E tu, Mickey?
Remember how we talked about Kim Kardashian’s appearance on NPR’s Wait Wait… Don’t Tell Me over the weekend? That was the same interview where Kim said the idea of naming her second child “South West” was “the stupidest thing ever” and “just ridiculous.” Well, funny story: NPR got CRAZY backlash for allowing Kim to appear on that show. NPR’s ombudsman had to compile all of the hate mail they got from NPR snobs after Kim’s appearance. Here’s just part of NPR’s ombudsman’s post:
Kardashian’s presence on the show sent several hundred listeners over the top. By the dozens, they say they are “disgusted” and “disappointed,” and a handful are sure the show has “jumped the shark.” Paula Poundstone’s “exposition on the proper preparation of Pop Tarts” is OK, wrote Gary Miller of Charles Town, W.Va., but Kardashian? “She has no business in any civilized forum,” he wrote.
The listeners are self-aware and unapologetic about their outrage. “I have enjoyed your show for years, but I found the inclusion of Kim Kardashian so misguided and offensive, I fear I will never be able to listen again (hyperbolic, yes, but vapid, talentless, and shallow individuals who have not earned fame or fortune through an ounce of hard work have no place on a show of such caliber),” wrote Brianna Frazier of Laguna Beach, Calif.
They are threatening to pull their donations, or claim they have already done so. Kerry Castano, of Burlington, Vt., wrote, “I recently gave a small gift to my local NPR station. Had I heard your Saturday show before I made my gift, I wouldn’t have donated. The Kardashians represent much of what is wrong with America today — and I listen to NPR to get AWAY from Kardashian-like garbage.”
Monthly sustaining donor Sharonn Flaucher of Tuftonboro, N.H., is “seriously thinking about dropping my membership. I thought NPR had a certain class/values and it looks like we might be heading in another direction that I’m not willing to go with you. Just thought I’d give you a heads up. Have a sparkling day!”
Bless their hearts. I love NPR snobs. I’m more of a PBS snob – I watch Nature, Frontline, American Experience and of course, Masterpiece. I would be devastated if American Experience did an episode about the Kardashians (although it would probably be bizarrely fascinating). But I was raised by two NPR snobs. I’ll never forget my dad’s excitement when he realizes we not only got NPR but PRI (Public Radio International), with tons of news from the BBC. So what I’m saying is that I feel the NPR snobs’ pain. It’s funny, but I feel you.
Photos courtesy of Fame/Flynet and Kim’s Instagram.
Nothing is sacred anymore. The Kartrashians are now invading my comedy show on NPR. Make it stop!!! 😉
It seems there is no escaping this vile family.
If it makes me a “snob” to want one place in the media where this trashy family has no place, then so be it. I’m snob and proud.
Me too. I’m mad I clicked on this story!
That’s my favorite NPR show. I hate the kardashians. Why would they do that?!
ITA, thank goodness I finally decided to sleep and not work for most of the weekend. My work would have been all effed up if I had to hear KK’s voice on this weeks WWDTM 🙁
I have no liking for the Kardashians but to say they achieved fame without “an ounce of hard work” is silly. They work hard at being famewhores and they’ve been very successful.
+1
I’m an NPR snob, but only get to listen to it during my commute and only get to catch Fresh Air and All Things Considered. I find it funny that people are upset, but that’s mostly because I never get to catch Wait, Wait. That being said, I would be annoyed if Terry Gross had any Kardashian on Fresh Air, mostly because she has interesting discussions and I can’t imagine anything of substance coming from a Kardashian.
That’s the thing. I have been a Wait, Wait fan for decades now, even saw it live once. Peter Sagal is brilliant and loves to skewer just about everyone, Kim K included. I didn’t hear that show but I don’t think it’s inappropriate that they include her considering the irreverent nature of the show. Terry Gross, on the other hand, would never have Kim K on, I don’t think.
I’m a huge NPR listener, probably 10 hours a day, but I’m not offended by this. It’s all about context, people.
Exactly what Esmom said.
Esmom
Terry Gross had Gene Simmons on. I bet she’d have KK on at some point.
I heard the show. It was good. KK was on for a few minutes and that’s it. Just for the portion to answer questions and nothing more. They gave her the answers, had a few laughs. The norm really.
And we know Wait, Wait is a comedy show (with ask me another/car talk) on an otherwise dry news channel. Pop culture and recent news IS that broadcast.
If NPR snobs want to complain about things look no further than Faith Midd and the food schmoosh (sp?). She talks over her guests and never misses a chance to speak about her personal experience in Cape Cod. Regardless of the show content or how interesting her guest actually is.
I am with Esmom and Alice. I listen to NPR, I worked for a PBS affiliate station. was offered a PBS fellowship, I donate, I worked telethons.
