Too Beautiful to Live

...literally.

I have included subtle links to this radio show on this blog before, but tonight is a special night.

I'll start at the beginning:

* * *
January, 2008:
Two long-time friends from Seattle start a radio show. They call it "Too Beautiful to Live" (TBTL for short). It's sort of their dream show – the show that both of them had always wanted to make. It's about nothing. It's a talk show, but decidedly non-political. It's two friends (both in their 30's) talking about whatever they feel is important or entertaining. They don't care if the show gets canceled after one week. If it does, then it was "Too Beautiful to Live" (also see: Arrested Development).

* * *
Summer, 2008:
I become a fan of a radio show called "The Bryant Park Project". It's an NPR show, but with a youthful, goofy sensibility. It's subsequently canceled about three weeks after I start listening.

* * *
September, 2008:
Doing some research on the then-extinct "Bryant Park Project", I find that one of the original hosts, Luke Burbank (whom I had never heard on the BPP), quit the show, moved to Seattle (his hometown), and started a radio show with his childhood friend, Jen Andrews. The show is called "Too Beautiful to Live". I listen to a couple shows and love the real sense of friendship between the hosts of the show. I like the same music and enjoy the same movies and TV shows as the hosts. I subscribe to the podcast.

Over the next few months, I become a true fan of the show (a "Ten" in TBTL lingo, referring to their "tens of listeners"). I record a few intros for the show, they are used on the air occasionally. I make at least two appearances on the TBTL blog, have several e-mail exchanges with the hosts, have several of those e-mails read on the air, and become the first listener ever to pick up the phone on their "call makers" segment, in which listeners are called by the show.

TBTL becomes a huge part of my life. I feel a certain friendship with Luke (the host), Jen (the producer), and Sean (the engineer). TBTL is the most interactive, friendly show I have ever heard. They host several parties for their listeners. Unfortunately, all the parties are in Seattle, so I am unable to attend. I am about ready to schedule a trip to the Northwest to meet Luke, Jen, and Sean at the next event.

* * *
August, 2009:
I have listened to TBTL for 1 year (I listened to a month's worth of old episodes going backwards from September).

* * *
September 10th, 2009:
Luke makes a mysterious post on the TBTL blog, entitled: "Really Really Really Important TBTL Announcement Tonight At 7:20". Much speculation from the Tens ensues in the comments on the blog. Is Luke or Sean getting engaged? Is there a super fantastic event being announced for the Tens? Is the show being canceled?

I tune in live. I have tuned in live maybe once or twice before. 7:20 rolls around (9:20 pm central time).

97.3 FM, KIRO, has canceled TBTL as a radio show. It is indeed "Too Beautiful to Live". Friday, September 11th will be the last broadcast.

HOWEVER, TBTL will live on as a podcast. Monday, September 14th will mark a rebirth of TBTL. Luke, Jen, and Sean say that they have invested too much in this show and cultivated such real friendships with the listeners that the show simply cannot be abandoned. It will be different, but will hopefully retain the spirit of the old show.

I await Monday with excitement and trepidation.