Podcast Summary: TBTL: Too Beautiful To Live - Episode #852: "Let's Talk About The Seven Second Delay"

Release Date: June 30, 2011
Hosts: Luke Burbank and Jen Flash Andrews
Description: In this episode of TBTL, Luke and Jen navigate through technical challenges to deliver an engaging discussion on media censorship, political discourse, celebrity scandals, and more. They also feature an interview with Jenny O and share their thoughts on popular TV shows like Jeopardy and The Voice.

1. Introduction

The episode kicks off with Luke and Jen exchanging playful banter about the acquisition of a new social networking site, uface. Luke humorously mentions setting up his "uface" page, a blend of "photo" and "hello."

• [00:02] Luke Burbank: "This picture will be my folo. Not a word, which is a contraction for photo and hello, you face."

Jen responds with confusion, highlighting their friendly rapport.

• [00:17] Jen Flash Andrews: "Who are you facing? Tbtm."

2. Technical Difficulties and Behind-the-Scenes

Luke and Jen discuss the struggles of producing the episode amidst technical glitches at the radio station. They humorously lament the challenges of setting up the studio and managing sound effects.

• [03:07] Luke Burbank: "Why does shit have to be so hard?"
• [05:25] Luke Burbank: "We're bringing you a Thursday afternoon edition of TBTL, which took every ounce of energy we had to just make this much of it happen."

Jen elaborates on the communication issues with a new executive, expressing frustration over the lack of clear feedback during meetings.

• [03:28] Jen Flash Andrews: "We had a meeting with a guy who's super, super nice guy, but he doesn't ever communicate to me what he's thinking."

3. Main Discussion: The Seven Second Delay Incident

a. Context of the Incident

The hosts delve into a controversy involving Mark Halperin, a political commentator who was reprimanded by MSNBC for using profanity on his show "Morning Joe." The discussion centers around the network's implementation of a seven-second delay to censor offensive language.

• [06:15] Luke Burbank: "This is episode 852 in a collector series... we do have a fun program."

b. Discussion on Free Speech and Political Discourse

Luke and Jen debate whether the president's language should be sanitized and the implications of such censorship on free speech. They argue that while it's courteous not to insult the president, widespread disrespect exists regardless of formal language constraints.

• [12:58] Jen Flash Andrews: "I don't think the president is that delicate. But I just think as cultured human beings, I don't think you should call the president that."
• [14:00] Jen Flash Andrews: "These are things that we're not exactly sure."

c. Blame Allocation and Media Responsibility

The conversation shifts to assigning blame for the mishandling of the profanity incident. Jen criticizes the executive producer for not knowing how to operate the delay system, while Luke expresses frustration over hosts blaming producers for technical oversights.

• [17:19] Jen Flash Andrews: "The executive producer is new to the job and didn't know how the 7 second delay button worked."
• [17:27] Luke Burbank: "I hate that kind of. Like, to me, if you're the host, you're the person with all the power you need to stick up for the people that work for you."

4. Advertisement: Chateau St. Michel

Luke and Jen take a moment to promote their official sponsor, Chateau St. Michel. They highlight the versatility and affordability of the wine brand, mentioning its availability both online and in local grocery stores.

• [28:16] Jen Flash Andrews: "We have a cap, a TBTL cap... the window decal... T-shirts are available."
• [29:02] Luke Burbank: "Prettysnarky.com. That's where you can go. And right now, we're doing a special where you get them both for a reduced price."

5. Interview with Jenny O: "Well, Okay, Honey"

The hosts introduce Jenny O, the artist behind the song "Well, Okay, Honey," which won the podcast's Song of the Summer contest. Jenny discusses her creative process, highlighting how the song was developed spontaneously without overthinking.

• [31:25] Jenny O: "I was totally just like, I'm just gonna play the bass. And then I just kind of came out."
• [33:46] Jenny O: "I'm putting all the money right back into making a new full-length record in August."

Luke and Jen congratulate Jenny on her success and encourage listeners to support her music.

• [33:46] Jen Flash Andrews: "We think it was because of hackery."
• [34:15] Luke Burbank: "Congratulations on the song and capturing the hearts of our listeners."

6. TV Show Commentary: Jeopardy and The Voice

a. Jeopardy

Jen recounts an episode of Jeopardy featuring a contestant named Jeff Amaros, who wins $30,000 by taking bold risks. The hosts discuss strategies for the game, emphasizing the importance of aggressive betting during Daily Doubles.

• [35:04] Luke Burbank: "I have long held... Anytime you get a double, you should bet more than you're comfortable with."
• [37:20] Luke Burbank: "I loudly boo. And I'm not a booer, as people know."

b. The Voice

Jen shares her experience watching The Voice finale, praising the supportive environment fostered by mentors like Adam Levine. They discuss the positive atmosphere of the show and the genuine connections between mentors and contestants.

• [38:27] Jen Flash Andrews: "It's very positive... the mentors were really rooting for these people."
• [40:34] Jen Flash Andrews: "I think the celebrities had invested in somebody else... it's a great opportunity."

7. Listener Email and Closing Remarks

Jen reads an email from Sarah, a state social worker who had attempted to call in but missed connecting with the hosts due to her demanding job. Luke humorously acknowledges the importance of Sarah's role.

• [42:15] Jen Flash Andrews: "I am a state social worker who sometimes, as today, have to do things like unscheduled visits."
• [43:16] Jen Flash Andrews: "I feel so special. Thanks, Sarah."

The episode concludes with Luke and Jen addressing the scattered nature of their show, thanking listeners for their patience, and teasing upcoming content.

• [43:30] Jen Flash Andrews: "Sarah is definitely back on the list."
• [44:29] Jen Flash Andrews: "Good luck to all."

Notable Quotes:

• Jen Flash Andrews: "The whole point of this show is six people all talking at the same time for an hour." [08:28]
• Luke Burbank: "Go big or go home. That's a kind of a personal saying of mine." [35:33]
• Jen Flash Andrews: "It's a cluster. The whole show is a cluster." [15:37]

Conclusion:

In Episode #852, Luke and Jen tackle the complexities of media censorship, explore celebrity controversies, and celebrate emerging musical talent. Despite technical setbacks, their chemistry shines through, delivering a blend of humor, critical analysis, and heartfelt discussions. Listeners are left anticipating future episodes filled with more intriguing topics and lively interactions.