What’s happening?
After an impressive 25-year run, Says You! is ending production. Billed as “A public radio show of bluff and bluster, words and whimsy,” the program airs Friday nights from 6:30 to 7, and for a while, it aired on Saturday mornings also in an hour-long format. Richard Sher, the original host, died in 2015 and the show had since been hosted by several others, most recently Dave Zobel.
Savvy listeners will recall the show came to Birmingham’s Vulcan Park in 2004, to WorkPlay and Birmingham Southern College in 2008, and to UAB’s Alys Stephens Center in 2016. WBHM member and Says You! superfan Bob Byrd was a frequent contributor to the program as well. The last episode will air on Friday, October 8th, and after that date, you’ll hear All Things Considered in the Says You! time slot on Friday nights – just as you do Monday through Thursday.
Additionally, Ask Me Another (heard Sundays from 11 to noon) is also ending production. In a statement, NPR said, “Host Ophira Eisenberg, musician Jonathan Coulton, and the entire team each week created an escape from the increasingly difficult news cycle. Each weekend, the show streamed into homes with an hour of laughter, music, and unexpected trivia. Despite the strong work of the team, Ask Me Another never quite found its full audience, and because of our limited resources, we’re sunsetting the show.” The last episode will air on Sunday, August 29th.
FAQ
Q: TL;DR: What’s changing?
A: Two programs are ending production – Says You! and Ask Me Another. As a result, we’re shifting the programming you hear on Fridays and weekend mornings.
Q: What’s moving to a new time and why?
A: Weekend Edition is expanding to three hours on Saturday and Sunday and will air from 7 to 10 a.m. It’s Been A Minute is changing to a single broadcast on Sundays from 10 to 11 a.m. followed by Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me from 11 to noon. These changes align more with listeners’ lifestyles by shifting the Sunday rebroadcasts to a later time.
The Saturday broadcast of Wait Wait is unaffected, and All Things Considered will expand into the Says You! time slot Fridays from 6:30 to 7 p.m.
Q: When will this change take place?
A: The last episode of Ask Me Another airs Sunday, August 29th and the new weekend schedule takes place September 4-5th. The final episode of Says You! airs Friday, October 8th, and the new Friday schedule takes place on Friday, October 15th.
Q: Will previous shows of Says You! and Ask Me Another still be available?
A: Yes! Both programs have a rich archive that you can hear online and via podcast.
Q: What if I have questions that haven’t been answered?
A: You can contact Michael Krall, WBHM’s Program Director. His email is michael@wbhm.org and his phone number is 205-934-2211. He’ll be happy to answer your questions!