Doug Wolter
Related Photos
Discussion
Tools
'Companion' should be cherished, protected
We Minnesotans can applaud ourselves at the lengths we go to support the arts. Our appreciation of theater and museum, music and film, and everything in between was cemented in the 2008 election when voters approved a constitutional amendment to add sales-tax funding to projects all over the state.
No voter referendum, however, and no infusion of cash can ensure that Minnesota’s most popular artistic enterprise continue unaffected by the inexorable march of time. “A Prairie Home Companion,” humorist Garrison Keillor’s brilliant stage production that can be heard each week on Minnesota Public Radio, is not just a sweet diversion for our state, but arguably Minnesota’s most identifiable export. Keillor has recently recovered from a minor stroke and this has reminded us of both he and the show’s mortality — which also reminds us that now is a good time to applaud this unique enterprise that has enchanted Minnesotans for decades.
South Dakota has its Mount Rushmore, Arizona has its Grand Canyon, but Minnesotans traveling out-of-state can be reminded of the nationwide reputation “Companion” has earned when they are asked to explain what lutefisk is. Keillor’s fantasy world of Lutheran hot dishes, powdermilk biscuits, down-home yarns and good music defines Minnesota style to ourselves and the rest of the country — presenting just the right kind of friendly, feel-good atmosphere, where “all the women are strong, all the men are good looking, and all the children are above average.”
We can be thankful that, thus far, given the show’s obvious continued popularity, Keillor’s liberal views on politics haven’t offended listeners to the degree that “Companion” has lost steam. In a world that needs pleasant diversions like Lake Wobegon, it’s a killer to have a host identified too strongly with political issues on the left or on the right.
In the meantime, we should all appreciate “A Prairie Home Companion” while it still is with us. It has been on the air for 35 years. We know it can’t go on forever. Keillor is 67, and though he says he has no plans to retire, he’s also aging along with the rest of us.
He has given us a Minnesota institution. Let it continue as long as fate allows, untarnished by the real world.
Doug Wolter is night news editor at The Free Press. He can be reached at 507-344-6384 or by e-mail at dwolter@mankatofreepress.com.
- Doug Wolter
-
-
'Ida' not all she's cracked up to be
So “Ida,” it turns out, is not “the first link to all humans,” as a member of its discovery team gushed. It doesn’t even belong to the same category as humans and apes, according to a revised analysis, but is more closely grouped with lemurs.
-
'Companion' should be cherished, protected
South Dakota has its Mount Rushmore, Arizona has its Grand Canyon, but Minnesota has its "A Prairie Home Companion."
-
Mankato, make way for Favre
In the interest of preparing fans for the circus to come, here’s a crystal ball prediction of what we can expect during the coming NFL football campaign after Green Bay Packer great Brett Favre declares himself to be a Minnesota Viking:
-
Celebrity politicians: It's the wave
Night news editor Doug Wolter discusses the unfortunate downturn of the GOP through 'celebrity politicians.'
-
Great pitchers make fastpitch go
As you amble on over to Caswell Park this week to witness the North American Fastpitch Association national tournament, pay special attention to the pitchers. -
Video games non-addictive, if you're well-rounded
Once I had a neighbor so meticulous about his lawn that, two days after mowing he was doing it again, and in between he inspected individual blades of grass as if he were a general inspecting troops. If I had been more like him, my wife wouldn’t have objected, but I satisfied myself that he was obsessed, addicted — obviously suffering from a psychiatric disorder.
-
Democrats get religion, or try
Finally, it seems, the Democratic Party is searching its soul, as evidenced by the faith-based public forum attended Monday by three main rivals for the presidential nomination.
-
Optimists: Community service, cheerful touch
With so many bad things happening in the world these days, and with pessimism running higher than gas prices, one might naturally wonder how an organization like the “Optimists” is faring.
-
NFL draft an intriguing puzzle for Vikings
If you were Brad Childress facing the 2007 NFL draft, what would you do?
-
Advanced education coming sooner for today’s children
- More Doug Wolter Headlines
-
