December 14, 2020 – Washington Co., WI – Over the weekend a story was posted regarding an announcement made at the Schauer Arts Center in Hartford following the performance of the “John McGivern Holiday Tales.”
McGivern fielded questions from the audience and talked about receiving the news of how his Emmy-winning show, Around the Corner with John McGivern, was not being renewed by Milwaukee PBS.
Chris Hays, Chief Content Officer with Milwaukee PBS responded Monday evening at 9:59 p.m. with a news release on why the show is not being renewed.
Milwaukee PBS prides itself on providing diverse, enriching and engaging programming to our viewers and supporters in the region, including Around the Corner with John McGivern.
In response to the challenging financial circumstances brought about by COVID-19, we are
exploring different production models for three of our programs, including Around the Corner with John McGivern.
On October 26, 2020, Mr. McGivern expressed his intent to independently produce the series so viewers might anticipate future episodes should he move forward with this model.
Milwaukee PBS has offered to continue to air Around the Corner with John McGivern under an independent production model proposed to Mr. McGivern.
Regardless of whether Mr. McGivern pursues this plan, Milwaukee PBS will continue to air episodes from the existing nine seasons of Around the Corner with John McGivern and offer them online at milwaukeePBS.org
We understand Around the Corner with John McGivern is a beloved tradition and escape for
many Wisconsin families.
In light of the economic realities stemming from the pandemic and the substantial costs of the series, we are unable to continue production of Around the Corner with John McGivern. We are encouraged by Mr. McGivern’s intent to find funding for his series so he can produce the show independently.
COVID-19 has certainly brought unprecedented challenges to our society, our City, and our
station. To prioritize the health and safety of Milwaukee PBS team members and the public,
MATC/Milwaukee PBS employees are not allowed to travel and produce content in the same
manner as was possible pre-coronavirus. This presents another challenge to the in-house
Around the Corner with John McGivern production model.
As the New Year approaches, Milwaukee PBS will increase its focus in 2021 on the impact of
COVID-19, racial injustice, and economic disparity on southeast Wisconsin. These critical
issues are the station’s commitments to the communities it serves. Viewer favorites like
Around the Corner with John McGivern will continue to air in 2021 as well.
On February 4, 2021, Milwaukee PBS will air a live hour-long special at 7:00 PM on COVID-19 vaccines and distributions in our region. The broadcast will feature experts in health – and the hosts of the event will be 10thirtysix’s Portia Young, Adelante’s Patricia Gomez, and Black Nouveau’s Earl Arms.
On February 11, 2021, Milwaukee PBS’s Black Nouveau will present “Understanding Implicit
Bias.”
Kima and Dasha Kelly Hamilton will lead a 90 minute interactive webinar that will
help people understand unconscious patterns and stereotypes we develop that affect
individuals, attitudes and actions. The special will air from 7:00 – 8:30 PM.
Next fall, Milwaukee PBS will air a live performance of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra in its new home, the Bradley Symphony Center.
Julie Hill Lehr,
Manager-Marketing and
Community Engagement
E: hilllej@matc.edu
P: (414) 297-7518
On a side note: McGivern is performing at The Pabst in Milwaukee in February. Click HERE for details.
Click HERE if you want to contact McGivern and share your support.
Click HERE if you want to contact Milwaukee PBS; it is a full list of decision makers and their phone numbers and email addresses.
A little bit of imagination and innovative thinking would open ways of getting the show produced. Sad that Covid is the excuse for everything these days. Maybe PBS isn’t nimble enough to manage their business in a dynamic climate. I guess PBS is short on tax payer money in the budget to support local programming and produce and focus on programs that actually benefit and enrich local people’s lives. Instead resources are directed to agenda-driven sunshine documentaries such as one referenced through the link below. It’s time to defund PBS (and NPR) as they have, in the past few years, demonstrated that they have abandoned journalistic credibility and become part of the bias machine. https://www.dailysignal.com/2020/05/15/pbs-stations-that-received-millions-in-federal-funds-partnered-with-chinese-foreign-agent-on-pro-beijing-film/