dcrtv.com - Mailbag - December 19 to December 23, 2006

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DCRTV Mailbag - December 19 to December 23, 2006

Latest messages listed first.....
\/ December 23 Messages \/

I have mentioned this several times and yet people keep whining that they cannot hear the Reskins games on Snyder's pathetic network. Now read closely. ALL of the games are on WAGE 1200AM from Leesburg. Their daytime signal is strong and penetrates into most of Montgomery County, Frederick County, and I would imagine most of Northern Virginia. Try it tomorrow and see how well you can hear the game. (12/23/06)

As a classical music enthusiast I am so disheartened with the news that "GMS Sale Collapses". With the numerous commercial and other interruptions and even worse the "top 100" playlist and rarely complete works being played, I was looking forward to the demise of WGMS so WETA would at least consider going back to classical music as many have implored. OH well, I will either have to move closer to Baltimore so I can pick up WBJC, or try surfing the internet for stations that still play real classical music. (12/23/06)

"You can catch the best part in the trailer on Youtube (scroll to 4:26 and you'll hear Wendy Reiger drop the F bomb!)" Someone buy that anonymous poster a beer. Oh My Goodness. That link was gold, Dave, pure gold. I wish more anchors would let loose like that. Friggin hilarious. (12/23/06)

Merry Christmas, Dave!! I read your site every day from the Great Northwest!! That is, when we have power! (12/23/06)

Dave, Hope your holiday is a happy and healthy one. And congrats on being on top of all the recent news in the area. I can always rely on DCRTV to be kept informed on recent developments. Thank you. Bob (12/23/06)

RE: [I thought Michael Graham on WMAL comparing breast-feeding in public to urinating in public was the most bizarre conservative juxtaposition ever made on WMAL; last weekend Chris (Plante) caught up to Mikey’s absurdity benchmark.] Young man...don't you know that expressing ideas like that will move your name from the "Nice" column into "Naughty" in Silvie's Christmas list? On Christmas morning, I'd expect a huge lump of COAL in a package with a Waldorf postmark if I were you! I fully agree....Plante is a clueless idiot with a penchant over-the-top dramatics. Like you, I hated Graham too, but at least Michael had a modicum of talent to match his big mouth. Let's not insult him bu comparing him with this clown. (12/23/06)

"I still think that Salem has 10 times more integrity than Bonneville." Then you must not have ever worked for either company. I have worked for both, and Bonneville wins in every way. (12/23/06)

I too thought Paciorek was pretty good. So his departure was all back office politics? So much for the Lerners and Kasten giving the fans what they want............ (12/23/06)

"Fired For Nothing" This is very cold for what im about to say. But it is the truth. Don't get into radio if you want a guaranteed job. You have a job one day the next day you don't. People in radio no this . Radio is a numbers game and money. Guaranteed Job, NO WAY! . (12/23/06)

Goodie goodie. Maybe they will start up Viva la Voce again, and I can fork over $4.95 to hear music banned on the normal FM band. They had to shame WETA to carry the Met. Why should I pay for something that Bonneville is ashamed to play on its regular station. With all of the sex and violence, maybe they should call it the blue channel or triple x opera. Red Conductor? Red Soprano? Hurry up with the sale. We wants skins. We want Sonny Sam and Larry. No more Jibba Jabba. No more Flibba Flabba. I pity the Fool! Because in every city, there is a fool to pity! (12/23/06)

(Classical fans, JUST SHUT UP AND GO AWAY!) I agree. Who wants to hear a bunch of sissies talk about geritol and grecian formula 49? We want testoserone laden hunks talking about macho stuff. Can you imagine how those 2 sales people must feel knowing that they were fired for nothing? What's it going to be like going to work every morning know that your company is just waiting for the right offer. I still think that Salem has 10 times more integrity than Bonneville. Salem would never back out of a deal. They even kept the same call letters as a tribute to Don and Mike. (12/23/06)

I don't know, 11 years later Bosnia is only a figment of the imagination kept together by over 30, 000 NATO forces. Clinton said the troops would only be there for 1 year. What happened? How much is that costing and was it really a smart move to set up two muslim bases in southeastern Europe? What a surprise that now Macedonia has problems with these precious muslims. There are many questions that WMAL, Fox News, and Air America refuse to address, why does this surprise you? (12/23/06)

After Chris Plante last weekend juxtaposed the time we spent in Kosovo (10 years) to the time we have been in Iraq, I got to think how disgustingly incongruous the comparison is. Taking out the geo-political differences, after three and a half years in Kosovo, were Americans dieing every day from Roadside bombs? After three and a half years in Kosovo was the US/UK coalition still essentially unaided on the battlefront? After three and a half years in Kosovo was the president admitting things in Kosovo were "bad," and that we were "not winning?" After three and a half years in Kosovo, was the president walking in and out of federal buildings with a sophomoric look of determination, looking for answers, trying to convey the message he was in control, but, in all actuality, inside he had no freaking clue as to how to get us out of the chaos he created? After three and a half years in Kosovo did the defense secretary resign after the press started comparing his military prowess to that of General George Armstrong Custer? I thought Michael Graham on WMAL comparing breast-feeding in public to urinating in public was the most bizarre conservative juxtaposition ever made on WMAL; last weekend Chris caught up to Mikey’s absurdity benchmark. Keep it up Chris-we expect nothing less. This post has been scrubbed to remove any “scurrilous” attacks. Now, lets all get back to THE WAR ON CHRISTMAS. (12/23/06)

I`ve also found out that Infinity, Radio and Clear Channel are dishonest companies as well! Over the course of 3 days I listened to WPGC, WKYS and Hot 99.5 and they kept airing this commercial about Starburst and how juicy it is and how my life is suppose to become juicier after that. I chewed about 20 packs and my life still isn`t, instead I am sitting here writing tool messages to the mailbox with no hope of any juice. Stupid Infinity, Radio One and Clear Channel. I feel betrayed and now I am boycotting KYS, PGC and Hot, because I demand some juice in my life. P.S. Dude, seriously. It is 21st century. You can burn CDs these days. You are suppose to listen/not listen to the station, because they do good/bad radio. Not because you didn`t get a free CD. `Tis the season to be jolly. Ya know? (12/23/06)

I find this interesting reading best and worst of 2006 that alot of people have XM (including me, and Sirus). Makes me wonder if the "suits" in DC radio should pay attention how many people have XM (I wonder if it has to do with the HQ being in DC, for me it had to do with I feel better programming vs. location of HQ, but anyway) or Sirius in the DC area. (12/23/06)

What I meant was that WEAM was a daytimer, not that they were on 570! Seems there were a lot more full-service daytime-only broadcasters way back then than we have as full-service unlimited hours broadcasters (12/23/06)

Dave's response: Well, WEAM was always a "daytimer" in the western and northern suburbs. I recall at sunset, when it went to its night antenna pattern, the DJs on the old "top 40" 1390 would often shout "Goodnight Rockville".....

The WITH AM 1230 call letters are historic Baltimore radio call letters with a great history and meaning. While WRBS may serve a "greater" purpose, just like WAVA (and the previous AM1230 WAVA), this is STILL another bad radio call letter move. Maybe it's not as bad as turning the historic 1st Baltimore radio station WFBR AM 1300 into a Washington programed DEADSKINS station named WJFK 1300, but it's close. Although at least the WRBS people have God working on their side. I have no clue what the CBS Baltimore people have working for them other than failure. They seem to be good at that. Oh, and as for my opinion on Jewish radio on Christmas via WVIE 1370 (and I am a Christian)... Thank you. I'll choose anything Jewish on Christmas over an American be-heading on Al Jazeera TV. Poor Dave Marash (formerly WRC 4). How can he even sleep at night without his conscience waking him up for an hourly reality/credibility check? What a sad end to a great career. oh, HAPPY HOLIDAYS to EVERYONE at DCRTV. Is there any good holiday news to report Dave? (12/23/06)

Dave's response: How about keeping 1230 WITH, and making now co-owned 95.1 WITH-FM. I can hear it now: "95.1 & 1230, Keeping You In Touch WITH God".....

I am not a big classical music fan, but I understand people being upset about WGMS going away forever. And what about the people who work there, they cant feel good about it, especially this time of year. You will never please everyone, so to the smart alec who told the classical music fans to shut the F up, why don't you go drown your sorrows in your beer every time the Redskins lose! Incidentally, does everyone remember the year the Redskins broadcast their games on WGMS, I am sure many were not happy about that! Denton, MD (12/23/06)

I must say that I have always suspected that both Bonneville and Clear Channel were dishonest companies. But I never had any proof. Now I have proof. WTOP and WBIG recently aired commercials for a company called the internet speedway. You call 800-900-1785 and according to the commercial, they will send you a free CD. This company is bait and switch at best, and complete fraud at worst. I called several times, and each time they tried to sell me a 30 day trial. They always said that they were out of CDs. I filled out the form on the WTOP website, and never got a response. I called the Sales department at WBIG and kept getting the sales coordinator's voice mail. Neither station seems to care. I no longer listen to either station. (12/23/06)

To all the people that where crying, last time about you can't hear the Redskins on the radio. Danny boy, gos out and gets WGMS. Now all of the classical fans are crying. The Redskins can't win in football, and in this town. CLASSICAL SUCKS! Put it on WETA, and be done with it. Bring on my Redskins, so i can here them. Classical fans, JUST SHUT UP AND GO AWAY! (12/23/06)

"Cropp charged that the Post acted as if it was doing public relations for fellow Democrat Adrian Fenty" I feel your pain! George Allen (12/23/06)

Dave's response: On a related matter, Mr. Allen, an article on Christmas shopping in today's Post focuses on Best Buy and features two big color pics of Best Buy employees. The Post really ought to make just a little bit of an effort to make its articles and their related photos not appear to be heavily hyping a particular major advertiser.....

("A possible snag in Redskins owner Dan Snyder's Red Zebra deal to buy Bonneville's classical WGMS?") When I first heard about the possible sale I was ticked off. However, with WETA's board giving the green light to return to classical programming if the sales goes through, my attitude shifted. Granted -- there is ample opportunity for WETA-FM to screw this up, but on balance I'm for driving the stake into the heart of classical WGMS. Sell it -- and lets move on! LJ in Vienna (12/23/06)

Dave's response: Two things. First. I know that Bonnevillers Jim Farley and Joel Oxley are against Bonneville's plans to sell WGMS to Dan Snyder. They don't want to lose the classical format, but, more importantly, don't want to reduce the political influence of Bonneville's DC radio power. So, maybe one of them has had "some words" with the suits in Salt Lake City. Second. Maybe the astronomical price that Snyder's willing to pay for 104.1 and 103.9 (again, for a pair of rimshotters - Waldorf and Frederick) has convinced Salem or Clear Channel to agree to sell him a better "inside-the-Beltway" signal. Again, this is all conjecture on my part. I haven't heard anything concrete.....

Farewell and good luck, gentle giant Susan Kidd! We'll miss you terribly. You were and remain the consumate professional, and will be an asset to any organization lucky enough to snap you up. I sure hope Wendy came by to see you off, or at least is going to take you to Wendy's House of Vodka for a proper sendoff. Did she at least try to give you the advice she shares in the hilarious movie "5 Keys to Mastery?" You can catch the best part in the trailer on Youtube (scroll to 4:26 and you'll hear Wendy drop the F bomb!) www.youtube.com (12/23/06)

I'm thinking 7 will, within the next calendar year, have an astonishingly talented, veteran news staff, augmented with channel 4's cast-offs. Once that happens...and, it could happen beforehand; I believe 7 will wipe 4's and 9's ass in the ratings, proving once again--people do matter in broadcasting. NBC is making some serious short-term mistakes that will affect it in the long term. It never fails when money is involved. (12/23/06)

Dave, many years ago I lived in Good ol’ DC where the WHFS 102.3 signal was strongly received. I really looked forward to the twisted Xmas Songs they played on Xmas Eve and repeated on Xmas Day. I moved to the western x-burbs and tried to listen to a very weak signal and now sadly all is gone from that genre. Any one out there know of any planned Xmas Eve broadcast that would begin to equal the Scrooge-removing program of olden days, happy golden days of yore……? I digress. Haymarket Joe. Happy Hollandaise, Let’s Hit the Sauce! (12/23/06)

C'mon! The BMW ad captures its attitude perfectly. It's about getting what you want and being an ass about it. That's BMW! (12/23/06)

("A possible snag in Redskins owner Dan Snyder's Red Zebra deal to buy Bonneville's classical WGMS?") Give me a break. Sell it and be done with it. Bonneville want more golden plates? They won't let them keep the call letters? Can't agree on who pays the severance packages? At this rate, the sale won't go through until Pioneer Day. Bring on the Skins. If they think classical music fans are feisty, wait until you tell Skins fans that you won't be able to hear them after all. They will burn all of their Mozart recordings and all of their quads. (12/23/06)

