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Starting May 14th I’ll be doing a whole lot of different things.
On that day I’ll step down as a full-time employee of CNET. I’ve been there almost 6 years. They were my lifeboat after TechTV sunk and I’ve met and worked with some awesome people there.
But I’m burying the lede. Starting June 1 I’ll be joining Leo Laporte’s TWiT network as a daily host. Stay tuned to TWiT for more details on what I’ll be doing there.
As for CNET, I’m still working out the details of what I can continue to do there. Maybe Top 5, and maybe some regular appearances on BOL.
Overall I’m incredibly excited. This will allow me to keep doing some of the things I love for CNET, while opening the door to a whole lot of creative flexibility and control over my own content.
So what kind of content do you want to see on TWiT? I’ll have some 20 hours or so to fill, so ideas are more than welcomed!
Thanks again to CNET for being pretty cool through this process and a huge thanks to Leo for having the confidence in me to give me this opportunity!
And thanks to all the folks who watch and listen to what I’ve done over the years. Because if you hadn’t done that, I wouldn’t be able to do any of this.
Update: For perfectly understandable reasons, CNET has declined to keep me on part-time to do any shows. But I do have pitches out at a couple other outlets. Plus they’re paying for the drinks on my last day, so I’ll make sure to make them feel it then.
It is always good to grow and change is hard, though the change for us is what will be hard. We will adjust as always, slowly.
Congrats, and we always try to support! We won’t miss as we will find you! Always do what you want, It sounds great.
Well, I listen daily to both CNET and Twit, so no much change for me, but I can’t wait to see the new shows on Twit.
Leo should just hire Molly Wood, Scot Johnson and Patrick Beja, take Turpster as an intern this summer, recruit the Wood Whisperer as well, and my life wil be perfect, I wont need other media anymore. Oh, and add Adam Curry for the Wackadoodle part of the Twit Network, everybody needs a crazy cousin in the family, that we are all ashame off but that we secretely adore…
Sad to hear your leaving CNET, but excited to hear you were joining TWIT!
Hope you can bring a short style news wrap up to TWIT.
Leo’s shows are great, but BOL gives me my news fix on the way to work, whilst a TWIT show some times takes a few commutes to get through!
Also hope the puns come with you across to TWIT!
For C(rying)OL! You’re leaving BOL?
Dearest Tom,
Honestly, Truly, Wholeheartedly I was shocked to hear you announce your new career path, I had to pause the podcast and still cannot move on today’s BOL to listen to the iPhone leak news, which I was very anxious after I saw the title.
I was so accustomed to your presence at Cnet and Buzz Out Loud and you should know that the reason I became a Cnet fan was mostly your wit and way of handling the conversation. Also in my perspective, you are so much in harmony with Molly.
I wish you all the best in your upcoming ventures and hope to see you (albeit freelance) time and again on BOL. It will never be the same without you.
I don’t think I will leave Buzz Out Loud, but TWiT network surely will gain another fan!
keep up the great work!
Best wishes.
What the heck? I miss one weekend of podcasts and the whole world turned upside down! I wish you much luck and look forward to the all incredible stuff you will bring to the table. What I enjoyed most was all the bits of science you injected into everything you did, so I hope there’s more of that in the future.
We’ll miss you at Cnet, you won’t be gone for good, hopefully you can do some regular projects with the gang there. I’ll be looking forward to see what you do on TWIT.
Maybe once or twice week or so Cnet will let you skype into BOL and join the show?
I think an interesting program would be to pick a company you’re interested in (in a positive or negative way) and talk about them. What you think they’ve done right or wrong, where you hope the future would be. Things like that.
Another interesting show would be future tech. I see articles about prototypes of tech, and drawings and write ups on what companies hope that they may bring in the future. Have a show where you look for these on the internet and talk about them. Also talk about how you see certain technologies will change and effect the future. This can be for instance roll up screens on phones, or bionic limbs, or future NASA space crafts, whatever you find interesting and think the viewer will find interesting.
Good luck and looking forward to seeing you on TWIT.
Congrats Tom! I watch/listen to both CNET and TWIT. Like Pipou, not much change for me too. Keep up the great work!
Tom, please don’t do this, it’s a huge mistake. I get the feeling something happened with Cnet, please don’t let pride or ego ruin what you have at Cnet. Twit is ok for brief shows but not for your whole career. You have a chance in a lifetime with your career at Cnet hold on to it for as long as you can, don’t leave it for Twit.
Get Leah Culver on an hour a week. I don’t care about programming, but I’d watch anyway.
