Cornell's Glenn Altschuler is ready for Friday-night prime time, on WCNY

By Franklin Crawford

Who needs the "McLaughlin Report" when you have a top-flight brain trust right in your own backyard? Almost every Friday morning for the past six months, fair weather or foul, Glenn Altschuler drives up Route 81 to the WCNY-TV studios in Syracuse. There he joins colleagues from regional colleges and universities who have enthusiastically volunteered for a taped panel discussion covering national, statewide and local issues.

Panelists during WCNY-TV's "Ivory Tower Half Hour" include, from left: Cornell Professor Glenn Altschuler, Syracuse University's Kristi Andersen, Cazenovia College's John Robert Greene, Syracuse's David Rubin, Onondaga Community College's Tara Ross and SUNY Cortland's Robert J. Spitzer. WCNY-TV

Called the "Ivory Tower Half Hour," the show has aired Friday nights at 11 p.m. on the Public Broadcasting Service affiliate WCNY since last September. Despite the covert time slot, "Ivory Tower" received such unsolicited high marks from viewers that WCNY executive Michael Fields, along with his producers, moved the show to prime time. Starting this Friday, April 4, the show will be broadcast at 8 p.m. on WCNY (Channel 4 on Time Warner Cable in Ithaca).

"I've had colleagues here, as well as people I don't know, e-mail me or come up to me in the supermarket and tell me how much they enjoyed the show," said Altschuler, Cornell academic dean and the Thomas and Dorothy Litwin professor of American Studies. "I guess before we began taping that only insomniacs and social misfits would be watching TV at 11 p.m. on Friday, but the response has been surprising and gratifying."

"Ivory Tower Half Hour" is no gathering of eggheads trading fried air in a mock lecture hall. The talk is relevant, insightful and occasionally humorous.

"There is dissent among the panelists, but we are collegial; there is no yelling or screaming," said Altschuler. "While sometimes there is general agreement, it's clear that panelists weigh in with very different perspectives."

The program's name is ironic -- a gesture at something that academics are not usually known for, namely, poking a little fun at themselves, said David Rubin, dean of the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University and the program's panel host. Panelists generally include: Altschuler, Robert J. Spitzer, professor of political science at SUNY Cortland; John Robert Greene, professor of history and humanities at Cazenovia College; Tara Ross, associate professor of social sciences at Onondaga Community College; and Kristi Andersen, professor of political science at Syracuse University's Maxwell School. Barbara Fought, associate professor of broadcast journalism at Syracuse, hosts when Rubin isn't available.

While the series focuses on issues as wide ranging as the war in Iraq, the governor's state of the state address and the impending construction of the Destiny Mall in Syracuse, final topics are decided in a flurry of e-mails among panelists and producers right up to the show's deadline. Rubin makes the final call. Last November panelists provided all-night coverage and analysis of the 2002 national elections and broadcast on NBC affiliates. "Ivory Tower" panelists also have a little fun themselves. At the end of the show, each panelist gives an A or an F to someone or something. The grading game isn't limited to major players in public affairs.

"I've given F's to Anna Nichol Smith and to Pat Boone -- for a dreadful 'patriotic' song, which he performed abominably -- and A's to Mr. Rogers," said Altschuler.

Producer Steve Schnall said the big network shows depend on journalists and political pundits with the occasional talking head academic for a soundbite or two. "Ivory Tower," on the other hand, is a tour de force driven by some of the best minds in academia.

Plans for the show began after Fields pitched the idea to Rubin. Together they contacted schools throughout the region and sorted through dozens of resumes, Fields said.

"We wanted a good diversity of schools, from elite private colleges, Ivy League, state and community colleges, and we wanted a good gender and age as well as geographic mix," Fields said. "When we considered Cornell, Glenn Altschuler was our top choice and we feel very fortunate to have him. He adds such depth to the panel, and when you see the show, it's obvious that the panelists have a lot of respect and fondness for one another."

Fields added: "I know of no other public affairs series on TV that features a panel of academics with backgrounds in political science, sociology and American history, for example. These people are there because they know their subjects, they have to teach it every day and they are used to analyzing news and going beyond the obvious."

Coming from Ithaca, Altschuler has to drive an hour each way, as well as tape the show. But he said the chemistry among the panelists and the experience alone make the effort an exciting part of his week. He's also learned a little something about himself that maybe he didn't know: He's got a telegenic personality.

"People tell me I'm incisive and funny, though no one has yet accused me of being handsome," Altschuler said.

Tune in tomorrow night and judge for yourself.