Television Shep on TV

28 Flavors - Maine Jean Shepherd's America April 17, 1971 Season: 1 - Episode: 2

"...ONE MAN'S VERSION OF HEAVEN IS A SUPER HOWARD JOHNSONS WITH 28 FLAVORS AND NO LINES FOR THE REST ROOMS. MINE IS A FAST-MOVING STREAM." One man's version of heaven, says Jean Shepherd, is a super Howard Johnsons with 28 flavors and no lines for the rest rooms. But Shepherd himself would gladly skip all 28 for a fishing rod and a fast-moving stream in Maine. That's his version of heaven. It's not a new dream. One of Jean's childhood joys was fishing for crappies in northern Indiana. And fishing for crappies is just another name for snagging hooks on beer cans and old submerged tires. The "dream" was to fish from the banks of the Kennebec River. And that's what he finally gets to do. That's not all you'll hear about, because Shepherd keeps up a non-stop monologue. He doesn't just follow the camera around, explaining what's being seen. And he is definitely not into show-and-tell. When you see an unbroken stand of Maine forest, he's telling some great fishing story. And it's beautiful. Shepherd himself puts it this way, "If a guy sees a glass of beer on the screen, he knows what it is and I don't have to tell him. My series isn't a documentary. It's going to be hallucinogenic." There's a main street of a small town in Maine, looking like an America of Simpler times. And a county fair, where you'll meet Bob, the champion weight-puller of the Skowhegan County Fair. Bob is only the strongest horse in the whole world. At least that's what Jean Shepherd says. Fan Comments [ Courtesy: Pete Delaney - 09-18-2016 ] Over 100 shows 1972-74. Also contributed photos of a Shep book signing, his Greenwich Village townhouse, and screen shots of his live show. Also he supplied a variety of radio and TV commercials that Shep did. And much, much, much, more!

Production Information:

Studio / Network: WGBH - Snow Pond Productions Exec Director:   Executive Producer: Running Time: Director: Fred Barzyk Producer: Olivia Tappan, Leigh Brown Asst Director: Asst Producer: Contr Director: Contr Producer:

Associated Documents

Type File Name Description • 1971-mm-dd_025_Jean_Shepherds_America-Season_1_Press_Kit.pdf Season 1 Press Kit

Photos:

April 17, 1971 The Republic