S-Town Should Never Have Been Released
In March of 2017, Brian Reed released the now-viral podcast S-Town which documents Reed’s time spent in Woodstock, Alabama. Originally, Reed (a journalist involved in This American Life) was investigating a murder which was covered up by corrupt local authorities. However, it soon becomes apparent that this murder never took place. Rather than cease investigation, Reed becomes intrigued by the man who sent in the original tip: John B. McLemore. In fact, S-Town revolves mostly around McLemore’s life. In the creation and publication of S-Town, Reed sacrifices his professionalism for the sake of entertainment and fame.
Traditionally, journalists strive to remain impartial and as uninvolved as possible in the events which they cover. However, Reed somewhat befriends McLemore and becomes a “character” in the story itself. Reed straddles the line between being a detached observer and an active participant, giving an abnormal tone to the podcast. For example, Reed is involved enough to be invited to McLemore’s funeral after his suicide. However, Reed brings recording equipment and tapes the service. Similarly, Reed befriends Tyler, a young man whose life John was trying to improve prior to his death. Tyler confides in Reed, yet Reed does not tell him the pertinent information he knows about the court proceedings involving the distribution of McLemore’s estate. While this could be viewed as Reed being professional, he later discloses statements Tyler has made to McLemore’s cousins from Florida.
Even worse is Reed’s exploitation of the life of McLemore. He meticulously documents every idiosyncrasy of McLemore’s life, home, and personality. Although McLemore does consent to being recorded, he is under the impression that the story will be about the flaws in his town which he is speaking about. At one time, Reed explicitly says that McLemore asked him not to report what Reed then shares. After McLemores’s suicide, Reed continues to dig into his life. Knowing that McLemore was bisexual, Reed attempts to find out if he ever had a partner. In this investigation, Reed discovers and reveals for all of America stories from Reed’s romantic history: when he was kissed without consent, when he was rejected after confessing his feelings, and everything in between. Reed also finds and interviews many of McLemore’s old horologist friends.
The podcast, which was very well received, is extremely well produced. It tells a compelling story in a befitting way. Listeners hear the distinct voices of the characters mixed with thematically appropriate music. They get a glimpse into the secrets and inner workings of another human being. However, this podcast should never have been released. Reed became too involved with the story and its characters. While Reed is being interviewed on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, talking about “how he did it” and “what equipment he used,” John B. McLemore is buried in Bib County. Tyler is in jail and his children are growing up without a father. McLemore’s mother has dementia and his cousins are trying to balance taking care of her with the rest of their responsibilities. Woodstock, Alabama, still has every crime and vice which drove McLemore to contact a reporter in New York in the hopes of improving his town and the world at large. John’s story was not one that needed to be told. It is not a cautionary tale, an exposé, or a memoir. It has no purpose, no plot. It is not even a piece of work made to memorialize a loved one. Instead, it is a patchwork of pieces of a man’s life constructed and torn apart again for the entertainment of millions of listeners and the personal gratification and glorification of Brian Reed.
