Former Seattleite and KUOW veteran John Moe, 40, will take over as host of American Public Radio's Weekend America (KUOW Saturdays 12-2p). He takes the wheel from the hands of another ex-Seattleite and former KUOW-ite Bill Radke, and co-host Desiree Cooper.
Starting Aug.16, Moe will host the show solo from St. Paul. Cooper will serve as senior correspondent. Radke is out.
Moe describes the changes on his blog:
... It was announced today that I will be the new host of Weekend America, starting with the August 16th show. The show has been based in L.A. and St Paul but it was decided that we would consolidate operations in St Paul. From a hosting perspective, that means that Bill Radke who has been hosting the show from there will no longer be with the program. Meanwhile, Des Cooper who has been hosting the show from St Paul along with Bill will become a Sr. Correspondent based in Detroit where she lives (she's been commuting between Detroit and St Paul for the last year). So we'll have one host and it will be me.
... I've known Bill Radke much longer, as anyone who knows my radio career will realize. He helped break me into the radio biz ten years ago when I started writing for his show Rewind on NPR. Then he hired me as a staff writer on that show and allowed me to guest host when he was absent. Later, after he got hired on the show that would become Weekend America, he recommended me there as well and after some freelancing I came aboard full time. With no Bill Radke, there's no me on the radio. He, also, is a heck of a friend. Nicer people don't roam the earth and rarely does someone's brilliance match their niceness as is the case with Bill.
John Moe is one of the funniest people in public radio (maybe the funniest). Besides his long employ at KUOW which included his much-missed evening show, The Works, he's a comedian and author; and frequent contributor to McSweeney's.
I love both John and Bill. What's next for Bill? I wish John hadn't left KUOW, there
's no humor over there since the two of them are gone.
Posted by: sara | August 06, 2008 at 12:33 PM
he's a comedian and author
I will admit I do find it funny when NPR air talent describe themselves as "comedian" - it's a curious type of comedy, like the Divine Comedy ... a comedy that produces an occasional hushed snicker or thoughtful nod rather than laughter as such.
Rather like New Yorker cartoons. It's a very old, turn-of-the-century type of humor that one rarely finds in popular culture anymore and, as much as I've been derisive of public broadcasting in the past, I will say that I do support museums and if we approach public broadcasting as something antiquated but worthwhile and in danger of dying out then perhaps the CPB is not so bad after all (that's the only time anyone may hear me say that!).
Posted by: Gay Gary | August 06, 2008 at 12:43 PM
Gay Gary: It's not accurate generalizing the funny talent who work or have worked at public radio "like New Yorker cartoons...very old, turn-of-the-century type of humor that one rarely finds in popular culture anymore."
Moe has done stand-up at comedy clubs. Radke actually toured doing stand-up. I first heard Luke Burbank on stage at the Comedy Underground and he fucking killed that night. You get really different humor among say, the car guys, Keillor, Pete Sagel, Harry Shearer, David Sedaris, they're nothing like each other let alone the stodgy stereotype you suggest. I might agree with you about public radio if it weren't so darned successful and popular.
Posted by: HCC | August 06, 2008 at 02:16 PM
Sarah Vowell and Mo Rocca come from public radio. They're some of the funniest people I know. They are not like New Yorker cartoons which I love anyway, and I'm only 26. What are the great new comedians from commercial radio, Gary?
Posted by: sara | August 06, 2008 at 02:27 PM
I liked John Moe because in his book he got Michael Medved to say he hated Sean Hannity, and listened to NPR.
Posted by: Roger Stigley | August 06, 2008 at 02:29 PM
I hope Bill Radke lands somewhere we can hear him. He's not only funny, he's sweet. KUOW really screwed him and Rewind.
Posted by: Sandy Schroeder | August 06, 2008 at 02:32 PM
Moe has done stand-up at comedy clubs. Radke actually toured doing stand-up. I first heard Luke Burbank on stage at the Comedy Underground and he fucking killed that night.
Some stand-up comedians get network sitcoms, some get NPR shows. You're going to have a tough time convincing me it's just a matter of personal preference.
