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Buzz Out Loud Lounge: I'm not feeling Natalie on Buzz out loud.
I wouldn't
by n74jw - 3/31/09 5:01 PM In reply to: Brian is not a regular host by mattlpThough, I am not sure that kind of tech is Brian's "schtick".
Disagree
by jeerachai Sumetha - 4/2/09 12:30 PM In reply to: Not blonde, but you have an indirect point by mattdattiloI understand your point, but I never watch the video stream or watch Loaded, and I really like Natali on the show. I like her attitude, and the way she sounds, and her assertions. She's not perfect - as we've all discussed here - but I find her a lot better than Molly, and looks have absolutely nothing to do with it.
Molly has set the standard. Natahlie... definitely not.
by gandari - 3/31/09 11:04 AM In reply to: I'm not feeling Natalie on Buzz out loud. by ludin101I used to love BOL and never missed an episode especially when Molly was a constant. Now I listen once or twice a week thanks to Tom, and guests (Cooley, Rafe, Leo). Nathalie is trying very hard and itīs not working for her. BOL is too upbeat for her soft voice and Tom needs someone intellectually challenging. Sorry guys you had a great show. Not anymore.
Kudos???
by n74jw - 3/31/09 1:12 PM In reply to: I'm not feeling Natalie on Buzz out loud. by ludin101For episode 942, Natali actually read out a piece of hate mail targeted toward her. I do have to give her credit for doing so and for getting the point of the letter wrong. I don't come across to many posts, supporting or critical, that even mention Natali's looks. The issue is with performance and attitude, both of which are wanting (IMHO).
As a listener, I really don't care for hearing how her spirit is broken each time she reads a piece of critical feedback. Playing the sexist card seems a bit desperate from where I am listening, and it stinks. Natali, get a thicker skin, develop some skill.
See ya!
I just can't listen any more...
I've got to agree
by StephenKenny - 3/31/09 3:07 PM In reply to: Kudos??? by n74jwI killed the iTunes subscription after I found myself stopping my bike, and skipping bits of BOL on my iPhone. I'd been listening for a couple of years and it was a shame. My impression of Natali is that she's just an incredibly ambitious media person who thinks that being "female tech", in the media, is a good career move - I'm sure she's right, and all power to her elbow, from that point of view.
I just find everything about her performance on BOL to be boring. She lacks the self deprecating lightness of touch, the genial humour, and that evident delight in sometimes being just dead wrong, that Tom, Molly, Jason, Ralph, & Cooley so copiously display.
After Natali has moved onwards and upwards, I'll give the new person a couple of months. I'm rather looking forward to it.
Nope...
by n74jw - 3/31/09 4:34 PM In reply to: Does this mean... by kwahhn[See above]
I'm trying to wait
by mattlp - 3/31/09 4:48 PM In reply to: Kudos??? by n74jwAt least until episode 1000 before canceling -- I know it's awhile, but I would like to hear the episode and I figure it will give enough time for Natali to grow on me. However, I'm finding that I don't finish episodes. Never used to happen. It's sad, really. I've been listening to BOL since I got my iPod 2-1/2 years ago. I will miss listening to Tom!
The criticism
by romeyinfc - 4/1/09 12:20 PM In reply to: Kudos??? by n74jwRegarding #942 and how Natali responds to critical feedback: Natali needs to understand that she's a public figure. As such, it's important to realize that when people criticize Natali, they don't criticize the person but rather their body of work.
I'm sure Natali is a great person who is very smart and talented, however her body of work doesn't gel with this show. The "you're just a pretty face" comments are below the belt, but there is truth in that a sizable population of BOL listeners resent her work on this show - be it the distance/lag, the ignorance, the name-dropping, the transitions - just to name a few.. Many have tried giving it a chance, but it's apparent the issues people have still remain, and now many fans feel compelled to stop listening or unsubscribe all together.
The problem with podcast stats is that only downloads are tracked. I still download BOL everyday, but the stats don't reveal that I often delete episodes without listening to them.
Sad...
by d00tch - 4/1/09 1:24 PM In reply to: The criticism by romeyinfcThis whole thing is getting rather heartbreaking, actually. I couldn't help think that when Tom thanked the listeners the other day, that perhaps he had some of our concerns here in mind. I can imagine he's in a tough spot, and Tom seems like the type who gets along with everybody. I'd love to hang out with him, actually. It would be a ton of fun. I think he likes Nat, and I think he's tried to defend and support her. And he's awesome for doing that.
