My Review: 2
Diane Rehm is the radio-program host of the “The Diane Rehm Show.” She hosts her program on WAMU through the American University in Washington D.C. The show is nationally syndicated on National Public Radio (NPR.)
I love NPR. But Diane Rehm is driving me frigging crazy. Everyone just gushes on and on about how wonderful she is: she’s articulate, educated, well-spoken, interesting, insightful, etc., etc. and blah blah blah.
The truth is she is maddeningly annoying because she talks…so…god…damned…slowly. It’s making me crazy. I frequently listen to NPR on Sirius Satellite radio, and they play her show constantly. 3 times a day I find her on the air.
Now, I know that she has a speech disorder. She has Spasmodic Dysphonia, a disease of the larynx which causes involuntary spasms of the muscles in the throat and larynx. This cannot be treated with speech therapy or vocal training. The most effective way to treat it is with Botox injections directly to the throat. And that sucks. The disorder caused her to take a break from broadcasting. My assumption is that she speaks so slowly as means of coping with her disorder.
That’s all well and good; I applaud her efforts and sympathize with her plight. I am very sorry for her and for other S.D. sufferers. I know full well that I sound like an insensitive prick. A real asshole. But the fact remains that she is driving me crazy. I can’t stand the sound of her slow, warbling chaotic voice. IT DRIVES ME NUTS.
So I give her stupid voice on her stupid program a stupid rating of 2. I don’t care how articulate or intelligent or sensitive she is. She is a radio personality, and that line of work depends on a solid, commanding mellifluous voice. Diane Rehm does not qualify.
It drives me mad, too.
She’s in her 70s and hosting a fast-paced debate show. It drives me mad. Regardless of her intelligence, it’s high time she retire.
I know, it’s crazy, neh? I feel kind of like a jerk for saying it, but it is maddening. I have to immediately switch the station when she’s on. Unless there’s a guest host.
Thanks for your comment.
Thank you for your comments! I was thinking the very same thing when I happened to flip over to NPR today and heard Diane for the first time. Her disorder limits her to the point that it is detrimental to the show. You can’t focus on what’s being discussed because it’s so halting, and distracting. Very on-point. Ms. Rehm should definitely retire before she completely loses her voice, and can’t talk to her family.
Hi Jason,
It’s crazy, neh? I just can’t abide that show.
Thanks so much for your comment.
-David
I completely agree! I didn’t even know about the disorder but she sounds like she’s 103 years old and the slowness of it is enough to drive me insane. I am sorry Diane, I’m sure you are intelligent and articulate and talented BUT everytime I hear your voice I want to grab you by the throat, shake you, and scream “SPIT IT OUT ALREADY!” I have to change the channel and listen to crappy music instead of NPR because it makes me want to pull my hair out to listen.
I have been thinking the same thing as her show also drives me nuts! There are so many times they have really interesting people on but her voice is so..very..slow.. (plus the warbling) that I have to switch stations to avoid going nuts. I really hope that she gets replaced by someone who can actually talk
Wow. It is so very sad that there is so much hatred posted in here. It is amazing that such ignorant people even know what NPR is.
Hi Sue,
Thank you for visiting and for leaving a comment. I’m sorry you felt that there was hatred and ignorance present on my blog. That’s never my intent. This is a review blog where I review whatever I feel like. I felt like reviewing Ms. Rehm’s voice and, and it scored poorly.
I have no problem with you not agreeing with my opinion, and you certainly have the choice to never visit my site again. But I believe I’m entitled to express my opinion; you can see that I’ve even published your opinion as well. I just think your assertion of ignorance and hatred is ill-informed. I imagine Diane Rehm is a perfectly lovely woman, a woman of sensitivity, culture and vibrant intelligence. But her voice is terrible for radio.
My opinion stands, your dislike notwithstanding.
The only thing more annoying than Diane Rehm’s slow delivery is Daivd’s “neh?” What the heck is that?
Totally agree. D.R. must have a lot of power at NPR to stay in that job for so long. IMHO any unique talents she may bring to the party are not nearly enough to overcome her off-putting voice.
Is there a petition we can sign to get her off the air?
@Jake I started using that after re-reading Ender’s Game. It’s a silly affectation, but I was having fun with it. If you don’t like it, feel free to read elsewhere.
@Mark Thanks for the comment, couldn’t agree more. Don’t know why they keep her - she must have monster street-cred that’s not visible to me.
Her voice can be annoying sometimes and I love mocking it in front of others, but people, including me, listen to het show because, overall, it’s good. I never understood people who hate some form of entertainment, but insist on tuning in inspite of their disdain for it. You’re not a prick for disliking her voice, but you’re an idiot if you keep listening to her show and torture yourself as a result. It’s easy, dude… just turn the dial and Diane and her stupid radio show will never bother you again.