Also, I am not remotely a Kardashian fan, and I do think the Kardashian-ing of culture is unfortunate. BUT BUT BUT.
BUT…it is allllllll about context, as Esmom wrote so well. Not everyone on Wait, Wait or even This American Life is some pillar of cultural perfection or genius. I don’t like every person they have talking on NPR on every show, but I am not freaking out and throwing a hissy. This show in particular is meant to be humorous and interesting, see? And did you ever listen to my old favorite, Car Talk? funny, irreverent, useful. intelligent (MIT, people) but a funny range of callers, etc. But no opera! Pull your donations – they said “gas pedal” GASP.
What bugs me this morning, is the weird, isolating, reverse concept of what NPR is being tossed around by these upset listeners. WHAT NPR IS: “NPR delivers breaking national and world news. Also top stories from business, politics, health, science, technology, music, arts and culture.” So, by this definition of what NPR actually is —- guess what? It’s okay because like it or not, the Kardashian thing is a part of American social politics and culture, really. That is why you can say their name and everyone gets a mental image, everyone knows, and Kim is married to someone in music, etc. So….maybe it is good to be aware of everything going on around you, the good and the bad, to be aware, to be able to form a real opinion on the matter (i.e. “I heard Kim on NPR and she is as vapid as I’ve read, and so, I will work harder to donate money to education so kids grow up knowing more about the world than about Kim’s and Kris’s dining habits and cars.” See??) I mean, I can point out dreadful characters on Masterpiece Theatre dramas every bit as annoying in their era as a K family member, so….
Sometimes (more and more lately as I see people pulling deeper into their pods with their ears covered reading French cookbooks and thinking real life is a Whole Foods aisle) I think that learning should be not just those things you pre-select as being “okay” per some little refined “NPR is only what we like and think already” mode. I mean — “NPR is where I hide from the world” — !??!??!
It’s like a cliche of a WASP fundraiser with a strictly vetted guest list. And that is more troubling to me than having a Kardashian on some humorous show as a one-time guest. If I rewrote it and said, “Today we talk to a woman from a large family of Armenian women who reacted to the death of their father, husband by finding a way to build a multimillion dollar business, illustrating female empowerment and even managed to introduce the idea of transgendering to the American mainstream….” would it be okay to have Kim on as a guest?
This whole “i will throw a righteous hissy fit if you make me listen to or know about x, y, z” thing is off-putting and actually kind of damaging to the NPR mission. It’s showing that perhaps their listeners talk a world view and pretend to be culturally and socially open, but actually have thick cultural blinders on. If you can’t handle hearing someone you dislike (again, i am definitely not a Kardashian fan) speaking au naturale for a moment, on a show you trust, and can’t even think of a reason the show might think you should hear from the person for yourself, that’s pretty closed-down, and educationally-averse, and sad, in my opinion.
Liberty, no offense, but anyone who lives and breaths in the US knows about the Kardashians. NPR is not introducing her ‘cultural significance’ to a new audience, who otherwise would have never heard of her endeavors. It was a ploy. Maybe a ploy to drag in a more commercial audience?
Kiddo
Most of their guests are ploys. People in pop culture news or promoting something that isn’t expanding intelligence in this nation. Kim is hardly the 1st of that to be on Wait Wait.
And outside of this site i’m able to avoid all things KK. Here and there I see their brands or passing news of them, but it doesn’t regiister long term with me because I don’t care.
And to your point. Many do know the Ks. Fewer know NPR. Linking the 2 is good marketing for NPR. They aren’t lowering their overall programs, but being made aware to many who would never have otherwise listened to public radio. That’s how I see it. They had Andy Cohen on not too long ago. He’s awful. Kim isn’t really wise enough to do the level of damage Andy can and has done.
FLORC. That’s fine, but the people who contribute to public broadcasting whether it be radio or TV have a right to protest content that they don’t like, especially if their money is driving it. This isn’t a case of not hearing another side to a serious societal issue, KWIM? Having the Kardashians on doesn’t inform or expand a world view, it’s stunting for stunts, attention for attention.
Otherwise, it should be perfectly copacetic to air the Duggars along with Josh, in tow. And people should just shut it, if they aren’t open to that portion of culture.
To be clear, I’ve never listened to this show. It sounds like it wouldn’t necessarily appeal to me, and I’d turn it. I didn’t protest, but I think it’s over the top to call people who hated it, shut-off from the world.
“the people who contribute to public broadcasting whether it be radio or TV have a right to protest content that they don’t like, especially if their money is driving it.”
