I don't think i would want to live in Buzz Town anymore!

Funny how people are bemoaning the change from Molly to Natali, when it used to be Natali that got all the nasty comments here in the past.

But I agree with the OP. The show is as good as ever, if not better. It is only the forum that has gone downhill.

I haven't listened to the podcast in a while (lotsa work, community service stuff, etc. lately) but I can understand that any change is difficult and you may just have be patient to warm up to it.

I have to admit that, for me, I don't find Natali immediately-relatable - which I think is important for a host. But I think she's pretty talented, hardworking, and clever - so I like hearing her perspectives. Now, I have a theory that it's this "relatability" that people are getting a bit hung up about. It seems to me that Natali is simply a different style of "tech journalist & commentary personality" than the general BOL listenership used to. Any thoughts on that? Again, it's a theory.

and yeah - the chatroom is the best! ...I wish I could be there more often

Best,
Shalin

I think you may be on to something there. Hadn't really thought about a different journalistic orientation/style. I started a bit sceptical and got won over as time went on. Not calling for superstar status, but she's now a solid member of the team and at times hits the long ball with an insight or new angle. And the flashes of sharp and quirky humor--from cooking wooly mammoths to telling Apple to grow a pair--she has had her fair share of making me LOL unexpectedly. I value that--laughs are hard enough to come by these days.

D

well suited for the casual tone of BOL.

Watch Loaded or any of her spots on CBS as a tech expert and you'll see that she is very polished and articulate in a TV journalist sort of way. More power too her. She seems poised to quickly move up the ladder to the big media shows.

But I dislike the big media shows because they seem so canned. Thats why I feel this sort of slick presentation seems very out of place on a show like BOL.

She seems to be locked on to be a mix between Katie Couric, Xeni Jardin, Erin Burnett, Becky Quick, and Christiane Amanpour.

you are the best.

and others are entitled to theirs.

BOL is a show designed to get listeners and make profits for CNET and the forums are legitimate places to voice both praise and criticism. People should not be told to shut up or move on if they don't like something. As long as people criticize ideas and actions instead of people there is nothing wrong with dissent.

Just as a side note to what you said. BOL is a show to make profits for CNET. The show actually makes no money now that it doesn't have Best Buy does it? It doesn't generate first party income. The only way that it would generate income now, would be second hand by bringing an audience to CNET, or CNET TV and by generating ad views for them.

This just seems weird to me. I assume its harder to pick up a sponsor in this tough economic times (drink), but the hosts even say it takes up a great amount of there day at CNET (hence Molly leaving), for a show that does not generate any direct income.

Just an interesting thought.