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PubRadio show host ages

PTBoardOp94

PTBoardOp94

With the announcement of the end of Car Talk this week, I started thinking about other program hosts who are progressing to retirement age - or beyond. This list is not exhaustive, but it does include many of public radio's flagship programs.

Diane Rehm - Diane Rehm Show - age 75
Tom Magliozzi - Car Talk - age 74
Garrison Keillor - APHC, Writer's Almanac - age 69
Bill McLaughlin - St. Paul Sunday - age 68
Robert Siegel - All Things Considered - age 66
Ray Magliozzi - Car Talk - age 65
Bob Edwards - Bob Edwards Weekend - age 65
Micheal Barone - Pipedreams - age 64
Renee Montagne - Morning Edition - age 64
Neal Conan - Talk of the Nation - age 63
Ira Flato - Science Friday - age 63
Terry Gross - Fresh Air - age 61

In fact, it includes nearly all of the standard weekday NPR-distributed news/talk shows.

So, the point of discussion: Is replacing Renee Montagne as simple as dropping David Greene into her chair? What about a more talk-based show like Diane Rehm or Talk of the Nation?
 
Bob Edwards has not been with NPR since he left Morning Edition. Bob Edwards Weekend is produced by SiriusXM from his daily "Bob Edwards Show."
 
The news shows have survived multiple host replacements. They have a system of fill-in hosts, and one of them would simply become full time host, or they'd move one of the weekend hosts to weekday. That's how succession has worked in the past.

The bigger problem is a host-based show like Car Talk or Prairie Home. There really is no way to replace Click & Clack or Garrison. Those shows are built around the hosts.

By the way, you forgot Carl Kassel, announcer on Wait Wait Don't Tell Me, who is 78.
 
TheBigA said:
The news shows have survived multiple host replacements. They have a system of fill-in hosts, and one of them would simply become full time host, or they'd move one of the weekend hosts to weekday. That's how succession has worked in the past.

The bigger problem is a host-based show like Car Talk or Prairie Home. There really is no way to replace Click & Clack or Garrison. Those shows are built around the hosts.
Click to expand...

Garrison has indicated that he'd like to see "PHC" go on after he leaves, although I don't know if it would be as easy as having Tim Russell replace him, especially considering what to replace that 15 minutes in the second hour that's the heart and soul of the show. In addition, a "PHC" without Kellior hosting would probably get station pressure to young the show up by replacing the folk singer musical guests with AAA acts.
 
Mark Jeffries said:
In addition, a "PHC" without Kellior hosting would probably get station pressure to young the show up by replacing the folk singer musical guests with AAA acts.
Click to expand...

But don't those changes make it a different show?
 
I think APHC will go away when Keillor does. Not because he's an irreplaceable talent, but because APM will have difficulty keeping stations on a program that loses money with its star, and will likely lose even more money after he's gone.

It probably isn't a universal experience, but development officers from various stations, mostly on the coasts, have said that APHC loses money on their station.
 
If you remember, Garrison announced last year that he would retire in 2013. At that time, it was also announced that someone was being groomed to replace him, although I can't remember the name now. About a month or two later, Garrison said he didn't want to retire...so the discussion was dropped.

As has been said before, the news shows will be fine. ATC has 3 rotating hosts, so if Robert Seigel retires, you still have Melissa Block, Michelle Norris and probably Guy Raz. Audie will go back to Weekend Edition Sunday when Michelle gets back from her leave. If Renee Montagne retires, I could see an Audie Cornish or Rachel Martin replacing her. I think they will try to keep that male/female dynamic going. Or they could just go with a single host, though I doubt it. It will hurt when Diane Rehm and/or Terry Gross retire, though those shows could very well continue with a new host. Susan Page does a good job when Diane is out. Dave Davies does well when Terry is out.

It's the weekends that will suffer. That is a huge time for public radio and for many stations, Car Talk, Wait Wait and APHC are the most listened to hours of the week. For now, Car Talk will be ok. Most stations will keep airing the 'Best of' shows and they'll do ok. I don't see Wait Wait going anywhere any time soon. Even if Carl decides to fully retire, the show can and will continue without him. I don't see APHC continuing without Garrison.
 
Not a fan of APHC, I do try and catch his daily morning show on "many of these same public radio stations".
 
There is an inevitable changing of the guard approaching, this is true. But don't sell public radio TOO short. They've got a lot of talent that's still relatively young:

Ira Glass (This American Life)
Glynn Washington (Snap Judgment)
Adam Davidson & Alex Blumberg (Planet Money)
Audie Cornish (All Things Considered)
Guy Raz (Wkend ATC)
Tom Ashbrook (On Point)
Bob Garfield (On the Media)
Jad Abumrad (Radiolab)
Steve Innskeep (Morning Edition)
Al Letson (State of the Re:Union)
Michel Martin (Tell Me More)

By no means are all these folks "youngsters" but most are not what I'd call "old" by any stretch. And there are several folks in their 20's or 30's who are producers and are good enough to be considered "destined" for hosting duties at some point.
 
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