Brovo… This is a huge day for TWIT and it takes us a step closer to the only TechTV days. I say keep doin what you’re doin and take it to TWIT. The daily update has always been missing at TWIT and although Leo does a great job on the weekly show I always listen to BOL to get the latest in tech. One thing you might try is to have people call in, ala TechTV, and help them with their tech problems. Maybe you could call it… I don’t know… Call for Help (or something like that). TWIT recently has gotten too serious and it could really use someone to lighten up the load. Now if we could only get Patrick to come back from Techzilla…. but I guess that is a topic for another day.
Hey Tom,
Long time listener first time comment. I have listened to BOL and TWIT since the beginning. I am happy for you. This is a great move. Being from New Jersey, it would be great if you moved to east coast.
Keep up the super creative work.
All the best.
David
P.s. I forgot to say “love the show”
Congrats.
How about a weekly ‘Mobile App’ show for 1 hour.
break it into 4 parts so that people can tune into their platform.
15 mins on iPhone / iPad
15 mins on Andriod / and tablets when they arrive
15 mins on RIM
15 mins on ???
Windows Phone 7 won’t have much of an App store to start
Not much Symbian usage in the US
WebOS, not much of an App store
perhaps I’m missing something
While I cringe to think of what BOL will become without your guiding hand, I eagerly look forward to listening to your new endeavors!
Your level-headed and thoughtful take on things will be a big hole to fill for the other BOL members.
Re what to do on TWIT, my suggestion would be to cover things that most interest you since that will come through in your work. But, please, nothing on Twitter. Goodness knows there’s enough air time devoted to that service.
On second thought, maybe Leo should be done with it and have a social networking (or whatever) podcast that focuses on the likes of Twitter, Buzz, Facebook etc so these topics take up less of the time on his other shows.
Way to go Tom, good move, Leo will be buying CBS soon, its always good to get a jump on the competition.
Congratulations Tom! Am a fan of both TWiT and BOL. Now if only Molly would follow . . .
This is the best news ever. Now I can listen to Tom without having to listen to Molly and her never-ending rants about the same companies doing the same thing over and over and over.
I think that this is great news, I can’t wait to see what comes out of this move. As for content suggestions I’ve always like it when Tom gives us helpful tips on using computers or gadgets.
My personal request would be for someone to investigate the dark underworld of products that are designed to fail after a certain amount out of time or use. I’ve recently been dealing with this problem myself when a gadget that I owned stopped charging one day. I just happened to own 2 of the same product and to my surprise both devices stopped charging on the same day. I know there are a lot of conspiracy theories out there, it would be nice if someone with some influence would take these companies to task and expose them if they are
Designing products to fail so we will pay for repairs or buy a newer model.
For me this is really sad news. You and Molly make BOL, and as I’ve said to anyone who will listen, BOL is the best podcast for tech there is. All good things come to an end I guess and I’m interested to see how it goes over at TWIT.
I used to be a huge fan of TWIT but eventually I just got burned out on the audible brain washing and Leo himself. As great as Leo is, you can’t really watch one person over and over like that. BOL can be in my ears every single day and it never annoys me. Testament to how darn professional it is. Shows that Leo hosts tend to be a lot looser and that can grate on you if you’re exposed to too much of it. It’s no good having a show like TWIG with host Gina Tripani where Leo talks through a lot of the show about whatever is on his mind. That spoils it for me. I tune in to tap into that great brain that is Gina Tripani. I’ll say the same with you, I’ll be tuning in to enjoy Tom and his amazing technicolour tech coat. Bottom line here, you have to be the real host of your shows for them to really rock the cottage.
For show topics. I’d like a Windows software podcast. There aren’t any good ones for that subject at all. Windows Weekly doesn’t even count, that’s really just TWIT with a tip of the week for Windows 7. So I’d love a show that doesn’t just cover the darling apps in the news but everything from accounting to 3d graphics. Whether you’re reviewing or just reporting on other peoples reviews isn’t important.
Another show topic I’d love to see you run with is a Twit Out Loud kinda deal. The formula for BOL is perfect. Having someone like Gina Tripani or Amber McArthur as regular co-hosts would make for a killer show. Of course that could backfire if the co-host was Colleen, who I don’t enjoy listening to. The arrogance she has shines through too much and washes out all the great things about her. So who you’re working with is equally as important for me as what your shows will be about.
Seriously, I’d watch a podcast about train time tables if you and Molly hosted it.
I had some ideas for some things I would like to see you do on the TWIT network.
1. A show where you show people what you are doing with tech whether it be showing off new hardware or software. If you recently learned something from a book or playing around with a gadget please share with the audience. The show could be called “what’s Tom up to”.
