The Tip-Top Club by Garrison Keilor

Garrison Keillor captures the charm of the Mid-Western small town, in his Novels Lake Woebegone days, The Book on Guys, and WLT A Radio Romance. He has also evolved into the rare sort of cultural critic that has worked in syndicated radio since 1966. He pokes fun at the self-important, politically correct muddle he sees National Public Radio has become while he maintained one of radios defining elements.

The short story The Tip Top Club, explores the changing of radio from a free talking format that cares about its audience as individuals and not just as demographics for ratings. Bud Swenson begins his show The Tip-Top Club every night, with "Welcome to your show." He encourages his audience to contribute ideas with an exception that they are not pessimistic, do not talk about religion, or have criticism of other callers. Bud never asks the caller about their occupation instead, he asks about their hobbies, which lasts a good ten minutes. He is a neutral listener letting the listeners talk about whatever they want, and skim over the grim stories when he reads the news at the end of the show. As one listener describes it "We share ideas an experience, we inspire each other with beautiful thoughts and I only wish I could meet personally."

One night, Wayne Bargy is Bud's replacement. Wayne Bargy talks about his life and his interest in Psychology, and tells the audience that he wants to help them with their problems. The listener's reject him and demand for Bud's return. Wayne deflates the demand by trying to explain to the audience that change is good; life is about change, but Bud's loyal listeners will not listen. The audiences having had enough of Wayne's new psychology form an alliance against Wayne and succeed in kicking him off the air.

The radio station manager later learns the listeners who listened to Wayne were all over 40, the least desirable demographic for the advertiser. The radio station changes its format in July again to a more modified middle of the road pop rock format in which the radio host never talks except to give the weather, time and commercials.