/\ December 23 Messages /\

\/ December 22 Messages \/

Let's hear a little compassion for the highly compensated executive material that has the cojones to cut what he believes to be "dead wood" from the payroll to compensate for a lack of imagination in the executive suite. Employees, after all, are interchangeable cogs in the corporate multiverse. Nobody, except an executive, is irreplaceable. (Profits down? Two ways to pump them up: 1) Innovative ideas that part customers from their money. 2) Cut costs: non-management compensation and benefits, head count, "burden.") What brings eyes to NBC? A people-eating-bugs contest! Now that's class! (12/22/06)

An employer being ant-union? I haven't ever heard of such a thing! HA! MORE UNIONS, yes! I heard Anita Marks today. She hasn't improved despite having two things working in her favor. Hope she is gone before baseball season. Maybe just maybe CBS will hire Phil Wood to do pre and post game talk shows? He knows baseball and would be a breath of fresh air after WBAL's Steve Davis. And please leave Tom "I giggle too much" Davis on in the mornings! I used to work at Needle in a Haystack in Laurel. My co-workers were insane but knew audio like nobody's business. I could never keep up with them. Vinyl? There is Roadhouse Oldies in Silver Spring and Brooklyn Park. Those guys are great. Merry X-Mas everybody! (12/22/06)

Hey Dave -- 100 percent on your observation against the "BMW one with that screaming spoiled kid opening his XMAS present." My wife teaches special education and immediately matched him up with several syndromes as she watched and listened. I mean, she pointed right at the DSM-IV book and there he was. I hope the kid's sister (also seen, and presenting a more normal range of behaviors) turned out normal. The way some of the drivers operate those BMW minivans, I'm not surprised the company tries to market to crazies. (12/22/06)

"Does anyone besides me think Tom Paciorek was the best broadcaster the Nats had? It has nothing to do with money. Sutton will get more money than Paciorek did. The reason that Paciorek was shown the door was not because of his ability (which was great) but because Kasten is an old friend of Sutton's from their days in Atlanta. (12/22/06)

Dave, According to the 10/4/40 Post, NBC signed a lease on 10/3 for space at the Wardman-Park hotel for an experimental TV station upon FCC approval. The TPO was to be 1KW using the theater auditorium and stage as a studio. Also, according to the article, NBC supposedly demoed "HDTV" in D.C. in 1939! (I presume the "original" NTSC system w/525 lines and AM (!) audio, (Yuk!)) I'll see if I can get more info on that... John (12/22/06)

The Susan Kidd send-off was not what I expected, but that's obviously what Susan wanted. I'm still aghast that this very talented and intelligent woman is being let go from a #1 newscast. It's baffling. You have a great Holiday, Susan! Enjoy it in the comfort of your family and friends; that's all that matters. Screw NEWS4. -Silvie in Waldorf- (12/22/06)

was listening too wee bit of wmal last night and heard this commercial read by chris core and he said, " on the other side of the of the bed my wife likes it very firm" boy i can just hear mr. trumbull telling mr. core " i know things have changed since i left but do you have to be so blue?'.......will fox mulder be the guest on "coast to coast" this weekend? i assume we shall not hear from mr. bachelor again?....was wondering if anyone could give me a ride to the andy williams concert at constitution hall saturday night? if so could we hook up at the ham and eggs world headquarters in toothless fairfax? i think that tom gavin might want to go along and he's playing the lil' baby jesus in the nativity scene out front of ' jfk building........mr. gibson do you know what's the true meaning of xmas? i heard it's all controlled by some big eastern syndicate......did george bailey ever consider turning in sam wainwright to the federal attorney's office for insider trading? plastics indeed! ...and sam wainwright's money phrase was "hee haw" isn't that a key phrase of the secret handshake club down in mayberry? and did anyone see the elaborate ceremony for defense secretary rumsfeld shown on c-span last week...don't recall anything like it for other defense secretary's in the past....... looked like the ceremony cost a pretty penny. maybe that cash could have gone to helping out some wounded veterans from iraq?...or is that an apple and oranges kind of thing or a big lump of coal for those he ain't amongst the elitist class? ...merry crismus everybody........and when does arch take over at the "ranchman" restaurant in ponders, texas( i understand they've added some Don's Juans out back and a spigot to wash your hands...things change i guess).....george michaels is a big Jane Austen fan? huh? ..and bryson rash wow hadn't thought of him in a while, is he somewhere out there drinking a cup of coffee with joseph mccaffrey.....one quick thing, Barbaro and Zsa Zsa will be making a joint appearance at O'Mirror's of Manassas Saturday night and surely it will be a good time for all ...... mangeey bill smith...well my computer ain't feeling too perky these days and i think i got the male itch for crismus so be gone for awhile.....imo polock johnny (12/22/06)

Dave's response: Forget Zsa Zsa, I want Eva, er, Lisa Douglas.....

"Does anyone besides me think Tom Paciorek was the best broadcaster the Nats had? Why would they want to get rid of someone who is knowledgeable, witty and fun to listen to in favor of someone who is not as interesting" The same reason they got rid of their best player, Soriano. Watch as team cuts payroll and costs to make a profit while still getting a sweetheart deal from the city. Just take a page from the Angelos playbook. Bryslock (12/22/06)

Simple on WGMS... Snyder is short on brains,(too) if he let's GMS go. What a Classy Classical Station. Has a Winner and will kill it like he did the Redskins... (12/22/06)

Dave, According to the 6/17/41 Post, NBC applied for a commercial television CP on 6/16. The call assigned was W3XNB and was supposed to begin testing in November 194. with commercial service to begin March 3, 1942. However, NBC asked for an extension on the CP... John (12/22/06)

Did anybody mention Penguin Feather in the discussion of old record stores? How about Orpheus in Georgetown? Are they still there? The Record and Tape Exchange? (12/22/06)

Dave's response: Going to Georgetown these days - shopping-wise - is about "exciting" as a trip to Fair Oaks Mall - all corporate. I believe Orpheus moved to Clarendon. Haven't been there in a while. Didn't Bill Asp, who ran indie record shop RTX (Arlington and Falls Church), commit suicide? I think we did a newsblurb on that unfortunate event a few years ago.....

Wierd, Dave...but I just noticed that any time I put the words "FAUX News" and "CIA" within fifteen words of each other in an e-mail, at the moment I hit the SEND button, my computer makes a camera shutter noise and there is a nanosecond bright white flash. I tried it earlier today, and within 20 minutes, the phone rang, and the caller I.D. said "FOX Security". When I picked up the line, a sinister voice said "Mr. O'Reilly knows who you are and where you live and he would appreciate it very much if you would stop doing that." and then the phone went dead.....be afraid...be VERY afraid. - Jeff in (Happy Festivus) Bow...oops, I mean "Jeff in an undisclosed location." (P.S. - If I stop posting in the mailbag within the next few days, please contact the authorities immediately.) (12/22/06)

Dave's response: The only "failure" in "The Good Shepherd" was trying to make Matt Damon look 55-ish, with an adult son. Didn't work.....

("Give me a committed sports station any day over a half-hearted classical one.") Right on brother! I really think the advertisers on 104.1 were not getting their money's worth. I wouldn't buy a thing from the Twinkies on there now. I would probably buy the Brooklyn Bridge from John Riggins. He is funny, he doesn't talk down to his listeners, and I always learn something from him. I used to be ignorant about sports. Thanks to Red Zebra, ESPN, and Monday Night Football, I enjoy sports because I now know something about it. I learn more from Texas Holdem TV shows than I do from our so called "classical station". Bring in the Skins! The sooner the better. What is the hold up? (12/22/06)

Dave, I remember Needle in a haystack. How about Peaches Records and Tapes in Rockville? Ahh, for the old days. Kurt Foster (12/22/06)

Needle in a Haystack??? Dave, c'mon you're geezin' on us now! Yes, I well remember their store in Springfield Mall back during my college days! I currently have two turntables: A 1987 Realistic taht was their top-of-the-line unit which succumbed to "Gingerbiteus" (My daughter's beagle/shepherd mix, Ginger...) and a still-in-the-box Audio-Technica which will soon start in the process of transferring my LP's and 45's to CD's taht'll likely end up on bubble memory before my days on Earth are done! (12/22/06)

Does anyone besides me think Tom Paciorek was the best broadcaster the Nats had? Why would they want to get rid of someone who is knowledgeable, witty and fun to listen to in favor of someone who is not as interesting (e.g. Don Sutton...though he may be knowledgeable). I don't understand it...even his broadcast partner, Bob Carpenter, said he was "heartbroken" when he found out Paciorek would not be back. Can anyone explain this??? David (12/22/06)

Dave's response: Obviously, Tom said something that Nats' management didn't like.....

From the 4/4/1948 Washington Post, the following tidbits are possibly worthy of inclusion: 570 WQQW was a daytimer... 730 WPIK as 570... 1390 WEAM as 570.... 1590 WOOK as 570 (Also, 1st listing I've seen of them on 1590!).... 98.3 WPIK-FM... 98.9 WASH-FM... 102.3 WGAY-FM... All the FM info is new to me... More later... John (12/22/06)

Dave's response: Wow. I never knew WEAM was on 570.....

I love how the one anonymous poster continues to display his recurring fetish, re: O&A. His palpable hatred for those two is mildly amusing, as he continues to regurgitate the same lines, coming up with adolescent nicknames for O&A, reminding everyone of the alleged 35,000 new subscribers, how XM allegedly hates them for not getting the numbers up, and oh yea, the obligatory skateboard and allowance money from their parents crackbacks. It appears this person lives his entire life for Howard, believeing everything he's told by the almighty Howard, and making these Quixotic rants on Dave's site for all to read. How rich indeed. BTW, I don't listen to O&A or Howard; the world does not revolve around them. I strongly suggest you get over yourself; perhaps you should hook up with Silvie and swap tales of how your lives are ruled by Howard and WMAL, respectively. (12/22/06)

I always heard Bill Simpson on SMJ was voice tracked from Philly to begin with… (12/22/06)

Dave's response: Oh my God, voice-tracking on a smooth jazzer?!?! What's this radio world coming to? Next, we'll hear that Al Santos is really in Saskatoon! Sheesh.....

Dave..The station I bought is NOT on 1310. Mine is 700. We call it OLDIES700.(The Big Wheel). There is a station in Dothan at 1320, urban formatted. Thanks, Jack Gale (12/22/06)

Sunday, December 24, 2006 at 9 pm will be the 100th anniversary of the night Canadian engineer Reginald Fessenden played "Oh, Holy Night" on his violin, as ships passed his radio station on Brant Rock, Massachusetts. It's the centennial of music on the radio. Al McGilvray, TalkRadio WRNR 740AM (12/22/06)

As much as WJFK would be justified in doing so, I totally doubt D&M have been canned. WJFK management can't "manage" anything, much less revising their program lineup. Michael Hughes has no choice but the stay with the Fat Boys - no matter how odious they may be as contract employees. It's really a shame CBS could'nt have figured out a way to get Ron and Fez to JFK. I listened to most of the XM show yesterday and a good part of the stream from 92.3 last night and they were able to maintain the energy and be entertaining in both sessions. I'm wondering how long they will be able to maintain the 10-12 hour a day schedule between XM and Free FM though. It speaks volumes that R&F can do two shows a day when the FBs can't even get their tired asses in front of the mics once in two months. My prediction is that they'll never recover from their latest stunt - after the grand return - they'll be back to abusing callers, and cutting edge "Jew to Jew" and "E to E" segments. Blecch!! On a much brighter note - please accept my wishes for a great Holiday season to you Dave, and all of the mailbag participants. DA_PJ_DJ_in_VA. (12/22/06)

Regarding your post on WSMJ, last Friday (12/15), Bill Simpson said on the air in a very pleasant way that he was going to Philadelphia and thanked the PD for everything she did for him. I found his style very mellow, informative, and easy to listen to! (12/22/06)

Dave: Concerning WSMJ 104.3: I have it on good authority that Bill Simpson is now at the "Smooth Jazz" station in Philadelphia (WJJZ) I think are the call letters. As far as the Orioles..possibly moving to JFK AM..that doesn't help us folks here on the eastern shore much, as WJFK's signal at night usually isn't that good! Guess have to hope that WHFS will come in for me; of course..there's always XM..only thing: that won't help me if the Orioles are playing on the road! Tom Kaufman, Denton, MD. (12/22/06)

Actually, I think the Riggins show is pretty good, much better than the three stooges on WTEM, Thompson, Walker and Koken. It's a smart move by MASN which by and large is viewed as catering to a Baltimore, not a DC, audience and wants to change that perception. On the other hand, you will note that COMCAST Sportnet's coverage has slanted more toward the DC teams as of late. Clearly, they want to be the DC area sports cable station. BTW, I have to say that COMCAST Sportsnet's Sportsrise and Sportsnite programs are excellent. Great coverage of the area pro and college teams and really well done features. Any local sports fan who isn't watching them is missing something. (12/22/06)

