Of all the cuts that Triple M has made as it tries to remake itself, perhaps the deepest is The Spoonman. Last night was his last shift. More’s the pity. Networked across Triple M stations on the eastern seaboard, the Spoonman was a “twice” bold move by the Triple M of old in a quest to explore new realms in the minds of listeners who had matured with the brand.

“Twice” bold? The program was first born as a pioneer of “FM Talk” a decade ago only to be summarily dumped a week before the ratings showed a significant audience increase – much to the disappointment of Brian Carlton aka The Spoonman. The nickname expressed his on-air persona as a stirrer.

All was forgiven in 2005 when the show was reinstated, perhaps as a foil for the emerging vega which promised to speak to a 40+ audience. Austereo program supremo, Guy Dobson said at the time, “The Spoonman left us years ago to complete a 4 year course on the merits of Etruscan pottery in today’s artworld. The course has finished and he is now a qualified Art Historian. In his spare time he has decided to do some radio and we’re happy to say he has exercised the ‘right of return’ clause in his old contract.”

Whilst never reaching the heights of night-time talk shows on stations such as 2GB and 3AW, the Spoonman has done okay. According to Carlton, management acknowledged as much – instead citing financial realities as the reason for the show’s axing.

While Carlton himself wasn’t pulling the mega-bucks of breakfast shift stars, his show required the services of two producers. Now those producers, Garfield and Odie will be seconded to the new breakfast shift announced a few days ago featuring Sami Lukis and Phil O’Niel. Breakfast is where Triple M will concentrate its resources until it re-establishes itself – particularly in Sydney – as the FM force it once was.

Carlton, who was once PD of 2GB, was taken by surprise at the axing, and is considering his future.