>> Announcer: DONNYBROOK IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE SUPPORT OF THE BETSY AND THOMAS PATTERSON FOUNDATION AND THE MEMBERS OF NINE PBS.

>> THANKS FOR JOINING US FOR DONNYBROOK.

THIS IS WHERE EVERY WEEK WE GATHER AROUND A BIG TABLE, WE SET ASIDE OLD GRUDGES, AND DEVELOP NEW ONES.

LOTS TO TALK ABOUT THIS WEEK, LET'S MEET THE PANELISTS, STARTING WITH COHOST OF THE JENNIFER AND WENDY SHOW ON THE BIG 550, KTRS, WENDY WIESE.

FROM STL TODAY.COM AND THE ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, MR. BILL McCLELLAN.

FROM ST. LOUIS IN THE KNOW ON THE BIG 550 KTRS AND THE RIVERFRONT TIMES, RAY HARTMANN.

AND ALSO ALVIN REID.

BILL, WE'RE GOING TO START AND TALK ABOUT YOUR BIRTH STATE, ILLINOIS.

WHAT'S GOING ON THERE?

IT WAS ANNOUNCED THIS WEEK THAT MIKE MADIGAN, WHO WAS THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE FOR 36 YEARS, AND AS SUCH, HE HEADED UP THE LEGISLATURE LONGER THAN ANYONE ELSE IN U.S. HISTORY.

QUITE AN INTERESTING TENURE.

HE WAS ALSO, OF COURSE, THE HEAD OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY AND THE VERY BLUE BIG STATE OF ILLINOIS, BUT HE WAS INDICTED THIS WEEK FOR, AMONG OTHER THINGS, BASICALLY ABUSING HIS OFFICE FOR PERSONAL GAIN.

COM ED HAS ALREADY PAID $200 MILLION IN FINES BECAUSE THE GIANT WAS ACCUSED OF PAYING PEOPLE WITH CLOSE TIES TO MADIGAN AND ALSO GIVING THEM CONTRACTS AND SPECIAL FAVORS.

SEEMS LIKE IN YOUR STATE, ILLINOIS, WE HEAR A LOT OF THESE THINGS OUT OF SPRINGFIELD ON A PRETTY REGULAR BASIS.

>> WELL, WE DO AND NORMALLY I WOULD BELIEVE IN DUE PROCESS AND LET'S LOOK AT THE EVIDENCE, BUT REALLY, WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT MIKE MADIGAN, YOU JUST KIND OF BEGIN WITH THE ASSUMPTION THAT HE'S CROOKED AND AS A FORMER -- YOU KNOW, BORN AND RAISED IN COOK COUNTY, CHICAGO, IT JUST SEEMS LIKE IF YOU CAN'T STEAL ENOUGH MONEY IN YOUR FIRST 30 YEARS IN OFFICE, YOU KNOW, MIKE MADIGAN, IF HE WOULD HAVE QUIT TEN YEARS AGO, 15 YEARS AGO, HE COULD BE LIVING LARGE NOW, BUT WHY YOU HANG ON.

WHAT IS HE, 87?

I MEAN, IT'S JUST RIDICULOUS.

SO I'M AFRAID THAT MIKE MADIGAN WILL SPEND HIS FINAL DAYS NOT IN LUXURY AT ALL, BUT -- I'M ASSUMING HE'S GUILTY.

>> I THINK YOU'RE BEING VERY CYNICAL, BUT YOU'RE RIGHT.

I MEAN, IT'S AMAZING, HOW MANY GOVERNORS -- >> OH MY GOSH.

>> IT REALLY IS AN AMAZING THING AND I WILL SAY, IT'S BIPARTISAN.

>> OH YEAH.

>> BUT IN THIS CASE, IT REALLY IS HARD TO IMAGINE THAT HE'S GOT -- >> WHEN I WAS A CHILD AND I WAS A CUB SCOUT FOR A SHORT TIME, OTTO KERNER, THE GOVERNOR, VISITED THE TROOPS, THE PACK, WHATEVER IT WAS O HIS WAY TO THE BIG HOUSE.

>> ON HIS WAY TO THE BIG HOUSE.

AND THIS HAS BEEN IN THE WORKS FOR A LONG TIME.

EVERYBODY KNEW, WHEN HE LEFT, OKAY, YOU COULD HEAR THE DOGS IN THE DISTANCE AND THE TORCHES.

>> BUT THAT WAS -- THE THING IS THAT, OKAY, GOING -- BEING THERE SO LONG, I THINK HE WAS RUNNING THE THING WHEN I WAS IN DANVILLE.

ILLINOIS WAS A PLACE WHERE YOU COULD GET THINGS DONE BY PAYING SOMEBODY OFF.

>> RIGHT.

>> AND IT DIDN'T HAVE TO BE A HUGE AMOUNT OF MONEY OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, BUT JUST -- >> IT WAS THE PRINCIPLE OF IT.

>> RIGHT.

BUT I THOUGHT THIS LONG TIME AGO, I SAID, LIKE, MAN, WHEN BARACK OBAMA GOT SWORN IN FOR HIS SECOND TERM, I SAID IF I WAS SOLD SCHOOL ILLINOIS, JESSE WHITE, THE GUY WHO WAS COMPTROLLER OVER THERE FOREVER.

>> YEAH, YEAH.

>> ALL THESE GUYS, HERE'S YOUR TIME TO STEP AWAY.

YOU'LL NEVER BE HIGHER THAN YOU ARE RIGHT NOW AND THEY WANT YOU OUT AND A WHOLE LOT OF DIRTY DEALING'S GOING ON, AND WHEN IT FIRST CAME OUT THAT THEY WERE GOING TO INDICT THIS GUY, ALL YOU HAD TO DO IS LEAVE.

>> THE ONLY WAY TO GO IS DOWN, BUT I THINK WHAT THE PROBLEM IS, MAYBE SOMETHING IN THE WATER OR THE ATMOSPHERE, I'M SORRY, WHERE EVERYBODY THINKS THEY'RE THE SMARTEST GUY IN THE ROOM AND I'M NOT GOING TO BE THE NEXT BLAGO, ROD BLAGOJEVICH, FILL IN THE BLANKS, THERE HAVE BEEN SO MANY.

I THINK YOU HAVE TO HOLD -- A $200 MILLION FINE FOR COM ED, THAT'S CHUMP CHANGE FOR COME ED AND I THINK THE PROSECUTORS HAVE TO MAKE THE COMPANIES IN BED ALLEGEDLY WITH THE CROOKED POLITICIANS, THEY HAVE TO GO AFTER THEM AS IF IT'S A PRIORITY AND I KNOW THAT STILL COULD HAPPEN.

>> WELL, THEY'LL GO AFTER THE INDIVIDUALS AND THE CORPORATIONS.

THESE CORPORATIONS GET CHARGED AND FINED LIKE THERE'S NO PERSON BEHIND THEM.

>> YEAH.

>> THERE'S THE CEO.

ILLINOIS CORRUPTION, MY FAVORITE ONE, WHO WAS THE SECRETARY OF STATE THAT HAD THE BOX -- SHOE BOXES FILLED -- >> WAS IT RYAN?

>> I THINK IT WAS.

SHOE BOXES FILLED WITH MONEY THEY FOUND WHEN HE DIED AND ONE OF OUR SENATORS SAID, HIS SHOE BOXES WILL BE HARD TO FILL.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> OKAY, LET'S MOVE ON.

WENDY, I WANT TO ASK YOU, CLOSER TO HOME IN ST. LOUIS COUNTY, RITA HEARD DAYS, WHO HEADS UP THE ST. LOUIS COUNTY COUNCIL IS STILL PREVENTING COUNTY MONIES FROM GOING TO THE CITY TO EXPAND THE CONVENTION CENTER.

AS YOU KNOW, THE EXPANSION IS A $210 MILLION DEAL.

$105 MILLION ALREADY APPROPRIATEDY -- APPROPRIATED FROM THE CITY, BUT THE COUNTY HAS NOT HANDED OVER ITS 50% OF THE BARGAIN.

MS. DAYS WOULD LIKE SOME SORT OF ATHLETIC FACILITY FOR THE YOUTH AND OTHERS IN NORTH COUNTY AND WHILE IT'S NOT SPECIFICALLY WRITTEN OUT THAT THAT'S THE DEAL WITH THE CONVENTION CENTER, SHE'S STILL HOLDING OUT FOR THAT.

IS SHE IN THE RIGHT BY DOING SO?

>> YOU KNOW WHAT?

I'M NOT SURE IF SHE IS IN THE RIGHT OR IN THE WRONG, BUT I REALLY LIKE HER STYLE.

I MEAN, I REALLY, REALLY DO.

SHE IS NOT AFRAID OF ANYTHING OR ANYBODY.

ANY THREATS ABOUT HER POLITICAL FUTURE, ANY -- YOU KNOW, ANGST ON THE PART OF ANY OF HER COLLEAGUES, SHE KEEPS HER EYE ON THE BALL.

I JUST THINK AS A POLITICAL -- AS A LOCAL POLITICIAN, SHE IS FUN TO WATCH.

I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH LONGER -- I MEAN, WHEN YOU HAVE THE AMERICAN BASIC SAYING THAT, HEY, RITA, TERRY WILSON IS OUR GUY IF YOU DON'T MAKE THIS HAPPEN REALLY QUICKLY AND THE -- YOU KNOW, TO PUT THE ENTIRE TOURISM INDUSTRY ON THE BACK OF RITA HEARD DAYS, YOU KNOW, POST PANDEMIC, I THINK THAT'S A LITTLE BIT OF A STRETCH, BUT IT'S -- FOR AS LONG AS SHE GOES, IT'S GOING TO BE FUN TO WATCH.

>> THEY'RE NOT MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE, OKAY?

AND ALSO, WHAT ARE WE BUILDING IN -- >> THAT'S RIGHT.

SHE SAID SHE'S WORKING ON IT.

>> WHAT ARE WE BUILDING?

