Boston DUers: What happened to WBUR's The Connection?

[supernova]

I woke up this morning listening to a local NPR program on WUNC called "The State of Things." As the title suggests, it's mostly about topics having to do with life in NC.

However this program, a repeat of yesterday's I think, was about WBUR dropping, abrubtly apparently, Dick Gordon's call-in program The Connection. The Connection is carried by WUNC and is quite popular here. A lot of his calls come from WUNC listners. His discussions are quite good with people being able to state their opionions without histrionics and drama a la Crossfire. He sometimes had other topics like the history of Grimms' fairytales.

TSoT talked to Dick Gordon and even he was perplexed why they dropped the show: ratings were good; while it was rather expensive, it was no more expensive than other shows of its type at WBUR; he had no on air antics like Novak's blow up this week. So it was all rather sudden.

Long story short, The Connection's NC fans are kinda left holding the bag. Any more news up there that's not getting filtered down here? Any WBUR big wigs feeling the heat from up top to be less liberal?

Links:

The Connection
http://www.theconnection.org/

The State of Things
http://www.wunc.citysearch.com/tsot/

[auntAgonist]

1. It's very disappointing!

I listened to Dick Gordon every night while at work. Sure made the night go by quickly. Even although it's a rebroadcast it's the best 2 hours on NPR from 9pm - 11pm. (It used to be 8-10). I'll really miss "The Connection" They had repeat programs all this past week.

I emailed WBUR to voice my feelings. I don't know WHY they've cancelled but it's going to be a mistake I think.


aA

[supernova]

2. It's very strange

I've never heard this before about any particular show, execept for NOW, but even then there was crap flying around for months before.

I really enjoyed Dick Gordon. When they interviewed him he was by his family's summer home in Canada.

[stellanoir]

3. I'm totally bummed about it as well.

Gordon is a wonderful host, a masterful interviewer, and a real Renaissance dude. They had a substitute host the week the announcement was made and then reruns all this week.

I miss it already. It'll be replaced on my local affiliate by Tom Ashbrook's ""On Point" which is okay but not my fave.

[supernova]

4. I have no idea what WUNC

will do. They haven't said yet. The Connection aired between 10am and 12pm every weekday here. That's a huge prime time gap to fill on short notice.

I love Dick Gordon. His voice is very attractive to me, and I love the way he takes time with callers to suss out what they are really tying to ask.

And I also loved they variety of topics on his show, Renaissance dude, indeed. :-)

[supernova]

5. We're getting Diane Rhiem!

D'oh! I just read the notes and in Place of The Connection, we're getting Diane Rhiem! Yay!

Still, I'd rather have both.