 Contents - Front Page - Past Mailbags - Rant - Classifieds - BW2009 - Support DCRTV Edited by Dave Hughes. Send posts to dcrtv@dcrtv.com.  Put "MAILBAG" on the subject line. DCRTV can't take responsibility for message content, although we attempt to edit for taste and fairness. Each posting is solely the opinion of the person who wrote it. DCRTV cannot verify the factual accuracy or authorship of posts. If you see a message that's in poor taste or unfair to someone, contact us and it will be removed. Messages that don't deal with local media issues may not get posted. We can't forward messages to posters..... Support DCRTV and the world famous Mailbag! Just a few bucks a month is all we ask! Click here. Thanks: Mark, Bill, Eric, Rick, Tommy, Carla, Kelly, MB, Michael, Joe.....    DCRTV'S RADIO/TV/MEDIA NEWS/GOSSIP IS NOW AVAILABLE THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE NORTHEAST USA /\ \/  Latest messages listed first.....  \/ February 8 Messages \/ Kudos to the previous poster. Lavar, even if you have to sell all your mementos in your lovely home reminding you of your greatness, why don't you do the right thing and pay your former employees? You know, the ones you stiffed right before Christmas. You make such a big deal about respect and being admired in the community. Why don't you man up, act like you have a pair and pay them instead if hiding behind attorneys? (2/8/10) I'm watching "Access Hollywood" -- something I never do; I'm sick -- and just listened to a 5- or 6-minute announcement about the NBC/Comcast merger. Went on forever. Insane. Yet more informative than the 20-or-so minutes of "Access Hollywood" that preceded it. Christian (2/8/10) Happy Birthday! Hope you had a great day! (2/8/10) Dave's response: A wonderful day! Thanks..... In the Sun article referenced in the mailbag and on your front page, “Democrats say Ehrlich broke FCC rules in spot last year”, someone please help me understand. Doesn’t the attorney general of the state investigate payola violations. And, please someone help me here, is what the former Governor is being accused of really “payola’? Is Ehrlich an employee of WBFF? Perhaps it would have been best to have disclosed the fact his employer represented the company in question, but is it really any kind of legal violation? Why (can’t) doesn’t the Sun do a better job reporting? (2/8/10) RE: "Almost missed it! Happy birthday DCRTV Dave! Thanks for the site..BC" - Happy B-Day Dave! Thanks for all you do. We appreciate it very much. My son turns 3 tomorrow so from now on I'll remember the date! Enjoy! BTW - How old now? (2/8/10) Dave's response: Younger than Rusty Gibson..... Jim Farley + Snow = Viagra grade erection ... oh, and happy birthday old man...will you be getting your 'candle' blown out this evening? ;-) (2/8/10) Why the heck is NBC4 taking over 5 minutes of regular broadcasting to read us some sort of statement regarding the NBC-Comcast merger??!!!.. (2/8/10) Almost missed it! Happy birthday DCRTV Dave! Thanks for the site..BC (2/8/10) I too noticed the NBC4 set looking somewhat different, but couldn't figure out what was going on.. (2/8/10) The Baltimore Sun and Maryland Democrats go after WBFF FOX 45 and former Gov. Bob Ehrlich for "payola charges" as Democrats (the monopoly rule/dictatorship party in Maryland) files FCC complaints against both. Of course since this is The People's Republic of Maryland, The SUN WILL ALLOW NO COMMENTS. Peoples Republic of Maryland.com Says a spokesperson for the Tribune owned Baltimore Sun, "This is Maryland, you have the right to REMAIN SILENT." Just for informational purposes only (i.e.: not important to The Sun), it should be noted that Maryland DEMOCRATS passed the "Slots Bill" in Maryland, NOT Republicans or former Gov. Bob Ehrlich, but The Sun will of course pretend otherwise. Meanwhile Democrats like Senate president Mike Miller have taken in MILLIONS in campaign donations related to slots. When The Sun was asked for comment, the response was "Resistance is futile, there will be NO COMMENTS on SUN STORIES EVER!" What's even more hysterically funny is that at the end of every BALTIMORE SUN story is this error... What are they referring to, the truth possibly? (2/8/10) Did Ed Schultz, host of MSNBC’s “The ED Show”, and syndicated radio talk show host of “The Ed Schultz Show” stiff his TV production team? You be the judge. A production team headed by Michael Queen of NBC, attorney Susan O’Connell and a DGA director won approval by the late Tim Russert (Senior VP NBC News, host of Meet the Press) to approach radio host Ed Schultz to develop a concept to expand his talent to TV. After taking a tour of the NBC studios in DC, later an excited Ed Schultz agreed to a partnership deal with Queen to launch his TV show (see below e-mail). Many months of planning, meetings with NBC and MSNBC brass, taping TV appearances, interviewing prospective guests, editing résumé reels, writing letters, shooting a TV pilot (paid for by producer’s home equity loan), arranging meeting with Ed and TV executives, signing rental agreement for the DC home of Ed and Wendy Shultz, providing free car for Big Eddy to drive for 3 months, hauling boxes of clothes Ed and Wendy Schultz sent to Queen to take to their new DC address, picking Ed and Wendy Schultz up at National Airport, taking them to speaking engagements, restaurants, etc. Finally, a solid offer from a former NBC exec to host on a local DC station for syndication and the accepted offer from MSNBC for Schultz to host 6 p.m. eastern at NY’s 30 Rock. Wow! Celebration time? Yes! Now, instead of broadcasting his radio show from Fargo, North Dakota, Shultz moves into to NBC’s 30 Rock headquarters, doing his radio show and his nationwide TV show on MSNBC in Manhattan! Way to go Michael Queen and Susan O’Connell, you did it!! Wow! Celebration time! Yes? Well, no, not quite. You see, Schultz after meeting with Queen on June 1, 2009 at NBC in Washington agreed to take care of his financial commitments to Queen and the rest of the production team. Only that was then, and this is now. Now, he refuses to speak to Queen or anyone else who helped him get his show. Now, he has what he wants, so “forget you!” Ed Shultz has not responded to any phone calls or e-mails, and his attorney has notified Queen that Mr. Schultz is not to be contacted under any circumstances. Two producers, after laboring for more than 18 months, have not been paid and are in debt for their work for Ed Schultz, and one of the producers is even a union member — NABET-CWA Local 31. The DGA Director of the pilot has not been paid a dime. On the air, Ed Schultz proclaims his allegiance to union workers everywhere! But to those who labored to make his dream job a reality, he is nowhere. (2/8/10) happy birthday to Mr. DCRTV! always enjoy your tweets :) (2/8/10) Happy Birthday Dave! Hope you had a great day...inside...nice and warm! (2/8/10) Dave Happy B'day. Caught the Lavar response to Portis...few thoughts. 1. Chad's clock/time management skills on par with Lavar's restaurant management skills. Way to start late. 2. Lavar really thinks highly of Lavar doesn't he? Not since Don G have we seen someone name drop and go swimming in "Lake Me" that much. 3. Good luck milking this "feud" until draft day and training camp; like a previous poster said, Lavar is gonna have a hard time going forward. 4. Chad, get a lumbar support belt...you're gonna need it carrying Lavar for the next 6 months (2/8/10) So Dave, I didn't want to wait until the end of this rant of Lavar's which seems to be going all over the place, not quite hitting the point of Clinton Portis' Accusation...but he speaks alot of being respected in the "community". Someone might want to take a poll outside his "Sidelines" Restaurant where he didn't pay employee's after it closed when this guy made ALOT of money in during his underwhelming stint in the NFL. So why not do the right thing and pay those folks, when you can afford it. You wont be able to hang your hat on putting Troy out of the game too long because he is in the HOF. You will never see that distinction. Lavar the ratings won't last as you already see, and Chad will be joining Mike O. and your boy Oscar on the couch doing internet radio real soon. I found it ironic you stated today that someone has the tag of being a douche. Isn't that the pot calling the kettle black? Enjoy your time young fellow, I hope you signed a good contract this go round since you didn't have one before. (2/8/10) Happy Birthday, Dave! And just for you... More SNOW! (2/8/10) Dave's response: Ahhhhhhh..... NBC4 is upgrading their downstairs studio and so they will be at their upstairs, smaller studio for a few weeks that is being used starting today. They just made the announcement on their 5PM news. (2/8/10) Dave, How about Oldies 63? Figure Grandy & Andy's average age.....without them, plus a bunch of oldies from the 50's, 60's & 70's ala old XM...Throw in old jingles, commercials and oldies news stories upon request!!! Whats old is new again?....What do ya think? Waldorf Dave (2/8/10) Dave's response: Cool..... Good Afternoon, Just wondering if you knew if NBC4 is getting a new set. I am watching the current broadcast and it looks like they are in a makeshift set? Thanks, Corey (2/8/10) Happy Birthday my friend! I hope you are having a great day…. (2/8/10) Dave's response: Again, thanks to all the wonderful folks who sent birthday wishes to me today. I love you all..... Have a fantastic birthday, Dave! Thanks for all your good work! (2/8/10) Hi Dave...happy birthday! Enjoy the snow, if you're not sick of it already. (2/8/10) What's up with MASN? No Scott Garceau Show today? It's 3:37 P.M. and they're still running ESPNNews! Happy Birthday to you, Dave; hope it's been a good one thus far. Tom in Denton, MD. (2/8/10) DAVE'S NOT HERE ...oh...er sorry...HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAVE. Donnie in Cessle (2/8/10) Might WRC be starting construction on an HD set? Their 4pm newscast is using a different news set today... (2/8/10) happy birthday Dave! Have an awesome day. (2/8/10) Happy Birthday Dave. Thanks for your website. (2/8/10) happy birthday dave...thanks for all you do.. (2/8/10) The Chicks LOVE Dave...mmmmwwwwaaaaa.....cheers! Happy Day. (2/8/10) Happy Birthday Hugs :) (2/8/10) Hey Dave, Happy Birthday good man, Keep warm in safe out there in NOVA. Thanks for keeping us appraised as to the format of the moment nature of the DC and surrounding area radio market. Dean in Semi-Snowbound SOMD. (2/8/10) (Seriously Dave...Could you be any more classless? For a guy who repeatedly called for an end of the whole war with Bicknell, your rather blatant shot at me in a response to a post of his really shows your "bush league" colors and true motives.) The lack of class has been demonstrated and is continually demonstrated by you and PLB. The fact that you can't take a little poke clearly made in fun demonstrates the extent of your self absortion, complete lack of humor, vindictiveness, and general boorishness. Once again, just go away; no one wants to hear from you. (Shawn in DC) (2/8/10) Happy birthday DCRTV Dave -- On this date in 1922, I hear that President Warren G. Harding installed the first radio in the White House. All the best! (2/8/10) Hey Dave, happy birthday! Hope you have a good day :) (2/8/10) Hey Dave, Happy Birthday (2/8/10) The following was forwarded to DCRTV..... I got my power back yesterday after 38 hours. My house temperature was down to 41 degrees and we still don't have any phone service. If it wasn't for WTOP on our battery powered radio, I think I would have lost my mind. We kept the radio on even through out the night just so we did not feel alone. The tips you provided and the interviews with the power company kept us going. We followed the stories people were telling and what they were experiencing. I can not thank you enough for what you have given us in our darkest hours. We were cold, scared and hungry and your station gave us hope. You guys are amazing! Thank you. (2/8/10) Happy Birthday David. (2/8/10) Happy Birthday Dave. Thanks for providing us with such a great site. (2/8/10) Happy Birthday to my favorite news and gossip monger :) (2/8/10) Have a great birthday, my fellow PressBox-er! (2/8/10) HAPPY BIRTHDAY MR. DCRTV! (2/8/10) Looking for those who worked at WPUV in Pulaski, VA during the mid to late 70’s. (2/8/10) Greetings & salutations on this exceptionally grand (and snowy) observance of the anniversary of your most glorious and blessed arrival upon sweet Mother Earth... Also, Happy Birthday.. (2/8/10) Happy birthday, Dave!!! (2/8/10) Dave's response: Again, thanks to all for your birthday wishes today..... Even though you were full of crap on your man -boy Rant, Happy Birthday anyway. (2/8/10) Happy Birthday Super Dave! But on to Serious News. The Football Season is over. What's Lavar going to do now? If anyone notices he never really gives alot of attention to topics which arent football. I think he was more distracted which detracted from the show and he was more interested in being seen while on Radio Row. I use to think Wise had a chance with T.P. on the other channel, but he is truly corny and un-listen-able. Old man radio is good when T.P. does it but Wise can't pull it off and Im 27. To the Junkies body guard on here. You make it worse on them defending them. If they can tell their lives on air, they can get bashed off of it. Put their sack down. What will happen when some of these shows fail? Hire more WTEM AM 980 guys so the ratings can come further down? I dont envy that PD at all. (2/8/10) Happy Birthday! Been a big fan of yours since the geocities days. Digital friends? jm (2/8/10) Dave's response: Thanks..... have a great day dave...make it 'birthday week! (2/8/10) Noteworthy obit for Frank Magid, cited by the WaPo as the instigator of “happy news” on TV. Magid was actually among the very first to conduct audience research beyond quantitative ratings (“headcount”) and helped both TV stations and radio stations design content according to what viewers & listeners wanted—instead of just slapping on what we thought they should get. Magid helped launch the consulting career of longtime Washingtonian Alan Burns of Q107 fame and many other radio programming gurus. Frank’s ideas helped radio talents relate to the listener and positively shaped the biz during the seventies and eighties. Frank Magid was much more than “happy news.” (2/8/10) Seriously Dave...Could you be any more classless? For a guy who repeatedly called for an end of the whole war with Bicknell, your rather blatant shot at me in a response to a post of his really shows your "bush league" colors and true motives. My name has not been mentioned on this site in weeks, and for you to pull a rediculous, classless stunt like that only solidifies your stance and whom you support. I get it, someone donates and gets more of a leash. It's the unprofessional comments like you made this morning coupled with your obvious support of someone else on your site that ultimately cost you ad revenue, Dave. My show had fully intended to buy space on your site. Now, no chance. No need to respond to this email, Dave. I honestly couldn't care less about hearing some sarcastic reasoning for what you did. John Collings (2/8/10) Baltimore Snow Coverage, here's my take... Rodgers Forge and Hampden are typical first Baltimore live news shots during big snowstorm stories for ONE SIMPLE REASON...... Hampden is close to TV Hill and Rodgers Forge is walking distance from WMAR's York road studios and Towson is close to WMAR too, so that's why you initially see these shots first. Yes they get reporters out to outlying areas as as soon as possible but those are the closest locations to the studios and the quickest to get up and running. This often puts WMAR at a disadvantage though since as you noticed, the new mayor of Baltimore made a grand tour of Hampden and the TV stations, 11, 13, & 45 made it appear as if it was like an accidental live shot. NOT SO! Obviously, the mayor KNEW they would be there and deliberately hunted them down! DUH! WMAR was at a disadvantage being located nowhere near TV Hill. I did catch 11's chopper in the air, but not sure it was the new one or not, but I did not see 13's. Considering they both fly out of the same airport, that seemed odd to me. My overall assessment of the Baltimore coverage was that I was surprised WBFF FOX 45 beat WMAR on the air Saturday morning and that even lead anchor Jeff Barnd was there at 6AM. WMAR didn't come on until 7AM, but WMAR's Jamie Costello is very solid, however Megan Pringle was late to get to WMAR from White Marsh. I think I heard Jeff Barnd mention that FOX 45 put them up in hotels near TV Hill overnight. Apparently WMAR did not. WBAL & WJZ obviously led the pack with the most reporters out in the field and they had both clearly prepared to have even weekday people available for the weekend. It's rare to see Tom Tasselmyer or Bob Turk on the weekends or even FOX 45's Vytas Reid, but I'll still give WMAR's Justin Berk lots of credit since he probably put in the most # of hours of them all having only 1 other person to back him up all day Saturday. (2/8/10) Regardless of what people think of The Who's performance, I've not seen this mentioned yet.... Wasn't it ironic that The SUPER BOWL WHO HALFTIME SHOW was basically a subliminal CBS CSI TV show advertisement? uh huh, think about it. :-) (2/8/10) (Clip about the Who) ...a 12 minute show without any real warm up (end clip) No warm up? What do you think they do deep inside the stadium or just outside in another venue a full hour before showtime? Compare laxative brands? (2/8/10) The following was forwarded to DCRTV..... Without power (Powerless in Potomac) for 45 hours, the only source of information we had was provided by your radio transmissions on our hand crank emergency radio. We applaud your fortitude and appreciate your companionship during these dark hours. Your broadcasts comforted us and warmed our souls knowing that you were on TOP of the situation. A long time listener to satellite radio, I am switching back to free radio and plan on patronizing your advertizers. This is a small price to pay in return for the help and concern you gave us in our time of need. Thank you WTOP! A BIG FAN, MaryLou, Potomac, MD (2/8/10) I thought also that Daltry was going to have an asthma attack halfway through "Who are you?" viewing Townends gut during his windmills didn't exactly ADD to the special effects show either. Cool floor stage lighting though! (2/8/10) Happy a great birthday, Dave! (2/8/10) Happy B-day, Dcrtv Dave. (2/8/10) Happy Birthday!!! Thanks for keeping us so well informed... (2/8/10) Dave's response: Again, thanks to all for the birthday wishes..... Happy Birthday Dave! In the words of another great American journalist, Ambrose Bierce: "Age--that period of life in which we compound for the vices that we still cherish by reviling those that we no longer have the enterprise to commit." Enjoy your compounding and reviling today despite the weather! (2/8/10) I'm always amazed that there are politically correct well educated liberals, some very highly educated (NAACP, NOW, HRC, etc) out there that still believe it's ok to say "dumb broad" or "teabagger" if it serves their political agenda. Where do they keep their political correctness compass? Is it like accidently next to a magnet or something and errantly pointing in the direction they want to go rather than reality? I don't even know any Republicans who think Sarah Palin is the sharpest tool in the shed, but the vitriol against her is quite amazing both on the local TV news and national main stream media and I think the reason she stays popular i exactly because of the vitriolic attacks, not in spite of them. (2/8/10) Need a TV break today? How about Globe Trekker shopping special on TV 26 at 1:30pm. Includes Rio's bikini fashions. =-p (2/8/10) Puhlease. I don't think the Who sucked at all. Given the time period they had to work with, I thought they did a good job. As did McCartney, the Stones, Petty, etc. The only one I thought truly sucked was Springsteen because his voice was terrible and way off key. But remember that these bands are trying to do something they aren't use to, which is a 12 minute show without any real warm up. It ain't that easy. (2/8/10) Dear Dave: Have a great one, my friend! xoxomarty (2/8/10) Dave's response: Shucks. Thanks..... Hey buddy....Happy Birthday. See you soon...Celebrate every day like it's your last, it could be!! PLB:0) (2/8/10) Dave's response: Ha ha ha. Thanks. Oh, no birthday wishes from Collings. Hmmm..... Dave, while your day of birth is impressive, I would be remiss if I didn't mention that it was I who began the act of announcing birthday wishes on the air. I have a gold record of "Happy Birthday to You" somewhere in a crawl space. Willard Scott and the Smuckers company stole my bit, and I have refused to acknowledge the weather or peanut butter and jelly sandwiches since 1957 as a result of their thievery! BLP ~8-P (2/8/10) Dave's response: You know what I want as a birthday tribute to me? Every station in the DC and Baltimore markets to play New Order's "True Faith" at 2 PM today. OK, the music stations like RQX, DC101, The Edge, 98 Rock, Hot 99.5, ZFT, Fresh FM, and QSR. TOP, MAL, and BAL don't have to. Ha ha ha..... What? No forced laughter during the banal "knuckleheads in the news" segment this morning on WTOP? No forced cutesy segues to Lisa Baden and Doug Hill? Thank you, Frank Herzog! Here's hoping the regular guy doesn't get plowed out until, oh, 2020 or so. (2/8/10) Happy birthday, DCRTV Dave! (2/8/10) Split List says Candy Girl was cool.!! You guys. you mean you played Skynnard, Jerry Jeff, The Stones, Ledzep.Canned Heat, Nitty Gritty..... The Dead & Lookin Glass on the same station ... WLPL...? . Thomas Groom on HFS, WINX ...or w/Murray Kaufman..on the ledge..... before "The Edge." Thought the early "edge city" was Viers Mill at the Pike at old diggs......or stone toss down or up the road a piece in doc yak"s cadillac. dudes & dudesses in Mont county seeya makin the angels in the snow....what's w/that on Gude Dr. ......'Manhattan Tranfer Wacky Fuss Class of 69.... no think it was 79....and that was Wacky Dust like SNOWMAN!!! Luv me or my MACK TRUCK? Better yet, love Dave & SHELL OUT THE BUCKS!!!!... yeah restin and a rockin in Reston........ (2/8/10) Good morning, and Happy Birthday, Dave. Just wanted to say that I can actually listen to WTOP this morning. Frank Herzog's natural good humor and facile banter is so pleasant to listen to (I mean, actually listen to) compared to, well, the forced and inane jocularity of that other guy he's filling in for. Hope everyone is somewhat safe and warm today. -- Uncle Frank in Arlington (2/8/10) Happy Barf Day to our esteemed webMaster. A guy who spells Class with a "C" instead of a "K"! Enjoy the day radio brother. Be thankful that you haven't reached the age where you can be labeled a "Crotchety Old Fart" (but you're clse) Rusty Gibson, WEBR RadioFairfax (2/8/10) Dave's response: Rusty is five months older than I am..... Baltimore Snow Coverage…This and That... Baltimore was fortunate to have 4, yes 4 TV stations to chose from for live coverage of the biggest snowstorm in history in the Baltimore area. The coverage was not without its faults however. CH45 has this “just in…new information” bar on the screen. Just in? The announcements were, in many cases, 24 hours old. You can only cry wolf so many times and people look somewhere else. Also on CH45, they were quick to pull the trigger on live coverage of news conferences. Fortunately other stations carried all. And those stations got breaking news with the Governor responding to reporter’s questions. And speaking of breaking news, CH11’s David Collins got an exclusive interview with a man rescued by a National Guard crew after his car had run off the road. Also heard complaints about the weather thing on CH45, that annoying flashing map. Tip: get rid of it. It was nice of the new Baltimore Mayor to make herself available so often appearing a couple of times on “live shots” in Hampden. Also favored for live shots Canton and Rodgers Forge. There are other neighborhoods. CH11’s chopper was back in the air on Sunday. Those images give real perspective to the situation. I’m told it was in HD but was watching in SD. CH11, CH13 and CH45 had their “cuties” out trying to come up with something to fill the hours. Some were OK, some informative, but three guys on an illegal ATV was just a little much. Now another snowstorm looms. How much can we take. Television plays a big role in keeping people informed. Baltimore is lucky to have stations truly dedicated to doing that job. For the little things mentioned, its hoped those in charge will work toward fine tuning. If you lost power, radio is your only choice. In Baltimore it’s WBAL and in DC it’s WTOP and both know how to do the job. (2/8/10) Have a great birthday! (2/8/10) Dave's response: Thanks..... A very Happy Birthday, Mr. Dave! Many many more! (2/8/10) Dave's response: Thanks..... The following staff memo was forwarded to DCRTV..... There are not enough superlatives in my vocabulary to adequately thank you for the superb job you are doing covering the Blizzard of 2010. Thanks to the people who have been living in hotels since last week, sleeping on floors at the station, working 6th and 7th days and long hours, and getting entire meals from the 3rd floor vending machine. Thanks to the volunteers who called in and reported from home. We made a difference in people's loves and they told us that quite specifically. "Huddled here in the cold listening to my only source of information, WTOP Radio." At the height of the storm 250,000 homes were without power. Depending on how many people live in each home, that's close to one million people. On Saturday, we made "The WTOP Pledge." We promised listeners we'd stay on the power companies until all of our listeners had their power and heat back on. That had an unintended consequence: the newsroom became something akin to the world's busiest suicide prevention hotline, with hundreds of people weary of the cold calling to us tell their stories. Newsroom staffers leaving Sunday were physically and mentally exhausted and emotionally drained! There's not even a ratings payoff for this: if people have no power, their people meters cannot report data to Arbitron. But we made a lot of friends and fans and it will pay off down the road. We helped people in so many ways, like getting people with 4 wheel drive vehicles to pick up emergency room doctors and nurses and get them to work. Last night every public school district and the federal government announced they would be closed today.....except DC schools which said they would open 2 hours late. Jim Russ and Bob Marbourg immediately recognized that was a bad and unsafe decision. We put Bob on the air saying that. We invited both the Mayor and the School Chancellor to come on the air and discus it. When both declined, we reported that. Within an hour, they reversed themselves and did the right thing, closing schools. The amount of snow we got might not impress people living in Buffalo or Chicago or Salt Lake. But Washington is a city below the Mason-Dixon Line (how many of you knew that is north of us, on the Maryland/Pennsylvania border?). This was historic by Washington standards. After some thawing yesterday, those mountains of snow on highways and streets are like concrete because it got so cold overnight. So thank you for helping people, making REAL differences in their lives. Get ready to keep doing it because we are under a Winter Weather Watch for tomorrow night. And let's keep the WTOP Pledge. Jim (2/8/10) Hello Beautiful Being. A little birdie said it was your birthday. They do have a tendency to roll around, I think you may have noticed. As one wag said, “Age is a number … and mine is unlisted.” Then Maurice Chevalier pointed out, “Old age isn’t so bad when you consider the alternative. Jack Benny was fond of saying, “Age is strictly a case of mind over matter. If you don't mind, it doesn't matter.” Another someone suggested, “Birthdays are nature’s way of telling us to eat more cake.” Have a grand Happy Birthday. May each year bring more joy, deeper love, greater peace. n/ Joy … Ann (2/8/10) Dave's response: Awwwww..... Happy Happy Birthday Dave...(\o/) Hugs to you for a Great Year! (2/8/10) Happy Birthday, DCRTV Dave! A birthday "shoutout" at 9am on TalkRadio WRNR AM-740! (www.talkradiowrnr.com). Al McGilvray (2/8/10) Dave's response: Wow! Thanks Al. Just heard Andy and Grandy to a birthday "shout out" to me on WMAL and JP on WJFK. OK, kidding..... HaPpY BiRtHdAy, Mr. DcRtV - DaVe HuGhEs! (2/8/10) Dave's response: Thanks..... THE BALTIMORE SUN IS STILL THE ONLY TRIBUNE OWNED NEWSPAPER TO BAN OR CENSOR ALL FORMS OF COMMENTS ON ITS NEWSPAPER WEBSITE! At first, The Baltimore Sun said it was a temporary problem regarding "technical issues" (most likely related to spam on Tribune sites). But now, The LA TIMES and other Tribune papers have ALL added COMMENTS ability back fixing that problem, but NOT The BALTIMORE SUN. WELCOME TO THE PEOPLES' REPUBLIC OF MARYLAND! There WILL BE NO DISSENSION IN THE RANKS! WHY DOES THIS STORY CONTINUE TO GO UN-REPORTED? FOX NEWS, ARE YOU THERE? (2/8/10) Hey Dave -- Happy Birthday Man (2/8/10) Dave's response: Older (but wiser) man..... Happy Birthday Dave. May you have many, many more. (2/8/10) Dave's response: As long as my imagination works and I can still "get it up"..... Happy Birthday Dave! Keep up the good work on DCRTV! (2/8/10) Dave's response: Thanks..... Big, fat, happy birthday Dave; from another soul who also once trod the halls of the legendary Columbia-Lee Building at Bailey's Crossroads -- Al Peterson (former Tech Editor, Radio World Newspaper, 1995-1998) (2/8/10) Dave's response: Ah, the memories of Radio World-TV Tech. That old Columbia Pike building with windows that didn't open. There was a dental lab on our floor and the smells (sulfur? chemicals?) that came from it floated into our offices and couldn't escape. My office looked out over the telephone company's truck yard..... Happy Birthday, Dave...you also share a birthday with James Dean, who would have been 79 today...you're too young to remember him. Have a great day, and stay warm! -- Bobbie (2/8/10) Dave's response: Thanks. Wasn't James Dean in a Morrissey video? Hmmm..... Hey Dave, Tom and I wanted to wish you a happy birthday. Thank you so much for all of the great work with DCRTV. I can tell this is your passion and it shows. May you have many more birthdays filled with blessings and abundance. Also, birthday wishes to another broadcasting great and dear friend, Scott Fitzgerald. Scott, I can remember our days in paraochial school. I look up to you buddy. Always will. Thank you so much for your work as a firefighter/paramedic/dispatch. Blessings. Joyce Conroy (WHFC) (2/8/10) Dave's response: Thanks..... Many happy returns of the day, Dave. And a big "thank you" should go out to Ma Hughes and Pa Hughes - who made it all possible! (2/8/10) Dave's response: Awww, thanks. Ma and pa are happy up there in Heaven, where there's no snow..... Dave, enjoy your special day! (2/8/10) Dave's response: Thanks. And thanks to everyone for the birthday wishes via Facebook this morning..... Happy birthday, Dave (2/8/10) Dave's response: Thanks..... HAppy Birthday Dave enjoy the day and stay warm...victoria (2/8/10) Dave's response: Thanks..... Have a great birthday...see...IF you were an old man there would be enough candles on the cake to melt some of this snow!!! haha (2/8/10) Dave's response: Ha ha ha. Thanks..... Happy happy birthday!!!!! :-) (2/8/10) Dave's response: Thanks..... Happy Birthday Dave! -- Joe in Essex (that guy who eats up all your bandwidth & gives nothing back!) :-) (2//8/10) Dave's response: Hey, you're not the only one. Thanks..... Happy B-day! (Hope you like 'em snowy.) Thanks for all your hard work. (2/8/10) Dave's response: I've had many snowy and icy birthdays, believe me. In fact, shortly after I was born at Lenox Hill Hospital in NYC, the area got hit with a massive snowstorm. My parents took infant DCRTV Dave to my grandparents house in Hartsdale NY (since my dad was in the Army), where we were snowed in for a week, I'm told. I don't actually remember it..... Dave....let me be the first to wish you a Happy Birthday. What's it like to get younger, instead of getting older? My mother told me, once you hit a certain age, you go back in time, instead of forward. Anyway, Happy Birthday to the "Super Saint" that started DCRTV!!!!!! (2/8/10) Dave's response: One of my neighbor ladies is divorced and has a 10-year-old son. One day, we got to talking about how so many of our other neighbors are senior citizens. And I asked the kid how old did he think I am. He said "25." Hey, great kid! Also, I was walking around Lake Thoreau a few months ago, and passed a group of people taking a picture by the lake. I stopped, not wanting to get in their shot. When a 45-ish year old lady in the group actually asked me to pose with them because "you look so much like my son-in-law." She was serious. Wow..... Happy B-Day. DCRTV Rocks. (2/8/10) Dave's response: February 8th - me and Ted Koppel. Two damn handsome dudes, huh! Thanks..... FROM THE DOG ATE MY HOMEWORK DEPT. (FCC docs): WNWK AM 1260..... "Exhibit 34 Description: REASON FOR STA EXTENSION: WNWK HAS BEEN OPERATING FROM A TEMPORARY SITE SINCE LOSING ITS ORIGINAL TRANSMITTER SITE. THE LICENSEE IS ACTIVELY LOOKING FOR A NEW PERMANENT SITE THAT IT CAN LEASE OR PURCHASE." "Actively?" Did they even have the balls to type that word? They should get Jim Kosek of Accuweather to narrate this FCC application. Oh boy, WNWK hasn't had a permanent transmitter site for... ALMOST FIFTEEN RECORD BREAKING CRIPPLING YEARS!!!!!!! UGGGGGHHHHHHH! Oh boy. Prediction: The FCC will approve this complete waste of public airwaves yet again. The FCC doesn't even keep STA records on file long enough to even chart how long this radio station has been largely off the air or on such low power that nobody can receive it! In other FCC news, oh boy, WEMD AM 1460 Easton, MD was approved for it's most recent STA request. Oh boy, WEMD's "engineer" (hehe, like they really even have one, but let's just pretend for now) is diligently trying to diagnose a problem with its array.... FOR TWO AND A HALF CRIPPLING YEARS BUT CAN'T FIGURE IT OUT!!!!!!!!! Oh boy. Field mice report that the problem will be diagnosed within another HALF YEAR after an ACTUAL ENGINEER ACTUALLY VISITS THE FREAKING TOWER SITE FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME! Oh boy, then there will be THREE to TEN YEARS OF "DILIGENT" CRIPPLING RECORD BREAKING REPAIR WORK!!!!!!!! UGGGHHHHHHHHH! "No problem" says FCC. "Take your time, we don't give a rats ass anyways. It's only the public's airwaves, so who cares?" Oh boy, I'm Jim Kosek of Accuweather. Oh boy. :-) (2/8/10) happy bday (2/8/10) Dave's response: Thanks! More videos and pictures added to the EVERY OTHER DAY IS HALLOWEEN facebook page, including a never before seen Count Gore blooper/outcut from the 1980s. The DVD documentary of Dick Dyszel's career and impact comes out April 20! www.facebook.com (2/8/10) "So....... JP Flaim, contact me, I don't even mind hot chicks in the house, RENT IS FREE WITH "PRIVILEGES" -What the hell does this have to do with local media??? Get rid of this useless, sarcastic bullshit, Dave. (2/8/10) The rightwing has tried to make much of President Obama's use of a teleprompter. Sarah Palin even referred to it during her Tea Party speech in Nashville on Saturday night. "This is about the people and it's bigger than any king or queen of a tea party and it's a lot bigger than any charismatic guy with a teleprompter." But check out this video of her having to rely on crib notes, written on her hand -- during a Q&A session after her speech. www.youtube.com... And, the questions were pre-screened! The Teabaggers would love to see her run in 2012. That's fine with me - especially after seeing what a dumb broad she actually is! rawstory.com (2/8/10) HBD2U, Dave! All the best for a great day!!! (2/8/10) Dave's response: Thanks..... Hi Dave, I thought the idea behind DCRTV was Radio and TV in the DC area. The other day you had to take space and time about the Washington Post's ad section being delivered on Friday. Come on Dave...don't you think there are more important things to write about or not write at all? Steve (2/8/10) Dave's response: We cover radio, TV, and ALL local media, that includes newspapers like the Post..... Fox is worse then Drew Brees' combover. Why the shit do I have to watch Family Guy with their winter storm/closing backdrop?? Between this shit and the belly dancing attention whore and the corny ballerina brawd, Fox stinks - Although, they were kind to keep Holly Morris off the air during the snow storm...lol (2/8/10) Dave's response: Amen! I was trying to watch "The Office" on Fox5 over the weekend and simply couldn't stand all the "storm clutter" on the screen, which was a giant distraction. I used the zoom button on my cable TV remote to show just the center of the screen. Works pretty good..... Yeah, pretty sucky showing by half The Who during the Super Bowl halftime show. Lip-sync City, for one. Roger's lips went one way, the lyrics went another. Wont Get Fooled Again indeed! (2/8/10) Happy Birthday, Dave! Keep speakin' the truth. We need you :) (2/8/10) Dave's response: Thanks..... I have never wanted a Twitter account so bad as I want one tonight. Just so I can post on Chad Dukes Twitter page. I wonder if he will commit suicide on the air tomorrow? His man crush lost the Super Bowl. (2/8/10) Ref: "THE WHO SUCKED" I have to agree, But I loved the final score !!! JJ "Hitman" McKay Ocean City, Md. (2/8/10) Happy Birthday Dave! Hope you have a good day. (2/8/10) Dave's response: Thanks..... /\ February 8 Messages /\  \/ February 7 Messages \/ Dave: seriously now. “Boobie Alert! Sarah Simmons with some nice sweater meat on Fox 5 this morning” Using ASK on my local VERIZON cable/internet provider (please people don’t use GOOGLE for anything as the Obambi administration and the Scientologists share search engine data), I checked out the very lovely Sarah Simmons who is a spitting image for Jack Bauer’s next wife (dirty as she is), Renee on 24. Don’t believe me: Sarah Simmons myfoxdc.com... Renee’ ask.com (2/7/10) Ok, I'm upping my offer... My str8 roommate of 6 years is moving out. He's str8, I'm gay (total odd couple as roommates except that we're both sports fanatics & get along). And no we never had sex (for those perverts out there). So....... JP Flaim, contact me, I don't even mind hot chicks in the house, RENT IS FREE WITH "PRIVILEGES" including highspeed internet, cable TV, & pool. Plus I have NFL season tickets & no one to go with. CONTACT ME JP! Yes, I really do have the home gym, heavy bag, & boxing & UFC gloves... I'm serious. :-) (2/7/10) Dave, I read your comments on the upgrading of WUSA's Digital signal. Out in Fairfax, it is o.k. For some strange reason we get WTTG the best on the rabbit ears. Up until a week ago, we had both cable (Cox) and satellite (DISH). After looking at all the options, we decided to keep Cox cable, move our Verizon phone service to Cox telephone and "freeze" Dish network for six months while I decide if we want to stay 100% with cable. Overall, I am saving about $150 a month because of the lack of duplication. One side effect that I had not thought of is that if I had satellite TV and Internet, my wife would not be able to work at homne and she would have lost alot of money with this snowstorm. Internet service is worth a few hundred bucks a month to my family income so to me it is a much safer and a better deal than satellite. In fact, I could make a case for having a FIOS duplicate back-up in addition to Cox for internet service. I agree that there is a case to made about the picture quality of satellite, I cannot see the difference on my HDTV but can see a slight difference on the analog cable.. BTW, I worked in satcom for 20 years so I am familiar with the pluses and minuses. Thanks for the reminder on "snow" on the Dish. TomR/Fairfax (2/7/10) Watching, on my LOCAL WASHINGTON TV STATION WUSA the Super Bowels Half Hearted Half Time I must say: Townsend don’t look like a pedophile if he takes the sunglasses off, but still, he has said he knows what it’s like to be “the woman”. “WHO” knows. But you might as well as dug up Jerry Garcia to play with what’s left of The Real Dead given that THE WHO SUCKED!!!! (2/7/10) Did anyone else, besides me, enjoy the legal notification of the purchase of NBC by Comcast? It was about 7 minutes of a listing of the legal entities, officers and divisions of NBC and Comcast. What better time to run this than opposite the kick off of the Superbowl? As a matter of fact...here it is, 6:30... why are 4, 5 and 7 even wasting electricity running the transmitters for the next couple of hours? John (2/7/10) If your satellite dish isn't getting a signal try throwing snowballs at it to knock the snow off the dish and the arm. Don't worry about snow-covered trees in the way. The satellite signal is not blocked by snow, just liquid water. Your signal is lost because the snow is weighing down the dish and moving it out of alignment. Anyway, having a snowball fight with your satellite dish is a good pasttime waiting for the game to start. -Chainsman (2/7/10) The WRC hi-def rollout delay is sort of an odd duck. The other night when NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams was showing storm coverage, it went to a report by Bob Ryan. His report was in hi-def over the network, so clearly the cameras are in place. I'd be interested in knowing where the bottleneck is along the WRC pipeline that allows everything except locally originating programs to be in HD. (2/7/10) re: OTA digital stations during the blizzard...No problems with reception here in Reston. Of course, I was too busy shoveling snow to watch much TV. WUSA moved one of their afternoon college basketball games to 9.2 and devoted 9.1 to all snow coverage. (2/7/10) Dave's response: It would have been nice if 9 could have done that with Letterman on Friday night. I DVRed WUSA at 11:35 PM only to get an hour of MORE storm coverage..... I had excellent OTA TV reception from Baltimore and DC during the entire storm even though the antennas were covered with snow like all the tree branches. Bob Fairfax (2/7/10) WETA FM has been running a serious beg a thon this weekend, to a point of being excessive. EVERY break, donation requests and begging. In fact, John Chester ran a whole hour of shore music clips interlaced with begging. I was trying to get some R&R and good classics, but eventually switched the dial. I know funds are tight and am sure some were even cut by the Feds, but never have I heard more begging than substantive content. One must wonder if this could backfire on them and actually cause a loss of listeners and donations. (2/7/10) Just wondered if anyone was able to pull in OTA digital stations during the blizzard. (2/7/10) Dave's response: I wouldn't think that there'd be a reception problem with broadcast over-the-air signals during a snowstorm. They're much more powerful and, operating at much lower frequencies, much more able to tolerate "rain/snow fade" than satellite-delivered signals via a dish receiver, which doubles as a snow storage recepticle..... Hi Dave - I read your site all the time in Google Reader (RSS). I have been reading for about 6 years since I was an intern at DC101. Anyway, I sent an email to Channel 4 over the weekend telling them that they needed to upgrade to HD since they were the last station in the area to adopt. I got an email back from Bill Nardi at NBC Universal who said that they launch HD in April. I wasn't sure if this was publicly known. If not, I wanted to share it with you. Take care, RG (2/7/10) Dave's response: Thanks RG. Yeah, we have reported that WRC-TV will be going local HD news in early 2010. Ditto with the NBC Washington Bureau, a la an HD feed for "Meet The Press"..... It's safe to say that if CBS Radio would change the name of their afternoon show to THE AMBER THEOHARIS SHOW (with scott garceau), she'd drop her MASN Orioles gig in a second. But they won't, he wouldn't go for it, and she won't. So there you have it. (2/7/10) Dear Friends, More great news...I just learned that my film Breaking News, Breaking Down has been invited to the Gasparilla Film Festival in Tampa Florida. It will be a return to a place we called home from 1997 to 2000...when I was a weekday anchor at WFLA. This of course caps a really great couple of weeks. We just returned from Sundance where the film picked up a sixth award, this time by one of the most prestigious magazines chronicling film. Moving Pictures Magazine honored us in Park City. Following a worldwide competition the magazine determined that Breaking News Breaking Down is one of the three top Short Documentaries of the year. With the events unfolding in Haiti the film is continuing to resonate as it shine a light on an issue that has gone largely ignored for years..the issue of trauma and journalists. I also learned this week that we have been invited to one of the largest and most dynamic film festivals in all of Europe. More on that to come as things are solidified. In addition before we left the folks from the Zurich Film Festival approached me to get a copy of the film. So needless to say our time in the snow was beneficial. We were excited to hear from the Gasparilla Film Festival director. We are delighted to return to the bay area where we hope to reconnect with our friends once again. If you are in the bay area between March 18th and the 21st we hope we'll get the chance to catch up and see you at that time. We'll continue to update you on this amazing journey, and we want to say thanks for all your support and interest along the way. Best Regards, -- Mike Walter, Writer/Director. Breaking News, Breaking Down www.breakingnewsbreakingdown.com (2/7/10) It just amazes me how the news anchors keep pressing representatives from the transportation dept as to when they're going to be plowing certain streets. Look anchors, you have reporters out in the field sending back live video of the conditions that any idiot could see are so severe that it may be days before plows can get to certain streets..The same goes for pressing the utility reps regarding restoring power..Yes people are frustrated, without power and probably, like myself, are starting to experience cabin fever, but the anchors really need to let up on pressing these people..I'm sure they're doing the best they can under the circumstances..Yes, we depend on the media for updates, but use some common sense..Oh, and did anyone hear Mayor Fenty in a news conference yesterday say he expects the government to be able to open Monday?..Uh Mayor, and how do you expect people to get there?..Especially if bus service will be limited and above ground rail service possibly suspended?.. (2/7/10) I do have to make mention WTTG wasn't the only one streaming - my station WUSA