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Programming

Best Bets - June 7 - 13, 2010

Posted by Greg Petersen on 06/07 at 07:18 AM

A Look at Social Media and Drinking and A New “Our Town” Production

Radio: Using Social Media to Crack Down on Underage Drinking – Wednesday, June 9th, at 7:33 and 8:33 during Morning Edition - A new statewide initiative trains police to use social media sites like Facebook, MySpace and Craig’s List to stop law breakers. In a workshop in State College, police learned to look for signs of underage drinking, plans for large parties, gang participation, and other illegal activity. 

Radio: WPSU’s This I Believe – Thursday at 5:45pm and Sunday at 9:00pm – This week’s essayist is Leah Braun, a Penn State journalism major.  She believes in writing it all down.

Radio: Pennsylvania People – Tawni O’Dell – Friday, June 11th, at 6:50 and 8:50am during Morning Edition - WPSU’s Patty Satalia talks with author Tawni O’Dell, the New York Times bestselling author of four novels.  Her first book, Back Roads, which is set in southwestern Pennsylvania coal-country, was an Oprah Book Club pick and is currently in development to be made into a film.  O’Dell was born and raised in Indiana, Pennsylvania.  She talks about her journey back home to Pennsylvania and her life as an author. 

TV: OUT IN THE SILENCE – Tuesday, 8pm – An exploration of homosexuality in small-town America focuses on Oil City, Pa., the hometown of co-director Joe Wilson, who follows a gay teen dealing with harassment at school, and a lesbian couple who are renovating a theater.

TV: OUR TOWN: REYNOLDSVILLE – Thursday, 8pm – The popular WPSU series continues with a look at Reynoldsville, Pa.  Stories include gigantic sweet potatoes, casket making, Jeff Tech, and more.

TV: GREAT PREFORMANCES – Saturday, 8pm – “Michael Bublé Meets Madison Square Garden” – Michael Bublé performs at New York City’s Madison Square Garden. The set includes “Sway,” “Save the Last Dance for Me,” “How Sweet It Is” and selections from his 2009 “Crazy Love” album. Also: behind-the-scenes footage.

TV:GREAT PREFORMANCES – Sunday, 7:30pm – “Pavarotti: A Life in Seven Arias” – Luciano Pavarotti (1935-2007) is remembered in an episode that includes concert footage and remarks by friends and colleagues, including tenors José Carreras and Plácido Domingo.