The other night I was watching a special on my local PBS station about “Coogan’s Way,” a local Irish restaurant/bar located in the Washington Heights section of Manhattan. What made this documentary so powerful was the deep rooted relationship that this place had with its community. Coogan’s Way wasn’t just a bar– it was a place where people of diverse backgrounds found common ground and came together as an extended family. Sadly, after decades, like many food establishments, they closed their doors due to the financial strains of the Covid pandemic. Ironically, they closed on St. Patrick’s Day, March 17, 2020, a day in which they would be celebrating. And it really got me thinking about where else would I have viewed such an important show. And how PBS programming shaped my life through the years.
PBS offers its viewers something found nowhere else.
It got me thinking about how Public programming has inspired me and our communities through the years. Surviving on public donations, PBS offers, in my opinion anyway, an unmatched, consistent stream of high quality, diverse and educational programming. And it does so with the intent to reach everyone, no matter who you are. It doesn’t discriminate about age, race, religion etc.. It has always been inclusive in its matter.
My relationship with PBS began when I was just a toddler. Their innovative children programming such as Sesame Street and Mister Rogers entertained and educated me. And it’s amazing that it still lives on to this day. That speaks to its high quality and impact on society. But I didn’t stop watching as I grew up.
During my teen and college years, PBS introduced me to a new phenomenon — British comedy, drama and theater. No Friday night was complete without watching the antics of Monty Python. Sunday nights were all British too.
Alastair Cooke would sit in his library in his big comfy chair and introduce “Upstairs, Downstairs,” or one of the many other British imports purchased by the station. Viewers immersed themselves in these dramas. And for me, they peeked my curiosity to visit England. That is what is so wonderful about PBS. It provides its viewers a vast array of content that opens your eyes to all this world has to offer.
PBS continued to play an important role once I became a parent.
In addition to Sesame Street and Mister Rogers, PBS exposed us to other childrens’ shows like Teletubbies, Dragon Tails and Arthur. And with their extension into this realm of programming, it’s wonderful to see that they have never sacrificed quality. A parent did not have to worry about the content of a show that your child was viewing. No violence, bad language etc…allowed here. Children learned. They were, and still are, exposed to diversity, kindness and love.
Now as an adult with grown children, there may appear to be no room for Sesame Street anymore. How untrue! I have to admit that I may take a peek to see what Big Bird is up to while drinking my morning coffee. And, of course, when the Museum of the Moving Image in Astoria Queens opened up a Jim Henson muppet exhibit, my husband were right on it.
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PBS opened my eyes to the world.
PBS educated me about new places, cultures, music, food and more. And decades later, it still does. From travel and cooking shows, to Ken Burns’ documentaries, news programming and more, PBS delivers and delivers it well.
And thankfully, through the years, they have increased their catalog of British programming to satisfy its viewers. Interested in comedy/drama? There’s Doc Martin and Call the Midwife. Period pieces? Watch Downtown Abbey. Want to solve a crime? Join Inspector Lynley or Vera. But this is just the tip of the iceberg. And that is why PBS is so special. It continues to provide a variety of high quality programming for all interests and for all ages. And for this lady…
