Culture Lust by Angela Carone

Big changes are always hard to wrap your head around, particularly when they're tinged with sadness.

This morning, after three cups of coffee and an intense Film Club of the Air , I found myself in an office, meeting with the heads of the new media and radio broadcasting departments at KPBS. I was still a little amped, and not particularly suited to digest the information I was about to hear.

The announcement? Pat Launer, who has been covering the theater community for KPBS for almost 20 years, will no longer be working with the station. No reviews. No These Days . No Patt? Awards.

I was stunned, especially since I was planning to have Pat on These Days for tomorrow's Weekend Preview segment.

It's a sad day at KPBS. It will be even sadder for the San Diego theater community. Here's why: Pat Launer is a tireless champion of theater in this city. She goes to over 200 plays a year. She sees everything, not just the big productions in town. She started the Patt? Awards, the only one of the few local awards ceremonies honoring the accomplishments in San Diego's theater scene.

Why would KPBS end their relationship with her? And why so abruptly?

I talked with Doug Myrland, general manager of KPBS. He said:

Fair enough. The broadcasting world is constantly in flux. Shows and personalities come and go. But I'm still not sure why it happened so abruptly. With respect to the timing, Doug pointed out that this is the end of the fiscal year, "If you are not going to renew a contract, this is when you do it."

I understand the whole fiscal year thing, but why on a Wednesday, in the middle of the week? What happened on Tuesday? Why not wait until Friday, when the natural ending of the work-week would compliment the ending of a professional relationship? It's a silly point, but when your work is cut short, it's like getting sucker punched, and you don't get sucker punched on a Wednesday morning at 10 a.m. You get sucker punched in a bar, on a Saturday night, when you're drunk enough to take the blow.

Now that I've had a couple of hours to digest the ripple effect of the change, I'm still reluctant to qualify it. Yes, we will continue to cover theater on These Days . Yes, I will cover theater occasionally on this blog. But can this measure up, in any way, to the breadth of coverage Pat offered? And with the same -- forgive me -- drama? The answer is clearly no.

But then where does that leave us? How will the arts coverage at the station recalibrate after this loss? I'm left with a lot of questions. But both Doug and radio program director John Decker assure me that KPBS remains committed to covering the arts.

There is one thing I know for sure. Pat, your distinctive voice will be missed.

-- Angela Carone produces arts and culture programming for These Days and Culture Lust . Please read our guidelines before posting comments.

Beth Accomando
June 28, 2007 at 06:14 PM
I started working at KPBS about the same time as Pat (back when we were in trailers over by the old Speech/Communications building), and because we were both passionate about covering the arts, I felt we were kindred spirits. It saddens me deeply to find out that she will no longer be covering theater on a regular basis for KPBS. Pat has something that will be very hard--if not impossible--to replace and that's her knowledge of our local theater. Unlike a film that can live forever, a theater production essentially vanishes after closing night. If I review a film and want to look up older works by the same director, I can head out to Kensington Video and pick up a VHS or a DVD and get all I need to know about the filmmaker's past efforts. But there's no way to do that with theater. The hundreds, possibly thousands, of plays that Pat has seen form a database of information that makes her uniquely knowledgeable about San Diego's theater scene. I know that Angela will continue to cover theater on These Days and in her Culture Lust blog, and that KPBS will not ignore San Diego theater. But I also hope that Pat will continue to share her vast knowledge of theater with KPBS and its listeners/viewers/readers. But knowing Pat, I'm sure that she will always remain a strong and booming voice championing local theater. -----

kinsee
June 28, 2007 at 06:45 PM
Pat's voice will be missed.

Ruff Yeager
June 28, 2007 at 09:00 PM
As Executive Artistic Director of Vox Nova Theatre Company, I've been able to work with playwrights from New York City as they come to our fair city to workshop new plays. Mac Wellman and Susan Yankowitz, both esteemed playwrights who live in the City were distinctly impressed by the support the theatre community received from the San Diego media. Pat's voice is a HUGE part of that support. As theatre companies find media coverage harder and harder to snag it's been a relief and comfort to know that Pat would be there in your corner, doling out her unique brand of constructive criticism and insightful commentary, in order to support theatre in San Diego. The theatre community owes Pat and her association with KPBS a debt of gratitude for making sure that our community has been center stage for all these years! It's sad that KPBS has decided to jettison the incomporable Ms. Launer. Perhaps the station would do well to remember that many of us are members of KPBS and may think twice before renewing our memberships. The Pattes have supported my theatre endeavours and therefore, I've felt a need to reciprocate with my paid membership. I look forward to Pat's future career plans. One thing is sure: she's San Diego's most determined advocate for theatre art!

