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Speaker 1

00:00

-♪ ♪ -♪ ♪ This week, there was sad news for a true American icon.

Speaker 2

00:08

Radio Shack, the 94-year-old consumer electronics chain, has filed for bankruptcy protection. Half of its 4,000 stores will be turned into sprint locations, and the others will be shut down.

Speaker 1

00:19

You know it's a rough day when 2,000 new sprint locations is the happy part of a sentence. And look, sure, sure, Radio Shack has not been in great shape in recent years, but it's easy to forget. It once ran ads like this.

Speaker 1

00:34

♪

Speaker 3

00:34

So much more than just a store ♪ ♪ The best in America, Radio Shack ♪ ♪ Nobody compares to Radio Shack

Speaker 1

00:44

♪ That is a catchy song, my friends. If they had left that on air, they'd be the most powerful company on Earth today. Look, the death of Radio Shack in itself is not surprising.

Speaker 1

00:57

What is surprising is the glib, jokey tone with which its demise has been discussed over the past year.

Speaker 4

01:03

If you have the name Radio in your corporate name, that's probably not a good sign in 2014.

Speaker 3

01:08

Is Radio Shack doomed to remain a punchline?

Speaker 4

01:10

I actually like Radio Shack. I go there a few times a year, and I kind of like it. I guess I'm an old-school guy.

Speaker 3

01:16

Tyler, you must have a very full junk drawer, is all I can say.

Speaker 1

01:19

Ha-ha-ha! Hey, hey! -$25,000. This is a dying 94-year-old business.

Speaker 1

01:25

At this point, it's

Speaker 3

01:26

like you're sitting across from

Speaker 1

01:27

your grandfather at Thanksgiving dinner, saying, you know, I don't really see the point of Grandpa Fred in 2015. Frankly, I'm sort of surprised he still exists. Radio Shack would be well within its rights to be a little hurt at this level of disrespect, which is why we've prepared a farewell message for them that they should feel free to use.

Speaker 4

01:47

For nearly a century, we at Radio Shack have proudly served America.

Speaker 3

01:52

Radio Shack?

Speaker 4

01:53

Providing you with the highest quality home electronics at the best prices. And now, sadly, it's time for us to say goodbye. And so we would like to offer this special farewell message to America go f*** yourselves that's right take a 30 pack of batteries and shove them directly up your ass who sold your parents that remote-control car you got for Christmas in 1993 that you love so damn much.

Speaker 4

02:19

Radio Shack, motherfuckers, that's who. And remember in 1989 when you needed a cable to plug your Nintendo into the TV? Who was there for you? That's right, Radio Shack again, assholes.

Speaker 4

02:31

And now look at you, laughing at our slow, painful death. Well, laugh while you still can, shitheads, because 1 day, you too will be obsolete. 1 day, you too will be left behind in the wake of time's ceaseless onslaught. And When that day comes, know that we'll be standing over your goddamn grave laughing our asses off.

Speaker 4

02:50

So America, from all of us here at Radio Shack, goodbye and go to hell, you filthy animals. Radio Shack! You

Speaker 3

03:09

You