BECAUSE THERE'S SOME PLANS OUT THERE THAT ARE FLAT OUT INSULTING, I THINK, COMPARED TO OTHER -- >> LIKE A BASKETBALL HOOP.

>> EXACTLY.

WHAT EXACTLY ARE WE HOLDING UP THESE MUNICIPALS BONDS FOR?

MAYBE YOU SHOULD EXPLAIN THAT BECAUSE, LISTEN, THE CONVENTION CENTER IS GOING TO GET EXPANDED, IT NEEDS TO GET EXPANDED AND I THINK IT'S A MOOT POINT UNTIL IT'S DECIDED WITH ARE THIS MONEY FROM THE RAMS IS GOING TO GO BECAUSE IT COULD FINANCE A LOT OF THINGS.

>> I THINK ALVIN IS RIGHT ABOUT THAT, THE LAST POINT I WAS GOING TO MAKE.

I THINK RITA HEARD DAYS HAS DONE AN AMAZING JOB THIS YEAR PERSONALLY.

MAY NOT BE A POPULAR VIEW.

YOU KNOW, MANAGING THE CIRCUS THAT'S THE COUNTY COUNCIL, I THINK SHE'S DONE A GOOD JOB.

I DO THINK IT IS IMPORTANT AND IT'S NOT ALWAYS SEXY TO EXPAND -- TO PUT MONEY IN THE CONVENTION CENTER, BUT ALVIN'S POINT IS WELL TAKEN.

IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN AND I SURE DON'T BLAME HER -- >> I DON'T EITHER.

>> -- AS YOU SAY, IF SHE DOESN'T STAND UP AND FIGHT, SHE AIN'T GOING TO WIN.

>> ISN'T SHE IN THE CATBIRD'S SEAT RIGHT NOW WITH SAM PAGE RUNNING FOR RE-ELECTION AND LOOKING AT NORTH COUNTY AND LIKELY TO BE FACING A BLACK REPUBLICAN?

AND I WOULD THINK THAT RITA CAN GET ALMOST ANYTHING SHE WANTS OUT OF SAM PAGE IN THE NEXT -- >> YOU WOULD THINK, BUT THOSE WHEELS MOVE SLOWLY.

>> WE'LL SEE.

>> I THINK THAT -- I WOULD CHALLENGE BOTH YOU GUYS, ALVIN AND RAY, ON THE CONVENTION.

WE'VE GONE DOWN THAT ROAD SO LONG, WHAT'S IT GOTTEN US IN DOWNTOWN ST. LOUIS?

>> PUT MONEY IN THE CONVENTION CENTER?

>> EXACTLY.

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO -- >> THERE NEEDS TO BE A FACILITY IN NORTH COUNTY FOR THE KIDS AND THE ADULTS.

IT WOULD SOLVE SO MANY PROBLEMS.

>> THE TWO OF OF THEM ARE NOT MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE.

>> YES, THEY ARE, BECAUSE THE BUDGET IS A MATTER OF PRIORITIES.

FOR SOME REASON, WE ALWAYS DRAG OUR FEET ON THAT AND WE'VE HAD THAT CONVENTION CENTER SO LONG IN DIFFERENT PERMUTATIONS, WHAT HAS IT DONE FOR OUR DOWNTOWN?

>> YOU WANT TO JUST GIVE UP ON CONVENTION BUSINESS?

>> I LIKE TOURISM, BUT -- >> OH, TOURISM WITHOUT A CONVENTION CENTER.

THAT'S A GOOD STRATEGY.

>> AS YOU KNOW, YOU SAT ON THE TOURISM COMMITTEE YEARS AGO, THEY'RE DIFFERENT INDUSTRIES.

>> CHARLIE -- >> ALVIN, DO YOU REALLY THINK THAT ORTHOPAEDIC SURGEONS AND THEIR SPOUSES ARE GOING TO COME TO ST. LOUIS IN FEBRUARY WHEN THERE'S SAN DIEGO AND ORLANDO?

>> THEY DO, THEY HAVE.

>> WHEN YOU FLIP A HOUSE, THEY ALWAYS TURN THESE WHATEVER INTO THESE MAGNIFICENT PALACES.

I'M NOT ASKING FOR THAT, BUT I AM SAYING CAN WE GET AN UPGRADE -- >> CHANGE THE FIXTURES AND A COUPLE OF LIGHT BULBS.

>> IT LOOKS DINGY TO ME.

>> WHAT ABOUT KITTY RADCLIFFE'S PLAN TO HAVE, INSTEAD OF A BIG CENTER IN NORTH COUNTY, A TRACK.

>> I THINK THAT'S WHAT RITA HAS BEEN FIGHTING AGAINST IS THE FACT THAT WHEN IT DEALS WITH NORTH COUNTY, THEN WE HAVE TO ANALYZE IT AND BLUE-RIBBON-PANEL IT AND STUDY IT AND THEN IT ENDS UP JUST BEING A TRACK WHERE ONCE UPON A TIME -- >> WELL, IT'S THE SAME -- >> IT'S GOT TO BE A TRACK WITH A POOL AND BASKETBALL COURTS AND MORE.

WE'RE GOING TOOO INVITE YOU TO JOIN US FOR DONNYBASH IN JUNE AND HERE ARE THE DETAILS.

>> WELL, ANY SHOW THAT HAS BEEN AS POPULAR AS -- IS AFTER 36 YEARS, THEY MUST BE DOING RIGHT.

WE HAVE A WONDERFUL WAY FOR YOU TO BE IN THE AUDIENCE ENJOYING THE TAPING AND PRUSKZ DONNYBROOK.

WE WANT YOU TO BECOME A SUSTAINING MEMBER.

THIS IS SUCH A DEAL.

THIS IS A DEAL FOR SUSTAINING MEMBERS AT $12 A MONTH AND YOU WILL RECEIVE TWO TICKETS FOR DONNYBASH.

THE DATE FOR THAT IS THURSDAY, JUNE 9th.

THE DOORS OPEN AT 5:30.

THINGS GET UNDERWAY WITH RECEPTION AT 6:00.

WE'LL BE IN THE SHELDON CONCERT HALL WITH ACTUALLY THE WHOLE SET FROM DONNYBROOK SET UP RIGHT THERE FOR YOU TO ENJOY.

YOU WILL ALSO RECEIVE A NINE PBS MUG, AND THIS IS A -- COMES WITH A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT COLORS.

FOR $12 AS A SUSTAINING MEMBER, YOU'LL BE THERE AT DONNYBASH, TWO TICKETS, AND YOUR CHOICE OF THE COLOR OF THE NINE PBS MUG.

NOW, IF YOU WOULD SIMPLY LIKE YOUR CHOICE OF EITHER THE MUG OR ONE TICKET TO DONNYBASH FOR THAT THURSDAY, JUNE 9th, JUST MAKE A ONE-TIME CONTRIBUTION TO NINE PBS OF $75.

IT'S A LITTLE QUITE RIGHT NOW HERE IN THE NINE PBS STUDIO, BUT THERE'S A PRETTY ROWDY GROUP ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STUDIO AND THAT IS THE CREW FROM DONNYBROOK, AND WE WANT TO GO OVER AND JOIN THOSE GUYS RIGHT NOW.

ALONG WITH MY GOOD FRIEND WILL SHAW.

>> ALL RIGHT, HERE WE ARE AND I'LL -- YOU CANNOT BELIEVE HOW SERIOUS THESE PEOPLE ARE.

>> OH, YEAH.

>> WHEN THEY'RE OFF CAMERA.

I MEAN, THIS HAS JUST BEEN A -- >> WE ONLY HAVE ONE SPEED.

>> A VERY DARK CONVERSATION, BUT -- >> VERY DARK.

>> -- I'M SURE WE CAN GET THEM TO LIGHTEN UP FOR THE DONNYBASH COMING UP ON JUNE 9th AND THAT'S ONE OF OUR SPECIAL THANK YOU GIFTS WHEN YOU BECOME A MEMBER OF THE NINE NETWORK.

YOU GUYS REALLY ENJOY THAT, DON'T YOU?

>> WE LOVE IT, AND IT'S ONLY THREE MONTHS AWAY.

IT'S AMAZING.

>> AND THIS YEAR, AFTER SO MANY CANCELLATIONS AND DELAYS BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC, WE ARE GIDDY ABOUT IT.

WE ARE JUST GIDDY ABOUT JUNE 9th.

>> I THINK THE LAST ONE WAS FALL OF 2019, SO IT'S GOING TO BE TWO AND A HALF PLUS YEARS BEFORE WE HAVE A DONNYBASH.

IT'S THE HIGHLIGHT OF OUR YEAR.

IT'S A CHANCE TO VISIT WITH EVERYBODY WHO SPENDS $144 AND GETS THAT MUG.

>> AND A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO COME FROM EVERY YEAR AND WE HAVEN'T SEEN THEM IN A COUPLE YEARS.

THE CREW FROM GREENVILLE, ILLINOIS, KOUMS AND -- >> THE BUS COMES UP FROM GROWNVILLE?

>> OR CARRY VAN, HOWEVER THEY DO IT.

MAKE IT HERE.

I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE COOL FOR THIS SUMMER.

AND I GUESS WE'RE ALL THE SAME, BUT WE'RE DIFFERENT.

BILL, YOU CAN WEAR SHORTS.

>> I THINK I WILL, ALVIN.

THANK YOU FOR THAT.

>> IT REALLY IS SUCH A GREAT EVENT BECAUSE YOU GET TO KOL EARLY AND WATCH THEM SET UP, DO A LITTLE CHITCHAT, A LITTLE VISIT HERE AND THERE, AND THEN YOU WATCH A LIVE BROADCAST OF DONNYBROOK.

YOU WATCH IT AS IT'S HAPPENING.

IT'S GOING ON OVER THE AIR, AND AFTERWARDS, YOU ARE THE SOIREE AFTER THE TAPING OF THE -- WELL, NOT THE TAPING, BUT THE BROADCAST OF THE SHOW.

>> LIVE BROADCAST, RIGHT.

>> AND YOU GET TO RUB ELBOWS WITH THESE FOLKS RIGHT HERE.

