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Desensitized ‘Prairie Home Companion' Fan Seeks Out Gentler And Gentler Material

Desensitized ‘Prairie Home Companion' Fan Seeks Out Gentler And Gentler Material

The Onion03-03-2025

BELMONT, MA—His tolerance pushed ever-higher from decades of listening to the folksy radio program, desensitized A Prairie Home Companion fan Ira Hawthorne told reporters Thursday that he had recently been forced to seek out gentler and gentler material.
'My system's gotten so acclimated to the wry observations and Midwestern charm of the 'News From Lake Wobegon' that I can barely even feel it anymore,' said Hawthorne, adding that years of binging mild-mannered skits like 'The Lives Of The Cowboys' and lighthearted tunes like the 'Powdermilk Biscuit Theme' had led him down a dark road of desperately chasing increasingly tame material. 'These days, I've got to binge a whole season of [CBC radio show] The Vinyl Cafe just to get half as sedate as one Guy Noir segment used to make me. And who knows what it'll take once I'm numb to that? I just wish I'd seen A Prairie Home Companion for what it always was: a gateway to ever more soft-spoken and homespun slices of American life.'
At press time, Hawthorne's eyes had reportedly rolled back in ecstasy after he took a big hit of Marshall Dodge and Bob Bryan's Bert & I stories about Down East Maine.

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Media CEO Pay Defied Gravity In 2024: Would They Ever Work For Less? David Zaslav Package 'Triple-A' As WBD Debt Downgraded To Junk
Media CEO Pay Defied Gravity In 2024: Would They Ever Work For Less? David Zaslav Package 'Triple-A' As WBD Debt Downgraded To Junk

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Media CEO Pay Defied Gravity In 2024: Would They Ever Work For Less? David Zaslav Package 'Triple-A' As WBD Debt Downgraded To Junk

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Ridin' with Cuco at Dodger Stadium
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Ridin' with Cuco at Dodger Stadium

By the time Cuco arrived at Dodger Stadium on a recent Tuesday evening, thousands of fans were already lined up outside the venue's gates, waiting to be let in. Though the matchup against the Arizona Diamondbacks wouldn't begin for another two hours, these Doyer diehards made their way to Chavez Ravine early to catch the pre-game festivities. It was Mexican Heritage Night, and the team had plenty of entertainment planned for the fanbase that Fernando Valenzuela built: a mini-concert by the legendary La Original Banda el Limón de Salvador Lizárraga; a lucha libre exhibition; and the throwing of the ceremonial first pitch by Chavo Guerrero Jr., scion of the storied Mexican American Guerrero wrestling clan. 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"Sitting in the Corner," recorded with música Mexicana crooner Adriel Favela and country singer Kacey Musgraves, is a space pop ranchera that yearns for a lover who has left. "It's the vibe, man," he says of the musicians he chooses to work with. "It's not really about artists being big or not. It's just if I get along with them and they have cool ideas and it aligns with my personality." With 'Ridin',' Cuco delivers his most mature album to date. Produced by Thomas Brenneck (Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings, Mark Ronson, Amy Winehouse), the record is a neo-Chicano soul instant classic that pays tribute to the likes of Brenton Wood, Al Green and Smokey Robinson — soul and R&B artists from the '60s and '70s whose music has been adopted by lowrider and Chicano culture — all while maintaining that distinct Cuco sound, a perfect marriage between the old and the new. 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"Ridin'" is an album of the summer contender for anyone whose idea of summer means hanging out at the beach with all your friends — this exact scenario describes the music video for the album's first single, "My 45," which stars Mexican American actress Xochitl Gomez as a femme fatale. And while the LP is teeming with enough vehicular references to make Bruce Springsteen jealous (the cover shows Cuco sitting on top of his 1989 Toyota Supra), Cuco says "Ridin'" isn't strictly meant for the car. 'I'm hoping that ["Ridin'"] is something that's interpreted however the listener chooses to interpret it, whether they're ridin' in your car, ridin' for somebody or just ridin' through life,' he says. After sound check, Cuco made his way back to the suite level to wait for the rest of his party to arrive, which included his parents, Adolfo Banos and Irma Mendoza. The only child of immigrants, the artist has made it a point to share his success with them. Forgoing wearing anything in Dodger blue, the elder Banos donned a hoodie from his son's latest tour. Mendoza showed up wearing a team hat and a striped shirt. Affixed to it was a button identical to her son's. It was her idea; she had made them the night before. As it got closer to game time, the singer was ushered down to the field once again. It was showtime. 'Please stand and remove your hats for the singing of the national anthem,' the stadium announcer said over the P.A. system. 'Joining us today is Cuco, indie pop star from Hawthorne!' Cuco took a beat before singing 'The Star-Spangled Banner' in his patented soft and mellow voice. His parents stood approximately 20 feet away, beaming with pride. After it was all over, the singer quickly made his way to them, and was met with smiles and hugs. A minute later, a production assistant grabs Cuco for his final obligation of the night. He's handed a microphone and is escorted back to where he performed the national anthem. He's met by a congregation of luchadores who will act as a chorus as he delivers the phrase popularized by the legendary broadcaster Vin Scully — "It's time for Dodger baseball!" In the fall, Cuco will go on a nationwide tour to promote the album — he'll be performing at the Greek Theatre on Sept. 15. But right now it's summer and he's ridin' with his loved ones, about to watch a game the Dodgers will end up winning 4-3 in extra innings. Get our Latinx Files newsletter for stories that capture the complexity of our communities. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

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