2. A project show where you create something with the audience following along, whether it would be building a new PC, upgrading, or hacking a device. Also maybe a software project.
3. Tech news show, but there are so many avenues for tech shows. How about a call in show talking about tech news instead of a 1 way conversation show. For each show you can introduce a question and have people vote on it, that way you can get participation and also see who is watching / listening to your show.
Wow, I remember about a year ago I wondering if you would leave CNET and starty our own TWIT network.
Suggestions for content? There are alot of pods out there that cover the tech news.. Id love to see one or at least and interesting one that addresses issues and shows tips for IT Managers who are in the trenches every day. If nothing else, Im sure you can get some interesting calls from IT Managers about things that happen at work.
Sad to see you leave CNET. To be honest without you on BOL i am not sure i can listen to it anymore. You help keep Molly’s apple loathing to a tolerable amount. Glad to hear your moving on to the TWIT network though. I love current geek and thoroughly enjoy the hour long live version you do now. Good luck to you.
Congrats Tom.
I like the many others who have been loyal BOL fans and will miss you on this show. Hopefully the change will bring new opportunties to you on the TWIT network as well as those as CNET as they look to fill your shoes and grow the show. Exciting times ahead for you, TWIT and CNET.
Somethings that I would like to see you work on @ TWIT would be:
1. Technology changes impacting corporations. What are the challenges, lessons learned and trends.
2. Product comparisons/reviews for the normal and geek users. This could cover retail products, corporate software, cloud based services..etc. It could be a review based on a specific vertical (e.g. smartphones, cloud based productivity software..etc).
3. Daily tech news recaps.
4. Car tech reviews.
5. Gamer reviews (hardware consoles, games, cloud based gaming..etc).
6. Ad-hoc panels: from time to time host a panel of SME/respected bloggers to dicuss the tech topics of interest. Avoid having the same people over and over again. Broaden the forum to include expertise from various parts of the tech world.
In closing, congrats and I wish you well as you begin this new opportunity. Pls. remeber to have fun and make it fun for your audience.
Sounds exciting, looking forward to some new shows with you Tom!
Very excited about what you’ll bring to TWiT Tom. Had a thought about a program I’d like to see – a “debunking” type show. A combination of Myth Busters / Amazing Randi / Snopes.com style content. Debunk/affirm science and technology rumors and conspiracy theories. Maybe bring both sides together if we can. Teach and promote critical thinking. Could be fun and thought provoking.
I’m sure we’ll enjoy what ever you produce for TWiT. Good luck! john
Sorry to hear you’re leaving CNET, to me you were the adult there who kept things professional and grounded. Gotta wonder if CBS Interactive wasn’t that interactive and it was time to go before you sold your soul. Good luck, you may have given me a reason to try TWIT again, which I grew bored with early on (Leo, Leo, Leo, Leo…..).
I am sad to see you leave from BOL. The show will never be the same without you. I might have to visit this new website twit…watched something on Live, didn’t like it. But, ahwell. Hope you have fun.
What kind of shows? A daily news show is an obvious natural… TwiT Daily. How about shows on sports, music and books. TWiT doesn’t have anything like that now.
I am so looking forward to seeing you on TWiT everyday.
Congratulations Tom!
I told you Leo was our Merv Griffin (which Leo echoed with some snark.)
His internet entertainment media empire just keeps growing and getting better. Now with your addition to the TWiT network it has become even better!
Can’t wait for the new shows.
You and Leo may consider rebranding the TWiT network. TWiT makes for a great show name, but Ev and Calacanis have proven that it makes for a lousy network name that people treat like a doormat.
Congratulations Tom.
I don’t think it was the best kept secret in the world. There have been a few hints on the live stream over the last few weeks. Then Molly returns full time to BOL. Hopefully we will see Donald Bell on BOL more often now, but it won’t be the same.
It’s a very brave move from CNET but I think a good one. It will be very refreshing have another viewpoint on TWIT, TWIG & others some of the shows are in danger of becoming just Leo’s views on the subject.
Once again Congratulations. I hope it all goes well.
TWIT Out Loud!
I’ll miss you as permanent host of BOL, but you couldn’t be moving to a better place. Best of luck!
I think it is funny that the word “balance” is referred to you always. I have to agree with that. As for a show that I would like to see from you, something that shows the developers the tech and yet makes the average person understand how to use it would be good.
One of the most annoying things about Cnet is there anti Apple stance. If you keep that out of the equation that would be great.