Kiddo, I don’t disagree with that but by all accounts KK wasn’t “content.” She made a brief guest appearance on a show that makes fun of the news of each particular week. It’s a current events-type quiz show. So she’s been mentioned on it many times and no one complained about that. It’s not like they’re handing her the reins to the NPR or the show or anything remotely close. To have NPR act as if the Kardashians don’t exist would be odd. Just because it might be considered
highbrow doesn’t mean it is. I mean, I listen to it and here I am on a celeb gossip blog. 🙂
Sorry everyone but I really don’t want to listen to Kim Kardashian on NPR even for a minute. I thought that’s what TMZ was for.
Snootily yours,
bluhare
I agree. I have never listened to Wait.. Wait, but it seems like its not a serious news show like some of the other shows, no? I mean, It would be different if she was on To The Point.
Esmom
As far as i’ve been able to understand from this ongoing disussion. Including quick shots at those on the lastest Wait Wait about the snooty npr listeners. Those who contribute to NPR are trying to silence and control the content, however brief, because they donate money. You don’t donate expecting a say in how things are run. You donate to support. Don’t like the 5 minute clip from a side channel that isn’t even home base NPR? Well, that is their right and they can move on if they please.
No one is forced to listen. No one is forced to donate. People just got all huffy puffy and the argument many have made is terrible. They appear entitled because of past donations to control how NPR is run and what they put on.
Simple. Don’t like it? Don’t Donate. Don’t listen to that program.
I also listened to Fresh Air and All Things Considered on my commute (and now that I moved back to MX, i download the podcast) and I would be intrigued to see a Kardashian on Fresh Air. Terry is a fantastic interviewer, and I have heard her get substance out of the unlikeliest subjects.
Terry Gross is a supremely talented interviewer, but would face an insurmountable void in Ms. Kartrashian. There is simply nothing behind those eyes but vaid self-absorption.
True, but when they have children of holocaust survivors on, the idea of following that up the next day with a Kardashian makes my skin crawl. Like I said, I rarely get to catch Wait, Wait, but if it’s supposed to be funny and she fits in with the context, then who cares. It’s not like they did an entire show just about her, she was a small part of a larger picture.
I think the one commenter has a valid point. The Kardashian’s do represent that which is wrong in today’s world. The focus on the superficiality of the physical, the willingness to do literally anything for a dollar, the need for constant adulation, the exploitation of relationships for fame, the narcissism so ingrained in every movement they make, statement they say or decision they make and Kris’s and Bruce’s absolute ability to monetize their own children. These people make my heart hurt.
Nicely stated.
Thank you! I was listening then when she came on I turned it off. Yes, I identify as an NPR snob. 🙂
That’s exactly my problem with them. There’s a new generation growing up in a time when the Kardashians are considered “successful” yet they contribute nothing to the world but vapid, greedy values. I was sorry to hear the people at NPR even knew who she was.
Thank you. I listen to NPR, Wait! Wait! is one of my favorite shows, I agree with every word you said, and I agree with disgruntled listeners – as well as those of us who did not listen to that episode because we have no wish to be subjected to any more ‘words’ or ‘thoughts’ that exit from a Kardashian piehole. Radio air pollution is bad enough already.
If that makes me ‘an NPR snob’ (cheap & easy fish in a barrel hed shot, btw), then so be it; that also puts me in plenty of like-minded company still fighting the good fight. Fellow nerds willing to write smart, funny, self-aware and outraged letters warm the cockles of my snobby little heart of discourse.
+1 belle, your post warmed my unsnobby heart!
As a self-labeled NPR snob, I agree wholeheartedly. Including her as a guest was a colossal mistake.
well put. they also make they head hurt.
Thing about the K’s. They are easily avoided. You do not pay for their lifestyle. They are not voted or sitting in any office. They can be ignored should you choose to ignore them.
The only way you can end up annoyed by them is if you willingly pay attention.
They are only still around because people do this. Regardless of liking or not liking they are given attention.
This baffles me. So many complain about them and plead to go away, but the names are repeats. Never missing a chance to discuss them. more clicks more likely you’ll hear more about them.
Much like how Paris vanished. People stopped caring enough to even read the articles and so the demand reduced and eventually stopped.
Want them to go away? Stop paying attention.
I want to agree with this but I have unfortunately seen that the people who love to love the kardashians really do seem to outnumber those of us who love to hate them. So I don’t think just commenting that we want them to go away is a big part of why they won’t.
I work with teenagers, and they are obsessively following the younger girls’ every move, spending actual money on Kim’s app, buying from their clothing lines, etc.
For them to go away, sure there has to be a colossal shift in how we talk to kids about their own self worth, goals, what we want to see in the world. But really this family is magnifying all of teenagers’ biological tendencies toward narcissism and vanity and showing how embracing those traits in themselves made them multimillionaires.
