WGCU-FM's new format: a breath of 'Fresh Air'

Gasp! After suffering from "Fresh Air" deprivation for so long, it's a wonderful feeling to finally have "Fresh Air" daily.

I'm talking, of course, about the nationwide National Public Radio program, "Fresh Air," hosted by Terry Gross.

It — finally! — began broadcasting daily in Southwest Florida on Monday, Sept. 8.

When I moved here a little over 10 years ago, I knew I was moving to a really small town and couldn't expect all the wonderful things that living in a metropolitan area provides.

But I tell you, I wasn't expecting to have to get by without some of the things I took for granted as staples of daily living: being able to buy the New York Times anywhere newspapers are sold. (Yes, even in the summer.) Being able to get the New York Times delivered right to my doorstep. Restaurants that stay open all night (or to at least 2 a.m.) and serve a decent breakfast any time of the day. Sidewalks. A good cup of hot coffee at most any restaurant. A decently stocked Borders Bookstore. A college radio station that plays music the Top-40 stations have never even heard of. And hearing "Fresh Air" daily on NPR.

"Fresh Air" host Terry Gross. Over the years, I'm relieved to say, a couple of things have improved.

If I choose, I can now get the New York Times delivered straight to my door. (Well, not exactly straight to my door. Let's just say, the paper would be deposited in the general vicinity of where I live.)

And we now have two Borders Bookstores in the area (one in Naples, one in Estero), though the selection isn't as diverse as it could be. (I'm constantly amazed to discover titles in bookstores up north that local stores' book buyers neglect to purchase.)

For years, Borders kept promising and promising to open up a store here — just like we keep hearing promises that downtown Fort Myers will soon undergo a revival. However, while Borders finally opened up a store, downtown Fort Myers looks even more like a ghost town than when I moved here.

But I was stunned to move to Florida and learn, all too late, that the local NPR station, WGCU-FM, didn't carry "Fresh Air." In my ignorance, I thought all NPR stations carried it.

In Chicago, where I was living, there was a local two-hour world music show, and a syndicated Afro-pop show. I figured I was probably saying goodbye to them when I moved.

But "Fresh Air"?

Never.

In periodic conversations with people at WGCU-FM, I'd ask time and again about them acquiring "Fresh Air," only to be told that it's too expensive. They did finally purchase the one-hour weekend edition, which was a compilation of the best from the week's daily shows.

But now, with its shift in format last week, we're finally able to hear "Fresh Air" daily. Not just on the weekend.

WGCU-FM used to play a lot of classical music. But when I'd tune in, I rarely heard anything I'd want to continue listening to and would change the station. And friends of mine who were avid classical music lovers would complain about the quality of the selections. (I heard the music was determined by focus groups up in rural Wisconsin.)

There have been some rumblings from people about the public radio station changing to a talk format and moving its classical music to HD radio so the sound is better.

But from what I've heard, people who want talk programs on WGCU-FM outnumber the classical music lovers five or six times over.

I was bemused when I heard some people complaining about the change. Because all I could think, especially when I heard that "Fresh Air" was going to be broadcast daily, was: thank God! Finally! The daily hour arts program is listened to by almost 4.5 million people. Finally we can be added to that number.

"Fresh Air" has the best take on what's happening in popular culture today, with interviews and reviews and segments on bands/books/films/art/ pop culture. It's the winner of a Peabody Award, which praised the show for its "probing questions, revelatory interviews and unusual insights."

Of course, the station's scheduled "Fresh Air" in the 7 to 8 p.m. time slot, which is great for people who want to listen after work… assuming you have a straight 9 to 5 job.

Unfortunately, a journalist's job is rarely 9 to 5. Especially if you're covering arts and entertainment.

On my way to the Chris Isaak concert at the Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall I did get to hear part of an interesting extended interview with Bob Woodward about his new book, "The War Within." The week's programming also included segments on B.B. King, Maurice Sendak, Alan Ball (creator and executive producer of "Six Feet Under") talking about his new HBO series about vampires and "Lost" creator talking about his new TV show, "Fringe."

Ironically, in their switch to a talk format, WGCU-FM has also scheduled some fantastic music shows. You can now hear "Jazz with Bob Parlocha" from 9 p.m. to 3 a.m. While it's easy to hear smooth jazz on the airwaves down here, it's been very difficult to find — for lack of a better term — real jazz. WGCU FM used to offer his show, but only once a week, I believe, and after midnight on the weekend. I'd usually come upon it by chance.

I was pleasantly surprised to turn on my car radio a number of times last week and hear some great jazz — a perfect companion for nighttime driving. My ears appreciated the newness, the unexpectedness of the musicians' sonic play and improvisation.

And then, on Friday night, I listened to World Café, which is slated from 9 to 11 p.m. It's not world music, as the name might lead you to expect, but wonderful contemporary music you never hear played on terrestrial radio - at least in this little corner of the nation. In just the span of maybe a half hour, I heard songs by Santogold, MGMT, Teddy Thompson, Elbow and Rachel Yamagata.

I was delighted. My ears were ecstatic.

Thank you, WGCU-FM!

(And if you're equally as delighted, call them and tell them so. Because it's a crazy but true rule of human nature that cranky people will call and complain much more often than happy people call and praise.)

I'm so relieved to have "Fresh Air" all the time, not just on the weekend! It's oxygen for the brain.