Tom Merritt Fired from TWiT

[MacNut]

So iYaz has left TWiT for a job at CNET.
http://iyaz.wordpress.com/2013/12/23/the-faq-on-my-move-to-cnet/

 

[S.B.G]

So iYaz has left TWiT for a job at CNET.
http://iyaz.wordpress.com/2013/12/23/the-faq-on-my-move-to-cnet/

That's interesting. I wonder if it's the beginning of an exodus.

 

[Ddyracer]

That's interesting. I wonder if it's the beginning of an exodus.

It already started with Eric Lanigan. I think Lamarr Wilson will leave too, especially after being called a ******. Twit is still good for some shows like AAA but Leo ruins it.

Back in 2009 he threw expletives at Techcrunch founder Michael Arrington.

 

[S.B.G]

Back in 2009 he threw expletives at Techcrunch founder Michael Arrington.

I remember that! It was "interesting."

 

[0xd020]

Things change, so?

Things change. I don't see the drama. Although I think that Tom Merrit is the most talented and intelligent of the TWiT staff, I found myself wondering every time I listened to TNT: will this go on like this for ever? How boring is that? TNT was way better with Tom IN the studio. Due to his professionalism, he managed to keep up a certain kind of quality, but that was clearly temporary. I'm glad that Leo decided to change things. These kind of decisions keep your business healthy.

I read so much negative stuff about how Leo (or actually Lisa) manages TWiT and I know that most of that is nonsense, having visited the studio myself to attend the Sunday TWiT show. It was fun! I met Leo and Lisa and some other TWiT staff. Just walked around the studio for a bit. That is what I call a good atmosphere. I even met JC Dvorak (ITM) there. Too bad I live in Amsterdam. Otherwise I would seriously consider applying for a job.

 

[mbinaustin]

Well said

Tom didn't want to leave.
If you've read his tweets, blog or watched him today on TNT he was genuinely surprised and unhappy.

If he had better prospects he would have split, just like his wife did.
When he moved to LA his show with Veronica Belmont, "Sword and Laser" had just done a deal to move to YouTube as part of Felicia Day's "Geek and Sundry" channel.
That deal didn't work out though. "Sword and Laser" was dropped from "Geek and Sundry" last March.
Even though it's been picked up by Boing Boing that have to have been a big disappointment to Tom.

He had a great deal with TWiT. Easy money.
Being able to do his shows remotely from his place in LA...you couldn't ask for a better setup. Especially considering he didn't have to commute everyday from Oakland anymore.

The problem wasn't Skype.
The problem was that without Tom in the studio there was no chemistry, no energy and his absence has sucked the life out of the show.

Sarah has been (literally) phoning it in for awhile.
She complains about the commute, arrives at the last minute, reads her copy, does her segments, rolls her eyes at Leo's rude comments and is gone.
(I'm guessing that the absence of MG Siegler on any TWiT show has something to do with it but I don't want to digress into gossip.)

Sara and Tom had good chemistry and with him no longer there
she looked less than excited to be there.
That's understandable.
I'm sure when she joined TWiT she did so because Tom was going to
be her co-host of TNT. She knew he was like her ie; stable, funny but not flip, focused, and smart.
They made a great team, especially before Iyaz arrived.
With Tom no longer there I'm sure Sara started thinking about what her next move is.

IMHO Tom was the best reason to watch TWiT.
He gave it a foundation, that unlike Leo, never shifted with the tech trend du jour.
He's the EGO to Leo's ID.
The Yin to the Yang.
When he subbed for Leo the shows were much more focused, detailed and interesting.
It's a shame he's leaving.

Mike Elgen is smart and, like Trey Ratcliffe, has done a great job of marketing himself on social media.
That seems to be his claim to fame these days...because that's all you ever hear Leo talk about when Mike is on TWiT.
He's also very dry, and IMHO does not have the charisma necessary to host a show like TNT.
Plus he's a boomer.
Part of TWiT's early appeal was that it carried the GenX nerd energy that TechTV had.
It was fun, irreverent, didn't take tech too seriously.
Leo was like the cool baby boomer uncle/professor who who'd buy you beer and take a hit off the bong at your party.
Mike has none of that.

BTW -As a daily watcher of TWiT since the beginning I'm completely baffled by Leo's man crush on Brian Brushwood. I can't stand the guy. He never says anything new, repeating the same platitudes over and over, shilling his projects, and generally being annoying.
His one redeeming quality is bringing in great talent to TWiT like Chad Johnson and Justin Robert Young. Both are fantastic, creative, intelligent...all the things Brushwood struggles with.

In the past year the quality of TWIT has sunk to low lows. I've always considered TNT the voice in the wilderness......

