How should I put together an alcohol-themed episode of a radio news/talk show?

October 6, 2005 1:53 PM

How should I put together an alcohol-themed episode of a radio news/talk show?

As described in a previous thread, I've started a themed radio news magazine. Next week's theme is alcohol, and I'm trying to come up with some interesting features and interviews.

I have about 5 volunteer journalists for the show (depending on how interesting the assignment), and, again, very few resources.

I'm also looking for a theme song to go with the episode.

posted by stokast to media & arts (25 comments total)

Whatever you do, please, please do not choose "Margaritaville" as your theme song!
posted by elquien at 2:03 PM on October 6, 2005

Theme song:
Alcohol by Barenaked Ladies
posted by clh at 2:04 PM on October 6, 2005

Theme song: Martin Mull, Drunkard's Waltz.
posted by Floydd at 2:05 PM on October 6, 2005

I encourage you to play Gillian Welch's extraordinarily great song, "Tear My Stillhouse Down," from her exceptionally fine album Revival.
posted by Dr. Wu at 2:08 PM on October 6, 2005

Maybe poking through Modern Drunkard Magazine would give you some ideas for pieces to do.
posted by cmonkey at 2:09 PM on October 6, 2005

Theme song? Ignore those chumps. Either go with Alcohol by the Butthole Surfers or Alcohol pt. 1 by Robert Jay.
Interviews? Find a local brewery. Talk to a scientist about why alcohol makes you go blind. Talk about binge drinking on campuses.
posted by klangklangston at 2:13 PM on October 6, 2005

I'd have to vote for the theme song to Insomniac with Dave Attell.
posted by rolypolyman at 2:25 PM on October 6, 2005

Theme: 'Beer' by Reel Big Fish, OR "Another Drinkin' Song" by the Mighty Mighty Bosstones.

I fear you will get many, many more responses to the theme song part of your question than the rest :)
posted by cyrusdogstar at 2:28 PM on October 6, 2005

Theme Song: "Chug-a-Lug" by Roger Miller or "One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer" by John Lee Hooker.
posted by murphy slaw at 2:37 PM on October 6, 2005

murphy slaw's suggestions are the best ones by far. Great songs, and theme-y, to boot.
posted by Dr. Wu at 2:46 PM on October 6, 2005

Uncoolahol by Ian Dury? Or is that not really the angle you're going for...?
posted by Lotto at 3:07 PM on October 6, 2005

Music: The Push Stars' "Drunk is Better Than Dead"

Discussion: How to make alcohol (brewing, distilling, etc). Interview some home brewers. The truth about hangovers and their remedies. Uses of alcohol outside of drinking. The history of alcohol use (and abuse).
posted by ecrivain at 3:15 PM on October 6, 2005

Possible topics: One of the crafty sites I read has an article for teenagers on how to make wine. And didn't somebody - maybe Rob from cockeyed.com? - once try to make that nasty prison hooch and then actually drink it?
posted by web-goddess at 3:52 PM on October 6, 2005

Have someone do a review of the recently published Alcoholica Esoterica.
posted by bachelor#3 at 4:17 PM on October 6, 2005

Elvis Costello's "The Big Light," sung by Johnny Cash.

Or, "Tonight the Bottle Let Me Down."
posted by baltimore at 4:25 PM on October 6, 2005

Alan Jackson doing "Pop a Top."

Also, you could have one of your DJs get progressively drunker on the air as part of an experiment to see how alcohol affects speech.
posted by footnote at 4:33 PM on October 6, 2005

Do a plus/minus thing. Have one recovering alcoholic as a guest; and one mascotte of a beverage company / a party-ass mofo / someone who makes money drinking booze / you get the idea.
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 5:35 PM on October 6, 2005

Theme song: The Piano Has Been Drinking, Tom Waits

Topic: Hangover remedies: Does that Chaser crap work? Does alternating water & liquor work? Is it really liquor before wine, never fine, wine before liquor never sicker?
posted by macadamiaranch at 6:28 PM on October 6, 2005

Why stop at one theme song? You can intersperse thematically related songs between special features, like Click and Clack.

Just a few off the top of my head: Little Brown Jug, The Moonshiner. Make it Another Old-Fashioned, Bottle Of Wine, Red Red Wine, Too Drunk to Fuck, Tubthumping, Don't Start Me on the Liquor.

You might even check out this research paper.
posted by tangerine at 7:15 PM on October 6, 2005

"Cold Beer Hello" by the V-Roys
posted by dmo at 8:13 PM on October 6, 2005

Make everyone drink. This is something that cannot be done on radio/tv (due to FCC mandates).
posted by filmgeek at 9:37 PM on October 6, 2005

And didn't somebody - maybe Rob from cockeyed.com? - once try to make that nasty prison hooch and then actually drink it?

That was Steve at The Sneeze. A segment on prison hooch could be really interesting!
posted by painquale at 9:40 PM on October 6, 2005

Perhaps it is too dark, but this article -- about chimpanzees raiding illegal breweries, getting drunk, and then eating babies (seriously!) -- may be weird enough to provide a transition between more serious pieces.
posted by painquale at 9:48 PM on October 6, 2005

Song: "John Law Burned Down the Liquor Store." (from the Down From the Mountain soundtrack)

I'm sure the folks who run RateBeer.com would love to call in.
posted by robocop is bleeding at 6:50 AM on October 7, 2005

elquien: Whatever you do, please, please do not choose "Margaritaville" as your theme song!

Too late.

macadamiaranch: Topic: Hangover remedies: Does that Chaser crap work? Does alternating water & liquor work? Is it really liquor before wine, never fine, wine before liquor never sicker?

The night before we're going to find two people, roughly the same size and age, and we're going to serve one of them liquor first, then beer (or wine), and the other beer (or wine) then liquor. We'll ask them the same question every hour (maybe "How are you feeling?" or "What is your name?")

Then in the morning (during the show) we'll get them to come in and test some hangover cures.

painquale: Perhaps it is too dark, but this article -- about chimpanzees raiding illegal breweries, getting drunk, and then eating babies (seriously!)

Agh!
posted by stokast at 9:45 AM on October 7, 2005