Chestnuts roasting on the TV screen

By Pete Schulberg

The Portland Tribune, Dec 24, 2002, Updated Oct 30, 2009

What would a Northwest Christmas Eve be without the ol’ yule log?

I’m not talking about just any yule log, mind you: I’m referring to the traditional KOPB (10) special, “Yule Log.”

It’s the consummate reality show: a log burning. This 20-year TV tradition drives home the point that you’re watching what is unarguably the most boring Ñ but somehow soothing Ñ program of the year.

In a matter of speaking, it’s also the hottest show around. Whatever you do, don’t touch your screen! There’s nothing like the experience of watching a flaming log in the Timberline Lodge fireplace from 10 p.m. to midnight while doing more exciting things Ñ like dozing off.

And if that’s not stimulating enough to get you to tune in, OPB has announced that for the very first time, you’ll be watching a widescreen, high-definition log. While this is great news if you have a widescreen, high-definition TV that’s been going to waste ever since Action Sports Cable Network went off the air, for most of us the log will look pretty much the same as it always has. There’ll also be a new soundtrack, featuring up-to-date holiday songs including hits from Barenaked Ladies, Boyz II Men and other favorites.

The show was born when Jerry Appy came aboard as KOPB’s executive director and decided to create a distinctly Oregon version of the “Yule Log” he had aired at WNET, New York’s PBS station.

The networks might take a cue from all of this Ñ finally realizing that people will watch anything.

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