Arch, Arch! That was a nice, classy sendoff for Arch Campbell last night. Based on Vance's heartfelt on-camera goodbye, both George and Bob coming over to give the man a big hug on the set, Arch was very likely a good part of the heart and soul of the Channel 4 newsroom. Arch was kind enough to do an interview with me in front of WRC's studios when I was producing a story on the local movies and movie theaters for WAMU's 'Morning Edition' in the '80s when I was a reporter there (back when reporter Wendy Rieger and I shared a desk in the newsroom); he could not have been kinder or more helpful to me. Jim Vance looked about as sad as I've ever seen him when he said it was one of the worst nights ever a the station; I know that today's likely to be as bad, when they say goodbye to Susan Kidd, and everyone else for whom its gonna be their final day on Nebraska Avenue. Being the kind of place that it is, I can also easily imagine that they are also saying fond farewells to the off-camera folk who are either voluntarily, or involuntarily having their careers terminated. Getting back to Arch, I'll be looking for his entertainment news website when it gets launched (I don't listen to the radio station on which he will be continuing his reports, I need WTOP and NPR for the job, dontcha know...). I really and truly fear that NBC's misguided and short-sighted efforts for short-term profitability will send my favorite television news station down the same path to ruin that befell the once-gold standard for D.C. TV news, Channel 9, which has become a rather sad, glitzy shadow of its former self. And so it (sadly) goes... - Max in Mild West Arlington (12/22/06)

RE:"I just watched Opie & Anthony on the terrible Jay Leno show. All I have to say is that it's so sad they needed to resort to the topic of Howard Stern. It just shows that they have nothing else to talk about. I mean, Howard has been on numerous talk shows in the past few weeks, and there wans't ONE time that he mentioned Opie & Anthony. Not once." To the person who wrote this....are you serious?? Did you even watch the whole Opie & Anthony interview on Leno?? They didn't bring up Howard UNTIL JAY LENO ASKED THEM, "Whats with you guys and Howard"?? JAY ASKED THEM! And to the person who said Jay Leno didn't know whoe O&A were, un, HELLO...He's been a supporter of their show for a while and one of the biggest since they got on XM. When they first got back on, Jay Leno gave they a couple plugs and Lil' Jimmy Norton has been on The Tonight Show 2 times already. You are just either not happy with their success and want other people to believe they don't have any, or you are a BLIND Howard Stern follower. What other syndicated radio show does Letterman & Leno?? or even ANYTHING like that? NONE! Howard Stern used to, now its O&A's time to shine and their doing it. I give nothing but props to Opie & Anthony for kicking ass and doing what they do. For the haters, look at their popularity & paychecks and compair it to yours. O&A ALWAYS WIN IN THE END! (12/22/06)

"When was the last time you went into a store and told them you made a purchased based upon what you heard on WGMS?" I quit buying classical music at stores because those shiney little records sounded like crap and kept ruining the needles on my Philco Hi-Fi. (12/22/06)

Dave's response: Am I the only one who misses those Needle In A Haystack stores? I still have a turntable and about several hundred vinyl platters.....

Damn! From the youtube video: A thin Susan Kidd with an afro-borderline-jheri curl? CLASSIC! (12/22/06)

"I can't believe you people and the way you spin things that are good for O&A's career as something bad. Seriously, stop blindly following Stern. Have an opinion of your own, or at least preface your waste of a post with stating where it actually came from." Like you have an opinion of your own. By the way the rest of the sentence makes no sense. "Hate them as much as you want, I really don't care." We do!!!!!! "Or better yet, post something new and "revolutionary" that Stern is doing at Sirius." Hey, he's entertaining which is more than I can say about "Anthony & Opie", even Jay Lame-O doesn't know who they are. "Better yet, find ANYONE who actually has Sirius...." I and about 5 million others. Also did an unscientific survey down 2 rows of cars at Fair Oaks Mall, looking for after market satellite antennae with the little logos on them. Out of 13 cars. 9 were Sirius, and 4 XM. Oh and for fun, go into the mall and visit the slack-jawed flunkies at the XM booth. Don't ask them anything slightly technical about XM, you'll just get "Duuuuuhh" from them. Merry Christmas, Peace, Joy and Love to you. Hope Santa brings you a new skateboard. (12/22/06)

RE: "What date can we watch Howard on? Oh that's right, he isn't on". Actually, he's on everyday, there's a 24 hour network devoted to him called HowardTV. Jay in Sterling (12/22/06)

"Had those 'insulted serious classical music listeners' supported the station, then it would not be sold." - Why, thank you, Mr. Know-it-all! Support? What the hell does that MEAN? The numbers have been terrific on WGMS for years. And, there is another tool that was used by the sales staff there: the Scarborough Report, which details lifestyle and psychographic information about a station's listeners and how they use the product. WGMS has not been a sales problem or a ratings problem. If it meets it's end by being sold for an ESPN/ Redskins outlet, the WGMS Classical format's demise will be a victim of people who thought they could build a better mousetrap. Maybe they can and maybe they can't. But, the listeners and advertisers do not deserve ANY blame for a "downfall" that has not occurred. - Rocket J. Squirrel (12/22/06)

Wait a minute - arent Riggo and Anita on at the same time? How is MASN going to do this? (12/22/06)

Dave's response: Maybe split screen? Ha ha ha.....

If WGMS couldn't offer anything but the "pop" classical hits that they played relentlessly and with nauseating repetition, then yes, it should have folded sooner. A diluted classical station is worthless to anyone who really loves the music, just as a "soft jazz" station is hateful to anyone who loves jazz. In the days when WGMS had musical integrity, I did indeed go and buy records that I'd heard on the air. The Disc Shop, Serenade, and later Tower Records even had "WGMS" displays with new releases. It DID pay to play serious music, and it DID pay to trust the intelligence and knowledge of the station's constituency. What DOESN'T pay is lack of imagination and contempt for one's public by underestimating its intellectual level. Give me a committed sports station any day over a half-hearted classical one. Thanks, Bonneville, for destroying a DC treasure. (12/22/06)

Lost of familiar faces. www.youtube.com (12/22/06)

Hey fish wrap postee!!!! I was in radio news for 3 decades in this market on award winning news teams. Each morning I would read what the creative writing staffs of our DC Dailies wrote about the same news events we covered. Where did they get that stuff? I spent a lot of my time with follow-up reporting on the inaccuracies in media. Until something better than DCRTV comes along, keep reading your paper while it's still here. Wonder why circulations are down and taking a perpetual dive? Print was way ahead of its time. Laying off higher paid news vets in favor of lower paid rookies! The credibility and class is gone from all news.(Thanks Dan Rather et al) DCRTV doesn't spin and if there is an agenda, it's well disguised. As far as acknowledging mistakes? Wow, there should be a whole section in the paper just for this...haven't seen it! I've written for papers too! The editors did awful things to my work. Changes were made by those who never knew the story, just how to make the story a "better read" without regard to "accuracy". And you unionizers...wazzup! I worked for $4/hour when I started, made it into upper 6 figures, was fired numerous times. Worked for some of the worst scum of the earth. The union never made it better. Union is a club I had to join. I was never excited about being part of any club that would have me as a member. It's all about value...in the old days, you worked for a gold watch.....you could smoke at your desk, red playboy at your desk, and pinch the secretary on the butt and she would thank you! Times have changed...unions had their heyday! If you have value you can earn your wage. You still don't have the right to any job you want....so far. It's all about money and I hope it stays that way! AQH Listener (12/22/06)

Dave: Do you really believe that D&M are coming back in January? I don’t. WJFK has continued to lie and lie about those two guys. I am convinced that they will never be back on that station and they were fired despite what management says. I think it was a good firing in that they got rid of two tired men who don’t even like doing radio. Their listeners could tell that they could care less about anything but money and from what I saw on the ratings posted on this website it looks like the taped show that WJFK airs gets the same rating as the live show. How embarrassing that must be to Don. That must make him feel like a bit of a failure, huh! Thanks, Jeff from Richmond. Out! (12/22/06)

("All the on-air people at NBC4 are getting big, well-covered-by-the-media send-offs. Anything being done for the slugs behind the camera who are also losing their jobs?") Good point Al. The grinches/execs at NBC/Universal however, say thanks and will spend your saved salaries in the form of bonuses we will award ourselves. I hope they choke on their Christmas gooses. Why break up a top-rated newscast for short-term savings? NBC is already a skin-flint network with endless reality game shows, Law and Order ad museum, and making it impossible to determine when shows like Scrubs, Las Vegas, and Medium will be on. I hope everybody finds new jobs quickly. (12/22/06)

Hey Dave? Assuming that Don & Mike ever return from their ivory towers and the Orioles do move to WHFS...does that mean that from April - September every year, D&M will be cut off every evening around 6pm in favor of Orioles pre-game? Or would the pre-game items air on AM with the game itself airing on AM and FM. (FM for game itself only?). Thanks, Greg in Reisterstown, MD. (12/22/06)

Anthony & Opie ..that's funny. As most know, Stern no longer "does" Leno's show. The comments in this mailbag about Dopey and Ain't Funny rarely (if ever) discuss anything creative they are doing on their show, the guests they (don't) have, the ratings they (don't) get, because they are the equivalent of a Single A farm team, Stern is the Yankees. The reason Stern dominates the discussion is because he is the alpha dog, the top ten in Forbes list of most powerful celebrities, the man who brought 5 million to Sirius, who put satellite radio on the map, who redefined the industry. O&A are trying to tug on Superman's cape, and believe you me, if these two chuckleheads were doing anything for either CBS or XM's bottom line (in a positive way) you'd be hearing about it. The reality is that these two guys were canned from their jobs, were banished to exile at XM, where they drew a whole whopping 35K new subscribers, failing to meet XM's expectations and when CBS, in a desperation move, offered to essentially help pay their bloated (and unearned) contract, XM leaped, because there was actually a company DUMBER than them willing to gamble on these guys. Meanwhile, Clear Channel and CBS are dumping stations quicker than Tom C. on the button because no one gets the ratings Stern did, no one brings in the ad revenue that Stern did, and the roll out of more cars pre-installed with SIRIUS (and even XM) continues to cut into the bottom line. Stern can get on the airwaves whenever he wants, three times in a week as a matter of fact, and laughs all the way to the bank. (12/22/06)

Cox Hypes 'PowerBoost' Speeds... www.multichannel.com... (12/22/06)

(From DCRTV's Classified Ads:) Local Sales Manager- Arlington, VA. Represent multiple Comcast Spotlight platforms to clients in your territory with the goal of providing uniquely tailored marketing solutions. Responsibilities include developing new revenue streams utilizing cable spots, Comcast.net and VOD. Qualifications/Requirements: Minimum 4 years sales management in television sales, with proven experience in designing and implementing strategic sales plans, excellent writing, verbal, negotiating and presentation skills. All applicants must apply online at careers.comcast.com Requisition # 40984BR. Comcast is an EEO/AA/M/F/D (12/22/06)

The potential demise of WGMS reinforces that you don't value that which you get for free. Had those 'insulted serious classical music listeners' supported the station, then it would not be sold. As for the 'pop' insults being thrown at the station. Had it not been for the pop approach, which actually steadied the ratings for a time, then it would have been gone much sooner. When was the last time you went into a store and told them you made a purchased based upon what you heard on WGMS? Yeah, that's what I thought. You didn't put your money where your mouth is. (12/22/06)

I saw the Opie and Anthony interview on Jay Leno last night and was underwhelmed. I've only heard O & A a couple times, and am not really a Stern fan either, so I feel that I can give a balanced account. The interview was short (as is usually the case with the second guest). Jay and Anthony did 95% of the talking, with Opie pretty much sitting there trying to get a word in edgewise. Anthony did a Howard Stern impression and got in a few digs, and touched on their firing from CBS and their other show-related controversies. It was painfully obvious that neither Jay Leno or the first guest had much of a clue who these guys were. In closing, Jay even referred to them as "Anthony & Opie". It certainly didn't make me want to run out and listen to their show. Marc in Fairfax. (12/22/06)

MASN IS TURNING INTO A DISASTER QUICKLY - ANITA MARKS AND JOHN RIGGINS! ( could they find two LOWER RATED , WORST RUN PROGRAMS TO PUT ON TV !!??) i am sure the Riggins show ( which starts AFTER NFL) will go over terrific in Baltimore, just like anita's "BUSH" LG ( pun intended show has BOMBED IN B-MORE ! on both mediums ) dan snyder and peter angelos teaming up: 2 short billionare's with LOSING TEAMS FOR YRS TO COME - I LOVE IT!! - kevin , perry hall (12/22/06)

The news of the demise of WGMS is so sad to those of us who grew up in Washington in the 70's and owe much of our knowledge of classical music to the substantial programming that the station used to offer. The idea of a crass football team owner buying and destroying this DC treasure is sickening and typical of the decay of cultural values in this country. However, it must be admitted that for the last few years WGMS was a pathetic shadow of its former self, playing only the most familiar, "pop" classical music and mere fragments of longer works by "safe" composers. All musical integrity had vanished. Gone were the informative, in-depth shows hosted by Paul Hume and other musicologists. Important 20th Century composers such as Stravinsky, Bartok and Schoenberg (not to mention more extreme avant-gardists) were no longer heard on the station. The watered-down, "populist" WGMS was an insult to any serious classical music fan. My hope is that the station will be saved, but not to remain the banal thing that Bonneville made of it. No, let's hope for a return to those glory days when WGMS managed to be a profitable commercial station even while providing listeners with knowledge, insight, and music both traditional and ground-breaking. (12/22/06)

