'STREET TALK' TO DEBUT FEB. 1

We've mentioned this before, albeit briefly, but wanted to update you on what should be an interesting time.

Barring nuclear war or other unexpected delays, "Street Talk," a half-hour local conversation, will debut Wednesday, Feb. 1 on Mediacom's Connections Channel (Ch. 14 in Springfield). Check local listings for details, or tune in at 6:30 p.m. The show will rebroadcast on Thursday and Sunday.

Doc Larry is the show's creator and executive producer. We'll share three grafs from the Doc about the show's premise and promise:

STREET TALK will be the region's only locally produced program focused on conversation. Real conversation, not the shouting heads on most cable news shows. We remember a time when talk shows actually featured real conversation. When interesting guests engaged in a stimulating exchange of ideas with the show's host. That's what STREET TALK will be.

STREET TALK is deliberately not your standard television public affairs program, with flacks and hacks shouting opinions at each other on whatever subject comes up. Nor will we try to ape the corporate news services by paying phony lip service to the false idols of balance and objectivity as if there were only two points of view and we are above both of them.

Instead, STREET TALK seeks to promote mutual understanding of many viewpoints. We start with the understanding that there are many points of view. We have guests acknowledge where they are coming from, and talk about what they know through research or personal experience. The discussion will be civil, but lively and smart.

The show's first guests will include Vincent Jericho, morning-drive host on KSGF, and Joe Hadsall, editor of the Nixa News-Enterprise. CHATTER's chief typist will serve as host. This should be a cool show.