News from the higher spectrum

I was hesitant when Bla’M asked me to blatherBlog while he traipsed around in the land that brought us liberation theology.  Don’t get me wrong…I listen to tons of talk radio, amounting to many hours a day.  But almost all of it is confined to public radio.  That’s right…I’m a talk-radio snob who cannot be troubled listening to serial ads punctuated by a few minutes of a blathering-head ending each segment by cutting off a caller amid an important point.  That's not the liberal way.

I accepted the invitation, so I’ve done my time for Bla’M by willfully straying from No Static At All bliss with its cerebral blather to the whistley, snap, crackle and poppy parts of the broadcast spectrum where one is most likely to hear neandertalic grunting.  And I’ve dutifully reported.

But as long as it is almost Sunday morning, when our thoughts naturally turn to Higher Purposes, let us turn our gaze to the Very High Frequency spectrum where the pedestrian term “talk radio” might better be called “fora for ratiocination.”

There are a number of program changes at KUOW (94.9 FM) (my talk radio staple).  KUOW will now play both hours of The Diane Rehm Show on Friday nights (actually, early Saturday mornings).  If you are allowed to stay up past midnight on Fridays, Diane Rehm hosts a first-rate news round-up.

A second change affects Friday evenings.  Talk of the Nation: Science Friday, Latino USA and Left, Right and Center leave KUOW to be replaced by To The Best of Our Knowledge starting December 8th.  KUOW program manager Jeff Hansen points out:

After spending many weeks reviewing our wish list of the best programs currently not carried on either KUOW or KXOT we concluded that To The Best of Our Knowledge is the right choice. We found that it offered the best range of topics not already covered on KUOW or KXOT and it had some of the sharpest interviewing we've heard in a long time.

Okay, Jeff…but it better be good.  I have a vague recollection of hearing the program once or twice while visiting other markets.  “Dull” comes to mind…but I could be wrong.  (To The Best of Our Knowledge shouldn’t be confused with  To The Best of MY Knowledge, a lame call-in show on WPSU-FM [in central Pennsylvania] hosted by Penn State University’s President Dr. Graham Spanier.  God, that reminds me...I really don’t miss central Pennsylvania….)

I’m very sad to see Left, Right and Center go—I mean, it’s still available on-line (and via KXOT if you can get the station), but I enjoyed catching it automatically just because most Friday nights I am sitting in front of the computer blogging with KUOW on in the background.  (Usually I am finishing up another Friday Night Multimedia Extravaganza.  Pathetic, we bloggers are.  In fact, evolutionary biologists have a term for Friday night blogging.  Its called "lowering ones inclusive fitness.") 

Left, Right and Center only annoys because everything is rushed to fit a 30 minute program.  It badly needs 30 additional minutes.

I’ll miss Latino USA, too.  I guess KUOW feels that they can’t compete in that market niche now that the The Seattle Weekly carries Ask a Mexican.

And while we're discussing Public Radio, my congratulations to Peter Sagal, host of my favorite news-comedy show (now that Rewind is gone), NPR’s Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!  Pete was voted one of the “13 Sexy Men Who Are Real and Alive.”  No, the honor didn’t come from People Magazine…rather Neva Chonin of the San Francisco Chronicle bestowed the honor:

Peter Sagal (host, NPR's "Wait Wait ... Don't Tell Me!"): Cooler than Ira Glass, hotter than Garrison Keillor (but just a little). Funny, too. My favorite public radio persona.

Somebody should tell Niva that KUOW’s Jeff Hansen looks like Peter Sagal.  I mean…kind-of.

Comments

[FREMONT]

I'm a KUOW devotee, too. I read this blog so I won't have to listen to talk radio (AirAmerica excepted). "Wait, wait...." is my fave, also (my answers are correct 99.7% of the time.....yep!) Previous podcast of To the Best of Our Knowledge are here. It actually sounds eclectic and interesting, what one would expect of an investigative NPR program, but yeah, it had better be good to replace the current format.

I HEREBY NOMINATE DARRYL LINKHEAD OF THE YEAR! See Hominid Views for pith and punditry...and the best of the funnies.

[Darryl]

Gosh...gee...thanks FREMONT! (*blush*)

I suppose a nomination for "linkhead of the year" is the first step towards making Neva Chonin's list....

[joanie]

I divide my time up between KIRO, AA, and NPR. Truthfully, I get tired of the measured pace of NPR. . . I need the unmeasured rush of regular radio. Dave Ross is about as measured as it gets for me.

But, I used to listen to KUOW much more than now . . . years ago I had a Sunday night ritual that included among other shows Living on Earth, an author interview (can't remember the name), and Latino USA.

Then they replaced the author interview (which I loved) with On the Media or In the Mix (can't remember which) and eventually added Vinyl Cafe which I didn't and don't like because I really enjoyed the talk. Also, as I remember, Vinyl Cafe or perhaps In the Mix (was that another hour of music?) took over two hours! That did me in! And I listened to Cynthia Doyon's Swing Years whenever I was home. She was the best.

I like Science Friday although you don't mention it as one you enjoyed.