With Best Regards,
Robert
http://www.aroadretraveled.com
[email protected]
Tom, I think that you are going to be good at whatever shows you are involved in, and I hope that Leo involves you as a business partner and not just as a host. With that said, here’s what I think the TWiT network is missing:
1) A daily tech news show with straight-up news: reporting but no analysis. This would be a great in the AM, the PM or even both.
2) This Week In Social Networking / Social Media
3) This Week In Gaming
4) This Week In The Cloud – let TWiG just be about Google
5) Merritt In The Morning
6) This Week In TWiT.
I like the perspective, depth of analysis and conversational nature of many TWiT shows, and I look forward to YOUR perspective being featured. However I think it would be really valuable to have some straight up reporting, daily as noted in #1.
For #6, I think it would be nifty to have a weekly roundup show that had highlights from a variety of other TWiT shows. For instance, it could take the software pick of the week from Windows Weekly, Gina’s tip of the week from TWiG and one gadget from DGW. Plus, it would be called TWiTWiT.
TWITWIT FTW
Good Luck Mr. Merritt! I will follow you on Twit
Tom, Tom, Tom…
BOL won’t ever be the same, but that may be a good thing… we’ll see. Regardless, I am happy for you. You have so much more to bring to us, and TWiT just may be the conduit. Can’t wait.
I used to subscribe to the TWiT ‘cast… loved Leo’s knowledge & insight, but got bored with an hour of mostly Leo talking every time. BOL had the back-and-forth chatter among the group that provided a freshness that allowed you to listen day after day, without getting worn out. Maybe you can influence TWiT a little?
Anyway, you are the best in the biz. Looking forward to following you on TWiT. I just hafta figure out how to re-subscribe…
Wow, just heard the news! You absolutely deserve to pursue your dreams, but still gotta say that it’s going to be a sad day when you leave BOL. I’ve been listening since just after Veronica started regularly contributing. I thought it was a shame when Molly went part time and was glad to have her back, but it just won’t be BOL without you. Hope to hear good things from you at TWIT…..
Congratulations Tom. I will miss you a lot on BOL but I look forward to your new contributions on the Twit network.
Please don’t do a daily tech news wrap up on Twit. I don’t have time for another daily tech show and I don’t want to have to choose between BOL and Tom. That would be such a hard decision. (unless BOL crumbles without Tom)
Twit doesn’t deserve you Tom but they sure could use you. All the Twit shows are nice but BOL is so much better especially because of your perspective and discipline. I unsubscribed from most Twit shows long ago. They all ramble on too much and are so unprofessional. I sure hope Leo and company learn a lot from you Tom and let you do things right. Don’t go in there to learn the ropes of the Twit way of doing things. Go in there to show them how it’s done.
Hey Tom,
As a daily BOL listener for a few years now, I’m devastated that you’re leaving. BOL was your baby, it’s such a great show and your input has such a unique and distict effect on the show and the other contributors to it. Your honesty and sense of journalistic balance gives the show sometihng that no other tech news show has, and I feel that will now be lost. TWiT is so commercial that they’ll have you reading out their ads before you know it, asking your co-hosts if they too have found a need in their lives for one product or another.
My request Tom is that you maintain your wonderful creditability among your followers and leave the advertising to the advertisers.
Love your work – we’ll miss you
j
Awwww… Who will make JaMoBrBrRaNaDo waffles just the way (t)he(y) likes them now?
Tom,
Need a BOL clone… Say Twit-Daily get Sarah Lane to play Molly (unless you guys can pry her away as well) and random rent a host to fill out the trio.
You Sir….
Will be missed, I know that I’m still going to see you around and I wish you the very best in all your new endevours… Maybe you can get a few guest spot with Dvorak on Cranky Geeks
Your info and insights are always appreciated.
Cheers.
G Bell
Toronto Canada
Hey man! Good luck in this new chapter of your life. I will really miss you on BOL but this is not all bad news. Now I’ll have BOL and a new TWiT show with one of my favorite podcasters.
If the Brasil/US plane ticket were not so expensive I would go to the meetup.
See you next time!
I also stopped listening to TWIT because the show rambled on for wayyy to long. I would love a BOL clone that lasts 20-30 minutes (my car ride to work)
I’m afraid BOL will not be the same. I miss the TMV days.
tom, you were one of my favourite cnet host. too bad you are leaving. good luck to you man wherever you end up!
The only thing I can request is for you to do a complete FourCast episode a week, instead of splitting one every three weeks.
Definitely my favorite podcast at the moment. I just hate the never ending tease.
Tom,
As a long time listener to BOL, it is truly sad to see you leave the show. But I am happy that you will be part of the TWIT network. Congratulations and good luck to you.
Look forward to see you on TWIT.