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Tom Magliozzi, Co-Host of NPR's 'Car Talk,' Dies at 77

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Re: Tom Magliozzi, Co-Host of NPR's 'Car Talk,' Dies at 77

#31

Post by ilamont »

I started listening to Car Talk in high school in the 1980s. I loved the wit, the banter with callers, and the weird questions about cars ... which (as others have noted) were often really about people.

Tom and Ray showed the value of personality and wisdom when it comes to mass media programming, especially in an age when so much information is available online. Yes, many of the problems experienced by the callers could have been diagnosed via Google or prowling car forums. But Car Talk was so much more dynamic and effective, as these two knew what questions to ask about the problem, which (often) led to a correct diagnosis.

The calls I particularly enjoyed:

* People calling in from Afghanistan, Alaska or other remote places with edge cases

* People calling in to question their husband's, father-in-law's or neighbor's advice about cars.

* The bizarre cases -- someone who had a plastic bag wrapped around the axle that wouldn't come off, the person with spiders reproducing in the A/C, and the guy whose cassette player not only had an REM tape stuck in it, but the damn thing was stuck on loop and wouldn't turn off while driving.

We'll miss you, Tom.

Re: Tom Magliozzi, Co-Host of NPR's 'Car Talk,' Dies at 77

#34

Post by teddyh »

worklogin wrote: post #29
teddyh wrote: post #25

> Tom and Ray haven't done the show live for two years; Car Talk has been airing archives of old shows. Berman says Ray would like to continue doing that, as a tribute to his brother. Soo… Apparently the show as you all have known it for the last two years will be unaffected. Alternately, the show died two years ago and you never noticed. EDIT: I thought that this news meant the show was ending and was surprised to r…

"The show's been off the air for a while, so his death shouldn't bother you". That's how this comes off. By the way, many people are completely aware that they've been off the air, and still find this saddening. In your attempt to be clever or somehow revealing a secret, you've come off as arrogant and insensitive.

(Please don’t invent quotes and write them as a separate paragraph – it looks as though I wrote the inflammatory text, when in fact I meant nothing of the kind.)

I thought that this news meant the show was ending and was surprised to read that actually the show would not change. So I thought I’d highlight this fact.

Re: Tom Magliozzi, Co-Host of NPR's 'Car Talk,' Dies at 77

#35

Post by JshWright »

kevinkimball wrote: post #27
wdewind wrote: post #2

RIP. They were so entertaining. I never knew shit about cars but always felt a bit of excitement when I was in the car and heard that we'd be listening to them instead of some of my parents' music. Also this is pretty great: > Tom and Ray Magliozzi did open that do-it-yourself repair shop in the early '70s. They called it Hackers Heaven.

makes sense... weren't they MIT grads?

Tom graduated from MIT (some branch of engineering, IIRC), then went on to get his MBA, and a PhD in business.

Re: Tom Magliozzi, Co-Host of NPR's 'Car Talk,' Dies at 77

#36

Post by meepmorp »

teddyh wrote: post #25

> Tom and Ray haven't done the show live for two years; Car Talk has been airing archives of old shows. Berman says Ray would like to continue doing that, as a tribute to his brother. Soo… Apparently the show as you all have known it for the last two years will be unaffected. Alternately, the show died two years ago and you never noticed. EDIT: I thought that this news meant the show was ending and was surprised to r…

> Soo… Apparently the show as you all have known it for the last two years will be unaffected. Alternately, the show died two years ago and you never noticed.

You really sound like you're an asshole. Maybe you didn't intend that, but you do.

Re: Tom Magliozzi, Co-Host of NPR's 'Car Talk,' Dies at 77

#37

Post by erickhill »

My kids (7 and 5) and I loved sitting in the car and listening to Car Talk. They didn't have a clue about the content, but just loved listening to the brothers joking and having a good time with each other and the callers. So many Saturdays on the way to this or that, did I get the request to turn on the radio for Car Talk. In all honesty, Car Talk was almost like an audio-only cartoon for them, with those jovial and dynamic voices.

Also, being an incurable VW nut, I often experienced so many of the issues folks called to ask about. I really enjoyed expressing my own opinion out loud and waiting to see what the boys usually said (which was different than what I thought, and often made a lot more sense than my own theories).

R.I.P. Tom. I hope Ray is holding it together today. What a blow.

Re: Tom Magliozzi, Co-Host of NPR's 'Car Talk,' Dies at 77

#39

Post by HCIdivision17 »

fidotron wrote: post #14

I've only been aware of car talk for a few years (having moved from the UK) but this is sad. Seemingly every significant road trip I've done has involved laughing my ass off at something in that show, but also being struck by just how wise a lot of their advice sounds (whether it is might be something else). Mere mention of "Manila Folders" or the BMW 9 series manual is enough to reduce my partner and I to hysterics.…

This was my experience as well. Inevitably, at some point during every long road trip, there'd be a period where I'd get reception for a while, and I'll be darned if it wasn't Car Talk. After hours and hours alone on the road, it was always warming to have them guffawing about whatever they were rambling about at the time. Brightened every trip.

Re: Tom Magliozzi, Co-Host of NPR's 'Car Talk,' Dies at 77

#40

Post by ryanburk »

kevinkimball wrote: post #27
wdewind wrote: post #2

RIP. They were so entertaining. I never knew shit about cars but always felt a bit of excitement when I was in the car and heard that we'd be listening to them instead of some of my parents' music. Also this is pretty great: > Tom and Ray Magliozzi did open that do-it-yourself repair shop in the early '70s. They called it Hackers Heaven.

makes sense... weren't they MIT grads?

yes, they both were. it is in the NPR article.
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