IT'S GOING TO BE VERY SERIOUS, SO, YOU KNOW -- >> OH, SURE.

>> YOU ALSO GET TO GIVE US YOUR LINES FOR THE SHOW IN THE SESSION BEFORE THE SHOW VERY OFTEN, SOMEBODY GIVES US TALKING POINTS.

>> TALKING POINTS, YEAH.

>> OKAY.

>> AND AD LIBBED LINES.

>> AND SOUND EFFECTS.

ACTUALLY, THIS IS -- I THINK IT'S SO MUCH FUN FOR THE AUDIENCE BECAUSE IF THEY'RE THROWING THINGS AT THE TV SCREEN, THEY ACTUALLY GET -- THEY'RE ON CAMERA WHEN THEY'RE RA REACTING AND IT'S JUST A LIVE WONDERFUL EVENT AND THE ACOUSTICS AT THE SHELDON, IT'S THE HIGHLIGHT OF THE SEASON.

>> IT REALLY IS.

>> AND MY GRANDCHILDREN AT THE LAST SHOW, EVE VI, MY GRANDDAUGHTER, WALKED UP ON THE STAGE AND SHE GOT TO ASK THE LAST QUESTION AND THIS YEAR MY GRANDSON TINO SAID HE WANTS TO WALK UP ON THE STAGE WITH ME, SO I WILL BE ACCOMPANIED BY, LIKE, TWO BODYGUARDS.

>> THEY'RE LIKE HUMAN SEALS.

>> WE CAN'T GET MADS THEIR GRANDPA.

>> SO UNFAIR.

>> WHAT GOOD OTHER KIDS?

ANYBODY ELSE WANT TO BRING THEIR KIDS OR GRANDKIDS?

>> WELL, MINE IS GETTING AN ENGINEERING DEGREE.

HEY, YOU GUYS OUGHT TO COME TO DONNYBASH.

ALL RIGHT, DAD, CATCH ME IN THREE OR FOUR YEARS.

>> IT REALLY IS JUST A FUN EVENING AND PEOPLE COME FOR ALL DIFFERENT REASONS, SERIOUSLY.

THAT'S -- I THINK THAT'S WHAT'S REALLY -- EVERYBODY'S OF A DIFFERENT MINDSET.

IT'S LIKE YOU HAVE PEOPLE THERE CELEBRATING ANNIVERSARIES, PEOPLE WHO WANT TO REALLY GET INTO THE WEEDS TALKING ABOUT POLITICS AND WHAT'S GOING ON LOCALLY.

IT'S JUST -- >> ALVIN BROUGHT UP A GOOD POINT.

IT'S IN SUMMER.

>> TECHNICALLY LATE SPRING.

>> AS I GET OLDER, I DON'T LIKE TO DRIVE AT NIGHT THAT MUCH, BUT THIS IS THE FIRST DONNYBASH, I THINK, WHERE WE'RE GOING TO COME OUT AT 8:00 AFTER THE SHOW AND MAYBE 8:30, AND IT'S STILL GOING TO BE LIGHT OUTSIDE.

YOU CAN DRIVE HOME IN THE LIGHT, RIGHT?

>> THAT MAY BE WHY THEY SCHEDULED IT THEN, CHARLIE.

>> FOR ME, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THANKS, FOLKS.

>> AND YOU KNOW, THERE'S SO MANY WAYS THAT YOU CAN USE IT AS A GIFT FOR MOTHER'S DAY, FATHER'S DAY, WHATEVER DAY YOU WANT TO MAKE IT A GIFT.

JUST GIVE US A CALL RIGHT NOW AND BECOME A MEMBER OF THE NINE NETWORK AND GET YOUR TICKETS FOR DONNYBASH.

LET'S GO BACK OVER TO MARY.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

YOU KNOW, WE WERE TALKING ABOUT FATHER'S DAY AND YOU JUST BROUGHT THAT UP, WILL.

WHAT A WONDERFUL FATHER'S DAY GIFT.

AND SOMETIMES DADS CAN BE A LITTLE TOUGH TO SHOP FOR.

I THINK DONNYBASH WOULD REALLY BE A VERY WELCOME GIFT AND THE GUYS FROM DONNYBROOK ARE ALWAYS SAYING, YOU KNOW, YOU MAY HAVE BEEN TO DONNYBASH BEFORE, BUT DON'T BE SHY.

COME ON BACK.

THEY LOVE SEEING PEOPLE OVER AND OVER AGAIN, AND I THINK THIS YEAR'S DONNYBASH IS GOING TO BE ESPECIALLY FUN.

YOU CAN HEAR HOW GIDDY THE GUYS ARE TO GET THERE ON JUNE 9th, SO LET'S GO OVER HOW YOU CAN BE RIGHT THERE IN THE AUDIENCE BECAUSE IT'S SUCH AN EASY WAY.

WHEN YOU BECOME A SUSTAINING MEMBER AT $12 A MONTH, YOU'RE GOING TO GET TWO TICKETS TO THAT DONNYBASH ON THURSDAY, JUNE 9th, AND YOU'LL ALSO RECEIVE A NINE PBS MUG.

IF YOU WOULD JUST LIKE ONE TICKET OR YOUR CHOICE OF THE MUG, THAT CHOICE IS YOURS WHEN YOU MAKE A ONE-TIME CONTRIBUTION OF $75 TO NINE PBS.

DON'T FORGET THAT WITH YOUR MEMBER, YOU WILL RECEIVE NINE MAGAZINE NOT FULL YEAR OF YOUR MEMBERSHIP AND YOU'LL ALSO HAVE ACCESS TO NINE PBS PASSPORT, WHICH IS AN EXTENDED LIBRARY OF YOUR FAVORITE PBS AND NINE PBS SHOWS THAT YOU CAN WATCH ANYTIME, ANYWHERE.

BUT MAKE SURE THAT YOU GIVE US A CALL RIGHT NOW.

DON'T MISS THIS OPPORTUNITY TO BE THERE AT DONNYBASH ON JUNE 9th AND JOIN US HERE AT NINE PBS.

>> AND WE'LL SEE YOU IN JUNE.

RAY, LET'S CONTINUE OUR DISCUSSION, THIS TIME TAKING A LOOK AT A LEGAL CASE THAT YOU KNOW A LOT ABOUT BECAUSE YOU'VE HAD SOME OF THE PRINCIPALS ON YOUR RADIO SHOW RECENTLY.

ESSENTIALLY SEPTEMBER 17th, 2017, THERE WERE PROTESTERS IN DOWNTOWN ST. LOUIS ALONG WITH SOME VANDALS AS WELL, AND THE POLICE USED A CONTROVERSIAL POLICING TECHNIQUE CALLED KETTLING.

PUT ALL THOSE FOLKS TOGETHER.

SOME OF THEM GOT HURT.

IT WAS A PRETTY BAD SCENE IN MANY WAYS.

AT THE SAME TIME, SOME OF THE PROTESTERS CLAIM THAT THEIR CIVIL RIGHTS HAD BEEN VIOLATED, THEIR 1st, 4th, AND 14th AMENDMENT RIGHTS, THEY'VE TAKEN IT TO COURT AND WON SOME CASES AT THE LOWER LEVEL.

THEY ALSO WON AT THE 8th CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS, BUT THE CITY COUNCILOR SHEENA HAMILTON IN THE CITY OF ST. LOUIS WANTS TO APPEAL FOR AN ENBANC, THE FULLCOURT IN THE COURT OF APPEALS.

THEY WANTS TO TAKE THIS CASE EVEN FURTHER.

ARE YOU ON HER SIDE?

>> ABSOLUTELY NOT.

VERY MUCH UNDERSTATED BY YOU WHAT HAPPENED.

ABOUT 100 PEOPLE, PEDESTRIANS, JOURNALISTS, WHATEVER, WERE ROUNDED UP IN WHAT'S CALLED KETTLING, AND I BELIEVE THEY'VE STOPPED DOING IT NOW.

>> AND AN UNDERCOVER POLICE OFFICER.

>> WELL, THIS IS -- OH, THIS IS BEFORE.

>> LUTHER HALL GOT BEATEN WITHIN AN INCH OF HIS LIFE BEFORE THAT.

THE SAME NIGHT, BUT BEFORE THAT.

THEN THEY HAD THE KETTLE, WHICH WAS 100 PEOPLE, SOME DOWNTOWN RESIDENTS SEEING WHAT'S GOING ON, AND THEY PEPPER SPRAYED MANY OF THEM, BEAT MANY OF THEM.

THIS LOOKED MORE LIKE MOSCOW THAN ST. LOUIS, SO LET'S NOT UNDERSTATE WHAT HAPPENED.

>> BUT THOSE ARE THE ALLEGATIONS.

>> YOU KNOW WHAT, LET IT GO TO TRIAL.

RIGHT NOW THE CITY OF ST. LOUIS AND MS. HAMILTON HAS DECIDED TO ESSENTIALLY MAKE A -- THROW DOWN FOR THE CONCEPT OF -- >> QUALIFIED IMMUNITY.

>> QUALIFIED IMMUNITY.

FOR THOSE OF US WHO ARE CIVIL LIBERTARIANS, QUALIFIED IMMUNITY IS A NO-GO.

IT'S GOT TO BE REMOVED BECAUSE IT'S THE ONLY ACCOUNTABILITY THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT AND IN MANY STATES, OTHER KINDS OF OFFICIALS HAVE.

IT IS CERTAINLY ITEM A FOR THOSE THAT BELIEVE IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM.

AND THOSE PEOPLE PRESUMABLY INCLUDE THE MAYOR AND SOME OTHERS.

IT'S ONE THING FOR THE CITY TO DEFEND ITS OFFICERS, AND BY THE WAY, THEY'RE NOT DEFENDING ALL OF THEM, BUT TO THE EXTENT THEY HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO DEFEND THE BUDGET IS FINE, AND TO APPEAL TO A THREE-JUDGE PANEL, WHICH THEY DID, IS FINE.

NOW A THREE-JUDGE PANEL OF FEDERAL JUDGES UNANIMOUSLY, TWO REPUBLICANS, ONE APPOINTED BY TRUMP, RULED AGAINST THEM.

