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Current Mailbag - Mailbag Archive Index - DCRTV Front Page - Support DCRTV DCRTV Mailbag - December 24 to December 31, 2006 Latest messages listed first..... \/ December 31 Messages \/ Dave, Something I thought you might get a kick out of: Happy New Year, Johnny Holliday (12/31/06) Dave's response: Cool. Happy "Hollidays" to you, too! I sure hope your rumor about David Burd getting promoted to weekdays on WTWP is true! That would be fantastic. And if WGMS goes away or migrates to public radio, does that free up Hilary Howard to be fulltime on Post Radio? She currently does the morning news with James Bartel before sliding over to the Post side. (12/31/06) David Burd fulltime on Post Radio? Cool. When will this happen? (12/31/06) Bob Woodward and other prominent Wash Post types all over TV and cable this weekend (example Meet the Press Sunday morning). The Post gets their big names all over TV and cable with very little "face time" on WTWP. The Post does not do very much to support their radio venture. In fact they seem to ignore it. The people who run WTOP certainly know how to get ratings. Seems like they could do a lot better with high level help from the Ben Bradlees and Len (or is it Morton?) Downeys at the Post. (12/31/06) Me first, I want to be the first to send Dave a note on this! Cincy and Pittsburgh go to OT in a game that has playoff implications and THEY TAKE US TO BALTIMORE. I have no problem with 13 doing this, but the NFL rules are patently ridiculous. WUSA should be able to stay with the first game, secondary market or not. This is NOT an away game. I imagine the phone lines to WHP are ON FIRE right now. Charles in Winchester (go Lions) (12/31/06) QUOTE: "as he (Art Bell) had totally rushed into things post-Ramona." Yes, because he married his present wife only months after Ramona's death. I'm sorry, but I cannot agree with you on this one. Art is 61 and has had many wives, so I'm sure he knows what he's doing. The other night, he was transmitting live from Manila and complained that his young wife had flown her entire family up from another province and that everyone, except him, was enjoying the day at the Manila Zoo. I saw photos of his wedding that someone posted on Freerepublic.com and the bride does not look happy at all. Poor Art; I do hope he does find happiness in life because he seems to be a good guy. -Silvie- (12/31/06) Regarding record stores in Annandale, there *is* a newish one, called Strangeland Records, over on Columbia Pike (behind the Giant near John Marr). One of the proprietors worked at Tower in Fairfax some years ago. Its inventory is punk, metal, industrial and electronic, and I don't think it deals in used merchandise. But the CD prices are reasonable, and there is a large vinyl section. Happy New Year! -- Susan in Springfield (12/31/06) It is such a shame that rather than comment on the NFL network's poor production values, immature graphics, lousy directing, up-cutting program material with commercials and lack luster commentary, supposedly "professional" authors of earlier comments on this site chose to focus on hamburgers and gastric distress. Walt in Lewes (12/31/06) Wow! Sorry to learn of Ranger Hal's passing. I was only 6 when he came on the air. While today, Sponge Bob is a powerfull marketool, the concept is not new. If it was endorsed by Ranger Hal, we had to have it.... and we got it! That Ranger Hal theme music will forever be in my head. (12/31/06) "Dave's response: It's a trick to juice up the overall "page count" on the site." Just like the broadcasters it observes, DCRTV plays ratings games too! (12/31/06) Someone brought up the NFL Network telecast. I'm not a big fan of Gumbulls as a play by play guy. His HBO show is decent, but he doesn't have the enthusiasm or the voice for an NFL game. As far as his knowledge, someone needs to grab this guy by the lapels, shake him wildly and scream in his ear, "STOP SAYING (AND THEY TURN IT OVER ON DOWNS) WHEN IT'S FORTH AND 5! TURNING IT OVER ON DOWNS MEANS THAT THE TEAM WENT FOR IT ON 4TH DOWN, NOT THAT THEY ARE GOING TO PUNT! STOP IT, STOP IT, STOP IT!" Excuse the caps, but it needs to be typed. He said this at least 2 times last night and I was only casually watching the game. How long has this guy been a sports fan? -Mike (12/31/06) DON AND MIKE - Paint your bald spot? yours in Christ chalkycolon-is-a-Ebay-whore (12/31/06) "Couple of observations about the NFL Network's broadcast of the Redskins' last game of the season: In the 3rd & 4th quarters, someone kept burping on-mic, and it was always when Chris Collinsworth was speaking, so I'm led to believe it was Bryant Gumbel. Real professional".....They