Is it really people that love them though? Or is it just paid support, via their marketing machine? I mean, look at their twitter and instagram….it’s all paid for bots and fake followers. I feel like it’s the media shoving it down our throat, creating the idea this is what the people want and the Ks using their $ to also create that illusion.
You hardly ever see me on a Kardashian thread, FLORC, and I don’t follow them, and I really don’t want to hear them on NPR. I only clicked on this one because it had NPR in the header!
Bluhare
I’m barely here unless there’s an issue connected too. This time was NPR for me as well.
To the point. I’ve ocasionally read the comments here. They’re flooded with catty comments. Not simply the go away argument. And the more attention they get. Any attention. That keeps them talked about. That keeps them around. It’s just that simple and history is littered with it.
Even Bieber here. He’s still really popular and still doing foolish things, but here. We reached a boiling point discussing him. So, the articles faded.
Lot’s of celebs are doing really crazy things, but we don’t like them in the type of way where we can’t even be bothered to express how much we don’t care. We just don’t care. Simple.
For me. I see the influence on youths. They know it’s dumb. And the less it’s discussed. The less bloggers realize the K stories just don’t get any clicks. The sooner they fade away.
Keep that in mind next time there’s a shocking dress or crazy spending article. It’s done to keep the eyes on them.
Really want them to go away? Don’t click on the story. No clicks means no interest means no coverage means no attention.
And the machine never stops. I was wondering myself why she would be there because it’s not like it’s a gossip place. I do my part by never watching E. Yes I know I’m writing about it but I just hope that maybe once a site/TV would actually do us all a favor and stop giving them attention no matter how much gossip worthy some think this family is.
While I think it would be misguided to pull donations from public radio, which, like public television is always struggling for funding in light of many on the right wanting to pull any government funding for them, I understand where the anger is coming from and I have no idea what they thought they were doing by bringing this moron on the show.
She has zero self awareness and almost no sense of humor that isn’t scripted for her. She isn’t terribly bright or interesting and I am 100% certain that any awareness of world events she possesses comes solely from what she sees other people posting on Twitter.
I’m sure this is bringing them tons of attention and press, but most of it is negative. Bad form, NPR.
“I listen to NPR to get AWAY from Kardashian-like garbage.”
I agree completely.
There has to be refuge SOMEWHERE from people and ‘entertainment’ and ‘news’ like the Cardashians.
I don’t own a TV. That is how I try to keep away from them (besides the posts on here, I don’t click on anything or watch anything with them involved).
It’s a slippery slope, man.
This. Plus if you pay every month or contribute however much and then get Kardashian’d I’d be pissed too.
I love to comment but I think I have to try to refrain myself from even clicking on stories on here in hopes they finally GO AWAY. Even hating them is making them stay around. And making them $$ they don’t need or deserve.
But it was one spot on ONE SHOW. A comedy show. It’s not like they’ve asked her to join their staff or even did anything remotely resembling anything in depth with her.
Esmom
Something tells me not everyone knew about wait wait, or that KK was on it until this thread. Without the proper context it’s easy to blow it up.
And the internet makes experts of us al in a few clicks. I’m wondering how many ran over to the streaming episodes to listen.
Regarding the show. They treated her like the average guest who wasn’t going to win for their listener. They handed her the answers. It’s not like the praised her at all. And I think she was on for under 10 minutes of air time.
This on the other hand seems smart. NPR is being discussed in a larger forum. KK for better or worse gets attention. And now a lot of those who didn’t listen to the show are probably going to give it a try. Kind of genius.
That’s the comment that made the most sense to me, wanting a refuge from the garbage news like that, and having even that get infiltrated by it.
I think the fact that people are so quick to self-righteously stick their noses in the air and proclaim how much better than the Kardashians they are is pretty gross. Get over yourselves, hate mail writers. I’ll save my indignation for real/actual upsetting news, which there is no shortage of these days.
Kris’s uncanny ability to get her hands into every possible media outlet is why these people are famous. Say what you want about her, but the woman has very wide-reaching arms.
I don’t blame the NPR snobs though. I wouldn’t say that this family is “what’s wrong with America” but they’re definitely emblematic of a culture that is degenerating.
My dad is a huge NPR snob and i love PBS too! We were both listening and he screamed out to me about how that Kardashian is on all amused. He said he guesses she had a business to push and how they had to follow pop culture to stay relevant. Didnt seem to bothered shockingly enough
I’ve been an NPR junkie (not snob) for years and it didn’t bother me, either. I think this was the show that Peter was absent. Anyway, when I heard the announcement that she’d be on later, I had stuff to do so I didn’t listen (and didn’t care). Public radio in my area broadcasts some great weekend programs like Snap Judgement that are hosted by younger people (Kim’s age) and I love them. Hey, us middle aged folks need to roll with the times.
