Round 2 Entry for Chuck Mertz

I appreciate the consistently well-researched interviews and pertinent news that Chuck Mertz and the team at This is Hell present every week. Mertz's ability to ask an intelligent question and then actually let the guest answer is unfortunately unusual in broadcasting. I agree with mustafashabib too- the relaxed delivery is great, especially Mertz's willingness to shamelessly announce his bathroom habits on air.

I just wanted to add my voice to the fray and give some support to Chuck and everyone over at This is Hell. Great show, totally relevant and informational. I've read books and articles I never would have heard of due to some of the things I've heard on the show, and it's all presented in a fun way that keeps you engaged, the way that sitting around chatting with friends does.

My last totebag busted open when I was trying to bring too much National Beer back to the city.

Keep bringing the amazing guests, Chuck!

Good work, now go get paid...

Chuck's the only National Beer drinker, and he's even uglier than i thought. but hey, it's radio! he gets my vote.

Chuck certainly has the voice and verbal intelligence needed to do a great job in a public radio context, but much more important is the "This Is Hell" show he's been doing for a decade or so on Chicago's WNUR, a campus radio station, where he interviews fascinating writers, analysts, and other progressive political thinkers of note, often about recent articles or books they've written on important current domestic and international issues.

Chuck's "This Is Hell" interviewees are of the highest quality, and the interviews are long and thorough enough to really dig into and grapple with the most fundamental and vital concerns raised in their work.

So it's not just Chuck's "voice", but his whole program format that would vastly enhance the value and depth of current political information available on public radio, and if brought to a much larger national audience would be an ideal outcome of this Talent Quest exercise.

this is more of the same shite that's already out there! why vote for something the already exists?
he might be polished but is his personality that interesting? This bores me! I can't listen to this.
I'd rather have an unexperienced and interesting personality over someone with a 'radio dude voice' any day.

dude, you are just bad as hell, and that's all there is to it.

The past two This is Hell podcasts have been right on time, clearly uploaded right after the show and before you guys go have a beer. So cheers to NPR for motivating this improvement to the show.

After listening to This IS Hell! for about a decade, and reading the comments below, it is obvious who actually listens to Chuck's show, and who is negatively commenting on him as a form of "reverse loading" for the judging procedure.

Whether or not Chuck wins this competition I, and tens of thousands around the world, will continue to listen to This IS Hell! every Saturday morning because we want to know what's really going on in the news - not the watered-down corporate/religious pulp that is shoved in our faces on a daily basis.

Chuck is an excellent Researcher and Interviewer. Period. He has been consistently delivering on a weekly basis for years for no other reason than that he loves his work and loathes mainstream media.

Before you go and flippantly call him "...not NPR material..." I suggest you actually listen to one of his shows. Otherwise you are just outing yourself as a naysayer.

http://www.RubberMonkey.org

Chuck,

It is fairly clear that you are in a league of your own in this competition. There are however a couple of people besides yourself left in this round who actually have something to offer. While I am just crossing all my digits for you to get the gig, I think you have to face that sometimes being the best does not always mean that you are going to be what they are looking for.

So that means the people at NPR actually have to think about this. Regardless of their decision, you have definitely shown your value and have gotten across the sheer volume and experience that puts you head and shoulders above the others.

Sorry but I'm not impressed. Chuck has a reasonably pleasant voice and delivery but he doesn't leave me with any warm and fuzzy feelings. A little too rough for me. I prefer a "smoother" style.

John Hingsbergen
Program Director, WMUB-FM

chuck's clearly experienced at radio. his readings feel professional. the race blurb held my interest (i think the contest sponsors unfairly gave a really loaded topic, though - it's inherently more interesting than some, but also full of landmines). billboard sounded good (my two cents to chuck: before doing the "white parents" story, I'd really do my homework with people of color to make sure your angle isn't just politically correct but well-informed. The "why-do-we-play-the-race-card-but-not-other-cards" observation was insightful, but later in the piece, there was a hint of putting-the-burden-of-the-solution-back-on-the-people-of-color -and, yes, I'd go with people of color, not minorities, it's more accurate. so sorry for the hyphens and run-ons; i've probably lost all credibility. : )

I left Chicago 7 years ago, but I still listen to Chuck Mertz online every chance I get. His shows are the most informative and stimulating because Chuck makes an interview seem like a conversation in your own living room. Hey, Chuck, I'm the one who sent you "Our Roots are Still Alive." Greetings from Henderson, Nevada!

lindaturner

Years ago ATC spoiled me for network news because of the time and detail devoted to topics probed. Chuck has spoiled me for ATC and Morning Edition for the same reason. An entire network news story sounds to me today like the lead-in for an NPR piece, an entire NPR piece sounds to me today like the set-up for one of Chucks interviews.

I have listened to all the contestants and feel Chuck has a good voice and the depth of perspective that is critical to being a good interviewer (e.g., discussing the lack of cooperation among minorities was an interesting topic). A couple of other contestants have pleasant voices but I do listen to Chuck on Saturday morning radio so I am particularly aware of his probing and comprehensive questions. Chuck just seems to have the maturity to consistently create the entertaining and educational programs I am willing to schedule into my day. I vote for Chuck.

Not a blow me away wow but way better than average on all three categories. The first piece came across as both thoughtful and intelligent. The live copy was well communicated. And the advert had me going 'hey I'd like to hear some of these reports'

“This is Hell” is the BEST program on radio. The world benefits from it!

Mertz is the best interviewer on any radio program. He obviously does a great deal of research before going on air. What a refreshing concept. Good job Chuck -- Keep it up.

Mertz's "This Is Hell" is the best program on the radio. Anything on NPR pales in comparison.

just what NPR needs. an injection of life into its hallmarked & parodied humorless, monotone approach to broadcast radio:

http://www.milkandcookies.com/link/39523/detail/

I'm sorry...he's just not...well, NPR material.

Well, I'll give it 5 stars; but I would like more indie-rock-backed musings and cheeky irony. Also, try reducing the importance of all policy discussion with a wrap up comment that has a big "whatever" sigh somehow built-in to your tone. Then you'll be ready for the bigs, baby!

As a PRTQ loser, I've been stingy with the stars in this round, but you succeeded in wowing me. You blew everyone out of the water with your delivery on the copy read and I like your head-on discussion of race. I hope to hear more from you!

Chuck Mertz brings a very necessary and very refreshing point of view to the airwaves. His show will help us rise up and overcome. Go to Hell!

You should totally be on Sports Center or other commercial radio stations. It just doesn't really sit well for NPR.

Interesting perspective on "race" and his self-referential approach was tasteful. He alluded to being "disabled" but did not make this fact the focal point of discussion. Impeccable enunciation further enhanced the mellow resonance of his voice. A "pro?" He certainly sounded like one.