Don't Like Goodbyes...

Mo Rocca has appeared on a bunch of shows, including 'The Daily Show,' 'I Love the 80s,'...

Mo Rocca Feed

Posted Feb 9th 2009 11:50AM by Mo Rocca

Well, folks, it looks like it's time to say So Long, Farewell and auf Wiedersehen. (Readers of this blog know I prefer Harold Arlen over Rodgers and Hammerstein, hence the title of this post.)

For two years I've blogged for the good people at AOL and it has been nothing short of glorious: Who else would give me a forum to write about everything from presidential politics to American Idol ... to my personal travails with Ped Egg and my Polish cleaning lady? This has been a tremendous experience.

Through it all my producer Will Hines has been an extraordinary collaborator and friend. We've been able to dress up a young man as Cindy McCain, consult Tim Gunn on polygamist fashions, and ask random New Yorkers about their Spank Bank holdings. And we made major news when we uncovered the Michelle Obama "Whitey" tape.

Here are a few of our favorites...

In our critically-acclaimed "Pimp My Candidate" series, Will and I analyzed the weaknesses of various 2008 candidates -- and sought remedies for those handicaps. There was Fred Thompson and his tendency to seem dead (which brought us to an herbalist) and Barack Obama's mole (which led us to ask "Keep, Remove or Hide?"). Then there was Rudy's lisp:

In our award-winning "This or That?" series, we forced innocent passersby to choose between Christian Science or Scientology ... Fried Dumplings or Steamed Dumplings ... and Beau Bridges or Randy Quaid. Then we asked them to make the hardest choice of all:

Experts were always on hand, like when we examined the world's worst sibling rivalry:

But more often the expert was you, as when we explored the protocol of hooking up at a baby shower:

Before Will took over the 180 ship, producer Dave Larzalere brought his warped wit with, among others, this classic survey:

And at the start of this venture, my pal Gideon Evans produced this gem:

Thanks to master editors Dave Kovenetsky and Doug Morrione, our longtime PA/trumpeter Andrew Oom, studio cameraman Tim Meyers, party promoter Mike Whitmore, DJ Rafael Jiminez and boss man Mike Rubens. Thanks also to Andrew Zipern, James Luria, Coates Bateman and Stephen Pendlebury at AOL.

AND HUGE THANKS AND LOVE TO EVERYONE WHO VISITED!

The irrepressible and shape-shifting John Giza (180's Alec Guinness) ... the buoyant and no doubt beautiful Gifted Girl ... future university president Blayze O'Brien ... the Spain-loving Miguel Cane ... the way-more-clever-than-me Finn ... lovably gruff Mac ... Mac's sassy spitfire co-star Sherry ... the alluring SGS ... Pittsburgh's tigress-eyed Jacqueline ... Florence Nightingale (with the funny) Andrea ... sweet as pie Ah Clem ... whip smart Clif Kuplen (is that your real name?) ... Mo-NEEK-a with the mostest ... Brassy babe Gabrielle ... kind-hearted conflay ... awol Marsha Beckerman ... and yes you, JillJG. (Have I left anyone out? Sorry!)

Until we e-meet again (and we will) ...

Permalink
Email this
Linking Blogs
Comments [100]
Share this
- Add this post to...
- Netscape
- Digg
- Del.icio.us

Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 7)

| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Most Recent | Next 15 Comments

1. Wait a sec...wha? I might have missed something in your post, but why are you leaving? Why?? Why is it over? This is sad. Please let us know if you start up again on another site. We'll miss you! :(

Thanks for the laughs, Mo! :D

madking at 7:44PM on Feb 8th 2009

2. Are you blogging somewhere else? Please keep us posted!
I want to be there.

Pete at 8:29PM on Feb 8th 2009

3. What commenters 1 and 2 said: where are you going and how can we follow you? Your garden-coaching admirer in Takoma Park. Susan

Susan Harris at 8:49PM on Feb 8th 2009

4. It's been fun, Mo. I'm looking forward to your next project!

mo-NEEK-a at 9:23PM on Feb 8th 2009

5. Oh MO! I don't comment for a few months and this is what happens?

This blog has truly given me hours upon hours of enjoyment the past year and a half. From the debates to helping create your birthday video, to making great new friends. (I'm actually going to Andrews show here in Pittsburgh next weekend!) I will truly miss it.

Mo, you are one of a kind and I still brag to this day over meeting you last March. You are a joy! My internet time won't be the same.

Jacqueline at 9:31PM on Feb 8th 2009

6. Dearest Mo!

Where are you going to go to? What are you going to do?

Even though I've been silent, that doesn't mean I haven't been around. I want to thank you for all the fun. And of course, my admiration remains.

Please keep in touch!

Spain loves you, Mo!

Miguel Cane at 10:01PM on Feb 8th 2009

7. A travesty!!!! I demand a recount! Give me the address of the malcontents who decided this and I will show up at the party with a jumbo can of whip ass! Mo, you are the most intelligent, smarmy, genteel, accessable personality in the world. Thank you for letting us play. The people here have proven that human nature is basically good and funny as hell. We better find you elsewhere in the ether, or I will systematically search every apartment over a drugstore in NYC, armed with a box of ding dongs and my autographed Little Mermaid program, until I hit jackpot. Thanks Mo, get on with your bad self! And Will Hines, I look forward to your future brilliance! Love, Gabrielle

Gabrielle at 10:09PM on Feb 8th 2009

8. NOOOOOOO

drivewaystyle at 10:19PM on Feb 8th 2009

9. I'm making my pouty face right now.

Your blog has brought me immeasurable joy, Mo, often providing a needed laugh in the heat of a stressful day at the office. Best of luck in your new endeavors, one of which better include an online presence.

