George Carlin's PBS conducting connection...

After hearing the news of comedian George Carlin's death yesterday, Be more Tuned In was reminded of Carlin's connection to public television from the 1990s. For two seasons, Carlin played the role of Mr. Conductor in the second and third seasons of Shining Time Station -- Thomas the Tank Engine's first appearance on PBS Kids. (Ringo Starr was Mr. Conductor in the first season.)

In the role, Carlin not only played the miniature conductor character at the station, but also narrated and voiced the stories about Thomas and his friends.

Below you will find the first part of a fun episode featuring Carlin's character titled "Mr. Conductor's Evil Twin." In the episode, Carlin gets to play a fun double role as a trouble-maker in the station. Links to the rest of the episode are below the video.

Mr. Conductor's Evil Twin -- Part One


Click these links for Part 2 and Part 3.

Remembering Tim Russert...

After passing away suddenly Friday, Tim Russert -- NBC Washington Bureau Chief and Host of Meet the Press -- was remembered by friends and colleagues on the show this morning. One of those regular contributors was Washington Week host Gwen Ifill. Below is a clip from the program that remembered Russert, a journalist that was respected by nearly all of his colleagues and broadcast competitors.



To see Mark Shields' and David Brooks' commentary about Russert's life and work from Friday's NewsHour, follow this link. For a 2003 NewsHour interview with Russert about Meet the Press, click here.