actually addressed it and said that it was some issues that they were having with their equipment. Cris Collinsworth even joked about thinking it was Bryant Gumble and a case of having too many ribs the night before. (12/31/06) "Clear Channel does not care about their employees" Kanye West. After a Holiday Season of pink slips and pay cuts, may 2007 be a better year for everyone! (12/31/06) Silvie, living in close quarters (read: a double-wide trailer) with multiple cats and a chain smoker can't be good for any asthmatic like poor Ramona, may she rest in peace, whose own brother had died of asthma. Guess that never registered with ol' Artie. Bet Art makes this newest Phillipino bride clean out the kitty litter despite her pregnant state, toxoplasmosis be damned! Glad to have him back stateside, tho. Last month I thought he was going to have a serious breakdown when he was advising folks not to rush into things after a loved one dies, as he had totally rushed into things post-Ramona, adding quickly that luckily in his case it worked out as he met another true love. Never heard the boy sound so depressed! What a mess. But ain't we all? Happy new year! (12/31/06) Re Allen Etter, word around 300 Indiana Ave is Lanier is considering bringing him over to work with Kevin Morison, Joe Gentile, et al. Makes sense as Booze Allen contacts helped him get the FEMS slot and many on the MPD transistion team including Lanier have worked with Booze Allen. (12/31/06) (Regarding a message from Carl Merson) Does this mean there are two Merson Persons in Maryland radio? Any relation to the great Ken Merson who was on Baltimore radio forever? Didn't somebody write in that WLIF didn't renew his contract? What a bunch of dumb asses. Is he working anywhere? He is one funny dude and really knows his music. He and Alan Lee both worked at WQSR when they still played oldies. I can't t tell you how much I miss that station. Happy New Year! (12/31/06) "Couple of observations about the NFL Network's broadcast of the Redskins' last game of the season: In the 3rd & 4th quarters, someone kept burping on-mic, and it was always when Chris Collinsworth was speaking, so I'm led to believe it was Bryant Gumbel. Real professional." - While not one to defend Bryant Gumbel, I think you must have missed the fact that both Collinsworth and Gumbel addressed the apparent gastric distress by stating that it was coming in from an open mike somewhere and that neither of them were the source. Gary in SoMD (12/31/06) To the post about the NFL Network. Your observation is right. Had to laugh. Doug (12/31/06) John: So Art Bell feels safer in the U.S. than in the Philippines? There's more urban myth bullsh*t in this country than anywhere else in the world. About his urban myth death threats... Please! That's all Bell talks about on the radio... it's his bread & butter (aside from the occasional alien story). Art has been in hot water many times before, mainly because many blamed him for causing the Heaven's Gate cult to commit mass suicide in 1997 after following Haley's Comet. Days before the mass suicide, Bell commented that people who followed the comet would live in a better, new dimension, etc. and the cult followed his "advice". -Silvie- (12/31/06) Another employee getting out of Dodge from CBS/Baltimore. PD of Mix 106.5 Josh Medlock is heading to the Big D to become part of the Kidd Kraddick morning show in an executive capacity. Add another to the list of folks getting the hell away from Lord Vader (Bob Phillips) and the spineless Dave LaBrozzi. Happy New Year Dave. (12/31/06) NBC as a whole didn't dump out of the President Ford service for a football game as NBC didn't have national rights to that game. The NBC O&O in New York (WNBC) had local broadcast rights to carry the NFL Network feed of the Giants-Redskins game so I'm guessing that there was a dump out specific to that market. Fox O&O WTTG/5 carried the game and an hour-long pre-game for Washington, D.C. area broadcast. WTTG broke away from Fox News coverage of Ford at 7 p.m. for the pre-game, directing news viewers to sister station WDCA/20 and a stream on MyFoxDC.com. Everett W. (12/31/06) Art Bell moved back to USA partially he said last night because of "death threats" received because of the urban myth rumor thats been on the net for years.Silvie are you starting another urban myth rumor about Bell. Lets his wife that he loved dearly rest in peace.John T. Henneman (12/31/06) Maybe the guy who wrote about the record store in Annandale just woke from a 35 year trip and still thinks the Rainbow Tree is in that little house next to the car wash. (12/31/06) Couple of observations about the NFL Network's broadcast of the