("Wow ..Dopey and Ain't Funny are getting 2d billing on the Thursday before Christmas show that no one watches. Their segment will be roughly 90 seconds and consist of 85 seconds of trying to claim they are better than Howard and 5 seconds of cricket chirping silence as they are exposed as the lame frauds they are .... Keep Skateboarding!") What date can we watch Howard on? Oh that's right, he isn't on. I can't believe you people and the way you spin things that are good for O&A's career as something bad. Seriously, stop blindly following Stern. Have an opinion of your own, or at least preface your waste of a post with stating where it actually came from. Hate them as much as you want, I really don't care. But stop trying to spin their success as anything but success. It's just pathetic. Or better yet, post something new and "revolutionary" that Stern is doing at Sirius. Notice that there's an awful lot of O&A talk in this mailbag, whether it be positive, or a poor attempt at making them look bad such as yours. Then try to find anyone in here discussing Stern. Let me know when you find them. Better yet, find ANYONE who actually has Sirius (other than Dave). Have a Happy Holiday! Sean in Harpers Ferry (12/22/06)

It seems that Arch Campbell leaves Channel 4 with a lot of good will from people in the D.C. area. I wonder if Don & Mike will have those same sentiments from local people on their last broadcast. (12/22/06)

("Don't worry. There's always a Taco Bell job waiting once Tribune unloads the Sun.....") And there's an order of e coli flavored salad of lettuce and scallions waiting for you. (12/22/06)

I just watched Opie & Anthony on the terrible Jay Leno show. All I have to say is that it's so sad they needed to resort to the topic of Howard Stern. It just shows that they have nothing else to talk about. I mean, Howard has been on numerous talk shows in the past few weeks, and there wans't ONE time that he mentioned Opie & Anthony. Not once. Does'nt that just make them feel foolish? The fact that Howard Stern doesn't care about them at all, yet they're obsessed with him. Look you stupid morons, the radio war is OVER. You are coming off as jealous little children who wish that Howard would never have gone to Sirius. This time next year Sirius will have more subscribers, and you will be begging him for a job... (12/22/06)

It is NOT a shame that Don and Mike are off the air. Since the untimely passing of Freda....the show has really gone down hill. These guys have lost their cutting edge.... The Bits are stale...predictable... And If I hear the Hamburger James story on more time well, I don't know what I would do. Maybe a switch to mornings would be better....there is no good drivetime humor...maybe they could re-invent themselves there (12/22/06)

/\ December 22 Messages /\

\/ December 21 Messages \/

dave i could not agree with you more! that obnoxious kid screaming hysterically while opening that present just sends the WRONG chills up me every time i see it! such the wrong message. if i was elvis, i would shoot out the tv screen when that horror begins! there have been some good commercials , some moving ones, some great visuals this season--but that one is GOD AWFUL!! happy holidays mailbaggers! (12/21/06)

bonaduce now with carolla more great stuff from cbs radio www.mediaweek.com (12/21/06)

Dave's response: I saw that but didn't run it on DCRTV because there wasn't much of a local angle in it.....

Arch Campbell, you're a class act. Real nice walk down memory lane tonight. Man, I really hate to see the best news team in DC, breaking up. (12/21/06)

The 6pm NBC4 news just went off and Jim Vance said that it was one of the worst nights there at NBC4 which I'm assuming describes how he feels about Arch Campbel leaving. Arch did a segment showing highlights of his 32 years at the station including a scene with Rosanne Barr who appeared on that Saturday late night show he used to host. I could tell that Vance was a little choked up about Arch leaving. I too will miss Arch and what he brought to the news program.. (12/21/06)

Farewell, Arch. You are the embodiment of decorum and class. You will be greatly missed! -Silvie in Waldorf- (12/21/06)

RE: the BMW spot. Granted, it doesn't age well, but the back story is an interesting piece: www.baltimoresun.com... MarkP/CharmCity (12/21/06)

No doubt you prefer to deal wuith non-union employees since they are powerless to negotiate a better deal, especially with large multi-nationals, that's why unions prefer to baragin collectively because there is strength in numbers. The sheep are the idiots who buy your twaddle, like Reagan Democrats. (12/21/06)

Dear At Will: Is being “middle class” in America a right? NO, but who’s going to buy all those $25K cars and $500K houses in DC? Where do they get the money? What would you call workplace justice? Health care? Retirement? Equal pay for equal work? The right to raise objections within your workplace and have them justly resolved without having to quit or be fired? I can see you are bitter about unions, but really, in the grand scheme of things Unions are a valid economic force. Not entitled, but rather employees acting collectively for better working conditions and wages. We can continue to bore folks with horror stories of union excesses, but I don’t think that’s where anyone is going if they can call themselves ‘enlightened.’ Unions need to be enlightened, it’s true. But no more so than the management with whom we work. Moe the Union Guy. (12/21/06)

The worst TV ad I have ever seen is the BMW ad with the two obnoxious children screaming. After hearing it too many times this season, I wouldn't buy a BMW (even if I could afford it). Skipper (12/21/06)

Dave's response: Or, how about that ad for the "free credit report" that you have to pay to join a credit monitoring program to get.....

Okay, an earlier post opened the door for bad TV ads. How about that one for “Empire Flooring” which advertises a free turkey? What a scrawny looking bird! (12/21/06)

I know I said I was moving on but I just noticed at the top of the DCRTV web page, in the Ads by Google banner, two anti-union web pages. Priceless! (12/21/06)

Tuesday on the John Riggins show they had segment with someone from travelocity, the segment had nothing to do with sport's and it sounded like riggins was reading the question's off a a prepared list, why indeed it sounded like an effing infomercial, is tripe X espn selling ad time as segments of the alleged show.....BOOOOOO! .......gawd joe ardengir was boring , maybe King Don, or was that Prince Miguelitoe, is right about that dude......did you hear Robbay give the fast read on a commercial , why he's getting very good at it.. those Sport Chunkies will whore themselves out for any commercial that comes ther way, and oh how hellishly more whore like is they have to drop their money phrases in every ad read, boring inbreds........and dumb arse skateboarders, what is the snicker factor on the Op and Ant show?....and did I hear right on the Bill O'Rightly radio show, he said he will be coming to the home's of lil' children who've been naughty not nice this year for chrismus and eat them...even that's too far for O'Rightly!....and I see MASN has added their own effing crawl to the screen and that's above another crawl....it distorts the picture on rest of screen, i.e. college basketball games....i hate you bastards at MASN! I will no longer watch, like you give a d9mn!.......I said I don't want to be your huckleberry no more, what do I do with the goat?.......imo ibongox.......btws when is the Bob Hope Xmas special on or did I miss it? And Kathie Lee Xmas special, wha' happened? No Tom Shales review!.....is zat you santee claws?...goodbye Arch ....beware of Sinter Klaus and Omarpeter this chrismus! (12/21/06)

Dave's response: Was in a Subway sandwich shop the other day, and the guy behind me in line sounded exactly like Joe Ardinger. Wasn't him, though. Way too good looking.....

(Dave's response: Ha ha ha. I love it! Hey, we get 50 true scoops, and then run one rumor that doesn't pan out. And, never fear, we get the angry dude who blasts - "YOU STUPID IDIOT. YOU CALL YOURSELF A REPORTER? I'LL NEVER SEND YOU A DONATION." Some of you guys are funny.....) No funnier than a blogger who overhears something, throws it up on a site as fact probably without checking the veracity of the person he heard it from, then breaks his arm patting himself on the back on the occasions when the rumor is true, then breaks a leg running away from the instances he's wrong. The reason you aren't a journalist and don't serve a journalistic function is that you're not accountable. Newspapers and broadcast outlets acknowledge their mistakes every day. Can you say the same? That is, without getting defensive? (12/21/06)

Dave's response: Don't worry. There's always a Taco Bell job waiting once Tribune unloads the Sun.....

Anyone notice how EVERY night, on EVERY local "news" show, there is a Breaking News alert? Last night it was for the idiot who locked himself in a hotel in Fair Oaks FOUR HOURS EARLIER!!! and that was closer to breaking news than they usually have. Do we need to define breaking news? Do they think we are stupid? Am I the only one annyed by this? (12/21/06)

“Since we’re talking prerogatives, here’s one that comes to you via federal statute:” Wow you mean there are federal and state laws governing labor? Who would have thought? You guys are a hoot! Nowhere did I say you didn’t have the right to self-organization or that a business has carte blanche to do whatever they want to employees. It’s a silly premise to make your point on. The bottom line for me, I’ve had experience with both union and non-union labor. There are plenty of reasons (learned first hand) why I prefer to deal with non-union employees. I know I’m far from being the only one holding that opinion. If you want to be part of a group that’s led around like sheep instead of being more self-reliant and in a position to call your own shots, knock yourself out. I'm moving on. (12/21/06)

The Squeaky Wheel has sent you a link to a weblog: DC based XM radio duo to be on Leno tonight. Blog: Bearing Drift... Post: Opie and Anthony to Appear on Jay Leno Tonight... Link: www.bearingdrift.com... (12/21/06)

A poster writes, "Unfortunately, without union rules, it is too easy for people to make the wrong decision, such as force the most skilled people to do all of the work, or to ask people to do unsafe things." Oh really now? In reverse order. Employment is 'at will'. You don't have to stay there if you feel it is unsafe. In fact, NIOSH, OSHA and other federal laws exist for that reason. If you feel its unsafe, you have options. NFFE is one union however that is on record as telling rank and file that safety is a management concern and not an employee concern as long as you are getting paid for your time. As for forcing the most skilled to do all the work,,,that only happens in union shops !!where 'experienced' old timers, using the seniority excuse, get to choose what jobs they want to do, and refuse work they don't want to do because 'i haven't been trained on that yet', leaving in fact that which they do not want, or which they are not qualified to do, to those younger and more skilled folks who have to work overtime to get the same pay as the straight time of senior guys. So yes, the most skilled do all the work for the lowest pay. (12/21/06)

Is it kosher for a public television station like MPT to bid on lottery contracts? Maybe it's just weird cause I work there. But it seems odd. Would Rhea draw the numbers? (12/21/06)

ARCH! ARCH! (Like a dog barking) Remember that's how Channel 4 used to introduce him circa the late '70s? KOF (12/21/06)

re: identity. "On another subject, has anyone else attempted to watch Penn Gillette's train wreck of a game show, "Identity"? I haven't seen anything so bad since the "Star Wars Holiday Special" back in '78!" I always knew Teller was the "smart" one. (12/21/06)

Wow ..Dopey and Ain't Funny are getting 2d billing on the Thursday before Christmas show that no one watches. Their segment will be roughly 90 seconds and consist of 85 seconds of trying to claim they are better than Howard and 5 seconds of cricket chirping silence as they are exposed as the lame frauds they are .... Keep Skateboarding! (12/21/06)

"A lump of coal in the holiday stockings of all our anti-union "friends" today whose delicate sensibilities get so easily ruffled when those of us who understand the value of unions speak up." Mega dittos Max! Karl Marx (12/21/06)

All the on-air people at NBC4 are getting big, well-covered-by-the-media send-offs. Anything being done for the slugs behind the camera who are also losing their jobs? (To protest, I have removed the GE light bulbs from my menorah.) Al McGilvray (12/21/06)

Very simply stated, To ALL DCRTV "Mailbaggers" Merry Christmas (even you Bill Smith)... Rusty Gibson WEBR Radio/Fairfax (12/21/06)

My purchase of WGZS in Dothan, Alabama was approved by the FCC last week, and we had our formal closing yesterday (Dec. 20). We have moved it to a new and larger location, changed the call letters to WEEL (The Big Wheel), and hired our staff. Station has been dark since September. Our target date for on air is March 1. We can be reached at (334)699-1970. Happy holidays to all my friends in the Baltimore-Washigton area, and you too Dave. Thanks, Jack Gale (12/21/06)

Dave's response: It's not on 1310, is it?

