NPR announced Friday (June 8) that Tom and Ray Magliozzi, hosts of the popular and long-running Car Talk, will lay down their wrenches and stop recording new episodes as of October. The show will continue, however, with producers repackaging calls mined from Car Talk’s 25-years-deep archive.
The Magliozzis, also known as Click and Clack, the Tappet Brothers, started recording Car Talk 35 years ago at Boston’s WBUR (Current, June 19, 1995). NPR brought it to national distribution a decade later. It grew into public radio’s most popular show, as measured by average-quarter-hour listening, and became a fixture on many weekend morning lineups on public radio.
“We’ve managed to avoid getting thrown off NPR for 25 years, given tens of thousands of wrong answers and had a hell of a time every week talking to callers,” said Ray Magliozzi in an NPR press release. “The stuff in our archives still makes us laugh. So we figured, why keep slaving over a hot microphone?”
Archive editions of the show, which will not be promoted or identified as such, will continue indefinitely. “We’re hoping to be like I Love Lucy and air ten times a day on ‘NPR at Nite’ in 2075,” Tom Magliozzi said in a typically jocular announcement on Car Talk’s website. (Try reading the script of the back-and-forth without hearing their voices in your head.)
Materials distributed to press and NPR member stations suggest that Tom, who at 75 is 12 years the elder Magliozzi, made the decision to quit. An FAQ sent to stations said that Tom was “pretty certain” he’d never return for any future appearances, while Ray, as the “non-geezer brother,” “seemed more circumspect.”
At Tom’s announcement that he’s retiring, Ray replied, in the NPR release, “If you retired, how would you know?”
The programs that will start airing in October will recycle calls from previous shows. Car Talk’s producers have systematically archived all the calls and rated each one on an “entertainment” scale of 1 to 5.
Doug Berman, c.e.o. of Car Talk production company Dewey Cheatham & Howe, sent a letter to stations assuring them that a less-than-fresh Car Talk will still attract strong audiences. “25 years in, we’re actually going back and editing the series, to make it better, stronger, and funnier,” he wrote (emphasis in original).
In fact, NPR has already been testing the approach by distributing more archived shows in recent years. According to Arbitron Portable People Meter data from 16 “important” markets, measured across 28 weeks from 2009 to 2010, encore hours did not consistently draw significantly fewer listeners than new episodes did.
NPR also surveyed listeners about their awareness of hearing old Car Talk calls. Seventy percent disagreed with the statement “It seems that Car Talk is repeating old shows.”
Berman also said that listener loyalty to the show increased over the past year, even as archived shows increased, and actual listenership stayed level.
While most listeners surveyed made positive comments about the show, some were less kind. “The guys’ act is getting a bit old,” one said. “And my father taught me to despise men who laughed at their own jokes.”
The encore shows will be presented just as today’s shows are, according to NPR. “The fact that the guys are no longer recording new shows will be public, but we don’t feel it’s in the interest of the series to continually advertise that at the beginning of each new show,” the network said in an FAQ distributed to stations.
The Magliozzis will continue to give out the 800 number listeners call for advice, but callers will hear a message stating that the program is no longer accepting calls.
The archived episodes may include dated references, such as mentions of older car models, but NPR said producers will remove nonessential references such as “mileage numbers that seem excessively low, or advice that a caller go immediately to his nearest Yugo dealer (although the old “Fiat dealer” references can go back in now!).”
The brothers will continue to record timely “Even though …” kickers for the ends of episodes and will also keep up their newspaper column.
The continuation of the show is good news for everyone, Berman joked in his letter to stations, “except the Zamfir Pan Flute show that’s been coveting Car Talk’s timeslot.”
Reaction to the announcement was swift and widespread. KQED compiled a Storify version of how it all played out.
Jun 9, 2012
Lamberson takes interim spot at KOTO-FM in Telluride, Colo.
KOTO-FM ("Radio Almost Like the Professionals"), listener-supported community radio in Telluride, Colo., has hired Beth Lamberson as interim executive director, to bolster its fundraising efforts, reports the Telluride Daily Planet. She'll be with the station for six months, through Dec. 1, replacing former Executive Director Steve Kennedy, who left in April. Lamberson has been in pubradio for 20 years, most recently as as e.d. of Four Corners Public Radio, KSUT in Ignacio, Colo. In July 2011, KOTO said it was considering accepting underwriting for the first time, after a financial pinch that included staff and salary cutbacks.
Jun 8, 2012
Fred Rogers goes viral with "Garden of Your Mind" video remix
An Auto-Tuned video of pubcasting icon Fred Rogers is going viral, with more than 700,000 views as of Friday (June 8) afternoon. The three-minute video was remixed by Symphony of Science's John Boswell for PBS Digital Studios. "When we discovered video mash-up artist John D. Boswell, aka melodysheep, on YouTube," the studio said in a statement, "we immediately wanted to work together. Turns out that he is a huge Mister Rogers Neighborhood fan, and was thrilled at the chance to pay tribute to one of our heroes." It's the first in a series of PBS icon remixes.