had online streaming of the newscast and individual Skype imputs from various roving cameras paired with a chatroom so viewers could talk / critique as it went. As far as redundancy goes, not everyone leaves the tv on for an entire 18 hours. Many people drop in and out as the day goes by, so some redundancy in required for those who have 'just tuned in'. For the 18 hours I was on shift yesterday I made it a point to give a different report each time they came to me, about a different subject. The only time I did repeated reports was when I was stuck at a major breaking news story (only tv station there by the way!) Finally for those who think it is folly to go wall to wall with the news coverage of a major winter event, just take a look at the ratings. They always do well, and if you really want local products to succeed you actually have to deliver when the time comes. As much as the usual crowd likes to rip on WUSA I have to say that those who are left still have pride in their efforts and work very hard to be competative in a changed media landscape. (2/7/10) "You've got to clear the snow away from the dish." Yup but please don't go climbing your roof folks! Something you might not have heard of...use a garden hose to spray it, from the ground. Works like a champ! (2/7/10) Dave's response: Good point. No TV is bad, but a broken neck is much worse..... Long time Directv subscriber who hasn’t had reception since halfway through the first day of storm. I think that recognition is in order for WTTG streaming of their broadcast online. That and WTOP were my only source of information since Friday. In the future when I hear broadcasters bemoan the lack of audience and the diverse choices they have, I’ll remember this, WTTG was available to me, the rest of our local broadcasters weren’t. And as a long time WRC viewer, their current lack of talent seems most evident on their website – too painful to visit, even in an emergency. (2/7/10) Dave's response: You've got to clear the snow away from the dish. Also, with the "heavy" waterish show we had sticking to the trees, often branches can "hang down" and block your satellite reception. Today's sun should melt a lot of the snow and ice in the trees..... Now that "all is said and done", the overused cliché is "out and about." (2/7/10) Simon's departure from "American Idol" at the end of May has taken many by surprise. Like with Paula's departure, I believe Idol producers may opt for the guest judge format, before naming Simon's perminant replacement. With the yet to be launched U.S. incarnation of "The X Factor"... Paula is rumored to be the front-runner at becoming the 2nd judge. A 3rd judge has yet to be named. A host has yet to be named too. "So You Think You Can Dance" judge Nigel Lythgoe and "America's Got Talent" judge Piers Morgan are said to be rumored candidates... along with radio shock jock Howard Stern. TV Guide Magazine (Feb. 8-14 print issue) names record executive Tommy Mottola as a possible candicate to replace Simon on Idol, or as a possible 3rd judge for the X Factor. (2/7/10) Reporting JP's divorce is one thing. Allowing this kind of accusation and commentary in the mailbag is another. Classless and amatuer on your part, Dave. (2/7/10) Dave's response: If you make your private life public via your radio show, your listeners will comment on it via forums like the DCRTV Mailbag. That's just the way it is. As always, if there's a particular post that you feel is tasteless, let me know and I'll pull it..... I can't get enough of this weather report it's so funny. Watch it before it's deleted again. (2/7/10) Boobie Alert! Sarah Simmons with some nice sweater meat on Fox 5 this morning. (2/7/10) Regarding Bob Ryan leaving NBC4, I can't really blame him. NBC is the worst network and local from 4am until 2am. They have mostly news, little prime time, and they don't use their own meteorologists as they should. Bob Ryan doesn't get to do anything but read a teleprompter and has to get his weather information from the network. NBC should just pack it in across the board and give their frequency to another network. I don't see them merging with Comcast improving things. (2/7/10) If we've had to put up with TV people going on about their experiences yesterday and today, perhaps this forum should check in themselves. Has ThePenIsMightier become TheShovelIsMightier? Was Silvie well stocked with toilet paper, milk, and bread? Has The Watcher/Listener been adversely affected by the snowfall as to cut into his implied stalking of togs? Hoist a brew, everyone! Sincerely, James (2/7/10) /\ February 7 Messages /\ \/ February 6 Messages \/ (From DCRTV's Classified Ads:) I am writing to apply for a motion graphics position. I am a motion graphics artist with a diverse background of work environments. Having worked in the eighth largest TV market and a leading strategy and technology consulting firm, I know the demands in of fast paced corporate setting, I’ve met many clients’ needs through creative design solutions. I’ve worked for local TV stations and national broadcast design departments in my 5 year career, including WJLA-TV in Washington, DC, in which I rose to be their senior graphic artist. During my stay there, I was instrumental in creating the HD rebranding effort from concept to completion. My job responsibilities included working closely with Creative Services department to handle all the marketing and promotional broadcast spots that aired locally and nationally. I then worked at Booz Allen Hamilton in their Media Services department. Here I worked closely with numerous clientele to create the best, creative, eye catching designs, motion graphics, print ads, while also assisting in video production, editing, and compression, sound editing, special effects, and compositing. Some of those clients including The Politico newspaper, Local Point TV, and Rosslyn “BID”, IGA, Newsroom Solutions, and SkiRountop. I'm a highly creative, motivated, and experienced in motion graphics for many media. I am well experienced with Adobe After Effects, Cinema 4D, Photoshop, Illustrator, Final Cut, and I've worked on both Mac and PC platforms, efficiently working with either. My resume and demo reel can be found on my website at: eyedesyn... I am available for interviews anytime and can be reached at 724.496.3907. (2/6/10) I know radio and TV went overboard with the snow coverage this time because the event is such a rarity in DC. I have no real gripe with the coverage on TV but the radio version left me - dare I say - cold. Every time someone on WTOP talked about travel, it was always with the advice that you MUST get off the road NOW because it's treacherous and you WILL hit someone and you WILL die and your frozen body won't be found until late next spring by some homeless dude after half your face and fingertips have been eaten by feral cats... Look, maybe not everyone in DC has driven in this kind of snow, but we have all SEEN this kind of snow and somehow know that there is the risk of it being dangerous. Tell us once or twice that its bad and we'll be OK. We promise we wont sue you if we slide off the parkway and take out an HOV gate, alright? (2/6/10) ("How entertaining would their show be if they sat around and talked about how great their lives are? People wouldn't listen to that; they'd say the Junks are bragging about their good lives.") You must not listen very much. They brag about the size of their W2 forms and how great their jobs, houses, cars, and media rooms are all the time, even while demeaning those who only make 40 grand. The suits at CBS should save more than half a million dollars each year and get rid of at least 2 of the Junkies--there is no need for 4 mics on at once. Please, Sam, do it! (2/6/10) (snip) I spit at 20 inches of snow! (end snip) I got chunks of snowballs in my stool. Wait, that doesn't make sense. Al McGilvray (2/6/10) Bob Ryan joining Doug Hill? . . . Channel 7's attempt to demonstrate that two wrongs DO make a right?? (2/6/10) Bob Ryan is very popular, but only because he has chemistry with Jim Vance and Doreen Gentzler. Pluck Bob on any other newscast and he is stiff, bland and stodgy. Jim and Doreen bring out his best, I don't see that happening with Leon and Katholyn. Bob is Channel 4, not 7. 'nuf said. (2/6/10) re: "A modest summary of Washington DC TV programming over the last 24 hours: Reporters interviewing reporters who tell us that it's snowing, has been for some time and will be for the foreseeable future. Damn! ain't the local media great?" These same reporters, as you stated telling us that it's snowing and will be all day, also tell us how long it took them to get in this AM and then tell everyone else to stay off the roads. Do they really think their job is so freakin important that they be allowed on the roadways but everyone elses jobs have no useful purpose to society so they should stay home? (2/6/10) Where's all this "snow" the forecasters are talking about? This is NOTHING! I want to see some real snow! Come on, Mother Nature, bring it on! This is nothing! This is for wimps! Sheesh! 20 inches of snow? I spit at 20 inches of snow! (2/6/10) Re: NASCAR on Fox today. I heard Daytona 500 qualifying will be on 20 from the end of the UVA - Wake game, and then the Bud Shootout will also be on 20 in its entirety. It seems the dozens of people (myself included) complaining on 5's weather chat page prompted this move. Gotta love the local media! (2/6/10) Who is the bigger attention whore? "Brenda The Coffee Chick" on WRC or "The Talentless BellyDancer in front of Fox 5". Guess the Salahi's lack a 4 wheel drive (2/6/10) Re: the Bud Shootout in Daytona that was supposed to be on FOX5, I think I heard yesterday that it was going to be broadcast on WDCA (channel 20 on Comcast) (2/6/10) A modest summary of Washington DC TV programming over the last 24 hours: Reporters interviewing reporters who tell us that it's snowing, has been for some time and will be for the foreseeable future. Damn! ain't the local media great? (2/6/10) In response to NASCAR being kick off WTTG-5 -- tonight's Bud Shootout is on WDCA-20, along with this afternoon's UVa and VaTech hoops games. Looks like WBFF-45 might be the only outlet for this afternoon's Daytona 500 pole qualifying. Steve in Lanham (2/6/10) “Find something better to do than talk about other people's personal lives on a message board. And Dave, it's a little Perez Hilton-like to starting outing public personalities, don't you think?” Dave: allow me to take this one on. I like, listen to and will continue to listen to The Junks, The Junkies, The Sports Junkies, Four Guys Who Make Way Too Much Money. At the same time: live by the sword, whine by the sword, trash people on air THAT THEY DON’T KNOW EITHER, admit family problems ON AIR, whine some more, not even know where the parking is at Reagan National nor the speed limits of our roads, then YES, people are going to trash you, too. Enough said. We now return you to your regularly scheduled bitching. (2/6/10) To all of you JP haters who feel the need to not only comment on his situation without knowing the story, or any of the Junks in general even tho you don't know them at all, shut the f*ck up. You're lucky that if you ever have to go thru a divorce (and you have kids) that you're not in the public eye and people won't be talking about you on an obscure message board, talking about you as a spouse or father with no real basis of fact. I'm sure you know whether or not EB is a good father. How entertaining would their show be if they sat around and talked about how great their lives are? People wouldn't listen to that; they'd say the Junks are bragging about their good lives. Find something better to do than talk about other people's personal lives on a message board. And Dave, it's a little Perez Hilton-like to starting outing public personalities, don't you think? (2/6/10) Fox 5 has decided to preempt all programming for the day to talk about the weather. Tonight is the Bud Shootout in Daytona. While it may not be high on the radar for all americans, I was really wanting to watch it. We lost Kitchen Nightmares last night and now EVERYTHING on channel 5. It would be great if I could go to a competing channel, but of course there is none. How much can you go on and on about snow??? (2/6/10) What's with the TV newscasters giving us email addresses for the power companies for us to notify in case of blackouts? Do they really think that everyone has a Blackberry like they do? Duh, no power, no PC ability, no email. If they want to be helpful how about giving us the old fashioned 800 phone number? (2/6/10) Have noticed on at least 2 occasions that when Gurvir Dhindsa mentions her "husband", although not by name, she gets NO response whatsoever from her co-anchors..She once acknowledging his birthday and the other day made a comment regarding her "sweet husband" going to the grocery store when they were talking about how crazy it was in there due to the snow..You pretty much heard crickets after she mentions him..And it appeared that both Tony Perkins and Steve Chenevey felt somewhat awkward as to what to say..So, they pretty much ignored it and went on..And every morning right before the 7am broadcast, Gurvir usually has to introduce Holly regarding a story she's doing for the 7am show..Obvious tension each time.. (2/6/10) Regarding the story about Bob Ryan going to WJLA/7, my opinion is that is a stable news team. Many rely on NBC 4 They're the news leaders and the people in this community know this. So my question is why?? Is this for more money? NBC 4 is still our new leaders even after we loss George Micheals. It's said, but things will go one. In reality were do get most of your creditable new stories from NBC 4. They have been very stable and a trusting team. They get right to the facts and are very professional about it. Either way it goes I am confident Jim, Doreen, and the rest of the team will survive. They're Washington's News Leader no matter what. I do however wish Susan Kidd was still there. She was so classy... Dave has anyone heard from her at all? To wrap up Demetrius in Reston will continue to support NBC 4. However Fox 5 morning new is growing on me. The Today Show has lost it's edge. In my opinion they play too much. I am looking for real news.. Fox 5 is doing that for me locally. Anyway just my thoughts! Demetrius, Reston,VA (2/6/10) In response to the reader who asked about Brad May and Matt Barnaby. Brad May was playing for the Toronto Maple Leafs as late as last season. Matt Barnaby was around the Buffalo area appearing in public with Rob Ray in public a couple of years ago. Maybe you can get better ibfomation from Rob Ray who does Buffalo Sabres telecast on the MSG TV Network or WGR Radio 550 which is audible at night in your area. (2/6/10) To Todd Webster, at MASN. Boobie, there is nothing premiere on your network. Your "network" features two of the worst teams in baseball. And as you will tell us over and over again, the games are in HD. So what it's bad baseball in High-Def. Your Ravens postgame show may just be the worst produced and hosted show in all of regional sports. Hosted by your "premiere" sports journalist. Oh, did I mention your "network" is owned by one of the worst owners in all of sports. Toddie, get the Riggo show on your "network". then you will have the worst radio show by a former Redskin great too. Keep up the good work MASN. Sincerely, DCSPORTSTV... (2/6/10) DC snow coverage showed a man walking in the snow for about 2 blocks. Riviting T.V. Would he make it home? Tune in at 11:00 to find out. One of the anchors said his wife must have sent him out for milk. You could clearly see he was carrying an 18 pack of Budweiser (2/6/10) Damm Channel 9. Instead of going to regular programming like Channel 4 and 7 have, they decided to pre-empt an all new Ghost Whisperer, which is my favorite show, for more snow coverage. (2/6/10) Interesting that Amber's (she's much easier on the eyes) name was dropped as a possible successor to Ms. Marks. As Tom Davis and Phil Wood were on today. So nice to hear baseball talk during a blizzard. Rusty Gibson (2/6/10) Oh dear, has someone confused being "one of the premiere sports journalists in the country" with a pretty face who sticks a mic in the athlete's face at his locker, so he can blather in cliches about the win/loss? Ah, self-important sideline sports reporters, ya'll are as useful as a chocolate teapot. (2/6/10) /\ February 6 Messages /\ \/ February 5 Messages \/ Oh dear, has someone confused being "one of the premiere sports journalists in the country" with a pretty face who sticks a mic in the athlete's face at his locker, so he can blather in cliches about the win/loss? Ah, self-important sideline sports reporters, ya'll are as useful as a chocolate teapot. (2/5/10) The Jim Kosek rant video has been removed by Accuweather, but you can still watch it at: www.youtube.com (I hope Jim didn't get his weenie slapped by the Accuweather suits.) (2/5/10) Albritton (WJLA) released Joe Witte when they brought Steve Rudin aboard to do weekend weather, only to bring him back a few weeks later to replace Ron Riley on Newschannel 8 in the mornings. So Joe Witte's still there, but that's the reason you don't see him on Channel 7. Bob Ryan heading to Wilson Boulevard is an interesting rumor...between WJLA and Newschannel 8, they already have Washington's largest weather team by far: Doug Hill, Brian van de Graff, Steve Rudin, Adam Caskey, Joe Witte, Kyle Osborne are all the regular on-air folks, then you also have the fill-in people, including Alex Liggit (their Wx producer) and Chris Naille. Anyone remember when WUSA had both Doug Hill and Bill Kamal during their reign in the late '80s? Every day at 5:55, they would end their 5pm news with a 5-minute tag-team in-depth weather segment. Doug also did the 4pm and 11pm news, while Bill handled the Noon and 6pm shows. Perhaps WJLA is thinking about a similar setup, so it'll be interesting to see what happens... (2/5/10) Love him or hate him OR love to hate him (as I do) it would be so sad to see that former sidekick to The Frothy One (Chris “Spittle” Matthews) and the lead-in to his brother Paul’s show (aka The Rachael Maddow Show), yes, we’re talking Keith Overbite, finally come to an end at PMSNBC: "And yet the right wing believes that Countdown is about to be cancelled, because it so desperately wants it to be cancelled, that the facts, and the ratings, and the profits, become irrelevant," he wrote. "And it is better for them to pretend they are getting their way, than to acknowledge that they are not." Profits: Keith is AGAINST corporations making a profit!!! This, according to The Queen of Green Acres and Mr. Haney’s lover, The Huff & Puff: www.huffingtonpost.com (2/5/10) Turn on JFK at 2:00 after an early release of the MOS podcast to find a better show than usual. Thad with good old Drabby T Shirt getting more air time was refreshing. The show was much better with out the man who it is named after. He bailed on his own show to get home to DC from a live Super Bowl opportunity. Such dedication! It's not like he has a restaurant to run. (2/5/10) WRC’s Barbara Harrison was describing viewer’s photos submitted when she came to one of a beagle in the snow and said “Hopefully the beagle will leave the snow as clean and white as when they found it”. It’s The Earthycast! (2/5/10) Regarding Bob Ryan's possible move to Channel 7. In the late '90s Bob Ryan started installed weather stations at local schools under a deal with the AWS. Then a few years ago, NBC in New York decided to cut the contract with AWS and so AWS brought the stations to Doug Hill at ABC7 in 2008. I think Bob Ryan was upset at that. Back then Bob Ryan and his had weather built a big weather site for NBC4, but NBC in New York no longer allows it forcing then to go weather.com. I've met Bob Ryan. I'm surprise that ABC7 would want to do this since they already have 5 meterologists - Doug Hill, Brian van de Graaf, Adam Caskey, Steve Ruden and Joe Witte. Since they hired Steve Ruden, I don't see Joe Whitte much any more. The other stations have only 3 or 4 meteroligists. (2/5/10) Ref: “What, no watermelon?” NBC came up with the menu, Rush just added dessert, right? (2/5/10) WTOP said to get batteries for a portable radio so if the power goes off WTOP can be my "lifeline". Lifeline to what, 20 minutes of commercials an hour? Unless the snowstorm morphs into a hurricane or earthquake there is no need for continuous updates. (2/5/10) Would someone at WTOP please instruct your anchors, reporters and meteorologists to refer to the end of the storm as something other than "When all is said and done ... " Enough already! (2/5/10) fyi... wtop... supposedly an accurate news source is being highly irresponsible and drinking the "hype" kool aid by not mentioning where the blizzard warning is issued. I'm a meteorologist and the nws has issued the Blizzard warning only for Anne Arundel and St. Mary's county, not the entire D.C. area. This is highly irresponsible. A correction has not issued yet. -James (2/5/10) I agree with posters on wall to wall snow coverage. Why don't you show regular shows. We know it's snowing we can look out the window. Maybe it will take some newscaster being injured or worse to change things. Folks life goes on. (2/5/10) Dave's response: You just see the same 10 minutes repeated over and over and over in all of this wall-to-wall storm coverage. I'm all stocked-up with food and batteries and don't plan to go driving all weekend. So what else can I do? Heck, I've got TCM on - an old John Wayne movie, "In Harm's Way." Pretty soon, I'll be pouring an "adult beverage" and will kick back and enjoy the snow outside my window. What? Me worry? Nah..... Of local interet because it's Dan Snyder related. Six Flas Park in Louisville, KY to close. www.newschannel5.com (2/5/10) Re: "Dave's response: Six hours of pointless and repetitive storm hype." Wow, check out Jim Kosec's WWE, Monster Truck style weatherman. www.accuweather.com (2/5/10) Dave's response: Six hours of pointless and repetitive storm hype. Ugh. I'll be watching something else if I'm watching at all.....Dave, if you have Verizon Fios On Demand, try going to FREE then AMC then MADMEN and you can check out your beau: www.blogcdn.com (2/5/10) Dave's response: No, my favorite erotic destination these days is heritagefoundationguysinbondage.com..... I'm sorry, but are there really people still debating whether or not Rush Limbaugh is a racist? He has demonstrated clearly that he is over and over again. How many demonstrations of his bigotry do you need to be convinced? (2/5/10) Here we go again: Rush Limbaugh’s response to NBC’s cafeteria for Black History Month featuring fried chicken, was “What, no watermelon?” and pledges the staff will enjoy BOTH at Rush’s office next week. You can’t make this stuff up! But the real story is that NBC’s chef is: www.laughdome.com (2/5/10) WUSA is starting coverage of Super Storm 2010 at 2PM going straight through to primetime at 8PM. (2/5/10) Dave's response: Six hours of pointless and repetitive storm hype. Ugh. I'll be watching something else if I'm watching at all..... Apologies to Al Santos...You should have been lumped in the "Good DJ's at WBIG" category. Sorry about that. (2/5/10) To answer the inquiry about Maria Boynton--radio assignment desk editor at CNN Radio in Atlanta... Maria, is part of a reduction of force that occurred about a week ago. Another friend tells me that as many as 11 staffers are out of jobs at CNN Radio news. Maria and I have been in e-mail contact and she says