I still remember sitting glued to the TV, fascinated, as Wolfgang Back and Wolfgang Rudolph presented the latest technical innovations, clever ideas, and DIY builds on WDR’s Computer Club. Always up to date and truly an IT institution. The show, moderated by the two Wolfgangs since 1983, was discontinued in 2003 without a real replacement. None of the follow-up programs ever matched what Computer Club had been.
Then came the relief. Thanks to a lucky discovery online, I stumbled across CC² (Computer Club Zwei) as a podcast back in 2006, when it was still in its early days. The two Wolfgangs had teamed up again and were producing what they called an “audiocast” (deliberately avoiding the word podcast). With their usual wit and charm, they delivered a half-hour audio show that was professionally produced and filled with interesting topics. Later, Heinz Schmitz joined the duo, adding enormous expertise and a strong feel for emerging technologies. Daily CeBIT specials and even TV editions followed.
As you can imagine, the three are still active today. So why am I writing “Goodbye CC²”? After six years, I’ve decided to stop listening to the podcast. The reason: the format simply isn’t what it used to be. The topics are still interesting, but rarely explored in depth. The long, repetitive introductions—where they greet listeners in endless variations (“man, woman, boy, girl, dog…”)—drag on for minutes and honestly just get annoying. I don’t need to be told how, when, or where I’m supposed to consume the podcast.
What bothers me even more are the stereotypes that keep cropping up: the constant digs at Apple, conspiracy-tinged commentary, absolute rejection of all cloud services, and Wolfgang Rudolph’s stubborn refusal to use English terms.
Most of all, though, I find myself struggling with Wolfgang Back these days. Nearing 70, he’s becoming difficult to listen to. Sometimes he plays the role of the clueless one, sometimes he takes topics overly seriously—and the result is a mix of misunderstandings and digressions that give the impression of a slightly confused older gentleman. To be clear: this isn’t meant as a personal attack—I like him as a person. But as a listener, it’s increasingly exhausting. Especially for someone like me, working in the IT industry and constantly exposed to new technologies, the CC² perspective feels more and more outdated.
The real highlight of the show has increasingly become Heinz Schmitz—nicknamed “Wolfgang h.c.”. Time and again, he shines with an open-minded outlook, deep technical knowledge, and solidly researched topics—something the two Wolfgangs often lack.
That said, I still want to recommend CC² to anyone curious. Listen in and judge for yourself. The passion and dedication behind it deserve respect. And I want to sincerely thank both Wolfgangs and Heinz for so many hours of listening pleasure. I wish all three of you continued success. May there be another 360 episodes of CC² to come!
