So, is it Still Called the WoW Insider Show or What?

After travel last week and yesterday's holiday to honor the memory and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr., we're back in full effect. Or (as usual it seems), at least I am!

A couple of surprising things struck me as I listened to new episodes of the WoW.com show.

First, I actually miss Mike Schramm. There, I typed it. While we sometimes had fun at Mike's expense, you know, sometimes kidded him about certain oft-repeated verbal habits, his ability to keep the show focused and moving forward I think far exceeds that of new host Michael Sacco.

The new show may still be in the process of feeling itself out, but it's frighteningly polite and painful to listen to as they do this on-air. As soon as two people start to speak at once everyone stops speaking, and then each person tells the other person to go ahead and speak. Then no one speaks for a few seconds before suddenly they both start speaking at the same time again. Then they laugh and each one again tells the other one to go ahead... you get the idea.

A surefire bright spot on the new WoW.com show is the emergence of Matthew Rossi. While Rossi was featured from time to time on the Schramm/Turpster version, he's been given a lot longer leash by Sacco and it has been great. He's been awfully funny thus far, even in the episode where he had a massive headache.

Schramm must have committed the ultimate sin - criticizing Blizzard or AOL or somesuch - for him to have been dumped so quickly. Obviously it wasn't planned because on the first Sacco/Rossi show Sacco said everything was thrown together at the last second because of the circumstances. No matter what you might feel about them personally I think I can speak for everyone when I say that Schramm and Turpster at least deserved time to put together a proper final show due to their dedicated service.

What I don't understand is WoW.com wanting to seek more "outside opinions" to add to their podcast. When I go to WoW.com I want the opinion of WoW.com. It is a brand that I can trust for at least the Blizzard side of every World of Warcraft issue. And if perchance they stray from the company line, I want to wake up the next morning to read a retraction or some other prompt apology that insults my intelligence.

If I want the opinion of other places, I'll go elsewhere. What happened on the blog this week? What were people talking about? That's what I want to hear, especially because (like many folks I know) I do not always read each post on the blog every week.

If they want to have guests like "nerdcore" rapper Fatty on the show I believe they should do it in a brief section dedicated to guests. Having random people of unknown WoW ability chiming in all show and having to crowbar-in the reason why the person is even there runs exactly contrary to the reason I listen to that particular podcast in the first place.

In all, nice to hear more Matthew Rossi. And would prefer a more Schramm-like Sacco.