Dr. Sam & Pamela Lerner
June 28, 2007 at 09:07 PM
Hi Pat, So sorry to hear about KPBS. We are actually shocked. Your creative broadcasts and reviews were always engaging and interesting, and one of the best things about KPBS. From a dedicated theatre family with three professional acting children, your broadcasts will be missed. After knowing you, we can only imagine that another and bigger PURPLE door will open. We love you and support you, Pat Launer! Dr. Sam, Pamela, Jessica, Zev and Ari Lerner

Liz Morrison
June 28, 2007 at 10:12 PM
I'm really disappointed to hear this. Pat's knowledge, insight, and humor will be missed.

Toni Robin
June 28, 2007 at 10:21 PM
I've have had the pleasure of riding a train to LA with Pat to see Cherry Jones, flown to NY with her to see Judi Dench and spent a thoroughly enjoyable evening watching her reaction to a hideous local production (which shall remain nameless) - which was much more fun than watching the show itself. Still, none of that compared to the delight of hearing Pat's energetic, original, insightful and literate takes on local theater each week on KPBS.( especially if I had already seen the show!) Her comments, often laced equally with comedy and tempered vitriol, became a bellwether for my theatre going choices and recommendations. Personally, I would rarely go to the theatre without checking with her first! Professionally, I saw first-hand how her efforts to honor, respect and shine a spotlight on those talented individuals making theatre in San Diego positively affected our arts community. She has been a steady and vocal advocate, a cheerleader, a supporter, an encouraging friend and a true theatre angel. I look forward to more and we all know it will be good, 'cause Pat, you ain't chopped liver!

Victoria Danzig
June 28, 2007 at 11:37 PM
I was shocked to hear of your decision to eliminate Pat's contract with you. I listen to her reviews and have been to the Patte Awards three or four times because of the spark that she brings and the love that she has for the theater. Who else will give the smaller theaters a chance? I want you to know that you have let go of a regional treasure. There aren't too many people who can write, talk, see and hear what is beautiful in our world. It is your decision and our communities loss. Victoria Danzig, member of the producers club.

Deborah B. Pettry, Ph.D.
June 29, 2007 at 04:55 AM
We met Pat when we bid on the on-line auction for an evening of theatre & dinner with her (and John). It was a delightful evening, and we have continued to see them at various events since then. I've learned so much about our regional theatre from Pat, who has figured out how to support good theatre without destroying well intentioned (but failing) attempts. But -- let's assume this isn't about Pat. KPBS says it's about broadening arts coverage. Didn't we have an article in the UT a couple of years ago showing how much live theatre brings into San Diego? Didn't we find out that theatre goers spend more than sports enthusiasts? And I would assume that theatre goers far outspend movie and television viewers for, as an example, dinners associated with going to their chosen entertainments. That would suggest an economic reason to support live theatre and to highlight it separate from movies and other arts. Where is the logic in KPBS' decision? I've been a supporter of KPBS for years, and I'm in the Producers Club. I doubt that I will renew for 2008.

Tim West
June 29, 2007 at 05:12 AM
I return home from a hard day of teaching and an intense evening of rehearsal to find that management at our local public broadcasting affilate has committed a reprehensible blunder --but, like so much in public discourse these days, it's seem generous to ascribe this action to blindness and stupidity. This seems more like calculated malice. I'd always had such respect for Doug Myrland because he SEEMED to know what a pearl he had in Pat Launer. I regretfully dismiss him now as an administrator who lacks fortitude. It is a grave failure. Pat captivated me from the first time I met her and watched her at work, almost twenty years ago. She is a consumate journalist, the most professional and least pretentious of those covering the arts beat. The "cover story" that KPBS is considering WIDER arts coverage doesn't wash. You devalue Pat's work, you devalue theater --and San Diego theater in particular, for whom she has always been the champion. It is a shame, plain and simple. Shame on KPBS, to whom Pat Launer brought Emmy award-winning coverage of the arts. They'll never do half as good. Pat, of course, will continue. She is as elemental and resourceful as the theater itself.

