Don't Like Goodbyes...

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

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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) ...

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Reader Comments ( Page 3 of 7)

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

31. Mo,
THANK YOU!!
It has been an honor to have met you...
I truly enjoyed my time here at your site.
De todo corazon, GRACIAS!

Cuidate,
Socorro

Socorro at 10:40AM on Feb 11th 2009

32. I find it sadly amusing, yet depressingly telling that the steelers cheerleaders got twice the comments of this...people, really, make an effort to exercise your brain. even without mo around to remind you what smart looks like. (and no antiabortion remarks please.)

Gabrielle at 11:17PM on Feb 10th 2009

33. well spoken Brassy Babe.

p.s. I had a dream about Marie Osmond last night, making a "Dancing with the Stars" comeback...wasn't THAT a fun one?

ah, Clem at 11:35PM on Feb 10th 2009

34. What Steelers Cheerleader? The Steelers got Cheerleaders?!. I'm always the last to know.

Gabrielle, don't be goin' negative on us.

LIFE is good.

JillJG at 12:32AM on Feb 11th 2009

35. But why oh why Mo?!! It's all so sudden-this is worse than when my bf said he was breaking up with me! I can't believe it (sob)

Susie at 2:53AM on Feb 11th 2009

36. Oh come on, you can still do this and fill in roles on the occasional Law & Order episode at the same time. What gives?

I know I'm a seldom commentor, but I'm an always viewer. Geesh! I hope you turn up again somewhere else viewable soon.

Sydney at 4:21PM on Feb 13th 2009

37. Aw Mo --

Whatcha gotta up n leave for? One more nail in the coffin of AOL.

Come to think of it, I haven't heard you much on "Wait, Wait" lately either. Of course I haven't heard all that much of "Wait, Wait" at all lately, but still. Are you slowly disappearing from the known universe? And soon, all that's left will be a grin without a (Roc)cat?

jay

dr jay at 1:20PM on Feb 11th 2009

38.
Mo....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8b3mftcV0dY

We'll miss you here man.

mac at 1:59PM on Feb 11th 2009

39. Jay "Wait wait" hasn't been all that good of late. Mo please make an appearance, that Charlie Pierce is so annoying!

The French tightrope walker was good though!

Susie at 3:44PM on Feb 11th 2009

FINN at 4:02PM on Feb 11th 2009

41. I totally agree:

YOU WOULD THINK ALL THOSE PEOPLE WHO CAN ONLY
SPEAK IN CAPTIAL LETTERS WOULD SHOW UP TO GET THEIR
TWO SHIfTs IN!

You'd think that contumacious Bill and all the other nasty commenters who wondered "What does this guy do?" would show up to pee in the pool.

You'd think that singing mop could squeeze out a few memorable tunes (not that they could compare with FINN's).

You'd think Hedda Lettuce would beg Mo to Romaine?

You'd think Lucky Adrian could blow some magic smoke and make this all a bad airport dream?

You'd think we'd find out who won the that "Three Friends on a Couch Contest?"

You'd think Florence Henderson would just show up, kind of like Willie Nelson does, just because?

Crafty (the Long Lost Lobster) at 4:32PM on Feb 11th 2009

42. Hey Mo, you don't have to say, "Goodbye." Why don't you just move to Las Vegas and do a radio show. Vegas is the #1 Vacation Spot in America. Everybody comes to Vegas sometime in their life. Why not create a place where you can be a manument in all of our lives? You could do something for big leg stewardesses, nylons, grandparents and Mama Mia. If you're ever in Vegas look me up? Together we could produce a Monster of a show. You'd be a Godzilla! Seriously, thank you for letting me participate a little and laugh a lot. Nothing follows unless you come to Vegas.

Cecil Jones at 6:10PM on Feb 11th 2009

43. AND ANOTHER ONE BITES THE DUST. MO - ANYONE -WHERE/WHY DID DD GO? I USED TO RESPOND REGULARLY TO HIS RELIGIOUS RANTINGS. LakeArcher@AOL.Com

Daniel Mullane at 12:55AM on Feb 12th 2009

44.
Oh, My.. Mr. Rocca;
You have been a fine blogger, a stellar & astute reader, & a person we have relied upon for up-to-the minute(ish) commentary spurs.

That said, however will I stay in touch w/ my Mac???

You were the yenta, & now... (sigh)....

Fine. Mac & all other bloggers, (except you, JillG - I still don't like you):

SLGeer@snet.net
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=logo

Set up the Facebook just today.

You will be loved & missed, Mr. Rocca.

Sherry

S.L. at 7:36PM on Feb 12th 2009

45. Aw Folks,

Just out of curiousity:

How many have made it to the Second Stage of Grief; and this following Lincoln's Birthday nonetheless?

John Giza at 3:49PM on Feb 13th 2009

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

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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.