When NPR fanboys say "they killed!" they really mean "they killed relative to comedians of the same talent level". Which is fine, I've no problem with that. Three weeks ago I watched my niece's high school production of West Side Story and it was great. I'm sure John Moe is hilarious for public radio talent and I think it's awesome public radio has fans, the Renton Civic Theater has fans, the Rainier Community Orchestra has fans, etc.
Let's just be clear. There's not a 1-for-1 translation from "hilarious" vis a vis public radio talent versus commercial talent. The fact that NPR "comediac" talent, with some rare exceptions, have never made a successful jump to non-subsidized media says something and it's not "they're above that and just don't care about money."
I might agree with you about public radio if it weren't so darned successful and popular.
It is?
Posted by: Gay Gary | August 06, 2008 at 02:45 PM
Sarah Vowell and Mo Rocca come from public radio. They're some of the funniest people I know.
Like I said, I don't dispute that public radio has a highly enfranchised coterie of fans. So does the New Yorker's cartoons. If they didn't they would replace them with adspace.
Posted by: Gay Gary | August 06, 2008 at 02:47 PM
Sarah Vowell and Mo Rocca aren't very good for different reasons. GG is hittint the nail on the head, repeatedly. Actual good comedy would be considered off color in the context of NPR.
Posted by: AuthenticAndrew | August 06, 2008 at 05:25 PM
Wait... so first off, Minnesota Public Radio/American Public Media is messing with a good thing? Dang! That is one of my few favorite things to come out of public radio lately.
Secondly, KUOW used to have a :-o night program? With a lively host?!? I find this simply hard to believe. You must be lying. ;-)
Posted by: Seattle Radio Buff | August 07, 2008 at 07:17 AM
Andrew, those are not the only two comedians featured. I don't care for Mo Rocca either, but Vinyl Cafe and Garrison Keillor are two very funny shows..but they are the kind of radio where you actually have to stop and listen for a length of time. It is not "one-liner" comedy. Plus, most of the listeners are very well educated and have the ability to know what the hosts are referencing.
SRB I remember when Dick Estell used to read from best sellers at night. He wasn't a very good reader.
Posted by: sparky | August 07, 2008 at 10:33 AM
You can argue all you want about your own individual tastes in humor and comedy (there is a difference) but GG's statement that all humor is the same on public radio is just wrong. KUOW rules the ratings in this market. I should know, I work there.
Posted by: sara | August 07, 2008 at 10:44 AM
A/A - I do have to be honest and say I really have no clue who any of the people in this thread are - I think I may have heard the name Moe Rocca at some point but I can't place what she does exactly.
I googled Sara Vowell and as far as I can tell she's some kind of lesbian poet? It talks about her radio specials on the Trail of Tears, her book about the life of William McKinley and other stuff that makes her sound like a regular Kathie Griffin. (Who needs a MTV special when you can headline a short-story reading of Eldridge Cleaver fan fiction by transvestite vegetarians?)
As far as Bob Radtke and John Moe, though, I don't think I've heard of them before unless John Moe is Moe Rocca? Is that his air name or am I being hopelessly obtuse?
Anyway, I guess I'm admitting it's possible I'm wrong, but the educated guess of my opinions is probably spot-on. I've sampled at least 5 full hours - and possibly more - of NPR in my life and the last time heard it their humor was the same kind of M*A*S*H comedy as before: pointing out different funny sounding words, coining new words, examining plays on phrases and looking for some delightfully obscure story and then reporting on it with formulaic comediac pauses and faux gravitas and comically understated questions and all sorts of G-rated goodness with an occasional piece of "lol, he didn't say that!" spicy curry thrown in to keep things interesting. If it were commercially viable comedy it wouldn't need a state subsidy. But that's OK, I'm not criticizing. That is why NPR exists after all, so no one should take anything I wrote as some kind of "affront". (WHEW - I need to work on shorter apologies!)
Posted by: Gay Gary | August 07, 2008 at 12:54 PM
Oops, that said, I have - and do - listen to quite a bit of Pacifica Radio. I'm open to listening to it because, if I'm going to listen to somewhat "ehhh" radio it's a good deal since Pacifica is commercial free, unlike NPR (underwriting means advertising despite claims to the contrary).