IT'S TIME TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO SETTLE THESE CASES, NOT FIGHT FOR QUALIFIED IMMUNITY.

>> WELL, NO -- WAIT -- >> I WAS GOING TO SAY, ONE, THEY OFFERED THESE FOLKS A SEJTMENT AND THEY DIDN'T TAKE IT AND IF I OFFER YOU A SETTLEMENT AND YOU DON'T TAKE IT, WE'RE TAKING IT TO THE FULL EXTENT OF THE LAW AND YOU DON'T TAKE IT, THEN THAT'S TOUGH.

TWO, LAST I LOOKED, THE CITY COUNCILOR REPRESENTS THE CITY AND SHE DECIDES WHAT THE CITY'S BEST INTEREST IS, AND YOU CAN BE THE MAYOR, YOU CAN BE THE COMPTROLLER, THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN AND YOUR POLITICAL LIFE MAY TELL YOU ONE THING, BUT WHEN YOUR ATTORNEY COMES IN AND TELLS YOU ANOTHER, MY ADVICE WOULD BE HIS TEN -- >> LISTEN TO THE ATTORNEY.

>> SHE'S DOING YOUR JOB AND IF I DON'T LIKE IT THIS TIME, THAT'S TOUGH, BECAUSE NEXT TIME SHE'S GOING TO DO HER JOB AND YOU'RE GOING TO APPLAUD IT.

I DON'T THINK SHE SHOULD BE LIMITED BY THE FACT OF WHAT SHE'S STANDING FOR.

SHE'S STANDING FOR THE CITY.

>> IT'S BEING RESPONSIBLE, RAY.

QUALIFIED IMMUNITY WOULD GENERALLY WROTE TECH POLICE OFFICERS.

IF YOU'RE THE MAYOR OF THE CITY, YOU DON'T WANT TO MAKE IT EASIER TO COLLECT FROM THE CITY.

JUST LIKE THE NEWSPAPER, I REMEMBER WHEN WE HAD AN EDITOR WHO WANTED TO SUE THE JOURNALISM REVIEW OF ALL THINGS, AND WE HAD A CIRCULATION OF 35.

>> RIGHT.

>> BUT HE WANTED TO SUE THEM BASED ON SOME KIND OF STRETCHING FROM LIBEL IS AND OUR LAWYER SAID WE'RE TRYING TO PROTECT THE NEWSPAPER IN GENERAL AND RESTRICT THESE LAWSUITS, AND IF THE MAYOR WERE TO SAY I WANT TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR PEOPLE TO SUE THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE CITY, THAT WOULD BE FINANCIALLY IRRESPONSIBLE.

>> AND THE BOTTOM LINE IS THE CONSTITUENTS OF THE CITY ATTORNEY ARE THE PEOPLE OF ST. LOUIS, AND YES, THERE'S A FINANCIAL COMPONENT, BUT THERE'S ALSO A HUMAN RIGHTS COMPONENT TO THAT.

AND THE FACT IS, IT'S NOT -- AND SHE COMES FROM A CORPORATE BACKGROUND, SO THAT'S FINE.

SHE'S ORIENTED, SHE DEFENDED THE WALMARTS OF THE WORLD IN CIVIL RIGHTS CASES, TO WORRYING ABOUT THE BOTTOM LINE, BUT THERE'S MORE THAN THE BOTTOM LINE HERE AND GETTING RID OF QUALIFIED IMMUNITY -- >> NO, NO.

>> SHE'S A LAWYER, NOT AN ACTIVIST.

>> THE PEOPLE WHO WANT TO GET RID OF EQUAL FIGHT IMMUNITY, THEY CAN FIGHT THEIR OWN FIGHT, BUT THE CITY WANTS TO KEEP QUALIFIED IMMUNITY AND THAT'S -- SHE ALSO REPRESENTS NOT JUST THE ACTIVISTS, BUT THE TAXPAYERS IN GENERAL.

>> THE TAXPAYERS IN GENERAL ARE AGAINST QUALIFIED IMMUNITY.

>> SHE DOESN'T HAVE CONSTITUENCY.

SHE'S APPOINTED AND SHE'S APPOINTED AND SHE HAS A JOB TO DO.

SHE DOESN'T -- >> THE MAYOR'S CHIEF OF STAFF JARRETT BOYD SAID IMMEDIATELY AFTER SHE WAS RESPONSIBLE, WE'RE GOING TO DO THIS DIFFERENTLY.

SHE'S GOING TO HAVE DIRECTION TO THINK MORE ABOUT -- I DON'T REMEMBER HIS EXACT WORDS, BUT BASICALLY NOT TO BE CONFINED JUST WITH FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, BUT TO LOOK AT THE BIGGER PICTURE AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT'S NOT HAPPENING.

>> IT IS HAPPENING.

>> SHEENA HAMILTON WAS A CLERK FOR THE U.S. DISTRICT COURT -- >> GREAT BACKGROUND.

>> THEN SHE WORKED FOR DOWD BENNETT, ONE OF THE TOP LAW FIRMS IN THE STATE, IF NOT THE MIDWEST, I DON'T THINK THAT SHE'S GOING TO BE SOMEONE THAT'S TOLD WHAT TO DO.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> THAT'S THE POINT.

I THINK IT'S TERRIFIC SHE WAS A HISTORIC APPOINTMENT, ALL THAT, BUT THE FACT IS THAT DOESN'T MEAN YOU CAN'T CRITICIZE HER POSITION ON THIS.

I THINK SHE'S WRONG AND I THINK -- YOU MENTIONED THE GATEWAY JOURNALISM, THERE WAS A GREAT PIECE ON THIS WHERE THERE WAS A HUGE CONNECT BETWEEN WHAT THE CITY'S POLITICS ARE AND WHAT THE CITY'S ACTIONS ARE AND HE WAS TALKING ABOUT A CASE THAT RESEMBLED THE FLOYD CASE.

>> BUT SHE'S A LAWYER REPRESENTING THE LEGAL INTERESTS OF THE CITY, RAY.

>> THE BOTTOM LINE IS, THE CITY DOES NOT NEED TO BE FIGHTING FOR QUALIFIED IMMUNITY.

>> THEN THE CITY OUGHT TO JUST MAKE DEALS WITH THESE PEOPLE AND GIVE THEM MORE MONEY.

IF WE WANT TO BE A PROGRESSIVE CITY -- >> THE LAWYER IN THIS, WHO'S HANDLED ALL THOSE CASES, HOTLY CONTESTS THE ASSUMPTION THAT THE CITY IS -- HE WANTS -- HE SAYS HE WANTS TO SETTLE.

HE SAYS THE CITY IS LYING WHEN -- >> THEN SETTLE.

>> NO, HE WANTS TO SETTLE.

HE SAID -- >> WE HAVE TO TAKE A BREAK HERE.

ACTUALLY, WE HAVE TO SWITCH TOPICS.

WE'LL TAKE A BREAK MOMENTARILY AND ASK FOLKS TO JOIN US FOR DONNYBASH IN JUNE, BUT BILL, PRESIDENT BIDEN IN HIS STATE OF THE UNION DID SAY SPECIFICALLY THIS WEEK, FUND THE POLICE WITH TRAINING AND REFORM AND ALL THAT, BUT FUND THE POLICE.

IMMEDIATELY ST. LOUIS CONGRESSMAN CORI BUSH TOOK THE PRESIDENT TO TASK AND SHE'S STILL IN FAVOR OF DEFUNDING THE POLICE.

DO YOU THINK THAT STATEMENTS LIKE THAT ARE GOING TO MAKE DEMOCRATS IN GENERAL MORE VULNERABLE IN NOVEMBER?

>> SURE, SURE.

I MEAN, MOST PEOPLE WANT POLICE PROTECTION AND FEEL THAT SAFETY AND SECURITY IS VERY IMPORTANT AND CORI BUSH, YOU KNOW, SHE'S SINCERE WITHOUT BEING SERIOUS.

I MEAN, IT'S HARD TO TAKE A LOT OF HER POSITION SERIOUSLY, AND I THINK THIS WHOLE DEFUNDING THE POLICE IS A MISTAKE.

>> WELL, YOU DON'T HAVE A COMMUNITY -- THE REALITY OF IT IS, YOU DON'T HAVE A COMMUNITY WITHOUT POLICE PROTECTION, PERIOD.

AND IT IS ALSO -- AND I AGREE WITH YOU, BILL.

I THINK THAT HER HEART IS OBVIOUSLY IN THE RIGHT PLACE.

>> RIGHT.

>> SHE IS LOOKING OUT FOR THE PEOPLE WHO PUT HER IN OFFICE.

IT'S JUST -- I JUST -- I THINK SHE NEEDS TO EXPAND HER REPERTOIRE.

IT CAN'T JUST BE DEFUND THE POLICE.

SHE HAS TO WORK -- I THINK SHE JUST HAS TO -- INSTEAD OF AUTOMATICALLY SAYING TAKE THE MONEY AWAY FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, WORK FOR SOME KIND OF COMPROMISE, CONTINUE TO WORK FOR A COMPROMISE, BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE A ONE-TRICK PONY AND THAT'S NOT ANYTHING YOU CAN CONTINUE TO DO.

>> AND IT'S EVIDENCE THAT THE DEMOCRATS ARE NOT AN ORGANIZED POLITICAL PARTY.

I MEAN, IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE TO HAVE DEMOCRATS OUT THERE IN AN ELECTION YEAR, 2022, UNDERCUTTING THEIR LEADER AND I WILL SAY THIS.

SHE'S RIGHT, I THINK.

I'VE ALWAYS HATED THAT PHRASE FROM THE BEGINNING.

I THINK THEY'RE RIGHT TO TALK ABOUT PUTTING MORE OF AN EMPHASIS ON ATTACKING THE CAUSES OF CRIME RATHER THAN THE SYMPTOMS, BUT YOU'RE RIGHT.