UPDATE: Here's how the launch and reaction unfolded, via Storify from PBS. As of Saturday morning (June 9), YouTube hits were up to 1.8 million.
UPDATE: Here's how the launch and reaction unfolded, via Storify from PBS. As of Saturday morning (June 9), YouTube hits were up to 1.8 million.
"Live from Lincoln Center" creator retiring after more than 30 years
John Goberman, who created Live From Lincoln Center more than three decades ago, is departing as executive producer on June 30 after more than 200 live national telecasts.The series continues in its 37th season on PBS this fall.
Goberman was cited by Symphony Magazine as one of the 50 most important individuals making a difference in American music. He pioneered the video and audio technology by which concerts, opera, ballets and plays could be telecast during live performances without disruption of performers and audiences. His television work has garnered 13 national Emmy Awards, three Peabody Awards and the first Television Critics Circle Award for Achievement in Music.
Goberman also created the concept of “Symphonic Cinema,” in which orchestral scores are performed live to the films for which they were originally commissioned. After departing Lincoln Center Goberman will focus on those events, as well as staging concert galas and video presentations across the country.
Goberman was cited by Symphony Magazine as one of the 50 most important individuals making a difference in American music. He pioneered the video and audio technology by which concerts, opera, ballets and plays could be telecast during live performances without disruption of performers and audiences. His television work has garnered 13 national Emmy Awards, three Peabody Awards and the first Television Critics Circle Award for Achievement in Music.
Goberman also created the concept of “Symphonic Cinema,” in which orchestral scores are performed live to the films for which they were originally commissioned. After departing Lincoln Center Goberman will focus on those events, as well as staging concert galas and video presentations across the country.
"Click and Clack" announce retirement
The hosts of Car Talk, the popular pubradio show celebrating its 25th season this fall, are retiring, they announced to listeners today (June 8). Tom and Ray Magliozzi, aka Click and Clack the Tappet Brothers, actually started the show 10 years earlier at WBUR in Boston. Tom is 74 years old, Ray is 63.
An NPR press release said that they will not tape new shows but their weekly call-in series will continue to be distributed from their archives of 1,200 shows beginning in October. The two will continue to write their twice-weekly "Dear Tom and Ray" column.
Car Talk evolved out of what was supposed to be a call-in show with a panel of mechanics, according to a June 1995 story in Current. The WBUR volunteer/producer called the brothers to sit on the panel and Tom agreed, thinking that it would generate business for the pair's fledgling garage. As it turned out, Tom was the only one of six mechanics who showed up. "It was a wild success," said Ray, "two or three people called in." The producer, who soon left the show, asked the brothers to do it every week. "And we figured 'What the hell!'," Ray said.
UPDATE: KQED has Storyfied fan reaction to the announcement.
An NPR press release said that they will not tape new shows but their weekly call-in series will continue to be distributed from their archives of 1,200 shows beginning in October. The two will continue to write their twice-weekly "Dear Tom and Ray" column.
Car Talk evolved out of what was supposed to be a call-in show with a panel of mechanics, according to a June 1995 story in Current. The WBUR volunteer/producer called the brothers to sit on the panel and Tom agreed, thinking that it would generate business for the pair's fledgling garage. As it turned out, Tom was the only one of six mechanics who showed up. "It was a wild success," said Ray, "two or three people called in." The producer, who soon left the show, asked the brothers to do it every week. "And we figured 'What the hell!'," Ray said.
UPDATE: KQED has Storyfied fan reaction to the announcement.
Small and indie TV stations protesting FCC bid to end analog viewability rule
A group of more than 200 TV stations is protesting the FCC's proposal to end the viewability rule in December 2013, reports Multichannel News.
In September 2007, in anticipation of the digital transition, the FCC decided that cable operators would be required to convert digital signals to analog so must-carry channels could still be viewed by households with analog television sets. The FCC now wants to sunset that requirement, citing the availability of free or low-cost converter boxes.
But Independent Voices for Local Television, representing smaller and independent TV stations, say that 12.6 million households of more than 34 million viewers don’t have any digital TV sets. "Many millions more have analog sets in their bedrooms, even if they have one digital set in the living room," the group says on its website. "If the FCC shifts the burden to consumers, these cable viewers will lose access unless they lease new equipment."
"Voices for Local TV will have to talk fast," Multichannel News notes: The FCC's proposed order needs to be voted on by June 12 or the rule sunsets immediately.
In September 2007, in anticipation of the digital transition, the FCC decided that cable operators would be required to convert digital signals to analog so must-carry channels could still be viewed by households with analog television sets. The FCC now wants to sunset that requirement, citing the availability of free or low-cost converter boxes.