@josef I agree that the show itself has a lot of merit. They have lots of interesting guests and a good discussion format. I ALWAYS do switch the channel however, because I can’t stand listening to her. I just wish it wasn’t constantly on the air (that’s how it feel anyway, whenever I’m on Sirius 134.)
I appreciate that I’m not a prick, thanks for that. Hopefully I’m also avoiding idiocy since I don’t listen to her show.
I came across this blog after googling the words “Diane Rehm” and “annoying”. I knew there had to be someone else out there who found her voice incredibly grating! I learned of her speech disorder on the NPR people section just before finding this page. I agree with the statements above, a person can be both intelligent and thoughtful while at the same time be completely not cut out for radio. She should write books or articles instead as she is well-spoken, albeit v-e-r-y s-l-o-w-l-y well-spoken.
@Joe Thanks for your comment. Totally. She is brilliant, articulate, and well organized in her thinking. I think she’d be a fabulous author and essayist.
David,
I agree that Diane speaks very slowly. However, for some of us (those who have hearing problems) this is a real plus!! The conversations can be followed & they are extremely informative. Most news shows have such fast & lively discussions, it is sometimes difficult to follow. Diane does an excellent job of keeping everyone on track & summarizing what she has understood to be said - which you have to admit, some of the politicians manage to cloud!
Understand your personal concerns. Just wanted to share my own thoughts.
To the person who said, “D.R. must have a lot of power at NPR to stay in that job for so long. IMHO any unique talents she may bring to the party are not nearly enough to overcome her off-putting voice.” :
I don’t think it’s a matter of her ‘power’ at NPR so much as that people at NPR respect her many abilities and that she has a huge fan base who feel the ‘talents she brings to the party’ are more important than her ‘off-putting’ voice. I’m not put off by her voice and think that she sounds like my elderly and wise aunt with a slightly-Southern accent, a model of a very polite and refined lady. I think she spoke fairly slowly throughout her radio career, even before her medical problems, but she probably needs to speak even more slowly now. Note that Diane’s voice gets better when she’s just had a Botox treatment and gets progressively worse until it’s time for her next shot a few months later.
I went to hear her speak went she came to my city (and paid for the privilege) and it was a standing-room-only crowd at the auditorium. In spite of her old-sounding and slow voice, there is something really special about listening to Diane and she is my favorite radio personality. Terry Gross has a really gorgeous voice for example, and she asks good questions, but I don’t enjoy listening to her nearly as much for some reason. Diane’s questions and comments are very thoughtful and are worth the wait. Diane doesn’t often speak in long paragraphs (and never did), she mostly asks brief questions and lets her guests talk, but is a gentle but very skillful moderator when people go off topic or interrupt each other. In spite of her slow speech, her mind is very quick and she will immediately and politely correct someone who misstates a fact or gets a name wrong.
I like the topics she chooses and the format of her show better than any other on radio or TV. Can you tell me what individual radio or TV show or individual journalist offers us more quality information on U.S. political affairs than Diane and her show (especially given it is 10 hours/week with no commercials)? I can’t think of any and that’s greatly due to Diane and the way she’s designed her show, the topics she chooses, and the guests she invites. Why hasn’t anyone else been able to match her accomplishment in this area? If she’s ‘not cut out for radio’, then why do millions of fans still love her radio show in spite of her vocal faults, neh?
Besides, I like some variety in voices on the radio. Most of the women in radio or TV news have the identical, nondistinctive, accent free, somewhat nasal broadcaster voice (except we do get the British version of it on the BBC Newshour). Male radio personalities are slightly more varied vocally, and I like hearing different dialects such as the Car Talk guys or Tavis Smiley. While I like Diane’s replacement host Steve Roberts, he is somewhat bland and lacking in personality compared to Diane - he just lacks her undefinable ’star power’. The ‘Diane Rehm’ show is the way it is and so named because of her personality and skill in developing and conducting the show. Sometime in the not distant future she will retire and I will greatly miss her, but I hope her staff is able to carry it on in the the same format and quality after she is gone.
@Jacqui
That’s a really great point, thanks for bringing that up. I can totally see where that would be a big advantage for the hearing impaired. Truthfully it doesn’t change my opinion, but I’m glad that it could bring a benefit to someone. Thanks for sharing that thought.
If she’s so f*&%ing annoying then find another program to listen to. It’s a pretty simple concept, quite executable with limited emotional investment. Let me know if you need a flow chart for clarity.
Oh ya, forgot to mention, sh*tty blog by the way, keep up the good work.
@uh hu
Thanks for your comments you limited, benighted troglodyte. I couldn’t agree more, not listening to her program is precisely the solution. I don’t listen to her show. However, I have a well developed and intense opinion about her show, and I am using this opportunity to transmit that opinion to anyone who cares to read about it. Including yourself dipshit. So let me put this another way. Try taking your own advice. If you don’t like this blog, don’t mother-f#