she'll be participating in some R&R (just in time for the Super Bowl, eh?) for the time being. All for now. Rita (2/5/10) Random thoughts on Baltimore TV coverage of the impending doom: I hope Marty Bass has a change of underwear, or is wearing a condom. Never saw anyone get so aroused over a snowstorm.....while on Marty, we really don't care what's going to happen in NJ. Please stick to the local stuff.....CH 13 is showing the Winter Weather Warning graphic in the upper left, while running the scroll of all snow related closings on the bottom. Snow !! Really !! I had no idea. I guess that explains what the the scroll is all about.....Considering the economic situation regarding TV News, why don't you just send everyone home except the weather folks. It's the same old BS every storm. Live shot of someone at the Salt Dome. Live Shot of someone in the Emergency Mgmnt. center, w/75 monitors in the background. Live shot of the Grocery Stores. Tomorrow, we'll get the cute pictures of puppies in the snow, interviews w/snot-nosed kids sledding, interviews with someone who just had to go out in 18" of snow to get vegetables 'cause he felt like making soup. Reporter standing by the side of the road. Interview w/tired snow plow operators. Then, late Sat. or early Sun., show how the mall parking lots are clear. Then go back to the anchor, who will tell you to stay off the roads so that the plows can do their jobs. Be a heck of lot cheaper to just replay a 1 hr news segment from any of the past 20 snowstorms. The coverage is always the same. Hey everybody..."Be careful out there !!" (2/5/10) After 30 layoffs last year at WJLA and an across the board pay-cut, it is nice to know WJLA still has the money to possibly snatch Bob Ryan. Where did the $650,000 come from? (2/5/10) I'm not saying there's anything to the "Bob Ryan to 7" rumor. But your debunking of it doesn't make a lot of sense. "As one insightful commenter to the Post's piece wrote, Bob and Doug Hill have never gotten along." Not to question the high level of credibility assocaited with the people who write messages on WashingtonPost.com (??), but how much "getting along" did they ever have to do? They've never worked at the same station. They're both generally studio bound -- it's not like they show up at the same meteorological press conference and vie for a seat. What would be the basis of their personal animosity, other than competing against each other? Plenty of examples in broadcasting, entertainment, sports, politics and other arenas of former competitors getting along just fine once they're on the same team. "There's no way Hill would let simply Bob just come onboard at the USS WJLA and steal his thunder." It's generally not up to the talent to make programming decisions. Substitute "Conan O'Brien" for "Hill," Leno" for "Bob" and "NBC Late Night" for "USS WJLA" and you'll get my point. (2/5/10) Nice suggestion on "WaPo"'s circulars Dave. Of course they would be a "course" alternative to toilet paper(ouch!). Rusty Gibson (2/5/10) I saw your posting on DCRTV about the Wash Post inserts comming today instead of Saturday. I got mine today..except that it's last weeks...which I never got since I didnt' get a paper last Saturday. (2/5/10) Item on Eastern Shore radio: WCEI is simulcasting its FM signal on the AM sister station WEMD over the last couple of days, displacing the Dial Global adult standards programming that's been there for some time. Station staff only indicates that WEMD is undergoing a transition of some kind. Anyone on the Shore in the know as to exactly what that might mean? I wouldn't expect that completely scrapping that format would be in their best interest, given the older demographics of the Mid Shore that the AM has always catered to. (2/5/10) ("Went to the WTNT web page. Clicked the link for Jeff and it takes me to a MySpace page") Get a hold of your liberal panties... www.talk570.com is in the process of being redesigned, and will be up in about a week. (2/5/10) The stream at JFK has changed since the switch. I used to be able to get it through dial up at my river cabins in Paw Paw, WV and then pick it up with my cell card in Berkeley Springs on the way to Rockville. Now, dial up does not work and I don’t get it till halfway to Hagerstown on the laptop. Today, I got nothing. I called in and was told the stream was down. That station is falling apart. (2/5/10) Heard that popular ABC7 morning reporter Sarah Lee has moved to CNN. Just in time to cover the snowstorm. She was among several who were laid off from ABC7 last year. (2/5/10) Uncorroborated at this hour, but I'm hearing that G. Gordon Liddy's wife of 50+ years died this morning at 4AM following a long illness. Will wait to hear more. (2/5/10) Dave's response: Several sources are telling me that..... (regarding "corpsman/corpseman") It's no surprise really, that some would focus on this -- and miss the entire point that President Obama was making in his speech: "God's grace, and the compassion and decency of the American people is expressed through the men and women like Corpsman Brossard. It's expressed through the efforts of our Armed Forces, through the efforts of our entire government, through similar efforts from Spain and other countries around the world. It's also, as Secretary Clinton said, expressed through multiple faith-based efforts. By evangelicals at World Relief. By the American Jewish World Service. By Hindu temples, and mainline Protestants, Catholic Relief Services, African American churches, the United Sikhs. By Americans of every faith, and no faith, uniting around a common purpose, a higher purpose. It's inspiring. This is what we do, as Americans, in times of trouble. We unite, recognizing that such crises call on all of us to act, recognizing that there but for the grace of God go I, recognizing that life's most sacred responsibility -- one affirmed, as Hillary said, by all of the world's great religions -- is to sacrifice something of ourselves for a person in need." How quickly we forget! For eight long years, George W. Bush not only mangled the English language - but during his tenure, America's reputation in many parts of the world, was badly tarnished. Rather than focus on a mispronunciation, a lot of folks should listen to the president's whole speech. It was inspiring and uplifting and positive. They won’t, of course, when it’s just so much fun for them, to be negative. www.whitehouse.gov (2/5/10) Doug has always wanted off the 11 so he can see his kids at night. He'd be thrilled if Bob did the 11 and that would be a lesser workload for the 67 year old Mr. Ryan. Damn good fit if it happens. (2/5/10) So, based on Tim-VA's criteria, all the sports site should just say there is a big football game on Sunday and leave it at that. (2/5/10) “Well, at least he doesn't say "nu-cu-ler".....” I would take a Commander in Chief that knows what a corpsman is but can’t pronounce nuclear any day of the week. “Post is delivering the plastic bag of ad circulars” anyone know if they have to pay that ridiculous 5 cent DC bag tax? Shouldn’t they? (2/5/10) RE “Not surprised to hear about JP getting a divorce. He was not a good husband, neither is EB.” What the hell business is it of yours to put that out there? What a horrible thing to say about anyone, J.P. or Tiger or whoever. I’m so tired of this board diving into the personal lives of people – why is this even a headline on the main page? If I wanted to read about the non-business of anyone I’d go to the TMZ website and suck my thumb over there. This is a radio and television industry page – not a tawdry tabloid publication. And Dave – you can tell me ‘this IS news because it impacts the show…’ and all the posters can tell me to go take a flying leap (and I’m sure you will) but please stick to the important stuff. Like Tim Russert’s desk….ha. (Tim-VA) (2/5/10) Dave's response: When radio personalities discuss private matters on their radio shows, they vault those personal issues into the public arena of discussion. Yeah, JP is a public media figure, and when he did mention his divorce on his show I feel obligated to report it, at least in a cursory manner..... Bob Ryan going to WJLA??? Give me a break! This is nothing more than an old negotiating ploy by an agent. You never say where your client will really land until the ink is dry. If he goes anywhere, it’ll be WUSA where he’d make a good match with Howard Bernstein in rebuilding their news show. Could “Eyewitness News” return?. –Unsigned Corporate Suit (2/5/10) Dave's response: Nice to see the WaPo's Paul Farhi joining DCRTV in the Crazy Local Media Rumors Club. Ha ha ha..... Ref: "Teleprompter gigs wanted." Yea like Marine Corpse and Navy Corpseman...like the letter "p" sometimes Mr. perfect should be "silent" Amen (2/5/10) Dave's response: Well, at least he doesn't say "nu-cu-ler"..... RE: "I always thought she (Kathy Whiteside) was fantastic on WBIG, as was Goldy and Johnny Dark. Other than that I can't recall any other DJ's on that station that were any good." Thanks! From DAY ONE! federAL SANTOS (2/5/10) Re:Oh boy! An AM radio talker is devoting three hours to Obama’s alleged birth certificate this Friday. Can’t wait…Can’t wait....Went to the WTNT web page. Clicked the link for Jeff and it takes me to a MySpace page that hasn't been updated since December 2008. Oh this is a sure success story! (2/5/10)  Speaking of the Television Code and the NAB’s “Seal of Good Practice,” it’s something that you don’t see anymore. That’s partly because TV stations rarely sign-off these days. And judging from the content on TV, I doubt that if the Code still exists, any stations could even meet anything resembling that “good practice” standard. Here’s a link to a web site with some West Coast sign-offs from the 1980s. KNBC was pretty elaborate about it. I don’t recall the DC NBC O&O, WRC, doing anything comparable.
www.tv-signoffs.com (2/5/10)/\ February 5 Messages /\ \/ February 4 Messages \/ "Teleprompter gigs wanted." Have you checked with the White House? If you know the difference between Corps and Corpse the job is yours! (2/4/10)  This is how you prepare for a snow storm. Picture taken from Chicago Tribune a few weeks ago. (2/4/10)Hey Dave, WashingtonPost.com is reporting that Bob Ryan is in talks to move from 4 to 7. Nothing hammered down just yet, but the ideas floating about is Doug Hill and Bob Ryan doing a "double team" weather at 5, 6, and 11 or Doug doing the 5 and 6 'casts and Bob doing the 11. Here is the link to WashingtonPost.com article: www.washingtonpost.com (2/4/10) Dave's response: Ha ha ha. Looks like Bob's agent, who's negotiating a new contract with 4, got on the phone with Paul Farhi to light a fire under WRC/NBC's suits. As one insightful commenter to the Post's piece wrote, Bob and Doug Hill have never gotten along and there's no way Hill would let simply Bob just come onboard at the USS WJLA and steal his thunder. Oh, sorry for the weather pun..... On our air, whenever an interview guest makes a statement like Donnie Simpson’s claim to the Post’s Paul Farhi that ‘WFRE once topped the Washington PPM ratings’, our airstaff asks for attribution and explanation. Attribution and substantiation of claims used to be among the most important subjects taught in a decent undergraduate journalism program. If the guest is unable/unwilling to provide verifiable attribution, they are gently and politely reminded that a broadcast license is a high public trust which we take very seriously today as we did decades ago when radio was the sole electronic mass communications medium. That’s the main difference which webcasters are going to have to come up with a standard for which broadcasters have had for decades –with varying degrees of acceptance/compliance. While the FCC and its FRC predecessor have been unafraid to ensure the “public trust” aspect of a broadcast license from the era of John Brinkley’s KFKB and Norman Baker’s KTNT to United Broadcasting’s WOOK (not to mention others along the way) for various acts “not in the public interest” by revoking said license, a webcaster currently faces no such burden. I say that because there is always the potential for the webcasters to organize among themselves to establish a “Code of Good Practice”, perhaps not unlike the old NAB Radio Code or the not-yet-forgotten NAB TV Code. And, given the increasing importance of the “webbers”, I urge them (the ones based in the U.S., at least) to do so as soon as possible lest the FCC be compelled to do it for them. –Unsigned Corporate Suit (2/4/10) WTOP has done a terrific job of talking this thing up. I now understand the critics who say "the media" hypes events way beyond what's needed. People really are smart and don't need to be told what day to go to the store and to have windshield washer fluid. (2/4/10) I wanted to take a second and thank WEBR producer Rusty Gibson for calling in to our show last Friday night. TOGS (2/4/10) Dave's response: Peace, and life is too short to be venemous..... Pamela brown looks much better now as a brunette than she did as a peroxide blonde. Julie Parker also looks great with the darker roots as well. (2/4/10) The two snowy mornings this week I was listening to WMAL during Andy & Grandy’s morning show and don’t recall they announcing any school/government closings or delays- does anyone out there recall hearing any notices those mornings? I think they may have dropped these announcements for the recently expanded listener sessions they were advertising last week. What kind of public service is this for a broadcast license holder? Good thing I can rely on all news WTOP!! -John (2/4/10) This Friday, February 5th, 2010, BLOOMBERG TELEVISION anchor Betty Liu will present a special two-hour edition of 'In the Loop with Betty Liu' (8AM - 10AM ET) live from the Labor Department in Washington D.C. Washington anchor Peter Cook and correspondent Lizzie O'Leary will add to Bloomberg's team coverage of the January non-farm employment numbers and the impact on the nation's economy and markets. Guests include U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis as well as leading economists and business analysts including: * Ethan Harris, chief economist, Bank of America * James Glassman, senior economist, senior economist, J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. * Michael O'Rourke, chief market strategist, BTIG * Anthony Crescenzi, market strategist, PIMCO (2/4/10) RE: NC8 Saw the blurb about News Channel 8 a few days ago. So dave are they going to change it even if POLITICO doesn't take over?? Damn shame it's the station I watch in the morning because it keeps the crap to a minimum and they usually get me what I need to know in a timely manner unlike the other morning offerings. Sorry to see them go... mark/bethesda (2/4/10) IAS, saw Miss Pamela Brown this morning. When did she go brown? Ain't she odd reporter out so to speak with her on air time cut back significantly since the fall? Say I know it's been years since her Dad et al owned KFC now Yum but you think she might have one of them cards that allows her to eat free at any KFC/ Taco Bell? I love them Volcano tacos! And whats the story with old sourpuss Julie Parker? Whoopee! I presume a change in the music played on Baltimore's The Jack to more heavy metal/hard rock forebodes the move to Rockville? (2/4/10) Riggins doing a show on an HD3 channel. That is a joke. No one will hear him. No one at all. Not surprised to hear about JP getting a divorce. He was not a good husband, neither is EB. You should see them at appearances. It was only a matter of time before it got back to their wives. I hope Carol shows up on a radio show somewhere to talk about it. I hope she calls Elliott or 980. (2/4/10) Dave's response: I don't get it either. At least put him on 1050. He didn't any ratings when he did the afternoon show at Triple X. He'll be lucky to get a dozen listeners on 103.5's HD3..... Was there an occurance of a DJ on WBIG abandoning the studio during their shift? I seem to recall a story that said that had happened. Does anyone recall that story? (2/4/10) Can we listen to WTOP's digital HD Radio HD3 online anywhere? IM excited to hear about Riggo back on the air... but HD3? WTF? (2/4/10) (From DCRTV's Classified Ads:) Date: February 4, 2010... Job Title: News Anchor/Reporter... Contact: WNAV Sajak Broadcasting Corp... Deadline: March 1, 2010... Job Description: Full service AM station in Maryland’s capital city has an opening for News Director. Along with anchoring drive time newscasts and managing your department, you must have knowledge of topics of interest to our audience to include: politics, the environment, business, and local sports. And the applicant must be competent on digital equipment, computer use, and have flexible hours. Tapes/CD’s and résumé’s (NO CALLS) to: Bill Lusby, Program Director, WNAV Radio, Radio Park, PO Box 6726, Annapolis, MD 21401. Or a résumé and a short (2 minutes, max!!!) mp3 to jobs@wnav.com. Sajak Broadcasting Corporation is an Equal Opportunity Employer (2/4/10) (From DCRTV's Classified Ads:) Teleprompter gigs wanted. Have gear, will travel. Can set teleprompter up anywhere there’s electricity, on or off camera tripod. Files should be word format. Rate is $350 for half day (5 hours), or $475 for full day (up to 10 hours). Book directly at www.picturethisvideo.net, or call 703-280-4200. (2/4/10) Does anyone know where former "Ten O'clock News" anchor Alan Smith landed after he left DC? Surely his toes were tagged long ago. Obviously he was a local icon (both here and Baltimore-when "Eyewitness News" began). Sadly, he never rec'd the recognition that he deserved. Rusty Gibson (2/4/10) I was never aware that Kathy Whiteside was an intern before going on the air. I always thought she was fantastic on WBIG, as was Goldy and Johnny Dark. Other than that I can't recall any other DJ's on that station that were any good. (2/4/10) THANX FOR BUZZ ON CANDY GIRL & SEASONS CONNECTIIONS VOL 4 with CULT CLASSIC DOO WOP SONG "IS HE REALLY MINE" BY SHIRLEY MATTHEWS WITH SONG WRITING CREDITS TO.......BOB CREWE.... BILL QUINN ....LARRY SANTOS ..... in the recent reissue from AMY/MALA record masters via the net. This tune by Santos & Quinn was revised by Bob Crewe when he produced the follow up recording to "Big Town Boy" for Shirley Matthews. By the way, CANDY GIRL (July 1963 smash hit ) came out before 1972's "Candy Man" from Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory by Sammy Davis, Jr. on MGM. We played Candy Man on WLPL along with top 40/rock charted things like "Smoke On The Water," "Layla," Brandy," "Color My World," "Staiway To Heaven,," Purple Haze,"All Along The Watchtower" or Skynyrd, Clapton, Cream ,The Who, The Stones, The Beatles, CCR The Doobies, The Eagles, and so many many more, the first time around,---- I think before the term "burnout city"was invented and before radio became so fragmented. What we didn't play in authentic R&B,'crossover on WLPL we featured and sometimes duplicated on Stereo 92.3's sister station WSID (1010). so much to.part of the 92 Q WERQ backstory . As far as songs like "Candy Girl" by The Four Seasons...are concerned,. I remember things like influences of Roy Orbison's "Candy Man"--1961 (flip side of "Crying")., ..Mr. B's "Jelly, Jelly. Big Maybelle's, "Candy" 1958 ( Pied Pipers even earlier)----He's /She's So Sweet and Confectionary)----on WSID, WEBB,, WWIN and WOOK---- as helping to set the stage for "the hook" to (I Found Me A Girl).."CANDY, CANDY GIRL" ... and the great falsetto of Frankie Valli kicking in...chills, real chills.....Bob Crewe was the genius behind that sound, the real deal, like that lead clarinet with Major Glenn Miller's Civilan Band & much larger Service Orchestra .... or the incredible Men & Women of the US Aiir Force Orchestra today, stationed in Washington -----.. modernizing the Miller tradition..---. playing that wonderful creative Sammy Nestico book!! In a cut to the chase, Like Major Miller, Stan Kenton, Sauter-Finnegan, Jerry Gray, Billy May, Mr Ellington , Mel's Meltones, Count Basie. Boyd Rayburn, Dizzy Gillespie. Wynton Marsalis,, Louie, the Dave Lambert Singers etc--- ----.nobody but NOBODY had a handle on "those dynanics" .... those magic dynamics .... except BOB CREWE .and his string of hits with "The Seasons," "The Toys." "The Rays" "Diane Renay" , '' Detroit's Mitch Ryder," '' Boston's Freddy Cannon," ... his own "Wiffiingpoof Song'' on The Ed Sullivan Show," ... 'Billie & Lillie, 'The Bob Crewe Generation, The Shepherd Sisters, and the scores of things he ghosted that people don't even know about. I was more than a fly on the wall at the time of "The Dakota" and beautiful Central Park in the 1960's, Almost since the the very beginning in downtown DC and later with the Rockville/ Washinton ID, WINX played the hits, thanks to the music director and owner,who knew and took the cue from Todd Storz and Gordon McLendon, That's around the time I was toiling elsewhere in New England or upstate New York...so many thanks once again to the folks who grew up with those stations and cared about the songs we were playing and keep on keeping on here and now on Dave's dcrtv.com.." My mother would have thanked...my father would have thanked you,----( and as for me, for all the rest ) ----I hope you know---------it goes more than without saying, so let's mention to listen to The Rollye James Show on XM & (Rollye.net) and the Baltimore-Washington area stations that more than merely go through the motions. at this very moment??!!. While we're at it, let's extend our thanks to Nick of Baltimore for helping to keep the hope of good substiative radio alive, whatever the the stripe or format!! Thanks also to stations/people , past & present including cc stations, Scott Shannon's True Oldies....and everybody who host at public stations,doing revivals, so to speak, of color radio like we used to have with Johnny Holliday on Cleveland's WHK,....or with Joel Chaseman 's WINS NYC, Ruth Meyer's WMCA, ,Herb Mendelson's WKBW/WMCA Joey Reynolds of everywhere,and WOR.... Bobby Dell of WOWO/WIND/WWL, Pete Cavanaugh of WTAC, Doc Downey KELP/WPOP --- and even like what Paul James and I were doing on Color Channel 63 in New England and at "Rhodes On The Puxtuxet" in Cranston, R. I. Thanks also to Dr Rooselvelt Wright of The Newhouse School and Clear Channel Worldwide and, of course we include all those other stations in New York, and Baltimore-Washington. All of the staitions that allowed us to hold sway on their " Live Mikes,"----- and that includes New Hampshire's great US Senator to be----- Warren B. "Cal " Rudman of Nashua and Boston. While the future New Hampshire Attorney General and US Senator circa 1970-1992 was attending Syracuse University he was a noteworthy member of our WNDR News Team with a strong commitment to news and community .involvement .He graced the Central New York Airwaves.along with Glenn Williams, Dan Edelstein (Dan Leonard), John C Duvall, Ops Manager Eric Fields and Jim Gordon who was later to go on to serve as Director of News and Public Affairs for Metro Media's WNEW. In this environment in the early 50's, I had the opportunity to handle the drive time program,"The Best On Wax," When we'd break for news I'd hand things over to Warren "Cal" Rudman. reporting the news. "Cal" could be heard occasionally in the morning with legendary personalities, Fred Jeske and Frank Hennessy, who later went to WBAL and became widely known as Commodore Hennessy aboard the good ship, "The Chester Peake." Frank is fondly remembered as he piloted the skip up and down the bay. He awarded thousands of roses to the ladies and was cut from the same cloth as Williard Scott and Ed Walker but harkened back to an earlier era with fellow broadcaster, Fred Jeske who invented morning radio in Chiago, Milwaukee, Des Moines, Atlanta and Syracuse. The shows use to originate in the spacious penthouse art deco studios of WNDR in the Wilson Building in the heart of downtown Syracuse, Eric would throw down a wire to the busy street below and Hennessy would hook up his mke and be on the air with "Side Walk, Sound Off," in front of John Wilson's Jewelry Store landmark location. We all had a warm, wonderful supportive rapport with "Cal"as in Coolidge and all the rest at WINDR at that time.. Later, the format changed, the station became known as "The New WNDR." John Blair became our national rep and and our CHR format took off!! Meanwhile, from time to time, WWDC's Ben Strouse (not to be confused with R. Peter Straus which is another story).