Doug Berman...Boss of the Year??
A note from the staff of Car Talk:
As some of you might know, our esteemed Producer Dougie Berman is also the esteemed Executive Producer of NPR's news quiz show, "Wait, Wait Don't Tell Me."
Well, we found out that Rod Abid, the Senior Producer at "Wait, Wait", had nominated Berman for some kind of Boss of the Year award. (We figured Abid is either the world's biggest suck up, or he's bucking for a raise. Or quite possibly both.)
So, we felt as though we had no option but to take the text of Rod's nomination...and present it to you with the Car Talk translation of Rod's comments. (With apologies to Mr. Abid. Sorry Rod, you left us no choice.)
The official nomination...and the Car Talk Staff Translation:
ROD ABID SAYS: I NOMINATE DOUG BERMAN, EXECUTIVE PRODUCER OF NPR'S CAR TALK AND WAIT, WAIT -- DON'T TELL ME. I AM THE SENIOR PRODUCER OF THE LATTER SHOW, AND DOUG HAS BEEN MY BOSS FOR NEARLY TWO YEARS.
CAR TALK STAFF SAYS: SEEMS LIKE 10.
ROD ABID SAYS: AS A BOSS HE'S NEARLY PERFECT --
CAR TALK STAFF SAYS: HE'S ASLEEP MOST OF THE TIME AND OUT OF MY HAIR --
ROD ABID SAYS: HE IS ABLE TO BALANCE THE NEED FOR QUALITY EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE WITH A SENSE THAT HE CARES ABOUT EACH OF US VERY MUCH --
CAR TALK STAFF SAYS: JUST THIS LAST WEEK HE ASKED ME IF I WASN'T FEELING WELL. HE SAID, " YOU MUST BE REALLY SICK TO HAVE PUT TOGETHER THAT PIECE OF CRAP!"
ROD ABID SAYS: HE DOES NOT BELIEVE IN SCREAMING AT EMPLOYEES
CAR TALK STAFF SAYS: SINCE THE SURGERY --
ROD ABID SAYS: HE DOES NOT BELIEVE IN BELITTLING EMPLOYEES --
CAR TALK STAFF SAYS: SINCE THE LAWSUIT --
ROD ABID SAYS: HE DOES BELIEVE IN LETTING EMPLOYEES DO THEIR JOBS --
CAR TALK STAFF SAYS: HE'S NOT QUITE SURE WHAT WE DO AND IS TOO EMBARRASSED TO ASK --
ROD ABID SAYS: HE HELPS CREATE A WORKPLACE IN WHICH PEOPLE FEEL GOOD ABOUT COMING TO WORK --
CAR TALK STAFF SAYS: NO MATTER HOW LATE I OVERSLEEP, MR. BERMAN ALWAYS MANAGES TO COME IN LATER THAN ME!
ROD ABID SAYS: DOUG KNOWS HOW TO PICK HIS BATTLES AND DOES NOT SPEND TIME ON THE MICRO ISSUES THAT CAN BOG DOWN A STAFF --
CAR TALK STAFF SAYS: I'LL NEVER CALL IN THE MIDDLE OF HIS NAP AGAIN --
ROD ABID SAYS: I ALWAYS KNOW WHERE DOUG STANDS ON THE ISSUES AND PROBLEMS THAT FACE THE SHOW AND WHEN HE MAKES A DECISION --
CAR TALK STAFF SAYS: WHICH HE'S BOUND TO DO ANY DAY NOW --
ROD ABID SAYS: I KNOW HE'S LISTENED TO MY POINT OF VIEW.
CAR TALK STAFF SAYS: AND COMPLETELY IGNORED IT!
