End of Line (Leo Laporte leaving TechTV/"The end is nigh")

The Laporte Report ^ | 4.2.04 | Leo Laporte

[mhking]

After nearly ten years, four owners, well over 2000 live TV shows, lots of laughs, a few tears, and meeting many many wonderful people, my time at TechTV has come to an end.

I could tell so many stories about the talented, committed, hard working, and hard partying people I've worked with there. Each and every one of them will always have a special place in my life . It was with great sadness that I walked out the studio door for the last time last night.

The reasons for my leaving are complicated. As I posted here a few weeks ago, management and I had come to a very satisfactory agreement about a new work schedule and salary, but at the last minute TechTV's outgoing owner, Vulcan Ventures, insisted that I sign away all claims to shares they had given me some years ago. I was unwilling to do so, and they held my job as hostage.

My leaving has nothing to do whatever with G4 or Comcast. In fact, I'm very sorry that I won't be around to participate in the transition. I've already contacted G4 to let them know I'd be glad to continue working at the new channel once they take over and I hope that I'll get that chance.

Fortunately I still have a great job at KFI, a sweet book contract with Que, this thriving web site, and many requests for speeches and other appearances. My family will not starve, and I will be keeping very busy no matter what happens.

Call for Help will continue on the air without me. George Crowe, Dan Mitchell, Fawn Luu, Roger Chang, Cat Schwartz, and Ian the new guy, whose last name I still can't spell, are still there working their tails off to do the best show on TechTV for the least amount of money. Nicole Guilfoyle and Rich Miglozzi are still slaving away to make the web site the best resource ever. Steve Porter, Rob D'Arcy, Bill Coen, Josh Villegas, Raevon Armand, Deb Croback, Jon Martin, Greg Tremelling, Brett, Fatty Matty, David Chung, Jim Smith and the best studio crew in the world are still there keeping things running light without overbyte. Please keep watching.

For the second time in as many weeks I find myself saying goodbye. My spirits were buoyed with the hundreds of wonderful messages I got last week. It's so gratifying to know that the work we've done has made such a big difference in so many people's lives. With apologies to Lou Gehrig, I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the Earth. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

I won't be on TV for a little while. But I do hope we'll see each other again on the small screen some day. Until then, thanks for an incredible 10 years. I'll miss you.

[mhking]

Just damn.

[mhking]

Just damn.

If you want on the list, FReepmail me. This IS a high-volume PING list...

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[Hank Rearden]

On my cable system, they replaced Turner Classic Movies (which is great) with TechTV (which is boring). Our whole town is pissed off about it.

Sorry, Leo.

[lainie]

Fortunately I still have a great job at KFI

Didn't he just start that, like, a month ago?

[rocky88]

My husband is going to be absolutely crushed. He comes home and turns on "The Screen Savers" before he even says "hello!"

Hmmmm. Maybe this is a good thing for me, then? ;-P

[Ingtar]

Termination date - April 1?

[HitmanLV]

As much as I dislike Ted Turner, TCM is the best cable movie channel by a wide margin. If only AMC would go back to no commercials, then I'd be in heaven!

[Monty22]

Wow, that really sucks. I knew something was up when he left Screensavers. Bummer. He basically floated the channel.

[MediaMole]

That's too bad. He could be a bit annoying and over the top at times, but he brought some life to their shows.

I thought something was up when his segments on The Screen Savers were so lame this week. He did five segments and didn't even bother changing shirts to give the illusion that they were done on different days.

[dts32041]

I remember when techtv was cnet tv, with soledad obrian, don't suppose leo will turn out like her.

[L.N. Smithee]

TechTV without Leo Laporte? Good God. It's still worth watching without him, but Leo is a living techmedia legend.

[L.N. Smithee]

Get a load of Leo's forum. It's heart-wrenching.

[Veracious Poet]

WTH is TechTV?

[lorrainer]

I thought something might be up--but I'm still trying to figure out what happened to Chris Pirillo....

[txzman]

Chris Pirillo?

He died a quick and well wished death. Yuck.

Leo will be very missed - he taught a heck alot of people in this country that computers are not something that need to be feared.

[Tarantulas]

Leo always seemed like the kind of guy you would like to sit down and have a beer with, just a regular nice guy who happened to have a little TV show. The Screen Savers never did look like it took itself too seriously. It was just the kind of show you wished you could work on.

Leo, thanks for your years of service and good luck in the future.

[sixmil]

Didn't he just start that, like, a month ago?

I think I heard him say that it just became a permanent spot in the last month. Leo is a stud, he'll do just fine. It's TechTV/G4's loss.

[lorrainer]

Yeah, but what happened to Chris? He's still doing his email newsletters.

And Hubby wants to know what happened to Michaela Pereira and Sumi Das....hmmmmm....

[Born Conservative]

Get a load of Leo's forum. It's heart-wrenching.

One of those posts: I'll bet Leo is running off with Morgan....