Redskins' last game of the season: In the 3rd & 4th quarters, someone kept burping on-mic, and it was always when Chris Collinsworth was speaking, so I'm led to believe it was Bryant Gumbel. Real professional. Second of all, do the sales people over at the NFL Network have any other clients other than Wendy's? How many times tonight did they show the same Wendy's commercial with 2 guys in a library comparing their $2.99 meals? Please, can we get some diversity in the commercials? And all this begging for us viewers to call our cable companies? Why? So we can see the same commercial 45 times a game? I don't think so. (12/31/06) "On the mid-1970s WWDC-AM "wanted" poster featuring Lew/Loo Katz, I noticed that he's an Alexandria native. Is he any relation to the owners of Morris Katz? It's a company in Alexandria for car radios and sound systems." The Katz car radio repair place has been gone for about two years, hasn't it? It had been at the corner of Prince and Commerce (?) Streets, one block west of West Street. (12/31/06) /\ December 31 Messages /\ \/ December 30 Messages \/ Dave, Who is the weather guy. In dcrtv blast from the past ? - Doug (12/30/06) Dave's response: Someone from the old Channel 3/WSVA in Harrisonburg VA..... dave, a little press for former DC/Bmore Jocks/Junkies coat tail riders. Have a look. www.944.com (12/30/06) RE: Steve in IOWA, WHOOA lookout, disgruntled? maybe but to judge one by the size of one's package is utterly ridiculous!!!HAHAHA how's the radio world of Iowa?? Does it suck as bad as some of the subjects here on the OL' bag??? Look I am a regular poster and I don't give a shit @anyone's success.. It's about being critical of a medium that once held such high standards for some of those here on the 'bag..And if you're all about the death penalty/Iraqi justice then that’s a whole 'nother subject for another set of disgruntled cowards...They're called politicians not radio fans..... AMF from DELMARVA........ P.S dave I am cranking out XMAS@KMART by the dearly departed ROOTBOYSLIM.... Where's ROOT when we need him HAPPYHOLIDAZE >>>>>>>>>>>>>>> (12/30/06) Geez Dave - when does the MaIlbag page return to the plain mailbag page again? I mean I can set my shortcut to mailbag1 or mailbag2.html, but enough with the wandering though your oversized picture pages... Howard County (12/30/06) Dave's response: It's a trick to juice up the overall "page count" on the site..... It’s unbelievable that NBC would dump out of the Capitol Hill services for the late President Ford to switch to a football game. Usually the NFL delays the start of a game if en event of national significance is taking place. What the hell is going on at NBC? Tom Gauger (12/30/06) Well, I hope Tom Gauger won't give Alan Etter too much of free pass on those lies he spewed! Let's not forget how he ochestrated that thing in Hungary for the Soviets. Or, how he named names to Tail-gunner Joe. Puh-leeze! Calling Alan Etter a liar is like calling a St. Bernard "disloyal." - Ed Rodriguez (12/30/06) Record Store ??? Here's some more: -Orpheus Records, Arlington (been in existence for 30 years - 8 of those in Clarendon) www.orpheusrecords.com... -Joe's Record Paradise - Rockville (also 30+ years)... -Crooked Beat (DC)... -RoadHouse Oldies (Scotter MacGruder and Alan Lee)... Hope this helps. Carl Merson, WNAV-AM (12/30/06) If the Redskins lose but no one can hear the game, did they really lose? (12/30/06) Art Bell has moved back to the U.S. with his new Filipino wife after living in Manila for a only a few months. He's 61 years old and his wife is barely legal, expecting their baby in the Spring. In January 2006, his then-wife Ramona Bell died of an asthma attack at their Nevada home in her sleep at 47. Unless she was deathly allergic to their cats, that seems odd. Very odd. -Silvie in Waldorf- (12/30/06) If there is a mom and pop record store in Annandale, that's news to me. Anyone know of it? (12/30/06) Dave's response: The only "mom and pop record store" I'm aware of in Northern Virginia is the Record And Tape Exchange in Fairfax - www.recordandtapeexchange.com..... A quick correct on Jim Williams, Pam Ward is the first woman to call college football play-by-play for a national network but she no longer qualifies as the only one. Beth Mowins has worked college football play-by-play for ESPNU since 2005. Everett W. (12/30/06) Looks like WKRP is going to dvd with some music substitutions. www.tvshowsondvd.com... Looks like Odd Couple will be making to stores in April 2007 also. dangling (12/30/06) I am digging through the FCC filings that Clear Channel made a couple of weeks ago. One of the things that his struck me is that according to the FCC, Frederick, MD is included