Jeremy at 11:11PM on Feb 8th 2009

10. Darling Mo!

I can honestly say you brought so much joy into my life with your wit effortlessly deployed on your 180 blog.
This blog will be dearly missed.
We will continue to track your projects and wish nothing but the best.
Naturally, Wholesome Boy will continue to deliver birthday cakes to your abode, where ever that may be...(he never divulges your address, the prude!)
much love, Kate and W.B. ♥

Will Hines and crew, thank you so much for all the behind the scenes hard work! ♥

ah, Clem at 10:36PM on Feb 8th 2009

11. Say it ain't Mo.

Although I didn't stumble upon this blog by any usual means, and surely not at its inception either. (Valentine’s Day 2007, almost three years!) Instead it was through a once in a lifetime encounter with Mo himself on a Broadway stage in a comedic musical production of a children's spelling bee. Such is the whimsy of fate.

Yet I feel more honored to know that I've managed to be apart of a small blogging community that has enjoyed the wit, charm, and comedic talent that is Mo Rocca almost daily. There will never be a greater man to accost people on the street for the glory of asking bizarre and bewildering questions. Or to perform tantalizing sambas in his own apartment.

As for we band of bloggers, we've produced some hilarious Youtube videos (including both a viral Rick Astley and Hank Kimball campaign) along with even an adorable birthday treat for Mo. Not to mention the Kimball t-shirts, courtesy of Mr. John Giza himself. You’ve all outdone yourselves, and though I would spend hours gushing over each and every one of you (be happy I specifically mentioned you Giza!), I feel I could not deliver my best thoughts in any written manner. Also, I’m kind of lazy.

You all know who you are, and I thank you.

My hat is off to Will Hines, Andrew Oom, and all the crew that has made this blog such an entertaining and overall, personal experience for me. I really hate saying goodbye to something as amazing as the 180. May you all know that the silver haired devil that is Anderson Cooper could not hold half his salt to everyone here. True class acts, every last one of you!

For now, I hope our paths cross again Mr. Rocca. Perhaps not in Tompkins Square Park (of where I have hoped many a time to spot you and the crew) but in another venue, in some other place and time. How about coffee or Jamba Juice (I've become strangely enamored by it's deliciousness lately) sometime soon? Shoot me an email at NGame64@gmail.com and that means everyone else too. I hope to keep in contact.

So, from my future ivory tower atop the Princetons and Harvards of the world, this is your friend, Blayze "Shaggy" O'Brien from the Bee. I love you guys.

Blayze at 11:51PM on Feb 8th 2009

12. Some of your stuff has been funny and some of it just plain stupid. So, I may miss you and then again, maybe not. Best wishes with your next project.

V at 3:55AM on Feb 9th 2009

13.
My dearest Mo,

Thanks for all the fun--even the blog fights!
I met some great people on the blog-joining Gabrielle's on-line poetry classes-Facebooking with some members-(still will!)-helping Blayze discover a new cure for mitochondrial myopathy-posting bail for JG and Finn when they went on the all night victimless crime spree-selling couch insurance with Mo-NEEK-a--donating a kidney to Kate (I know she doesn't need one NOW but you never know)-Helping JQ train seeing eye porposies on and on and on-so many fun people ( I even bought Miguel's book but I don't read Spanish)

My one regret is that I never got to marry Will Hines.

bye Mo,
We will always have Duluth... (Paris is too expensive)

Andrea- Blogging commentator to the stars! at 4:10AM on Feb 9th 2009

14. Aw Mo,

For once in my life I am truly speechless.
That said, Mo, now you have become a fugitive from 180.
Alright ladies and gentlemen, listen up!
We have a fugitive that’s been on the run for 90 minutes—
Average foot speed, over uneven ground (barring injury)
Is four miles an hour.
That will give you a radius of six miles.
What I want out of each and every one of you
Is a hard-target search of every:
• Radio station
• Television station
• Blog
• Warehouse
• Whorehouse
• Farmhouse
• And anything I might have left out-house
In this area.
Check points will go up in 15 miles.
Your fugitive’s name is Maurice Rocca:
Go Get’em.

I love you Mo, Team Rocca, and the Roccats abroad!

John Giza

John Giza at 12:32PM on Feb 9th 2009

15. Well, this is a fine mess. 8^)

Take care, Mo. I am sure we will be seeing you on this or that broadcast. Behave yourself.

And don't forget to kneemail.

JillJG at 1:14PM on Feb 9th 2009

| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Most Recent | Next 15 Comments

Mo's Video

The Sound of a Smoke-Free Barack...
Almost two years ago we speculated on how Barack Obama's voice would change if he stopped smoking. ...

Coming Soon

Most Commented On

Coming Soon

Mo's Bio

Mo Rocca appears on a bunch of shows, including CBS News Sunday Morning (with the indescribably wonderful Charles Osgood), The Tonight Show on NBC, and NPR's Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! He's a sometime judge on Iron Chef and was featured on Telemundo's Amore Descarado. Last year he starred on Broadway in the 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. His expose "All the President's Pets" was published by Crown in 2004.