Bodine Show on KCUR-FM, we take calls from listeners. Of course, if you have a burning question you're free to email me with them, but this edited version of the KCUR Lightning Round for September may answer questions you never even thought to ask!

(or download it)

TV as vomitorium, and other things we talked about over breakfast

aaron@tvbarn.com (Aaron Barnhart/TVBarn.com) — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 16:03:34 -0500

Barfing incidents spotted on TV became an insty-topic on this morning's Chip Franklin Show. Don't worry, it won't turn your stomach to listen to Chip and me talk about that, or the Emmys, or anything else we chatted about on San Diego's news-talk giant KOGO.

(or download it)

Fall TV: Coming soon!

aaron@tvbarn.com (Aaron Barnhart/TVBarn.com) — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 12:13:33 -0500

Here, courtesy of KMBZ Radio this morning, is a little look-ahead to my fall TV preview section, which we'll be rolling out here this weekend and in the pages of the Kansas City Star:

Listen/download KMBZ 9-12-2008 (MP3)