By Sharon Oliver
Contributing Writer
CAMBRIDGE – It is hard to make the subject of car troubles and adventures fun, but somehow Tom and Ray Magliozzi (better known as “Click and Clack, the Tappet Brothers”) did just that. The lovable East Cambridge siblings hosted the “Car Talk” radio show on National Public Radio (NPR) from 1977 until 2012.
Since the show opened with a short comedy segment it was only befitting (and in keeping with humor) to display gold-leaf lettering from their office window which read: Dewey, Cheetham & Howe, which is a pun on the phrase “Do we cheat ‘em? And how!” This particular gag name was featured in a “Three Stooges” episode, and they chose it as the name for their business corporation.
Photo/Richard Howard courtesy of cartalk.com
MIT graduates and master mechanics
In 1992, the MIT graduates (who would have water gun fights during broadcasts) leased space on the third floor of 5 John F. Kennedy Street in Cambridge. Ray Magliozzi explained, “My brother and [producer Doug Berman] thought we needed a pricey office in Harvard Square to show that we were a real, serious entity. We knew we weren’t, but we wanted to at least make people think we were.”
That same year, “Car Talk” won a Peabody Award, which said, “Each week, master mechanics Tom and Ray Magliozzi provide useful information about preserving and protecting our cars. But the real core of this program is what it tells us about human mechanics … The insight and laughter provided by Messrs. Magliozzi, in conjunction with their producer Doug Berman, provide a weekly mental tune-up for a vast and ever-growing public radio audience.”
Aside from some comic relief, the brothers talked about other topics and often joked about the poor quality of their advice, ending the show with: “Well, it’s happened again – you’ve wasted another perfectly good hour listening to Car Talk.”
During their “Where Are They Now, Tommy?” episodes, the hosts and a previous caller would discuss whether they had spoken since their previous appearance or if there were any influences such as bribes offered. The repair story would be followed by fanfare and applause if the brothers had given a correct diagnosis or the sound of wah-wah music if the diagnosis had been incorrect.
Fans can listen to The Best of Car Talk Podcast to hear some of America’s funniest auto mechanics’ old episodes like “How to Make Your Car a Little Less Lousy” or “The Doctors Will See You Now.” Besides poking fun at one another or talking about life’s problems, their “Puzzler” contests were also very popular with audiences. Winners received a $26 gift certificate to the “Car Talk” store, sometimes referred to as the “Shameless Commerce Division.”
Accidental debut
What started out as somewhat of an experiment in 1977 when WBUR-FM invited a panel of local car mechanics on one of its programs to discuss car repairs evolved into a national success. Only Tom Magliozzi showed up. He did so well that he was asked to return but this time he brought along his younger brother Ray who was more of a car repair expert.
In a 2021 interview with WBUR news anchor Sharon Brody, Ray Magliozzi reflected, “You know, whoever thought that the show would have lasted as long as it did? With two buffoons making fun of one another, laughing at each other’s jokes, or worse, laughing at their own jokes?”
With 3.3 million listeners on 660 stations every week, the most popular national program on NPR ended in 2012. Tom Magliozzi passed away in 2014 due to complications of Alzheimer’s disease.
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