It's Been A Happy 20 Years Of Hosting 'Weekend Edition'

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LIANE HANSEN, host:

Well, as you've heard, it's my 20th anniversary with NPR's WEEKEND EDITION. And later this hour we're going to look back at two decades of the show and get a few updates, but at this point in the program I'm told by my staff that there's an audio surprise.

(Soundbite of car starting)

RAY MAGLIOZZI: Hey, hi, Liane, it's me, Ray Magliozzi and I'm here with my dumb brother Tom.

(Soundbite of laughter)

TOM MAGLIOZZI: Hi, Liane. And we want to wish you a very happy 20th anniversary on WEEKEND EDITION SUNDAY.

R. MAGLIOZZI: You know, not many people know this, but we were actually the ones who launched Liane's career 20 years ago. It was us.

T. MAGLIOZZI: Well, yeah, because when we met her, she was, what? She was nobody.

R. MAGLIOZZI: Absolutely nobody.

T. MAGLIOZZI: In fact, she would walk through the NPR building and interns would ask her to get some coffee.

(Soundbite of laughter)

T. MAGLIOZZI: That's how bad it was.

R. MAGLIOZZI: So, in desperation she came and begged us for help.

T. MAGLIOZZI: Yeah. And we felt very bad for her.

R. MAGLIOZZI: I don't know why, but we did. So, we helped her playing it cool. And the idea was that we were going to oust Susan Stamberg from WEEKEND SUNDAY. It was that simple.

T. MAGLIOZZI: Yeah. The hardest part was getting by Noah Adams and his Praetorian Guard. It was. But it worked out great. But it worked out great for you, Liane.

R. MAGLIOZZI: Yeah. Here we are 20 years later.

T. MAGLIOZZI: Didn't work out so well us, of course. We're still fixing Susan Stamberg's Dodge Dart for free, trying to make it up to her.

R. MAGLIOZZI: Well, happy anniversary, Liane.

T. MAGLIOZZI: Yes, and many, many more.

(Soundbite of car starting)

HANSEN: Oh my goodness. And I just can't thank them enough for helping my own mother with her Buick. There is an interactive timeline 20 Years of Sundays on our Web site. They should know not to leave a host speechless in front of a mic. NPR.org, where you can share your favorite memories of WEEKEND EDITION.

(Soundbite of music)

HANSEN: Ah, the fender(ph) theme, one of my favorites.

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