Posted by Ir (Helen) on: 04.28.2007 /
Jim and Hemant will be on the TV show Life Today next week.
Jim is on April 30; Hemant, May 1. actually it was the other way around - see below
Edited to add: actually the shows were the other way around - the April 30 show was more about Hemant; today’s (May 1) was more about Jim. Links to both shows are here
Comment by: Ir (Helen)
1It looks like you can already watch today’s program online:
Today’s program
Comment by: Mike
2I wish James would have spoken a little less and allowed Hemant to speak a little more. Did anyone else feel that way or was it just me?
Comment by: Ir (Helen)
3Actually I thought James was very respectful and gave both Hemant and Jim opportunity to talk.
I’ve read lots of what Hemant writes, and watched/heard other interviews, and met him in person. So maybe for me, it was less of an issue how much he did or didn’t get to say, because it’s not a new story to me.
Did you watch both shows, by the way? They were reversed from what their site said - Hemant said more on yesterday’s show (April 30) than today’s (May 1). If you haven’t seen yesterday’s, watch that; you might be happier with how much he gets to say on there. This page has links to both shows
Comment by: Karen
4I certainly did - after all, the point was to hear from an atheist, right?
Just for fun, I took the May 1 transcript and did a little word count. Out of about 3740 words in the interview part of the show (I didn’t count the part where James introduces the missionary video) here are the totals:
Hemant - 503 words.
Jim - 1097 words.
James - 2030 words.
Betty - 103 words.
Comment by: Ir (Helen)
5Karen, the April 30 show was more focused on Hemant - although their site indicated May 1 (today) would be. There was one show for each book and Hemant’s was featured yesterday (April 30).
Comment by: Karen
6Yeah, I know, which is why Jim dominated the second interview. Fine and dandy, of course.
I’ll have to analyze the first transcript and see what the word counts are for that one. I got a sense that James talked less during the first show.
Poor Betty barely gets a word in during either show (why am I not surprised). ;-)
Comment by: Jim Henderson
7Jesus gave really short talks
Comment by: Ir (Helen)
8Karen, I suppose the way I look at it is, it’s James’ show; if he wants to talk then that’s his choice.
I liked when he said he wanted Betty on the show with him. You’re right she didn’t say much but, maybe she was fine with that.
Comment by: Karen
9Okay, here’s the analysis for the first show (again, I’m just counting the interview portion, not the missionary portion):
Hemant dominated with 1683 words
Jim got in 670 words
James spoke 1391 words
Betty said hello and asked two questions for a grand total of …
48 words!
Helen, you’re right. It’s his show, he handles it in his own way, and apparently he’s doing what it takes to make it successful. And Betty may love the fact that she sits on the couch but contributes little in a verbal manner. I wouldn’t be if that was me and my husband, but whatever.
The reason I’m interested is that part of my job involves interviewing people, and they always far out-talk me. Probably they speak three or four times more than I do because I figure my audience is interested in what they have to say (which is why I’m featuring them), not what I have to say.
But then, I’m not a TV personality! :-)
Comment by: Mike
10I haven’t watched the other show yet, but I will. I really like Hemant’s book (I hadn’t heard of him or the Ebay auction previously). I only saw his book while studying at Barnes and Noble– found the title interesing and bought it.
Anyway, after reading the book, I really wanted to hear him speak in person. I have a good friend who is an athiest. Reading Hemant’s book really helped me understand the “why” to a lot of my friend’s questions about faith and Christianity.
All that to say, that’s what the impetus was for my post yesterday. Thanks to Karen for actually counting the words.
Comment by: Ir (Helen)
11Karen, I’m glad to see that Hemant did say a lot more on the first show.
Maybe your audiences are asking why Karen doesn’t say more ;-)
Comment by: Hemant
12Mike– I’m thrilled that you enjoyed the book. And the fact that it helped you to better understand your atheist friend means a lot to me. I hope I get to meet you in person one of these days!
– Hemant
Comment by: Kate
13I caught the show in the wee hrs of the morning and found it delightful. I have close friends who are not Christians but share my passion for helping others in a community service org we work with. Many of my Christian friends don’t understand how this can be - and my kids have been going to a church with their dad that treats “the lost” disrespectfully. I’m glad I was introduced to both Hemant and your resources here.
Comment by: Ir (Helen)
14Hi Kate, I’m glad you enjoyed the show.
I’m sorry your kids get taken to a church whose treatment of ‘the lost’ is not what you’d like. That must be hard.
Comment by: Tim
15Well, I was able to watch the second show where Jim was talking most of the time. I didn’t even realize there was another show until I saw this site. I’ll have to check it out.
Already, though, Hemant’s story has taught me a lot. I’m glad that he was on the show, and that the Christians running it (Jim, etc.) were open to the discussion!
I hope there will be other shows like this in the future. It was definitely enjoyable and thought provoking (prayer provoking, too!)