@Olenna,
This middle aged person doesn’t feel the need to “roll with the times” when it comes to trash. Why should Iower my standards?
I never knew the Kardashians existed until I came onto this site a few years ago. I do believe it’s the internet that is driving the K engine, is saturated with their images and doings. It’s almost impossible to get away from them. A refuge would be ideal.
I’m a longtime NPR listener. If she’d been invited onto a news show to talk about the Domincan Republic’s decision to expel Haitian workers or race relations in light of what happened in Charleston, that’d be one thing. But “Wait Wait, Don’t Tell Me!” is supposed to be spiked with pop culture silliness. They were a bit more respectful of her than I thought they’d be, and she was more dignified than I expected, but I guess my snobby outrage meter is either broken or miscalibrated.
The funny thing is that Wait Wait is not even NPR. It’s from one of our member stations. I work at NPR headquarters. People don’t realize the difference between NPR produced content and member station produced content.
Why does that matter? This American Life, for example, also isn’t from NPR, it’s from the same station that does Wait Wait. I don’t see NPR trying to distance themselves from that show.
Kat
I have a few friends that work at npr headquarters. We might know the same people.
That’s awesome, I love it here so far! We probably do. Also, @Esmom it’s not a big deal that its member station content but to blame NPR for things they have nothing to do with is my point. That being said, I liked that Kim was on the show. It’s always good to have a different perspective, even if it’s one you don’t like.
Using the word “snob” in this context is unnecessarily dismissive. K-crap doesn’t beling on NPR.
Agreed.
I wish I had heard KK on Wait Wait. I don’t plan my day around it, but if I happen to catch it, I don’t change the channel. I have mentioned on here before that one of the best interviews I have ever heard was Martha Stewart on Wait Wait. She was extremely funny. Wait Wait is so high brow, that it takes very seriously not taking itself very seriously at all. So they have all kinds of guests, including a lot pop culture celebs. Besides Martha Stewart, some of my other favorites were Kevin Bacon and Neko Case. So in an odd way, I think KK is very fitting. I think Peter Sagal is a pop culture junkie as much as he is a news junkie.
Yes, thank you.
Kim’s problem isn’t that she’s pop culture. Kim’s problem is that she’s a robot… She isn’t an interesting conversationalist but just parrots whatever the script says. Kanye would make sense because he’s actually interesting. Kim is just a walking commercial for her “brand”. I honestly believe she is in the dull normal range of intelligence at best. I’ve known people like that. They can be nice or not nice, and they can learn to do things of special interest to them (such as Kim’s phone hacking skills). But without people telling her what to do and say, Kim would be lost. It also explains why she is so easily led by anyone with a dominant personality such as her Demon Mother and Kanye. And why although she’s a chronic liar, she’s not a very believable one. She doesn’t construct her stories for consistency and credibility. She often looks very out of place at events with more intelligent people. She’s in her element when posing for a camera, though, and clothed, semi-clothed, or unclothed – she looks truly happy then.
So putting her on such a program is not only a bad idea because she’s an uninteresting robot, but also because it’s cruel to make fun of people of such low intelligence.
And ten minutes is a huge amount of airtime, by the way. A typical cartoon show episode today is 11 minutes total, and that’s a very long time.
I had to click on the link to figure out what NPR is/stands for. Still don’t get it.
National Public Radio is as non-commercial as big radio gets in the United States. This means they don’t have to pander to the lowest common denominator to make a profit.
It’s also a staple of intellectual culture in the U.S. in the sense of “did you hear the piece on NPR yesterday that….” But with cuts in federal funding, they do pander a lot more to corporate and mainstream interests. The local NPR affiliate in my town is actually pretty low brow.
You know how some celebs *coughAnnistoncough* wear eyeglasses when they want to look intellectual?
I want this for Kim during her NPR gig. Well, along with the regular small Lycra tube top and camel toe bike shorts and gladiator stilettos.
NPR listeners who see themselves as being oh so serious and having their priorities in the right place are “outraged” about Kardashian’s appearance on one of their beloved shows while ISIS is enslaving and murdering thousands in the Middle East and North Africa.
Plus am I the only one who finds Paula Poundstone likeable but not really funny?
ISIS has nothing to do with this. Honestly, awful stuff is happening every minute all over the globe. That doesn’t mean we have to put up with the Kardashians. Life goes on. We would be paralyzed if we focused only on the relentless stream of bad news that we mostly can’t do anything about. Anyway- the mail sent to NPR about how Kim Kardashian was a terrible choice for the program was written by people who actually were trying to do something positive about one little corner of the world. They were regular listeners and donors and so could potentially have an impact. You have to do what you can, when you can.
