Al Bruhn is a man of strong opinion about
issues central to the education of his viewers.
Bruhn is entering his 25th year as a community cable access talk show host with his program, "USA TV Talk Live with Al Bruhn," which airs on Comcast cable television channel 23.
Over the years, he has interviewed such notables as state Attorney General Richard Blumenthal and Theresa Younger, executive director of the Connecticut Civil Liberties Union.
Bruhn has tackled topics from controversial Ridgefield budgets to the Schaghticoke Tribal Nation's bid for federal recognition, which could bring an Indian casino to Fairfield County.
"I don't believe there will be a casino in Danbury, but I do think there will eventually be one in Bridgeport," Bruhn said. "That's why the issue is one that has to be aired."
On his April 27 show, Bruhn interviewed Blumenthal about federal recognition of the Schaghticokes. Typical of his cutting-edge technique, Bruhn attempted to connect Blumenthal with Schaghticoke Tribal Nation Chief Richard Velky while on air, but Velky declined.
Bruhn began his on-air career in radio. In 1970, he was broadcasting with WINE and as a news reporter for the Mutual Broadcasting System in New York.
By 1974, he was a radio news writer with WINE and a reporter for the Bridgeport Sunday Post, New Fairfield's Citizen News and the Newtown Bee.
Over the years, he has been a sportscaster, news reporter and talk show host on TV and radio.
Bruhn is a man who will not shy away from speaking his mind and encourages others to do the same on his cable show. Yet, Bruhn is no "shock jock." His questions and responses from his interviews are always thoughtful and provocative.
He does not advocate an "in-your-face" technique or soliciting viewer shock. Still, he supports the rights of those who do, on principle.
"I don't care for Howard Stern and his left-wing attacks. Or for Rush Limbaugh, who represents a right-wing attack," Bruhn said. "Yet I feel there is an issue of freedom of speech in what has happened with both of them."
Stern was dropped by a major broadcast affiliate and Limbaugh's credibility suffered when his addiction to pain killers was exposed.
Bruhn fears Stern's and Limbaugh's predicaments indicate significant changes to come. He believes that in the next 20 years there will be an amendment to the Constitution that that will hinder First Amendment rights, affecting what will be discussed on talk show formats.
"It will abridge what we have today as freedom of speech. We will lose some of that right," Bruhn said. "I question where we are headed where free speech is concerned. Even I have some programs I would love to do but don't because of a concern about how the public (and broadcasters) would respond."
Bruhn cites a favorite interview from his early career the Rev. Philip Berrigan, a Vietnam War protester. Berrigan and his brother, Daniel, served prison terms for their anti-war activities in the 1970s.
"I covered some of the Vietnam War protests at that time," Bruhn recalled. "The Berrigans were saying we can't have a world of haves and have-nots. I interviewed Phil Berrigan by phone and he voiced his concerns about the treatment of war prisoners. This was before such questioning was fashionable."
Bruhn, a veteran teacher in the Danbury public school system, got into public access television when he saw a clip on the local access station titled "Do you want to be a star?" He called the station and became the host of a show broadcast from the basement of the Danbury Public Library. That was in 1978.
"It was a taped, weekly program that ran on Friday afternoons with five minutes of headlines and two 10-minute interviews with headline-makers of that week," Bruhn recalled. "I also did an opinion piece."
That show developed into "Connecticut News Talk" and evolved into the present "USA TV Talk Live" after Comcast and Charter cable companies bought the public access television rights in the greater Danbury area.
As Bruhn enters his 25th year with "USA TV Talk Live" he is looking forward to the next phase of his talk show career. He has trained to become a professional investigative reporter and has thoughts of doing commercial television. He also looks to the day when his present show can go over the Internet, giving him a broader audience.
But Bruhn's true love is teaching. He most recently served as a substitute teacher in Weston, and wants to teach again next year at the high school level. He sees himself teaching a class on television journalism.
His cable access show is about to launch a series of informational programs about "what to do if you have an exceptional child attending a less than exceptional school system" and a collaborative series with Danbury Hospital on cardiovascular health. Both satisfy Bruhn's penchant for educating.
"I'm like an artist," Bruhn said, "who always feels his present canvas is really his best."
"USA TV Talk Live with Al Bruhn" airs Tuesdays from 7 to 8 p.m. on cable access channel 23. The 25th anniversary live show will air on May 25.
Bruhn is entering his 25th year as a community cable access talk show host with his program, "USA TV Talk Live with Al Bruhn," which airs on Comcast cable television channel 23.
