This American Life departing Showtime, host Ira Glass says

Ira Glass, host of pubradio phenom This American Life, somewhat accidentally revealed last night that its Showtime version is ending. "I don't know if I can say this yet, but we've asked to be taken off of television," Glass told the audience at a panel discussion in Manhattan that included several of the show's senior producers. As reported by FishbowlNY, Glass said that despite its four recent Emmy nods, the TV version would not continue. "Most journalism is about things that already happened, as it turns out," he said. "But with television, you want to capture it while it's happening."

Internet security firm detects malware on PBS page, report says

Network World, a news provider for network and IT professionals, is reporting that the Internet security firm Purewire has discovered malware in the PBS Kids' Curious George web page. Purewire researcher Nidhi Shah told the news site that the company first observed a malware, or malicious software, infection on Monday when a Purewire customer's computer picked it up. The log-in at the Curious George page may produce an error message that drags the user to a domain where "an attempt to exploit vulnerabilities on the user’s desktop applications is made," according to the news report. A PBS rep said it is aware of the problem, which should be fixed by Friday afternoon.

Kermit isn't going Gaga

Kermit the Frog is on the record about his relationship with oh-so hip pop star Lady Gaga: There is none. His denial to People magazine comes after the two arrived together at the recent MTV Video Music Awards and were photographed smooching as Kermit leaned out of the back of a limo. "It was not a romantic kiss," he insists. "It was a kiss for good luck. Kissing a frog is good luck for the person giving the kiss–but bad luck for the frog if his pig finds out." That would be Miss Piggy, who has long been linked to the green Muppet. But what about the Kermit cape and hat Lady Gaga wore during a television interview in Germany? "Actually, no actual amphibians were harmed in the making of that frog coat," Kermit explains. "In fact, after she checked the coat, she gave those frogs the rest of the night off."

Mortality bites Keillor in the butt

Garrison Keillor, 67, insists he's fine, just fine, after a mild stroke earlier this month. He also tells The Associated Press that he has no plans to retire or to postpone the new season of his Prairie Home Companion that begins Sept. 26. "I'm not a collector of things. I don't have hobbies . . . so work is what I do," he explained. His staff confirmed to Current that Keillor fully intends to participate in the big meatloaf dinner and street dance that traditionally kicks off each first show. Keillor described his experience in the hospital in an essay on Salon.com titled, "Nice 67 y.o. male has brush with mortality." He writes about "when the doctor talks about how you must go on a powerful blood thinner lest a stray clot turn your fine intellect into a cheese omelet, you must now accept being 67 y.o. and do as he says. You had intended to be a natural wonder, an old guy who still runs the high hurdles, but mortality has bitten you in the butt."