Transcript
Letters
August 4, 2001
BOB GARFIELD: We're back with On the Media. I continue to be Bob Garfield.
BROOKE GLADSTONE: And I'm Brooke Gladstone -- with some of your letters. Our conversation with incoming Wall Street Journal editorial page editor Paul Gigot elicited this response from Catherine Hodge [sp?] in Milwaukee. Thank you for challenging Gigot's hypocrisy in his indignation over the Supreme Court ruling in Roe v. Wade, she writes. Certainly the court's manipulation of Florida's role in the presidential election is an example of the sort of judicial fiat he supposedly decries. In contrast, Francis B. Smith [sp?], a D.C. resident, thinks we went too hard on him. While Gigot was met with aggressive attack-mode questions, New York Times editorial page editorial page editor Gail Collins was given warm, fuzzy, pussycat questions.
BOB GARFIELD:Yeah, and just for the record, Brooke was the aggressive one; I was the pussycat. The prize for the most attentive listener goes to Brian Braker [sp?] at the Boston premiere of Tim Burton's Planet of the Apes. Brian heard in the middle of a simian-on-man fight the unmistakable sound of The Wilhelm! [OFT-USED MOVIE SCREAM, THE WILHELM, PLAYS] Yes, the much-celebrated scream, as featured in our piece by Dave Serchuk! He says I felt like I was a witness to an elaborate inside joke. I felt in the know. Just doing our job, Brian. Just doing our job.
BROOKE GLADSTONE:And here's one for you, Bob. Patrick O'Brien says he appreciated your piece on privacy last week and suggests that it should be required reading for anyone with questions regarding privacy issues. Lastly we received an oddly prescient letter from one Martha Garvey, Jr. [sp?] She says: Brooke and Bob are a wonderful combo, and you clearly have a crackerjack producing staff --Cracker Jack! -- stay tuned. All will be explained.