Over the years, he has interviewed such notables as state Attorney General Richard Blumenthal and Theresa Younger, executive director of the Connecticut Civil Liberties Union.
Bruhn has tackled topics from controversial Ridgefield budgets to the Schaghticoke Tribal Nation's bid for federal recognition, which could bring an Indian casino to Fairfield County.
"I don't believe there will be a casino in Danbury, but I do think there will eventually be one in Bridgeport," Bruhn said. "That's why the issue is one that has to be aired."
On his April 27 show, Bruhn interviewed Blumenthal about federal recognition of the Schaghticokes. Typical of his cutting-edge technique, Bruhn attempted to connect Blumenthal with Schaghticoke Tribal Nation Chief Richard Velky while on air, but Velky declined.
|
The News-Times/Silas
Crews Al Bruhn discusses
politics with Connecticut Attorney General Richard
Blumental during a recent "USA TV Talk Live with Al
Bruhn" show. Bruhn is entering his 25h year as host of
the cable access
program. |
Bruhn began his on-air career in radio. In 1970, he was broadcasting with WINE and as a news reporter for the Mutual Broadcasting System in New York.
By 1974, he was a radio news writer with WINE and a reporter for the Bridgeport Sunday Post, New Fairfield's Citizen News and the Newtown Bee.
Over the years, he has been a sportscaster, news reporter and talk show host on TV and radio.
Bruhn is a man who will not shy away from speaking his mind and encourages others to do the same on his cable show. Yet, Bruhn is no "shock jock." His questions and responses from his interviews are always thoughtful and provocative.
He does not advocate an "in-your-face" technique or soliciting viewer shock. Still, he supports the rights of those who do, on principle.
"I don't care for Howard Stern and his left-wing attacks. Or for Rush Limbaugh, who represents a right-wing attack," Bruhn said. "Yet I feel there is an issue of freedom of speech in what has happened with both of them."
Stern was dropped by a major broadcast affiliate and Limbaugh's credibility suffered when his addiction to pain killers was exposed.
Bruhn fears Stern's and Limbaugh's predicaments indicate significant changes to come. He believes that in the next 20 years there will be an amendment to the Constitution that that will hinder First Amendment rights, affecting what will be discussed on talk show formats.
"It will abridge what we have today as freedom of speech. We will lose some of that right," Bruhn said. "I question where we are headed where free speech is concerned. Even I have some programs I would love to do but don't because of a concern about how the public (and broadcasters) would respond."
Bruhn cites a favorite interview from his early career the Rev. Philip Berrigan, a Vietnam War protester. Berrigan and his brother, Daniel, served prison terms for their anti-war activities in the 1970s.
"I covered some of the Vietnam War protests at that time," Bruhn recalled. "The Berrigans were saying we can't have a world of haves and have-nots. I interviewed Phil Berrigan by phone and he voiced his concerns about the treatment of war prisoners. This was before such questioning was fashionable."
Bruhn, a veteran teacher in the Danbury public school system, got into public access television when he saw a clip on the local access station titled "Do you want to be a star?" He called the station and became the host of a show broadcast from the basement of the Danbury Public Library. That was in 1978.
"It was a taped, weekly program that ran on Friday afternoons with five minutes of headlines and two 10-minute interviews with headline-makers of that week," Bruhn recalled. "I also did an opinion piece."
That show developed into "Connecticut News Talk" and evolved into the present "USA TV Talk Live" after Comcast and Charter cable companies bought the public access television rights in the greater Danbury area.
As Bruhn enters his 25th year with "USA TV Talk Live" he is looking forward to the next phase of his talk show career. He has trained to become a professional investigative reporter and has thoughts of doing commercial television. He also looks to the day when his present show can go over the Internet, giving him a broader audience.
But Bruhn's true love is teaching. He most recently served as a substitute teacher in Weston, and wants to teach again next year at the high school level. He sees himself teaching a class on television journalism.
His cable access show is about to launch a series of informational programs about "what to do if you have an exceptional child attending a less than exceptional school system" and a collaborative series with Danbury Hospital on cardiovascular health. Both satisfy Bruhn's penchant for educating.
"I'm like an artist," Bruhn said, "who always feels his present canvas is really his best."
"USA TV Talk Live with Al Bruhn" airs Tuesdays from 7 to 8 p.m. on cable access channel 23. The 25th anniversary live show will air on May 25.