Weekend America
Encyclopedia
Weekend America was a weekly public radio program dealing with news, popular culture, the arts and more. The program was produced for American Public Media
and hosted by John Moe
in Saint Paul, Minnesota
.
Weekend America launched Saturday, May 1, 2004, as a pilot aired by the show's developmental stations, then known as Public Radio Weekend. The show went national under the Weekend America branding Saturday, October 9, 2004.
Public radio veterans Bill Radke
and Barbara Bogaev
, based in Los Angeles, served as hosts during the pilot stage and early national phase. Bogaev left the program on December 9, 2006. Detroit native Desiree Cooper was selected to replace Bogaev, beginning in August 2007. Cooper's arrival signaled a shift in the program's production, with Radke's segments originating in L.A., and Cooper's from St. Paul, Minnesota.
As part of a consolidation move in the summer of 2008, American Public Media moved production on Weekend America from Los Angeles to St. Paul. The changes shook up the cast. Cooper was bumped to "Senior Correspondent" and returned to Detroit. Radke left the program altogether. Commentator and occasional substitute host John Moe
was promoted to sole host, based in St. Paul.
The show was divided into two hours, which were further subdivided into five segments per hour. Weekend America was designed to be run untouched; with local cutaways at predetermined points; with long local segments in place of one of the five national segments; or as one or two national segments spliced into a locally-produced show. Many public radio stations aired the show untouched.
Regular segments of the show included "Good News, Bad News, or No News", where three panelists evaluated the significance of a recent news item; "A Little Bit of Weather Everywhere", which featured unique events happening around the country and the weather for the day at these events; and "Weekend Soundtrack", where callers shared a favorite song that provides a backdrop to their weekends.
The theme music was "Crazyhorse Mongoose" by Galactic
.
American Public Media
American Public Media is the second largest producer of public radio programs in the United States of America after NPR. Its non-profit parent, American Public Media Group, also owns and operates radio stations in Minnesota, California, and Florida. Its station brands are Minnesota Public Radio,...
and hosted by John Moe
John Moe
John Moe is an American writer and reporter. He became the host of American Public Media's Future Tense as of the May 3rd, 2010 Podcast/Broadcast...
in Saint Paul, Minnesota
Saint Paul, Minnesota
Saint Paul is the capital and second-most populous city of the U.S. state of Minnesota. The city lies mostly on the east bank of the Mississippi River in the area surrounding its point of confluence with the Minnesota River, and adjoins Minneapolis, the state's largest city...
.
Weekend America launched Saturday, May 1, 2004, as a pilot aired by the show's developmental stations, then known as Public Radio Weekend. The show went national under the Weekend America branding Saturday, October 9, 2004.
Public radio veterans Bill Radke
Bill Radke
Bill Radke is an American radio talk show host, web video host, author, comedian and columnist. As of November 1, 2010 he started hosting Seattle's Morning News on KIRO-FM 97.3 with Linda Thomas in the 5AM to 9AM PST time slot. Previously he had been hosting American Public Media’s Marketplace...
and Barbara Bogaev
Barbara Bogaev
Barbara Bogaev is an American radio journalist noted for her work as host of the public radio documentary program Soundprint. She served as co-host of the former American Public Media program, Weekend America from 2004 through 2006, and as substitute host of the National Public Radio program,...
, based in Los Angeles, served as hosts during the pilot stage and early national phase. Bogaev left the program on December 9, 2006. Detroit native Desiree Cooper was selected to replace Bogaev, beginning in August 2007. Cooper's arrival signaled a shift in the program's production, with Radke's segments originating in L.A., and Cooper's from St. Paul, Minnesota.
As part of a consolidation move in the summer of 2008, American Public Media moved production on Weekend America from Los Angeles to St. Paul. The changes shook up the cast. Cooper was bumped to "Senior Correspondent" and returned to Detroit. Radke left the program altogether. Commentator and occasional substitute host John Moe
John Moe
John Moe is an American writer and reporter. He became the host of American Public Media's Future Tense as of the May 3rd, 2010 Podcast/Broadcast...
was promoted to sole host, based in St. Paul.
The show was divided into two hours, which were further subdivided into five segments per hour. Weekend America was designed to be run untouched; with local cutaways at predetermined points; with long local segments in place of one of the five national segments; or as one or two national segments spliced into a locally-produced show. Many public radio stations aired the show untouched.
Regular segments of the show included "Good News, Bad News, or No News", where three panelists evaluated the significance of a recent news item; "A Little Bit of Weather Everywhere", which featured unique events happening around the country and the weather for the day at these events; and "Weekend Soundtrack", where callers shared a favorite song that provides a backdrop to their weekends.
The theme music was "Crazyhorse Mongoose" by Galactic
Galactic
Galactic is a funk and jazz jam band from New Orleans, Louisiana, United States.-Origins and background:Originally formed in 1994 as an octet and including singer Chris Lane and guitarist Rob Gowen, the group was soon pared down to a sextet of: guitarist Jeff Raines, bassist Robert Mercurio,...
.
Cancellation
American Public Media announced on December 19, 2008 the cancellation of the show due to financial pressures. The last program aired January 31, 2009.External links
- Weekend America official website