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Friday, October 12, 2007

My Love-Hate Relationship with KUOW

posted by on October 12 at 12:45 PM

Right now KUOW is in the midst of another of their excruciating beg-a-thons. Wherein they spend hours every day trying to guilt us in to sending them money. A period twice a year when I spend my time exploring other radio options (or working my fingers to the bone guest-Slogging).

Here’s my problem: I love NPR, PRI, and BBC. I love Car Talk, This American Life, Rick Steves, and Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me. I used to like Tavis Smiley andFresh Air, before they got pulled (yes I know Tavis still has a measly hour on the weekend, and you can still stream Fresh Air, but what a pain).

Notice what is missing from my list? Anything local. KUOW is the conduit for all of the public radio that I like, but there is almost nothing in their locally produced line-up that does anything for me. I really hate The Conversation and Sound Focus. Weekday is hit and miss at best. I don’t think a single locally produced show is syndicated or broadcast on any other NPR affiliate. If KUOW got swallowed up, and I could easily get all my favorite national shows from another source, I don’t think I’d miss them very much.

So I keep sending KUOW money, but not much, and with very little enthusiasm.

I love the concept of public radio. I think they provide a much needed antidote to the right wing blowhards and the corporate-owned music stations. Air America is an interesting attempt to produce commercial left-wing radio, but I find them more irritating than entertaining, even if I agree with their underlaying opinions.

So I wish KUOW would up its game with better local programming. And I wish they could find a way to fundraise that didn’t make me want to stab my ears with ice picks. Ugh!

Oh, and for Mr. Poe:

kuowzzz.jpg

RSS icon Comments

1

Hey! I fuckin' love This American Life.

Everything else?

Zzzzzzz.

Posted by Mr. Poe | October 12, 2007 12:56 PM
2

I too think "The Conversation" and "The Beat" are awful. Having grown up with NPR and KUOW, I find the local stuff seems to be too soft compared to the harder news from the national and international sources. These local programs are a drag to listen to and often the focus is too narrow.

Posted by brappy | October 12, 2007 12:56 PM
3

Seattle's KUOW bums me out. There are some really good NPR shows that you guys miss out on all time. Science Friday on Talk of the Nation is great, I'm listening to it right now. On Point is so much better than the conversation, so is fresh air with Terri Gross. She had a great interview with Stephen Colbert this week where he was out of character.
Day to Day would be ok if it were just one hour. I guess you can always listen to the good nationally syndicated shows online.

Posted by science friday | October 12, 2007 1:09 PM
4

I meant to say "Weekday" instead of Day to Day. I like Day to Day a lot, and it is just one hour, but Weekday could stand to be just one hour.

Posted by science friday | October 12, 2007 1:11 PM
5

The last time I listened to anything on KUOW was when Rewind was still a half hour long, before it bloated to match Bill Radke's ego. Ever since then, I've just listened online or started to download the podcast versions of the shows I enjoy.

What is this ray-dee-oh thing of which you speak?

Posted by Chris B | October 12, 2007 1:14 PM
6

Tavis Smiley is a terrible interviewer. He doesn't deserve even an hour.

Posted by Gitai | October 12, 2007 1:14 PM
7

Personally, I LOVE the local reporting they do during Morning Edition. The "Life on the Duwamish" series a couple weeks ago and the profiles of the Pike Place Market at 100 were excellent.

However, not having Fresh Air is a crime.

Ultimately, I'd listen to KUOW over KEXP anyday. Die, Hipsters, die.

Posted by Curtains | October 12, 2007 1:22 PM
8

The shows on "Sound Focus" have lots of interviews with boring people in the local art community who are simply allowed to drone on about their projects. There is very little criticism or judgment of their work and none of the institutions they represent. (The excellent art critic Gary Faigin -- whose visual art reviews are published on my website -- is a major exception.)

Art is fascinating and can provoke lively debate. Why is this aspect of the art experience completely lacking from KUOW's tepid "Sound Focus"?

Posted by Jim Demetre | October 12, 2007 1:29 PM
9

Wow. SDA in SEA, I feel exactly the same way about KUOW's local programming. I love so many of the national shows, but the local programs are often either soft and underwhelming, or annoying to the point that my neck begins to twitch.

Thanks for posting these thoughts. I'm glad to know I'm not the only guy out there who feels this way!

Posted by James | October 12, 2007 1:30 PM
10

The last local show I remember being consistently interested in was John Moe's "The Works."

Now he's at "Weekend America," which is improved for his presence but not so much that I actually listen to it on purpose very often.

Posted by James | October 12, 2007 1:32 PM
11

I miss Rewind, although I agree with Chris B that it was less good at 60 minutes. I also miss John Moe. Dude is funny. "The Swing Years and Beyond" is probably the local show I listen to most.

I can't listen during the day so I miss nearly everything local. Still, compared with the public radio in some cities, Seattle has it pretty good.

And for national shows not mentioned here already, I recommend "Says You!" Sat nights at 7.

Posted by PA Native | October 12, 2007 1:33 PM
12

"Fresh Aire with Terry Gross" is carried by KPLU (88.5), weekdays at 6:30 P.M.

Posted by duncan | October 12, 2007 1:49 PM
13

oops: Air

Posted by duncan | October 12, 2007 1:51 PM
14

Yes, PA Native, "The Swing Years and Beyond" is the best radio show I've ever listened to and reason enough to give to KUOW.

