Speechification

Here’s a reminder of the richness and surprise that’s on offer all over the BBC’s radio output. Watchification contributor Jem Stone told me I ought to nip over to Radio 2’s web site and listen to Jarvis Cocker’s programme about Sheffield, which he said was excellent. But I was too late, by about half an hour. So I poked around a bit and came across this really marvelous one-hour feature—presented by one-time guest Joan Rivers—about The Ed Sullivan show, on the occasion of its Sixtieth birthday. Perfection (MP3).

More forty-something thrills from Radio 2. This time a terrific three-part series about songwriting that originally went out last Summer. All three subjects—Leonard Cohen, Nile Rodgers and Patti Smith—are old enough and rugged enough not to be troubled by self-doubt or by fear of the opinion of others so we get disarming honesty about methods and inspirations. Of the three, Smith is probably the most guarded but this is still a mesmerising show (MP3) and the other two parts are here.

Stephen “The Office” Merchant is obviously a real telly enthusiast. Here he tells the story of edgy, 35 year-old American phenomenon HBO. Lots of excellent contributors and clips from all the top shows, especially from the last decade - and a show that handily defines Radio 2’s mission: unpretentious, grown-up factual programming with a current pop culture theme (MP3). Last year Merchant presented an equally good show about Seventies TV comedy landmark Taxi - for Radio 4 (MP3).

Over on Radio 2 Paul Morley has made a clever two-parter about celebrity. I hesitated to put it up actually because, well, it’s not quite as good as I was hoping it would be. Don’t get me wrong, the show’s thoughtful and funny and there are loads of excellent contributors (and Paul Morley, obviously). I think it’s just too long. Each part is an hour long. Whose idea was that? Anyway, don’t let me put you off. Here’s part one and part two.