Customer Reviews

A Prairie Home Companion With Garrison Keillor (30th Anniversary Season Celebration)

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This disc is for all women who are strong, all men who are good looking, all children who are above average, and everyone else too. Whether you've been listening since 1974 or the 1980s or since the show has been archived online since 1996, this DVD is for you. For those who are new to it, this is a radio show from Minnesota that airs at 5pm Minnesota time (6pm my time) on NPR Saturdays which is full of light music (country, gospel, bluegrass, etc.), drama, humor and more. Hosted by Garrison Keillor along with Sue Scott, Tim Russell, the sound effects man of the night Tom Keith or Fred Newman (the latter usually for shows on the road not at their home base in St Paul, Minnesota but both appear on this disc), and a who's who of guests. Except for on the Disney Channel briefly in the early 90s, unless you went to the Fitzgerald Theater or to one of their on tour locales live, you had to just use your imagination while listening to your radio. Now for the first time we can watch a show as it unfolds right in our own homes anytime we want. This show aired (well the main thrust of it) on NPR on May 15, 2004 (their last show at their home base for the 2003-2004 season) to celebrate the show's 30th Anniversary (first broadcast for you history buffs was July 6, 1974), and it gives a good view what the show offers on a weekly basis. If you wanna sample others, visit http://www.prairiehome.org and go into the show archives where you can playback on your real player any show that aired since January of 1996 in whole or in part. The archives also include 2 shows from 1985 which were rerun during the 90s as a tribute to the memory of Chet Atkins who guest starred on both and was regarded by show host Garrison Keillor as a special friend. Buy this disc, visit the archives, then put your radio on Saturday nights. Whether it's a live show, rerun, or this disc you will be in stitches for the next 2 hours, and wish it would never end, or that you were there live.:-).

First off, how could anyone do this for 30 years? And yet, Garrison Keillor has continued to bring strength and originality to this Saturday evening radio play performance every week, without hesitation. Recorded live at the Fitzgerald Theater, this unique DVD gives you the rare opportunity to finally see the performance which you have only previously been a listener.

Never fear though, absolutely nothing is lost from the enjoyment of future audio listenings by looking behind the curtain to learn how this wizard performs his magic! In fact, adding this to your collection will more than likely add to your appreciation of the radio performance with an even greater detail complimented by the exclusivity of your new behind-the-scenes visual reference. Discover the true talent of sound effects masters Tom Keith and Fred Newman, watch Garrison Keillor "act out" as he reads Guy Noir, and awe in the many vocal characters of Tim Russell and Sue Scott. If you regularly tune in every week to the radio show, Dusty and Lefty advise you to buy this here DVD... pardner.

After listening to PHC on radio for over 20 years, seeing the 2004 dvd of a show was sweet. I still like the radio format but all fans of Keillor and PHC will want to see this show and be able to visualize "how they do it". FIVE STARS !!!! :-)

This 30th Anniversary Season Celebration was outstanding! I saw the move and the 4th of July special with Garrison Keillor and Company. The 30th Anniversary show was better produced, better talent, and an overall pleasant look at Mr. Keillor's unique style. I just love it! I am a Grandfather, A. 75, and I bought this DVD to circulate among my friends and family members. Everyone has agreed with me, totally, that it is a highly entertaining show, done in a down home style.

I've been listening to Praire Home Companion as long as I can remember. When this show became avaliable on video, I had to buy it. I've watched it over and over. This is one of my most favorite videos. Must have for a PHC fan!

Out here in Portland, we get "Prairie Home Companion" broadcasts on both Saturday evenings and Sunday afternoons, and nothing makes for a perfect afternoon drive than Garrison Keillor and his team's weekly variety show. A combination of home-spun wisdom, subtle wit (spiced with just a hint of sex), and glorious down-home music make for two of the most enjoyable hours of the week. I'm not sure what the official standards are for these things, but for fans nationwide, "PHC" is a national treasure.

This DVD captures the 30th anniversary broadcast of this immortal show, live from the Fitzgerald Theatre in St. Paul, Minnesota. GK refers to the show as the 30th anniversary broadcast a couple of times, but other than that there is little to distinguish this show from the hundreds of other shows. The usual cast does their usual skits, including Lefty and Dusty as the two cowboys, the ad from the Catsup Advisory Board, a Guy Noir riff, and ads on how to become a trained sound effects master in just 38 weeks.

For music, the Guy's All Star Shoe Band is in rare form, including a few special guests. This is the kind of American music that makes you sit back and smile - watch for some masterful mandolin, steel guitar, and piano work. Also, a rockabilly band from Nashville, BR489, stomps through a few honky-tonk tracks.

And then there's the news from Lake Woebegon, as told by GK. This episode revolves around the adage, "It could have been different." Lake Woebegon's stories always have some Minnesota folk wisdom to impart, along with the jokes, and "It could have been different" is a perfect choice for an anniversary broadcast. What would it be like if GK had instead gone into writing movies, or become a dentist, or been the world's wisest filbert farmer? Here, GK acknowledges his good fortune but is also quick to shrug off the accolades that always come your way on an anniversary or milestone - it indeed could have been different.

If you are a fan of "PHC" or know someone who is, this is a perfect gift.

If you like talented performers and musicians who are not "showoffs", this show is full of such.
Amazing talent and variety too. Something for the whole family.

This movie was funny, serious and interesting all the way through. It is a movie that I enjoyed almost as much as any movie I have ever watched. Characters were great and never missed a lick. Recommend this movie to anyone who enjoys a fun show.

We bought this because we enjoy very much the radio show. After seeing the CD, we enjoy the radio programs that much more. Now we hear the different segments of the program and can picture who is doing what. I highly recommend this CD to any one who wants 2 hours of pure entertainment.

VERY ENTERTAINING, PLAY SEVERAL TIMES, A MUST FOR ALL THOSE WHO APPRECIATE GARRISON KEILLOR