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Imagining 'Joe The Plumber: The Epic'

MELISSA BLOCK, host:

And now, a program that may or may not become into a TV station near you.

Unidentified Man #1: In a world of fiscal chaos, in a nation of flanged and insulated pipes, only one man can ensure the soundness of our economy and the smooth flow of our household sewage.

(Soundbite of phone ringing)

Mr. JOE THE PLUMBER: Joe the Plumber.

Unidentified Man #2: From the creators of the "West Wing," "Dirty Jobs," and "Bob the Builder" comes a new series that probes the depths of political intrigue, even as it plunges the hairball from the powder room floors. Joe the Plumber.

(Soundbite of phone ringing)

Mr. JOE THE PLUMBER: It's Joe.

Mr. HANK PAULSON: Joe. Hank Paulson here. Look, we've got ourselves in a heck of a mess, and I'm hoping you can help us. Wall Street's going down the drain. Credit's plugged up, and it looks like the trillion dollar bailout might not be enough. The economy is in the toilet. What can we do?

Mr. JOE THE PLUMBER: Have you tried using a snake?

Unidentified Man #2: Joe the Plumber, from the tip of his wrench to the back droop of his trousers, he's a small businessman who's not afraid to get his hands dirty.

Mr. JOE THE PLUMBER: Credit line's clogged? Ben Bernanke's per day, I'm on it.

Unidentified Man #2: Joe the Plumber. It's the blockage, stupid.

BLOCK: Plumbing satire by Bruce Kluger and David Slavin, with Rob Webb and Chuck Lewkowicz. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.

Bruce Kluger
Bruce Kluger and David Slavin began writing satire for NPR’s All Things Considered in 2002, after their initial attempts at collaboration -- brokering a Mideast peace accord and mapping the human genome -- proved unsuccessful.
David Slavin
David Slavin and Bruce Kluger began writing satire for NPR's All Things Considered in 2002, after their initial attempts at collaboration — brokering a Mideast peace accord and mapping the human genome — proved unsuccessful.

The independent journalism and non-commercial programming you rely on every day is in danger.

If you’re reading this, you believe in trusted journalism and in learning without paywalls. You value access to educational content kids love and enriching cultural programming.

Now all of that is at risk.

Federal funding for public media is under threat and if it goes, the impact to our communities will be devastating.

Together, we can defend it. It’s time to protect what matters.

Your voice has protected public media before. Now, it’s needed again. Learn how you can protect the news and programming you depend on.

SOMOS CONNECTICUT is an initiative from Connecticut Public, the state’s local NPR and PBS station, to elevate Latino stories and expand programming that uplifts and informs our Latino communities. Visit CTPublic.org/latino for more stories and resources. For updates, sign up for the SOMOS CONNECTICUT newsletter at ctpublic.org/newsletters.

SOMOS CONNECTICUT es una iniciativa de Connecticut Public, la emisora local de NPR y PBS del estado, que busca elevar nuestras historias latinas y expandir programación que alza y informa nuestras comunidades latinas locales. Visita CTPublic.org/latino para más reportajes y recursos. Para noticias, suscríbase a nuestro boletín informativo en ctpublic.org/newsletters.

The independent journalism and non-commercial programming you rely on every day is in danger.

If you’re reading this, you believe in trusted journalism and in learning without paywalls. You value access to educational content kids love and enriching cultural programming.

Now all of that is at risk.

Federal funding for public media is under threat and if it goes, the impact to our communities will be devastating.

Together, we can defend it. It’s time to protect what matters.

Your voice has protected public media before. Now, it’s needed again. Learn how you can protect the news and programming you depend on.