Thank you sooooooo much!!!!!!!

Silky Stanshall

The kiwis have a nice (and practical) convention of describing “www” as “dub-dub-dub” as in the first part of “dubble you”…

I don’t know whether this is off topic but I just want to say that I really like your idea of a documentary about the US (apart from the America parodies you did w/ Hugh Laurie, I absolutely LOVE the “Ass” skit). It’s good to know that there are intellectual actors, unlike a lot of what we have seen in Hollywood (names, please?). I live in Philadelphia and I was just wondering if you have visited this city. Also, I noticed that you lived in New York City for some time. How do the Brits perceive NYC, or what’s your take on it in comparison to the rest of America? Sometimes when I visit New York I feel like I’m almost in a foreign country. It’s probably one of the few places in the world where I can hear a dozen or so languages on a short walk. Do you think you will be doing a TV program(me) (that was to satisfy British spelling) on NYC as well? Or a comedy show that involves that city?

Wonderful talk. I’d heard it, but it was great fun to read it as well.

For the first few years of my partner (now husband) and my relationship, we argued about the value of television. Or rather he argued for its value and I called it trash. I couldn’t understand how he found anything worthy, or at least enough worth while to defend what to me seemed a mostly mindless medium.

And then I came to live for a while with him in Britain. And then he came to live with me in the US. There are many wonderful things about the US, but our television, especially our network television isn’t one of them.

Should anyone ever be in doubt as to whether the BBC fee is worth its money, they should come and watch broadcast tv in the US for a few months. I’d happily pay it now if we could.

I’ve always had a soft spot for Oscar Wilde, but I have to admit I’d generally assumed he was somewhat shallow, if brilliant and spectacular. It was the film (“Wilde”) which first made me think about him in more detail, and now your podcast…

In some ways, I think his bons mots resemble miniature masks. They sound controversial and sweepingly general, whilst concealing unexpected angles on what is widely taken for granted. They are not literally true, and usually focus on only one aspect of the area they pretend to tackle (hence, I guess, the sense of flippancy and superficiality), but have the great merit of being surprising and challenging. The attempt to uncover the ‘meaning’ of Wilde’s aphorisms is rather odd, because once you get past the provocative-sounding form, the thoughts behind it are actually quite reasonable. But it takes a shock to bring them to light in the first place.

Of course the ugliness of wallpapers was not the reason for the Civil War or for violence in America. In a literal sense, Wilde’s response was elusive rather than precise. But it indirectly achieved two things: 1. it pointed out that there wasn’t a simple answer to the question of American aggression; and 2. it emphasised the influence of aesthetics on human thought and behaviour. However, this is not to say he believed that people who surround themselves with beautiful things are good and vice-versa. I am pretty sure he would never have conflated aesthetics and morals, or assumed that beauty or ugliness were the only factors relevant to the way in which people think and/or act. But they do have an impact, and that was a surprising connection to make in that particular context.

I guess that Oscar Wilde’s witticisms urge you to think rather than provide you with answers.

How I wish I could be a famous undergrad. Not because of Fame, which I’m sure is overrated, but just for the challenge. I managed to sustain one part of that for five years, which isn’t bad. Half way through the fifth such year now, in fact, procrastinating (not writing) a dissertation in Art Theory. But I have pondered long and hard and I’m not really sure it is possible to be famous for simply being a student. A good and proper one, like. Much as I’m sure that would improve our lot a bit. Young people I mean. All we seem to get around here (for good reason I suppose) is “those bloody students, always burning couches”. As above, it seems that (disillusionment aside) people simply loose interest too quickly. Still, I don’t see that as good reason not to try, not to have hopes and to be idealistic. Someone has to.

On another matter. In fact, now for something completely different, in fact.

I feel it’s time for more. I know that’s just one of the many qualms people (myself included) have about modern society – always wanting more. But still. I’ve been waiting months on the hold list for the Last Harry Potter on CD, and it really has been a while since Wallpaper. I’ve resorted to lots of Jeeves and Wooster, 30s hit music and (sorry to say) a bit (ha) of whiskey, as I sit here alone (apart from a terrier) on a windy winter night. Southern hemisphere be damned. All that’s really got me is a strong desire to exist in 1929. So, I feel it’s time for more. More Fry Wisdom, that is. More well spoken, well thought and well received podgramme. I simply can’t go on dog-sitting without it (because I’m running out of whiskey, as I’m sure the quality of this response will attest to when I re-read it in the morning).

I know you must be terribly busy, being famous and all. And then you simply must fit in a bit of Fry-time, just as I must have my Selma-time. But a podgramme, thinking aside (which I assume must be natural for you by now, having has so much practice), is only about 25 minutes. Let it be known: it’s at least 75 minutes of enjoyment at this end. That’s not a bad ratio.

Now. I wonder if terriers drink whiskey. Maybe Minnie the Moocher will help…

I just happened to have finished stage directing a scene from the opera “The Ballad of Baby Doe,” which is deeply tied to Leadville, Colorado. It was a shock to hear the name in any other context, especially one in which Oscar Wilde and wallpaper were involved!

You may have encountered the opera, or at least its story, as part of your travels in Colorado. Horace Tabor comes with his wife to Leadville to keep a general store to serve the silver miners there; gets bored, starts speculating, and makes a huge fortune on the silver mines he comes to own; builds an opera house and other gifts for Colorado; falls in love with “Baby Doe,” a young female coal miner(!), and divorces his wife; is appointed to the senate for 30 days, during which he marries Baby Doe, eventually causing national scandal; lives with her in luxury and under social censure for 12 years, having two daughters; loses everything after the “Cross of Gold” election of 1896; and dies a penniless manual laborer. Baby Doe sets up a vigil by his most-prized mine and lives there alone for 30 years, finally found having frozen to death. Incredible epic story, very American, and a very touching opera to boot.

Perhaps it makes sense that Oscar Wilde would have come to Leadville to speak. Tabor, an iconoclast, lover of the good life, and society rebel himself, would have appreciated what Wilde represented. Perhaps he invited Wilde? Imagine lecturing Americans on aesthetics in the middle of a mine-ridden industrial town called Leadville!

Anyway, thanks for the podgrams, particularly 2 and 3. Can’t wait for the next one.

I have 3 bits and bobs I’d like to say
lookingatthestars, oh yes what a great idea about modern art I love Dali, I was at his museum in Figueres – mindblowing. I would really love to hear Mr. Fry’s take on modern art.

Second – you know its May (already ahhh where did the time go) but does that mean we can expect a new podgram soon?

And third I tried submitting Mr. Fry’s podgram to the podcast section of digg but to no avail. It was weeks ago and still it is not listed. Not that it matters much, because all of us will listen to it anyway but it is annoying. I have it in mind to e-mail the digg boys, honestly if anyone deserves to have his podcast listed then it is the original Apple fanboy