Don Braunagel
June 29, 2007 at 06:24 PM
As an arts producer, you ought to know that the Patte Awards are not the only local awards honoring the San Diego theater scene. For five years, the San Diego Theatre Critics Circle has been annually presenting the Craig Noel Awards for theater excellence: http://www.sdcriticscircle.org/

Rosina Reynolds
June 29, 2007 at 06:49 PM
I have just heard of the decision to end the relationship between KPBS and Pat Launer and mindful of the fact that I do not know all of the circumstances surrounding the decision I still feel a need to respond as an active member of the theatre community in San Diego. Theatre, as with all arts, has always struggled for recognition in this city...once we had three daily newspapers, reviewers were plentiful and awareness was high...now down to one rather uninterested newspaper, I see, with great sadness, problems ahead for any arts group but especially for the smaller organizations, that dare to bring creative arts to this city. It has been repeatedly stated how much income and visitors the arts bring to this city but it cannot all be acredited to the corporate theatre of the Old Globe and the La Jolla Playhouse, a city is alive and well artistically because of the bedrock of small, ambitious, energetic arts groups that have a passion and a need to produce theatre, dance, music, visual arts...regardless of whether they have deep pockets to fund their work...they deserve recognition...they need audiences. I appreciate hearing that KPBS is committed to covering the arts, and I'm sure you mean it but I worry that without a passionate commitment to doing just that the desire will fade with the everyday problems of running a business...the arts need advocates, people with passion and that's what Pat brings. I certainly understand other arts groups wanting more exposure and may feel the balance has been too strongly focused on theatre...but why reduce your theatre coverage? Why not increase coverage of other disciplines instead? I hope this wasn't an easy decision to make and perhaps my view of what happened is too simplistic but don't abandon the arts in San Diego...we ask for all the help we can get.

Rosina Reynolds
June 29, 2007 at 07:05 PM
Out of repect to Don Braunagel and all the other newspapers/and reviewers that contribute to arts coverage in San Diego I erred in my passionate response to any potential loss of exposure to the arts...by overstating my point...of course there is more than one publication in San Diego County....we value their coverage just as much, we can't afford to lose one.

Jim Trageser
June 29, 2007 at 08:32 PM
The Patt? Awards are most certainly NOT "the only local awards ceremony honoring the accomplishments in San Diego's theater scene." The San Diego Theater Critics Circle Craig Noel awards pre-date the Patt?s, and include critics from all the major theater reviewing outlets in town save KPBS (which was invited, but declined the invitation). Your readers can learn more at sdcriticscircle.org. Hopefully this is not representative of the caliber of arts reporting we can come to expect from KBPS moving forward.

Don Braunagel
June 29, 2007 at 09:35 PM
Rosina, I took no offense at your overstatement, knowing that it stemmed from passion and sorrow. And be assured that we in the Critics Circle are equally saddened at the loss of theater coverage in another media outlet. For those who didn't know, when the Jewish Times recently ceased publication, Carol Davis lost her print voice. It's not a happy trend. I guess what we need, to give theater a boost, is a local play starring Paris Hilton as an illegal immigrant.

John Pryor
June 29, 2007 at 09:44 PM
The comment on the Patte Awards is a bit off. While it is true that there was a San Diego Theater Critics Circle before the Patte Awards, as is noted on the page Mr Tageser cited, the group had disbanded in 1993. It reformed in 2002, about 5 years after the Patte Awards had been going on. Here's the quote from the site: "The group managed one more set of awards in early 1993, revising the rules to allow for multiple honorees, then mailing certificates to the winners. Outstanding productions were La Jolla Playhouse's musical "The Who's Tommy," the Old Globe's "Mr. Rickey Calls a Meeting" and San Diego Rep's "The Women." Almost a decade of dormancy followed. Then, in 2002, thanks largely to Welsh of the San Diego Union-Tribune and Pam Kragen of the North County Times, the group was revived. Welsh felt it time to reorganize the group in order to honor the legacy of Craig Noel...On Jan. 27, 2003...the first Craig Noel Awards for Theatre Excellence." John

