In a week with a couple of other "celebrity" deaths in the Almost Famous sense of the words (Carol Ann Susi of Big Bang Theory died just a couple days ago, for one), the one that got to me the most was that of Tom Magliozzi.
Half of Click and Clack the Tappet Brothers, Tom died last week at the age of 77. Along with his little brother Ray, Click and Clack hosted the NPR call-in show Car Talk. People calling in with their automotive problems should have, by all accounts, been incredibly boring call-in talk show programming. Instead, this was relentlessly one of the most entertaining things on radio for many years. The two brothers retired just a couple years ago, presumably because of Tom's illness.
Perhaps the kids would know Tom better as one of Lightning McQueen's sponsors in the movie Cars.
Tom was a graduate of M.I.T., and taught at his own do-it-yourself repair shop called Hacker's Haven. Most folks just know these guys as Click and Clack.
Car Talk actually has a small Woodbrook connection, as one of their callers was Mrs. Shirley Calhoun, who is a former Woodbrook staff member. I heard the episode on which she called in, and they had so much fun with her. I get the feeling if they knew her in person, Tom and Ray would have loved Mrs. Calhoun.
If you never listened to Car Talk, then I apologize for wasting your time. If you have ever listened to Car Talk, then you know this is a much-deserved (however inadequate) tribute.
Half of Click and Clack the Tappet Brothers, Tom died last week at the age of 77. Along with his little brother Ray, Click and Clack hosted the NPR call-in show Car Talk. People calling in with their automotive problems should have, by all accounts, been incredibly boring call-in talk show programming. Instead, this was relentlessly one of the most entertaining things on radio for many years. The two brothers retired just a couple years ago, presumably because of Tom's illness.
Perhaps the kids would know Tom better as one of Lightning McQueen's sponsors in the movie Cars.
Tom was a graduate of M.I.T., and taught at his own do-it-yourself repair shop called Hacker's Haven. Most folks just know these guys as Click and Clack.
Car Talk actually has a small Woodbrook connection, as one of their callers was Mrs. Shirley Calhoun, who is a former Woodbrook staff member. I heard the episode on which she called in, and they had so much fun with her. I get the feeling if they knew her in person, Tom and Ray would have loved Mrs. Calhoun.
If you never listened to Car Talk, then I apologize for wasting your time. If you have ever listened to Car Talk, then you know this is a much-deserved (however inadequate) tribute.
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