So much for public radio? This has been a horrible experiment, and producers at WNYC should now move the Takeaway to am and let us have our mornings back. I used to really like John Hockenberry, but now he comes across as so pompous it's horrible. And Udoji is just a trainwreck. Really, guy, give up and let us enjoy WNYC again. At this point, I'd be interested to know if your contributions are suffering as a result of this new show.

Although I have only been unimpressed with this new change to morning radio, I have nonetheless tried to give it a chance. My thought was maybe it will get better with time. Unfortunately, that is not the case. I found myself today interested in hearing from the economist guest, in part because he has a better on air presence than either of the hosts and he had something interesting and coherent to say. And, then, abruptly, his interview gets INTERRUPTED so that the mid hour time and news update could be reported. If that wasnt' bad enough, there was a promise that the hosts would continue with this interview...which did not occur after the mid hour news report. Instead, another story was reported. I turned off the radio without waiting to hear if the interview ever was continued, for this show is just too awful to listen to. Sorry to say this, but Hockenberry just comes off as smarmy and arrogant, trying desperately to either one up Adoji or prove that he is smartest, cleverist guy in the room. And, Adoji is just bland and boring and overly pandering to Hockenberry. What made anyone think that this show, its lack of organization, professionalism, and personality would be a better change to anyone's morning. What did we as listeners do to deserve this punishment in the morning?

The only good news is that you are not changing the fm format again by airing this show for two hours instead of one.

Yep I agree this station has gone to the toilet. My husband told me they are expanding this crap to 2 hours. How could they knowing how crap the show is? Those kids at stanford must have some pretty powerful, and wealthy dads. They sure do waste a lot of time messing with the website statistics. I mean who could be viewing, and viewing website pages so much that this topic gets pushed down. There are hardly any posts on the mostly viewed topics. It's a ridiculous ploy.

Bad News

I just heard JH announce that the TakeAway was going to two hours on the AM station starting next week. The new schedule:

FM: 6AM-7AM

AM: 8AM-10AM

I called listener services and gave them specific reasons why I disliked this show...the interrupting hosts, the lack of "real" news, the bleeps and beeps, etc. etc. etc.

I suggested that the show be moved to the afternoon, to the web, anywhere but in the morning.

When this show gets expanded to 2 hrs on FM that's when the riots start. What deal was struck to keep this crap going for 3 months after it has been so universally rejected by the listeners? I have lost all respect for John Hockenberry, his extended exposure has ruined his reputation and fouled our airwaves. Please remove this putrifying mess as soon as possible.

I wonder if making signs and picketing the studio will have to be the next step? Nobody pays attention to this website.

Frank

It is disingenuous to advertise this awful program as "journalistic excellence" and a slap in the face to members to expand it to 2 hours! When fund-raising, wnyc is "our" radio station - we are begged to offer support, and we happily do. WNYC, listen. We do not want the TakeAway on "our" radio station. It was just a misguided experiment. Admit it, and move on.

One of the great things about NPR and WNYC is the focus on content, an outward focus on the subject at hand, the music, etc. The No Show and the Takeaway are notable exceptions. In both shows the hosts focus on themselves as media personalities to the detriment of both content and enjoyment. I don't listen to either of these shows because the hosts and their commentary are inane.

I have been a daily listener of WNYC for over 20 years. I always listen to it from 6:30 - 7 am. While I find The Takeaway modestly interesting, I miss the former program, as I am getting less news now. But my primary reason for writing, the first time I ever have, is that the person who comes on to do the intermittent news reporting (is it Femi Oke? -my apologies for not knowing how to spell her name - I couldn't find it on the WNYC website), speaks in a manner that makes it very difficult for me to hear her clearly and to understand what she is saying. I think it is because she speaks too quickly, and her words slur together. I never have had this problem with any other person on WNYC or NPR/NPI. It is a constant, daily problem with her. I hope that she can be coached to speak more clearly asap. Thx.

How to ruin a radio station: So you started a new and much maligned radio show. What's next? Maybe they'll like it better if it's on twice as long. You'll never get another dime out of me to pay for this stuff.