I have to agree with jwoolman, the two things really have nothing to do with each other. To be frank I suspect the people listening to NPR are more invested in our cultural world and its issues than your average individual.
This is a fallacious argument. But, hey, why don’t all of us lucky people walk around with hairshirts on killing the joy in life because, ISIS, world destruction, poverty, abuse…etc. Why should anyone deserve or ask for the good in life.
You are right mystified, how egregious of the NPR listeners. I would like to see Kanye design a whole wardrobe for the Kardashians to go to the Middle-East and fight ISIS. The sooner the better. America is waiting.
Something I never say, but will in this circumstance: MORE SNOBS PLEASE. I’m not familiar with this particular show, but NPR and PBS are publicly funded entities and the people complaining likely paid for the ‘privilege’ of having the human embodiment of a walking commercial on the show. There should be somewhere that is a safe-haven for those not interested, or who are put off by the substance-less self promotional machinery, especially if the existence of the entity relies on direct contribution from donors.
I’ve never contributed to NPR, but do for PBS. Next up: Ken Burns Documentary Series on the Complexities of the Kardashians. Zoom in, zoom out graphics of still selfies, to follow.
Exactly. And the people complaining all point out that they donate. While NPR should address a wide variety of interests, individual donors should have a right to say how they would like their donations spent as much as large corporate donors do
They let Jeremy Clarkson and Jimmy Savile on the BBC. Jus’ sayin’….
Your television set up is completely different there. Most television here is corporate-based and sponsored. PBS and NPR are tiny tiny corners in the market, subsidized by art grants and viewership direct donations. It is for the most part not government sponsored.
Oh, I know, I know. But y’know. We all pay for the BBC and they are not averse to doing the most toothgrinding things with our money. You know? I am honestly aware that overall, we do well out of Auntie though. Promise!
She really is an extremely odd choice for anything on NPR and it does make you wonder why she was there. Did somebody make a big donation in return? The Kardashians in general and Kim in particular are not known for their support of education or for intelligent discussion, they are very limited in what they can talk about and it’s generally all about promoting their brand. They are the very definition of “commercial” and public radio is supposed to be a way to avoid that. Kim in particular seems not very bright and very dependent on other people scripting her. Not a typical choice for the program, I would assume. It does make it look as though someone took a big bribe to allow the program to become part of the Kardashian commercial endeavors, contrary to the non-commercial mission of NPR. It’s not about snobbery. I can see why regular listeners and donors would be royally ticked and see it as the show and NPR going in a bad direction. Paula Poundstone talking about poptarts is ok because Paula has a brain and talent and a list of relevant accomplishments and can make poptarts very funny off the cuff. She belongs, Kim doesn’t. The Kardashians intrude so many places, there really should be some refuge from them.
So, people with standards are snobs? That’s pejorative and incorrect.
It’s an easy jab, a lazy characterization & a catchy, cheap hed. Boo.
Yes! Anti-intellectualism is so fashionable. Support dumbing down, not critical thinking.
Ahmmmen.
NPR is increasingly peppered with nonsense. I prefer to listen to their online stream where I can skip over content I’m not interested in.
Same. Though I do miss the “You’re listening to All Things Considered. And now it’s time for a Bird Note *tweet tweet*”. Even now listening to the birds outside a part of me expects to hear a bird fact!
I don’t know why everyone is so upset about Kim being on NPR. I’m sure she talked about Proust giving an in depth analysis of his work.
Ha.
She did indeed. Even offered invaluable tips on how to get those pesky madeleine crumbs from sticking to your latex tube dress.
I really don’t get the hate for Kim K. with so much else out there. She’s pretty inoffensive. I proudly admit that I watch her show.
I don’t watch, but I agree. She’s as powerful as people make her. Even this gives her a platform.
Like the WBC. Don’t like them? Don’t like what they have to say? Don’t make a conversation about them. Their popularity both negative or positive comes from discussing them and keeping them in your thoughts.
It’s that easy. And because it’s that easy and people would rather discuss I think some enjoy talking about her/them. As an outlet or whatever else. We don’t repeatedly do things we don’t like to and don’t have to.
That applies to everything, though. Don’t like it — Don’t comment or don’t watch? I don’t believe that and I don’t think you do either. I don’t watch the Kardashians on anything, nor will I. Proud to admit I’ve never seen any of their shows. But if I want to render an opinion about one of them wandering in my playground I think I should be able to say something about it.
Bluhare
I do. That’s not to say that things I don’t agree with i’m not interested in aspects of. There’s the difference I think.
Kim, Paris, that Kit Harrington guy, Cumby. Don’t care about them. I’m puzzled to their allure and high comment rates though.
