NPR: Listener Wants Luke's Last Advice

Listener Wants Luke's Last Advice

Luke Burbank offers parting words.

Got a letter from Roberto Eder, of Public Radio & TV Stations in Utah, yesterday. Eder listens to the show on St. Lake City's KCPW, and he wanted to know why Luke Burbank's big farewell cut out midway through:

Hi I have a question regarding Luke Burbank's adieu last Friday. I complained vociferously to my local FM station KCPW in SLC that it had cut off LB before he was finished. The station claims LB was trying to parody the ending of The Sopranos where things just go dark and end. If that is true, I must ask what is the matter with Burbank? I took some interest in him, enjoyed listening to him, expressed my disappointment that he was leaving. Is it possible that he just dissed his listening audience including me by intentionally cutting off his goodbye in mid-sentence? KCPW is claiming it was not the station's fault. What happened?

An answer, after the bump.

Roberto, that was indeed the BPP pulling a Sopranos ending. Unnamed sources, especially Alison Stewart, tell us there was no parting advice. Maybe the listeners can gin some up in the comments.

Laura Conaway

9:10 AM ET | 12-18-2007 | permalink

Comments (Send a comment)

I thought it was great. Classic Luke Burbank. That's why whenever I encourage friends to listen to the show I tell them that

Sent by G | 9:44 AM ET | 12-18-2007

I logged on to the BPP website hoping to be able to hear the completion of Luke's message. To learn that his parting words were a (dated) parody of the Sopranos is a bit of a letdown. The abrupt ending just doesn't translate to radio, since there is no accompanying visual to indicate the intentional nature of Luke's cut. C'est la vie. It would have been less odd had he just signed-off.

Sent by Dan Myers | 10:35 AM ET | 12-18-2007

Shame on you people, some people may think that Luke was the chosen one to give the residents of NPR radioland words of wisdom, and maybe people need that wisdom and Luke is the only voice some people can hear aside from the little voices in their heads. Why would you get these poor people's hopes up all high just to get a little radio funny?
Well that is the exact reason why I listen to this show! I Love it.

Sent by liz C. | 12:06 PM ET | 12-18-2007

"Whatever happens, make sure you always make a point to always, and I [mean always] . . . "

Cue Lyrics: "Don't Stop, Believing!"

Sent by Will G | 12:08 PM ET | 12-18-2007

OMG, I am an idiot! I am right now in the process of watching the final season of the Sopranos and have up to this point avoided reading anything that could spoil the ending. Argh!!!! The crazy thing is I got Luke's ending, very funny but then I saw this blog and thought, oh maybe I missed something. Why didn't I stop reading? Why do I care what Luke's last thoughts were? Can you post "spoiler alert" somewhere for the other one person who hasn't seen the final season of the Sopranos?

Sent by Robin | 1:18 PM ET | 12-18-2007

Welcome Home. The rain gods are showering us in appreciaton.

Sent by Amy | 3:17 PM ET | 12-18-2007

Despite the Journey anthem in the background a la Sopranos finale, I thought the joke to be more akin to Curly dropping his tough love on Billy Crystal in City Slickers and then biting it before he could share the most important one thing. Luke, were you holding your index finger aloft in a Jack Palancey manner as you signed off?

Sent by Bonnie J | 3:49 PM ET | 12-18-2007

I REALLY miss Luke's style

Sent by Carol | 9:47 PM ET | 12-18-2007

Is there going to be a forum for us the public to weigh in on who Luke's replacement will be? Is it a done deal? Or would this be too much meddling by dear listeners?

I'd like to throw my support behind Mike Pesca.

Sent by Petro | 1:06 PM ET | 12-19-2007

I keep listening to the BPP online, but oh how I miss Luke.

Sent by Emily | 9:21 PM ET | 01-17-2008

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