IT'S A TERRIBLE POSITION, AND VERY FEW PEOPLE, OUT OF THE AMERICAN PUBLIC, WANT TO HAVE THEIR POLICE PROTECTION TAKEN AWAY FROM THEM.

SO IT'S JUST A TERRIBLE POSITION -- >> INCLUDING CORI BUSH WHO HAS A PRETTY BIG SECURITY PERSONNEL.

>> AND TO YOUR POINT, I THINK SHE'S -- THE DEMOCRATS SHOULD AND COULD BE FIGHTING AGAINST THINGS LIKE QUALIFIED IMMUNITY.

THEY SHOULD BE FIGHTING FOR CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM, BUT NOT BY TAKING AWAY THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

>> JANUARY 2017, THE WHITE HOUSE, THE HOUSE, THE SENATE, WAS REPUBLICAN-CONTROLLED.

TWO YEARS LATER, REPUBLICANS LOST THE HOUSE.

TWO YEARS AFTER THAT, DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING.

ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS SHOW THAT TO THE CORI BUSHES OF THE WORLD AND SAY IF YOU THINK THIS CAN'T BE US, YOU'RE SADLY MISTAKEN.

THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY NEEDS SOMEBODY WHO CAN, YOU KNOW, KEEP PROGRESSIVES IN LINE, CONSERVATIVES, DEMOCRATS, MODERATES, A BIG PLACE.

LIKE ILLINOIS.

LIKE MIKE MADIGAN DID ALL THOSE YEARS.

[ LAUGHTER ] THERE'S A LITTLE METHOD TO THE MADNESS.

NOT ACCUSING THE MAN, BUT -- >> DO YOU THINK, ALVIN, THIS MIGHT LEAD TO A SUBSTANTIAL CHALLENGE TO CORI BUSH?

>> I THINK SO.

I THINK THAT YOU COULD NOW MAKE AN ARGUMENT THAT THE BIG PICTURE IN A WAY IS KIND OF LARGER THAN THE ST. LOUIS PICTURE.

I DON'T KNOW THAT YOU CAN WIN, BUT YOU CAN BASICALLY BASE A CHALLENGE UPON IT.

>> VERY INTERESTING.

HEY, WE CHALLENGE YOU TO JOIN US IN JUNE FOR DONNYBASH 202020.

HERE ARE SOME DETAILS.

>> DON'T GO AWAY BECAUSE THERE IS MORE DONNYBROOK TO COME.

WE WANT TO TAKE JUST A MOMENT HERE AND CORDIALLY INVITE YOU TO SUPPORT DONNYBROOK AND SO MANY OTHER PROGRAMS HERE ON NINE PBS BY BECOMING A MEMBER OF NINE PBS.

BE PART OF THE FAMILY.

IF YOU'VE NEVER BEEN A MEMBER, THIS IS THE PERFECT TIME TO SIGN UP AND BECOME ONE.

IF YOU'VE BEEN A MEMBER IN THE PAST AND MAYBE YOU LET IT LAPSE, LET'S TAKE CARE OF THAT RIGHT HERE RIGHT NOW AND WE HAVE VERY SPECIAL THANK YOU GIFTS FOR YOU WHEN YOU JOIN US RIGHT NOW.

BECOME AN ONGOING MONTHLY CONTRIBUTOR AT THE $12 PER MONTH LEVEL AND WE WILL SEND YOU THAT NEW NINE PBS MUG, VERY HANDSOME, AND YOU'LL ALSO GET TWO TICKETS TO SEE DONNYBASH.

THAT'S COMING UP JUNE 9th AND YOU WILL GET TO BE THERE FOR A LIVE BROADCAST, A LIVE PRESENTATION OF DONNYBROOK.

YOU'LL BE THERE BEFOREHAND, YOU'LL GET TO DO A LITTLE INTERACTION WITH THE DONNYBROOK CAST.

YOU'LL GET TO WATCH THE PROGRAM AND THEN AFTERWARDS, THERE'S A NICE LITTLE CHEESE AND WINE SOIREE AFTERWARDS WHERE YOU'LL ACTUALLY GET TO MEET THEM, RUB ELBOWS WITH THE FOLKS, AND IT'S A GREAT TIME FOR ALL.

THAT'S YOURS WHEN YOU JOIN US AT THE $12 ONGOING MONTHLY CONTRIBUTION LEVEL.

IF YOU'D LIKE TO JOIN US AT THE $75 LEVEL, WE CAN GIVE YOU EITHER THE MUG OR ONE TICKET TO DONNYBASH.

SO IF YOU TEND TO GO STAG, THAT WOULD BE VERY CONVENIENT FOR YOU.

THAT'S YOURS WITH A $75 ONE-TIME CONTRIBUTION TO NINE PBS.

YOU MAY TAKE YOUR PICK EITHER OF THE MUG OR ONE TICKET TO SEE DONNYBASH.

NOW, THOSE FOLKS FROM DONNYBROOK ARE HERE WITH US TONIGHT AND THEY ARE CHATTING IT UP RIGHT OVER THERE.

SO LET'S GO OVER TO MARY ANN CARSON AND TALK TO THE DONNYBROOK FOLKS.

>> AND HERE WE ARE, AND YOU KNOW, AS I LOOK AROUND THE SET, THIS NEW SET, THIS IS GOING TO BE THE FIRST TIME THIS NEW SET WILL BE AT DONNYBASH.

>> OH, THAT'S RIGHT!

>> RIGHT, RIGHT.

>> GOOD POINT.

>> WHICH IS EVEN MORE EXCITING.

>> AND THERE WILL BE A LOT OF PEOPLE ON THE STAGE THAT NIGHT TAKING PICTURES, I GET BECAUSE THERE'S A NEW SET.

YEAH, THERE'S AS A LOT OF THAT.

>> I WONDER IF THIS OLD SET WOULD HAVE MADE IT ONE MORE TRIP, BUT -- [ LAUGHTER ] >> THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT REMEMBER FONDLY THAT GREEN COUCH WE HAD.

WITH THE WINE STAINS ON IT -- >> YEAH, WHEN CHARLIE SAYS, WE'RE GATHERED AROUND THE BIG TABLE, IT IS NO LONGER GREENS ABOUT DEFINITELY NO LONGER GREEN, BUT WE WILL -- >> THE WAY THAT TABLE WAS GOING, IT WASN'T GOING TO BE GREEN.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT WAS GOING TO BE, BUT -- >> THAT'S TRUE.

>> THAT TABLE WALKED OUT OF HERE.

>> UNDER ITS OWN POWER.

>> I THINK ONE OF THE REAL HIGHLIGHTS OF DONNYBASH IS HAVING EACH OF YOU INTRODUCED, AND WHEN YOU MAKE YOUR ENTRANCE.

ISN'T THAT FUN?

>> IT IS FUN, ESPECIALLY WHEN DEAN MARTIN HERE -- I MEAN, HE COMES OUT ON THE STAGE AND THE PEOPLE GO NUTS FOR ALVIN.

ALVIN IS JUST SUCH A PERFORMER AND HE LOVES AN AUDIENCE, AND, OF COURSE, BILL, EVERYBODY IS -- EVERYBODY IS ON TOP OF IT AT DONNYBASH JUST BECAUSE WE HAVE -- WE LOVE THAT GIVE AND TAKE, DON'T WE?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> BECAUSE WE'RE A LITTLE HAMMY.

>> I KNOW.

>> JUST A LITTLE.

>> A LITTLE BIT.

>> I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU DO IT WITHOUT AN AUDIENCE EVERY WEEK, REALLY.

>> AND NOW WE CAN SEE YOU OUT THERE, AND I'M KIND OF KIDDING BECAUSE, THEY WALK UP TO YOU AND HEY, BLAH BLAH BLAH, AND YOU'RE TALKING TO ME LIKE I KNOW YOU, BUT I GUESS I DO.

>> EXACTLY.

>> YOU WONDER HOW -- THEY'RE KIND OF THE SAME IN STUDIO AS THEY ARE -- >> WHAT DID TAJ MAHAL ABOUT ALL YOU PEOPLE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE NEEDLE, YOU KNOW, BACK IN THE DAY WHEN EVERYONE HAD A PHONOGRAPH.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> IN THE STUDIO, WE HAVE THE WORLD'S GREATEST CREW HERE.

>> YEAH.

>> SOMETIMES THEY GIVE ME CAMERA TIME.

>> WOW, RAY.

>> BUT WE HAVE PEOPLE AND THEY SNICKER WHEN WE'RE TALKING, BUT NO.

IT'S SO MUCH -- THERE'S NOTHING FOR US LIKE THE INSTANT FEEDBACK, AND AS I SAY, SOME OF US ARE BETTER THAN OTHERS, BUT -- THERE REALLY IS -- WE ALL ARE HAMS, ACTUALLY, ABOUT THIS.

BUT IT'S FUN.

IT ACTUALLY MAKES -- IT'S THE ULTIMATE CONNECTION WITH THE NINE PBS AUDIENCE AND IT'S -- AND LET'S NOT FORGET THAT THIS IS ALL A BIG PART OF AN AMAZING STATION, TOO.

>> OH MY GOSH.

>> AND NETWORK AND IT'S NICE TO BE PART OF IT.

>> IT'S REALLY TRUE.

THERE ARE 350 PUBLIC TELEVISION STATIONS IN THE COUNTRY AND WE ARE SO FORTUNATE TO HAVE JUST ABOUT THE HIGHEST PER CAPITA VIEWERSHIP OF ANY MARKET.

I MEAN, ON ANY GIVEN EVENING, YOU HAVE A HIGHER VIEWERSHIP THAN MINNEAPOLIS AND CHICAGO AND SAN FRANCISCO.

>> SAN FRANCISCO, NEW YORK, I MEAN, IT'S -- OUR STATION REALLY BEATS OUT -- >> WELL, ONE THING THAT WE HAVE REALLY DONE WELL, AND I GIVE ANNE MARIE BERGER CREDIT FOR IT, IS THIS NEXT UP.

