# Bob Edwards out as host of "Morning Edition" **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 23, 2004, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bob-edwards-out-as-host-of-morning-edition/236019 "2004-03-23T23:39:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2004, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bob-edwards-out-as-host-of-morning-edition/236019/1 "2004-03-23T23:39:04Z")
From [link](http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20040323/ap_en_ot/npr_edwards_3) > [@](#): > > National Public Radio has bounced Bob Edwards, host of “Morning Edition” since its inception in 1979, out of his job. Boy, I’m going to miss his voice in the morning. I’ve been listening to Morning Edition for 15 years or so, it was nice to have a constant. It’s unfortunate that he won’t be able to stay on as host until the 25th anniversary, a quarter century in the same position. ---
**Author:** ![Interrobang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/interrobang/32/17463_2.png) [@Interrobang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Interrobang)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2004, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bob-edwards-out-as-host-of-morning-edition/236019/2 "2004-03-24T00:09:15Z")
I don’t mind change, but change for its own sake is kind of irritating. Especially since, per your link, Edwards wasn’t agitating for the shakeup. Of course, his quotes in [NPR’s version of the story](http://www.npr.org/display_pages/features/feature_1785829.html) are less cantankerous. ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2004, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bob-edwards-out-as-host-of-morning-edition/236019/3 "2004-03-24T00:34:11Z")
My friend David Sedaris told me a story about his early days on NPR. He’d read his Christmas stuff a couple times, and was going to read a piece about the house in France his boyfriend had just inherited. In his little intro, Bob Edwards refused to say “his boyfriend.” David was asked to come up with another phrase for the intro. He’s always hated the terms “lover,” “partner,” etc. So he offered “cocksucker” as an alternative. They had to wait until Bob was on vacation before he could read that particular piece on the air. For a while afterward, whenever anyone asked him how he’d gotten his foot in the door at NPR, he’d tell them, “Well, Bob Edwards and I used to be lovers.” ---
**Author:** ![Interrobang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/interrobang/32/17463_2.png) [@Interrobang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Interrobang)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2004, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bob-edwards-out-as-host-of-morning-edition/236019/4 "2004-03-24T00:43:50Z")
That is beyond awesome. I should add that, while I think Edwards is fine, this move doesn’t upset me nearly as much as their decision to air “I’d Rather Eat Pants” last year. Does kind of suck that they won’t let him fill out an even 25 years, though. ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2004, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bob-edwards-out-as-host-of-morning-edition/236019/5 "2004-03-24T00:45:48Z")
That WAS awful. Awful, awful, awful. ---
**Author:** ![BoBettie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4af34b/32.png) [@BoBettie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BoBettie)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2004, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bob-edwards-out-as-host-of-morning-edition/236019/6 "2004-03-24T01:32:27Z")
I’ve heard Bob Edwards’ voice on NPR since I was a young pup- my dad listened every single morning when I was growing up. I will miss him a LOT, personally. I think this sucks rocks. ---
**Author:** ![chukhung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e79b87/32.png) [@chukhung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chukhung)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2004, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bob-edwards-out-as-host-of-morning-edition/236019/7 "2004-03-24T02:01:09Z")
I’m not sure what it is, but just about everybody I hear on the radio starts to bug me after a few years. I’ll admit, though, that I found Bob Edwards less irritating than most of the old-timers on NPR (on the other hand, [Michele Norris](http://www.npr.org/about/people/bios/mnorris.html) set my teeth on edge the first time I heard her, for some reason). I’m looking forward to a new voice in the morning. Put me down as one of the few in favor of change for change’s sake. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Moto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2004, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bob-edwards-out-as-host-of-morning-edition/236019/8 "2004-03-24T03:07:03Z")
I always found him a bit too soft-spoken for my taste, especially for the morning. He’s probably responsible for at least a few sleepy commuters running off the road. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![TV\_time](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f17d59/32.png) [@TV\_time](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TV_time)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2004, 7:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bob-edwards-out-as-host-of-morning-edition/236019/9 "2004-03-24T07:50:29Z")
I will miss him. I loved his ability to maintain a balance and the always tongue-in-cheek attitude that was just below the surface. I interviewed him on two occasions and found him entertaining and very outgoing. TV ---
**Author:** ![Mal\_Adroit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df788c/32.png) [@Mal\_Adroit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mal_Adroit)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2004, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bob-edwards-out-as-host-of-morning-edition/236019/10 "2004-03-24T13:50:21Z")
Guess I’m in the minority of people who are pleased at this. Edwards is a terrific broadcaster, but his manner in interviews always rubbed me the wrong way—he could just be so clipped and curt when talking to people. Though I’ll be happy to hear him as a floating news analyst or whatever. I think they should get somebody like Charles Nelson Reilly for _Morning Edition._ Someone who can’t stop giggling. Now that’d be great. ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2004, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bob-edwards-out-as-host-of-morning-edition/236019/11 "2004-03-24T14:53:21Z")