in CC's stations in Washington, DC. This puts the company over the 8 station market limit. Furthermore, CC has also stated that it has no plans to continue to the "grandfathered" exception clauses that it currently has with FCC which enables them to opperate above the 8 station limit, once the transaction to go private is complete. Well, why is Frederick included in this? They are rated in a completely seperate market. That's flawed. Moreover, does this mean trouble for our friends in Rockville? (12/30/06) "Unfortunately, the American radio model is based on selling personalities rather than ideas. We don't have programs such as BBC Radio 3's "In Our Time" where the ideas drive the show. " I'm interested what you mean by that? -- I'll be glad to answer. "In Our Time" has a regular host, Melvyn Bragg, but he has a different panel on each week to discuss a key issue in depth for 45 minutes each week. Bragg only directs the flow of the panelists; you don't think of Melvyn Bragg when you think of the show. This also deals with other shows on BBC Radio 4 and Radio 3. They are a treat. This also is the case with several of the programs on Radio National in Australia. Now, I can't think of an American program where the personality is not the driver. Don and Mike, for example, or Howard Stern, wouldn't be there without the talent of the hosts. But this is where programs get boring. D&M get angry and go on hiatus; Stern moves to Sirius to avoid censorship; but you don't leave their program knowing more about anything. NPR approaches this, but they don't hack it most of the time. (Thank heavens for Internet programming!) -- GAB in the Airless Cubicle (long live the Met broadcasts and down with shock jocks!) (12/30/06) Does anyone out there have any information on whatever happened to Joel A. Spevak? Was speaking with an old friend in the DC area and we just wondered......we were both big fans of his show - both times. Heard that he might have gone to Baltimore and Philadelphia after he left the DC area. We hope that he is well and enjoyed success wherever he went. TR now in Texas (12/30/06) actually...most of the people on this board are disgruntled miserable people whose cowardly attacks on those more successful than they, reaffirm my believe that the death penalty is wasted by only using it on those who commit terrible crimes against humanity. Truth be told....the Iraqis could have hung half of those posting here and done humanity a favor. steve in iowa. (12/30/06) Dave's response: It's "hanged." That's not to deny that most DCRTV Mailbag posters are not well "hung"..... There are times when I think some contributors here just blast out garbage for the hell of it and don’t have the balls to sign their notes. How could anyone think Alan Etter “spews lies?” Granted, he is now a flack for the city but his integrity rises above that. Etter is a former reporter (WTOP) and seems to be well-like among broadcasters. I covered stories for ABC when he fronted us with reasoned and reliable responses to bomb threats that emptied buildings. I think Alan Etter would resign rather than compromise his integrity. Tom Gauger (12/30/06) I don't think they need two channels for MASN in DC and Northern VA because no one cares about the Orioles there. (12/30/06) Love your site. What has happened to the morning weekend anchor on WRC -- an Asian woman? For weeks and maybe months, they have been saying she is out but she has never returned. I can't find anything in your news or archived sections about her being ill or being forced out by WRC. Maybe I'm overlooking it. Thanks (12/30/06) KIM MARTUCCI ROCKS YOUR WORLD??? i think your drinking wine in the morning, doesn't the fact that your ears are bleeding after listening to her tell you something? bring back Topper in the mornings...rc alex. (12/30/06) DCRTV Dave that link to City Paper article about the demise of Tower made me moist. But lookee here music fans support your local used record stores and such. There's that one at Fairfax's Pickett Shopping Center and I've heard there's one in Annandale these days and old Orpheus in Arlington and then way over yonder in Maryland is Joe's Record Paradise. On occasion when I ventured to Joe's at a previous location and time would see 'Bama holding court and I think one of the Langley Punks was working there at the time. On another occasion when they had a rally there to support the old WHFS I saw Root Boy taking a nap in the back of a van. Say is it true Root Boy's ashes were scattered across the Highlands of Scotland?.....Auld Lang Syne, dude!........and for you analog fans here's a turntable for you, well if you have very serious F.U. money that is www.stereophile.com and speaking