I also feel bad for Natali. She seems funny and smart. I can tell she's ambitious. But I've hired and fired plenty of ambitious, funny and smart journalists who just didn't have the chops. Liking someone and thinking they're right for the job are two different things. I feel bad that she takes so much of this personally, and I hate that people are so mean to her. I'd love to take her to dinner and cheer her up. Maybe get her pointed in the right direction.
I hate the sex-based criticism. It totally sucks. It's unfair and wrong. But when Natali addressed the issue on 942 she neglected to address the point I've been trying to make: Hasn't she benefited from being an attractive young female? Of course she has. If CBS were looking for a brilliant and well-spoken technology expert, Tom would have done wonderfully. So I must say that it's disingenuous of Nat to get too worked up. If she can't look around the room and see that Cooley, Rafe and Tom are likely all more experienced and all (minus Cooley) as well-spoken as she is, and not recognize that her looks got her the gig as cnet's defacto public face, I don't know what to say. But you can't have it both ways. You can't willingly accept the gig without the garbage that comes with it.
Lest I be accused of sexism, let me state that I've worked with plenty of airhead male TV reporters who clearly got their jobs based on looks alone. There are two I can think of who weren't worth a damn but ended up in network news. Pathetic.
Journalists are under attack all the time. If a few demeaning and unfair letters are enough to break her spirit, how would she handle the death threats from violent criminals I received when I was on the crime beat? The calls from inmates who threatened to kill my family? Believe me, we all get our fair share of criticism, earned or not.
Natali, there's nothing wrong with you. If you became a cohost on the 404 I would love it. I'm always excited when you're on, because you bring some brains to the party. If you're going to stay on BOL, you have to take this one page from Molly's book: Being a sweetheart doesn't count in this world. You gotta earn your stripes by being likable but tough. You gotta have a hide of iron. And you have to learn to laugh at the bull crap. And by the way, when you started "Loaded" you promised it would be more than "girl, news, camera." What happened?
Great post
by Berke.h - 4/2/09 1:25 AM In reply to: Sad... by d00tchVery well uttered, d00tch...
I believe any person (not just Natali) who works in a job like this which has the constant listener/consumer feedback by means of forums or chat rooms has the great opportunity to develop him/herself. On the other hand I know people working the same way for years on end with no direction or awareness of their on their career path.
I like Natali, I haven't listened to 942 yet, but all these should be taken as productive criticism by Natali.
I'm sure many people are pleased with Natali's presence even more than the unpleased ones. But it's up to her and only she can judge the criticism. I believe what we're doing here is no more than commenting.
It's the transitions for me
by DistortedLoop - 4/1/09 7:49 PM In reply to: The criticism by romeyinfcI was a BIG fan of Natali on Textra, and tried to enjoy Loaded, but don't watch it anymore.
Loaded lost me because of all the high tech fast slides from story to story and annoying noises, so it's the transitions that killed that show for me.
Buzz Out Loud's moving down my list of must-listen-to programs as well, and I attribute much of that to Natali and how she transitions from one story to the next. You can always count on Tom for a clever segue, but with Natali it's typically a talk-over of someone else mid-sentence and a curt "let's move on." It just seems rude and pushy.
There's definitely a lack of chemistry for a number of listeners or this wouldn't be such an ongoing issue. For me, it's nothing to do with Molly leaving, it's everything to do with Natali's style. It comes across, on this particular program, as arrogant, rude, and pushy. I often find myself thinking "who died left her in charge?" She's great in other venues, but she's kind of a buzz-kill for me on Buzz Out Loud.
Exactly!
by n74jw - 4/2/09 5:00 AM In reply to: It's the transitions for me by DistortedLoopAgree 100%
Feedback
by DustoMan - 4/1/09 11:57 AM In reply to: I'm not feeling Natalie on Buzz out loud. by ludin101You know, the fact that there are 130-some posts in this thread that was created two months ago and that this thread has the most posts in it by far should send a message to CNET about how the BOL listener community feels about having Natali on as a regular. Also the fact that this topic is still coming up on-air (which is very unprofessional mind you) almost three months into the change should say something. I'm sorry, Natali, but I think it's time we broke up. Not because you are a woman, not because you are a pretty face, but because it's just not working out.
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