MIKE ON KCRW's PRESS PLAY: Discussing the New Season and the New York Times' Offensive Shonda Rhimes Piece

On this Monday's edition of Press Play with Madeleine Brand, NPR's Linda Holmes and I discussed the fall TV season -- what to watch and what to skip. But we also tackled that controversial and offensive New York Times piece that called Shonda Rhimes an "angry black woman." Here's the logline from our segment:

This week on the small screen: a superhero show without its superhero, a virgin birth story and a bunch of college students trying to solve a murder. It’s officially the start of the fall television season, and we take a look at the must-sees and the must-avoids.

Listen below!



Also, I forgot to blog about last week's segment, which featured me and Grantland's Andy Greenwald talking about "SNL" and other stuff. A logline:

Saturday Night Live fans will see a new face behind the "Weekend Update" desk next season, and for the first time in the show’s long history, it won’t be a white face. NBC announced that comedian Michael Che will replace Cecily Strong as co-anchor of the fake newscasts. We discuss the switch, and we talk about some of the best new shows wrapping up their first Summer seasons.

Listen here:

MIKE ON RADIO: Discussing Jay Leno's Exit on KCRW's Morning Edition

On last Thursday's local KCRW airing of "Morning Edition," I chatted at length on the end of "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" and what might be next for the exiting host. Listen:

KCRW's Chery Glaser "Flattered but Puzzled" By The L.A. Indie Band Named After Her

The local L.A. band Cherry Glazerr just released the first cut from their upcoming debut album, entitled "Haxel Princess." Here's a bit about the band, from their PR:

The three-piece band from L.A. took root in 2012 when front woman, songwriter/guitarist Clementine Creevy began making bedroom demos under the name Clembutt. These rough tracks evolved under the mentorship of Lucy Miyaki, of L.A. band Tashaki Miyaki, and were later recorded with engineer Joel Jerome. After adding bassist Sean Redman and drummer Hannah Uribe, the band was formed, and Burger Records released their first collection, Papa Cremp, on tape.

With dreamy vocals and an ethereal guitar, Cherry Glazerr's "Trick or Treat Dancefloor" has become the band's best known song to date, having been featured in a campaign for iconic fashion label Saint Laurent as well as in the television show "Arrow."

Bet you're wondering why the band's name sounds so familiar. It's no coincidence: Yes, Cherry Glazerr named itself after KCRW's morning news anchor Chery Glaser. According to the band, they've been invited to visit the station.



I asked the real Chery Glaser what she thought of a band naming itself after her: "Very flattered but also ever so slightly puzzled as to why they would choose my name," she emailed. "There are a lot of people out there who are a lot hipper than I am that they could have named themselves after."

Perhaps, but Glaser's name is undeniably catchy -- and in the tradition of great public radio names. As you'll see in that article from The Atlantic, the names of NPR and public radio reporters have inspired songs, restaurants and a lot more.

More Changes at KCRW: Harry Shearer's "Le Show," NPR's "Weekend All Things Considered" Leave Air, Move to Digital

Tom Schnabel isn't the only KCRW mainstay departing the airwaves. Harry Shearer's "Le Show," which has been heard on KCRW since 1983, is also moving to digital. In its place, KCRW will now run the "TED Radio Hour" on Sundays at 10 a.m. It's part of a big weekend schedule shift at KCRW. Also gone: NPR's "Weekend All Things Considered" (which will still be heard on KCRW's online news channel, and remains over the air on rival KPCC). That means KCRW will go all-music starting at noon on the weekends. Here's the press release:

Harry Shearer’s Le Show will no longer be heard on 89.9FM. The station plans to continue to distribute the show for podcast and national syndication, and will continue to support the show on its digital platforms. KCRW will add the program to its 24-hour news stream on Sundays.

A mix of political satire and music, Le Show first aired on KCRW in 1983 and is now carried on more than 80 public radio stations across the U.S., the Pacific Islands, and on satellite radio, and has seen significant growth as a podcast in recent years.

“Harry Shearer and Le Show have been a part of KCRW since its inception, providing a voice of satire and comic relief while challenging the political establishment. KCRW pledges to support Harry and his incredible national and digital audience,” says KCRW General Manager Jennifer Ferro.

NPR’s TED Radio Hour, hosted by Guy Raz, formerly of Weekend All Things Considered, will now air Sundays at 10am. The weekly exploration of “ideas worth spreading” was NPR’s biggest new program launch in history and the podcast premiered at the top of the iTunes download charts for its pilot season in 2012.

“We're thrilled to be bringing the TED Radio Hour to Southern California radio listeners. The show brings ideas that inspire new ways of thinking, which has long been a tenet of public radio programming. We believe it's a perfect fit for KCRW's curious audience,” explains Ferro.

