On Demand
The Next Big Thing
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A shot from the "wolf snout cam" (Anivegvideo.com)Unsentimental Journey
Show #451We look back at the many careers of a taxi driver, and at the remnants of two very different singing careers – one belonging to comedian Jonathan Katz, the other belonging to jazz violinist Matt Glaser’s mom. Also, a journey to a Drive-In movie theater in Vermont which doubles as a motel. Travels with wild plants and animals, low to the ground. And finally, a visit with a fictional character overwhelmed by domesticated animals, and domestic life more generally, performed by Steve Buscemi.
Drive-In, Drive Out
Ever wonder what it would be like to spend the whole night at the drive-in? That’s what Next Big Thing contributor Matt Power did. He went to the movies, and to bed, at the Fairlee Motel and Drive-In Theater in Fairlee, VT. Produced by Julie Subrin.
800 Jobs
If you work as a cab driver, a dishwasher or a McDonald's cashier, there's a good chance you don't have Labor Day off. Nasser ElGabry has worked as all three - and then some - and he's got lots of stories to tell. "800 Jobs" was produced by Judith Sloan and Warren Lehrer, as part of their multimedia project "Crossing the BLVD". Music by Scott Johnson and Sheldon Steiger.
Jamming with Katz
You’ve probably heard of comedian Jonathan Katz. You may have even heard of talk radio host Jonathan Katz. But what about singer-songwriter Jonathan Katz, front man for the band Katz and Jammers? Katz shares the high and low points of his musical career with Dean. Produced by Amanda Aronczyk.
Poodles
Tom Finnegan sees competition for his wife’s affection on all sides, from the neighbors up the street to the pet poodles his wife coddles – Pierre LaRouche, Lilakee, Scarlett O’Hara et al. This fictional portrait of a man and his predicament was written by Next Big Thing contributor David Cale, and performed by actor Steve Buscemi. Produced by Emily Botein.
View from the Snout
Slurping, sniffling, scuttling, chomping - these are the sounds of the animal and plant kingdom, brought to you by video artist Sam Easterman. He attaches tiny video cameras to water buffalo, slugs, and other living things so that we humans can get a better sense of their perspective. You can find out more about the project, Animal, Vegetable, Video, by clicking here. Produced by Amanda Aronczyk.
Listen here to more animal sounds...
» Buffalo licking food off its face
» Chick running around the farm
» Horse eating hay
Opera Mom
In her last few years, Next Big Thing contributor Matt Glaser’s mother had difficulty recalling the most basic day-to-day information. She was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. But if Glaser played her a recording of Verdi or Mozart, his mom, once an opera singer, would fall quickly and easily into the soprano part. Matt is a musician himself, and it was through music that he was able to connect with his mother in the last years of her life. He recorded this piece in 2001. Mrs. Glaser died this past July.