-----would complain that our Syracuse 1260 signal was locking horns with his Washington AM , 1260 back when "FM was just a glint." Washington, howevever, soon led the way to the realization we could do lots of things with Frequency Modulation---instead of wishing "that some mother nature ill wind blow our tower over"... as perhaps "Scott Fybush would to take and show the photos to prove it. Ironically, what's going on at some stations is not ways an act of nature... it's maybe.." someone " coming to town after seeing "This Property Is Condemed" "Telling Lies In America" .The Falcon;s Alibi" and "Gone With The Wind.". But let's pause now for INTERMISSION............. BILL QUINN, MQA, Michael Q Anthony.......Baltimore-Washington.Radio/TV (2/4/10) Anagram for Comcast's new Xfinity brand - Tiny Fix. Yes, yes it is. MJ (2/4/10) The Super Bowl will be seen by roughly 60 million Americans. $2.5 million divided by 60M equals 4.2 cents per viewer. That's way cheaper than direct mailing or calling. If anything, McCain should be sending the Census Bureau a thank-you card. beetsnotbeats (2/4/10) Not surprised one of the Junkies is divorcing. I always wondered who would be first for no other reason than statistics. TEM is Killing JFK today with the quality of Super Bowl Guests today. (2/4/10) Good to hear WTOP's Kristy King using her "clown voice" on the panda story this morning! (2/4/10) You thought Tim Tebow's Super Bowl ad was the only one causing a stir? Think again. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) has criticized the Census Bureau's decision to spend $2.5 million for a 30-second ad during Sunday's game. McCain argues that the spending decision is "symptomatic of the spending practices of the federal government and the Congress in a way that is completely out of touch with what's going on out there in the real world." washingtonpost.com/federal-eye (2/4/10) We tried to get in touch with Maria Boynton at CNN Radio a couple of days ago and got word that she's no longer there. What's the word? (2/4/10) I'm amazed that any of the Junkies are married in the first place, because of the nature of their show. I can't imagine anyone, man or woman, being happy when their spouse regularly bashes their gender in a public way. Granted, Junkies' on-air personalities involve a certain degree of caricature, but they still end up treating women as though they're only good for sex. It would be reasonable for any woman to take that personally. The other wrinkle is how they talk about fatherhood as though it's a burden and an inconvenience, complaining about being stuck watching the kids instead of holed up in their mancaves watching ESPN or Spice. They very well may love their wives and their children, yet the personas they've created on radio are those of men who feel trapped in their marriages. I can imagine their wives wondering if the husbands are their real selves on the air and simply putting up fronts at home. (2/4/10) According to Maryland court records, JP Flaim received a speeding ticket on Tuesday, January 19, 2010, 12:47 AM, on southbound I-95 at Rte 100. He was going 87 in a posted 65 MPH zone. The fine is $290.00. Perhaps he needs to slow down in life. (2/4/10) Unsigned Corporate Suit, thank you for your posting of 2/4. Cute idea! In this case, The Post reporter (Paul Farhi) did not get it wrong. Donnie said what he did in a live online chat, where Paul had no opportunity to correct. I suspect some executive along the line showed Donnie some odd piece of research to try to make a point. Donnie is a legend and I don't fault him. He and I first met in the late 70's (I believe) when both the NBC Radio News Washington Bureau and WKYS lived in the basement at 4001 Nebraska Avenue. If my feeble mind isn't failing, I think it was Walter Sabo who introduced us. Unsigned Corporate Suit, I have the feeling I know you. I tried to get Dave Hughes to tell me your identity, but true to his word, he would not reveal anything. Jim (2/4/10) Too bad about JP. He seems to be the only Junkie who actually works on the show. Maybe he can hook up with Jason’s wife after she shoots him, disposes of his body and tells the police he went “on-the-take” with his buddy Osama. (2/4/10) About PPM versus diaries, I don't have a dog in the fight, and I see both systems as having weaknesses. The diary system seemed to be biased in favor of stations and programs with loyal fan bases, at the expense of casual listening. And PPM's raw data approach doesn't seem to reflect the degree of loyalty that listeners may have to shows. If Listener X's meter reports the same station every day at 12 noon, is that because the listener chooses to tune in at that time, or because he goes to the same restaurant or coffee shop every day for lunch where the station is playing in the background? The advertisers don't care either way, because they simply want to reach ears instead of build audiences. But in my view that's the whole problem. "Casual listening" effectively means radio becomes a vehicle for advertising, where the entertainment or informational value is almost an afterthought. I think it's important for the long-term health and vitality of radio to track not just who l! istens but who makes it a point to listen. Dave, what do you think of supplementing PPMs with Nielsen-type meters on radios themselves, to track what stations listeners are choosing? (2/4/10) Gee...if we've run the pants off the WQAM conversation, we can always move on to 96X (WMJX) and how PD Jerry Clifton's "Gregg Austin Is Lost In the Bermuda Triangle" scam lost that station's license for Bartell Broadcasting. (As Greg used to say on the air "You can tell by the smell, it's Bartell!") Jerry, BTW, was the consultant (New World Communications) that took WPGC-FM into Urban in the fall of 1987. But the fun thing is that so many of us who used to work at Q or elsewhere in Miami/FTL have checked in over the past few days. We're out there....and here, too. JYoung, VOA-TV (2/4/10) To the unsigned poster: An internship can, and does, work if the station realizes that they have a commitment to the intern. While at WCAO, it was our duty to school interns and give them responsible duties to perform. Just ask John Patti of WBAL or Dave Johnson of WTOP, and numerous others, if time spent at WCAO was worthwhile. I'm sure Dave Johnson would tell you that the late Bob Bartel of the WCAO news/sports department was his mentor and largely responsible for putting him on the path to success. While some stations don't accept the responsibility of training interns, at WCAO, we took it very seriously. The comments from the professor at Towson, I take with a grain of salt. I was a visiting faculty member there for 6 years. During that time, I got to know several teachers who couldn't make it in broadcasting and had to fall back on their degree to teach and earn a living. How bitter were they? In one class of mine, a student raised his hand and asked me "Do you know that you're the only teacher we have that says anything at all positive about a career in broadcasting?" Keep in mind that everyone in my class was a Mass Communications major. I'm proud of the numerous people that I helped, in some small way, to enjoy a successful career in broadcasting. Greg Carpenter of WLIF-FM and Kathy Whiteside, one of the finest air-talents I've ever known, are two that I'm most proud of. A number of them fell in love with the business through the intern program. It can work but only if the station makes a commitment to make it work.....Johnny Dark (2/4/10) JP mentioned this morning that he has been separated from his wife for nine months and living in a small apartment. I thought maybe it was shtick, since they were laughing about why they would race back to DC from Miami with the impending snowstorm. (2/4/10) RE: "J. P. Flaim announced that he and his wife are divorcing. He has moved out." Who is J.P Flaim and why should we care? (2/4/10)  Ok, I can't resist this... My str8 roommate of 6 years is moving out. He's str8, I'm gay (total odd couple as roommates except that we're both sports fanatics & get along). And no we never had sex (for those perverts out there). So....... JP Flaim, contact me, I don't even mind hot chicks in the house, $500/month including highspeed internet, cable TV, and pool. Plus I have NFL season tickets and no one to go with anymore. CONTACT ME JP! PS: I was thinking of mentioning that I have a home gym, heavy bag, & boxing & UFC gloves, but I didn't wanna bring up a bad memory, oops. :-) (2/4/10)According to Baltimore Media Blog, area cable giant COMCAST is re-branding itself as XFINITY TV, VOICE, & INTERNET and quietly placing limits on subscribers' broadband consumption again starting next week. The changes will happen in the DC, Baltimore, & Philadelphia markets, among others. Strangely, this story has gotten little area media coverage. Nope, no Baltimore Sun coverage nor any local TV news. Where's Z on TV? With all of the monopoly & competition issues with COMCAST taking over NBC/Universal going on in Congress, it's very strange that this has fallen under the local or national news media radar largely. But, then again, virtually every local & national source for media coverage is beholden to COMCAST for advertising money and/or scared to death of them at the same time. There's more in The Seattle Times as well. Oh, and The Washington Post finally got a story up too, although they don't dare criticize COMCAST for the internet bandwidth restrictions nor does anyone criticize Comcast for disabling & potentially damaging brand new HDTV plasma sets nationwide as part of their "DTV conversion". Can't lose those ad dollars, no sir. (2/4/10) J. P. Flaim announced that he and his wife are divorcing. He has moved out. (2/4/10) Jim Farley, ever see those bumper stickers which read “I Don’t Believe the Post”? Now you know why. Those who are down on the PPM have a vested interest in seeing it legislated away, if possible. It’s an attempt to preserve yet another radio format, which is dying. The only difference is classical and beautiful music lacked political clout. As for the PPM vs. the Diary, think back to your “What’s Your Favorite Radio Station” promo. That was the tamest indictment ever of the old diary system. Yet, it was true. The PPM is the most accurate measurement tool of content exposure yet devised. As for the “Post” do you really think anyone takes them seriously anymore? They have reached the incredibility point where if they hired a couple of young reporters who discovered a major illegal operation orchestrated by a national political campaign being covered-up, it could well be derided into obscurity for any number of reasons. (Remember the “Jimmy’s World” series in the Post?) The Post is little more than flatulence in a cyclone these days. If I were you, I’d have a good laugh about this and invite WFRE’s management over to have lunch at what is not just usually (Except for WASH at Christmas time.) Washington’s most listened-to station, but perhaps one of the nation’s. And, that sir, is a responsibility you and Bonneville should face proudly. And seriously. –Unsigned Corporate Suit (2/4/10) I wanted to know how the ratings are for WTTG after they moved Simpsons to late night to put in place with Sienfeld. I hate the office and wish they go back to the old style with one hour simpson and 1 hour Sienfeld. (2/4/10) /\ February 4 Messages /\ \/ February 3 Messages \/ I swear that one of the Sports Junkies announced at the end of today's show that they're getting divorced. That section of the podcast has not been uploaded. Any news from other listeners? Jimmy (2/3/10) Joe Biden... ABC News, seen locally via WASHINGTON DC’s WJLA has a priceless clip of this Class A Moron Biden touting that yes, he has seen Avatar and that he thinks it would be great to see in 3-D. Now maybe Joe sees all movies in 3-D, or maybe he is lying, or maybe he thought those were sunglasses he was wearing in the theater because he such a frigging rock star. Even the lemming MSM idiots thought it a bit odd. Either way, remember: this guy is but a heartbeat away from being POTUS. Be afraid: be very, very afraid. abcnews.go.com (2/3/10) Dave...you seem to be gleefully reporting on Chris Matthews 5:00 Tuesday show finishing last in its time slot, implying it's due to Paul Farhi's appearance. I doubt that that's the reason...I don't believe Farhi's appearance was announced in advance, and who would care anyway? I realize you have many issues with Farhi, and I have no feelings about him one way or the other. But, in my opinion, Chris Matthews would have finished last with or without Paul Farhi. I actually watch Chris Matthews' show, and I don't even like him. -- Bobbie (2/3/10) Angie G. a "bright spot" ?? Her voice sounds like a hacksaw on sheet metal. Hit mute if you have to watch. (2/3/10) I am new to reading and posting this site. I am curious to know what exactly the "TOGS", corpse, wedding submission means? It is extremely disturbing and doesn't appear to have a place in this forum. Just a new readers opinion, but whomever sent that in may want to seek help. - Pete in South Riding (2/3/10) Why Is a Miami radio station such a debate in the mailbag section of a D.C./Baltimore media web site? As far as Katie Couric goes CBS has to reduce her salary but they should leave it up to her if she really wants to stay there 10 million a year(?????) would still be a lot of money. Her verses Diane Sawyer is still something that we all should still let play out there is no star that CBS could put in that seat that may turn the ratings around. If she leaves Russ Mitchell or Jeff Glor would be your likely replacements. And finally with the PPM I think that urban broadcasters are fearful that with the low ad rates that urban radio gets anyway whether the ratings are good or not with the diary or PPM that lower ratings and lower ad rates mean large population groups will lose there quote "ethnic" station and that would be a terrible thing for those groups except i guess if you hate black radio or if you could care less about the issue. (2/3/10) Anyone know if there's video of the entire show for Donnie Simpson's last day? (2/3/10) WQAM: 56Super Q: I used to listen to WQAM in Cocoa Beach 200 miles north of Miami growing up. It had an incredible signal. Tom R/Fairfax (2/3/10) Re: CORY.....WINZ-AM was MOR in '68. In '69 & "70 I was the alleged News Director of a one-man news department at WSBR in Boca Raton when Chuck Edwards from INZ became our midday guy. As a 22-year-old I was anxious to learn about bigger market radio. Edwards' words to me were prophetic. "Bigger market,,,bigger bullshit." Another mainstay on WGBS that CORY mentioned was Ron St. John who went there from WQAM. It's Ron's voice we've been hearing hawking Pocket Fisherman, Spray-On Hair and decades of "as seen on TV" products. I later spent 3 and a half years ('75-'78) on WQAM as it went the way of WABC, WLS and all the great old AM rockers, going down like the Titanic at the hands of FMs Y-100 and WMYQ. But in the '60s in Miami, Tiger Radio, WQAM was King. Rest in peace PD Jimmy Dunlap. Rest in peace.--JL (2/3/10) HFSkimo! No snow job. (2/3/10) Hey Cory, WINZ was a very conservative CBS-sounding station in around 1967. An Army bud, Nolan Kenner, was on the air there. Tom Gauger (2/3/10) To the person who asked me (in regards to WQAM's audio stream..you ask "Couldn't I have figured that out for myself? I must repeat again..according to my screen reader (I use that because I am visually impaired)..sometimes, these web pages are configured in such a way as the software that folks who are blind (or visually impaired)..doesn't pick up a "listen live" link! I'll go to that page and have another look (maybe I missed it somehow)..but don't think so; this is why AI thought some kind soul in the DCRTV mailbag could help! Tom in Denton, MD (2/3/10) Well folks it looks like we in the mid-Atlantic might be in for yet another major snowfall. Issues to be considered, will the tv weather forecasters in Baltimore get this one right? And since its coming on a weekend will all (4) of Baltimore’s tv stations do a morning newscast on Saturday and/or Sunday? During that last big weekend snowstorm Baltimore tv viewers found coverage on CH2, CH11, and CH 13. But the Fox affiliate CH45 was missing until much later in the day. Everyone knows that CH2 is generally out of the tv news business on weekends. CH 45 only does a 10p newscast on Saturday and Sunday. One might suggest that its better to cover a storm while its happening, not after it has ended. Let’s see what happens on all fronts. (2/3/10) Ask your self this, oh wise seers of the radio spectrum: would Simpson and Nestor complain about Arbitron or PPM if their respective stations we’re number one? (2/3/10) Whoever the pompous "TOGS" is, he/she would certainly decide that if there were a wedding "She" would have to be the bride. And if there was a funeral, "TOGS" would have to be the corpse. Once again enjoy your unwanted participation in this forum Bitch! By the Way, I could be your Daddy. The Watcher/Listener (2/3/10) Oh boy! An AM radio talker is devoting three hours to Obama’s alleged birth certificate this Friday. Can’t wait…Can’t wait. Can this talker throw in the words “Marxist” or “Socialist” as well, for us? Can this AM talker also inform us on ACORN, and how they stole the election for Obama? Can’t wait, can’t wait for Friday. Oh, I think to round out the show, this talker should give us updates on Obama’s Muslim heritage. Hard hitting stuff, I tell you; can’t wait until Friday. Let’s see, we haven’t had an update on Obama’s deep friendship with Bill Ayres, can this AM talker expose that issue as well? Birth certificate, Muslim heritage, Bill Ayres, Socialist, all new and inquisitive stuff, I tell you; can’t wait until Friday. The only thing that can make this show better would be a “get out of debt” commercial followed by a “buy gold” commercial. I just can’t wait for Friday. (2/3/10) Dave's response: Dan Snyder makes us so "proud" on the football field. Now, via his crappy little WTNT, which stinks worse than WMAL even, he generates so much "pride" on the local radio airwaves. Question: Why does Snyder go out of his way to make people dislike him? Hmmm..... Re:Tom Gauger.....I would go to visit my parents in North Miami Beach.I would listen to WGBS(710 AM) owned by Storer Broadcasting, who I worked for in New York(WHN 1050 AM).Nice MOR/beautiful music sound.What format did WINZ have in 1968? CORY (2/3/10) RE:" Did anyone else hear Mickey and Amelia this morning on 98 Rock call out a professor at Towson University who claimed that an internship at their station had no value? I wasn't able to hear how the conversation ended, but I have to wonder what in the world a PhD in Communications thought would happen to make such a claim about a local cluster of stations?" In reality, that professor was speaking the truth. There is no way in hell that 98 ROCK or any other station will hire a fresh person from school! Hell, CBS does not even take BIM interns anymore. So, yes, there is no value, as the time wasted getting Stash coffee, giving out bumperstickers and setting up the tent at events will never lead to a job that pays enough to pay this month's BGE bill! (2/3/10) Snow Job?!? The first thing that comes to mind with that term is The HFS Snojob,or was it The HFSkimo Snojob? Either way I didn't get to go. PPMs and Minority stations....uh correct me if I'm wrong(and I'm often wrong) but doesn't Minority mean LESS?!? As in fewer people? So wouldn't it follow that there would be less instances of minority stations registering on PPMs? Maybe its just too complicated for me to understand. Maybe I should stick to easier questions....like what came first-the chicken or the nugget?Or why there are soft tacos and crunchy burritos? Or why stock brokers are allowed to be as incorrect as weathermen. Donnie (2/3/10) Question: Just what does this have to do with broadcasting???? (Snow job??? Say...that's what the fired CBS'ers can do this weekend! Whucka whucka whucka...be sure to tip your waitresses! BLP 8-P -togs?) (2/3/10) Yes, WQAM streams its audio. Go to WQAM.com, click on Audio, then click on Listen Live. But, couldn't you have figured that out for yourself? (2/3/10) Snow job??? Say...that's what the fired CBS'ers can do this weekend! Whucka whucka whucka...be sure to tip your waitresses! BLP 8-P (2/3/10) Jeff Kuhner announced today on his 12 Noon to 3 PM weekday radio show on 570 AM WTNT that he will host special expert guests and live listener comments addressing the Obama birth certificate and citizenship issues for his entire three hour show this Friday, February 5. This has been a very hot top on the Billy Cunningham and Michael Savage national shows, so can you post it on your web site? You can obtain more information by calling Jeff's producer Ray tomorrow at (301) 984-9570 between 12 Noon to 3 PM or simply listen to Jeff's show on WTNT for updates. Jeff Kuhner now has his own show on WTNT (since November 2009), but he has been a frequent substitute for Michael Savage over the last year. Many thanks. Tom Warren, Temple Hills, MD (2/3/10) One critical difference between PPM and diary research is that the diary allowed listeners to “vote” for favorite stations by overstating the time spent listening to that favorite—inflating AQH numbers, though not cume. We have all known for decades that niche formatted stations benefitted inordinately from lengthy TSL, and suspected that some of it came from lack of direct competitors and—most likely—some from “voting” instead of actual “listening.” In the DC metro, Urban is certainly not a niche, but it may very well be a format that reaped the benefits of being a fan favorite. (2/3/10) (From DCRTV's Classified Ads:) WarpathConfidential.com seeks experienced local ad reps for website, podcast and monthly magazine. Est. 1981, we’re not another startup, but expanding. Best candidate is someone who double-dips off known clients. 