TVSquad

This question comes up at least once a year: do we still need PBS?

Of course, I think the real question people want an answer to is, do we still need to fund PBS? Charles McGrath looks at both sides of the issue in this New York Times piece.

The Bush administration (and let's face it, more than a few citizens) want to slice the annual budget for PBS in half. They've been trying for several years (there was even a West Wing episode where this was one of the plots), but every year they get their money. The main arguments against funding are twofold: 1.) is PBS really necessary in this age of 150 channels, and 2.) should we keep funding PBS since they do their own fund raising every year and also make money on the stuff they sell? The network pulls in less viewers now (though the viewers that remain are loyal and help save the network every year). So what should happen?

TV Squad reader, Steve, likes to cook with celebrity chefs. He says watching a recipe on television is "easier to understand than just reading in a cookbook." And, if you ask me, he probably likes the friendly company of Emeril, Rachael Ray and Paula Deen. But, recording cooking shows on VHS is a pain. To find his favorite pizza recipe, Steve would have to search through the tape. He asks TV Squad: Are there any DVDs/CDROMs of celebrity cooking shows?

Yes and no, Steve. There are, but I found surprisingly few.