By now, you may have heard me lecture on the fact that "House" is TV's best drama and Hugh Laurie is the best drama actor. I do that sometimes; I also  blather about his comedy skills, which remain semi-tucked away in England.

Now there's more; he's also a bluesman who is the center of a terrific PBS special. In some markets -- including East Lansing and Cincinnati -- that airs at 9 p.m. Friday. Here's the story I sent to papers:

By MIKE HUGHES

When man perfected satellite communications, the potential was stunning. Suddenly, people in podunk could see  live images of an Olympian in Japan, a soldier in Iraq, a triumphant new president in South Africa.

And on Friday (Sept. 25), a satellite was employed so a man in Burbank could talk to a man outside a movie theater in Hollywood. At the most, it saved a $60 taxi ride.