Last night we stumbled on the woodworking show "Rough Cut". The show included a visit to John Adams House and a veneered box. It was a lot to cram into an 1/2 hour. The topic and project was interesting, but Tommy was speaking so fast and with a thick "accent", we couldn't understand what he was saying. He also kept interupting his guests while they were speaking, and not really listening to what they were saying. We are excited that a woodworking show is back on the air, and have high hopes for its success. However, we are put off by the pace of the show. Hopefully, Tommy will become more comfortable on camera and with guests and his skills, and create the show were are all hoping for.

We wish him luck.

i think we crammed a ton into that episode ..there just seemed to be 1,000 steps in this project...as far as my accent goes..what can you do ..i am working on it..go listen to a few old podcasts if you want to hear HEAVY thanks for commenting and joining our ranks.

lvogel419,
We're glad you found the show and as with you, many folks are excited to have a woodworking show back on the Saturday morning PBS line-up. As for the pace of Tommy's show.. it takes everyone time to work through the kinks and get into their comfort zone and grove. That was one of the first episode shot and from what I've seen, Tommy gets better after each minute of camera time he gets under his belt. Now keep in mind the fact that many decisions about the shows format sort of require a faster pace to fit the full build into a single 30 minute episode. A lot of information to cram in.

As for the accent.. I could be biased since I lived in Mass. for 5 yrs and could have grown accustom to the different accents around the Boston area. So I can say that I've heard stronger ones and ones much harder to understand. That is something you'll have to just deal with and get useto, watch it again and again and take notes. This is always a good resource to use when required: Wicked Good Guide to Boston English Norm had a similar accent when he began and I guess we just pick up on things as we got to know him.

OK, I'm still of the opinion that the show pacing is fine for a 1/2 hour show. Not meant to hold your hand but rather inspire and encourage research and experimentation on your own.

With that in mind I suggest a new tagline for the end of the show (may need to be altered due to copyright or trademark issues).

"Read more about it at your local library.".

In light of the Internet and how it has put together great "free" sources for books, magazine articles, blogs, how-to sites, "local library" can be taken to mean "local cache of fantastic, informative on-line links and resources".

Perhaps something to add to the tab bar at the top of the page would be "library" were such links can accumulate. Upside is more information. Downside is maintenance to keep links fresh. An alternative would be a sticky thread in one of the forum areas.

Rough Cut did not premier in St. Louis until this past Saturday. I've been a fan of Tommy's for a couple years now but unfortunately I have to admit that I agree with some of the issues that viewers are voicing. It is possible for a woodworking show to take you through building a project from start to finish in a half an hour. We have all seen it done. Although they were without a time limit Tommy's podcasts were always entertaining and never seemed rushed. Tommy is not the problem. The show needs a director that can understand what needs detail explanation and what can be skimmed over. Every syllable should be scrutinized when you only have a half hour. The wall cabinet show seemed to be all about the molding and never showed Tommy cutting the half blind dovetails. And then the dentil molding jig (which is a very simple concept) got a couple minutes. The camera work is using to many quick shots from different angles.... and the list goes on. I assume they want this to be a new show and are trying to give it a different feel from the shows we have all seen already. Its just the energy they are trying to show is coming off as a rush instead of excitement.

With all that said, at the end of the day none of it really matters. As a woodworker, I am going to be sure and watch every single show anyway. Most of us will.

(oh and the accent comment was just dumb. no one ever complained about the way Norm speaks and Tommy communicates clearly.)

PS Since the show is sponsored by woodcraft and woodcraft happens to have a magazine it seems like there is some room for collaboration there. There could be articles in the current issue to act as a sort of text book to go along with Rough cut. We could all take woodworking classes directly from Tommy via a PBS show for just the price of a mag subscription. There could be measurements and greater project detail. Articles about jigs used on the show. Information about tools you don't yet have but would be very nice to use on one of the projects and it just happens to be on sale at woodcraft. yadda yadda yadda the possibilities for cooperation there just go on and on.

Maybe it's due to the fact that I've had to deal with folks from the highlands of Scotland in my pipe band days and Quebecois with their heavy french accents, but I had no trouble understanding Tommy.

Paul
the wee laddy

I found a new tag line for the show

"Wicked frickin' pissa"
Something that's just absolutely too cool for words.

[Tommy] Eli, this walnut is wicked frickin pissa!

[Eli] Oh my goodness, thats some great stuff

ha ..i wanted to name the show wicked pissa woodworking!! some shows we just got too ambitious ..i will slow it down in season 2...i hope!

