"The cable people tell me, 'People calling in. Do some more polka'"
June 16, 2016 12:15 PM   Subscribe

Polka Spotlight is the 20-year-old TV show where the party never ends. Yes, a couple of full episodes are available, with 100% genuine community access TV graphics!
posted by BungaDunga (25 comments total) 15 users marked this as a favorite
 
And once again, thank you to Mrs. Vilve Yachke for the cabbage rolls and the coffee...
posted by Capt. Renault at 12:23 PM on June 16, 2016 [9 favorites]


I find these videos so oddly comforting.
posted by MCMikeNamara at 12:40 PM on June 16, 2016


Just in time for the Linsk Minyk reunion tour!
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 12:50 PM on June 16, 2016 [1 favorite]


Laugh all you want, but those Polka folks know how to have a good time!
posted by kinnakeet at 1:07 PM on June 16, 2016 [2 favorites]


Nice little portal into 90s Minnesota culture. Love it.
posted by christopherious at 1:12 PM on June 16, 2016


Thanks for this.

It then occurred to me: "Dare I Google this fellow?"

Dear reader, on yet another bad-news day, I was heartened and comforted to know that Walter Ostanek is still with us
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 1:16 PM on June 16, 2016 [4 favorites]


Brings back memories of watching, on Minnesota-sourced cable TV, "Chmielewski Fun Time" far too many years ago.
posted by milnews.ca at 1:27 PM on June 16, 2016 [1 favorite]


Ostanek was, is now, and always will be the king.

I've seen him a few times, mostly at the Sausage King Festival down the road. I've also heard him give one of the best commencement addresses I've ever heard (naturally, he brought his accordion).

Dude can work a room. Such an entertainer. He pulls you in despite yourself.
posted by Capt. Renault at 1:34 PM on June 16, 2016 [5 favorites]


Now I have an overpowering desire for some Grain Belt and Hotdish.
posted by Sphinx at 1:44 PM on June 16, 2016 [3 favorites]


Warning, no warm fuzzy thoughts ahead.

Oh.My.Gawd. My late mother-in-law had to have her fix of this slab of schmaltz and nostalgia every week day. I think it played in Bismarck at around 4:00. Right before most seniors went for dinner. We tried viewing it with irony, with derision, nothing worked. My wife suggested sampling her mother's pain meds.

Growing up in North Dakota in the 60s/70s with only one TV meant being force-fed just way too much Lawrence Welk. Plus, the local stations would run LW back to back with Hee Haw. The Greatest Generation crammed polkas and waltzes down our throats like we were French geese. And every goddamn time there was someone OUR AGE playing this treacle we'd get this "see, there's a kid/teen who respects this music, why can't you be more like that." And we muttered "there's someone everyone in their school hates".

I can now listen to lounge lizards. I understand the appeal of the American Songbook. But to this day I can put up with "dance music" only with enough beer in me but man, it's gotta be a lot of fucking beer. I remember back in my college days thinking my future spouse had a great sense of humor by referring to an above mentioned show as "Chmielewski RUN Time" because you RAN to the TV to shut that shit off. So no, don't tell about polkas. And don't get me started on Hee Haw.
posted by Ber at 5:27 PM on June 16, 2016 [3 favorites]


Wow! I lived to see Walter Ostanek hailed non-ironically on MetaFilter. He really is great, and the current king of Slovenian/Cleveland-style polka.
posted by Modest House at 5:35 PM on June 16, 2016 [2 favorites]


"In 100 years, there will be no emo music.
In 100 years, there will be no screamo music.
But 1000 years...
There. Will. Be. POLKA!"
posted by Sing Fool Sing at 6:31 PM on June 16, 2016 [2 favorites]


That first video starts with some amazingly lugubrious dance music, no-one gets off the ground, and they look like their pelves are afraid of each other. Skandia dance teachers where I am occasionally deprecate something as "Minnesota style".

You can be full-nostalgia and still have enough bounce to get off the floor.
posted by clew at 6:52 PM on June 16, 2016


They still show the Lawrence Welk Show on Rhode Island PBS on Saturdays.

I...I got nothin'.
posted by wenestvedt at 7:28 PM on June 16, 2016 [1 favorite]


It's like y'all never heard of Polkacide.
posted by goofyfoot at 8:18 PM on June 16, 2016 [1 favorite]


This made me do some searching and I just found out Joe Siedlik of the "Big Joe Polka Show" died last year. That was a show we were fascinated with.
posted by bongo_x at 8:33 PM on June 16, 2016 [1 favorite]


The Mankato version, Bandwagon, has been airing for 56 years and may be the longest running tv show in history.

My grandpa likes to watch reruns of himself dancing with countless ladies. Player.

Bandwagon
posted by littlewater at 10:19 PM on June 16, 2016 [4 favorites]


It is hard to explain how deep in this I am, Polkacide played my stores first year anniversary 18 years ago.
I have been selling ,overhauling and repairing accordions for more than 20 years. This is about 20% of my clientele. Sadly I have attended a lot of funerals in the last 10 years.

One of my customer/mentors was Clyde Forsman who was a retired San Francisco street car repairman. He played with Those Darn Accordions back in the 90's. He did Rod Stewart and Hendrix covers and had an insane number of tattoos.
posted by boilermonster at 11:23 PM on June 16, 2016 [7 favorites]


> I have been selling, overhauling and repairing accordions for more than 20 years.

You are the coolest dude on Metafilter!
I wish I could play accordion.
posted by ardgedee at 5:04 AM on June 17, 2016 [3 favorites]


As a kid I saw the SCTV spoof (homage?) first on SCTV, then saw Polkarama, and that kind of blew my mind.
SCTV: scmenge brothers salute to new wave music.
posted by chapps at 7:06 AM on June 17, 2016 [1 favorite]


I am shocked I have never seen that video! But there were actual new wave accordion hits.
posted by boilermonster at 9:22 AM on June 17, 2016 [1 favorite]


The Mollie B Polka Party is a current show on a national (high number) cable network called RFD-TV. From what I can tell, it's one of their more popular shows, and she films new episodes on a regular basis.

I love to put this on while I'm doing things around the house - I also enjoy watching all the various ways that people (almost all old) dance to the music. Yes, I'm from rural Nebraska, why do you ask?

if, like me, you grew up going to grandpa's farm and watching country/western music shows and Lawrence Welk on the weekends, this channel will be a real throwback to you.
posted by jkosmicki at 2:16 PM on June 17, 2016 [1 favorite]


Hey boilermonster: There are several really good bands that make no bones about their love of the accordion and their ability to rock out:
Brave Combo is probably the best known.

but Those Darn Accordions have been doing it for a while too.
posted by jkosmicki at 2:31 PM on June 17, 2016 [1 favorite]


Nonironic polkas at honkfest but I have found no other dancers. Must organize for next year.
posted by clew at 8:27 PM on June 17, 2016


I am pretty aware of what goes on in my weird little world , but it was a surprise that something as well known as Second City sketches had not been brought to my attention on a monthly basis. I could do long ass article on all the weird stuff I am aware of in this genre.
posted by boilermonster at 11:43 PM on June 17, 2016


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