Chris Pratt? Don’t like him at all. I do engage in the discussions brought about by his latest comments because they’re interesting. Him though? I won’t bring myself to the point where his presence here is something I become aware of suffering through.
And as a side general point. I think some can’t get enough KK bashing so they often mention her in other threads. If there’s a day with no KK thread ppl start discussing her in other threads. I think that’s a trait of having something on the mind you want to discuss. Because there’s some enjoyment on it.
The kardashians are ONLY popular because they are h8ted not because they are liked. Sad existence. The media is the driving force and the main reason why the kardashians are still happening- their actual fans are just a small portion but still enough to keep them afloat. Their ratings have been down for years and they grow out of their fan base often. The problem though is the h8te and dislike for them is so strong it ends up in millions of web hits,views, purchases….. which every site wants and needs. It doesn’t matter to who ever publicizes these a$$hats whether you like them or not or if comments and views are positive – it just matters that you are bringing them in revenue. So it continues the cycle. NPR made a mistake in a way because their money comes in a bit differently but they still won out in the long run because of the publicity having her on brought. People who may not have even know about NPR (GASP) may tune in which could also bring new revenue. With that said I don’t agree with her being on whether that makes me a snob or not. There aren’t many places that are a Kardashian free zone and NPR really should be one of them. And the h8te Mail is spot on, the Kardashians are a huge part of the problem and do exemplify some of what is wrong with this Country.
I listened to that and will admit that I was very surprised she was on it, but I thought her voice sounded good. However I don’t think she even listened to the multiple choice joke questions they asked her because they made them super easy and she still got them all wrong.
Also, the commentators had a hard time covering up their snark on her. I’m sure she loved that.
Could she play any of the games? That’s what I want to know.
That was my thought, too, I don’t know how she was able to participate or keep up with the smarts and wit. I might need to take a listen.
She did play. She got 2 out of 3, but they were handed to her like some guests get. The old… “You sure you want to go with A?” Kind of nudging.
They did give her a tough catagory even my hubs and I didn’t follow well. North Korea’s Kim and facts. The Mushroom question stumped us. We got the hair style 1.
It was quick. There wasn’t a long interview ending with a say hi to kanye for us.
I’m actually listening to NPR right now. I can’t call myself a snob though because I’m reading about the Kardashians while I do so 😃
Anyway Wait Wait has had so many different guests on that aren’t pillars of society I think the last time I listened George Clinton was in that slot. now if she gets an interview in Fresh Air or a segment in This American Life we will have a problem.
George Clinton has more funk & more relevance & more poetry & more achievement & more cleverness & more talent in the tip of one rainbow starchild loc than Ms. Kardashian West could ever dream of boasting. He was hilarious, all on his own. His segment was great.
I listen to Wait Wait regularly – one of my favorite shows. When I saw she was the guest I deleted that episode from my podcasts. I’ll listen to other episodes but I’m not going to waste my time listening to anything that vapid woman has to say.
Whoever decided to bring her on the show might have made a mistake, the Kardashian name sinks ships. Look at Vogue. If your audience is a certain type of individual and they’re running from that brand of shallowness and self-promotion then the clear fact is there’s a segment of the population they’ll never want to see on the show.
Trying to snatch up a bit of extra attention by featuring them can have the opposite intent by instead causing a huge backlash and making donors pull money. Especially when you try to act like their contributions and opinions don’t matter.
I have a feeling behind the scenes there’ll be some hand wringing as they realize what’s happening to their steady supporters.
I would absolutely love to have been a fly on the wall at a couple of those meetings.
They run into trouble if they forget the exact same listener enthusiasm that supports their programming comes from some involved, vocal people. Anyone who’s ever suffered through even one fundraising pledge drive knows they claim to court both funds *and* feedback.
Guess they got an earful of listener-supported content right back at them.
Exactly.
Bye the way belle, even though we didn’t come to exact agreement I enjoyed the lengthy discussion we had about Rachel Dolezal.
Now on this, absolutely right! As others have said there is a segment of the population that wants a break from those called Kardashian. As often is the case with people like them it’s not as if they have a specific specialty or trade to focus on. They do a little bit of everything and nothing with a healthy dose of shameless self-promotion. They’re not singers or actors so we don’t have the ability to say, “Well I just won’t listen to their music or see their movies.” We just suffer through them being everywhere.
For that reason there is some value in appealing to that segment of the population that needs a break from them. Now yeah it’s tempting to see them and say, “Let’s hop on that train, they’re a self-promotion machine and if we have them they’ll promote us too.” Except as Vogue and Anna Wintour found out if you anger your base customers, those that you hold as a foundation and who’s money is counted on year by year, you can really screw your entire enterprise.