YOU KNOW, THE SECOND HALF OF THE SHOW WHERE WE HAVE SOMEBODY ON LIKE LAST WEEK WE HAD JOHN SHIMKUS, THE FORMER CONGRESSMAN FROM ILLINOIS, WHO IS AN EXPERT ON UKRAINE.

HE WAS THERE AS A SUPERVISOR FOR THE ELECTION AND AN OBSERVER FOR THE ELECTION, AND HE WAS, FOR HALF AN HOUR, RAY AND ALVIN TALKED TO JOHN SHIMKUS AND HE KNEW WHAT HE WAS TALKING ABOUT AND HE DIDN'T HAVE AN AGENDA, AND I USUALLY DON'T WATCH CABLE TV, BUT I'VE BEEN WATCHING DURING THE UKRAINE WAR -- >> SURE.

>> -- AND I DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING AS GOOD AS THAT.

I MEAN, NO AGENDA, JUST JOHN SHIMKUS WHO KNEW WHAT HE WAS TALKING ABOUT AND TALKING -- I WAS REALLY EXCELLENT TELEVISION.

>> ARE YOU SUGGESTING WE DON'T KNOW WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT?

[ LAUGHTER ] >> I'M NOT SUGGESTING IT, RAY, I'M SPEAKING -- [ ALL SPEAKING AT ONCE ] >> AND ON THAT NOTE.

>> BACK TO WILL.

>> IT IS REFRESHING.

>> ON THAT NOTE, BACK TO WILL.

>> DID YOU NOTICE HOW MUCH MARY GOT TO TALK?

WHEN I WAS OVER THERE, I DIDN'T GET A WORD IN EDGEWAYS BUT THAT'S PROBABLY BETTER BECAUSE YOU TUNED IN TO WATCH THE FOLKS FROM DONNYBROOK ANYWAY, DIDN'T YOU?

RIGHT NOW, WE'D LIKE YOU TO SUPPORT THIS PROGRAM AND EVERYTHING THAT YOU AND YOUR FAMILY, YOUR CHILDREN, YOUR GRANDCHILDREN, ENJOY HERE ON NINE PBS AND WHEN YOU DO, WE HAVE VERY SPECIAL DONNYBROOK THANK YOU GIFTS FOR YOU.

CALL US RIGHT NOW AND JOIN US AT THE $12 PER MONTH ONGOING MONTHLY CONTRIBUTION AND WE WILL SEND YOU A NINE PBS MUG.

THAT'S A BRAND NEW ONE.

WE'VE HAD LOTS OF MUGS OVER THE YEARS AND THIS IS A VERY HANDSOME ONE, I THINK.

PLUS YOU'LL GET A PAIR OF TICKETS TO SEE DONNYBASH AND THAT'S COMING UP ON JUNE 9th AT THE SHELDON AND YOU WILL BE THERE TO WATCH A LIVE PRESENTATION, A LIVE BROADCAST OF DONNYBROOK.

THERE ARE FESTIVITIES BEFORE THE SHOW AND THEN AFTERWARDS, THERE'S ALWAYS A LITTLE WINE AND CHEESE SOIREE AND YOU'LL GET TO MEET THE DONNYBROOK STARS AND TALK TO THEM AND CHITCHAT.

THEY REALLY ARE A DELIGHTFUL GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO REALLY LOVE WHAT THEY DO.

AND REALLY LOVE HELPING OUT NINE PBS AND MEETING THEIR FANS.

SO CALL US RIGHT NOW.

SUPPORT NINE PBS AND DONNYBROOK.

>> WELCOME BACK.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

A LOT TO DISCUSS AS WE POSITIVE BACK TO YOU, ALVIN -- MOVE BACK TO YOU, ALVIN, SO SOME ENDORSEMENTS RECENTLY IN THE U.S. SENATE RACE ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE.

WE HAD JOSH HAWLEY, THE JUNIOR SENATOR FOR THE STATE OF MISSOURI ENDORSING VICKY HARTZLER, U.S. CONGRESSWOMAN FROM MISSOURI, AND TED CRUZ, U.S.

SENATOR FROM TEXAS, ENDORSING ERIC SCHMITT, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR THE STATE OF MISSOURI, AND WE ALSO HAVE A POLL SHOWING, I THINK, THAT ERIC GREITENS, THE FORMER GOVERNOR IS IN THE LEAD THUS FAR.

SO WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF ALL THIS?

>> WELL, I THOUGHT THE POLL WAS INTERESTING, FIRST OF ALL, BECAUSE I THOUGHT GREITENS, IF HE WERE GOING TO WIN AND RUN AWAY IT WITH, HE WOULD HAVE HAD A LARGER LEAD AND WHILE HE WAS A THE 30%, I THINK THEY WERE BACKING HIM UP WITH 24% AND 22% AND 16% WERE STILL UNDECIDED.

I THINK AS CANDIDATES SEE THE LIGHT AND DROP OUT, I THINK IT WILL BE ENOUGH THAT SCHMITT MIGHT GET PAST HIM, HARTZLER MIGHT GET PAST HIM.

I LOOK AT EACH INDIVIDUAL CANDIDATE AND THINK, WHEN THEY DROP OUT, WHERE DO THEIR VOTES FOR?

McCLOSKEY'S I THINK WILL GO TO GREITENS.

HARTZLER, THOSE GO TO SCHMITT.

I DON'T SEE THEM DROPPING OUT, BUT WE'VE HAD THESE THREE-WAY RUNS HERE AND IF ONLY ONE PERSON GOT OUT OF THE RACE, MAYBE WE WOULDN'T HAVE SEEN STEVE STENGER BE THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

MARK MONTE VANNY.

>> THEY WISE UP AND SAY LISTEN, THE ONLY WAY WE CAN LOSE THIS SENATE SEAT IS IF ERIC GREITENS WINS, SO WE GOT TO DO SOMETHING, AND I CAN SEE THEM COMING TO A COMPROMISE.

>> I THINK THE ANTI-GREITENS -- THERE'S TWO SIDES HERE, THERE'S GREITENS AND THE ANTI-GREITENS.

I THINK THERE'S A NUMBER OF -- I GUESS IT'S A BAD PUN, ELEPHANTS IN THE ROOM, WHICH IS DONALD TRUMP'S ENDORSEMENT WHICH IN A REPUBLICAN PRIMARY MATTERS GREATLY WHETHER ANYBODY LIKES IT OR NOT.

WE DON'T KNOW WHAT HE'S GOING TO DO.

THAT'S THE BIG ONE.

THERE'S ALSO THEN THE QUESTION OF HOW DO YOU -- WHO DECIDES -- IT'S LESS THAN FIVE MONTHS TILL THE PRIMARY, SO IT'S GETTING A LITTLE LATE TO DROP OUT.

AND BY THE WAY, TURF FOUNDER IS A RIGHT WING POLLSTER THAT I WOULDN'T ALWAYS TRUST, BUT ON A REPUBLICAN PRIMARY, THEY'RE PRETTY HIGHLY RATED FOR ACCURACY AND I THINK GREITENS HAS A COMMANDING LEAD AND AN I KNOW THERE MAY BE AN EFFORT TO GET SOMEBODY OUT, BUT IF I'M ERIC SCHMITT SITTING ON 23%, IT'S HARD TO ARGUE FOR ME TO GET OUT, AND VICKY HARTZLER HAS DROPPED HER CONGRESSIONAL CAREER TO DO THIS.

I DON'T SEE HER GETTING OUT.

SHE'S GOT HAWLEY'S ENDORSEMENT.

I THINK IT'S LOOKING VERY GOOD FOR ERIC GREITENS RIGHT NOW AND I KNOW I'M BEING WISHFUL WHEN I SAY THAT.

>> I AGREE WITH YOU.

I THINK ERIC GREITENS IS GOING TO WIN THE PRIMARY AND CONSEQUENTIAL, I THINK HE'S GOING TO BE OUR NEXT SENATOR.

>> I THINK ERIC SCHMITT IS GOING TO -- I STILL THINK ERIC SCHMITT IS GOING TO WIN.

THAT'S JUST A HUNCH.

I ALSO DIDN'T THINK THAT DONALD TRUMP WOULD MAKE IT PAST -- SO MY HUNCHS AREN'T VERY GOOD.

>> I THINK AS WILD AS JEFFERSON CITY HAS BEEN WITH REPUBLICANS TURNING ON THE GOVERNOR AND TURNING ON EACH OTHER DOWN THERE, THEY ARE GOING TO TURN ON ERIC GREITENS UNBELIEVABLY.

AS SOON AS THIS SESSION IS OVER, EVERYTHING THAT WASN'T ON PUBLIC RECORD DOWN THERE -- >> GREITENS OR SCHMITT?

>> GREITENS.

>> OKAY.

>> EVERYTHING THAT DIDN'T GO ON THE PUBLIC RECORD DOWN -- >> IT'S COMING OUT.

>> IT'S COMING OUT, I ALMOST GUARANTEE YOU.

>> I DISAGREE WITH MY FELLOW FOUNDER ABOUT THE LAST PART OF THAT.

DO NOT ASSUME A DEMOCRAT CANNOT BEAT ERIC GREITENS.

I THINK LUCAS KUNTZ HAS A VERY GOOD CHANCE TO BEAT HIM.

>> YOU REALIZE THIS IS NOW.

>> LOOK, IN MISSOURI IN THE LAST ELECTION ONLY LOST BY THREE OR FOUR POINTS.

>> BUT THEY STILL LOST.

>> DO NOT ASSUME THAT ERIC GREITENS WILL WIN THE GENERAL ELECTION.

I DON'T THINK HE WILL.

>> I HOPE YOU'RE RIGHT, BUT MY TWO WORDS FOR THAT, RAY, WOULD BE MIKE PARSON.

I MEAN, MIKE PARSON BEAT NICOLE GALLAWAY HANDILILY.

>> I GET IT, BUT AS RECENTLY AS, YOU KNOW, TEN YEARS AGO, EIGHT YEARS AGO, ALL THE SEATS WERE HELD BY DEMOCRATS.

DO NOT ASSUME THAT IT'S THAT DEEP.

