Probably not the right word. But while I enjoy some comment on the reality of the production and the people speaking, it seems to be getting out of hand. I don't always need to know who says what to whom all the time, what dreary color the conference room is painted this week, etc.

But I enjoy the Gabfest! And thanks to David Plotz for making an effort to speak in a more radiophonic manner.

I disagree: these tidbits of real life are what makes the Gabfest different from every other show or podcast about the news. That, and the fact that the participants occasionally change their minds or consider someone else's point of view, is what makes the Gabfest the anti-Crossfire. Please, continue the amateurish housekeeping -- if not, we'll think you've sold out!

I disagree with the original poster. Part of the charm of the Gabfest is that they don't do the slicked over polished approach. I particularly enjoyed the introduction on the most recent show when John Dickerson vexes over being more to the point with a potential opening of "Gabfest: First Topic" only to have the David and Emily do a lovely job dissecting his approach.

I like that John Dickerson comes off as the politico, with Emily bringing a legal perspective and a touch of warmth, and David being very much the unruly wildcard complaining about his chair or the microphone or whatever. Their personal asides or comments on their surroundings makes me connect with them more.

I too disagree with the original poster. The gabfest is not supposed to be a polished news show, but an informal conversation between the editors/journalists, with us as a silent party to the conversation. I tend to listen to it on the way to work on Fridays and I like the casual nature of the conversation. I do know what you mean about the casual nature though and can see how it may rub people the wrong way, but I prefer it. I would worry that any attempt to "professionalize" the production would stifle the creative flow of the conversation as it now exists.

Enough blabbing from me....

Skip

You are all right, and if you reread my post, I do like some extraneous chat. But in the last couple of 'fests, it was a bit too much to my taste. And what happened to the cocktail chatter in the last one?

We did cocktail chatter in the last one...

Listened again. You did indeed. And I got the pleasure of listening to the podcast in the quiet of my home rather than on a bus. A very different experience!

How about doing a Gabfest at a cocktail party?

A gabfest at a cocktail party? Hmmmm. Wouldn't that ruin the party aspect of the cocktail party? A friend of mine described the gabfest as a dinner party where you can't get a word in. This was a compliment. Or it was offered as one anyway. That would seem frustrating to me, frankly.

I'm shocked and amused at the different ways and places people listen to the gabfest. I probably shouldn't be though since I listen to podcasts while running, taking the subway or working out. I often associate the information from them with whatever activity I was participating in at the time.

"Gabfest: the soundtrack to your life."

'Tis true... when I listen again to a podcast, I remember clearly where I was and what I was doing when I heard it first. Why do I relisten to podcasts? Because I am very disorganized and keep moving them from one computer to another.