40 percent commission, no salary. Serious inquiries only. Email warpathonline@yahoo.com with background information. (2/3/10) (From DCRTV's Classified Ads:) We are looking for a Program Director for heritage AC Key 103 in Frederick, Maryland. If you have a passion for creating community involved promotionally active radio with strong fundamentals, possess exceptional people skills, and thrive on creating high touch relatable radio, then we would love to hear from you. Airshift included, (we look for relatable personalities - not DJs or liner readers) who understand connecting with the audience while moving the station forward. If this is you, please send your mp3 and programming philosophies to: nassaujobs@nassaubroadcasting.com. No call please, EOE. (2/3/10) I am getting tired of CH 9 preempting the CBS Morning show to regurgitate the same of stuff whenever it snows. The only bright spot is Angie G. She could stay on the air 24/7 and I would be glued to the screen. (2/3/10) RE: "So the new Miss America is a BJ graduate. Wait til her first employer learns that BJ stands for Bachelor of Journalism." Why isn't it Bachelorette? KOF (2/3/10) Makes you wonder, doesn't it? Are we really in for a big storm this weekend, or just another snow job? KOF (2/3/10) I am sorry for starting such a debate over WQAM. I grew up listening to the station as a kid who bounced between Miami and Tampa. I recall the station as a onetime force in the state. Things change and I defer to those people who have articulately painted such interesting pictures of the station. Nevertheless it really was never meant to go to this extent and have a great day. It is always fun to check the mailbag. Cheers, Jim (2/3/10) More PPM stuff. Nestor chimes in with this, from his blog of 02/02 posted on WNST.net: "Arbitron is the sole possessor – a monopoly if there ever was one – of the business of the radio industry. It’s false. It’s fake. Everyone in the industry knows it and acknowledges that this entire industry is still funded via this “cloud measurement” system of ratings. Now they’ve graduated to “People Meters” at Arbitron, giving the folks in the radio business more back doors to cheat the system and falsify readings that begin with a flawed measurement system. In the industry, they’re called “PPMs.” I’ll just save my breath on the “science” of these things for a link here. That way you can make up your own mind." (2/3/10) Well, on my local WASHINGTON DC Fios cable/internet provider I saw this story firedoglake.com which caused Rush Limbaugh on my local WASHINGTON DC radio station WMAL today to question why Rahm apologized to “retards” but not to Democrats for calling them such: I swear you can’t make this stuff up. (2/3/10) Used to watch that songwriter dude, Larry Santos in Michigan....awesme, awesome!!!!!dc WINX played "Candy Girl" by The Four Seasons when it first came out back in the day. Thought it would be in "Jersey Boys" fer sure, but it wasn't.....why? Not even in the cd...why? Loved the show, OMG!!!!! Heard maybe a new show will do it, but when? Love those oldies!!! Look forward to see or hear new info............yeah, and best spot to hear it on RADIO, satellite, internet, whatever!!! Maybe Dave's "sight" can help....eye hope! Shay in Olney (2/13/10) Re" WQAM: but what I still want to know is..do they stream their audio? Apparently they don't (or maybe my screen reader just doesn't find it)..I, too, wish Anita Marks the best; didn't always agree with her..but kind of enjoyed listening to she and Scott go back and forth! If there's one criticism I used to have about her it was this: before she was teamed up with Scott Garceau, she often would go off-topic and they'd get on a jag about American Idle and such; I also remember that back during that time, it seemed that they never took as many phone calls! Tom in Denton, MD (2/3/10) Hey, Doug Hill and Topper Shutt. Just checked your current forecasts (as of 1:30pm, 2-03) on the web at WJLA and WUSA, respectively. No specific snowfall estimates or the big storm expected this weekend. Many of your other local and national colleagues have already weighed in. Whatsa matter? (2/3/10) ACH Fox is right on target. Dispense with the Bulldoogy.togs (2/3/10)  (Better late than never...) For the chap who sought Soupy Sales' original ragtime music theme, obscure-tune expert Forrest Patten identifies the tune as "Flying Fingers," a 1952 recording by Chicago-based Bill Snyder with his "harpsi-piano." As luck would have it, a 45-RPM EP record of that music is being auctioned now at: ebay.com... Forrest also states that when Soupy moved his show from Detroit to ABC-TV in Hollywood, Jimmie Haskell wrote a new theme in the style of "Flying Fingers" and titled it "Soupy's Theme". That second piece was released on a Reprise LP titled 'The Soupy Sales Show' and can be found around the Internet. When Soupy returned to TV in the mid-60s with his WNEW-TV5 show, he went back to using "Flying Fingers" for the opening. (2/3/10)So the new Miss America is a BJ graduate. Wait til her first employer learns that BJ stands for Bachelor of Journalism. (2/3/10) I know Donnie Simpson and consider him a friend, so it grieves me to say this, but his railing against the PPM is nonsense. It matters not that somebody at work may have WXXX in the background when they'd rather be listening to WYYY. The person was listening to WXXX, and heard the commercials on WXXX. That's all that matters, and was all that was supposed to matter under the diary system. Any program director who ever went through raw diaries at Arbitron Columbia or before that, Arbitron Beltsville, can tell you they came away A) with teeth-gritting angst or B) thanking their lucky stars. Either way, the pd knew that the system was a blind guess in the dark, as they looked at the half-baked notations of what station the diary-keeper was allegedly-reportedly-maybe listening to. Does anybody really think that the people meters have a racism chip, which automatically ignore certain types of music, certain languages, or certain dialects? As other posters have noted, a lot of stations coasted for decades on lies their listeners wrote down in their diaries. Now, we know what folks actually listen to. And while you can quibble with sample size, the technology works just fine, and even increasing the sample size isn't going to make major changes to what people really hear on the radio. All the pathetic whining by black and latino congressmen can't change the stark truth. (2/3/10) The real reason that the PPM's have "hurt" ethnic radio is because they do not employ ethnic weighing, like the diaries did. The diary system had minorities counting for more people than non-minorities, a practice (like the Census) that was put in place to counter the lack of participation from minorities back in the 70's and earlier, when people were afraid for many reasons to send their information to places like Arbitron and the government. As that fear went away and minorities started sending the diaries back, the system was bogus when it came to counting minorities, specifically African-American targeted stations. Markets with a 15% African American audience had 3 or 4 African American targeted stations in the top 10, usually at least 2 in the top 5. Doing the math with population numbers, it's just not possible. The PPM's are a better reflection of what everyone is listening to, regardless of race, etc. They didn't "hurt" anything, they just showed a closer look at the reality of things. Let's hope that ethnic weighing remains a thing of the past, even though there are a lot of special interest groups fighting to reinstate that archaic and flawed means of counting people. (2/3/10) Wading in a bit on the WQAM thread. My family lived in Cocoa Beach since 1964 and both WQAM and WIOD (where I worked for two years) could be heard there. Yeah, there was static, but you could hear both stations. My parents could hear me doing PM drive on ‘IOD. On another matter, WFUN was not ‘QAM’s closest competitor in the ratings (Hooperatings, I think). It was WIOD. ‘QAM was the big rocker and ‘IOD was News-Sports-Info and MOR music prepared by the always exciting Yolanda Parapar. Rick Shaw, Dan Chandler and I were pretty good friends and would frequently send trash mail back and forth over contests and other image stuff the two stations were doing on-air. At the time, both stations had sticks and ground planes in Biscayne Bay. When I left Miami to come to ‘MAL in ’68 Rick Shaw sent a nice note saying I could have easily been a Tiger on ‘QAM’s outstanding line-up. Incidentally, Larry King did a very popular nighttime talk show on ‘IOD when I was there. He also had a hot column in the old Miami Beach Sun. Tom Gauger (2/3/10) This whole 'PPM vs Urban radio' debate has got to stop. There is no bias in the PPM system against particular races or formats. What the PPM shows is that people do not listen to one single radio station as long as we thought they did. In the diary world, someone would write down that they listened to , say, Donnie Simpson, from 7 am until 8:20. The reality is - they were not listening to, say, Donnie Simpson that entire time. But, when they reconstructed their day later they wrote down what they thought they were listening to. This was the flaw in the old system that allowed certain formats to flourish beyond their realities. The new system now picks up more casual listening (what we used to call phantom cume) and shows that mass appeal stations tend to get more listening. Duh. Throughout the radio world the time people spend with a radio station is much less than was seen in the diary. The flip is that more people are listening to more stations. Is PPM perfect? Hell no. However, is PPM biased? Absolutely not. Some of the debate being raged on this board has been percolating throughout the radio industry. The not-so-thinly veiled subtext is that PPM is, well, racist. That is horseshit. Urban radio is fighting PPM because they had their world turned upside down because of the fact that PPM measures reality and not perception. Across the country, many urban radio stations have adapted to this new reality, made their stations better and returned to or near their diary levels. The fall of radio stations like WPGC has more to do with their product than it does with a new methodology. (2/3/10) Y'all are forgetting one thing about WQAM's reach: If you're right on the coast you can pick it up pretty respectably all the way to South Carolina, as far as Myrtle Beach. (Hey, I'm a poet and didn't know it!) During the '60s I had a blast listening to many Florida AM's from the Grand Strand in the middle of the day, mind you--thru all the T-storm static, of course. Ever wonder why there are no other 560 kHz'ers in the Southeast except inland (WVOC, Columbia) and far enough north (WGAI, Elizabeth City), where 'QAM doesn't interfere and vice versa? KOF (2/3/10) "Re: FNC cuts away after 90-seconds . . ." That may be the weakest response in the history of the DRCTV Mailbag. Oh wait, take it back because of the four exclamation points. ACH (2/3/10) Ref: FNC cuts away after 90-seconds. Sorry the BS button pegged again !!!! (2/3/10) Re: Miss America/Former Miss Virginia wanting to be a TV news anchor...on a similar note last night I was checking out Newspaperarchive.com only to find two articles about the former Miss California Carrie Prejean and how shortly after she had made that statement about how she was against same-sex marriages and civil unions many local TV and radio stations were seriously interested in making her a part of their team. Interesting WTOP or WMAL wasn't on the list but Salem/WAVA was. Another station was Roanoke's WSLS-TV channel 10 and Lynchburg's WSET-TV channel 13. Lynchburg's Liberty University had offerend Carrie Prejean a full scholarship so I can see why WSLS and WSET would had been interested and as far as I know that scholarship from Liberty still stands despite Prejean's porn pics/video. Anyway I have to wonder if any of those broadcast job offers still stand today? WSLS would be interesting to see if they still would want Carrie Prejean since this was the station who a few years back had fired a popular weatherman because a nude pic had popped up onto My Space and soon after that I believe WSLS started going after other radio and TV stations over the morals of their employees as well. Imagine the uproar if WSLS was willing to look the other way with Carrie Prejean, that is if WSLS is still interested in the first place. (2/3/10) "WTOP VP/Programming Jim Farley asks the Washington Post to run a correction to a Q&A yesterday featuring former WPGCer Donnie Simpson, who claimed that the allegedly faulty Portable People Meter radio ratings once showed that Frederick country outlet WFRE once topped the Washington radio ratings." Give me a break. Does WTOP run corrections when people it interviews or quotes misstate facts? Or even when their chucklehhead anchors make mistakes (whcih they frequently do)?? What a bunch of hooey. (2/3/10) The problem`s that the PPM have caused with black radio have generally been with the hip-hop urban contemporary format and not the adult urban contemporary format which is still doing well even with PPM. Case in point WHUR, WMMJ,and WWIN these three stations have the adult urban format which is an older format than the younger hip-hop urban contemporary format which is ran on WPGC, WERQ, and WKYS. The first three station`s do very well in the region with the PPM. Of the other three only WERQ is doing very well with the PPM in all age demo`s and that is only because there is no competition for WERQ in the Baltimore market. If WPGC goes away WKYS should jump into the top 10 of the Washington ratings very quickly if not the top 5 on a consistent basis. I think that the advertisers and the radio executives have to find some happy medium with the PPM and the urban hip-hop format and that would be to narrow the focus to demo`s like the 18-34 age group can a WPGC make money being number one with the 18-34 crowd only time will tell,but the hip-hop black/urban format has its place on the radio dial it now has to find out where it fits in when it comes to D.C. Donnie is correct it has hurt that format i do not think that places that have very large black population`s like D. C.,Philly,Chicago,L.A., AND N.Y. where the format was highly rated have all of a sudden stop liking hip-hop radio so there is something wrong with the system. (2/3/10) New record for Fox News? The President of the United States begins a speech this morning at ten and FNC cuts away after 90-seconds. The other news channels (CNN, CNBC, MSNBC, and C-Span) continue to carry the President's remarks. How rude. Okay, that's their right to be sure, but don't keep telling the public that you're "fair and balanced" when what you are is the voice of the Republican Party. ACH. (2/3/10) (snip) The former Miss Virginia ... is a BJ grad student at Virginia Commonwealth (end snip). Don't even THINK it, you bottom-feeding maggots. (2/3/10) Dave's response: Jeez. BJ = broadcast journalism. Get your mind out of the gutter..... Did anyone else hear Mickey and Amelia this morning on 98 Rock call out a professor at Towson University who claimed that an internship at their station had no value? I wasn't able to hear how the conversation ended, but I have to wonder what in the world a PhD in Communications thought would happen to make such a claim about a local cluster of stations? Was there any thought to the PR ramifications? I'm curious if anyone else has any thoughts on the matter. Chris (2/3/10) The following was forwarded to DCRTV..... From: Jim Farley... To: Paul Farhi... Subject: You need to correct this from your (Washington Post) online chat (Tuesday)... ("Donnie Simpson: In one rating period, WFRE, a country station in Frederick, MD showed up number one in DC...") I am a big fan of Donnie Simpson and I listened to his classy last show (on WPGC) Friday. But that never happened. Maybe some exec showed him faulty data. In the history of PPM in Washington, WTOP and WASH have been the only stations to score # 1 full week 12+. In the "money" demo of 25-54 full week, the only stations to hit # 1 have been WTOP, WASH and WHUR. Jim Farley (2/3/10) Dave's response: Yeah, I never remember Frederick's WFRE ever topping the Washington area radio ratings..... DCRTV was forwarded a copy of the obituary for Channel 7 WJLA/News Channel 8 news anchor Doug McKelway's father..... Dr. William Prentiss McKelway, a native Washingtonian and longtime obstetrician who cared for patients from every walk of life, died Sunday after a prolonged illness. Dr. McKelway, who was 87, died from problems associated with kidney disease and congestive heart failure, his family said. A graduate of the city's Central High School, Dr. McKelway was the second of three sons born into a family known for its journalists and Presbyterian ministers. Dr. McKelway graduated from Washington & Lee University in Lexington, Va., in 1943 and was a veteran of the Allied invasion of the Normandy coast a year later, on June 6th, 1944. He was the product of an accelerated academic program at W&L, entered active service in the U.S. Navy in September 1943, and soon found himself at the helm of an LST supply ship making its way down the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, bound for Europe. "I just followed the ship in front of me," he said some years ago, offering one of his rare revelations about the D-Day landings, where he ferried British and Canadian troops to their designated landing zones, "Sword" and "Juno" beaches, returning to Great Britain with the wounded, and German prisoners of war. He also served in the Pacific theatre, where he was selected , at the age of 22, to command a convoy of ships across the Pacific at wars end, much to the chagrin of more senior officers. He received the American Area Campaign, Asiatic and European African Ribbons. Dr. McKelway's two brothers also were veterans and his father, Benjamin M. McKelway, editor of the Washington Evening Star and president of the Associated Press, was one of a few editors selected by General Eisenhower to cover the liberation of the Nazi death camps. During leave, Dr. McKelway married his college sweetheart, Lexington, Va., native Elisabeth Paxton Locher, at a ceremony at the National Cathedral in August 1945. Mrs. McKelway survives her husband, as do their five children. Dr. McKelway graduated from George Washington University Medical School in 1950 and completed his residency at George Washington University Hospital in 1954. He became a full Clinical Professor in 1974, at which time he was noted for "the highest degree of surgical skill" and "a quiet and imperturbable demeanor." Other surgeons were known to gather in the operating room to watch his technique -- marked by uncanny precision. Colleagues were known to refer more difficult proceedures to him, rather than risk bad outcomes. "Dr. McKelway has been an exemplary model for the several hundred resident physicians who have trained under him," said then-University President Lloyd H. Elliott, when Dr. McKelway was named Professor Emeritus of Clinical Obstetrics and Gynecology in 1987. Fellow doctors said he was at the vanguard of advances in gynecologic oncology. Dr. McKelway grew up on Park Road beside Rock Creek Park in the city, a home aswarm with Presbyterian relatives, golf clubs, a Newfoundland dog named Beau and a father who had begun the newspaper trade as a copy boy. Dr. McKelway's uncle was a celebrated writer and editor at the New Yorker magazine for 30 years; his grandfather, the Rev. A.J. McKelway, moved the family to Washington at the turn of the 20th century to lobby Congress for the adoption of laws restricting child labor, primarily in cotton mills and coal mines. Dr. McKelway's great-uncle was editor of the Brooklyn, N.Y., Eagle newspaper. Dr. McKelway's patients ranged from the city's most prominent citizens to its most ignored, and he traveled to Native American Indian reservations in the west to provide medical care there. A private medical practice he helped found in the mid-1960s, Foxhall OB-GYN Associates, continues to flourish. He was a fluid, graceful athlete, excelling at every sport from his earliest years in high school to his last decades. He loved the boats and waters of the Chesapeake Bay and Maine all his life; he delighted his family on late Sunday afternoons with blow-by-blow descriptions of his golf outings with friends at the Chevy Chase Club, where he was a member for several decades, known for his unflappable determination and steady hands on three-foot putts. Dr. McKelway will be remembered by his many friends and patients as a soft-spoken, discreet, patient listener, qualities that disguised a fierce intellect bent on bringing life gently into the world and ending pain and suffering. He loved the comraderie of several clubs, among them: the Alfalfa Club, the Metropolitan Club, the Gridiron, and the Courstormers. In addition to his wife, Dr. McKelway is survived by his five children: William P. McKelway Jr. of Richmond, Va. (Leigh Ann); Martha Stringer of Clarksburg, Md. (John Thomas); Dr. David A. McKelway of Oakland, Me. (Cathy); Margaret Clark of Chevy Chase, Md. (David); and Douglas B. McKelway of Falls Church, Va. (Susan). Also surviving are 13 grandchildren and one great-grandchild. The family wishes to extend its continuing and heartfelt appreciation to the staff of Sibley Memorial Hospital for the tireless care provided to Dr. McKelway and being provided to Mrs. McKelway. A funeral service will be conducted Friday at 1:30 p.m. at St. David's Episcopal Church, 5150 Macomb Street NW, Washington, D.C. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the George Washington University Hospital Residency Program. Address: GWU Development & Alumni Relations, Ross Hall suite 615, 2300 Eye St., NW, Washington, D.C. 20037, attn: Lynn Rozental (2/3/10) The new Miss America wants to be a TV news anchor. Does FOX5 have any openings? She's the former Miss Virginia, and is a BJ grad student at Virginia Commonwealth. Al McGilvray (2/3/10) Dave's response: If Roger Ailes thinks she's hot, she could be on Fox News real soon. Ain't "journalism" wonderful..... The WQAM poster is correct, the practical limit of WQAM daytime coverage is Ft Pierce. Also co-channel stations in Cuba and Jamaica could impact WQAM coverage in the Bahamas. Radio Locator maps do not show interference. A problem with media is they would just as easily play the other side if it suits them- if a small station in North Florida was trying to upgrade on 550 or 570 they would paint WQAM as a villain. The WQAM main site has not been in Biscayne Bay for over 15 years, they are on Virginia Key with a conventional ground system. (2/3/10) I did not write what I did about WQAM/Miami to contrast or dispute anything said by Jim Williams of the Examiner or anything else. My remarks are first hand observations of a former employee of that radio station, and stand as such. It doesn't matter to me if Q56 is, or was, heard in Jupiter or Melbourne. Whatever. And to blast with all-caps? So? (2/3/10) WTOP reporter Patricia Guadalupe has posted on her Facebook page that she's leaving "the best damn job in the world" for her new gig with the National Association of Latino Elected Officials. If it's the "best damn job in the world", why is she leaving it? What's wrong with this picture? (2/3/10) Dave...I love Donny Simpson. He is a real pro. But NOBODY on a big league station picks their own music anymore. His carping makes him sound like a dinosaur! The stakes are different than they were 30 years ago. As for the PPMs, all the ratings systems have flaws... but checking the numbers for WHUR, makes his premise of their hurting "minority" stations look silly. Donny...Sirius-XM would be a good fit for you.....and frankly, after your great run, you deserve a break from ratings-driven radio. A Vet of the Radio Wars.... (2/3/10) (Snip)...that guy having an aneurysm every night...