Bye Tom, I wish you the best in years to come. I think in the future you might see this parting as an opportunity to leave the sinking ship - good journey to you!

 

[dumastudetto]

In the past year the quality of TWIT has sunk to low lows. I've always considered TNT the voice in the wilderness......

Bye Tom, I wish you the best in years to come. I think in the future you might see this parting as an opportunity to leave the sinking ship - good journey to you!

I agree the quality across the network has sunk dramatically. I've unsubscribed from most TWiT podcasts in the last year. Those subscriptions I kept have dozens upon dozens of unplayed episodes building up - including MacBreak Weekly. It's as much of a chore to listen as it appears to be for the hosts to put together great shows.

Leo probably feels he needs to move in a new direction though to try and freshen things up. But I can't imagine replacing Tom with Mike Elgin is going to do anything to turn the tide. He comes across as somewhat cold as on-air talent, and it's difficult to see that working well as a show host. I think Leo can only hope it's the behind-the-scenes stuff Elgin does that helps reinvigorate his network.

All good things come to an end, and I'm pretty sure TWiT's best days are in the past.

 

[Statcoder]

It's natural to get attached to the personalities that you watch five days per week for years on end. If most people had their way, Buzz Out Loud would still be going on at CNET. However, I don't think any network can sustain itself on that kind of dedicated core audience alone even though that audience is going to be the most vocal.

I don't think TWIT is going downhill in any way. I'm sure they will come up with interesting new shows and personalities. I really doubt there will be any bad blood about the changes. Despite the family atmosphere that TWIT portrays, media is a brutal business. They all have been hired and fired multiple times. I don't think anyone, there, has any delusions that they will all be there until they get gray hairs.

 

[0xd020]

I agree the quality across the network has sunk dramatically. I've unsubscribed from most TWiT podcasts in the last year. Those subscriptions I kept have dozens upon dozens of unplayed episodes building up - including MacBreak Weekly. It's as much of a chore to listen as it appears to be for the hosts to put together great shows.

Leo probably feels he needs to move in a new direction though to try and freshen things up. But I can't imagine replacing Tom with Mike Elgin is going to do anything to turn the tide. He comes across as somewhat cold as on-air talent, and it's difficult to see that working well as a show host. I think Leo can only hope it's the behind-the-scenes stuff Elgin does that helps reinvigorate his network.

All good things come to an end, and I'm pretty sure TWiT's best days are in the past.

I'm afraid that Mike Elgan is just too... serious? The fun factor is what made me a TWiT fan, back in 2006. Tom Merrit fit n there. I hope they can keep up that spirit with Elgan.

 

[MacNut]

Some intersting tidbits came out today.
http://www.20questionstuesday.com/blog/2014/1/1/20-questions-tuesday-273-tom-merritt-v20

Question 2 Was there any indication that your contract was not going to be renewed or were you effectively blindsided by this?

Answer 2: It was unexpected right then. I really thought we were about to reach an agreement but they decided to terminate the contract which took me by surprise. Still, I knew it was always a possibility. I had heard Lisa offered my job to someone else in May and of course Leo had made it clear all along that he didn't like my having to move to LA and preferred to have his hosts in studio. So it wasn't a shock that they let me go, and I understood why. It was just surprising at the time how abruptly it happened.

 

[saukriver]

Mike Elgan is WayToo Serious

OMG, Mike Elgan is seriously boring. Even when he is trying to joke, it looks forced. It is as if he is trying to transform his personality. Far from TNT. More like TNZzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

He makes Sarah Lane look very upbeat. Don't miss her trying to explain Rap Genius to Mr Elgan on Jan 2 TNZzzzzzzzzz. Prediction: she underscores how dull he is so she will be thrown overboard.

Tom Merritt's placeholder show:

 

[Tech198]

This even made it to a Mac forum ?

ok... whatever..

Just as long as the TNT shows don't change their same "jokes" and what not, i'll be happy.

I dunno, but after seeing Mike on TWIT, and MBW for the New years stuff, he kinda looks too serious, like a true news anchor, with no up-beat at all.

It may be good, it may be bad...... i can only see. But, at least the stories are interesting... even if he's not.

 

[MacNut]

So this happened today.

 

[S.B.G]

So this happened today.
YouTube: video

I'm not at all surprised. But I wasn't able to hear what she wasn't allowed to say or choose. Did you catch what it was?

 

[MacNut]

I'm not at all surprised. But I wasn't able to hear what she wasn't allowed to say or choose. Did you catch what it was?

She was making suggestions about the new set.

 

[S.B.G]

She was making suggestions about the new set.

Geez. I wonder how long before she decides to leave. His attitude like that plus his constant innuendos during shows has to be wearing on her.

