Film, Radio & TV

"It's been a quiet week in Lake Wobegon, my hometown..." Garrison Keillor first did his monologue in 1974 to an audience of 20 in a St. Paul theater. Today, more than 2.2 million people tune in each week to hear the tall tales and sweet stories about the citizens of this small Minnesota town. It's a town where "the women are strong, the men are good-looking, and all of the children are above average."

A political update with Karen Tumulty, Jessica Yellin, and Al Hunt. Next, a conversation with author Dan Brown. And finally, a look at the film Before Midnight with Richard Linklater, Julie Delpy, and Ethan Hawke.

This week on Car Talk, a day of maple sugaring came to a bad end for John when he spilled a five-gallon container of syrup in his car. How can he get the sticky stuff out of the seatbelt holders, short of slipping a stack of pancakes in there to sop it up? Also, a classic Car Talk driveway moment, literally, as Jason pours gas down his truck's carburetor, and tries to start it on the air. Will the 20th time be the charm? And on Stump the Chumps, we find out whether Tom and Ray correctly diagnosed Paula's whistling Bronco. All this, plus Tommy celebrates the arrival of a brand-new jalopy, this week on Car Talk.

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