Angela Carone
June 30, 2007 at 01:01 AM
Please forgive me for this oversight. This is certainly not an excuse, but it was an emotional post to write. In the three years that I've been covering the arts in San Diego, Pat Launer has been the KPBS theater critic. I have certainly covered numerous theatrical productions in town without her involvement, but have also relied heavily on her role as our station's critic. I am unaware of the decline to not participate in the Craig Noel Awards for Theater Excellence. As KPBS moves forward without a designated theater critic, I will be relying on many of you who posted here to inform me of events like this one, especially since I am a producer charged with covering the gamut of arts in this city, not just theater. As you can imagine, I am wholly encouraged by any effort that recognizes the talent and hard work of those producing great theater in this city. I have made the correction above.

Carla Nell
June 30, 2007 at 05:07 AM
I just opened my San Diego Theatre Scene Newsletter and I read what must be a terrible misprint! You do not need "all of" Pat Launer's services anymore? Wow, what about us? This theatre community in San Diego takes enough hits! We need Pat! We need her support. We have been pushed out of the Reader for botox and boob job ads. There is one publication that caters to theatre in this town that is somewhat successful but can only feature one or two shows a week (everyone has to pay the bills right?)via e-mail. Marty at City Beat is running his legs ragged trying to cover all of us little guys!!! Thank you Marty! Pat comes to our shows! All of the shows! She shows up and she may not even like the show but she talks about our work and she celebrates our work!!! Pat came to a tech rehearsal of mine just so she could get a blurb in for our show because we couldn't find space in this town to run for more than a week!!! The theatre community needs this support the way KPBS needs our support. I just reviewed your mission statement... "KPBS Mission KPBS enriches the lives of people in the San Diego region through unique media services. These high quality radio, TV, Web and community activities educate, inspire, entertain, and advance civic involvement, celebration of culture and the power of diverse perspectives." Who carries out this mission better than Pat?

Lucile Cheng
June 30, 2007 at 04:45 PM
i cannot believe this. Pat, who knows the theatre inside out, having worked extensively on both sides of the footlights, is released. But your Thursday arts-around-town continues? Your Thursday commentators know ONLY rock music, none of the other arts. I actually heard one of them say Mozart's opera "The Marriage of Figaro" is "a Romeo and Juliet" story!!! How can someone so abysmally uninformed be allowed to inform an audience about the arts?

Nancy Martin
June 30, 2007 at 05:23 PM
Pat Launer was and is a bright voice in the world of San Diego Theatre. She has a terrific sense regarding production and audience appeal. I urge KPBS to reconsider minimizing her voice on the radio. As a subscriber to six San Diego theatres and an attendee at various other local theatres, I've come to depend on Pat's reviews. Please bring her back.

N Cohen
July 02, 2007 at 06:50 PM
I just came back to town after being away for a week and am just shocked to read that San Diego PBS has canceled Pat Launer's wonderful theatre review work for the station. This makes no sense and is actually offensive and totally illogical in every way. Once again our local San Diego PBS has proved themselves to be the most culturally barren version of PBS in America. We already have to make do with their paltry and laughably shallow TV offerings (old Welk shows... Antiques Roadshow ... and other pathetic and sophomoric offerings), and now we are deprived of Pat Launer's terrific theatre reviews. We hope that PBS will come to their senses, apologize to Pat Launer, and beg her to return.

Dona D
July 02, 2007 at 10:11 PM
There is very little that I can add to these eloquent comments that have been offered regarging KPBS's decision to release Pat Launer. It is both ridiculous and disturbing. There is no one else from that station who delivers the level of professionalism and creativity that Pat did... and there is no other person in this town who is as great a champion of theater in this community. Given the rest of the line up offered from KPBS, Pat being included in the mix gave me hope that the station had at least a bit of wisdom in their programming. Her release seems so ludicrous that I no longer hold that hope. This move screams of a blantant slide toward grater mediocrity and corporate stupidity. My financial support has ended with this announcement and I shall share this decision with others. Pat will be sorely missed.

