Hmmm. The framing here is a little questionable--I mean, the bowling isn't really extreme at all. And the pieces are fine but a little predictable--pumpkin firing is one of those inevitable stories that feature reporters get to every year or two. It's done pretty well here, but nothing special. Ditto with pigeon racing. As for spelling, well, many listeners will have viewed Spellbound, the truly exceptional documentary about spelling bees. This take on spelling is okay, just okay. In general, this seems more heavy on attitude than content--if you put pigeons in a truck it's "a pigeon movile home." People "mosey" places. And the bull-riding stuff struck me as condescending. None of it is as offbeat as it really wants to be.
Comments for B-Side: Extreme Sports
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Bill McKibben
Posted on November 11, 2004 at 09:59 AM | Permalink
Review of B-Side: Extreme Sports
Hmmm. The framing here is a little questionable--I mean, the bowling isn't really extreme at all. And the pieces are fine but a little predictable--pumpkin firing is one of those inevitable stories that feature reporters get to every year or two. It's done pretty well here, but nothing special. Ditto with pigeon racing. As for spelling, well, many listeners will have viewed Spellbound, the truly exceptional documentary about spelling bees. This take on spelling is okay, just okay. In general, this seems more heavy on attitude than content--if you put pigeons in a truck it's "a pigeon movile home." People "mosey" places. And the bull-riding stuff struck me as condescending. None of it is as offbeat as it really wants to be.