Opie and Anthony will be guests this evening on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" on NBC at 11:30 pm ET. This will be Opie and Anthony's first appearance on the show. For more information, visit www.nbc.com... (12/21/06)

Shame on you Ed Jones of Bel Air! You do not know of what you speak. CBS Baltimore insiders – including this one - know that local management chose not to renew Ken Merson’s contract with WLIF so that his salary and benefits money could be used to offset Steve Rouse’s return. If Merson was “fired” as you claim “we all know”, then why is he still under contract with full pay and benefits until the end of 2006? There is a distinct difference between being fired and not having your option renewed.... You owe him, his friends and his fans a public apology. (12/21/06)

Ed Jones wrote "The Merson Person is a legend. I've listened to him since his days at WCBM, and I also think he was a true professional. He was entertaining, he also had musical trivia tidbits that he shared on his show. Despite his legendary status, we all know that he was fired from 101.9 and was replaced by Greg Carpenter for the afternoon drive." I agree with every point with one very big exception: Ken Merson is irreplaceable. (12/21/06)

First off, I don't need any "Business 101" lectures from an anti-unionist, thank you so much...as I said, just so much of the same ignorant 'white-noise' we hear from this crowd when this topic re-emerges. You *never* successfully refuted my statement that there are tons of successful companies that foster good relationships with their unionized employees. Sure, no one is "owed" a job...what on earth is your point in saying something so meaningless and trite? What unions are all about, bucko, is making sure people are treated FAIRLY. Anyone who knows anything about *successful* businesses knows that treating employees well, paying them a competitive wage, and providing competitive benefits, within reason and within the limits of a firm's business plan, provides incentive for people to work hard for their companies, and promotes loyalty. Again, this is why its so difficult to have a discussion of this type with the anti-union crowd: the lack of honesty and compassion masquerading as "hey, its 'business'". A lump of coal in the holiday stockings of all our anti-union "friends" today whose delicate sensibilities get so easily ruffled when those of us who understand the value of unions speak up. You people need to get a life. And so it goes... - Max in Mild West Arlington (12/21/06)

I call bullshit! DCRTV Dave, say that wasn't Don G _really_? (12/21/06)

Dave's response: Yes, I do believe it was someone exercising the fine art of parody.....

Goodbye Arch! Thanks for providing me with so many laughs through my childhood and early adult life. Sad to see you go. Greg (12/21/06)

RE: “If they want to treat you like crap, that’s their prerogative. You either live with it or move on …” Since we’re talking prerogatives, here’s one that comes to you via federal statute: “Employees shall have the right to self-organization, to form, join, or assist labor organizations, to bargain collectively through representatives of their own choosing, and to engage in other concerted activities for the purpose of collective bargaining or other mutual aid or protection…” Put in your 8-hour day and enjoy the paid holiday, Business 101 Man. To name just two, they did not arise out of the “prerogitives” of business. (12/21/06)

Jamie Flinchbaugh said... “The senior UAW official who helped start the Saturn project, Don Ephlin, used to say "Union is a result of management. If management changes, so will the union, but it will lag." I'm generally neither pro- or anti-union, but I am pro-leadership. Without leadership on either side of the table, willing to make tough but unpopular choices, then this is the story you end up with. Imagine two trees propped up against each other, leaning harder and harder. What happens when you take a tree away? Obviously it falls. This is the relationship the big 3 have with the UAW. Unfortunately, without union rules, it is too easy for people to make the wrong decision, such as force the most skilled people to do all of the work, or to ask people to do unsafe things. And it is too easy for unions to resort back to the rules and say "I can't do that" as a show of force. We need some leadership on both sides of the table to make some tough, unpopular choices TOGETHER. I only hope it happens before it is too late.” Leadership? Driven by mysterious market forces, The Slow Boiling Frog is more like it. Instead of Mutually Assured Destruction, how about Mutually Assured Prosperity? If we were to translate this tale to broadcasting, you could extrapolate to the logical conclusion. Without unions, and left to their own devices, I theorize that Every Broadcast Station (for as long as broadcasting remains relevant) would look like this: ONLY THREE PEOPLE, the GM (who is also in charge of sales), the Secretary (who is also the PD/Producer, traffic clerk, and receptionist), and the Janitor (who is also the IT guy and runs the equipment when he isn't mopping floors or taking out the trash). In this age of file servers and mega-inter-networks, we wouldn't need anyone else. No one at the station has health care, but the Group Execs have a marvelous Golden Parachute. One day, the Station Group Owner decides that labor costs too much. Who do we fire? … The Secretary! The Janitor gets promoted to PD/Producer, traffic clerk, but gets no more money, in the name of 'productivity'… Then the Executives give themselves a bonus for increasing the profit margin again. The stock goes up. The axiom still remains, “Companies get the Unions they deserve.” Moe the Union Guy. (12/21/06)

P-L-E-A-S-E, Don't start posting the Tom Bore....Moore Hype. WHO CARES... WHO CARES, WHO CARES???? He is NOT a professional paid personality...My GOD Ruth Cris is sponsoring an hour..WHO CARES? Tom do your show...and wait for the rave reviews in the newspapers..LOL. ANG (12/21/06)

Dave, First, thanks for DCRTV, I've been a reader since 1997. Now for my questions. Do you happen to know the name of the woman who does the VO for Pardon the Interruption? I'd like to put a name to the voice that sends my skin crawling each time she butchers Guiness' slogan, "Brilliant." Second, I watch Monday Night Football on Cox Cable in Fairfax County was wondering if the annoying commercial from that real estate developer with the adult film soundtrack playing in the background is seen in other areas acorss the region or just in Fairfax. Add him to the list of Worst for 2006. Sorry that my first email to you is filled with so much bile. Thanks. EA Dyson (12/21/06)

Dave's response: Yum, bile! My "worst" ad is that BMW one with that screaming spoiled kid opening his XMAS present. I will never buy a BMW because of that spot. It's VWs for me.....

Do you have anything new about the sale of WGMS to Red Zebra? Hope it goes through as its the only hope of getting real classical music back on the airways via WETA. THanks (12/21/06)

Dave's response: Nothing new, other than Dan Snyder is in talks to buy Clear Channel and put his sports talker on 97.1, 98.7, 99.5, 100.3, 101.1, 570, 980, and 1260 - along with 730, 92.7, 94.3, 104.1, and 103.9.....

"Broadcast management will screw you and not give it a second thought. They have no conscience, and with nearly 40 years in this business, I know of what I speak." Am I the only one amazed that someone would spend a lifetime in a career field like this if it's as bad as they say? (12/21/06)

I would like you to know there is a wonderful tribute to Gordon Davis on the WJLA website. a fund has been started and there is also a message board for anyone to leave their thoughts and prayers. (12/21/06)

Dave's response: It's at www.wjla.com/news/rememberinggordon.html.....

First, I'd like to thank all of my fans for waiting patiently while I've been off the air. And, secondly, I've been spending my time wisely by listening to some of the greats of DC radio - Elliot Segal, Jack Diamond, Grandy and Andy, and even newcomers Kane and John Riggins - to hone my radio skills. I've also been watching lots of television, especially "The View" to improve my appeal to the female listener. You know what? You can teach an old dog new tricks. I've learned a lot and I promise an improved show come January 2. I owe my fans that, at the very least. - A humbled radio god (12/21/06)

In response to: Ed Jones in Bel Air: If you had any clue about politics, you would know that Gov. Ehrlich is not going to seek any more offices. He made that clear weeks ago when asked about his political future, he said he was retiring from that, it was a great run, and now he's moved on to other things I never make political comments on this site. I don't know where this poster got the above from, but it wasn't from any of my postings. In response to: But he is a pedestrian-sounding announcer who is as generic and dull on 101.9 as he was on 106.5.” His program is mundane, humorless and darn near mind-numbing. Are Carpenter’s ratings higher than Ken Merson’s were? If Carpenter had such high ratings, why was he replaced on the morning show by Steve Rouse? As soon as Cathy Whiteside announces that Carpenter is on next, I change over to the smooth jazz on 104.3. Well, that's your prerogative to change the station when Greg Carpenter comes on, and that's what you should do if you don't like him. I've made my points and you don't have to agree with them. I don't know what Greg's ratings were on the morning show, and don't know what his ratings are now, and never claimed to know them. Neither did I know the Merson Person's ratings. Please reread: If Greg Carpenter has high ratings, he must be doing something right. The key word is "If", which means that I never claimed to know Greg's ratings. Speaking of ratings, some announcers have lost their jobs and were replaced to other time slots in spite of having good ratings. One other point: The Merson Person is a legend. I've listened to him since his days at WCBM, and I also think he was a true professional. He was entertaining, he also had musical trivia tidbits that he shared on his show. Despite his legendary status, we all know that he was fired from 101.9 and was replaced by Greg Carpenter for the afternoon drive. Ed Jones, Bel Air MD (12/21/06)

“Its in the nature of people who run businesses to shove the interests of workers to the very back of the priority list in the name of profits” OK Max lets go back to Business 101 (you might want to revisit English 101 too and put a few periods in your run-on sentences). Businesses exist for the purpose of producing a profit. You are not owed a job. Businesses do not exist for the purpose of providing you, your old lady, and family an existence. Sure it makes sense for an employer to treat their employees fairly. The good ones do. But, they ultimately call the shots with regard to pay and benefits. If they want to treat you like crap, that’s their prerogative. You either live with it or move on (if you have marketable skills). BTW, why is it you have a problem with Dave posting opposing viewpoints? It’s typically union mentality, childish name-calling and attempts to quash a dissenting viewpoint. Why are you so threatened by that? (12/21/06)

Dear ex-union member. Some unions go way beyond “wage & hour” types, as you describe. AFTRA covers many of us who have talked to microphones, the DGA covers television directors and WGA is for writers. I can assure you that without these three unions our work places, safety in the field and salaries would be poor. All three operate under collective bargaining rights guaranteed in most states. Pension and welfare in these unions are widely regarded as being quite good. Tom Gauger (12/21/06)

MAIL BAG TOP TEN..... 10 Too many comments and lots of free time. Seems like all of the commenteers are big Stern and D&M fans.....they proclaim to hate them, but they listen every day? Well, the real number one is ELLIOT! Diane is an original and has a very biting wit. She just happens to also be a great BROADcaster..... 9 Then there are the Andy and Grandy haters....they are very good radio....but, WTEM's Czabin and Scott Lynn are really good, especially for a sports station! Speaking of Sports stations. RZ is really bad...not much local...Riggo is a fair host, they are just being overpowered by the class at WTEM! HEY BZ it's talent you need...you don't have it! Ever wonder why the best talent didn't leave with you!?..... 8 Unions? BAH Humbug! You choose your job then you get fired once you lose your value. That's life...get over it! Unions are driving up the cost of business and in radio they are effective in keeping the incompetent! Radio and TV will continue to eat their old and starve the young until they are a talentless pool of ambiguity. If unionites want to work for a union, apply at Ford...oh, they are losing too much money!!!! Maybe unioncasters can build cars. They would all go in reverse and cost five times other cars. Look what you get for union wages.....TV traffic reporters from Metro..Except Baden..... 7 Weiskopf and O'brien? Mark is a great guy...lay down with dogs!!!! Weiskopf will find another butt to sniff. BZ has always let his true colors shine through...over promise, under deliver....what a great motto! Every spineless jellyfish for himself!..... 6 Wouldn't want to be in radio now....CC selling, Disney selling, RZ buying, and selling? Bonneville selling? Radio One doesn't sound so bad now does it? HEY see how it's done!..... 5 Dave "not a reporter"? Why are you reading? Memos from the Rockville Gulag not posted yet?..... 4 Pat Goss...left one station to go to another? Can do whatever he wants...WHY? HE BUYS THE AIR TIME! Always has!..... And, real reasons radio sucks...(3) syndication, (2) consolidation, and (1) cutting sales compensation..... "AQH Listener" (12/21/06)

Dave's response: Ha ha ha. I love it! Hey, we get 50 true scoops, and then run one rumor that doesn't pan out. And, never fear, we get the angry dude who blasts - "YOU STUPID IDIOT. YOU CALL YOURSELF A REPORTER? I'LL NEVER SEND YOU A DONATION." Some of you guys are funny.....