Posted by: Gay Gary | August 07, 2008 at 01:01 PM
I cannot believe Bill Radke is out. For us Seattleites, it was a great relief to get John Moe after Radke went to LA because he brought many of the same great qualities. Of course, the country realized it as well. I have to say, I'm shocked. Does NPR think John Moe is a better Bill Radke than Bill Radke. I think they're both great. I say get that Des Cooper out of there! She does nothing for me.
Posted by: Amy | August 07, 2008 at 02:04 PM
GG, Mo is a man. I dont know why he is famous because I never heard him on NPR, but I do know he is sometimes a judge on Iron Chef, and he isnt particularly funny there either. He used to be on Countdown but he wasn't funny, IMO, there either.
Sara is right..there is not just one type of humor on NPR. As for being commercially viable, you must not have seen Wireless and Signals catalogs which are full of merchandise related to the different shows on both NPR and PBS. They make a ton of money. So do personal appearances by Garrison Keillor.
There is nothing wrong with your opinion..its your opinion. But it is the norm here for people to post things that sound like what they spew is supposed to be the gospel truth, when, in fact, we are all just stating our opinions. Me included.
Pacifica Radio is nothing like the mainstream programming on NPR...Amy Goodman is very very intelligent, but funny she ain't.
You shouldn't find it unusual that taste usually goes along with the age of the person who is shopping around. So, you and I will find different things that we think are funny. You like TBTL and I think it's the dumbest thing I have ever heard. But I am nowhere near their target audience, and you probably are not anywhere near the target audience for Vinyl Cafe, Wait Wait, and PHCompanion. Nothing wrong with that. But painting all of NPR/PBS as not funny is incorrect.
I cant get KUOW out here in the boonies..so I listen to KPLU which carries all the shows mentioned, as does Oregon Public Broadcasting.
Posted by: sparky | August 07, 2008 at 02:50 PM
GG, Mo is a man.
OK, got it. Is he the same guy as John Mo?
They make a ton of money.
If their bake sales and gift shops do that well why do they keep begging for government handouts?
So do personal appearances by Garrison Keillor.
Hmmm ... by the number of wrinkles on Garrison Keillor's face, NPR may want to start setting aside a few bucks into a rainy day fund ...
You like TBTL
uhhhh ...
Posted by: Gay Gary | August 07, 2008 at 03:02 PM
ok my bad, I thought you liked TBTL..sorry!!!
You answered the question about commercial viability yourself...no commercials. The pledge drives gather the money that is usually provided by sponsors.
GG..I hate to be the one to break it to you, but you will have wrinkles too, someday. And you will get old, walk all bent over and smell funny...just like all the other little ol' men out there.
heh...
Posted by: sparky | August 07, 2008 at 03:36 PM
Must be nice to have all week to produce two hours of radio. (i.e. Car Talk (( "they're soooo funny!"))
).
That realassradio snarkism aside: Radke's a funny guy, the business needs those. He'll resurface.
Posted by: KFI Bryan | August 07, 2008 at 03:39 PM
And no, Mo Rocca is NOT the same person as John Mo. Not even remotely.
Click on the link to see a clip of him.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lr0TkxReKuk
Posted by: sparky | August 07, 2008 at 03:41 PM
I cant get KUOW out here in the boonies..so I listen to KPLU which carries all the shows mentioned, as does Oregon Public Broadcasting.
I miss when OPB ran an afternoon local newsmagazine. Unfortunately they listened to a consultant that said it 'broke up' the program flow. Now just more ATC like some small-market crap. *sigh*
I am a fan of KPLU. You'd think the way KUOW's Web site talks, their mighty Capitol Hill tower gets everywhere. I beg to differ.
It sounds like you live down south, does KUOW AM reach you?
Posted by: Seattle Radio Buff | August 07, 2008 at 08:17 PM
You answered the question about commercial viability yourself...no commercials. The pledge drives gather the money that is usually provided by sponsors.
Well, first of all, NPR does have commercials. Underwriting announcements are commercials. Dressing it up and inventing a new title or word for it doesn't change the reality.
Secondly, they obviously don't gather all the money needed or NPR wouldn't need state subsidies and government handouts and would happily send that money back to spend on inner city youth basketball or AIDS research or something other than a government jobs program in radio.
