A Five Part Series from TTBOOK!

Public Radio International

Wisconsin Public Radio

REVENGE OF THE NERDS

Program 08-05-25-B

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Nerds are an easy target for humor in movies and on TV... with their thick black glasses, hopelessly out-of-fashion clothes, and over-enunciated diction. But there's a dark side to nerds. In this hour of To the Best of Our Knowledge, we'll find out how the nerd stereotype is harming our children. Also, we'll explore a new kind of music called nerdcore hip hop, alias geeksta rap.

SEGMENT 1:

Benjamin Nugent is the author of "American Nerd: The Story of My People." He tells Jim Fleming there are two main categories of nerds and something about their history and the different nerdy subcultures. Also, Dan Lamoureux is a self-described dork who produced and directed the documentary film "Nerdcore for Life." He tells Anne Strainchamps what inspired him to make the film, and we hear clips of geek rap.

SEGMENT 2:

David Anderegg is a Professor of Psychology at Bennington and the author of "Nerds: Who They Are and Why We Need More of Them." He tells Steve Paulson about his inspiration for writing the book. Also, Holly Black is a best-selling author of contemporary fantasy novels for teens and children. Her work includes "The Spiderwick Chronicles." Black tells Anne Strainchamps that girl nerds and geeks definitely exist.

SEGMENT 3:

Gary Brecher is a data entry clerk in Fresno, California. But he's better known as "War Nerd," which is the title of his column in Moscow's English language alternative newspaper and his book, "The War Nerd." Brecher tells Steve Paulson what it means to be a war nerd.

CD copies are available at 1-800-747-7444. Ask for program number 08-05-25-B.

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Books:

David Anderegg, Ph.D., Nerds: Who They Are and Why We Need More of Them (Tarcher/Penguin)
Benjamin Nugent, American Nerd: The Story of My People (Scribner)
Gary Brecher, War Nerd (Soft Skull Press)

Clips:

• CLIPS used in "Nerd Montage" taken from the "Homer Goes to College" episode of
  -- "The Simpsons"
  (from the DVD box set, "The Simpsons: The Complete Fifth Season" (Fox Home Entertainment)
  -- "Through Being Cool (karaoke version)"/Devo
  from the CD, "Karaoke - In the Style of Devo, Vol. 1 - EP" (Stingray Music)
  
  

Websites:

• -- Benjamin Nugent/"American Nerd"
  http://www.americannerdbook.com/
  
• -- "Nerdcore For Life"/Produced and Directed by Dan Lamoureux
  http://www.nerdcoreforlife.com/
  
• -- Dr. David Anderegg/"Nerds"
  http://www.drdavidanderegg.com/page.php?PageID=464&PageName=New+Book%3A+Nerds
  
• -- Holly Black
  http://www.blackholly.com/
  
• -- Gary Brecher/"War Nerd"
  http://www.softskull.com/detailedbook.php?isbn=978-0-9796636-8-0
  http://www.exile.ru/articles/list.php?IBLOCK_ID=35&SECTION_ID=156/
  
  
  

Music:

• -- "Geek Hallway (Score)"/Composed and Performed by Michael Andrews
  from the CD, "Freaks and Geeks: Original Soundtrack and Score" (Shout! Factory)
  http://www.shoutfactory.com/
  
• -- "Hip To Be Square (karaoke version")/Huey Lewis and the News
  from the CD, "Karaoke Hits - Huey Lewis and the News" (APM Karaoke/APM Music)
  
• -- "Lindsay Disturbed Theme (Score)"/Composed and Performed by Michael Andrews
  from the CD, "Freaks and Geeks: Original Soundtrack and Score" (Shout! Factory)
  http://www.shoutfactory.com/
  
• -- "Nurds"/The Roches
  from the CD, "Nurds" (Warner Bros./WEA)
  http://www.roches.com/
  
• -- "Daniel's Theme (Score)"/Composed and Performed by Michael Andrews
  from the CD, "Freaks and Geeks: Original Soundtrack and Score" (Shout! Factory)
  http://www.shoutfactory.com/
  
• -- "Spooky"/Money Mark
  from the CD, "Mark's Keyboard Repair" (MoWax/A&M Records)
  http://www.moneymark.com/
  

Distribution dates: week of 05/25/2008 - hour 2 click here for timings and cues

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Questions and comments can be addressed to: flemingj@wpr.org

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