Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time

Hosted by
A girl signs up for a class. A couple hires an accountant. A group of co-workers decides to pool their money and buy a couple of lottery tickets. In the beginning, they're all good ideas, full of hope and optimism. And then something turns. Davy Rothbart, was on a 136-city tour appearing on morning TV talk shows to promote his book, Found: The Best Lost, Tossed, and Forgotten Items from Around the World. Just before one appearance he had what seemed like a great idea at the time, and without letting the host know, he tested it out, live, on-air. The anatomy of good ideas gone bad.

A girl signs up for a class. A couple hires an accountant. A group of co-workers decides to pool their money and buy a couple of lottery tickets. In the beginning, they're all good ideas, full of hope and optimism. And then something turns. Davy Rothbart, was on a 136-city tour appearing on morning TV talk shows to promote his book, Found: The Best Lost, Tossed, and Forgotten Items from Around the World. Just before one appearance he had what seemed like a great idea at the time, and without letting the host know, he tested it out, live, on-air. The anatomy of good ideas gone bad.

Learn more or listen again to this week's episode.

Photo: Anthony Easton

Credits

Host:

Ira Glass