I've yet to read an anti-union diatribe from anyone who seemed like they had any clue what they were talking about. They clearly know squat about the labor movement in this country. As far as broadcasting goes, without unions no one would make any decent money, or have even reasonable benefits. I've been on both sides, union and non-union, in this business, and it's not even close - a union shop is better. Broadcast management will screw you and not give it a second thought. They have no conscience, and with nearly 40 years in this business, I know of what I speak. My AFTRA pension will be keeping me in Polident and Depends long after the plug's been pulled on the mic. (12/21/06)

Join us tomorrow on NBC's "Identity" as former WRC employees try to challenge clueless contestants on what they used to do: Former #1 rated 5pm host... Former Movie Critic... Former Tech Reporter... Former Sportscaster... I hope the suits at NBC Universal choke on their bonuses (where the "savings" is really going) (12/21/06)

Labor law generally considers those who are members of 'mutual bargaining organizations", such as unions, to be considered wage and hour trade workers, not professionals. If you are joining a union, then you are not a freelance professional such as these cameraman claim to be. In fact, freelance generally means you are a contractor and not an employee. The electrical trades have been getting away with this dichotomy for years and it is wrong. So first, these Comcast 'freelance' folks need to figure what they are, and what they want to be. However, Comcast should take note that satisfied employees and freelancers tend to be resistant to unionizing efforts. There are many well paid employees in this country with excellent working conditions and benefits beyond what they would have gotten from a unionized effort. When the company cares and shares, the union executive suite is the only one who doesn't benefit. Take note Comcast, you may have invited this in your own executive suite. But there is nothing 'union' about proper camera and switcher operation. If Comcast video had issues, it had to do with the training of those who replaced the technicians and nothing to do with any benefit of using union labor. I regularly work around union crews and often have to show them how new technologies work. If unions are about training professionals, how come the UAW gives out ONE scholarship per year? How many IBEW members have received training in current camera technolgoies at the union hall, rather than from a in-house seminar taught by the manufactuer? Unions are about bully rights, not professional ability and merit. An ex-union member. (12/21/06)

Dave... So, I see you're allowing the know-nothing anti-union crowd to stink up the Mailbag again, three days before Christmas, with their half-truths and outright falsehoods, in light of Comcast's sensible decision to settle with their freelance camerapeople and technical staff. Intelligent people understand the very plain and simple truth that if companies *always* treated their employees well and fairly, and paid them a competitive wage, we wouldn't have unions. But we do, and gee, what does that say about businesses past and present, eh? Its in the nature of people who run businesses to shove the interests of workers to the very back of the priority list in the name of profits (look at what's happening to good people at Channel 4 as NBC makes a rather lame attempt at returning to profitability by putting the people who once made the company very successful out on the street; I defy the anti-union crowd to explain that. Instead of producing successful television programming as a means of making more money, they'll do it by firing people. If it weren't for AFTRA going to bat for the workers who are being sacked, they'd be out in the cold without proper severance, COBRA, etc.). I'm prompted to recall a conversation in a network newsroom in which I once worked. A very well-compensated young production assistant was griping about how much of her sacred paycheck was going to the union that represented the newspeople. One of the old timers who had gone to the mat with the company more than once in contract talks asked the p.a. where she parked her vehicle during the overnight shift, and how much she paid. She responded that her car was in a safe garage, and that she was paying a fraction of the going rate in the garage for that privilege. The old-timer asked which of several fairly good health/dental plans she was signed up for. She responded she had the best of the bunch, and had recently seen the dentist. The old timer asked her about a number of other perks the p.a. enjoyed as part of her employment, including overnight differential pay, and that generous over-time she picked up for her sixth day weekend work. The old-timer correctly reminded the p.a. that all those things were in the contract because the UNION had negotiated them with management in previous contract negotiations, and with the full support of the network's star talent forcing the important issues time and time again. The *real* truth is that successful, well-run companies everywhere recognize the value in working WITH their labor unions and their members. And for the knuckle-dragging neanderthal who cites Wal-Mart's union-busting activities, well, all you need to do is look at the trouble the company is in, due, in part, to their obsessive, self-destructive effort to quash union organizing efforts, and you have my response to that very empty argument. I really don't have much patience with the anti-union crowd, and dismiss their dishonest rantings as just so much IGNORANT white-noise...which again begs the question of why they are being given so much space here on the Mailbag. Happy Holidays to them, anyway. And so it goes... - Max in Mild West Arlington (12/21/06)

Red Zebra website still showing Weiskopf and OBrien at their previous respective positions. No one has updated their webpage. (rapidly fluttering index fingertip across lips) buhbuhbuhbuhbuhbuh... (12/21/06)

The AES Tom Moore Show will return to being a two-hour weekend program on January 6th. The second hour of the program is being sponsored in large part by Ruth's Chris Steakhouse and will be called "The Ruth's Chris Steakhouse Hour of The AES Tom Moore Show." The hour will be less political than the first hour and will feature Tom Moore and some regular guest contributors including writers, business leaders, musicians, and actors talking about the issues of the day and add more focus to the role of the arts in society. Moore thanked his advertisers, especially Ruth's Chris Steakhouse and Steve de Castro for making the expansion possible in a brief statement. Tom Moore, Host, "The AES Tom Moore Show," Talk Radio 680 WCBM (12/21/06)

/\ December 21 Messages /\

\/ December 20 Messages \/

(From DCRTV's Classified Ads:) ChickChat Radio, a live daily 2-hour nationally syndicated talk show In Middleburg, is currently looking for a temporary part-time board op from Jan. 2 to the 25th. The hours would be from 12-5. Call Chandler at 540-687-8946. www.chickchatradio.com (12/20/06)

Yes, indeed, I feel sorry. Those workers have no choice but be part of a greedy organiztion that is nothing more than an arm of the very liberal wing of the Democratic party. Their money gets sucked out of their paycheck each month and they have no say in that matter. You know what? If they don't like what they are being paid, get another job. Nobody is holding a gun to their head to work for CSN. I say thank God for organizations like Wal*Mart that are telling Unions where they can go. So, why don't you skip down to their picket line and sing, "Look for the Union Label" or "We Shall Overcome." Oh, and while you are at it, why don't you dip into your pocket and pay these people's mortgages and other bills. I can assure you one thing. When that mortgage is late because they are walking a picket line, their Union won't be giving them a check to make sure it stays current. (12/20/06)

I see Lisa Broyhill is on doing the tryout tonight… I heard someone ask her about why she stabbed Peter Rosenberg in the back.… Hmmmmmm… It’s amazing how little talent Lisa has, but how quickly she has risen in the company… Things that make you go hmmmmmmmmmm… (12/20/06)

Dave's response: Wha? When JFK (via WARW PD Max) canned Peter, Don jested that they fired the wrong person, in a veiled reference to Lisa, who was Peter's producer. Wow, what a goofy station. Mixed Up 106.7.....

For the writer who felt sorry for “those workers who want to tell the Union to stick it but can't because Maryland is not a Right to Work state”…You feel sorry? You feel sorry? Quit crying Sally and move to Virginia if your feelings are that fragile. Better yet, why stop there. Go to Florida where they pay you in sunshine. As for the technicians striking for a few crusts of bread (and such), the top 5 Comcast officers averaged $5 Million each in salary last year. Brian Roberts was paid just over 10 million. Forgive me if I come down on the side of a few workers who may have hopes and dreams and would like to know if one of their kids gets sick, the hospital bill won’t throw his family into the street. Storm the Bastille! (12/20/06)

As seen here earlier - Big splash on WBAL's front page for MD Lottery, story here: wbal.com... MarkP/CharmCity (12/20/06)

Don't ever ask why you don't get credited for "scoops" by the newspapers. Not when you pull crap like this: "12/20 - DCRTV hears that a deal has been done to put Triple X afternoon radio man and Redskins legend John Riggins' show also on the Mid-Atlantic Sports Network..... 12/17 - DCRTV's well-placed sources shoot down a Jeff Barker Saturday Baltimore Sun piece, which claims that the Mid-Atlantic Sports Network is negotiating to simulcast Redskins great John Riggins' (right) show on Triple X ESPN Radio, which is owned by Redskins owner Dan Snyder....." By the way, what DCRTV 'hears' was the sound of a press release landing in its mailbox, not some scoop. You're not a reporter. Stop pretending to be one. (12/20/06)

Dave's response: Well, we're just reporting what we hear. And, a well-placed source did deny that Riggo would be seen on MASN. That source, by the way, talks to Riggo's people on a regular basis - so I give him some credibility. OK, that source - who had gotten many many things right in the past - got something wrong. Ding dong! Hey, I have never claimed to be a journalist or a reporter. Oh, we did get the Riggo "scoop" several hours before the press release was released. If you want "real news" - stuff the comes out well AFTER the press release is released - stick to the Post or the Sun. Of course, you won't have as much fun or hear as much cool shit.....

"To the viewer that did not see a difference in the caps game, get your vision checked." Your e-mail is a great illustration of the type of person typically found in a union. Nice job of representing! (12/20/06)

My family was listening to WGMS during dinner and at 8:07 it stopped mid-song. Is this it? -Gretchen Hemmer-Beaumont (12/20/06)

Dave's response: It's 8:19 and WGMS is coming through as loud and clear as possible here in Wild West Fairfax on 104.1 and 103.9.....

To the viewer that did not see a difference in the caps game, get your vision checked. the show only had 3 bad cameras instead of 10. there were few replays, and it was the tampa video feed. you work in TV? Also where is the pro comcast jim williams on this? Great job freelancers. The industry is going freelance and no one should be walked on...also thanks to the anti union email...at least we know who one scab would be... (12/20/06)

I recently saw a promo of FOX 5 airing the Washington Redskins' final game of the 2006 season on December 30th. The Redskins, who won't be in the playoffs for the 12th time in their last 14 seasons, will host the New York Giants at FedExField. The game, which will be an NFL Network production, will be broadcast live at 8:00pm on FOX 5. (12/20/06)

Sitting here listening to RON and FEZ on line on 92.3 free fm. WJFK needs to work out a deal to get them back on WJFK. Even if it just from 7pm to 9 pm that would be good too.. .A big WJKF fan for 20 years.. Jeff in Fredericksburg (12/20/06)

Ed Jones in Bel Air: If you had any clue about politics, you would know that Gov. Ehrlich is not going to seek any more offices. He made that clear weeks ago when asked about his political future, he said he was retiring from that, it was a great run, and now he's moved on to other things. But then again, I should only take what you say with a grain of salt... you do listen to the Junks! HAHAHA That's almost as bad as thinking Opie & Anthony's listeners have a collective IQ above 50. Here's hoping you get a new helmet for XMas. (12/20/06)

"Dear Mario, yes, you are the only one who finds David Burd cutesy, smarmy and annoying. That's why we listen to him Foyt-face or whatever your fake name is. Since you are a weekend listener and don't like Burd, then go and listen to the colon-cleaning shows opposite him. Sounds like you need a flush anyway." Well, well, well... there's certainly an intelligent, well-thought and articulated response. I rest my case. Those who like David Burd are the same ones who like "The Family Circus" and "The Muppets." Hysterical, emotional nerds. See you at Math Club, nameless Wuss! Mario Rahall Foyt Gurney Bondurant Harden Weaver (12/20/06)

Dear Dave: Here in Bethesda last night (December 19) just north of the National Institutes of Health I pickup up clearly the two local channel stations, WOL on 1450 khz and WYCB on 1340 khz. The characteristic night time interference for local channels was totally missing. With WOL now operating with their transmitter much closer to the Maryland border, it regularly has a intelligible night time signal here in Bethesda, but with some typical night time interference associated with local stations. However, WYCB with its transmitter near District Heights, Maryland, nearly always has an unintelligible night time signal. I figured that the improved night time signal must be due to special atmospheric conditions which reduced night time propagation. Just to check, t tuned to WLW Cincinnatti on 700 khz, a clear channel station, and there was almost no WLW signal. This fact would indicate that there was poor night time propagation on the AM band. I have read that there are at present active sun spots. Perhaps this could be the reason. I am writing this at 5:40 PM on December 20. I just checked and the reception described above still exists. This includes no signal from WLW. Arnie (12/20/06)

Dave's response: There are nights, for whatever atmospheric reason, that distant AM signal reception is seriously screwed up. It does occasionally happen.....

RE: The Technician walkout... Too bad there can't be a person like Ronald Regan at CSN right now. It would be a perfect Christmas Present for them to be told, "YOU'RE FIRED!" Those striking workers need to learn to appreciate a job instead of walking a picket line. I also feel sorry for those workers who want to tell the Union to stick it but can't because Maryland is not a Right to Work state. (12/20/06)

I find it interesting that with all the "cross promotion" of Dopey and Ain't Funny (and now R&F) by XM, you never hear XM trumpeting increased subscriptions or brand awareness from the skateboarders. Indeed, XM lowered their projections by more than 1 million from the beginning of the year, so could one conclude that O&A are actually scaring away listeners? Perhaps the Army of the 35,000 has lost its allowance from mom and dad or put their money toward skateboarding equipment or video game controllers and can't afford their XM subscriptions anymore. We'll all look forward to the 90 second segment they get on Leno the Thurs. before Christmas when NO ONE is watching TV. To paraphrase GG Liddy, Oh yee suckers, oh yee 35,000... (12/20/06)

("Technicians Stage Walkout Against CSN" - I watched the Caps game on CSN last night. Didn't notice any difference.) Wrong. There was a difference. It was not broadcast in HD like home games usually are. ~Mike (12/20/06)

And just like that, Ron y Fez have more listeners and are more relevant that Ol' Poodle Hat Howie. Hoo-Hoo, I have more accountants that fans. Tell 'em Fred. (12/20/06)

Ed Jones of Bel Air – Personality is the coming together of one’s personal (i.e. emotional, mental, social, etc.) characteristics which may or may not be expressed or demonstrated depending on one’s presentation. RE: “the poster must not have listened to Greg Carpenter on MIX.” Ed – reread the following: “But he is a pedestrian-sounding announcer who is as generic and dull on 101.9 as he was on 106.5.” His program is mundane, humorless and darn near mind-numbing. Are Carpenter’s ratings higher than Ken Merson’s were? If Carpenter had such high ratings, why was he replaced on the morning show by Steve Rouse? As soon as Cathy Whiteside announces that Carpenter is on next, I change over to the smooth jazz on 104.3. I only return to 101.9 when Fran Lane does her love songs show. At least there is one point that can be mutually agreed upon. As you stated...”No, he's not a "Merson Person." BTW - Does anyone know if Ken Merson is working? I really miss him. (12/20/06)

A personal note that I'd like to share w/ all "Mailbaggers". This a.m. Yours Truly spent some wonderful time enjoying tea and some light Christmas shopping (while the DCRTV "Bunny" was in the shop. Gotta tell ya Dave, spending quality time with freinds is what Christmas (and life) is all about! Happy Christmas DCRTV'ers! Rusty Gibson WEBR Radio/Fairfax (12/20/06)

Dave's response: Nice of Rusty to pick up an Englebert Humperdink CD as a Christmas gift for his good friend Tom Gavin. Ha ha ha. Ho ho ho.....