(end snip) I believe you are refering to Mark......Levin, from his undisclosed underground bunker. Al McGilvray (2/3/10) "Also, Mike O’Meara’s 2:00 release of his podcast (Actually, right before 2:00) is also killing the first hour of Phad Pukes first hour. I know its driving him nuts he is not going 3:00 to 7:00 like his old heroes. His first hour is slammed by Mike and the Big O and he doesn’t get 6-7:00." Please think about what you write before you write it, the release of a podcast is not killing the first hour of their show. One people who listen to The Fan listen because they want sports talk not because they want Mike O'Meara, Two Mike does a podcast so his show is really not relevant and can be listened to anytime after it's release. (2/3/10) The WQAM 560 comments were interesting, but still don't dispute my main point..... Even though WQAM might be heard in Cuba and Jamaica, IT'S NOT HEARD UP AND DOWN THE EAST COAST OF FLORIDA which is the quote from The Washington Examiner and on DCRTV.com. JIM WILLIAMS OF THE EXAMINER AND DCRTV ARE JUST PLAIN WRONG! Geez, why do people debate stuff beyond reasonable factuality still when they know they are WRONG? I've been to Melbourne, Cocoa Beach, Daytona Beach, Orlando, and Jacksonville, FL. YOU CANNOT GET THAT STATION IN THOSE PLACES! But I wish Anita Marks the best. Everyone is slamming her in Baltimore. The only person I've read so far to defend her is Bruce Cunningham of FOX45 & 105.7 The Fan on Baltimore Media Blog. (2/3/10) Donnie Simpson Signs Off The Air! My longtime friend Washington DC's Legendary Donnie Simpson Signs Of The Air After 32 Years In Radio. They forced this decision, but he walked away as the respected gentleman of the industry he's always been. We'll miss you Donnie! See the pictures of his emotional last day at www.SmoothJazzAmerica.com. Pass it on and tune in to Smooth Jazz America live worldwide via the internet 24/7 at www.live365.com. (2/3/10) The end of 'Don't Ask-Don't Tell' is heating up as a political radio/cable topic. As it does, may I suggest that the usual rightwing radio crowd take a moment to reflect upon their years in the military and relate how the presence of a gay or lesbian fellow servicemember affected their enlistment experience. [Final JeopardyTheme] - - - [crickets]. (2/3/10) /\ February 3 Messages /\ \/ February 2 Messages \/ RE: "Donnie Simpson is a class act but he needs to get a grip. He said that PPM measures what it hears, not what you hear. And, the old diary method recorded what you think you remembered you heard - not what you actually listened to." Fantastic point. Exactly what happened to the record industry when Soundscan was introduced in 90-91. I distinctly remember the collective industry gasp when the rap group N.W.A. had the #1 album in the country! (2/2/10) OOBBEE Says: I am driving home from work from 6:00 PM to 7:00 today and my choice is a live feed of TEM in Miami at THE SUPER BOWL or The Fan covering a wing eating contest at Hard Times. In the 6:00 to 7:00 slot, TEM must be killing the Fan. Also, Mike O’Meara’s 2:00 release of his podcast (Actually, right before 2:00) is also killing the first hour of Phad Pukes first hour. I know its driving him nuts he is not going 3:00 to 7:00 like his old heroes. His first hour is slammed by Mike and the Big O and he doesn’t get 6-7:00. I miss the old Phad. His personality is boxed in. If they would just let him and Tired T Shirt work and let Lavar work the phones or sign autographs on Main St. They know sports and have an opinion on them. Every day Dukes asks Lavar a question to get things going and then there is a pregnant pause that is uncomfortable and then a rambling no sense answer. This format is killing the Junks too. I love the Junks. But, if it is straight sports and Super Bowl week, I find myself switching during station breaks to Mike and Mike who I really don’t like that much. But, I stay because they are ESPN which gets them great Super Bowl guests that really talk football. Let the Junks be the Junks and Phad be Phad and get something for old T shirt. That is the talent; the only talent that is there. Use it. The numbers suck and will go down from here. Mike Wise is old already. Mr. Tony Rocks. He does sports and current events. The Sports Reporters are the Junkies in 30 years and they have freedom to talk about current events as well as sports. I dabble with Mush mouth and phad and pray T Shirt mikes up. My day: I start Junkies, go to Mr. Tony to Mike O on and off at work and then to the Sports Reporters. JFK should pay John Thomson's salary since he is a dial turner at TEM. In fact, his two hours would be a great place for the MOM show! (2/2/10) Reason; "For God's sake, turn off the AM band!" John, then where would we hear the bullsh1t of Andy Parks, Chris Plante, Hammity, and that guy having an aneurysm every night? Speaking of Hammity and B.S., Hammity replayed on his radio show his "interview" with Mr. O'Keefe from last night's Faux News show. When Mr. O'Keefe said he was being treated well by the US Attorney's office, Hammity never asked about the connection one of Mr. O'Keefe's cohorts in crime has with that office in Louisiana. Major B.S. FAIL. You can hear BS every day on 630 WMAL. (2/2/10) RE: WPGC and PPM- yes, but 102.3 transmits from the same area the big players chose to locate when they could have been anywhere. That is the best location for overall market coverage and WPGC is not there. (2/2/10) Look at the pattern: www.radio-locator.com... The 560 WQAM daytime pattern looks pretty good, I guess, but compare it to a Florida neighbor, 620 WDAE (the old WSUN). www.radio-locator.com... They were on the air so early that they were the first station in Florida that used a directive array to maximize the coverage over land mass. WQAM's pattern covers some fine ocean area. However, since they are AM stations, they both suck, just like WMAL, WTEM and WFED. For God's sake, turn off the AM band! John (2/2/10) Re: WPGC and PPM Maybe the WPGC signal does not have overall market coverage compared to stations with more centrally located transmitters, and this shows up in PPM. PPM may be more of a verdict on total market signal than the diary. (2/2/10) Dave's response: 95.5 is an inside-the-Beltway FMer. It's got a great signal, unlike the weaker but better rated 102.3. That lack of overall market coverage disadvantage might hold up for the PPM ratings challenged outside-the-Beltway FMers 92.7/94.3, 99.1, 104.1, 105.9, and 106.7..... I dont know DJ Rico and may or may not have ever heard him on WPGC but slamming WPGC and CBS publically might be regretted later when he tries to get a gig at Emmis, Bonneville, Citadel, Clear Channel, or even elsewhere with CBS. Not a smart move. Tom R/Fairfax (2/2/10) Donnie Simpson is a class act but he needs to get a grip. He said that PPM measures what it hears, not what you hear. And, the old diary method recorded what you think you remembered you heard - not what you actually listened to. PPM measures radio listening in real time. The diary was filled in long after the actual listening occurred. The reason urban radio is down is because PPM records actual listening - not recalled listening. People never really listen to one radio station from the time they get into their car (or office) until the time they leave. They occasionally change stations or go to the bathroom or talk on their cell phone. Donnie and WPGC can thank the diary for their incredible ratings run.He made a lot of money based on the diary. And, it is natural to blame his ratings demise on the system. (It is interesting to note that despite an early wobble WHUR is still doing quite nicely in the PPM era.) PPM has its flaws but there is no denying the accuracy of the technology. (2/2/10) The overnight ratings for the Pro Bowl are in, and they are sky high. ESPN got a 7.9 rating, 39% higher than last year's game which had the advantage of being on NBC, which reaches more homes. ESPN had the advantage of playing the game in primetime, but the number is a coup for the network. The rating was more than double what it was the last time the Pro Bowl was on ESPN. No matter the reasons, Commissioner Roger Goodell can point to the ratings and attendance at last night's game as proof that moving the game up a week was a success. Goodell said Saturday that the league may keep the Pro Bowl on the Sunday before the Super Bowl next year in Hawaii. After these ratings, we'd be surprised if it didn't happen. UPDATE: More fun with numbers. It was the most-watched Pro Bowl in a decade. 12.3 million viewers tuned in. (2/2/10) I love Donnie Simpson but he is way out of line with his PPM comments. For twenty years the old Diary system based on favoritism consistently had four out of the top five stations in DC as African American formats. This was always ridiculous and everyone knew it. Today the PPM system which is "actual"listening blows that Top five up in just about every market .Welcome to the other side and a stiff dose of the truth!!!!!!! (2/2/10) Comcast has removed WHUT from analog channel 19 in Howard County. Digital channel 19 displays a small, 16:9 picture surrounded by a sea of black. I can't receive WHUT off-air to compare their transmission to Comcast's so as to know who to blame for the small picture. Also, AMC was removed from analog channel 36. The same deletions should hold true for Baltimore and Anne Arundel counties. (2/2/10) Dave, Someone wanted a link to WQAM here is the link and the VOA guy was spot on. The tower on the water in FLA really sends the signal is a huge plus for the station. www.wqam.com... Cheers, Jim (2/2/10) I don't think CC would be making a good decision taking Rush from WMAL/WCBM and placing it on FM affiliates. Great reduction in coverage. I know for a fact that WMAL covers a great portion of Northern and Central Virginia and many other parts of the region. They may do as they wish. Cheers! Jay in Lynchburg (2/2/10) Don't worry about CC doing anything good with Jack FM. Dave Wellington is the program director and he is a stupid [deleted]. Ask anyone in the 1801 Building. (2/2/10) "I have read your DCRTV snippet about WQSR "to DC", and I hope it does not ever happen. Baltimore has few radio stations as it is compared with its District neighbor." (2/2/10) (I have Verizon FIOS in Baltimore County. Last night, I flipped it on the HD version of ABC2 on Channel 512 around 11:40pm, expecting to see "Nightline", but instead saw "Castle" which normally airs from 10pm-11pm on Monday nights.) I've had a similar experience with FIOS in Montgomery County, and there may be a simple explanation - and fix. The FIOS/Motorola DVR is always recording the last channel viewed/recorded, even when off. For some reason, it will sometimes display the beginning of the live recording (an hour or so earlier than real time) when you turn on the DVR. For example, I've turned on the Channel 4 news at 6:30 or 7, only to see portions of the 5-6 block. The solution is to change to two different channels - say Channels 5 and 7 - before going back to Channel 4. That clears the delay recording. Then you'll see the live programming. (2/2/10) The firing of ... Rico on PGC realy sucks. I personally hope he gets mad support. He's extremely popular so he already has! Radio has become a carnival side show. (2/2/10) Does anyone know if WQAM streams their audio? I visited their site..but I don't see a "listen live" link! There again..sometimes (for those of us who rely on a screen reader to tell us what's going on)..it could be configured in such a way that screen readers can't pick them up! As for John Miller..congratulations are in order..whether it be "Hall Of Fame"..or whatever! I always thought that he and Joe Angel sound very similar! Tom in Denton, MD (2/2/10) OOBBEE Says: I like that ONE sports talker actually goes to the Super Bowl for the week but their on line stream sucks! (2/2/10) Tom, I agree with you about Jeff Kaye….he was a dynamite personality. As mentioned, I think he’s in Philly. He may be retired. The Details on Rick Sklar’s death really brought back some pain. What a terrible mistake, what a loss. Rick was a true gentleman. Your “barstool” comment made me laugh out loud. I used to go to NYC with one of the record promotion guys,he was from Epic Records. I can’t remember his name, but we shared many a cool one with Dan…..Anytime you’re in the area just let me know, I’d be honored to sit at a bar and have a few…PLB:0) (2/2/10) I have Verizon FIOS in Baltimore County. Last night, I flipped it on the HD version of ABC2 on Channel 512 around 11:40pm, expecting to see "Nightline", but instead saw "Castle" which normally airs from 10pm-11pm on Monday nights. Then, at midnight, it was showing ABC2 News at 11! It's like ABC2's programming was an hour behind! I have rabbit ears hooked up to our HDTV and ABC2 is one of two stations I can get over the air. So, I switched it over to the broadcast reception of ABC 2.1, and they were showing the tail end of "Nightline" as expected. It must've been a problem with Verizon, and they probably fixed it overnight, because it was back to normal this morning. Strange. -Greg in Perry Hall (2/2/10) If the folks at Clear Channel really think about it, making Jack 102.7 more region-wide is a great first step. They need to do this with all of their powerful FM's. They have most of the stations that actually cover the whole Washington-Baltimore region. It sounds like they are making 102.7 a little harder than 100.3. If they use their signals to complement each other through the region, rather than having identical cross-town stations, more listeners will spend more time with CC. We live in a giant dual-hubbed metro area. Having separate ratings books for DC and Baltimore is the residue of history rather than present reality for most of us live and work here. 40 years ago there was nothing between the beltways, people were used to shorter commutes, and AM stations which do have have region-wide local signals dominated. Let's hope Jack 102.7 and all of its Rockville cluster-mates will wake up and smell the region! (2/2/10) Dave's response: I hear that if Clear Channel does make 102.7 more DC-oriented, it'll probably be music-less. I hear that CCDC may be Rushing to a decision on this. If I was 680, I'd be worried. Maybe some concern at 630, too..... OOBBEE says: I am very happy for John Miller. He is excellent. I used to listen to him anytime I could even though I grew up in the Bronx and am a Yankee fan. I could listen to him call a little league game. Angelos is to baseball as Snyder is to football. He took over a sold out team and has driven it into the ground. (2/2/10) Satch: Is not the official flavor of Media Day Cherry Chapstick? Sincerely, Mike from Burke, VA (2/2/10) It's great to hear that Jon Miller is the latest recipient of the Ford Frick Award...but I must correct a common mistake. Getting that award (or its print equivalent, the Spink Award), does NOT put the recipient into the Hall of Fame or make him (there have been no hers thus far) a 'Hall of Famer' the same way that Willie Mays or Cal Ripken are or that Andre Dawson and umpire Doug Harvey will become this year. They are awards and not the same type of honor. If you go to Cooperstown this late summer or fall and enter the hall with the individual plaques, you will see Mays and Ripken and Dawson and Harvey (and lots of others), but you won't see Jon Miller (or Vin Scully or Red Barber or Mel Allen or...). To see the names of the honored broadcasters and reporters, go to the writing and broadcasting display where there is one plaque listing all the Frick winners and another listing all the Spink winners. (2/2/10) While Jon Miller is worthy of Hall Of Fame "Enshrinement," I feel that an equally deserving voice from the Orioles camp would be the late Bill O'Donnell. I mean Chuck Thompson went in years ago. Both called games for both the Orioles and the Colts... Rusty Gibson (2/2/10) WQAM560/Miami may be 5k daytime, but the signal goes a lot farther than just South Florida. I worked there in the mid-1970s. The stick was on a concrete pad in Biscayne Bay (behind the Miami Herald building), with a huge ground grid laid out underwater. The conductivity of this setup was incredible. We would get listener phone calls from Cuba and Jamaica in the daytime! QAM in the mid 70s was a relic of another era. (Translated: Storz Broadcasting ran the place without doing any upgrading) There were two McKenzie Program Repeaters in the air studio...(Go Google this if you don't know what a McKenzie is) There were Ampex 350s everywhere...at a time when nearly all major market stations had moved on to 440s. There was a huge (and very loud) plate reverb outside the main air studio - the size of a piano crate. It made all of us sound like we did our shows in an empty dumpster. The board in the newsroom could be "tuned" to reduce line hum by selectively pounding on parts of it. Tiger Radio Q-56! JYoung, VOA-TV (2/2/10) Couple of things: While, technically, you could say that Scott Garceau was "fired" by WMAR, Channel 2 dropped sports from their newscasts. They have no sportscasters, per se. And while Jon Miller is a most worthy recipient of the Ford Frick Award, he does not become a Hall of Famer. There is no "broadcaster's wing" of the Hall of Fame. There is a broadcaster's display near the library at the Hall, but that's it. He's not being inducted into the Hall of Fame, he's being given an award at the induction ceremonies. Ask anyone who works there and they'll tell you the same thing. (2/2/10) RE: "PD's do have to be careful about music coming out of liners or promos that don't exactly match what they have just said," How true how true... sorta like back when there was that Smooth Jazz station in town and you'd hear, "105.9, playing, Washington's best Smooth Jazz", followed by a tune from Phil Collins! Quite laughable. federAL SANTOS (2/2/10) Dave's response: Fat Phil Collins goes great with Alice Cooper and AC/DC. Ugh, what a fuckin' earache of a classic rocker..... Any word on what the TV "numbers" were for this past weekend's ProBowl game? Even faced with months and months of NO TELEVISED FOOTBALL, I just couldn't bring myself to watch a game that wouldn't even include some of the best players in the game (from the 2 SuperBowl teams). Was there a purpose in playing the PB BEFORE the SP? federAL SANTOS (2/2/10) (Dave's response: The blurb mentioned possible interest in Anita Marks in radio market number 9. No correction is necessary.....) So…..because someone tells you something, whether it’s correct or not, you go ahead and post it ….even when you find out the statement is incorrect? Now it’s clear why the Post never credits any of your items. (2/2/10) Dave's response: Ahhh, let's see. DCRTV's been here for 12+ years, and we specialize in news, commentary, and GOSSIP. We often run rumors, but we always tell you when we run unconfirmed bits of info - and you can believe them or not. We report, you decide. I have lots of sources and if a good one tells me something juicy, you'll find out about it here right away. I am NOT a journalist. If you want only well-confirmed, PR-sourced stuff from highly-paid Ivy League "journalists," the Washington Post's Stale section is where you need to go. And enjoy the one local media story they run every two weeks or so. Now, go jump into bed with your Paul Farhi inflatable love doll..... Dear Patricia haters: Please feel free to sign your name to your postings, so all can see clearly that your vitriol (and in one case, racism) comes at least in part from the fact you’re upset Jim Farley is not returning your phone call to give you a job interview. Andy in DC (2/2/10) How is Chris Plante doing against Laura Ingraham in the DC market? Thanks (2/2/10) Correction to DCRTV & Jim Williams of The Examiner... Miami's WQAM AM 560 is only 5000 watts daytime, and only 1000 watts night time and cannot be heard up and down the east coast of Florida by any stretch of the imagination, just south Florida. Sorry to disappoint. But good for Anita Marks. I predict Scott Garceau's ratings will tank, he's boring, snobby, talks down to callers, and especially did to Anita Marks, not to mention he goaded callers into berating her. Garceau got fired by WMAR 2 Baltimore. Anita Marks got fired by 105.7 The Fan Baltimore but will end up making lots more money than Garceau in the end. Anita Marks will get to cover The Super Bowl live in Miami in sunny warm Florida near the beach while Scott Garceau watches on TV just like the rest of us in cold Maryland. Justice is a dish best served warm in this case. I wish I could get fired and shipped off to sunny south Florida right now to cover the Super Bowl. (2/2/10) I found this hysterically funny, although I'll admit it's clearly biased against FOX News and gives MSNBC & NBC News a real break (he could have found tons more whacky Olbermann clips), but it's still funny, especially the Bill O'Reilly Inside Edition clip... (2/2/10) Bonneville has resurrected the WTOP call letters on 1050, as their top-of-the-hour ID now includes "WTOP Silver Spring." Since Air America went bye-bye, 1050 must have been switched to a relay of WTOP, but they had kept the WZAA calls until just recently. -BG (2/2/10) Hey Roddy! You are absolutely right… I totally missed Jefferson Kaye in the ‘BZ lineup and there is rending of garments and tearing of hair here at Broadcast Tower here in the boonies of West Virginia. Mea Culpa… Kaye was one of the greats at ‘BZ and I’m happy to learn that he wound up at ‘KBW. I also envy PLB’s hang-outs with WABC’s Big Dan after his PM drive gig. I’d have killed for a bar stool next to you two. (I stole liners from Dan Ingraham for years.) WABC PD Rick Sklar was on my show once flacking his book about WABC’s salad days. I was practically licking his loafers during the WMAL interview. Embarrassing groveling. Sklar died unexpectedly in 1992. Here’s the story from the NY Times: “Rick Sklar, 62, pioneered WABC-AM's rock-and-roll format in the 1960's. He entered the hospital in June 1992 for a minor foot operation and died of oxygen deprivation on the operating table. According to Health Department records, the physician who treated Mr. Sklar, Dr. Livia Helmer, administered general anesthesia by inserting a tube that sent oxygen to his stomach instead of his lungs. A spokesman for the Health Department, William Fagel, said the hospital also failed to use proper monitoring equipment, which would have revealed the improper administering of anesthesia.” Sklar’s book was titled “Rocking America: An Insider's Story: How the All-Hit Radio Stations Took Over America.” Tom Gauger (2/2/10) Hi Dave and everyone! You've got a wonderful site! I wanted to let everyone know about a fantastic talk show that airs nightly on XM,it's The Rollye James Show. Rollye talks issues,music,radio etc.and does it with class. There's no yelling,name calling,just true freedom of speech. On Friday nights Rollye does music trivia and interviews people from the music and broadcast industry.This past Friday night there was an interview with Bill Quinn.Bill has an extensive history in the Baltimore/Washington area in radio and television. It was great for a guy like me who grew up listening t rock n' roll hearing all these great stories about the beginnings of the music so many of us love. Rollye's show can be heard live 10p-1a on XM ch.158 and on the internet at Rollye.net. Thanks Dave and keep up the great work and thanks for being there. Nick in Baltimore (2/2/10) On your front page you mention "Baltimore" as the 9th largest broadcast market. The 9th would be DC, with Baltimore at #22. www.arbitron.com... Dave's response: The blurb mentioned possible interest in Anita Marks in radio market number 9. No correction is necessary..... /\ February 2 Messages /\ \/ February 1 Messages \/ Correction on CBS. The total is 9. I person was counted