Luke Burbank made a special Sunday edition to announce that Jen Andrews is coming back to TBTL as paid producer. The podcast, which has a national
(photo: together again).
audience, will move ahead from noon to 2p. (She'll do her new/old TBTL job from Fort Wayne, Indiana).
Luke added, cryptically: "There’s another announcement -- [that] probably people have some ideas about -- coming from me in another week or two, a few things being finalized... "
Could that "finalizing" apply to the 9-to-noon slot, as everyone is speculating? Sidekicking Dave Ross (KIROFM m-f, 9a-12p)? Or replacing Dave completely as some are suggesting?
Broadcasting from his Seattle home on the same new ISDN gear that'll bring Jen in every day from the midwest, Luke has been figuratively at Dave's side for a month or two. That has fed the frenzy. Seattle-ites love Dave Ross, even if they don't listen to him.
If you know Luke, you know that nothing could make him give up TBTL; now suddenly, it's been made hugely easy for him to do both shows from the comfort of his own home.
TBTL changes will start Nov. 1, the same day as his old NPR pal, Bill Radke will open his morning newsanchor mic on KIROFM. Coincidence? Could be, but expect the dish to be full force Monday in Radiotown.
Actually, Bonneville has never really let TBTL go. They've hosted the website and the podcast. Luke had the foresight to copywrite the Too Beautiful to Live name and register it as a domain. The podcast has grown and grown to more than 50,000 dedicated listeners with a million downloads a month. The podcast now generates enough money to hire Jen. It was always a goal.
After the KIROFM terrestrial show was cancelled in 2009, Jen and her husband and took off on a road trip, eventually settling in Fort Wayne. Meanwhile, Luke set up a makeshift studio in his basement, and did TBTL pretty much by himself day in and day out, keeping the name viable and the "10's" of listeners loyal.
Sunday's announcement is more than a little vindication from the scorn of TBTL scoffers. We don't know what the business agreement with Bonneville is, (Luke, the punk, has been uncharacteristically close-mouthed).
But we know this: TBTL has a new wage-earning employee; a bunch of new ISDN equipment, and Luke's got more time on weekdays.
What conclusion would you draw?
WOW. There are so many douchers on this thread. Or are we calling these people diaperbags now, Luke?
Posted by: Jim | October 26, 2010 at 09:01 PM
Some TBTL Burbank fanboy emailed all his little boys and girls of Burbank and told them to comr on here and post on the official announcement thread fo rLuke's new show. It's so obvious. Or as Luke would say- it's, like, so obvious.
Posted by: Tommy008 | October 26, 2010 at 09:10 PM
The podcast now generates enough money to hire Jen. It was always a goal.
Posted by: ffxiv gil | November 14, 2010 at 05:51 PM
Oh great! Now we can listen to Luke say "like" 40,000 an hr. Dave brings intelligence to the show Luke brings a young smart allick that thinks he knows everything by putting Dave
Down... Hope Dave finds a slot at a station that appreciates him... I will tune in! Done with Kiro!
Posted by: Ellie Careher | January 30, 2013 at 08:58 PM