But Independent Voices for Local Television, representing smaller and independent TV stations, say that 12.6 million households of more than 34 million viewers don’t have any digital TV sets. "Many millions more have analog sets in their bedrooms, even if they have one digital set in the living room," the group says on its website. "If the FCC shifts the burden to consumers, these cable viewers will lose access unless they lease new equipment."
"Voices for Local TV will have to talk fast," Multichannel News notes: The FCC's proposed order needs to be voted on by June 12 or the rule sunsets immediately.
Jun 7, 2012
Vince Gardino bound for orchestra post after NY Public Radio departure in July
Vince Gardino, New York Public Radio's executive director of underwriting, is departing the station after 14 years to become executive director of the American Classical Orchestra, which performs music from the 17th to 19th centuries using authentic period instruments. His last day with the station is June 8, and he'll start with the orchestra July 2.
For 12 years, Gardino served as chair of the PMDMC Heritage Group, a best-practices working group of corporate support leaders of major market stations. He also was lead negotiator with the Radio Research Consortium for pubradio’s Arbitron contracts, and recently was appointed as the pubradio representative on the Arbitron Radio Advisory Council.
"His consistent focus and hands-on style with the clients and sales team helped propel revenue growth through both robust and challenging financial landscapes," the station said in a statement.
For 12 years, Gardino served as chair of the PMDMC Heritage Group, a best-practices working group of corporate support leaders of major market stations. He also was lead negotiator with the Radio Research Consortium for pubradio’s Arbitron contracts, and recently was appointed as the pubradio representative on the Arbitron Radio Advisory Council.
"His consistent focus and hands-on style with the clients and sales team helped propel revenue growth through both robust and challenging financial landscapes," the station said in a statement.
George Thomas retiring from his longtime jazz show on Vermont Public Radio
The host of Vermont Public Radio's Jazz with George Thomas is stepping away from the mic after more than 11 years. Thomas has announced he is retiring from VPR, with his final show in late June. “It has been an honor and I am grateful to have been able to share jazz with VPR's avid, curious and astute listeners, who often suggested artists, songs and albums to play,” Thomas said.
The show is heard from 9 to 11 p.m. Eastern Monday through Thursday and Friday nights until midnight. Jazz music "will continue to have a presence in the VPR programming line-up, but the details have yet to be finalized," the station said.
Robin Turnau, president of VPR, wrote in a memo to staff: “As Ella Fitzgerald once said, ‘It isn't where you came from, it's where you're going that counts.’ I know that we all wish George the best of luck in where he’s going, and will be cheering him on from the front row.”
The show is heard from 9 to 11 p.m. Eastern Monday through Thursday and Friday nights until midnight. Jazz music "will continue to have a presence in the VPR programming line-up, but the details have yet to be finalized," the station said.
Robin Turnau, president of VPR, wrote in a memo to staff: “As Ella Fitzgerald once said, ‘It isn't where you came from, it's where you're going that counts.’ I know that we all wish George the best of luck in where he’s going, and will be cheering him on from the front row.”
Television Critics Association nominates five PBS shows for honors
PBS scored five nods in the 28th annual Television Critics Association Awards, announced Wednesday (June 6) in Los Angeles. Masterpiece's Downton Abbey and Sherlock are going head-to-head in the movies, mini-series and specials category. Frontline was nominated in news and information; Sesame Street, in youth programming; and Downton again in program of the year. Details and a full list of nominees at Deadline.com.
Jun 6, 2012
State orders W.V. network to craft plan, calls for review of executive's performance
The state Educational Broadcasting Authority has ordered West Virginia Public Broadcasting to develop a strategic financial plan by July 31, according to the Charleston Gazette. Authority members also called for a formal review of network Executive Director Dennis Adkins' job performance.
The newspaper said that as of April 30, contributions to the network are down 7 percent from the same time last year, and corporate underwriting is down 8 percent from 2011 and 36 percent from 2008.
Mike Meador, finance director at West Virginia Public Broadcasting, said the agency also has been told by Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin's administration to expect a 5 percent cut in its state appropriations next year, amounting to about $300,000. The state appropriation, $5.64 million in fiscal 2012-13, provides more than half of the network's operating budget, which includes $300,000 for Mountain Stage and $45,000 to the West Virginia Music Hall of Fame.
The newspaper said that as of April 30, contributions to the network are down 7 percent from the same time last year, and corporate underwriting is down 8 percent from 2011 and 36 percent from 2008.
Mike Meador, finance director at West Virginia Public Broadcasting, said the agency also has been told by Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin's administration to expect a 5 percent cut in its state appropriations next year, amounting to about $300,000. The state appropriation, $5.64 million in fiscal 2012-13, provides more than half of the network's operating budget, which includes $300,000 for Mountain Stage and $45,000 to the West Virginia Music Hall of Fame.
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