Radio's 'Live from Here' canceled amid budget cuts

[Tanuki]

https://www.google.com/amp/s/variety.com/2020/music/news/live-from-here-canceled-chris-thile-american-public-radio-cutss-1234637341/amp/

"Live From Here With Chris Thile,” the weekly radio show that began as a continuation of “A Prairie Home Companion” before taking on its own name and identity, has been canceled, American Public Media Group announced Tuesday.

The St. Paul-based company blamed the economic effects of the COVID-19 for that and other cuts that resulted in 28 employees being let go.

Thile, the dexterously multitalented member of the Punch Brothers and Nickel Creek who took over “Prairie Home Companion” from Garrison Keillor in 2016, tweeted about the end of his four-year run as host.

“Not one live broadcast has gone by where I didn’t thank my absurdly lucky stars for your wide open ears and hearts,” Thile wrote. “Over the weekend, I was informed that American Public Media will no longer be producing the show. While this news fills me with sadness, I understand the decision, as my extraordinary teammates and I conceived of ‘Live From Here’ as a celebration of live, collaborative audible art, and there’s just no telling when it could be that again.”.. (more)

[2naSalit]

1. That was a good show from what I heard...

it was discontinued after the first or second season in my area. Too bad. I have resolved to buy recording equipment since live performance isn't going to start up on a large scale any time soon.

[lpbk2713]

2. Sorry to see it go.

It was one of a kind. A radio variety show in front of a live audience.
It was a business decision that brought it down. So it didn't matter
how good it was.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

3. The show really ended with Keillor's retirement back in 2016.

Chris Thile seemed like a nice enough guy, and I suppose he did what he could to try to bring his own flavor to the show, but it never really seemed to click. Problem was, while Thile had a genuine love for music and a knack for booking some really talented folks to appear on the show, as a show host he couldn't really cut it--he'd come off almost cloying over-enthusiastic at times, like every act that appeared on his show was the most remarkable thing he ever heard in his life.

Perhaps if instead of having PHC handed over to him, he had just been given his own brand new show, maybe it would have worked out a little better.

But Prairie Home Companion was forever destined to be associated with Garrison Keillor. And as old-fashioned, anachronistic and hokey as the show frequently seemed to be under Keillor, it was what those who had followed the show for years--or even grown up with it, as I had--loved about it, like a weird old shirt that you have an odd attachment to. I can't say that I blame Thile for naturally wanting to bring a fresher, hipper feel to it, but it just wasn't was what we knew it to be. My local NPR affiliate ran Thile's PHC/LFH for about two years but eventually dropped it, and it barely made a blip.

For all intents and purposes, the show ended in 2016 with Keillor's retirement.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

6. I agree.

A Prairie Home Companion was so thoroughly Keillor's show, that once he left, it should have simply ended. If some sort of replacement was deemed necessary, it should have been completely re-thought.

I had the pleasure of attending the show in 1981.

[Ms. Toad]

8. Agreed.

Partly, I tolerated the musical guests on PHC because I loved the rest of it. The music took over the show under Thile. I tried listening for a while, but it was no lonter interesting to me.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

4. This round of layoffs was a fucking bloodbath.

[Initech]

5. COVID just took a massive dump on our society.

Think it sucks now? It's going to get worse.

[hunter]

7. I couldn't stand Prairie Home Companion.

PHC was one of the shows that made me want to abandon public radio.

I can actually listen to "Live From Here" when I'm working in my kitchen.

Sigh.