The poets have been mysteriously silent on the subject of cheese. -G. K. Chesterton
We have, as have so many, a love and affection for Steve Scher that's based on his many fine qualities. 
(He's the host of KUOW's Weekday with Steve Scher, (m-f, 9a-12p) the local public radio talk show that rules the airwaves in the timeslot. This is the guy who kicks Rush Limbaugh's broad fundament every day. Here's the guy who eclipses KIRO's Dave Ross and KVI's The 'Tators).
Steve's attributes include thoughtfulness, sincerity, congeniality, intelligence, curiosity- not necessarily in that order.
(Scher has, as certain readers tell us, a certain (hmmm- how to say this with NPR propriety and intonation?...) a sexiness sexual presence that apparently enflames (in that slow-burn, multi-syllabic public radio way) smart, middle-aged women a certain kind of person, of a certain age, of a certain gender, in a way that's quite different than the usual plodding way public radio has stoking the more cerebral passions).
But having said that (and having said, 'having said that'), we gotta be honest- even with all those admirable traits and attractive qualities- Steve's no comedian.
We were troubled, saddened, and disappointed this
morning when he attempted in his endearing yet bumbling way to include
humor and West Wallaby clay celeb Wallace, (Gromit's friend) in a conversation about cheese with some cheese makers and mongers including a cheese-nun, (which, in itself, should be funny enough for NPR).
Wallace, even canned like a bad brie, has a way with cheese repartee. Steve does not.
There were sad, reaching puns (always the refuge of comedic
scoundrels); gratuitous cow and goat sounds, and an ill-produced
malaise of audio interjections by Wallace to which Steve, clearly
uncomfortable, usually answered, "Fair enough," sounding like Bill
O'Reilly after a testiculectomy.
Being the Self-Appointed Critic of Everything We Can Think Of, we've
gotta say it, Steve: give us the anthropology, the geography, the
policy and the musicology. And by all means keep doing whatever it is you do
that makes those women keep inquiring after your carnal availability-
but please, my brother: leave the funnin' to the funny.
(Maybe the problem is that all the comedians have left KUOW. There used to be Bill Radke, and Luke Burbank- and hell, the whole Rewind
staff raised the hilarity threshold. Maybe they should get Pat Cashman
or Cathy Sorbo for their hiring committee for a little affirmative
action for funny people. Or a humor training
for new hires like the one they have to teach them to enunciate the
letter 'W' as Double-Ewe, as in KUO- Double-Ewe, (never Dubba-yuh).
Oh Great Blathering One:
The term you were looking for is Femme d'un certain age .
Posted by: JDB | May 17, 2007 at 04:13 PM
Now that you call me abe linkin, i'm tongue-tied. but anyways, steve is just part of the great Northwest Earnest. he can't help it.
Posted by: howieinseattle | May 17, 2007 at 06:57 PM
Cheese!
Posted by: sparky | May 17, 2007 at 07:02 PM
Must agree...for comedy, I think I'd leave it to 'Brian'.
Lets make Mrs. Clinton our candidate!
Posted by: Duffman | May 17, 2007 at 07:25 PM
"We were troubled, saddened, and disappointed this morning when he attempted ... humor"
To say this is an overreaction would be an elephantine understatement. This blog entry is a liitle like a padded thousand word minimum essay. Entertaining writing as always, and thank you for your public service, but you didn't include samples of the offensive remarks meant to be hahas so we're only getting half of the picture. I want to agree with you but I'm not sure what I'm agreeing with.
Posted by: Andrew | May 17, 2007 at 08:39 PM
Tommy008 2007 Comprehensive Talkhost Dissing, Dogging and Condemnation Reform and Partial Amnesty Act - Let it hereby goforth that the abovementioned Tommy008 considered for several minutes to permanently cease his dogging, dissing and Condemnation of Frank Shiers and Dori Monson but then said-"Nawwwww!"
Posted by: Tommy008 | May 17, 2007 at 09:43 PM
Bill Radke's departure was a step up for KUOW. Calling Radke's humor "weak" would be to overestimate its strength.
And as for his "Weekend America," it's an embarassment and utterly unlistenable.
Posted by: Henri Alleg | May 17, 2007 at 11:25 PM
KOMOnews is reporting that Mike Webb has vanished without a trace, and hasn't been seen since April 13. His sister fears the worst.
Posted by: Tommy008 | May 18, 2007 at 06:36 AM
Interesting article Post Imus
[Lets make Mrs. Clinton our candidate!]
Posted by: Duffman | May 18, 2007 at 06:48 AM
Blatherman
Your wisdom, your insight, your sartorial splendor, your culinary skills, your strong and vibrant visage, these know no bounds.
I bow to your assessment.
I was wrong to even think about making a pun, let alone a joke! I will cling to earnestness from now on. Back to the dungeon of transportation policy for me.
Posted by: Steve Scher | May 18, 2007 at 08:01 AM
Scher called cheesemaking a "cottage industry", pun unintended...
Posted by: FREMONT | May 18, 2007 at 05:02 PM