The other side

KTRU's a victim of its own mediocrity: Houston benefits from this radio shuffle

A chance to hear Terry Gross on Fresh Air on weekdays...
and a real outlet for classical music ...

Photo by David Brown
more than outweighs the loss of KTRU's out-there sound.

The Rice student community and influential indie kids emitted a collective groan at the news that the University of Houston is buying Rice college radio station, KTRU.

Houston is losing its only platform for experimental, independent music — undoubtedly a tragedy. But speaking as an alum of UH and just a few days past the age when a valid pick-up line was, "Let's burn one down and listen to KTRU," I have to admit how excited I am about the radio shuffle.

With its previous broadcast hours, KUHF was terribly limited with its news programming. National Public Radio produces a stimulating lineup that was unavailable, many of which offer criticism of current affairs that has had no outlet in Houston. For those of us who have had the pleasure of tapping into the HD station, we've been enlightened by Diane Rehm's public affairs broadcasts featuring illustrious luminaries, and Terry Gross' interviews with cultural movers and shakers on Fresh Air.

By offering a 24-hour radio news service, Houston is joining the ranks of other high-profile metropolises with full-time NPR programming. KUHF has already clarified that the station will increase Houston-centered content on key topics and will sponsor and broadcast town-hall forums on issues of community concern. The idealist in me sees a future city in which political and cultural issues become part of daily conversation at a depth that was not previously possible. Houston has an appetite for more than a couple of news hours during the morning and evening commutes.

Let's be honest — the non-news programming on KUHF brought on many a yawn.

How many times have I made the mistake of tuning in after the 7 p.m. broadcast to find The Magic Flute playing again? Regardless of one's taste for classical music, it's been several years since the city has had a station dedicated to that genre — so why not separate the two audiences?

The nascent KUHC is poised to revitalize interest in classical music in the city with more in-studio live performances, live remote broadcasts and full-length concert broadcasts of local performers. Now, classical music appreciation won't be a rarified pursuit limited to those with season tickets to the Houston Symphony.

This is a positive move for UH in what is sure to be its long quest to top-tier status. It will be the first Texas university to operate two public radio stations, and as chancellor Renu Khator pointed out in a written statement, this move will help fulfill the university's responsibility to the city by promoting both its arts community and expanding access to news and information.

For those of us, like myself, who are regular listeners of 91.7 FM, we can still enjoy the station's programming on its website, ktru.org. With a growing number of cars and Internet-enabled phones able to access the website's broadcast, the station will only grow in its accessibility. Considering KTRU's tech-savvy audience, I can't imagine a loss in listeners.

To a certain extent, KTRU's analog broadcast fell victim to its own mediocrity. The programing was consistently spotty — enough so to detract the true experimental music lover who could easily find superior programming online. Houston deserves one (if not several) top-notch college-radio-style outlets.

The loss of 91.7 as Houston's only outlet for underground sound is a blow to the city's cultural landscape, especially if Rice wants to remain appealing to undergrads and the city aims to attract creative young professionals.

But villainizing Rice administrators for selling the station or UH for expanding its reach won't accomplish anything — so why not ask the noncommittally quirky St. Thomas to launch its own radio station? Or I'm sure the kids at Baylor College of Medicine are really attuned to the science of hipster music.

unspecified

Movie Review

An all-star cast delivers clever laughs in new comedy The Invite

Photo courtesy of A24

Olivia Wilde, Seth Rogen, Penelope Cruz, and Edward Norton in The Invite.

Once upon a time, well before scandal embroiled him, Woody Allen made great comedies aimed at adults. That type of film — which is different from the raunchy, R-rated comedies of the 21st century — has fallen out of favor in Hollywood, but as the new film The Invite proves, when done well it can be as funny as anything else out there.

Joe (Seth Rogen) and Angela (Olivia Wilde) are an unhappily married couple living in San Francisco. As we meet them, Joe has arrived home to Angela preparing for a visit from their upstairs neighbors, Hawk (Edward Norton) and Piña (Penélope Cruz), who have moved in relatively recently. Their impending arrival starts a new round of arguing between Joe and Angela, something they can barely contain once the other couple comes to their door.

What proceeds is a getting-to-know-you process that is mostly awkward as Joe and Angela continue sniping at each other while Hawk and Piña put in their two cents in a much calmer manner. A sticking point between the two couples — the loud sex Hawk and Piña have on an almost nightly basis — turns the film on its head with an unexpected invitation.

Directed by Wilde and written by Will McCormack and Rashida Jones, the film is a fast-paced chamber piece that takes place almost entirely in Joe and Angela’s apartment. Wilde, the writers, and the actors speed the story along not with action but through almost non-stop dialogue that often has the characters overlapping each other’s lines. The rapidity of the speech fuels the humor of the situation and establishes the differing personalities of each person.

Sex is very much top of mind for each of the characters for most of the film, but the filmmakers approach the topic in such a way that it never feels salacious. Each of the characters is a rational adult who can talk about sex in a mature manner while also acknowledging their unique feelings on the matter. And it’s the discoveries each of them makes along the way that brings about the most comedy.

But, like any comedy for adults, the film also has a dramatic tilt to it, and Wilde edges the story back-and-forth between the two tones extremely well. Joe and Angela fighting is played for laughs at times, but the sadness of their relationship comes through loud and clear. Hawk and Piña are much more intimate with each other, but the funniness of their openness is juxtaposed with a depth that arises through their conversations.

In the 2020s, Rogen has managed to make the transition from goofy stoner to stoner with real acting chops. In a stacked cast, he is the one who sells every moment the best. That’s not to say that Wilde, Norton, and Cruz don’t measure up, though; each of them inhabits their respective roles magnificently. The four actors play off each other as if they had been working together for years.

While The Invite will likely play better to those who have experience with long term relationships, its insights — and occasional bawdiness — make it a comedy that can be appreciated universally. With four actors at the top of their games and a razor-sharp script made even better by some well-done improv, it proves that you don’t need to go low to get great laughs.

---

The Invite is now playing in theaters.

movies film