DONALD TRUMP IS A PHENOMENA, BUT DO NOT ASSUME THAT ERIC GREITENS WILL WIN A GENERAL ELECTION -- >> COULD BE -- >> AND THAT'S WHY THEY'RE SO WORRIED ABOUT IT.

>> WHAT ABOUT TOM SCHNEIDER, THE FORMER MAYOR OF FLORISSANT AND I WROTE A COLUMN ABOUT IT AND SAID HE HAED NO CHANCE, DEMOCRAT, AND HE REMINDED ME THAT THE MAYORAL POSITION IN FLORISSANT IS NON-PARTISAN, SO WHEN I CALL HIM AN OLD DEMOCRAT, HE'S REALLY -- >> OKAY, COULD BE.

LET'S MOVE ON.

BI BILL, I WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT A TRUE CRIME MINI SERIES THAT I THINK WILL DEBUT NEXT WEEK ON NBC AND THE PEACOCK NETWORK.

IT INVOLVES THE ST. LOUIS MURDERESS PAM HUFF.

SHE'S PORTRAYED BY RENEE ZELL ZELLWEGER WHO, TO PROPERLY PORTRAY THE SIZE OF MS. HUFF, SHE HAD TO PUT ON EXTRA ARMOR TO MAKE HERSELF LOOK HEAVIER.

SHE'S BEING CRITICIZED, ZELLWEGER, BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE SAYING THERE ARE MANY PLUS SIZE ACTRESSES IN HOLLYWOOD WHO COULD HAVE TAKEN THAT ROLE.

WHY DID YOU TAKE THAT ROLE WHEN WE'RE POEM COULD HAVE PLAYED THE WHOLE OUT THE EXTRA ARMOR.

DO YOU THINK THEY HAVE A POINT?

>> I HADN'T THOUGHT OF IT UNTIL THIS HAPPENED, BUT FRANKLY, IF THEY MAKE A MOVIE ABOUT DONNYBROOK, I WANT AN OLD GUY TO GET MY ROLE.

I DON'T WANT IT TO BE SOME YOUNG GUY THAT THEY HAVE TO DRESS UP TO LOOK OL', SO YES, I THINK A MUSL PLUS-SIZED ACTRESS SHOULD HAVE GOTTEN THE ROLE.

>> I'M JUST COMPLETELY STUNNED THAT THIS IS WHAT WE HAVE ON OUR PLATE RIGHT NOW THAT, WE ARE GOING TO TELL TELEVISION EXECUTIVES AND PRODUCERS HOW TO CAST -- SHE'S AN ACTRESS.

LET HER ACT.

I THINK THIS IS GOOFY THAT WE'VE GONE SO FAR OFF THE BOIL.

>> IT'S GOOF YRK BUT WHY ARE YOU ATTACKING THE ACTRESS?

IF YOU'RE GOING TO ATTACK THE PEOPLE -- >> DON'T ATTACK ANYBODY.

JUST WATCH IT.

>> I'M JUST SAYING -- >> BETTER YET, DON'T WATCH THE MINI SERIES, KEEP IT ON CHANNEL 9.

>> I THINK SHE'S ALSO THE EXECUTIVE PRODUCER, SO SHE HAS A ROLE -- >> BUT THIS IS ABOUT PAM HUFF'S FEELINGS.

>> I'D BE VERY CLEAR, YOU'RE SARCASTIC.

>> I'M BEING SARCASTIC, BUT IT'S ABSURD -- >> IT'S CRAZY.

>> I THINK IT'S FITTING FOR WHAT WE'RE ABOUT TO BE TREATED TO.

I DON'T WATCH STUFF LIKE THIS AND I'M GOING TO WATCH THIS BECAUSE THIS IS HERE, OKAY?

>> RIGHT.

>> AND WE LIVED IT, EXPERIENCED IT.

LIKE THIS IS UNBELIEVABLE, OKAY?

>>, IT'S -- >> BUT NOW IT'S GOING TO BE IN LIVING COLOR RIGHT HERE IN ALL OF OUR LIVING ROOMS AND I THINK IT'S JUST GOING TO BE LIKE KIND OF FANTASTIC.

>> OH, I DO TOO.

>> I WANT TO SEE HOW THE POLICE ARE PORTRAYED.

I WANT -- WHO'S PLAYING HER EX-HUSBAND THAT GOT JAMMED UP AND SENT TO PRISON?

THIS IS GOING TO BE GOOD.

>> I AGREE.

>> I THINK IT'S JUST WHAT WE NEED WHEN WE'RE TRYING TO BUILD OUR PROFILE BACK UP, RIGHT?

YEAH.

>> AND WHO WILL PLAY ROBERT PATRICK?

HE WAS THE POST-DISPATCH REPORTER WHO WAS VERY BIG IN THIS CASE.

>> I CERTAINLY HOPE THEY HAVE -- >> BASED ON THE BOOK BY ST. LOUIS ATTORNEY JOEL SCHWARTZ.

>> AND CHARLIE BOSWORTH.

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

>> ANOTHER OLD POST-DISPATCH GUY.

>> WITH ABOUT A MINUTE TO GO, ALVIN, I KNOW YOU WRITE ABOUT SPORTS EVERY WEEK.

WE APPRECIATE YOUR WORK.

CAN YOU SUMMARIZE IF YOU THINK THERE'S GOING TO BE AN AGREEMENT THAT WILL AT LEAST GET THE HOME OPENER IN ST. LOUIS?

>> I THINK IT WILL BE KIND OF HOT OUTSIDE.

IT MIGHT MEMORIAL DAY, BUT THEY'VE MESSED UP NOW.

I THINK THEY'VE REALLY MESSED UP.

>> THE PLAYERS OR THE OWNERS?

>> BOTH.

>> I AGREE.

>> I THINK THE OWNERS IN PARTICULARLY -- I'M GENERALLY ON THE PLAYERS SIDE, AND THEY SEEM LIKE THE GROWN-UPS, MORE WORRIED ABOUT COMPETITION AND THE HIGH ROAD, BUT THE OWNERS PROBABLY DON'T CARE THAT MUCH ABOUT LOSING SOME OF THE REGULAR SEASON.

IT'S GOING TO BE APRIL WHEN THE WEATHER IS NOT GOOD, AND I'D BE SURPRISED IF THEY WANT TO LOSE THE WHOLE SEASON, BUT I THINK THEY ARE -- I WOULDN'T EXPECT BASEBALL BEFORE MEMORIAL DAY.

>> 20 SECONDS, WENDY?

>> IT'S KIND OF STUNNING AFTER A PANDEMIC WHEN, YOU KNOW, SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE RELIED ON BASEBALL AND A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE LOST INTEREST IN BASEBALL THAT THEY WOULD TAKE THIS CHANCE.

I DON'T KNOW.

>> WELL, WE'LL SEE.

FIRST, LET'S SEE WHAT PEOPLE HAD TO SAY ABOUT LAST WEEK'S PROGRAM AS WE VISIT THE OLD MAIL BAG.

BEFORE ANOTHER GO WITH THE TROLLEY, THE ENTIRE ST. LOUIS REGION FIRST NEEDS PROPER BUS STOP SHELTERS AT EVERY BUS STOP.

NEXT, INSTEAD OF MAKING FURTHER CUTS IN BUS ROUTES, WHY NOT TRY REPLACING BUSES THAT RUN MOSTLY EMPTY ON SOME ROUTES WITH LARGE VANS.

THAT N. COOKSEY.

WE ALSO WENT TO THE TWITTERVERSE AND FOUND JEAN 672 SAYING WENDY IS RIGHT ABOUT TRAINED SCHOOL PERSONNEL CARRYING FIREARMS.

WE'RE NOT REINVENTING THE WHEEL.

HE IS THE EXPERIENCE IN OTHER STATES WITH THIS?

ZERO SHOOTINGS.

AND LIZ WROTE, BILL IS RIGHT.

THE MORE WEAPONS IN THE BUILDING, THE GREATER THE CHANCE OF A SHOOTING.

YOU CAN WRITE US AT NINE PBS, 3655 OLIVE STREET, ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI 63108 AND DON'T FORGET TO INCLUDE THE #DONNYBROOKSTL WITH YOUR TWEETS AND YOU CAN FIND US WHEREVER YOU FIND YOUR PODCASTS.

THAT'S IT FOR THE DISCUSSION PORTION, BUT WE STILL WANT TO INVITE YOU TO JOIN US IN JUNE IN DOWNTOWN -- RATHER IN GRAND CENTER FOR DONNYBASH AND LET'S GET MORE OF THOSE DETAILS.

>> Announcer: DONNYBROOK IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE SUPPORT OF THE BETSY AND THOMAS PATTERSON FOUNDATION AND THE MEMBERS OF NINE PBS.

CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY CAPTION ASSOCIATES, LLC www.captionassociates.com * >> WELL, IF YOU ARE A FAN OF DONNYBROOK, WAIT UNTIL YOU GO TO DONNYBASH.

THERE IS NOTHING LIKE IT.

IF YOU'VE NEVER ATTENDED, DON'T MISS THIS ONE.

IT'S GOING TO BE ON THURSDAY, JUNE 9th, AT THE SHELDON CONCERT HALL, AND THE WHOLE SET FROM DONNYBROOK IS GOING TO BE TRANSPORTED THERE FOR REAL, AND YOU WILL BE IN THE AUDIENCE FOR THE LIVE BROADCAST, FOR THE RECEPTION BEFORE THE LIVE BROADCAST, AND FOR THE RECEPTION AFTERWARDS.

THE DOORS OPEN AT 5:30, BUT LET ME TELL YOU, FIRST OF ALL, HOW YOU CAN BE IN THE AUDIENCE FOR DONNYBASH IN JUNE.

WHEN YOU BECOME A SUSTAINING MEMBER AT NINE PBS AT JUST $12 A MONTH, YOU'LL RECEIVE NOT JUST ONE TICKET, BUT TWO TICKETS TO DONNYBASH.

AND YOU WILL ALSO RECEIVE A NINE PBS MUG.