Dave, If you get any info. on services or funds setup for the family or anything like that, can you post them? I worked with Gordon and he was a great guy, unassuming but VERY professional and very dedicated to his family and work. A darn shame…only the good die young, right? Thanks. (12/20/06)

Dave's response: Will do.....

"Technicians Stage Walkout Against CSN" - I watched the Caps game on CSN last night. Didn't notice any difference. (12/20/06)

(Ed Jones of Bel Air, MD is confusing “personality” for “presentation.” They are not one and the same. Greg Carpenter may well be a “great guy.” But he is a pedestrian-sounding announcer who is as generic and dull on 101.9 as he was on 106.5.) - I would like to respond to the above: There is no confusion here. Personality and presentation can be one of the same, and can go hand in hand. If an announcer has personality, then it will show in the presentation and vice versa. I don't know what this poster is looking for in a personality and or presentation, but Greg Carpenter's presentation is acceptable, and as I mentioned, the poster must not have listened to Greg Carpenter on MIX. He WAS more lively there then he is on Lite FM. No, he's not a "Merson Person", but Greg is entertaining. If Greg Carpenter has high ratings, he must be doing something right. Having said that, even if the announcers we feel are terrible has high ratings, they too must be doing something right, even though we don't know what it is. Ed Jones, Bel Air MD (12/20/06)

Note to Hmmmmm: The Sun article you linked to was quite fair and reasonable. Unlike the Feds, the state budget must be in balance. If it isn't things must be cut and/or taxes raised. O'Malley has already stated that there is no plan for an increase this year, but the structural deficit which has existed for several years and was kicked down the road for four years by Ehrlich's raids on other funds will eventually have to be fixed. Bob, had he been reelected, would now be facing the same choices. Really quite simple, actually. As far as the other thing you mentioned, campaign finance is always shaky in my book but what happened was legal. I'm sure you don't want public financing to take such questionable activities out of it, do you? To get back on track, I heard the Guv with the Junks last week state that his media opportunities on both radio (BAL?, Norris?) and TV are expanding. A great way to keep his name front and center while preparing for the next campaign. Howie (12/20/06)

"They were able to get an extremely sub par show on the air, that we watched from the bar. A show of 3 or 4 cameras and only the basics plus a ton of mistakes. It definately wasn't pretty." Keep telling yourself that dude as you stand out there with your picket sign Friday night. As a regular viewer of Caps games on CSN, I didn't notice a difference. (12/20/06)

I have heard Marianne (Marion?) past couple nights on WJFK. It’s SOOOOOOOO nice to hear a chick on WJFK. LOVE IT. You Go Girl! Xxoo Heidi www.chickchatradio.com (12/20/06)

"If Danny Boy can boost the Triple X programming along with the signals, we can at last have a REAL sports station." D.C. won't have a "real" sports station until its programmers realize there is more than one pro franchise in this city...and you can be sure that won't happen on a station owned by Dan Snyder. While I'm hardly a fan of Clear Channel, I would maintain the likeliest place for such change would be WTEM. -- Vincent in Triangle (12/20/06)

I used to think "fireplace TV" was just something Mike Judge made up. But if you think WDCW is weird for running three hours of fireplace video, this satellite provider in Canada does it full time for six weeks: www.starchoice.com... What would the announcer say? "Coming up this hour, we burn pine, birch, mahogany...and by your request, oak!" (12/20/06)

If George Michael at Ch. 4 ran a Yule Log on his show, we would hear fake crackling sounds instead of the real fireplace. Just as he does with sports highlights...fake fan sounds. George, as John McLaughlin would say, "BYE BYE!" (12/20/06)

Does anyone know what happened to Jay Cotrell of the First Team on FSR/WTEM? (12/20/06)

Comcast techies - which IATSE local is backing you up? 161 or 487? Which has jurisdiction over video productions in our region? (12/20/06)

Do you know if that BALT radio station found any good sports radio hosts in the 12? - I read your website daily and by the time I read your zinger on this one, it was too late to compile my stuff, but I believe that I could bring it very well----former Stump the Schwab (ESPN) contestant, former Sports Trivia champ in San Antonio and Honolulu.....cover all 4 team sports with my own newsletter...... Thanks. Troy (12/20/06)

What station or studio or network is involved in the walkout? A freelancer. (12/20/06)

What the hell is "PAAAAAAARRTTYYYY ROOOOOOCCCCKKK"supposed to mean? It sounds like something a 14 year old who had his first beer would say. Oh never mind, I guess that is who the average O&A listener is. On another subject, has anyone else attempted to watch Penn Gillette's train wreck of a game show, "Identity"? I haven't seen anything so bad since the "Star Wars Holiday Special" back in '78! (12/20/06)

If a billionaire sports owner buys a radio station and changes it to sports from classical, does it make a sound? If Danny Boy can boost the Triple X programming along with the signals, we can at last have a REAL sports station. Face it fans, 980 is crap and will always be crap. (12/20/06)

Regarding the Yule Log on 50. It has a soundtrack, too - the air signal from WASH-FM. Maybe "The Christmas Shoes" will go up in flames. (12/20/06)

The following was forwarded to DCRTV.....

We'll by now I'm sure that you all have heard about our walk out this evening. I'm also sure that there have been plenty of rumors spread about this and that. What you find here will be the true breakdown and the path ahead to make this thing happen to get what we deserve. FIRST and formost we all need to thank every freelancer that was there tonight. Every job position from the top to the bottom stood together and made a stance. I am very proud to be amongst so many talented and dedicated freelancers who put their best foot forward everyday. Here is the breakdown: We walked out at 4pm. Had a meeting with Dan and soon as that was done around 4:25 we received a call from the company. WE went back and forth with them serveral times trying to get an agreement that we could agree on. However, after the 3rd and final revision it was to no avail. We held our ground and didn't return to work. Because we can't agree to less than what competitors are paying in the market. They were able to get an extremely sub par show on the air, that we watched from the bar. A show of 3 or 4 cameras and only the basics plus a ton of mistakes. It definately wasn't pretty. And it will only get more difficult. SO WHERE DOES THAT LEAVE US? There will be a picket line at Fridays hockey event. By thursday you will all know what time to meet and where in order to participate in this picket line letting not only the company but the public know our stance. We will hold this ground till we get a deal that is satisfactory and what is deserved. NOTE if you are not scheduled to work and you can make it to show support to your fellow freelancers that would be great. NO time more than now do we really need to support one another. There will be plenty more details to follow in the few days. Spread the word and if you know someone not on this list please get that info to me ASAP so they can be added. I'm proud to work with talented and gifted people as you all took the stand to said enough is enough. Lets stand together and make this happen! (12/20/06)

/\ December 20 Messages /\

\/ December 19 Messages \/

I, too, would like to express my heart felt sympathies to Gordon Davis' wife and daughter and his extended family at WJLA and Newschannel 8. He was a joy to work with and a wonderful human being. Never complained about doing his job (he worked third shift). He loved being a photographer and bringing the news to the viewers. His legacy will live on strong in his colleagues that also tote a camera on the streets. A co-worker of Gordon Davis. (12/19/06)

Two quick things: 1. Is it just me, or does the "O&A ALWAYS WIN IN THE END! PAAAAAAARRTTYYYY ROOOOOOCCCCKKK" guy just cut & paste that SAME exact text every time he e-mails the mailbag? 2. Thanks to Channel 50 for yet another waste of TV bandwidth with their 3 hour looped video of a log burning. Yes, if you suck so bad you can't light your own fire, stare at the TV for 3 hours & enjoy. Don't forget to setup a heater in front of the TV for more realism, and for the love of God don't let the kids near the fire! Can we please leave this "tradition" where it belongs -- 4 decades ago? (12/19/06)

Hi Dave, A friend of mine turned me on to your site a few weeks ago..just wanted to say hi! Cool site! (12/19/06)

Ed Jones of Bel Air, MD is confusing “personality” for “presentation.” They are not one and the same. Greg Carpenter may well be a “great guy.” But he is a pedestrian-sounding announcer who is as generic and dull on 101.9 as he was on 106.5. Why management chose to dump an original, knowledgeable, friendly, funny and well-liked pro like Ken Merson and replace him with someone off the junior varsity bench defies the most basic concepts of logic and sense. (12/19/06)

Don't know if you've heard, but there's a rumor that they get a show on WFNY starting at 6pm today. It was on this morning's O&A show. -Sean (12/19/06)

Dave's response: We did a Front Page newsblurb on 12/12.....

Have you heard anything about WJFK making a decision about the Hideout? Annmarie (12/19/06)

Dave's response: No.....

OPIE & ANTHONY ALWAYS WIN IN THE END!!! REMEMBER THAT! The Tonight Show with Jay Leno... Thursday night! O&A PAAARRRRTTTTYYYY ROOOOOOOOOCK!!!!!!!!!! (12/19/06)

David Burd: I liked his show a lot on WMAL and am glad he's at WTWP, thought I think he pushes his schtick a bit too far when he constantly interrupts guests when they're trying to make a point in their brief segments. I think he feels like he's got to keep his comedic act going to keep the show on a fast pace, but often his timing is just off. I am a fan but offer this constructive criticism. Pat Goss: Over the years I've tuned in to his show sporadically and I've found him generally too arrogant and grumpy to take for more than 15 minutes or so. In the couple of times I've listened to him on WTWP, it seems like he's mellowed a bit, which is encouraging. (12/19/06)

2 Gripes against local TV & newspaper political coverage this past election season..... #1..... Why didn't the Baltimore Sun's Andrew A. Green run THIS STORY www.baltimoresun.com BEFORE the election? (It's The Sun's 3rd tax increase story since the election, they ran no such stories before the election).......... #2..... Why did WBAL, WJZ, & The Sun report days before the election that Gov.-elect O'Malley's campaign was out of money, for sympathy purposes? Maybe the Sun didn't know, but having purchased TV advertising plenty of times in the past, I can tell you for sure the TV stations' news departments plainly knew that story was NOT TRUE and yet they chose not to report the last minute suspicious half-million dollar "loan" from a local businessman until after the election just like the tax increase stories. The local TV stations had to have known at the very least that a surprisingly large amount of hundreds of thousands of last minute advertising dollars that they reported didn't exist was in fact being spent exactly as they spoke the opposite to their viewers. And please, don't bother trying to explain to me that the ad departments and the news departments are separate and don't share info due to confidentiality because that's a load of B.S. and I know that for a fact. The only way they didn't know is if they didn't WANT to know or chose to look the other way. Hmmmmm. (12/19/06)

(Re: Am I the ONLY ONE who finds David Burd cutesy, smarmy and annoying? - Mario Rahall Foyt") Dear Mario, yes, you are the only one who finds David Burd cutesy, smarmy and annoying. That's why we listen to him Foyt-face or whatever your fake name is. Since you are a weekend listener and don't like Burd, then go and listen to the colon-cleaning shows opposite him. Sounds like you need a flush anyway. I agree with you on Goss, but leave Burd alone. You don't know what you're talking about or, have no sense of humor. (12/19/06)

here is a better picture of gordon davis channel 7 news photographer - thank you for your thoughts and prayers (12/19/06)

Dave's response: What a heartbreaker. At least he died doing something he obviously loved. All our prayers to Gordon's family and friends. It's going to be a very difficult Christmas for them.....