 

[MacNut]

Geez. I wonder how long before she decides to leave. His attitude like that plus his constant innuendos during shows has to be wearing on her.

On the drop cams she had a long meeting with Leo, and they seemed to have made up. Then there was a big meeting with Leo Lisa and Elgan.

 

[sheepylake]

I'm glad they made up, but that was just brutal to see. Sarah was the best I've ever seen her today, she really brought her "A" game. She gave today's show its only energy and liveliness - against Mike's monotone dullness. She basically carried the show, and then to see Leo snap "You don't get to say" when she had barely started a sentence... It was just too cruel. I don't think I'll ever be able to see Leo in a positive light again.

One can't allow oneself to be treated that way, or else it will happen again. She'd be entirely justified to bail right then and there.

BTW, that new "set" is horrifically horrible. Leo would be wise to take any input that was on offer.

 

[japasneezemonk]

After seeing that clip with Leo and Sarah, I couldn't help but feel bad. If I was her I think I might have walked out.

 

[0xd020]

Wow, I hope Sarah will stay at TWiT. Although it took some time to get to 'know' her, I seriously like what she's doing for TWiT. She also receives bonuspoints from me for being a cat person.

 

[dfiler]

I just watched the January 2nd episode of TNT... And it was painful. Either Elgen needs to develop a personality and a smooth delivery or the show is ruined. His delivery is slow and stuttery. At no point does it not seem like your grandpa is attempting to read a teleprompter.

This made me realize just how good Tom Merrit was. His delivery was professionally smooth with just a bit of humor. It always seemed like he knew what he was talking about while also managing to break up the potential monotony of reading the news to us.

My fingers are crossed but I think the show is done. It wasn't the just the topic or format that made me watch TNT. It was also Tom's delivery and chemistry with the other hosts. It's like attempting to replace the lead singer in a good band. It doesn't matter who the replacement is. Put simply the replacement is pretty much never as good. You can audition all the new lead singers in the world but chances are that the original chemistry will never be matched.

 

[Gazmac2010]

Does anyone know what the conversation was that Leo refers to in the short video that he was unhappy with being aired?

Losing Tom was a big mistake that Lisa and Leo have made. I'll be surprised if Tom's requests would have been that high. Mike might be a great journalist and guest on shows but after viewing yesterdays TNT I'm not so sure about being a great anchor. He doesn't seem to have the on screen presence of many of the other TWiT presenters.

Hopefully Sarah will stick around. I like iPad Today but wouldn't be surprised to see her go, especially after the way Leo spoke to her and losing Iyaz and Tom.

Time will tell with what happens with TWiT.

 

[deaglecat]

Well, I have to say that I won't particularly miss Tom Merritt. I find Tech News Today to be a bit wooden and scripted. Maybe it is the format and maybe it is the presenters but I think Leo is right to shake it up.

I have listened to a lot of Leo's podcasts over the years and am grateful for the "free" high quality entertainment. I hope they don't go for a news network, too many others (engadget, verge etc) do that stuff already. The quality of the discussion is what makes the TWIT network valuable and engaging.

 

[MacNut]

Well, I have to say that I won't particularly miss Tom Merritt. I find Tech News Today to be a bit wooden and scripted. Maybe it is the format and maybe it is the presenters but I think Leo is right to shake it up.

I have listened to a lot of Leo's podcasts over the years and am grateful for the "free" high quality entertainment. I hope they don't go for a news network, too many others (engadget, verge etc) do that stuff already. The quality of the discussion is what makes the TWIT network valuable and engaging.

If you thought it was bad with Tom you would hate it with Elgan.

 

[dfiler]

Well, I have to say that I won't particularly miss Tom Merritt. I find Tech News Today to be a bit wooden and scripted. Maybe it is the format and maybe it is the presenters but I think Leo is right to shake it up.

I have listened to a lot of Leo's podcasts over the years and am grateful for the "free" high quality entertainment. I hope they don't go for a news network, too many others (engadget, verge etc) do that stuff already. The quality of the discussion is what makes the TWIT network valuable and engaging.

By mainstream media standards I can see how you would feel that way. But are there any better daily tech newscasts that rattle off story after story? I personally haven't seen any thing better. Ever. Though I would love to find something better. If you've got something you prefer, drop me a bone. I honestly would like to sample some more high quality tech news programs.

But yeah, like MacNut said, if you thought it was wooden with Merritt, wait until you get a load of Elgen.

Maybe he just needs time to get comfortable. That's what I'm hoping. But the first episode wasn't reassuring. His deliver was slow, emotionless and full of strange momentary pauses. His cadence was just weird. On top of that, his "ummms" were getting to me. It was reminiscent of watching a nervous student trying to read a paper aloud in front of the class.