Alex Chadwick + Card Table =

Posted at 4:05 PM on December 3, 2007 by Jeff Horwich (4 Comments)

You know how it is...one link to another...one of Sanden's old blog posts to the Washington Post to a Slate article to...

Alex Chadwick (NPR host) evidently does this thing on the side for Slate where he sets up a card table out in the open in various cities with a sign saying "Interviews 50 Cents." (I admit, I initially clicked the little banner ad because I thought it was someone interviewing "50 Cent." But this is also interesting.)

In this one, he's at Union Station in DC, talking to a guy in a sharp suit who turns out to be formerly homeless. I gather Alex just sits around looking pleasant, and then does an interview with whoever is gutsy/stupid/curious enough to have a seat across from him.

I watched this one, and one other so far (a guy who just got divorced from his fifth wife). Not sure how many I could actually consume without wondering whether I've got better things to do with my life. But it's kind of amazing how you can instantly like one person (this guy here) and instantly dislike another (the fifth wife guy).

I wonder why anyone would sit down to do it. Even if they pay you 50 cents (or is it the other way around?) is it worth staking your reputation on the Internet to whatever impromptu thoughts come out of your mouth in those five minutes?

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Comments (4)

That's actually a really cool concept. Although, I wonder if Alex Chadwick isn't worth a little more than 50 cents. I know he's use to public radio salaries, but you figured Slate would pay their free lancers a little better.

And does he always were that weird hat?

Posted by Sanden Totten | December 4, 2007 9:22 AM

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Looks like he wears the hat a lot. Everyone likes to sit down and talk to a man in a hat.

Posted by Jeff | December 4, 2007 10:58 AM

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Personally I am a bit of an exhibitionist (no not THAT way) so I think it would be fun. I think I am pretty special and very interview worthy but no one else seems to think so LOL.

Posted by Liz | December 4, 2007 9:30 PM

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Seeing as how I was willing to stake my reputation to whatever impromptu thoughts came out of my mouth during my interview with you, yeah, I'd probably do it.

The way I figure it, as long as I'm speaking authentically, things will turn out okay.

Posted by Robert Fischer | December 5, 2007 12:27 AM

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