I'm usually not up quite this early so this is the first time I've heard your show - I thought Fox News had taken over NPR. What was the deal with that aggressive interview with Mr. Kay, the representative of an aid agency trying to assist the people in Burma? You were treating him like he was speaking for the government. And then tried to get him to join in your attack on the government, obviously wouldn't help his efforts.

Question of the day: My day is not complete until I've everything-ed online ...

so many people ~ so little time ;]

Thanks for making that comment, Keith. I thought the same thing when I heard Hockenberry go after that poor fellow from the aid agency. Hockenberry's use of the phrase "hostage situation" was idiotic and his attempt to smooth over his gaffe by wishing the man luck as the interview ended was pathetic. That interview sums up for me what I feel about The Takeaway: give me back my Morning Edition. The Takeaway's attempt to be "edgy" just gives listeners an allegedly news-oriented version of the Howard Stern show, complete with its own useless on-air sidekick.

Does anyone else feel that the hosts are often rude instead of insightfull when speaking to their guests? I understand needing to hurry the interview along, but I feel they are often crass about it. Oh yeah and what is up with a Brit doing the Sports? I almost couldn't take her comments on last nights Mets game...

My day is not complete until I've checked out this website to see the barrage of new comments slamming this pathetic show, and calling for WNYC to cancel it immediately and bring back Morning Edition.

The last few minutes of this morning's Takeaway (6:00 a.m.), particularly the awful and awkward shouting match between Adaora and John, reminds me that I spend far too much time and energy avoiding the cataloging of human gaffs, embarrassments, acts of cruelty and general negativity. In the last year, my on-line day has increasingly and sadly become a process of avoiding links to miserable, unedifying and mean-spirited thought pieces, blogs and articles which dwell under the umbrella of "News". Whether it's simple-minded punditry, a shocking editorial, a video-clip of ill-chosen words or an assault by a group teenage girls, my day is not complete until I have been thoroughly warn down by the endless exposure to this emotionally toxic stuff. Whenever Adaora or John plays the self-absorbed schoolyard bully by shouting down or cutting off a guest mid-sentence with asinine questions or speaking to each other like parents chiding a toddler ("in a minute, in a minute, in a minute") I have increased respect for the quality of Morning Edition and its refusal to offer gossip-inspired, spin-driven and conflict-ridden noise. The program is a balm to the toxicity of shows such as the Takeaway because it values the power of words and the need (by some of us) for moments of calm and quiet reflection.

I just sent this to WNYC:

Dear WNYC -

I'll get right to it: please return Morning Edition to its previous slot on FM. I listen when I get up at 6 and can't receive AM well in the windowless room I'm in. I gave Takeaway a week, then another, but I must confess that I've gone back to listening to my other favorite station - WFUV - for its music in the morning. I switch back to you at 7 for the information I prefer to hear while getting ready for the day.

Why don't I like it? First, although I generally don't react to the personality behind the mic, I find the two hosts annoying and not very professional. Today an aid worker in Myanmar was abruptly interrupted because they were out of time. A similar story later on Morning Edition wasn't much longer, but was more intelligent, full of detail and listenable. Although the word is that the Takeaway is "hipper and more focussed on the younger listener", I find it stodgy and redundant. It reminds more of the fake banter of Imus, Howard Stern and the crappy right-wing talk shows I sometimes hear [by mistake] when travelling . The staged "bonhomie" is grating and condescending to the listeners. Although one description explained that it was designed for listeners who didn't have much time, it seems to take longer to get to the point than its competitor, All Things Considered, etc.

When I read that the plans are to extend it to several hours, all I can say is:PLEASE DON'T!!!!

Mr. Soll: well said, and thanks for sharing your note to WNYC. I emailed the station earlier today, too. I sincerely hope that management heeds the enormous wave of negative reaction (so evident on this site) to The Takeaway. The show's lack of professionalism is a huge step down from the quality one can expect every day from Morning Edition.

Hi Tony, if you could put your comments in the right category, that would be great, I think this belongs in reinvent your mornings. Thanks.

My morning would not be complete until I have 'comment-ED' about the poorly conceived The Takeaway.

A well-financed bad idea is still a bad idea.