WireTap (radio program)
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{{Infobox Radio Show
| show_name = WireTap
| image =
| imagesize =
| caption =
| format = [[Comedy]]
| audio_format = [[Stereophonic]]
| record_location = [[Montreal]], [[Canada]]
| runtime = ''ca.'' 25 min.
| creator = [[Jonathan Goldstein (author)|Jonathan Goldstein]]
| developer =
| producer = Wendy Dorr<br>Carolyn Warren<br>Mira Burt-Wintonick
| executive_producer = [[Jonathan Goldstein (author)|Jonathan Goldstein]]
| writer = Howard Chackowicz<br>Gregor Ehrlich<br>[[John Hodgman]]<br>Joshua Karpati<br>[[Heather O'Neill]]<br>[[David Rakoff]]
| presenter = [[Jonathan Goldstein (author)|Jonathan Goldstein]]
| opentheme =
| endtheme =
| country = {{CAN}}
| language = [[English language|English]]
| home_station = [[CBC Radio One]]
| syndicates = [[Public Radio International]]
| first_aired = July, 2004
| last_aired = present
| website = [http://www.cbc.ca/wiretap www.cbc.ca/wiretap]
| podcast =
}}
'''''WireTap''''' is a half-hour radio show that airs on [[CBC Radio One]] Sunday afternoons at 1:00 pm (local time, 4:00 pm in the [[Pacific Time Zone]]), and again on Wednesday at 11:30 pm and 30 minutes later in [[Newfoundland and Labrador|Newfoundland]]. An hour-long version of '''''WireTap''''' is distributed in the United States by [[Public Radio International]] and is heard on multiple public radio stations.<ref>{{cite web
| title ='WireTap' from PRI
| publisher = [[Public Radio International]]
| date = 2007-01-08
| url =http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/pri/.artsmain/article/10/170/1012683/Programs/%27WireTap%27.from.PRI/
| accessdate = 2007-06-10 }}</ref> Hosted by [[Jonathan Goldstein (author)|Jonathan Goldstein]], former producer of [[Public Radio International]]'s ''[[This American Life]]'', the show features stories that are told over the phone ostensibly by Goldstein's friends and family.
The show falls into what has traditionally been CBC Radio One's comedy slot on Sunday afternoons, replacing ''[[Madly Off in All Directions]]'' which moved to a different time slot, though the show itself does not fit easily into the comedy category. The show has possibly been best described as "a weekly half-hour of conversation, storytelling and introspection, culled from equal parts real-world experience and the warp of Goldstein's imagination."<ref>{{cite news
|url = http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/thestar/access/943167521.html?dids=943167521:943167521&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Dec+18%2C+2005&author=Murray+Whyte&pub=Toronto+Star&edition=&startpage=C.13&desc=Tapping+into+radio%27s+creative+potential
|title = Tapping into radio's creative potential
|publisher = Toronto Star
|author = Murray White
|date = 18 Dec 2005
|accessdate = 2007-03-19
}}
</ref> Each show tends to follow a particular investigative theme; titles for past shows includes: "Life Lessons", "Reach for the Top", "Prized Possessions" and "Our Fathers".
The series began in the summer of 2004 as a 10-episode experiment, after which it succeeded to its own regular timeslot. It is recorded out of CBC's [[Montreal]] studios. The show has been criticized by some as being too vague in format and its host as boring.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.sweetposer.tk/blog/2004/07/review-of-cbc-summer-waves-shows-2004.php | title=Review of the CBC Summer Waves Shows 2004! Part One | publisher=URBMN | author=D | date=24 Jul 2004 | accessdate=2007-06-11}}</ref> Conversely, other critics of the show find the host's deadpan delivery and the blurring of genres is exactly what makes the show such an interesting listening experience. Goldstein regularly references these criticisms to his show by having the guests call him boring, depressing, and monotonous.
== See also ==
* [[List of WireTap episodes|List of ''WireTap'' episodes]]
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
==External links==
*[http://www.cbc.ca/wiretap/ WireTap]
*[http://www.cbc.ca/programguide/program/index.jsp?program=Wire+Tap CBC programme guide listing for the next episode]
* [http://actsofvolition.com/archives/2004/november/wiretaponcbc Blog containing positive reviews of the show]
* [http://www.sweetposer.tk/blog/2004/07/review-of-cbc-summer-waves-shows-2004.php?show_id=109070640796004294 Blog containing a negative view and rating of the show]
{{Public Radio International}}
[[Category:CBC Radio One programs]]
[[Category:Canadian radio comedy]]
[[Category:Public Radio International]]