October 29th, 2007

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Media, The Arts
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The Vinyl Cafe Podcast

Stuart McLean is Canada’s Garrison Keilor. His main gig is The Vinyl Cafe, an hour-long variety show on the CBC. These shows are anchored by McLean’s “Dave and Morley” stories–tales of a fictional Toronto family which feel a bit like “For Better or Worse” on the radio.

It’d be easy to dismiss McLean’s schtick as sappy, family-friendly entertainment, but I think what he does is quite tricky. He manages to tell richly-detailed, funny, charming stories about the mundane details of our lives. And he does it without resorting to a lot of comedic tricks–it’s all there in the strength of his writing and delivery. And his delivery is great–he’s a very natural storyteller and humourist.

I wouldn’t want to listen to him every day, but once a week would be quite enjoyable. And now I can, because the CBC just started podcasting the Dave and Morley story portion of The Vinyl Cafe broadcast. I’m subscribed.

UPDATE: Jody’s comment reminded me of something I meant to mention. I suspect McLean makes good money out of his Vinyl Cafe books and recordings, so it surprised me to see his material on iTunes for free. I suspect he conceives of it as a promotional strategy for expanding his audience. After all, the people listening to this podcast probably aren’t the same people who regularly buy his books and CDs.

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Comments: 6 Responses so far

Jody
October 29th, 2007
3:11 am

Cool. I’ll have to blog about this, too.

If you read any of McLean’s Vinyl Cafe books, you’ll find yourself reading it in his manner, as if YOU are him - his enunciation, cadence, tone… it’s weird. You can’t help yourself. Go on, try it.

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Meg
October 29th, 2007
7:23 am

Oh, dear, he feels so imitative to me. David Sedaris and Calvin Trillin and anyone at McSweeney’s… well, good enough for me.

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darren
October 29th, 2007
7:27 am

Meg: I’m pretty unfamiliar with all those folks, so I can say who’s imitating whom. He could teach Dave Eggers a lesson in editing, though–that dude is verbose.

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Kerry Anne
October 29th, 2007
3:16 pm

I like him, and recently bought some tickets for our family to see him when he comes to Vancouver on Dec. 2.

It’s a Christmas themed one, and I figure it might just kick-start my holiday spirit.

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Melanie Watts
October 29th, 2007
5:13 pm

Oh Meg I remember Stuarts show when my kids were babies, that was back in the early nineties. I think those other guys are imitating him. Kerry Anne enjoy the show. It is well worth it. I’ve been listening to him off and on for years. A while ago someone gave us one of his books for Christmas. I’ve pretty well had my fill of Dave and Morley. I don’t think I will be subscribing to the podcast…

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Meg
October 30th, 2007
8:02 am

Well, Trillin started in 1963, so I think it’s safe to say they’re imitating him if they’re imitating anyone. :-)

He writes a different kind of thing than McLean, though — McLean is much more like Keillor with the small town, ordinary people vibe, and he published his first story in 1970.

Sedaris is something else entirely — much more edgy, which I like. And so is Eggers, though I have no idea who is influencing that guy. Coupland? Lawrence Sterne? Heh.

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