KRCU to offer three new shows

After conducting a listener survey, KRCU, Cape Girardeau's National Public Radio station, discovered that its original program "The Elliot Potter Show" was the least listened to show on the station.

"The Elliot Potter Show" was a locally produced, weekly music program that featured songs from multiple different genres.

"The results of the survey gave us clear direction that a lot more people favored compelling storytelling and news and information type programs versus 'The Elliot Potter Show,'" KRCU Operations Director Jason Brown said. "As much as we liked the show and thought we did a good job with it, and like the people who did like it we thought this would be a better direction and a better way to serve our audience."

Instead, KRCU is offering three new shows in the six-hour block that "The Elliot Potter Show" used to be broadcast.

One of the new shows KRCU will offer is called "Snap Judgement," which Brown described as "the hot show in public radio right now."

"It's really getting picked up like crazy on stations across the country," Brown said. "The downloads on iTunes are really significant. They're getting to 'This American Life' levels, to "Radiolab" levels. It's doing really well."

"Snap Judgement" is hosted by Glen Washington, who was discovered by National Public Radio through a talent search.

"If people are familiar with 'This American Life' that's a good reference point to kind of get what 'Snap Judgement' might be like," Brown said.

KRCU is also adding a show called "Fresh Air Weekend."

"Fresh Air is a long-standing daytime public radio program that's hosted by Terry Gross," Brown said. "She has the reputation for being one of the finest interviewers in media period."

Brown said that "Fresh Air Weekend" was one of the most asked for shows by listeners that the station received.

The third show that will be added by KRCU is "America's Test Kitchen."

"This is kind of a radio magazine for foodies," Brown said. "Food is really trending right now. It's really hot. It's the sort of thing that a lot of people are interested in. There's a lot of different things you can do with food. This show talks about trends in food, but there's also an advice element because people can call in with questions and those are taken on the air and answered. There's gadget reviews and also topics including science and things like that."

Brown said there is something for everyone in this show.

"There's some really compelling things about it," Brown said. "This is something that I found with myself because I'm not the kitchen guy in my household, unfortunately, but I did find a lot of things to like about this program."

"Snap Judgement" airs at 1 p.m. on Saturdays and at 6 p.m. on Sundays. "Fresh Air Weekend" airs at 2 p.m. on Sundays and is followed by "America's Test Kitchen" at 2:30 p.m. KRCU's frequencies are 90.9 and 88.9 FM.

KRCU announcer Tabitha Brown said she feels like it's the end of an era for her with the cancellation of "The Elliot Potter Show."

"I am a little sad to see it go," Brown said. "I think it also gives us new opportunities to tell new stories to people. Its not the end of the book, it's just the end of the chapter and the start of a new one."