S. Adler
July 03, 2007 at 01:14 AM
Pat Launer, a force of nature, has provided San Diego theatregoers with informed, passionate, and intelligent criticism for many years. Her voice will continue, but in other venues, and KPBS will be poorer for her absence on its airwaves. KPBS programming has taken a nosedive in recent years, and the elimination of Pat Launer's eloquent and insightful theatre spots represents one more aspect of the dumbing down of public broadcasting in our community.

Terrence
July 03, 2007 at 06:13 PM
Doug Myrland and Tom Karlos are what's wrong with KPBS. Period. They wouldn't know good art or culture if it was growing under their nails. Speaking of a time for change, when are they out the door??

Ecuiram LeVar
July 05, 2007 at 03:42 AM
Ms. Launer long ago lost the confidence - and credibility - of a large part of the theatre community, and KPBS' decision to free her to continue in other venues and markets is a welcome one. Doubtless, a considerable number of folks who have given up on KPBS (from the theatre community, at least) may now consider renewing subscriptions and contriubutions. Her commentaries are not taken with much seriousness among many members of the profession, since she consistently praises things that fall far short of any standard of good work. One can only hope that this is the first of many steps that may help to bring back the host of listeners who abandoned the station when it eliminated all music during daylight broadcast hours. E. LeVar

Carolyn
July 06, 2007 at 07:09 AM
What Pat Launer contributes to the "theatre community" has always been an opportunity for local patronage to expand. Her personality, lack of pretension, and enthusiasm DO reach people who, for example, once loved theatre in their teens, but, increasingly found the "the-ah-TRE" out-of-reach -- just another snob scene. Pat is intelligent, remarkably experienced, writes comprehensive, accessible reviews, and is warm and funny to boot. Methinks she is compassionate and has the wisdom to know that kindness does not diminish a review. She's giving an educated opinion -- not the last word on what "good theatre" is. I would be interested to know who put what in management's ear or did management make this dumb mistake all by its lonesome.

Alice Cash
July 07, 2007 at 01:46 AM
I am very depressed to hear about this huge change. Pat is the supreme Theatre supporter of San Diego and the theatre community will miss hearing her voice on KPBS, but I know that she will have some new awesome opportunities ahead of her. Not only was she the voice of San Diego, she also helped children to love the arts, and show that there are different opportunities for jobs in the theatre. She is the best!

Loretta Haas
July 10, 2007 at 02:50 AM
If Pat Launer feels only 1/10th as sad as I do for the loss of her extraordinary support of theater over the KPBS air waves, she is indeed very sad. I attend many of the 100 or so small theaters in San Diego and no matter how small the room or how little advertisement some shows received, there would be Pat. I am sure Pat's voice will continue to be heard elsewhere as it should be. I am truly sorry that KPBS has given up such a fine resource.

Loretta Haas
July 10, 2007 at 03:00 AM
If Pat Launer is only 1/10th as sad as I am for what KPBS has done to her, she is indeed sad. How can KPBS give up such a fantastic resource? I attend many of the small theaters in San Diego and no matter how small the room or how the little the advertisement, there would be Pat Launer. I am sure this event will be more of a set back to KPBS than to Pat. I will continue to look for her words and hear her voice in "all the new places."

Stu Harris
July 12, 2007 at 03:09 PM
Pat Launer should have been canned long ago. Her donald-duck voice is not suitable for radio, and as someone with ambition to perform rather than review, she was perenially over-kind to the theater directors she hoped might one day cast her. However, she should be replaced, not with nothing at all, but with somebody equipped with the same knowledge and far better delivery. KPBS is not fulfilling its mission without theater reviews.

Deborah Knight
July 13, 2007 at 08:57 PM
I just went to the KPBS website to read Pat Launer's reviews of current plays - something I always do when considering attending a play. Her reviews were one of the highlights (if not THE highlight) of KPBS's locally produced content, period. I am shocked that KPBS would let go such a gem - the decision to do so degrades the entire station. Her reviews were wonderful to listen to - honest, detailed, emotionally engaged, knowledgable. Theater is a highlight of the cultural life in San Diego - and her reviews reflected that bright spot in the cultural life of our community. It's a sad day for San Diego that Pat was let go and leaves us a greatly diminished public radio station.