I would listen to two hours of Diane Rehm if she were on earlier. She is the best of the women in my opinion. Well, except for Randi who I either love or hate depending on how many times she tries to do a Bush impersonation!

Love Alternative Radio, and sometimes Speakers Forum and Open Source. Chris Lydon can be a little hard to take sometimes as well.

I heard a new show that was being auditioned I guess on Friday night called Fair . . . ?(Fair trade?) It was hosted by a late teen or early twenty something whose voice was still finding center . . . it was awful. I don't even know why KUOW was interested. The topic I heard was pretty interesting but I couldn't listen to a whole show hosted by that voice. And it wasn't just the voice, the questions were immature and ones I would expect Alicia Silverstone to utter in Clueless. This host was truly clueless. I do not like Car Talk.

Once my staples were gone to other times or places, I moved away from KUOW and back to a lot more regular radio including eventually AA.

Sounds like KUOW is again changing the recipe. Are you ready for changes, Darryl?

It goes without saying I like a lot of other programs on KUOW but often their times preclude my listening - I'm still a working girl afterall.

I'm sorry I can't say anything in a few sentences! Michael is going to start charging me for bandwidth!

[joanie]

One more thing: When they changed my perfect mix of programs way back when, it was my opinion that they were trying to lure a younger audience. Do you think that's their goal this time? I can't imagine any other reason for auditioning that misbegotten program I heard on Friday.

[joanie]

Actually it wasn't Friday . . . it was Thursday.

[sparky]

I love Car Talk, and Prairie Home Companion....dont like anything else on NPR anymore, especially that woman on Saturday mornings who plays classical music for kids and talks DOWN to them in an ootsie, cutsie voice.
Barf.
Oh there is that show from Canada ( I think) that is kind of like Prairie Home Companion..dont know the name of it.

Now that the election season is over, and Im burned out on politics for awhile, music stations such as KINK and KOHO get my time online..Im getting so I stream all the radio I listen to, because its not local and because my radio signal in the house is really bad.
Sorry advertisers, I only hear what's on AA for local places.

[joanie]

I like PHC also and don't care for the Canadian because I'm loyal to PHC! And I absolute love Keillor's writers almanac! If I miss it, I get it online. What an amazing man!

I won tickets to see Keillor at the Opera House in Seattle many years ago (from KUOW no less!) and we sat in front. It was wonderful!

I have become a real cruiser in radioland. Never used to be but now I change constantly looking for just that right earful. I'm ADHD when it comes to media!

[joanie]

Hey, Darryl, it was Friday night and it's called Fair Game. I just saw it on the KUOW schedule. Were you listening? What did you think?

[Darryl]

Joanie,

...it was my opinion that they were trying to lure a younger audience. Do you think that's their goal this time? I can't imagine any other reason for auditioning that misbegotten program I heard on Friday.

They took away Science Friday awhile ago (some weeks or months?) and added Radio Lab (definitely youth-oriented) and Fair game about which I know nothing, since the Radio is elsewhere by that time.

I didn't mention Science Friday because it turns out I rarely listened to it. I'm not sure why. I liked it a lot more when Juan Williams hosted TOTN. I listened to that program frequently and always caught Science Friday.

[Darryl]

Sparky,

"dont like anything else on NPR anymore, especially that woman on Saturday mornings who plays classical music for kids and talks DOWN to them in an ootsie, cutsie voice."

Hmmm...I am not sure what you are refering to. Is this person on KUOW?

BTW: I posted my favorite radio programs in Nov 2005 near the bottom of this post. Now I would add On the Media to that list, just before To the Point.

[sparky]

oh my bad..
Thats KING FM

I remember when KUOW played classical sometimes..KPLU comes in better here..love the jazz..

[joanie]

Just goes to show how often I've been listening. Regarding Fair Game, after the show the announcer asked for critiques on whether they should keep it or not. That was the last episode scheduled for now.

How is it you are able to catch Rehm and Scher? When do you sleep?

Also, ever listen to Living on Earth? If I had to choose one, I think that would be it. But, I can get it on the net anytime . . .

[Darryl]

"How is it you are able to catch Rehm and Scher? When do you sleep?"

Usually I am in bed shortly after Midnight and up by 7:00 or 7:30. If there is a good topic on Rehm or on Fridays, I may stay up until 1:00 am and get up at 7:30 or 8:00 the next day. I get in trouble from my SO when I do that during the week, though.

Also...blogging sometimes interferes with going to bed by midnight. And I get in trouble for it, but I catch part of Rehm.

[FREMONT]

Thanks Darryl...the KPLU All Blues Show is fantastic! I also must applaud KING-FM for its classical format...though it has become too pop and schlock and less classic eclectic for my ears... (Nostalgia for KZAM!)

What happens when you "get in trouble", D'yl? Are you put in the oven?

[FREMONT]

BTW, in honor of our exemplary president, I admit I lied...I hardly get any answers correct on "Wait, wait....". Y'all truly cared, didn't you?

[joanie]

Darryl, did you hear Speakers Forum tonight with Tavis Smiley at Town Hall? Pretty powerful stuff.

[Darryl]

Joanie,

Yes, I did hear the broadcast on KUOW. You're right...powerful stuff!