Big boomies. Small boomies. The ones that go “pfffweeeee.” To viewers, each firework is a new and sacred experience, so it makes sense that some were incensed by PBS’s decision to air pretaped firework footage as part of its Independence Day concert, A Capitol Fourth. The network cited inclement weather in D.C. as the reason for the switch, as well as the unspoken cultural understanding that every fireworks show looks pretty much exactly the same. “We showed a combination of the best fireworks from this year and previous years. It was the patriotic thing to do. #July4thPBS,” A Capitol Fourth’s Twitter account tweeted last night. The show also included performances from Kenny Loggins, Hamilton’s Christopher Jackson, and Cassadee Pope, among others. The whole thing makes you wonder why you should even bother memorizing all televised fireworks shows every year, if networks are going to be pulling shenanigans like this!
