Editing The Connection (radio program) (section)

{{Short description|Public radio call-in program}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox radio show
|show_name     = The Connection
|image         =
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|format        =
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|country       = USA
|language      = English, Korean
|home_station  = [[WBUR]]
|syndicates    =
|television    =
|presenter     = [[Christopher Lydon]] (1994-2001)<br />[[Dick Gordon (broadcaster)|Dick Gordon]] (2001-2005)
|starring      =
|announcer     =
|creator       =
|writer        =
|director      =
|senior_editor =
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|narrated      =
|rec_location  =
|first_aired   = 1994
|last_aired    = 5 August 2005
|num_series    =
|num_episodes  =
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|opentheme     = "[[Cantaloop (Flip Fantasia)]]" by [[Us3]]
|othertheme    =
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|website       =
|podcast       =
}}

'''''The Connection''''' was a public radio call-in program from [[WBUR]] that ran from 1994 to 2005.  Originally hosted by [[Christopher Lydon]] (1994–2001), and (after a series of short-term fill-in hosts) followed by Canadian [[Dick Gordon (broadcaster)|Dick Gordon]] (2001–2005), it was syndicated to as many as 66 [[Public broadcasting|public radio]] stations in the [[United States]].

In March 2001, Lydon was dismissed after negotiations for renewal of his contract broke down. Lydon now hosts WBUR's ''[[Open Source (radio show)|Open Source]]''.

Dick Gordon became the show's host just after the [[September 11, 2001 attacks]]. He eventually took the program to Baghdad for 10 days in April 2003.<ref>[http://www.wbur.org/special/iraq/fieldreports/ Conflict in Iraq field reports], WBUR</ref>

''The Connection'' was abruptly canceled after the August 5, 2005 broadcast, and Gordon laid off. Gordon says that the circumstances surrounding his termination were not explained well, though it is believed that WBUR was presumably not able to continue carrying the show.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.bostonphoenix.com/boston/news_features/dont_quote_me/multi-page/documents/04872376.asp|title=Dis-Connection: Dick Gordon speaks out about his surprise firing from WBUR|first=Mark|last=Jurkowitz|work=[[The Boston Phoenix]]|date=2005-08-05|accessdate=2006-06-11}}</ref>

WBUR filled ''The Connection''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s 10 a.m. to noon timeslot with ''[[On Point]]'', a similar program previously aired in the 7-9 p.m. timeslot. Gordon now hosts ''[[The Story with Dick Gordon]]'' at [[North Carolina Public Radio]].

''The Connection''<nowiki>'s</nowiki> theme song was the jazz tune "[[Cantaloupe Island]]" by [[Herbie Hancock]], performed by [[Us3]] in their rendition titled "Cantaloop (Flip Fantasia)".