Garrison Keilor to retire in 2013

[TheBigA]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/42114455

[Mark Jeffries]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/42114455

To be honest with you, I do not see "PHC" surviving the retirement of its creator very long.  Kellior is and was the show's main drawing card and in some cases the only reason I suspect a lot of stations kept him on the air--not to mention that there was no real alternative out there (and I don't consider "E-Town" or "Mountain Stage" alternatives).  (Consider that Michael Feldman's station lineup imploded after "Wait, Wait..." found its groove.)  I also suspect that there were GMs who have wanted to dump him over the years for his frequent criticisms on the program of public radio's switch from music to news/talk, but haven't because "PHC" was still a consistent pledge magnet.

I also suspect that a Kellior-less "PHC" will be forced by the stations to change its musical focus from folk singers and whatever Kellior likes to AAA acts, which will piss off a lot of the hardcore Kellior listeners to no end.

[TheBigA]

To be honest with you, I do not see "PHC" surviving the retirement of its creator very long. 

I suspect you're right.  This is a show built around a single personality, like Howard Stern.  They could have created a stronger stable of characters, but it's Garrison's show.  Once he's gone, the show is done.  The fact is that the music he plays appeals to a smaller and older demo, but stations put up with it because it's Garrison.  So they have two years to find a way to revive the musical variety show.  I think it's possible, but it would need more than a new host.  It would neen a reinvention.

[Mark_Giardina]

Charles Osgood from CBS would be an excellent replacement for Garrison Keilor when Keilor retires in 2013.

Now I am not privy to whether Mr. Osgood would want to give up his gig at CBS, but its food for thought.

[TheBigA]

Charles Osgood from CBS would be an excellent replacement for Garrison Keilor when Keilor retires in 2013.

Now I am not privy to whether Mr. Osgood would want to give up his gig at CBS, but its food for thought.

I've not heard Osgood sing.  Then again, most folks thought Garrison was only a writer when he launched this show many years ago.

[Mark Jeffries]

Charles Osgood from CBS would be an excellent replacement for Garrison Keilor when Keilor retires in 2013.

Now I am not privy to whether Mr. Osgood would want to give up his gig at CBS, but its food for thought.

I've not heard Osgood sing.  Then again, most folks thought Garrison was only a writer when he launched this show many years ago.

Osgood's getting to retirement age himself and I don't see him making the commute to St. Paul on Friday and the red eye back to New York on Saturday night to do "Sunday Morning."

I've been assuming that in the end Tim Russell and Sue Scott will end up as co-hosts as the music lineup becomes more AAA.--and probably with MPR's Classical service not simulcasting with News/Info and the Current picking up the simulcast.  Perhaps Russell by himself.  No pubradio people are going to be asked to guest host, I suspect, and I don't know if there are musicians out there who can do comedy besides Jack Black and Flight of the Conchords, neither of which I suspect would be up to host.  (Yeah, Steve Martin, but do you see *him* commuting to St. Paul every week?)