NOW, IF YOU'RE JUST INTERESTED IN ONE TICKET OR THE MUG, YOU HAVE THAT CHOICE WHEN YOU MAKE A ONE-TIME CONTRIBUTION TO NINE PBS OF $75.

DO DON'T FORGET, YOU'LL GET THE NINE MAGAZINE FOR THE FULL YEAR OF YOUR MEMBERSHIP.

YOU'LL ALSO RECEIVE ACCESS TO NINE PBS PASSPORT.

NOW, THIS IS AN EXTENSIVE LIBRARY OF PROGRAMS, SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE PROGRAMS RIGHT HERE ON NINE PBS AND SOME OF YOUR VERY FAVORITE PROGRAMS ON PBS, INCLUDING MASTERPIECE, THE LIST JUST GOES ON AND ON OF GREAT PROGRAMS.

AND THAT WILL BE YOURS TO WATCH ANYTIME ANYWHERE.

BUT FIRST OF ALL, LET'S JUST GET YOU SIGNED UP FOR DONNYBASH.

ONCE AGAIN, $12 AS A SUSTAINING MEMBER OF NINE PBS.

YOU CAN GET TWO TICKETS AND YOU GET THE MUG.

AND THAT IS A GREAT DEAL.

NOW, THIS IS JUNE 9th WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, JUNE 9th THIS YEAR, SO YOU REALLY WANT TO, IF YOU WANT TO GET A FATHER'S DAY GIFT FOR A DAD WHO'S HARD TO SHOP FOR, THIS WOULD BE A PERFECT IDEA.

WELL, THE GUYS FROM DONNYBROOK ARE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STUDIO ALONG WITH MY GOOD FRIEND WILL SHAW.

LET'S JOIN THEM ALL RIGHT NOW.

>> THANK YOU, MARY ANN.

YES, HERE WE ARE AND LET ME SAY, I'VE BEEN TALKING TO THE FOLKS AND THEY ARE ACHING FOR YOU TO CALL RIGHT NOW, BECOME A MEMBER OF NINE PBS, AND GET YOUR TICKETS FOR DONNYBASH ON JUNE 9th.

AND ISN'T THAT TRUE, WENDY WIESE?

AREN'T YOU -- >> THAT IS TRUE.

THAT SOUNDS A LITTLE JANE AUSTIN-Y, BUT YEAH, I'D SAY WE'RE ACHING.

>> I'M A LITERARY KIND OF GUY.

>> JOUR A LITERARY KIND OF GUY, BUT I WAS SITTING HERE THINKING, WE HEAR TIME AND TIME AGAIN IN THIS CLIMATE N THIS WORLD THAT WE LIVE IN, AT DONNYBASH YOU HAVE THE PERSON WHO IS LEFT OF CENTER STANDING NEXT TO THE PERSON WHO IS RIGHT OF CENTER, AND THEY ARE JUST HAVING A CONVERSATION.

IT'S ALL IN GOOD FUN, AND THAT'S -- I THINK THAT'S THE APPEAL OF DONNYBROOK, THAT YOU CAN DISAGREE WITHOUT BEING DISAGREEABLE AND THAT NOT ONLY IS WHAT WE TRY TO DO AROUND THIS TABLE AND WHAT NINE PBS ENCOURAGES US TO DO, BUT IT HANS AT DONNYBASH AS WELL.

AND THAT'S A SPECIAL THING TO WITNESS AND JUST ONE MORE REASON TO BE WITH US ON JUNE 9th BECAUSE WE ACHE TO SEE THAT.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

TWO AND A HALF YEARS, I HADN'T DONE THE MATH YET, CHARLIE, PHYSICAL YOU SAID THAT, AND THAT'S A -- UNTIL YOU SAID THAT, AND THAT'S A LONG TIME.

>> THAT'S A LONG TIME.

>> I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING EVERYBODY AND I HOPE EVERYBODY IS LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING US.

IT'S A COOL THING FOR $144.

IT REALLY IS.

YOU'RE NOT LIMITED TO TWO.

BRING YOU'RE FAMILY, MOTHER'S DAY FATHER'S DAY RIGHT THERE.

>> WELL, WE HAVE A ST. LOUIS BROWNS SPECIAL COMING UP AFTER THIS SEGMENT TONIGHT AND WE ALL HAVE SAID OVER THE YEARS, AND THIS IS -- IT'S TRUER TODAY THAN EVER BEFORE, THAT WHEN YOU ARE A MEMBER OF NINE PBS, YOU DO FEEL INVESTED IN THE PROGRAMMING AND YOU FEEL LIKE, HEY, I HAD A HAND IN BRINGING THAT TO MY NEIGHBORS HERE IN ST. LOUIS.

AND THAT'S AN AWFULLY GOOD FEELING.

>> AND I HAVE A CONCERT TO PLAY WITH THE ST. LOUIS BROWNS.

>> YES, YOU DO.

YES, YOU DO.

>> AND ACTUALLY, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT SHOULD NOT BE OVERLOOKED IS WHAT A ST. LOUIS INSTITUTION THE STATION IS.

>> YES.

>> AND OBVIOUSLY OUR SHOW, BUT REALLY THE STATION AND WHEN YOU'RE SUPPORTING IT FOR REAL, I DON'T KNOW, WHEN YOU SAY ACHING, I'M JUST AT THE POINT IN LIFE WHERE I'M JUST ACHING.

>> HE'S ACHING ALL THE TIME.

>> THAT'S SORT OF WHAT I DO, BUT -- [ LAUGHTER ] I USED TO RUN MARATHONS.

NOW I'M JUST ACHING.

>> YEAH.

>> BUT IT'S A ST. LOUIS THING.

>> 67 YEARS, RIGHT?

>> WE THINK OF CROWN CANDY AND OTHER THINGS, AND NINE NETWORK IS ONE OF THEM.

>> AND IS SO SHELDON.

IT'S WORTH COMING JUST TO SEE SHELDON.

>> EXACTLY RIGHT.

SOME PEOPLE ARE SEEING IT FOR THE FIRST TIME, BELIEVE IT OR NOT.

AND THEY'RE LIKE, WOW, GORGEOUS.

>> AND THEY PUT THE SET-UP ON STAGE, SO YOU GET TO SEE JUST LIKE IT IS HERE AND SEE THESE FOLKS JUST LIKE THEY ARE HERE WHICH MAY BE A LITTLE SHOCKING IN SOME CASES, BUT IT'S A GOOD TIME TO BE HAD BY ALL EVERY TIME.

>> ABSOLUTELY, ABSOLUTELY.

>> WE ARE, OF COURSE, NONCOMMERCIAL TELEVISION.

WE RELY ON THE GENEROSITY OF OUR VIEWERS TO MAKE THESE SHOWS POSSIBLE, NOT JUST THE SHOWS, BUT THE ENTERTAINING EVENTS OUTSIDE ON OUR PLAZA HERE, ON THE JACK GALMADGE PLAZA AND THE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING THAT WAS STARTED DURING THE PANDEMIC FOR KIDS STUDYING REMOTELY.

WE'RE REALLY PLUGGED INTO THE COMMUNITY IN SO MANY WAYS.

>> YOUR TASTE IN GOOD TELEVISION, YOUR MEMBERSHIP TAKES CARE OF YOU AND YOUR FAMILY, YOUR KIDS AND GRANDKIDS, BUT ALSO IT'S A GIFT TO EVERYBODY IN THE ST. LOUIS REGION AND MAKE SURE THAT QUALITY TELEVISION IS HERE FOR EVERYONE.

AND WE'RE DEPENDING ON YOU TO CALL US AND BECOME A MEMBER OF NINE PBS RIGHT NOW.

LET'S GO BACK OVER TO MARY ANN AND SHE'S GOING TO TEMPT YOU WITH THOSE FABULOUS THANK YOU GIFTS.

>> WELL, IT IS SO EASY TO JOIN US AS WELL BECAUSE WHEN YOU JOIN US AS A SUSTAINING MEMBER AT $12 A MONTH, YOU NOT ONLY GET ONE TICKET TO DONNYBASH IN JUNE, YOU GET TWO TICKETS TO DONNYBASH PLUS YOU GET THE NEW NINE PBS MUG.

SO THAT'S A GREAT DEAL.

THERE REALLY ISN'T A BETTER DEAL THAN THAT, AND YOU KNOW THERE'S ONLY ONE DONNYBASH THIS YEAR, SO YOU DON'T WANT TO MISS OUT.

AND BY THE WAY, BEING JUNE 9th, IT'S RIGHT BEFORE FATHER'S DAY WEEKEND AND WHAT A GREAT WAY TO GIVE A GREAT GIFT TO YOUR DAD, AND WHY NOT GO WITH HIM?

I MEAN, THIS IS A PERFECT TIME TO GO.

AND YOU KNOW WHAT?

THE FOLKS FROM DONNYBROOK AND DONNYBASH JUST LOVE SEEING THEIR FAVORITES THERE AND IF YOU'VE NEVER BEEN TO DONNYBASH, YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE MISSING.

WE DON'T WANT YOU TO MISS OUT ON THAT OPPORTUNITY, SO ONCE AGAIN, AS A SUSTAINING MEMBER, $12 A MONTH, YOU'LL GET TWO TICKETS TO DONNYBASH ON THAT JUNE 9th, THAT'S A THURSDAY EVENING AT THE SHELDON CONCERT HALL.

YOU'LL ALSO GET THE NINE PBS MUG AND YOU CAN ALSO, IF YOU JUST WANT ONE TICKET OR YOU WOULD LIKE THE MUG, IT'S YOUR CHOICE AT A ONE-TIME CONTRIBUTION OF $75 FOR THAT MEMBERSHIP.

THOSE MEMBERSHIPS, THOUGH, COME WITH NINE MAGAZINE FOR THE FULL YEAR OF YOUR MEMBERSHIP.

YOU'LL ALSO HAVE ACCESS TO NINE PBS PASSPORT, A GREAT EXTENSIVE LIBRARY OF SHOWS THAT YOU CAN WATCH ANYTIME ANYWHERE.

BUT BE SURE AND JOIN US RIGHT NOW.