As announced last Friday, legendary DJ and former Music Director Tom Schnabel starts a new digital venture that aims to grow KCRW’s world music audience. An expert in world music and jazz, Schnabel will continue to share his wealth of knowledge through his popular Rhythm Planet blog, an on-demand music show, a Rhythm Planet membership club and a series of live events including an upcoming music salon on May 20.

“Tom is the vibrant heart of KCRW’s music programming. He’s our first music director and a critical part of the KCRW family. As we continue our digital expansion, Tom is the right person to lead the station into this new territory,” says Ferro. “He has vast knowledge of world music and jazz, among other things, and is an amazing curator, scholar and writer. He is not saying goodbye because he's not leaving. He's just changing platforms - from broadcast radio to digital.”

Listeners can hear Travis Holcombe’s new show Saturdays and Sundays from 3-6pm. Additionally, Anne Litt moves to the new time of noon to 3pm both days. Chris Douridas moves his two-hour show to 6pm on Saturday, followed by Liza Richardson and Metropolis, hosted by KCRW Music Director Jason Bentley.

On Sundays, Gary Calamar stays at 6pm. Henry Rollins moves to Sundays at 8pm and Dan Wilcox moves to 10pm. Eric J Lawrence returns to Sunday nights from midnight to 3am and Jason Kramer moves to Tuesday nights from midnight to 3am.

"Travis started as a volunteer at the station, just like I did, and it became immediately obvious that he had something special to offer. His depth of music draws out gems from all decades, plus he’s been an early supporter of a few artists who have become station favorites. I’m excited Travis is bringing his diverse and progressive playlists to the weekend, and am confident the audience will love what he has to offer," says KCRW Music Director Jason Bentley.

NPR’s Weekend All Things Considered will no longer air on KCRW 89.9FM. Instead, listeners will be kept up to date with top-of-the-hour NPR news headlines beginning at noon on Saturdays and Sundays. KCRW’s digital news stream will continue to carry WATC.

The new weekend schedule reflects KCRW’s efforts to redefine itself as more than just a radio station. KCRW has made significant investment in programming and distribution across multiple platforms. Last year’s launch of respected digital-only shows such as Strangers and the Organist is an example of KCRW’s commitment to expand its offerings beyond the FM dial. The development of the Music Mine and other mobile apps, as well as the successful streams on iHeartRadio, Spotify, TuneIn and others is part of this commitment to put KCRW wherever the audience is.

Here are the new weekend lineups:

SATURDAY
6 am NPR's WEEKEND EDITION
10 am THIS AMERICAN LIFE
11 am GOOD FOOD
Noon ANNE LITT (Music)
3 pm TRAVIS HOLCOMBE (Music)
6 pm CHRIS DOURIDAS (Music)
8 pm LIZA RICHARDSON (Music)
10 pm METROPOLIS (Music)
Midnight MARIO COTTO (Music)
3 am THE LAB (Music)

SUNDAY
6 am NPR's WEEKEND EDITION
10 am TED RADIO HOUR
11 am THE MOTH RADO HOUR
Noon ANNE LITT (Music)
3 pm TRAVIS HOLCOMBE (Music)
6 pm GARY CALAMAR (Music)
8 pm HENRY ROLLINS (Music)
10 pm DAN WILCOX (Music)
Midnight JASON KRAMER (Music)

More schedule details here. The new weekend schedule will take effect immediately, starting April 20. View the complete schedule at: http://kcrw.com/schedule.

NPR Tackles In-N-Out Burger

No news outlet can resist eventually telling the story of SoCal's unique In-N-Out Burger chain. Most recently, NPR fell under the spell and filed this report, centered on Stacy Perman's new book, "In-N-Out Burger: A Behind-the-Counter Look at the Fast-Food Chain That Breaks all the Rules":

The book chronicles the history of the chain starting with the company's founding in 1948 by Harry Snyder.

"Harry had a motto: Keep it simple; do one thing, and do it the best you can," Perman tells Madeleine Brand. "And they've pretty much hued pretty closely to that formula, and it's worked for them."

In-N-Out has its own process of making beef patties and delivers them, along with fresh tomatoes and potatoes, to the stores on a daily or a near-daily basis, Perman says. As a result, the stores are no farther than 500 miles away.

"I think one of the things you see, or rather don't see when you go into an In-N-Out is you don't see a freezer, you don't see infrared lights, and you don't see microwaves," she says.

Perman says In-N-Out's secret menu includes the popular Animal Style burger, named for Southern California surfers who flocked to the chain in the 1960s and were labeled animals by the clean-cut In-N-Out staff; and the Protein Style, which predates the Atkins Diet and comes wrapped in lettuce rather than on a bun.

Nothing in this report that you don't already know -- the bible verses in the wrappers, etc. But probably a few surprises for people not familiar with the beloved chain.