In the late 80's he gave up on the show, then a year later had a "reunion" show, then he started a new radio series with a different name, and then eventually turned it back into A Prairie Home Companion. During this period, I tuned in a few times and felt that he had also slipped considerably in the product he delivered. However, there were a lot of things that I should have considered.

Many members of the cast that he surrounded himself with during the "glory" years moved on and new voices came in. Producers, writers and talent change. It takes a while to jell.

I began listening again last year and was very pleased with what I heard. The jokes were fresh, sometimes with a bit of a topical edge that was missing in the early years. The new talent was shining and Keillor's monologues were and continue to be brillant.

This past summer I went to see PHC's "Rhubarb Tour" at the Great Auditorium in Ocean Grove, NJ.    This was a non-broacast tour. For those of you who are unfamiliar with the Great Auditorium, it is a magnificent structure built around 1900. There is NO air conditioning other than the sea breeze, and on the night I was there, the breeze was on vacation. It had to be 100 degrees in the auditorium, and very humid with the audience packed in.   Keillor performed for nearly 3 hours and gave one of the funniest and most moving "News From Lake Wobegone" that I ever heard. He left the stage and walked among the audience as he told his story - and he motioned for the spotlight to be turned off. For over 20 minutes he had about 3000 people sitting silent and hanging on every word. The oppressive heat was forgotten. The man gave one of the most brilliant performances I ever witnessed, and I repeat - this was NOT for broadcast.   He could have walked through a shortened version of the show and I don't think anyone would have noticed, but instead he gave more than anyone expected.

So for those of you who say he has slipped in recent years, maybe it is time for you to tune off the radio because as Dave suggested, perhaps your ears need a vacation. The show is not the same show that it was 20 years ago, but that is a good thing. You can't miss the old lightbulb or you will miss the shine of the new one. All creative people need to have the room to grow. Not everybody will understand or "get it", but for those of us who do, we are grateful that such a show continues to produce such quality every week.

Ron Olesko