robwit.net

Don't know if you know this about me . . . but radio is my favorite medium. It assuaged the loneliness issue in childhood and adolescence, and I've loved it ever since.

It has been my peculiar luck, over the years, to hear many, many "last broadcasts" of established radio personalities.

This morning was Bob Edwards' last day as the host of National Public Radio's "Morning Edition" (staple news source of American liberals and intellectuals). He was asked to step down. He sounded sore about it. He sounded pouty.

It resulted in an exquisitely awkward moment.

Here's how I heard it.

Edwards decided to bookend his career with an interview with Charles Osgood, likewise a radio legend, who is currently promoting his new book. Edwards' first interview as host of Morning Edition, 24.5 years ago, was with this same Osgood.

Well, apparently, nobody told Osgood.

Toward the end of an otherwise unremarkable interview, Edwards flopped out the fact that this interview was his parting gesture after a quarter century as host.

Osgood reflexively used the moment to charge ahead for to one further plug for his book.

Edwards, heart on sleeve, twisted slowly in the breeze for an agonizing moment.

Then Osgood seemed to realize the emotional weight of the moment for Edwards. He pluckily summoned up an improvised parting speech and a flustered piece of ritual encouragement.

My take? Edwards went off crestfallen. Osgood went off going "What the hell was that?"

It sonded like a weird emotional ambush. It was soooooooooooooo awwwwwwwwwwkward!