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Selected Shorts

Sunday, January 04, 2009
  • Stephen Colbert
    (Colbert Nation)

    Two Funny Guys

    That was the thing about taking a day off, the way the time reconfigured itself and how you couldn’t help comparing any given moment with what you’d be doing at work. At work, I wouldn’t have eaten yet, wouldn’t even have reached the coffee break…and my eyelids would have weighed a hundred tons each.-- T. Coraghessan Boyle, “The Lie.”
    Strange behaviors in the workplace.

The two stories on this program are read by two VERY funny guys, the writer and public radio personality David Rakoff, and the eponymous host of late night television's political send-up, "The Colbert Report." The stories were read at a SELECTED SHORTS program devoted to goings-on at the workplace — that hotbed of intrigue and thwarted ambitions. First, Lydia Davis's "Alvin the Typesetter" chronicles the travails of one office worker.

Our second story of office life is T. Coraghessan Boyle’s devilish tale, “The Lie.” “Oh what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive” cautions Sir Walter Scott, and in this story the web gets hysterically tangled, even to the point of strangulation. Stephen Colbert gives this moral tongue twister a zestful read.

“Alvin the Typesetter,” by Lydia Davis read by David Rakoff
“The Lie,” by T.C. Boyle read by Stephen Colbert

For additional works featured on SELECTED SHORTS, please visit Symphony Space

Comments

  • [1] John Druesoe from New York January 03, 2009 - 07:57AM

    This sounds interesting and I'd like to hear it, but from reading the above I was unable to figure out how to hear it, or if it could even be heard...

    How stupid must I be not to be able to figure that out.

    Our programs are available for a limited time as podcasts on iTunes, audible.com; and at npr.org.


  • [2] Katherine Harber from New York January 03, 2009 - 01:40PM

    Hey John - it took me several clickings to figure it out, but it looks like you can listen to this show on the radio at 4pm today or tomorrow on AM or FM!

    After that, I bet it will be available on the internet.

    Happy New Year!


  • [3] Kelly Lincoln January 03, 2009 - 07:36PM

    I was at this reading, at it was wonderful.Both Rakoff and Colbert were just great.

    You will LOVE this show


  • [4] Valeria Vincent Sancisi from Berkeley CA January 04, 2009 - 01:14AM

    I caught the tail end of "The Lie" and now want to hear it whole.. my station KQED does not seem to repeat this show, so, where on the internet can I catch it?

    Are these shows archived on this site?

    From the producers:

    Copyright restrictions prevent the archiving of our shows, but our programs are available for a limited time as podcasts on iTunes, audible.com; and at npr.org.


  • [5] Laura Theurer from KPAC public radio - San Antonio, Texas January 04, 2009 - 01:34PM

    I heard only the end of The Lie yesterday

    (1-3-09) Would like to listen to Shorts if

    it will be aired another time or on line.

    Your answer ASAP will be appreciated.

    Laura

    Our programs are available for a limited time as podcasts on iTunes, audible.com; and at npr.org.


  • [6] Melanie January 04, 2009 - 03:02PM

    You can download now:

    http://www.npr.org/rss/podcast/podcast_detail.php?siteId=9911210

    It's hilarious, especially Steven Colbert's reading.

    From the producer:

    Please note that these podcasts are available only for a limited time, at the link above, and at iTunes, audible.com; and at npr.org.


  • [7] Kelly Lincoln January 05, 2009 - 04:41PM

    Subscribe to the podcast it's now available for download


  • [8] Janice from brooklyn January 05, 2009 - 05:10PM

    I listened last night and really enjoyed the reading. I hope the program will continue to run Sunday afternoon.

    From the producer

    Thank you for your comments. And yes, for the forseeable future, SELECTED SHORTS on WNYC will air Sunday afternoons at 4pm. However, should you happen to miss one, they also repeat at 4pm on Saturday afternoons at 4pm, both broadcasts are on AM 820, and our programs are also available for a limited time as podcasts on iTunes, audible.com; and at npr.org.


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