I haven't seen the show yet but I am looking forward to it. I'd like to make a couple comments. First the accent is part of your charm. Second, I have been woodworking for 35 years. I am a tool & die maker by day and half the guys in the tool room are woodworkers. One of the guys mentioned Tommy's podcast a few months ago and I have watched every episode. I have to tell you, I have learn so much from watching those podcast ! You certainly have a skill for instruction. It's the little things you call out. I think I've learned way more watching your podcast than watching 20 years of NYW. You're doing a great job. I'm looking forward to learning more. Thanks

Ken

Personally I like the show. Yeah it would be nice if it was an hour long but people in hell want ice water ya know. As for the accent, it made no difference to me I understood everything. I like the attitude and the personalities make it interesting instead of hold your hand and showing you everything you need to think.

Keep up the good work Tommy and maybe do a 2 parter for some of the bigger projects.

English is not my first language and I can understand Tommy
(maybe that explains it )

Ronaldo, c'est merveilleux. Il est dommage que les anglophones ne le comprennent pas Tommy.

or if you prefer

Que é maravilhoso. É muito ruim que pessoas que falam Inglês não pode entendê-lo.

Bruce

"I only know two languages, English and bad English"

Dana,

FYI, my spelling and grammar sucks in English, French and Porteguese too.

It's even worse in Italian, Spanish, German, Japanese and Turkish. Good thing English is the only language in which I am required to communicate.

Happy Thanksgiving.


FYI,, Other than English, French is the only language which I might be able to really understand well enough to find a place to eat, a place to sleep and perhaps a newspaper that I can read. Everything else requires the judicious use of Google Translator!!!.

I too am new to watching the program, but I love it. I agree that it goes fast, but maybe I need to speed up my brain rather than slow down teh show! Seriously, it'd to to be hard to find the right mix of details in the project, with keeping it to 30 minutes. I especially enjoy that Tommy uses hand planes, a skill that I'm interested in building in myself.

Mike
Lansdowne, PA

Tommy, keep the accent!!! It is cool and very characteristic of your show.

I finally found the end of season video - the trellis.

Be careful driving this weekend.

These states can stop you for not wearing a seat belt.

Saw in the video you did not wear one.

"Be careful out there!"
by Sgt. Phil Freemason Esterhouse on each roll call on Hill Street Blues

Leave the guy alone and turn on the closed captions.
Tommy has a great concept for a show and PBS knows it. Give them a chance to work the pacing out and the format for each episode. Have some patience Tommy will find the right combination. He know his craft. The other side of the camera is a whole new world for him. It's different than podcasting. For most areas, the first season just started so any changes won't happen till later this year when the second season is released. Support the show by tuning in, buying DVD/Plans when they have a project that interests you and find someone to mentor and share the experience with. Challenge your friends and encourage them. Mention "Rough Cut" everytime you go to Woodcraft. Write to PBS and Woodcraft and tell them how much you enjoy the show. As advertising dollars get scarce in a rugged economy showing a sponsor that the money they do spend makes a difference is really important. At the end of the day PBS still needs to justify their programming.

Keep'em coming Tommy....We're behind ya 110%.

Bill

hey guys
i wouldnt get down on tommy for the show, if you have watched all of his podcast then you will know that its not him thats making the show be rushed. i will watch the show every chance i get because we need to support the work. but i do agree with some that the director of the show needs to change the approach and try shooting smoother shots and not packing so much in. learning 1 thing each show is great, there isnt enough time for more in such a short period.
what would be amazing would be taking the show and then having podcasts in this website that goes into more depth with what the show was about and tommy can be tommy (sorry tommy im sure your busy enough already and cant fit anything else in, but how about eli or someone that you can hand the podcasts of to?
just thinking

My 2 cents:

MR MacDonald, you are doing a fantastic job inspiring wood workers across the country. Don't worry about the pace of the show, as anyone can come to this site for thorough how-to's and step-by-step instructions. Until I watched your show, I had never tried to make anything larger than a humidor (I've always been a detail guy as opposed to large furniture). After watching you show how to use a mortising machine, I gathered the courage to use the one in the Post shop for a computer desk and it turned out beautifully (well, relatively for a first attempt IMHO).

Keep up the good work.

Congrats on the new attitude on wood projects and your trip into larger furniture world. Also, a hearty welcome to the home away from home for all those addicted to wood.

On top of that, since you mentioned a shop on the base, I assume you are in the military, and if so, thank you for your service to your country. Although not an American, I am ex military myself here in Canada and we too appreciate those who chose service to the country they love.

Paul
the little canuck guy