twice. (2/2/10) Waiting to hear about other bureaus, but Miami lost a long time producer who just got back from Haiti and spent many tours in Baghdad, New York and London took big hits too. (2/1/10) Dave: Before "The Examiner's" Jim Williams does another plug for the area sportstalk stations and their Super Bowl remote programming, someone needs to whisper to Jim that he should listen to the various products before endorsing. This afternoon, I wasted about 12-minutes with ESPN980's afternoon show between 1p-1:15p and another 6-minutes during the "Sports Reporters." Without going through specifics, someone needs to teach Sheehan how to talk and also let Pollin know we're aware that he and Czaban are in Florida for the junket and that's all. Totally unlistenable programming!!! Oh, let's not forget Doc Walker got away with one himself and got a free ride via sponsor money. The biggest crime, not sending Coach Thompson to the Super Bowl!!! I'd take Coach over any of the above mentioned talent. Tomorrow, we look for better from WJFK. (2/1/10) Ol' Donnie mentioned SEVERAL times in SEVERAL interviews..."this is NOT the end" and many times referring to 'NOT LEAVING' ...my guess, he'll show up on XM or back locally someplace...maybe BET. (2/1/10) The main-studio rules are a little more complicated than "25 miles." It's actually the greater of 25 miles or the primary contour of *any* AM/FM/TV station licensed to the same community. It looks like WRBS, WBJC and possibly even WQSR itself all put just over 60 dBu over Rockville, at least the center of zip 20852. And even if the FMs don't quite do it, I'm pretty sure several of the TVs do. And even if they somehow don't, the rules only state that the "main studio" has to be able to originate programming, not that it's actually used for that purpose. So CC could easily keep the legal "main studio" in Baltimore with its cluster there, while actually operating 102.7 from Rockville...if this rumor is even real, of course. (2/1/10) PD's do have to be careful about music coming out of liners or promos that don't exactly match what they have just said, seemingly the editing of music to liners is rarely done or vice versa is rarely done...In the case of Fresh-FM, just because your Top 40 does not mean you don't mix in gold hits for variety like that Bonnie Raitt hit which is obviously in rotation to draw the slightly older WASH-FM listener in by mixing in a few gold hits. What they need to do in that case is have a special liner mentioning here is another retro Fresh hit or something like that or Fresh-FM remembers the early 90s. (2/1/10) Patricia Guadalupe, for the sake of WTOP please take Darcy with you... (2/1/10) Regarding SuperDull coverage. Don't get me wrong-- I love football, I love the Super Bowl. But the pre-game coverage, and the over hype associated with hours and hours of blah-blah-blah, just make my eyes glaze over. It's all wasted on this middle aged man. I turn on the game in time for the national anthem and kick off. Everything prior to that is just re-hash after re-hash of old news, conjecture, and pointless pontification. I don't know how they actually sell advertising. Besides, the real event in South Florida to get excited about occurs one week later, just a bit north. Cars going in circles-- fast. Whoo-hoo! See you at game time. John, in Baltimore (2/1/10) Looks like the total is 10 at CBS. None have been called into the office for about an hour. 3 Technicians, 4 producers, 2 office and 1 IT. (2/1/10) Finalmente, quienquiera oiga Patricia Guadalupe decir su proprio nombre le comprenderá :^) Carl in Olney (2/1/10) In Washington ESPN980AM is already on the ground in South Florida covering all the action leading up to Sunday's Super Bowl game with all the afternoon shows broadcasting from Radio Row. Over at the Fan 106.7FM they will be broadcasting The Mike Wise Show starting Tuesday morning. The rest of the programs will be there starting Thursday. In Baltimore WNST leads the pack with the most Super Bowl coverage live from South Florida. 105.7FM The Fan has a team in south Florida reporting bach to all their shows and on Thursday The Scott Garceau Show will be live from Miami Thursday and Friday. Fox Sports Baltimore is staying home because the Ravens aren't there but they also will have plenty of guests from south Florida. www.washingtonexaminer.com... Cheers, Jim (2/1/10) Dave, Re: Jack-FM, I believe the FCC rule is your studios have to be within 25 miles of your tower site which is not the case here. Rockville can be used as auxiliary studios. Even if Jack technically becomes housed there, they still need to be able to broadcast at the tower site or at their Baltimore studios at the Rotunda. Technology wise they can send the music through a T1 or varous other lines because you would need a few Microwave dish hops I believe to make it from Rockville to Baltimore. The further out you go I would think the integrity and reliability of the signal diminishes. (2/1/10) Dave: WQSR is licensed to Baltimore. WJZ-FM (105.7) is licensed to Catonsville. (2/1/10) Dave's response: I knew that. I was just testing you..... When WNST dropped syndicated fare last year and started 12 hour reruns on weekdays and even longer on weekends, I thought it was a sign that Nestor and his cult had given up and nothng more. Now that Korny's being rerun several times a day and WBAL is wasting 50,000 to become the home of "All C4, All The Time" radio, I don't know what to say except that radio is in pretty pathetic shape. Howie (2/1/10) We are immensely excited for the Paul Bicknell appearance on WEBR coming up. We will be doing a recorded show in the studio next door to WEBR and can't wait to meet the man personally! -TOGS (2/1/10) The firings at CBS Washington have started. 9 so far with more being called into offices as we speak. (2/1/10) I think the biggest voice over job my friend Kevin Farmer got was doing spots for Gundy's Shootin' Tootin' Gun Range in Southwest VA (2/1/10) To the anonymous poster from yesterday, Bradley and Matt in the Morning! I remember that show well. I listened to it regularly while at RIT. Michael Keenan was quite irritable as I recall. I remember he would always lock horns with a caller named Donald Edwards. A classmate told me that Bradley got suspended for saying some very curt things about Coldplay and them ripping off other artists. Not sure if they're still doing their thing. I did hear that Rick Martin (who did evening drive time) went across the border to Ontario. He wasn't there long. He got into political battle with his boss James Roberts. Roberts wanted to embrace the bilingual nature of Canada. Rick rebelled during the traffic report and started speaking in French-Canadian, but he gave driving instructions on how to get to Montreal. I was in Western New York not too long ago and stopped into a generic local corner diner. I was surprised to see "Donald and the Teacher" just starting to sit down for a meal. Admittedly, I imposed myself, but how often do you run into local legends like that. I offered to buy their meals and they let me join them. It was great to pick their brains on radio in the greater Buffalo area. I'm rambling a bit. I'm name dropping like I was Dick Cavett. Sorry I don't have too many answers for you, but thanks for reminding me of some great memories. Be careful about posting anonymously here; some on this site won't care one iota of your opinion unless you attach your name. Just a friendly warning. Sincerely, James (2/1/10) I still remember about 15 or 20 years ago when WQSR was jamming “Catonsville-Baltimore” into a sung top-of-the-hour jingle. Six syllables. That was a piece of work. Charles in Winchester (2/1/10) “Pay for it by canning two of the four Junks - the gay one and the right-winger”: ah, that would be closeted “Hey JP” and the Obambi doubter “EB” respectively, right Dave? And speaking of gayness: how did you like Jon Hamm’s redux on SNL Saturday? (2/1/10) Dave's response: Didn't catch "SNL"..... As Jim Bohannon recollected in 2007, "Fred Lowery the Mutual News overnight anchor did indeed die in 1998, of the same massive infection which felled Jim Henson. He was at his annual 5 week vacation with his family in Maine, and went from fine to sick to really sick to dead in maybe 72 hours. He anchored in stocking feet, but had his shoes on before that 6AM newscast. He filed his script before the 'cast and read off the computer. And when 6:05AM arrived, you didn't want to be between the news booth and the elevator. Most days, Fred was playing golf in Montgomery Village before 7AM (and had orange golf balls to play in the snow). Fred was one of the true gentlemen and professionals of radio news." Another true gentleman who worked that same overnight shift alongside Larry King years earlier was Bill Gormly. Bill talks briefly about that experience in part one of a two-part "Out of the Past" interview. (2/1/10) Tom Brooksheir also help start wip in philly (2/1/10) Dave's response: The station itself or the sports talk format it currently sports? Roddy, thanks for the update on Jeff Kaye….he was a dynamite jock and one funny SOB! I just sent an email to a friend of mine at WBEN. Jeff ended up being the voice of the NFL. He took that job after John Jasenda passed away. He also had a bout with throat cancer and won. He’s worked in Philly, did AM’s on WBEN. That’s what I’ve found out. I think he’s now back in Philly! Not sure though. PLB:0) (2/1/10) Right now, on the front page of washingtonpost.com, is evidence that the Post should stop trying to be a major player in the media. To wit, "Ladie's night at Grammys" is a most-read story. (2/1/10) If you think it's more important for American media to protect the reputations of other Americans than for Haiti to protect its own children, then you have a serious problem with your values and morals. beetsnotbeats (2/1/10) PTI / Around the Horn - Does anyone know if ESPN is changing the format and scheduling of these shows? My Verizon channel guide (here in Balto-DC) shows ATH as being an hour program on ESPN prime from 5-6, no PTI, while PTI appears only on Monday and Thursday this week on one of the other ESPN channels at 6:30 only. Some similar schedule displays for next week. Maybe Verizon is messed up. Any insight out there? Thanks. Michael, Bowie, MD (2/1/10) Speaking of WMEX Boston connections with DC, Fred Lowery was a newscaster there before going to Phillie and then Mutual/Westwood One, based on Jefferson Davis Highway in Arlington. Fred was the network overnight anchor for decades til his untimely demise from the same kind of massive infection which felled Jim Henson of Muppets fame. Fred got off the air at 605AM weekday mornings, and was on the Montgomery Village, Maryland, Golf Course by 645. (2/1/10) Any chance someone who reads the site could post Mr. Tony’s ratings relative to Mike Wise’s in the key demo (men 25-54)? I saw that Tony is 9 places ahead in the overall ratings. How much longer can WJFK keep Wise on the air, with Tony clearly pulling away at this point? (2/1/10) Dave's response: I like Mike Wise on JFK, but I like Tony K on TEM better. I really think JFK should move Wise to afternoon drive, and pair him with Dukes and Big O. But then he wouldn't have much time to "double dip" with the old WaPo. Give Al Koken and BMitch the JFK midday slot. Pay for it by canning two of the four Junks - the gay one and the right-winger..... Tom Gauger left one WBZ personality of that era out of his post. That was Jefferson Kaye, who did afternoon drive until Ron Landry replaced him around 1965. Kaye went on to do nights at WKBW in Buffalo and became that station's PD. Then he did mornings for years at WBEN in Buffalo. The thing about the WBZ jocks such as Kaye, Landry and especially Bruce Bradley, is they all had a sound that was both adult and teen friendly. Although WMEX was king among young people, WBZ attracted them too in the afternoon and evening. Roddy Freeman (2/1/10) On New York Social Diary today a Georgetown walkabout during Saturday's snowstorm. Also, a small dinner for actresses Kelly Carlson and Wendie Malick on behalf of The Humane Society of the U.S. www.nysocialdiary.com... Carol (2/1/10) Did I hear Korny correctly this morning? I believe he said that his morning WTEM show is going to be rebroadcast on WTNT from 7 to 9 PM and again from 4 to 6 AM the next day. He went on to say that he wouldn't be making any extra money for the rebroadcasts. He may have been kidding about the whole thing, but does anyone know what the real scoop is? (2/1/10) Caught the WMAR 2 Pressbox Sports Extra last night for the first time. Oh my God, what a trainwreck that show is. #1, Stan Charles has a face made for radio, but that was the least of the problems last night. The guy has no clue what he's doing or talking about, is rambling through topics while flipping through papers and constantly losing his place. Did Channel 2 like sell the teleprompter for quick cash or something? He pronounced at least one college name incorrectly. It was like watching a person with Alzheimer's make a valiant attempt to get through the sports report. You kept wishing the best for him, but just knew it was gonna turn out ugly in the end. I had to stop watching, it was just too painful to watch. With all the talented people on the 4 different Baltimore sports talk radio stations, why on earth would WMAR hire Stan Charles of all people? I bet they run a better sports segment at WMDT ABC 47 in Salisbury compared to that horrible show! (2/1/10) Tom (Gauger) Thanks for the post. Being surrounded by that group of great talents was one of the most humbling experiences of my life. Carl DeSuze, Dave Maynard and Jefferson Kaye….what a group, it was not only rewarding but, loads of fun. I don’t know if you remember Jefferson, he went on to Program WKBW..after that I don’t know where he landed. He was one of the funniest jocks I ever worked with. Bruce Bradley was and will always be my true hero. On another note, I used to go to NYC and hang with Dan Ingrham at a little pub behind WABC, can’t remember the name of the place He used to go there after he went off the air. We’d sit there and sip..cold ones and just enjoy the quiet.I met Rick Sklar on several occasions…terrific man that died way too soon. Ahhh, the memories! PLB:0) (2/1/10) It's surprising that no one else has brought up the other WMEX - Washington connection. That would be WASH-FM's original morning man and longest running midday talent, the great Jerry Clark, who was also an important part of the WWMX Baltimore start-up. For years, Jerry was our unofficial "Team Captain" at WASH, all the while raising millions for Muscular Dystrophy research as the local host of the Jerry Lewis' Labor Day MDA Telethon. He was either one of the "Fenways" or one of the "Dan Donovans" or both. I seem to recall Jerry saying that you took the name of the shift you were working at WMEX, even if you were just filling in. (2/1/10) Will the pilot who landed on the NJ Tnpk have to pay the maximum toll since he didn't have a toll ticket? Should have used I-295, like I do, to avoid the toll. (2/1/10) ABC 2 News Justine Berk here www.abc2news.com... And WBAL Conglomerate's Tony Pann here: www.examiner.com... Who else said "I goofed" with science to back them up? (Marty Bass? I think not) (2/1/10) Well, I survived! The 14th Annual Maryalnd State Police Polar Plunge to Benefit Special Olympics of Maryland was a huge success despite high temps in the teens, 8 inches of snow, and 20-30 mph winds! Quite a day and as cold as you'll ever want to be. Here are a couple pics! Michael.... PS: The event raised over 3 million dollars for Special Olympics of Maryland. (2/1/10)   Dave's response: That's former CBS Radio/DC exec Michael Hughes in the white WRNR-FM t-shirt. I know that 98 Rock PD Dave Hill was there. Is he in the top pic? Not sure what he looks like..... New Interview: James Brown - Sportscaster, Washingtonian, and all-around great guy James Brown stops by the WETA Book Studio to talk about his new book, Role of a Lifetime. www.thebookstudio.com (2/1/10) I seem to recall a personality on CHMP-FM out of Quebec by the name of "Nasty" Stastny. I think he also did work out of Jersey and St. Louis if I recall. I wonder what ever happened to him. (2/1/10) Regarding the "timeliness" of radio station promos, throw Bonneville in that bag, as well. Right now, at 6:29 PM EST on 1/30/10, the WTOP website has a banner ad for "bonsai" sandals with the slug, 'A Unique XMAS Gift'... Either the economy is tanking so bad that WTOP is already Christmas ads or they really don't look at what they have on their website! -Unsigned Corporate Suit (2/1/10) Just added the Facebook page...deleted clip from EVERY OTHER DAY IS HALLOWEEN with Dick Dyszel talking about Channel 20's other famous host, Petey Greene, whose show "Petey Green's Washington" ran on WDCA TV and later BET from 1976 - 1982. EVERY OTHER DAY IS HALLOWEEN hits DVD April 20, 2010 from BrinkDVD - first 1000 will have Channel 20 club cards - you can preorder now! www.facebook.com (2/1/10) Two longtime AM signals, heard by many over the years in the DC area, are going away. From Radio-Info.com: The news came with just a few hours’ notice on Friday - Corus Entertainment was powering down French-language "Info690 Montreal" CINF-AM (690) and English-language CINW-AM (940), playing "Montreal's Greatest Hits.” Corus-Quebec Vice President Mario Cecchini says “after years of effort it is clear these AM stations are not viable." We’ve seen the Canadian government encourage the migration of AM stations to FM outside the biggest markets, but this is something else altogether. These formats aren’t going anywhere else – they’re just disappearing off the dial. And the signals - 50-kw blasters - aren't exactly puny. Ten people will lose their jobs, with others being reassigned within the cluster. Five anchor/reporters and three traffic reporters from CINF will transition to the Corus Quebec news operation based at CHMP-FM (98.5). But three news and two traffic reporters on CINF were out in the January cold, along with an air personality from CINW. The Canadian Press recalls that “Info 690” had cut 12 newsroom jobs a year ago. Now Corus is literally turning in the licenses for 690 and 940 to the CRTC regulator. One T-R-I reader in Montreal says “CINW at 940 can trace its roots back to 1919 and XWA, Canada’s first radio station", owned by Marconi Wireless. (2/1/10) RANT....... Now, I'm definitely no right wing Christian by any stretch nor am I a Baptist, in fact I'm gay, but since when did the Baptists start stealing and slave trading children? Did I not get this memo? Is NBC News and MSNBC even a real news organization anymore or just anti-religious, anti-American HATE & RACE BATERS? Reading this NBC News story just drove me freaking nuts! Even if they didn't have the proper paperwork and technically were illegally moving sick and injured children out of the country to an orphanage outside of Haiti, ummm, IT'S A FUCKING INTERNATIONAL DISASTER & THE GOVERNMENT OF HAITI & NBC NEWS IS MORE CONCERNED ABOUT FUCKING PAPERWORK??? OMFG! NBC News is worried about foreign countries meddling in Haiti's affairs? OMFG! The best thing that could happen to Haiti is that we take the country over and give all those people food, housing, & medical attention, but instead George Clooney & Wyclef Jean & NBC will all pretend to care & piss millions of American dollars down a fucking drain (because it's all going to end up going through that corrupt Haiti government which never cared about its citizens in the first place and is now holding American HOSTAGES)! Just un-fucking believable! And by the way, when I did a google search for this story, the websites that came up in the Top 5 were... an Idaho newspaper (makes sense), a Christian website (makes sense), and a UK atheist website, MSNBC.com, and IslamOnline.Net! By the way, the Atheist, NBC, & Islam.Net stories were most similar of the 5 and all equally negative towards the Baptist slave traders! HAHA! Just Too Funny! We have American political prisoners in Haiti now and NBC News is siding with a corrupt dictatorship along with atheists and anti-American Islamic groups??? You couldn't even make this shit up if you wanted to! And you wonder why Fox News is the most trusted news source in America? Geez, the competition couldn't make it any easier, could they?! LOL (2/1/10) For you Washington-Baltimore radio and television folks looking for something interesting to discuss today (Mon Feb 1), Frank Woodruff Buckles, America's last living World War ONE (yes, the FIRST World War) veteran, turns 109 today. He still lives on his farm in nearby Charles Town (Jefferson County) West Virginia. Al McGilvray (2/1/10) To PLB: The lineup at WBZ was incredible. Carl DeSuze in the morning logging some 40 years on that station! Bruce (“Juicy Brucie”) Bradley was hilarious and quick, Jay Dunn, Dave Maynard, Ron Landry, Dick Summer and Bob Kennedy rounded out one of the best on-air teams in the country. To me, second only to Dan Ingrham and Rick Sklar’s gang at WABC. In the short summer before going into the Army, BZ was my station. “Westinghouse for New England, WBZ, WBZA, Boston-Springfield.” Whatta’ station! Tom Gauger (2/1/10) Colbert bombed at the Grammys. (2/1/10) "if (Donnie Simpson) was getting paid 4 million bucks in this economy, and was not willing to adapt his show to win in PPM, then I'm not shedding one tear for him..." Looking at radio from the outside as a fan, I wonder if PPM has undercut numerous assumptions in the industry about what appeals to listeners. Maybe many broadcasters are still thinking in diary terms about what makes programs successful, or maybe they don't trust their judgment anymore. Or perhaps the PPM concept is weighted toward random listening at the expense of "appointment listening" with broadcasters who have devoted fanbases. WASH advertises itself as being the perfect choice for the office, and while that concept treats music as no more than aural wallpaper, I can see why advertisers would like the concept. Does Arbitron count that type of workplace listening in its numbers, either in the old diaries or in PPM? I would like to hear from the radio professionals here whether it's more difficult to gauge! listener tastes or successfully retool programs in the PPM age. (2/1/10) It wouldn't surprise me if Donnie Simpson turned up on WHUR after his non-compete is up. They tried to get him once before and frankly he's a much better fit for the adult-oriented HUR. Maybe he'll replace Steve Harvey if Harvey finds that doing both his radio show and the Family Feud to be too much. Then again, he could replace the entirely unlistenable Triscina Grey middays. That could be an unbeatable lineup...Harvey, Simpson, Baisden. (2/1/10) I loved Johnny Dark's post regarding WMEX. I hadn't known he was one of the Dan Donovans, but in addition to Johnny, WMEX had a couple of ties to Baltimore radio. One of the later WMEX Dan Donovans kept the name, first at WSBA in York (imagine going from Boston to York) and then at WCBM; and later at WFIL. His real name is Blaine Harvey. Legendary personality Jack Gale was on of the WMEX Fenways for a few years. As far as Arnie Woo Woo Ginsburg ("Woo Woo for you you"), he represented one of the years in the original Crusin' album series. He did a commercial for the sandwich that had him immortalized, the Ginsburger, at the Adventure Car Hop. Roddy Freeman (2/1/10) /\ February 1 Messages /\ Messages from January 23 to January 31, 2009 can be reached HERE.....  |
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