WGTE-FM will cease broadcasting “A Prairie Home Companion” after host Garrison Keillor’s farewell show Saturday (July 2).
Keillor who founded the show on Minnesota Public Radio in 1974, and it was later distributed nationally by American Public Media. He announced last year that he would be retiring as host and is turning those duties over to musician Chris Thile, who has hosted several shows this season.
While Saturday’s show from the Hollywood Bowl is the farewell broadcast, Keillor’s last live show was Saturday, June 25, from Tanglewood in Massachusetts.
In a letter to WGTE members programming director Brad Cresswell wrote: “Based on the feedback from listeners, we have decided to discontinue airing ‘A Prairie Home Companion’ and add four new programs to our weekend schedule.”
In the show’s traditional 6 p.m. Saturday time slot WGTE-FM will place the music show “Mountain Stage,” a show from West Virginia Public Radio that features live performances by newcomers and veterans in a variety of musical genre from traditional folk to world and synth pop.
The station will also add “The Moth Radio Hour” starting Sunday, July 10, at 2 p.m. and “Snap Judgment” starting Sunday, July 10, at 3 p.m. filling in for the time slot filled by the “Prairie Home Companion” repeat from the night before.
Also, “Travel with Rick Steves” will premiere Sunday, July 3, at 6 p.m. that fills a slot occupied by a second broadcast of “The Best of Car Talk.” The beloved car advice program will continue to be broadcast on Saturdays at 10 a.m.
Cresswell concluded: “These new programs will add a more global perspective and new musical genres to our schedule and we hope that listeners will enjoy them.”
