This is a bummer: Penn’s radio show is off the air.
I hope it wasn’t something I said.
It’s really too bad. I only just started listening to the show relatively recently, actually last year when I was visiting DC and caught it on the radio. I was delighted to hear Penn ranting about some skeptical topic, and heaven knows (har har) we need more skeptical voices on radio. Name three more if you can (Paul Harris is too easy, so name two more).
I’ll be grabbing the podcasts of the show and listening when I can. Adam Savage was the last aired guest, so that’s cool. It’ll be fun to hear him. The very last show is actually pretty funny, and about 3/4 of the way through I get a shout-out (well, they talk about Joe Rogan too). How cool is that?
Of course, you can still catch Penn on his TV shows, or his frequent guest appearances on other TV shows (that one has his unbelievably cute daughter Moxie on it). The poor guy is so busy he has to drop his radio show, so it’s not like you won’t be seeing him anymore.
March 4th, 2007 at 2:05 pm
Damn that sucks I really like the show.
By the way you owned Rogan
March 4th, 2007 at 2:28 pm
When you listen to the pdcasts, could you please link to the ones you enjoyed the most.
March 4th, 2007 at 2:30 pm
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March 4th, 2007 at 2:33 pm
I really liked that show too… Too bad I guess.
March 4th, 2007 at 2:40 pm
Dude that sucks. I’ve only listened to one of his radio shows so far, the one with Saget. Now I’m now downloading his other shows just so I don’t miss out on anything. I watch B.S. almost relgiously. By the way I love your B&A video podcast. Thanks for all the illumination with all you’re doing! Peace.
March 4th, 2007 at 2:45 pm
I downloaded the Podcast. I was bummed the seconded I saw the title of the Podcast: “The End.” I was hoping that the title meant something else, but I was wrong.
In it he jokes about not having to do real work, but he’s being totally modest. I don’t think I have ever been or ever will be a busy as him. The man is a working machine, even if he wont admit it.
I understand why he has to drop out, but I’m still kind of depressed that I wont be able to listen to his show on my iPod anymore…
March 4th, 2007 at 2:49 pm
I heard the last show, and it took me about 10 minutes before I actually believed that they were canceling and it wasn’t some kind of joke. It’s really too bad.
They said in the last show that they had Eric Idle lined up to do an interview, too.
*sigh*
March 4th, 2007 at 3:24 pm
I saw the title last night, and like most I guess, didn’t get its meaning. I downloaded it this morning bu I spent my walk listening ro Skeptics Guide to the Universe. Then i read this. I only started listening to the show regularly about a month ago.
As far as I’m concerned, Comedy Central hasn’t been the same since he stopped being “THE VOICE.”
I Know he’s a freind. When you see him again, shake his hand for me.
March 4th, 2007 at 3:27 pm
Are they stopping for good? I read on another message board where Michael was stated as saying (dunno if it was a direct quote) they might do it occasionally or something else. A lot had to do with how CBS wanted him to do 4 hours and with his already rather full schedule, Penn didn’t want to do that.
March 4th, 2007 at 3:37 pm
The show wasn’t ended just because Penn was too busy, it was ended because it was only an hour long and most markets prefer the super long 3-5 hour shows. CBS Radio was having a hard time getting its affiliates to air it, and finding advertisers, so they dropped the show. I guess you could argue that it was cancelled due to business because Penn wasn’t able to do a longer show.
Penn has said in the past that he enjoys doing the show enough to keep doing it even if he wasn’t getting paid. He has also talked a lot about doing a subscription show that the listeners could pay to download. In the final episode there were some hints about moving to another radio network. Any way the show keeps going would be fine by me.
March 4th, 2007 at 3:45 pm
I just found his show on itunes. Sorry to hear about it leaving.
March 4th, 2007 at 3:47 pm
This makes me sad. I expect you to keep us updated on Penn’s show. I would easily pay 50 bucks a year to listen to him talk.
March 4th, 2007 at 3:57 pm
Christopher, I heard the same episode where they were thinking about a subscription podcast for the show. I emailed Goudeau and told him I, for one, would pay up to listen.