of serious F.U. money was watching the Bullets last night, and boy they seem to be getting serious, I see that Steve Case fella in a front row seat. Are you sure he ain't interested in buying the Bullets? I mean why would he want all that exposure of a front row seat when he could be luxuriating in a Sky Box?......enjoyed your show today Mr. Gibson that Tears For Fears song you opened up with today has a definite Beatles influence. And did anyone in the land of DCRTV go to the estate sale at Wilson Pickett's house held in mid-November? .......was Diana Silman a punk rock gal before the evil Donnie G. cast his horrible web her way? Auld lang Syne, again. Would you stop ringing that damn bell, satan's here. Speaking of which a shout out to Donnie G. upon your return could I make a music request "A Message to Rudy" by the Specials, just not after a dead dog announcement. Did you finally get them pictures? Thank you very much, the Old Maj has left the building. Fingernails. (12/30/06) /\ December 30 Messages /\ \/ December 29 Messages \/ As someone who works for the DC Fire Department, whoever wrote that Allan "The Liar" Etter outshines Fenty has a few screws loose. This joker only reports what the hell he is told. He has no thoughts of his own, except to cover up scandals that he personally is involved with. Fenty would do well to do a clean sweep of the whole damn administration and start from scratch. Allan Etter.... pffft, still laughing my ass off. (12/29/06) (Re; Don and Mike, Blockbuster joke and your question,........hey do some of you get jokes.) Maybe if the JOKES WERE ACTUALLY FUNNY. You guys need to stop screwing around and inventory the comic books before your boss gets back. (12/29/06) Hey Dave...Hope Neil Augenstein talks to Channel 9's Ratso about his days with Tex Rubinowitz and Switchblade. I always think of the Rat when I think of the Psyche Delly. Too bad Root Boy is no longer with us.I remember spending many a lonely night with "The Root" at the Delly's front bar. If I recall correctly, Guiness was his drink of choice. Served up by the lovely Diana, Ratso's sister and former Don and Mike Show producer. Go Figure! (12/29/06) "Unfortunately, the American radio model is based on selling personalities rather than ideas. We don't have programs such as BBC Radio 3's "In Our Time" where the ideas drive the show. " I'm interested what you mean by that? (12/29/06) "If you want to attack the D&M show that's one thing, but getting personal...that's another!" What the hell do you think a good portion of their show is made up of DA?? (12/29/06) RE: [ " now that Peter Angelos is the "Godfather" of baseball in Baltimore, care to guess whose home game get carried on MASN if both the Nationals and that team from Baltimore are playing home games at the same time? I see Wasgington Nationals fans losing again! " ]........ WHAT AN IDIOT! Of course MASN is going to use 2 channels just like Comcast does now with other events (not to mention the fact that MLB will go out of its way to not schedule the 2 teams opposite each other as much as possible, just like it does in other 2 team markets). Do you honestly believe MLB or the Nats owner would invest so much money into a cable channel that didn't actually CARRY the team in question??? Like I said, you are an idiot. Someone needs to take the keys to the internet away from you before you hurt someone or yourself. (12/29/06) Dave's response: I'm still wondering where my Reston Comcast system is going to put a second MASN channel - where WNVT used to be (cable 13) or on the Fairfax Library Channel (cable 29), which has been blank for more than a year? Hmmm..... Glad this year is over. My favorite DC radio show has been off the air for two months. No excuse for that. bad Christmas music ruined some of my favorite stations. I look forward to 2007. Maybe some of the stations will understand that it costs as much to run a bad station as a good one. Maybe WTWP will get a clue. Maybe the Grease will get a new act. (He'd be great on WMAL or WTWP as Doug Tract) Maybe there will be a really good Rock station. I know these are impossible dreams, but it would be nice. This coming year would be a good time for WBAL to consider moving to FM and putting some new format on the AM. 98 Rock was great, but they don't seem to know what to do with it now. There are enough iterations of Oldies on many Baltimore stations - - one of them could ROCK. WJFK sucks in both cities. WTF is the reason for those stations to exist. And last...Joel Hollander is changing formats on another NYC station. It may be as bad as his other changes, but he still has a job. Ed Graham (PS, Jack Gale finally has a radio frequency that matches his age, 