Two Johns and a Dick

I stumbled upon this Dick Cavett post on the NY Times website the other day, with the video of a complete episode of Cavett's talk show from 1981 where he chatted to those poets of the suburbs, John Updike and John Cheever. As keen Expat File observers are aware, I do not hold much truck with Updike. As for Cheever I have only slightly more admiration, for much the same reason: that upper middle class WASP-y stuff just never moved me.

But what astonishes about the episode is that shows like this—a half-hour intelligent discussion with literary heavyweights—not only used to be shown on prime-time US television, but was actually relatively popular. I'll forgo any 'where have we gone' hand-wringing - Dukes of Hazzard, Love Boat and Bosom Buddies were more popular that year. TV has always largely been shit, but there always has been some brilliant stuff.

I was actually speaking about Bosom Buddies the other day at a party for some reason, and the guy I was talking to thought I was making it up because the premise sounds so improbable: a young Tom Hanks and Peter Scolari (no, you really shouldn't know who he is) play friends in New York City who can't find an apartment so they dress as women to be able to live in the female-only Susan B Anthony Hotel. Oh, the hilarity and hi-jinks that ensued as they tried to keep their identities secret from their hot neighbours!

Anyway, take a look at the Cavett show, the somewhat uncomfortable banter between the Johns is illuminating. Or treasure it for the quaint set design alone; you don't see many Persian carpets on chat shows these days.