What I didn’t like about his interviews is that he obviously got to choose most of the people he interviewed, and he had terrible taste in music. A fifteen-minute discussion with Jimmy Buffet with the reverence one would accord to Mozart or Dylan? eesh. ---
**Author:** ![Jurph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/50afbb/32.png) [@Jurph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jurph)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2004, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bob-edwards-out-as-host-of-morning-edition/236019/12 "2004-03-24T15:48:55Z")
Yeah, I’m going to miss Bob Edwards, but at least they’re not getting rid of Carl Kasell. The quirky news items on the half-hour with that weird trumpet fanfare is priceless. I’m going to miss Bob saying “The news is next.” ---
**Author:** ![Interrobang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/interrobang/32/17463_2.png) [@Interrobang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Interrobang)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2004, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bob-edwards-out-as-host-of-morning-edition/236019/13 "2004-03-24T17:25:01Z")
**Jurph** , the quirky news items are selected and presented by Edwards, not Kasell. I wonder if they’ll stick with one host or institute an _All Things Considered_-style hosting tribunal. Will they pull in someone from within NPR, or look outside the organization? Howard Stern may be available… ---
**Author:** ![Archergal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c89c15/32.png) [@Archergal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Archergal)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2004, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bob-edwards-out-as-host-of-morning-edition/236019/14 "2004-03-24T17:31:24Z")
Cripes. I like Bob Edwards. The one time I heard him at a disadvantage was on Sept. 11. He was very obviously shaken and wasn’t contributing much to the broadcast. (I know, we were all shaken, but we’re not all radio broadcasters.) I always enjoyed his conversations with the baseball guy, Red Iforgothislastname. ---
**Author:** ![Ponder\_Stibbons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponder_stibbons/32/343_2.png) [@Ponder\_Stibbons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponder_Stibbons)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2004, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bob-edwards-out-as-host-of-morning-edition/236019/15 "2004-03-24T17:50:55Z")
I can hear his voice right now, just thinking about it … I guess that’ll happen after you listen to a radio show for around 20 years. It’s funny, though, I followed the link and realized that’s the first time I had ever actually seen Bob’s picture. Not at all the mental image I had of him, but nowhere near as jarring as the first time I saw Garrison Keillor’s picture! Humph. I don’t want it to change. I like it the way it is! ☹ Guess that makes me an old fuddy-duddy … ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2004, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bob-edwards-out-as-host-of-morning-edition/236019/16 "2004-03-24T18:16:22Z")
Just as long as they don’t change the song. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2004, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bob-edwards-out-as-host-of-morning-edition/236019/17 "2004-03-24T19:40:42Z")
> [@Archergal](#): > > I always enjoyed his conversations with the baseball guy, Red Iforgothislastname. [Red Barber](http://www.baseballhalloffame.org/hofers_and_honorees/frick_bios/barber_red.htm) [http://www.chatteringmagpie.com/essays/red\_barber.html](http://www.chatteringmagpie.com/essays/red_barber.html) ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2004, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bob-edwards-out-as-host-of-morning-edition/236019/18 "2004-03-24T19:57:45Z")
> [@Archergal](#): > > Cripes. I like Bob Edwards. The one time I heard him at a disadvantage was on Sept. 11. He was very obviously shaken and wasn’t contributing much to the broadcast. > > (I know, we were all shaken, but we’re not all radio broadcasters.) Well, the national TV anchorpeople were shaken, as well. If it weren’t such a somber occasion I certainly would have inserted Hindenberg references while viewing the coverage with my workmates. ---
**Author:** ![Labdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/439d5e/32.png) [@Labdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labdad)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2004, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bob-edwards-out-as-host-of-morning-edition/236019/19 "2004-03-24T21:32:35Z")
> [@lissener](#): > > What I didn’t like about his interviews is that he obviously got to choose most of the people he interviewed, and he had terrible taste in music. A fifteen-minute discussion with Jimmy Buffet with the reverence one would accord to Mozart or Dylan? eesh. Hmmm - I agree the Buffet interview was over the top, but Bob Edwards also introduced me to The Radiators and Webb Wilder. Granted, both those pieces were done over fifteen years ago. I can’t think of anyone with an edge that he’s featured in the last five years. **Archergal** , I used to love those conversations with Red Barber, too. Today the only thing that comes close are his talks with John Feinstein about basketball, tennis, and golf. I think Bob Edwards came up with the idea of reading the entire Declaration of Independence every fourth of July. I think that’s an incredibly classy piece; it chokes me up every year. All in all, I think NPR has screwed up. The guy’s a tradition fer chrissakes, and not letting him stay on until November for the 25th anniversary before moving him out is pretty shabby. ---
**Author:** ![Jinx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2004, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bob-edwards-out-as-host-of-morning-edition/236019/20 "2004-03-25T03:14:54Z")
Never mind Bob Edwards…What the heck is National Public Radio? What is Morning Edition, and has it really been around since 1979? Living under a rock, - Jinx [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bob-edwards-out-as-host-of-morning-edition/236019.md?page=2)