I had not listened to “A Prairie Home Companion” in ages, which is a shame, but I was determined to listen tonight to the season premiere, the first show since Garrison Keillor’s mild stroke a few weeks ago. I knew from a column Keillor wrote that he was still sharp, but I wanted to hear what else he had to say about the experience.

Well, most of the show was great. Unfortunately, I stretched out on the sofa and slept through the one part of the show I really intended to hear: Keillor’s monologue.