Can anyone properly describe what might happen if we lost PBS in this ever-changing media landscape? The threat of losing PBS is a real one -- they truly do depend on the support of viewers like us. And we have tons of reasons to support them.

Zadi and I were tickled to be invited to the PBS Press Tour here in L.A. by the delightful Kristen Taylor the past three days. The Press Tour is basically where they gather TV critics for three weeks and all the networks come in and give them a taste of their new shows - PBS, HBO, NBC, and so on. They assemble panels with the producers and stars and the critics can ask them questions for an hour or so.

For PBS, it was a star-studded event with some amazing talent on display. On Tuesday we met and interviewed the brilliant Timothy Ferris who has a film called Seeing In the Dark about amateur astronomy and its impact on our lives, based on his own book. If you've never heard of Tim Ferris, he's written a dozen books and has had over 200 articles in The New York Times, as well as having the distinguished honor of being a producer of the Voyager record that was sent to the stars in the late 70's. That just scratches the surface of what this amazing person has done. Our interview with him will be on JETSET soon.

That same day we attended two other sessions. Wired Science is a new PBS show being produced with Wired Magazine designed to help us "...untangle complex research and introduce the high-tech mavericks defining 21st century culture and innovation." So cool. We got to meet and interview Ziya Tong, who is one of the hosts of the show.

Then we had the supreme treat of attending the Pioneers of Television session, which featured Dick Cavett, Tim Conway, Ed McMahon, Tony Orlando, and Betty White. So many amazing stars that we grew up with! They were completely charming and funny, and we got to hear a bunch of stories about the behind-the-scenes goings on that were wonderful. Richard Nixon was looking for a way "to screw" Dick Cavett and Jackie Gleason gave Tony Orlando a hell of a hard time on his first show, and that was just for starters.

After the session we got to go upstairs to the rooftop restaurant and hang out with these folks. We interviewed Ed McMahon, who is turns out is quite in touch with what's happening online. He was recently on Tom Green's show for July 4th, and he's rolling out his own online show called The Ed McMahon Show. You heard it here first! ;)

Yesterday in the morning there was a session with Carl Reiner and Mandy Patinkin about their new multi-part documentary film The Jewish Americans created by David Grubin (winner of two Peabody's and nine Emmy's!).

In the afternoon Ken Burns was talking about his new 7-part series called The War, a documentary in his usual grand scope and style about World War II.

Another session that day was for the upcoming NOVA special about the debate over "Intelligent Design." The judge in the landmark Dover, PA trial was onstage with an important witness and a local Dover teacher, as well as the series producers. Fascinating stuff. They mentioned a recent poll that indicated that 66% of registered Republicans reject the scientific theory of evolution. 35% of Democrats reject it, too. Sad and scary stuff.

By the way, did you know you can watch NOVA's shows, in their entirety, online and for free?

And finally we got to watch Carol Burnett talk onstage about the American Masters documentary that will premiere about her this fall. I have always been a huge, huge fan of Carol Burnett and it was a real treat to get to sit literally 10 rows away from her and listen to her talk about her life inside and outside of show business. But I was so disappointed to hear that she doesn't have a website!?

What this whole experience did for me was to really cement the notion that PBS's programming still can't be found anywhere else. Not with the same level of commitment to quality and substance. And no commericals, hello! We're all so bombarded with media now that it's easy to forget the things that make our lives interesting and important.

PBS reminded me, so thanks for that. Next time I see a pledge drive on TV, consider me a member for life.