Rodney Attempts to Bridge the Rural/Urban Divide with a Poem about a TV Talk Show for Critters

Rodney Nelson attributes the rise of syndicated daytime drama to the original spectacle–critters in his "TV Talk Shows" poem during the "That Seventies Show" show at the 36th National Cowboy Poetry Gathering.

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Rodney Nelson
Almont, ND
Rodney Nelson and his wife, Teri, live at Sims, North Dakota, population 2, a suburb of Almont. Despite advancing age and declining health, Rodney continues to make his living rodeoing, which has caused him to enjoy a low standard of living. His rodeo career has been in a steady decline for most of his life, going from riding saddle broncs to now competing in senior breakaway roping, which his daughter says is a girls’ event for old men. He finds it necessary to supplement his rodeo income by raising a few cattle, breaking a few horses, working as a brand inspector, writing a column “Up Sims Creek” for Farm and Ranch Guide, freeze-branding cattle around North Dakota in the coldest winter months, and entertaining banquet crowds with his brand of rural humor. He died in 2020.

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Filmed in front of a live audience at the Western Folklife Center's G Three Bar Theater on Jan. 30, 2020.

Made possible by the multitude of staff, artists, volunteers, and community members working behind the scenes to make this show happen.

Brought to you by the Western Folklife Center, using story and cultural expression to connect the American West to the world.
www.westernfolklife.org

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Crew
Kristin Windbigler executive producer
Meg Glaser artistic director
Brad McMullen national cowboy poetry gathering manager
Marla Mitchnick producer
Tim Halle director + technical director
Chris Simon camera operator
Elton de León camera operator
Ryan Alexander Dunn lighting director
David Hancock-Taylor gaffer
Micky Hohl driver + key production assistant
Butch Hause audio engineer
Travis Cross audio engineer
Kelly Moon stage manager