Just flipped on the Don and Mike best of marathon...Heard them reading an article about Howard Stern...After years of denying listening to Stern and knowing anything about his show-it was nice to hear Mike knows all the characters on Stern's show...Even a commentary of how Jackie is funnier than Artie...ponderous...Then again-where did Kong come from? baba-booey to you all! (12/19/06)

Re:"Radio sycophants are the worst, and I say this as a huge fan of a lot of shows, but the fucking flag waving "rah-rah!" shit is awful....god bless king dude, do what you gotta do bra, I'm out bitch, 5000. - Jason"//// Irony makes me giggle. (12/19/06)

This is in response to the following: Re:"Speaking of Greg Carpenter, I really enjoy listening to him. When he was on MIX 106.5, he had more personality simply because of the music played there. When coming to 101.9, he had to tone down his personality to fit the format there." 1) One's "personality" is not based on the music one plays. You either have one or you don't. 2) Doesn't one have to first have a personality before one can tone it down?" - First off, whoever posted this response, obviously didn't listen to Greg Carpenter when he was on MIX 106.5. Greg had a lot of personality when working there. He and the traffic reporters had a good banter going between them. Greg even told a few jokes, which were pretty good. I disagree with this point: One's "personality" is not based on the music one plays. You either have one or you don't. I disagree because in listening to announcers who switch formats, they have to either tone up or tone down their personality for the formats they're switching to. For example, the late "Mad Daddy Pete Myers" was a rock and roll jock in the late 50's for WHK in Cleveland. He moved to New York to conservative MOR WNEW, and his frantic style of announcing didn't work there, so he had to tone down his personality. Later, he went to WINS, a top 40 station in New York and brought back his "Mad Daddy" persona, and it worked at that station. Another example: The late "Fred 'Rockin' Robin' Robbins was on R&B WEBB, then WITH which was a big band station in his later years. He too had to tone down his personality for the format. Whether or not Greg Carpenter has personality, is strictly a personal opinion and is useless to debate. But one thing is certain, Greg Carpenter is a great guy and he is where we the praisers and critics are not. Ed Jones, Bel Air MD (12/19/06)

Come on you mouth breathing, knuckle dragging nabobs, how could Chris Plante and Silvie be the same! Would Chris Plante really know anything about the El Gordo y La Flaca show? And speaking of the El Gordo show, why did they bring back that oogie transgender or transexual to the show? I thought they had decided to go with "the Maid". That transgender person is creepy.....and another thing to the idiot that had to point out in the mailbag that Ms. Gurvir was wearing a very low cut blouse, you'd never make it in "Fight Club"! You couldn't have kept your totem pole mindset controlled and just enjoy and keep your moronic mind from telling everyone about it. Now she doesn't wear low cut blouses. You very very bad man and don't come to "fight club" meetings no more! And if you want to see the cans on your newsreaders just turn to the national news on any spanish channel and you can see all you want. But don't ever say you can't take them serious despite all the abundant cleavages. And have you ever seen Jackie Guerrido. She's the bomb! Like an R. Crumb comic come to life. Have I violated "fight club " rules?.........don't want to be your huckleberry no more.... imo Chucklehead Funk .....Merry Effing Christmas, indeed! (12/19/06)

Let's assume, for the sake of argument, that WGMS is sold to the Redskins and becomes a sports station. Does that have to mean ALL SPORTS all the time? Couldn't there be a little classical music thrown in to avoid repetition of the same sports talk? Hows about between midnight and 6 a.m.? (12/19/06)

Listening to Mike O'Meara drone on about his relationships was boring then and even more boringer as a "best of". Shoot me, please! WJFK - Hell's radio station. Ken in Kensington (12/19/06)

Re: Pat Goss... My family owned a garage for over thirty years. I know cars and what I didn't know, older family members and our ASE certified mechanics did. I have heard Goss be right in his analysis twice. And, he was an arrogant, impolite jerk then, as always. When it comes to Pat Goss, two words apply; Bloated Hack! PS- Among professional mechanics, he IS a laughingstock. PPS- Am I the ONLY ONE who finds David Burd cutesy, smarmy and annoying? - Mario Rahall Foyt (12/19/06)

(Regarding D&M's return on 1/2:) Well I hope it is posted here because I don't care. Click click....seeeeya

I just had to write in to the idiot who wrote "OPIE AND ANTHONY ALWAYS WIN IN THE END." What is wrong with you? Next you should call into the local news and scream "ba-ba-booey!!!", or maybe pester Larry King with a D&M reference and then burp, or maybe call into a sports show and use all the Junkies names as part of fictitious team. Radio sycophants are the worst, and I say this as a huge fan of a lot of shows, but the fucking flag waving "rah-rah!" shit is awful. O&A themselves would probably rip on the awful retardedness of your e-mail, it was so gutshot and uninspired. In any event, I digress, happy holidays everyone, especially to you Dave, our humble flame war moderator. Stay classy DC, god bless king dude, do what you gotta do bra, I'm out bitch, 5000. - Jason (12/19/06)

What? A mall was crowded with holiday shoppers during the Christmas season and you attribute it to Dopey and Ain't-Funny? To whom do you attribute the sun rising in the east and setting in the west? But then again, when relevance is apparently measured by a (are you sitting down?) LINK ON THE DRUDGE REPORT, I guess you take what you can get. Rock on yee soldier of the army of the 35,000! (12/19/06)

What happened to Jay Cottrell the producer for steve czaban on the first team on fox???? (12/19/06)

I agree about Goss. He's a pompous jerk. He needs to remember that even those who ask what he considers to be a stupid question are LISTENERS TO HIS SHOW and therefore should be shown some courtesy. (12/19/06)

In defense of Pat Goss, I must commend him for being extremely patient. He listens to callers go on and on about their respective automotive problems without them ever getting to the point, or the question. Most people (D&M, Elliott?) would have cut them off earlier.. Funny, I don't see posts complaining when other JFK hosts are short or impolite with callers.. It's entertaining to hear Pat get wound up, especially when the caller has no clue what they're talking about.. So oo ahead and listen to more polite hosts if you wish.. That's your prerogative.. All I know is Mr. Goss has saved our family thousands of dollars with his advice and input, regardless of how it's "packaged". (12/19/06)

Two things this year to be thankful for -- the end of WTOP on 1500 means no more digital trash to mess up my WTRI 1520, and none of the news stations carry blowhard Mike Maus. (12/19/06)

My prediction for Don's opener will be a happy and well rested "We're ba-a-a-ack!" and then a very, very short glossing over of what happened (mostly "look, we know there was all kinds of speculation about where we were, but it was just boring contract negotiations stuff we won't waste your time with, and the bottom line is, we'll be heard on this station until 2010, so hooray for us!), followed by what they did on their winter vacations (after all, Don's gf will be taking a cruise with Bart and Big Frieda and Frieda's sister, etc.---heck, I reckon they're on it now) ---figure an hour or so devoted to Don, and 5 minutes devoted to Mike, and then they'll just push on with the show as tho nothing happened. (12/19/06)

I just wanted to send my thoughts out to the family of Gordon Davis and the employees at WJLA/News Channel 8. It's is a tragic loss especially at the holidays. (12/19/06)

Actually, it would make sense for Dan Snyder to back out of the 104.1/103.9 purchase and buy whatever Cheap Channel is casting off. OK, everyone's best guess is 99.9... Although it's licensed to Frederick, the coverage is awesome. Especially in the newer car radios that have at least some form of DSP in them to cut the QRM off of 99.5 and 100.3 in D.C. Now, of course the other possibility is CC will sell 100.3, which has been a loser since they lost interest in it. And, that dear folks is another problem of the mega-duopoly situation the FCC has created! When the FCC had the old 1 AM-FM-TV per market rule, you either made a profit or you died. You also only had 36 stations total to absorb a loss with. You also had more competitors to contend with, both for audience and ad dollars. ! It required you to be creative and innovative. You had to serve your community. The current FCC system is government-subsidized (with our tax dollars) paternalistic protectionist socialism at its most insidious. As a result, media companies have become lazy. They don't care what they program or how they sound for a very good reason: They don't have to! Media companies pleaded for multi-station ownership because they feared competition. They said ir would reduce costs. It did. What the FCC needs to do is limit ownership to a maximum per market of 1 each AM/FM/TV per market. Also, limit station ownership to a maximum of 12 of each (AM-FM-TV) nationally. Would that mean some stations would go dark or silent? Perhaps. But, maybe not. Getting CC out of the small and medium markets would be good for the business. It mught even become "broadcasting" yet again, with a 21st century Jim Beattie leading the way. (12/19/06)

"One Harold Reynolds was in DC at XM Satellite Radio on Monday"----- what instead of 2 or 3 harold reynolds'?? (12/19/06)

To the Opie & Anthony HATER....Yes, the Homeless Shopping Spree was a "Press Hyped" stunt. It was UN-REAL!! I was actually at the mall and I've never seen so many people. If you don't believe me, go to Youtube.com and the videos are all over. Don & Mike, The Junkies, or whoever couldn't have BEGGED for a crowd like that! I've never seen anything like it. So hate on them all you want, but remember OPIE & ANTHONY ALWAYS WIN IN THE END! Don't forget, they'll be on Jay Leno Thursday night. (12/19/06)

There's been no change in the NFL's counterintuitive broadcast rules. WHP has to show the Ravens when they are on the road. Since they were playing in Baltimore on Sunday, WHP was able to opt for the Steelers game instead. Charles in Winchester (12/19/06)

Sorry, but Pat Goss is a jacka**. Just because someone asks a stupid question (olive oil) doesn't mean it's OK for Pat to act the way he does. And for the record he acts like a jerk to people who ask legitimate questions too. Why do you think JFK didn't match his offer from WTOP? Also, according to Pat, he had trouble even finding management to give his notice to. Shows how much respect he had there. He needs to remember that the point of his show is entertainment. This isn't educational radio, it's commercial news/entertainment. I don't care how knowledgeable about cars he is, I would never ask him for advice or take my car to his shop. The guy is a grumpy jerk and shouldn't be on the air. Darren (12/19/06)

One Harold Reynolds was in DC at XM Satellite Radio on Monday... (12/19/06)

"I had the displeasure of turning to 1500AM Saturday and listening to Pat Goss. Hadn't heard him in a while and he's still a jerk." Hi Pat thanks for taking my call. Last week on my way back from the grocery store my engine oil light went on. I pulled over, checked the dip stick and sure enough it was almost dry. I had two large bottles of extra virgin olive oil I just bought so I dumped those in. I'm getting ready to drive to Orlando for Christmas. Do you think it's OK if I wait until I get down there to have an oil change done? (12/19/06)

Silvie, With each post you make I am sure you must be the coolest woman in the DC Metro area! A devoted fan…… (12/19/06)

I had the displeasure of turning to 1500AM Saturday and listening to Pat Goss. Hadn't heard him in a while and he's still a jerk. The guy is sarcastic as hell. What a condescending tone he has with callers. People skills sure aren't his strong point. When one Saturday caller spent a little more time than Pat thought he should have describing his car problem, he was met with, "well, what's your question." Can you even imagine taking your car to Goss's shop for service/repairs and having to deal with him if a repair doesn't go quite right. No thanks. Despite Goss's extensive background, experience and expertise in the auto world, I'll stick with Dave Serio on 680AM. A much friendlier guy, and just as knowledgeable about cars. (12/19/06)

The latest stunt from Don...that's right DON and not Mike, because we all know Don runs the show and we know what a lemming Mike is, is just about the last straw their listeners are going to take. The show has been sucking for years and this staged walk-off just goes to show that I DON 'T miss you anymore Donnie G. The sound of radios dials being turned to the LEFT (off or away from 106.7/105.7) is Deafening.....ZZZZZZzzzzzzzz.......... Adios My Friends (12/19/06)

Suuuuure you are not Chris, Silvie. Whatever you say....If you believe you are not Chris, then that's okay....wierd, but okay. By the way, Ever hear of a Sally Field movie from the seventies titled "Cybil"? Run down to blockbuster and rent it sometime. Anyone ever notice that whenever Chris is on vacation leave, posts from Silvie are oddly in decline too? The B&W post is what threw the ruse over the top for me....three mentions of Plante in the "Best" column was a little too obvious for good taste. (12/19/06)

Dear Dave: Props to you for your rant regarding Marc Fisher and the WGMS matter. Look, I'm no fan of Dan Snyder (although I do love the 'Skins). His stewardship of the team has been mediocre at best. But all the e-mails and comments blaming him for the demise of classical music in this area?!?!? Oh please! If you want to put the blame for this on somebody, put it on Bonneville. They own WGMS. They are the ones who purchased a good station and turned it into an afterthought in their portfolio, basically making sure that the power was on and the floors were swept. Then they switched frequencies in favor of the new WTWP. Now they want to sell for a huge profit. And don't say they didn't know what Snyder's intentions were when the sale was agreed to. Now we have listeners and Marc Fisher bellyaching and saying how dare Dan Snyder plan to replace classical music with sports, while conveniently ignoring the role Bonneville has had in this. Kinda reminds me of the great line uttered in "Casablanca" by Claude Rains when he said "I am shocked, shocked to find that gambling is going on here!" All Snyder is doing is to find a stronger signal for the Redskins and Red Zebra. There is no obligation for any radio station owner to sell to Snyder. If Bonneville was really concerned about the classical music tradition in DC they would have never agreed to sell the station (or, for that matter, switch frequencies with WTWP), especially with the motives that drive Dan Snyder. Fisher and everybody else should forget Snyder, forget the board at WETA, and look directly at his employer, at WTOP, and especially at Bonneville. Great site Dave! Sincerely, Joe Kasell (12/19/06)

Thank you for your news site and particularly the Mailbag. Nearly always entertaining.Happy Holidays and I for one won't be listening to the bloated-ones on the 2nd. Found new show podcasts which are better (not much of a stretch). Ed in Fenton. (12/19/06)

/\ December 19 Messages /\

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