WireTap (radio program)

Infobox Radio Show
show_name = WireTap


imagesize =
caption =
format = Comedy
audio_format = Stereophonic
record_location = Montreal, Canada
runtime = "ca." 25 min.
creator = Jonathan Goldstein
developer =
producer = Wendy Dorr
Carolyn Warren
Mira Burt-Wintonick
executive_producer = Jonathan Goldstein
writer = Howard Chackowicz
Gregor Ehrlich
John Hodgman
Joshua Karpati
Heather O'Neill
David Rakoff
presenter = Jonathan Goldstein
opentheme =
endtheme =
country = CAN
language = English
home_station = CBC Radio One
syndicates = Public Radio International
first_aired = July, 2004
last_aired = present
website = [http://www.cbc.ca/wiretap www.cbc.ca/wiretap]
podcast =

"WireTap" is a half-hour radio show that airs on CBC Radio One Sunday afternoons at 1:00 pm (local time, 4:00 pm in the Pacific Time Zone), and again on Wednesday at 11:30 pm and 30 minutes later in Newfoundland. An hour-long version of "WireTap" is distributed in the United States by Public Radio International and is heard on multiple public radio stations. [cite web
title ='WireTap' from PRI
publisher = Public Radio International
date = 2007-01-08
url =http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/pri/.artsmain/article/10/170/1012683/Programs/%27WireTap%27.from.PRI/
accessdate = 2007-06-10 ] Hosted by Jonathan Goldstein, former producer of Public Radio International's "This American Life", the show features stories that are told over the phone ostensibly by Goldstein's friends and family.

The show falls into what has traditionally been CBC Radio One's comedy slot on Sunday afternoons, replacing "Madly Off in All Directions" which moved to a different time slot, though the show itself does not fit easily into the comedy category. The show has possibly been best described as "a weekly half-hour of conversation, storytelling and introspection, culled from equal parts real-world experience and the warp of Goldstein's imagination." [cite news
url = http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/thestar/access/943167521.html?dids=943167521:943167521&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Dec+18%2C+2005&author=Murray+Whyte&pub=Toronto+Star&edition=&startpage=C.13&desc=Tapping+into+radio%27s+creative+potential
title = Tapping into radio's creative potential
publisher = Toronto Star
author = Murray White
date = 18 Dec 2005
accessdate = 2007-03-19 ] Each show tends to follow a particular investigative theme; titles for past shows includes: "Life Lessons", "Reach for the Top", "Prized Possessions" and "Our Fathers". The series began in the summer of 2004 as a 10-episode experiment, after which it succeeded to its own regular timeslot. It is recorded out of CBC's Montreal studios. The show has been criticized by some as being too vague in format and its host as boring. [cite web | url=http://www.sweetposer.tk/blog/2004/07/review-of-cbc-summer-waves-shows-2004.php | title=Review of the CBC Summer Waves Shows 2004! Part One | publisher=URBMN | author=D | date=24 Jul 2004 | accessdate=2007-06-11] Conversely, other critics of the show find the host's deadpan delivery and the blurring of genres is exactly what makes the show such an interesting listening experience. Goldstein regularly references these criticisms to his show by having the guests call him boring, depressing, and monotonous.

See also

* List of "WireTap" episodes

References

External links

* [http://www.cbc.ca/wiretap/ WireTap]
* [http://www.cbc.ca/programguide/program/index.jsp?program=Wire+Tap CBC programme guide listing for the next episode]
* [http://actsofvolition.com/archives/2004/november/wiretaponcbc Blog containing positive reviews of the show]
* [http://www.sweetposer.tk/blog/2004/07/review-of-cbc-summer-waves-shows-2004.php?show_id=109070640796004294 Blog containing a negative view and rating of the show]