Renee Montagne had a fantastic interview with Carl this morning. I woke up in the middle of it and was a little confused that a) Carl wasn’t using his news voice and b) it wasn’t exactly 8 a.m.

There was apparently a Carl Kassel Show in the late 1950s. He was a DJ. There was theme music. I feel bad, but I’m laughing at a Real American Journalism Hero.

During the interview, Carl confirms that NPR holiday parties are almost exactly like we think they are, with one exception. Carl isn’t walking around in a smoking jacket. He’s walking around with a saw, ready to preform some “illusions” (his word, not mine) on his co-workers.

Carl will still be on “Wait, Wait Don’t Tell Me”, but you’ll be setting your clock to someone else’s voice ever morning.

Again, have a great semi-retirement, Carl. You’re a Real American Journalism Hero. I think that title comes with a cape and a gold-dipped AP Stylebook.

I say that I saw this coming, but the actual announcement of the closing comes as something of a suckerpunch.

The news comes as so much of a suckerpunch that I need to emphasize my editorial independence on this one: What follows is Matthew’s opinion only,  does not even remotely represent Kerry’s opinion, and was written without her knowledge or consent.

Edit: Immediately after posting this last night, I realized I didn’t want it up here. You can still read the post, over on my own blog.

The story that jumped out at me most this week was Brooke’s sweet tribute to Don LaFontaine, the movie trailer voice guy. Brooke sounds so completely reverenty and sweet – I wonder if they ever met. It’s entirely possible that he is to her what Wolf Blitzer is to me – the weirdly hot older dude that I totally shouldn’t have a thing for (have you seen the “Situation Room”? Why does everything have to be such a damn production!).

The episode opens with Brooke and Bob all riled up about the Republican National Convention. I have to admit, I was, too. Had I not been, I would have fallen asleep.

Maybe had the media done a bit more reporting on the clashes between protesters and police, it would have been more interesting. Apparently, the police didn’t just arrest protesters – they got some journalists with press passes as well.

I won’t get into my disgust over police arresting peaceful protesters (like it’s not a constitutional right). But arresting journalists, both from the Associated Press and independent media who had credientials is extreme.

It’s been a tough week for journalists, though.

In a moment of complete awesomeness, Bob says this about the convention: “The republican party joined as one to identify, belittle and confront its foe in this fall’s historic election: an opponent who has never been shot down over Vietnam, never had executive experience, and never been a hockey mom. I refer of course to the smooth-talking, flag pin-not-wearing liberal elitist media.”

I wish Brooke and Bob could have come over to our house to watch the convention with us on a laptop while Matthew and I compulsively and quickly tweeted about McCain’s speech. Despite the fact that he’s acknowledged that he doesn’t understand Twitter, I think Bob should set up an account.

Anyway – apparently the media’s coverage of the RNC was “tackier than a costume change at a Madonna concert”, a statement that so aptly describes the GOP that I think it should become their offical complaint against everything.

Bob continues on his awesome rampage, describing Sarah Palin as a superhero from a distant land here to knee Barack Obama in the bits and quoting Spiro Agnew, a man who probably only had sex once and left his black dress socks and sock garters on the whole time.

Though the Republicans seem to think that living next to Russia equals foreign policy experience, Bob isn’t having it, and neither is the mainstream media. I mean, how dare they look into her background and voting record? That’s un-American!

“This is called ‘reporting’ unless you’re on the GOP routing list, in which case, it’s called ‘shameless smears’.” Bob Garfield, I take back every time I’ve talked about your dad jokes or your sweaters or your awful puns. You’re totally angling for the Peabody award in snark, and when you win it, you’d better invite us to the ceremony.

Also this week -  Surveys could be done better, but really, who has the time? No Child Left Behind may or may not be leaving children behind. Maybe there should be some journalism about it, or maybe a survey. Movie teachers never leave children behind. Or, as Brooke points out, have sex lives.

This week’s recap was written by Kerry on Matthew’s computer because hers took a little drink of water last week. Matthew didn’t edit so much as sit on the couch next to Kerry, reading over her shoulder and criticize her every sentence.  Like that one. That I just had to edit. Because he criticized it.

(awesome photo from Xadrian)