Posted by Jim Demetre | October 12, 2007 1:57 PM
15

Maybe they should bring back Deborah Brandt.


NAAAAAT!


Diane Rehm - yes, syndicated - is a great interviewer, and she stays up late like me.

Also love "Vintage Jazz" (20's-30's) with Al Barnes. 9-Noon on Thursdays, KBCS. I gave him 50 bucks for their concurrent pledge drive. He played records a whole bunch, still, leaving the KUOW hard-sell aside.

Posted by Lloyd Clydesdale | October 12, 2007 2:12 PM
16

RE: KBCS. Fucking amazing jazz shows by Al Barnes, Joannie (sp?) and they have some great intl programming. Check out Spice Route every first wednesday, some kick-ass old-school popular hindi music

Posted by jazzfan@soifhsdf.com | October 12, 2007 2:17 PM
17

The local programming is so painful; I run to turn off the radio whenever I hear Steve Scher's voice. He is the worst interviewer. Ever. And, who taught him that annoying cadence? Someone should tell him to STOP IT. And he got an award recently; for what or from whom I don't know, but I all I could do is roll my eyes when they announced it. MORE NATIONAL SHOWS PLEASE. I might pledge more if I liked more...

Posted by Hater | October 12, 2007 2:43 PM
18

I wish they would just add Talk of the Nation, and Fresh Air, and make Weekday one hour. I would be happy then.

Posted by totn | October 12, 2007 2:57 PM
19

@7 I loved the "Life on the Duwamish" series too! Steve Scher bothers me a lot though and I too wish Weekday was only a half hour.

Posted by J-Seawa | October 12, 2007 3:01 PM
20

Rick Steves isn't local?

Posted by * | October 12, 2007 3:16 PM
21

I've said it before, I'll say it again. If they broadcast live the firing of giggle-puss Marcie Sillman and smug Steve Sher--and the REhiring of Ken Vincent--I'll renew my membership. Until then, not another dime from me.

Posted by andy niable | October 12, 2007 3:17 PM
22

Terry Gross is smug and unlistenable. Seriously, the single most irritating voice in the history of radio.

And Rewind was TERRIBLE, one unfunny stinkbomb after another. Bill Radke should be run over by a car.

Al Barnes, on the other hand is great, world-class.

Posted by Fnarf | October 12, 2007 3:21 PM
23

I like some of the local news. I like Steve Scher and his show. I like Megan Sukys, and I appreciate Derek Wang on the morning drive.

It would be great if they brought back Fresh Air.

I'm pretty happy with KUOW. I don't expect that I should like or appreciate all of it, but I do like enough of it to give.

Posted by Brad | October 12, 2007 3:21 PM
24

I actually like Steve Scher and his show. The rest of the local programming is pretty bad, though.

That said, I don't really listen to KUOW much anymore because I don't like listening to radio talk shows while working and I can't listen during commute time ever since I became a bicycle commuter two and a half years ago.

Posted by Cascadian | October 12, 2007 4:09 PM
25

@20, yes, Rick Steves is local, sort of, and only by coincidence. His show is nationally syndicated and broadcast, and would be produced whether KUOW existed or not. It is local, because he happens to be based in Edmonds, but it is not a KUOW produced show.

Posted by SDA in SEA | October 12, 2007 4:20 PM
26

I too wish they'd bring back "Talk of the Nation." They should drop "Day to Day" completely and move "To the Point" back to 8:00 at night.

Posted by Jim Demetre | October 12, 2007 4:22 PM
27

Second you, J-Seawa, on the "Life on the Duwamish" series. Real good. I like the KUOW morning reporting. I like that they're hitting the road more to do on-site stories and series.

Posted by Lloyd Clydesdale | October 12, 2007 4:29 PM
28

1. KPLU doesnt have enough NPR
2. KUOW only has national NPR and PRI shows and the local shows are boring
3. Tavis smiley sucks when he is interviewing anyone of color because he basically becomes this heehaw minstrel that just laughs and cuts up with them. when he interviews white republicans he actually asks good questions and is serious.

Posted by Bellevue Ave | October 12, 2007 4:44 PM
29

1.) KPLU is the old model and it's
a pretty lame model

2.) KUOW was a trendsetter NATIONALLY in presenting local programming setting up up the regional news bureau and the like. There are things I can not stand about KUOW like why does the guy at 1:00 have a job. Steve Scher rocks and asks good questions. The BEAT is OK but it's decent local programming. The blogger who started this blah blah needs to get some facts somewhat correct.

3.) Long live KUOW and blogs should have to at try to get things right sometimes. This should not be a forum for disgruntled employees but what do I know I only worked in public radio for 30 years and really enjoy the station.

Posted by Frosty | October 12, 2007 8:11 PM
30

I can't stand Steve Scher. His recent interview of Garrison Keillor was a disaster. His style seems to be to make sure everyone finds out how much HE knows about the subject.
Diane Rehm is a far better interviewer; knows her material and asks great questions. I don't understand why she is on at midnight. I agree, there is way too much local issues covered by KUOW. Unless you live in the middle of the city limits of Seattle, it doesn't apply to you. I have just begun listening to KXOT Tacoma. Lots more of the national programming I am used to. Gotta have Harry Shearer and Le Show.

Posted by Karen Erickson | October 25, 2007 9:51 AM

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