Jean Shepherd - "Shepherd's Pie"

Opening monologue from an episode of "Shepherd's Pie" (1977-1978), which was broadcast on New Jersey Public Television. Basically a video version of the type of opening monologue Shep would have done on his WOR radio show (1955-1977).

Is it me, or does Shep seem uncomfortable, "out of his element" (like a fish out of water) on TV? Radio was the man's medium, in my humble opinion, and I think he knew it.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• jean
• shepherd
• shepherd's
• pie
• new
• jersey
• public
• television
• tv
• wor
• radio

[steveasat2]

I never realized what an influence JS could have been on Alan Havey. This is very much the model for "Night After Night" and Havey's delivery...except without Nick Bakay standing at a mike stand egging him on. That's the only thing this show needs - a secondary focal point so Shepherd doesn't have to work to maintain eye contact with the camera.

[alphacontrol]

I agree with you regarding your comment for the need for a secondary focal point. On radio, Shep used the unheard engineer as his sounding board. He seems very nervous to me on TV.

[ozzie300]

Jean predicted his own future - he's been wrapped in celluloid, or disk, or whatever, and will grow in fame and uniqueness with time. As he said, 2000 years from now the most common of us will be discovered and become an instant celebrity. Jean didn't have to wait 2000 years, not even 10. He was unique long before he was wrapped in plastic.

[alphacontrol]

It's too bad the Shepherd isn't more well know, especially his radio work. Unfortunately, his radio career started when the Golden Age of Radio was winding down and ended before syndicated radio shows were common.

[ChesterFanningChorno]

His PBS series had hits and misses. But his radio days were unsurpassed.

[alphacontrol]

I couldn't agree with you more.

[kozychik]

i agree. the doesn't seem himself here. i guess he was more comfortable on radio. 

[Tildatoo]

I grew up listening to Shep on the radio (during summers in Poconos, no TV, radio ruled!). He's a classic!

[GeorgeVreelandHill]

An amazing man who touched us all with his talented work.

I first heard of Jean Shepherd from my father.

He loved Shep.

I went on to love his work too.

A Christmas Story is his most well known story, but Shepherd did many, many more that are just as good.

Jean Shepherd was a genius.

George Vreeland Hill



[crawdaddybill]

Classic, excellent..........Shep is always cool!  No criticism necessary........

[norb1937]

He describes a human suppository among other things..

[musicluvu]

he made the Narrators voice on A Christmas Story

[globalvpro]

You wouldn't see this on WNJN today, and that's shame.

[GeddyYeti2112]

I love this guy's voice.

[luckyswine]

You know he had no script here. Interesting to see the mind going though as you say, like many of the great radio people he is essentially a carp outta water on TV. But on radio a true genius. I loved the way he always would ask the listener / engineer a question and then say "No!" or "That's right" - the real principle that there is only ever ONE listener to the radio.

[mcclainx]

Agreed. Radio seems a much more natural setting for Shep. I think it is because of the innate intimacy of the medium. Certainly much more of a storytelling venue than television. On radio Shep could look anywhere he wanted, throw his focus wherever he wished. On TV, you're so much more restricted in terms of what you can do.

Very interesting to hear him talk about Pizza Hut in Russia and to so accurately predict the coming invasion of capitalist branding in Eastern Europe.