In the Loop: June 10, 2008 Archive

Why we're gone

Posted at 12:09 PM on June 10, 2008 by Jeff Horwich (3 Comments)

I haven't been blogging, and our new project, "The Week," disappeared after just two weeks. What gives?

In this case, a picture will suffice:

We'll be back with new shows later in the month.

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Car Talk the Cartoon . . . what's next?

Posted at 12:22 PM on June 10, 2008 by Sanden Totten

You may remember that Jeff was recently offered a shot at being on TV. Well, it looks like he's not the only public radio figure being courted by the networks! Car Talk goes visual with a new cartoon on PBS this July.

The new show As the Wrench Turns is geared toward the Simpsons and Family Guy crowd. I have trouble imagining the Car Talk guys getting quite as blue as either of those shows though. Still, if the three comments left at the bottom of their video tell you anything, the "people" think this show will be awesome . . . and seriously, if you can't trust three random strangers on YouTube, who can you trust?

I have to wonder though, after This American Life the TV show and now Car Talk, are we seeing a trend here? Are TV stations coveting the longevity and loyalty public radio shows are capable of? And if so, what will be the next NPR mainstay to go visual? A teen drama set in Lake Wobegon called Garrison's Creek? Maybe Wait, Wait Don't Tell Me could morph into Are You Smarter Than a Celebrity Comedian? Or how about Fresh Air with Muppets? I'd watch that.