Got back what I assume was a canned response, but he did indicate we’d hear Penn on the radio or by podcast “one day soon.”
March 4th, 2007 at 5:43 pm
This was my absolute favorite podcast, and I’m really sad it’s gone! I would definitely pay for a podcast subscription.
Between Pull of the Weasel, the skeptical commentary, and entertaining interviews Penn had an awesome show on his hands. Come back Penn!
March 4th, 2007 at 6:54 pm
People on Joe Rogan’s forum say he won the debate, and people here say you did. Let’s see which is more qualified: A dude who works at a college and is well educated in this area, or a know nothing comedian from some stupid show about scaring people? I think the know nothing comedian wins any day
March 4th, 2007 at 7:09 pm
*Cry*
March 4th, 2007 at 7:59 pm
So he dropped his show or his show was dropped? If it’s an issue of the station or network dropping it, well then it doesn’t need to be off the air!
I have a transmitter, but it’s a pea shooter, so we’ll need to strap a big amp to it. Anyone happen to have some VHF tubes lying around? Hmmm. I think a couple kilowatts ought to be enough if the antenna is high enough. What do you say to pirate Penn? Arrrrr
March 5th, 2007 at 4:12 am
Too bad about the radio show. It seems like his busy schedule may have been a cause.
Still, good to still he still has other outlets to get the word out. Maybe he ought to sent Joe Rogan a copy of the episode where he tackled the moon hoax.
March 5th, 2007 at 7:54 am
I was one of the people he spoke about who wrote in about your debate. I’m really sad to see the show go, as it was my dose of people with which I’m like minded. I have to find something else to do on my lunch break now…
March 5th, 2007 at 12:37 pm
Dammit! I love the show – I just haven’t been listening to the podcasts this week.
This sucks.
March 5th, 2007 at 1:53 pm
I found Penn’s show maybe three weeks ago. The first one I happened to listen to was Plait v. Rogan, Round One.
I am bummed that he can’t do the show anymore, but am hoping that Penn can do something like put out a weekly podcast that is produced independently.
March 5th, 2007 at 4:33 pm
Mark G said: I watch B.S. almost relgiously.
Hey, I do too! But I don’t have HBO.
Actually, I don’t listen to podcasts or radio at all (except for the ones Phil posts, of course), but one less skeptical voice is always an unfortunate event.
March 6th, 2007 at 4:25 am
I love the concept of radio, I’m just never pleased with the result. Perhaps it’s growing up listening to tapes of old time radio and getting spoiled, but I’ve never been satisfied with what the radio produces. Since no radio station plays the kind of ecclectic mix of music I enjoy, I have to listen to either NPR or AM radio. What the hell kind of choice is that? NPR is great for some programming, terrible for others. AM? Ugh. Then there was Penn. One hour of skeptical goodness everyday. Never shouting at his callers. Always forming a bond with the people on his show. Giving us a laugh and once and a while something to think about.
Oh yeah, also some astronomer dude who seemed pretty cool.
Phil, perhaps you and Penn could arrange round three with Rogan to take place live at a TAM meeting?
March 7th, 2007 at 9:54 am
I was just going over to the show’s website to download what I could, and CBS Radio has taken it down.
January 14th, 2008 at 6:50 am
Haven’t heard the radio show. Doubt it ever made it to Oz.
BS however, did make it toAustralia and well … I gotta say I
dunno …
Sometimes they were very funny.
But then …
… sometimes they were just offensive showing utter contempt for other peoples perspectives and views and beliefs.
I din’t like that lack of respect, that rudeness and out-&-out contempt esp. when, in my view at least, the targets (eg. Dalai Lama, soem well-meaning environmentalists etc ..) really didn’t deserve it.
As well as lacking manners and respect for others their outlook and tone generally struck me as angry, cynical, corrosive, lacking in wonder or joy or hope. They also seemed very good at using selective quotes or arguments ignoring other side, using straw-man and cherry-picked quotes and overbearing others.
Yeah, I’ve laughed at their shows and cheered them on on occassion .. But I’ve also really cringed and felt mad at them & their often unfair & brutal tactics too.
Mixed reviews at best then from me anyway.
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All In My Humble Opinion Naturally.