Saturday, November 17, 2012

Let's Talk Car Talk

"Will we still hear Car Talk on Saturday morning?"

"Why are you airing Car Talk re-runs?"

These are the questions listeners are asking as Tom and Ray Magliozzi, aka 'Click and Clack', are no longer recording new shows.

VPR will continue to bring you Car Talk Saturday mornings at 10 for the foreseeable future.

Car Talk is one of VPR's most popular programs. Thousands of you count on Tom and Ray for a laugh on Saturday morning. We've also heard from many of you about how much your kids love Car Talk and that it's appointment listening for your family.

It's important to clarify that the programs you're hearing are not 're-runs' of shows you've heard before. The producers of Car Talk are putting together new shows built from the best of the program's 25 years of material. That means you'll hear a new program each week produced from the very best of the 12,500 calls in the archives. The producers say the show will be "better, stronger and funnier" because they have 25 years of experience learning what makes the show work.

We want to hear how you feel about Car Talk. Over the coming months, we'll be listening to the program and your comments.

By the way, the Magliozzi brothers are still writing their twice-weekly Dear Tom and Ray column, and putting their feet in their mouths in surprising new ways on the web and Facebook.

P.S. Speaking of weekends - stay tuned for new programs in 2013, including The TED Radio Hour and The Moth Radio Hour.

14 comments:

  1. I have, like countless others, loved Car Talk over the years. But Car Talk is over. Move on. Use the time to find the next Car Talk.

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  2. Car talk is a fine program, but I would prefer to have new programing on vpr. If I want car talk I am sure i can find it online in 100 different places.

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  3. Mike Yantachka, Charlotte, VTNovember 24, 2012 at 1:08 PM

    I still love to hear Car Talk on Saturday morning. I know the calls are blasts from the past, but I still enjoy them because they are real. However, I miss the idea that Tom and Ray won't be taking any more calls from folks who have issues with their later model cars, like Priuses or Chevy Volts. Times and technologies change, I suppose, but Klick and Klack's humor lives on. Keep Car Talk coming, VPR.

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  4. Matt from KillingtonNovember 24, 2012 at 2:04 PM

    Car Talk was good, but it's over and you can still listen to them on their website. There are plenty of other shows out there with lots of potential, they just need to be heard.

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  5. This show had a good run, which, in my opinion, ended about 10 years ago. Let it go, or air it at some obscure time. I feel the same about A Prairie Home Companion, except that it's been on artificial life support for a lot more than 10 years, and it sure isn't worth four hours of your weekend schedule.

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    Replies
    1. Amen on not needing/wanting multiple airings of Prairie Home Companion.

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    2. I totally agree with Bill about Car Talk and A Prairie Home Companion. I have loved these shows and I think it's time for something different.

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  6. The best show I've ever heard on radio, so I would love to keep hearing it on Saturday morning. I'll never tire of it.

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  7. I still love Car Talk, probably because "how things work" has always fascinated me, and I love cars. I like to listen to the problems and try to figure out the answers, usually learn something.

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  8. Christopher Diehl-Noble of VergennesNovember 26, 2012 at 9:22 PM

    I loved Car Talk when it felt fresh. It seemed to be getting old even before it went into reruns. I urge you to replace it with something new and fun. Public radio seems to be experiencing a Renaissance on VPR, and I am excited to have new programming.

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  9. VPR is doing an amazing job bringing in new voices to other parts of the schedule and I very much appreciate this but as Ira Glass says here: http://www.current.org/2012/06/want-new-radio-hits-on-saturday-step-1-drop-car-talk-when-the-guys-retire/ (and said on VPR) it's time to move on. It's tough to hold the seemingly opposed ideas that we still love Car Talk, but that it's time to let it go. We'll still be able to listen to it elsewhere, but let's try moving some of those fantastic shows from later in Saturday to "Prime-time". Thank you for asking for feedback!

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  10. Almut Ellinghaus from MansonvilleNovember 27, 2012 at 7:59 AM

    I shall miss the two. They have been a staple of my Saturday Mornings at work in my studio. And darn, I do have a car question! Not sure how I feel about reruns. I too would probably prefer a new show.

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  11. Car Talk was always one of my favorites, but it is old and worn out. So am I. There is such an abundance of new, quality programming that begs to be heard. I will get over it's ending. (I'm over it)
    And the huge amounts of money spent by VPR to air Car Talk can be put to use in better ways.

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  12. I loved the show, but it will not be relevant as the old cars we drive get older. I would like new programs which are more timely. Agree with others (above) that there is too much Prairie Home Companion. Even news that is repeated over weeks (topical stories) is frustrating if you are a multi-hour listener.

    Thanks for all you do. Most love news, WWDTM, On Point, Vermont Edition, Fresh Air.

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