GG..I hate to be the one to break it to you, but you will have wrinkles too, someday. And you will get old, walk all bent over and smell funny...just like all the other little ol' men out there.
heh...
I'm growing a clone in an Axltotl tank in my basement into which my brain will be transplanted when I turn 37 ... or so I wish ...
Posted by: Gay Gary | August 07, 2008 at 08:32 PM
yes I live south of seattle...out in the boonies here on the farm, and I get really crappy radio reception in the house, so mostly I stream what I want to listen to. Opens up an entire world of listening pleasure.
Posted by: sparky | August 07, 2008 at 09:04 PM
Oh yeah, the average NPR station receives approx. 8% of their annual operating revenue from the Corp for Pub. Bdcstg. ( The Guv-mint).
Wouldn't YOUR business or personal finances look better with an 8% freebie?
Look, I don't mind the Guvmint cheese....just don't shine me about NPRs obvious editorial slant.
In LA we have KCRW and KPCC. They are passable, but LAs a tough market. Having lived in Portland and competed against KOPB (and Seattle w/KUOW), I know that local PubRadio, well done, is a juggernaut. But...ONLY in a highly educated market. MARKET!!
Otherwise, it's the Amtrak of radio.
Posted by: KFI Bryan | August 07, 2008 at 09:37 PM
Not forgetting, of course, that 8%
subsidy only starts to tell the story.
The very presence of the CPB, even if it gave $0 to NPR, acts as a guarantee permitting the corporation to take risks in programming and make reckless decisions that commercial broadcasters can't. It's an insurance policy of priceless value as demonstrated when NPR screwed the pooch in '83 and had to activate its de facto CPB "insurance" to secure a state bailout to avoid insolvency after commercial lenders wouldn't touch them because of their untenable, Yugoslav-style business model that's workable only in the fantasy land of state subsidized industries. Commercial broadcasters in an identical situation simply go out of business and stop broadcasting (see: Financial News Network, or soon ... KVI).
NPR has managed to weasel its way into being placed alongside treasury bonds as one of the few things that enjoy "full faith and credit of the United States". The value of this "insurance" is too substantial to begin to calculate.
Posted by: Gay Gary | August 07, 2008 at 09:53 PM
I'm a big Radke fan. He will not only survive, but will flourish. The issue, as I understand it, was that he and his wife didn't want to leave LA to live in St. Paul where John has already moved (from Seattle) recently. Two great talents young enough to have long careers in radio ahead of them.
Posted by: Haiku Jones | August 08, 2008 at 11:14 AM
Ah...perhaps there's more to the story. I like Radke as well. Would like to think he had some say in this.
As to the comedy or not?, it's all personal taste. Nothing more and nothing less.
Posted by: joanie | August 09, 2008 at 12:17 PM
Bill can be funny & John Mo struggles to be. Regardless, weekend america must be the lamest show on radio.
Posted by: stardent | October 11, 2008 at 01:25 PM
Gotta chime in here. I produce a public radio parody called IPR : Irrational Public Radio, and if I may say so, it's pretty damn funny and I think the actors capture the NPR tone dead-on. Check it out and you can let me know if I'm mistaken :)
Joe
http://www.IrrationalPublicRadio.com
Posted by: Joe | October 26, 2008 at 04:31 PM
I miss hearing Bill Radke's voice. I listened to him for years when he was the morning host of morning edition on KUOW. I also enjoyed Rewind. I was saddened to hear that he was moving to Los Angeles, but was glad that I could still hear him on Weekend America. Sorry to hear he is not on that anymore. I hope he gets another show that is nationally broadcasted, so Seattlelites can still hear him.
Posted by: Wendy Ashford | November 01, 2008 at 10:59 AM
I miss hearing Bill Radke's voice. I listened to him for years when he was the morning host of morning edition on KUOW. I also enjoyed Rewind. I was saddened to hear that he was moving to Los Angeles, but was glad that I could still hear him on Weekend America. Sorry to hear he is not on that anymore. I hope he gets another show that is nationally broadcasted, so Seattlelites can still hear him.
Posted by: Wendy Ashford | November 01, 2008 at 11:00 AM