The average Kardashian fan isn’t an NPR fan so the odds are after her one episode you won’t see that dedicated viewership from them. As for the spurned once-loyal viewers you had before Kim…well you might have just lost them too.
Thanks for saying so, Eternal, and I appreciated it as well. Consensus can be a blessing or a curse, but it’s never mandatory; yet intelligent & thoughtful discussion – even reasoned disagreement – can be some of the best of this comment forum thing, eh? Very nice to meet you over the internets.
I have to admit that I am an NPR snob and I simply turned off Wait Wait don’t tell me the minute I heard she was coming on. I’ll go back but really I turned it off because I can’t stand her babyish valley girl voice and the fact that she is such a vile excuse of a human being. She got peed on and licked Ray J’s but that should not lead to the kind of fame mama Kris rolled it into. That is what is great about America, when you don’t like em you can turn them off and I always do!
Ugh. I am a big time NPR listener (paid member and driveway club member) and I just can’t. I missed the show with her on it and I don’t particularly care to hear it, but I can’t believe people are so pissed about it.
Okay so did anyone on hear actually listen to KK on the show? I’m curious how it went and whether there was any “substance” to it (yeah, yeah, I know) and whether she was funny and had a good rapport with the host. Anyone? Please fill me in.
*here
I did. My comment is in comment #25.
I don’t see many else talking about the actual broadcast. Just a lot of torches and pitchforks at the name KimK. Hmm…
Well if people would STOP paying her and promoting her; perhaps she’s wither up and blow away. Instead?…..well.
Kim Kardashian is the epitome of trash. She has no business being anywhere near NPR. Period. And there endeth my contributions to NPR.
I think it’s a little hasty to pull your donations based on one segment of a comedy quiz show. If you’re happy with 99.9% of the rest of their programming, you should still consider giving. It’s not the same as boycotting corporate sponsors…unless you feel that NPR needs to go away for good just because KK was on a show. They can use every dollar they can get.
Wait Wait – are you telling me that Queen Kartrashian was on my favorite NPR Show? Hashtag “Don’t tell me”….
All I can say is Kim is one ignorant person who doesn’t know much
I don’t see a problem – the Kardashians represent the modern times and tastes. And it’s not like they got their own show on NPR. It was an appearance, nothing more. NPR should stay relevant and discuss ALL things that make headlines.
They represent “modern times and tastes”? You mean trash?
Yeah, the amount of viewers their show gathers demonstrates what most people watch.
@TessD
Yet you don’t see a problem…. hmmm.
If the Kardashians represent modern times and tastes, Lord help us.
“anon321 says:
June 20, 2015 at 9:58 pm
If the Kardashians represent modern times and tastes, Lord help us.”
Said no one in the history of humans ever! LOL
It’s scary to imagine that, isn’t it, anon321? It’s scary, also, that that is all so many people expect and accept.
I like NPR and Wait, Wait, Don’t Tell Me but I dropped an entire network (E!) because I am sick of all things Kardashian. I’m with the NPR “snobs,” there are so many interesting people to have on the show, why pick that vain, vapid, victim of fashion?
I love NPR and listen often. I have never donated money to it, so I’m a freeloader. As far as KK being on the show? I wrinkle my nose and change the station. I just don’t enjoy that family. They’re not fun to watch. They’re just depressing to look at !!!!!
In a year from now no one will remember this and the donations will still roll in from the same folks.
What is she doing in that picture? Trying to stop the elevator doors from closing with her butt??
I never heard about NPR (I’m french) so I had to google it, and I guess it’s as offensive as her being on the cover of Vogue. I blame it on social media, the world is going crazy because the only thing that matters now is the number of followers you have, no matter the quality of the followers. KK may be known around the world but she has no value at all.
Exactly and if only the Media would stop going on and on about these people they would disappear as they have zero talents and that included KanYe West.
Why don’t people realize if they just stop feeding the beast, it goes away?
I donate to my local station and I frankly don’t understand the folks who say they are going to stop donating. It was one short segment on a non-news show. A show that your local station just pulls in. I think the term snob is accurate here. It’s okay to let npr know you didn’t like the content but if you are going to stop donating — get over yourselves. It’s one of the last good places to get national and world news. I’m not going to pull my funding for that over one Kardashian.
I love NPR, which is shocking, given that I’m a Republican – but they have the BEST interviews with people in the arts that you just don’t hear anywhere else and showcase true art and thoughtful politics (most of which I disagree with, but enjoy hearing presented in such thoughtful ways). I kind of agree with the NPR “snobs”…. putting Kim K on that station really did bring it down a notch. It’s like having Kanye do an impromptu rap in the middle of Tchaikovsky. It just doesn’t belong.