700) (12/29/06) (...The urban station, formerly "The Beat," now sports...) Hey Dave. It's interesteing that you chose the word "sports" to describe a former classcial station in your latest news blurb. Is that some kind of code? Are you sending coded messages to Dan Snyder? Do you know something that you are not sharing? (12/29/06) Dave's response: If you tune into 16645 kHz tonight at 6:57 PM you'll hear "1-0-4-1-1-0-3-9-1-0-0-3-1-0-5-1-9-2-7-9-4-3-7-3-0" repeatedly read in a monotone by an Eastern European babe..... RE: "Mike has fought the weight problem for alot (sic) of years and I'm sure it's one of the elements that has caused him depression, heavy drinking, bad relationships and sadness." Yeah, he's really fighting his weight. He drinks like alcohol is going out of style and now owns a restaurant. Two things that people trying to lose weight generally don't do. We're not about to lighten-up on a guy who won't lighten up on himself. The attacks continue. Now you go, no trouble! (12/29/06) "Lighten up. If you want to attack the D&M show that's one thing, but getting personal...that's another!" Ah, if this were only possible. This board is filled with people who are passionate about radio, whether they be listener ( like me), or radio professional, or someone who wants to be a radio professional and can't get a job. Unfortunately, the American radio model is based on selling personalities rather than ideas. We don't have programs such as BBC Radio 3's "In Our Time" where the ideas drive the show. Even the NPR programs, such as "Fresh Air," are based around the host. We want comfort in our commuting. We feel close to these radio personalities, even if they don't know us. Thus, we get angry and spiteful and childish when we attack the personality. It is shameful; it is against the preaching of Judaism and Christianity to indulge in personal slander; but they do it because they are connected to the show-- or they want to get the host fired and they to have a chance to get the job. -- GAB in the Airless Cubicle. Happy New Year. (12/29/06) Does anyone know what happened to Juliet Huddy from the Fox News Channel?? Her bio no longer appears on the website... (12/29/06) Dave's response: Rupert Murdoch had her hanged. Just jooooking. By the way, the witch who is hosting the 5 PM show on Faux Nudes today keeps saying that Saddam is being "hung." No, it's "hanged." Unless she's seen him without his pants. You never know..... (....Former WHURer John Monds takes the afternoon drive gig at Lanham-based Radio One's newly reformatted KKBT in LA. The urban station, formerly "The Beat," now sports more of an adult urban contemporary sound as "V100.....) It should be noted that KKBT used to be classical formatted KFAC. When it was sold, they immediately switched formats, and hired comedian Paul Rodriguez as their morning man. Washington, D.C. appears to be following a similar path with its classical station. (12/29/06) I think we can also blame Don and Mike for the state of Blockbuster. They did commercials for them and in the toothless Fairfax area I'd say blockbuster has shuttered 3 or 4 stores in the last year. Don and Mike are too blame for all the ills of the world!........hey do some of you get jokes (12/29/06) Mike O’Meara having a sex change………HA HA HA HA HA HA ha ha ahem…. Dave, I have read jokes. I have told jokes. I know jokes and that sir was no joke. (12/29/06) enough with the all x-mas formats lets go back to 36 hours of x-mas music on x-mas eve please (12/29/06) Kim Martucci from 'Channel 9 Now' rocks my world at 5 AM. I love a tall glass of fine Italian wine first thing in the morning. Holy Moly (12/29/06) Yeardley Smith, also known as the First Man On The Moon... (12/29/06) Dave's response: No! That was Neal Augenstein..... You know at times the sarcasm on this site is really childish. This latest attack on Mike O'Meara. What are you thinking? Sex Change????? Female Boobs as a starter...come on! I don't think it's fair to attack someone just because they're overweight. That's a health problem and has nothing to do with talent, personality or anything else. Mike has fought the weight problem for alot of years and I'm sure it's one of the elements that has caused him depression, heavy drinking, bad relationships and sadness. Lighten up. If you want to attack the D&M show that's one thing, but getting personal...that's another! I've had weight problems for years, it's a tough battle. Don't think I'm defending, I can't stand the show, the talents any of it...but keep it on a professional level..ANG (12/29/06) "Traffic wenches" sounds like Metro Traffic has been bought by Medieval Times, or WTOP is promoting a "Pirates of the Caribbean" sequel. I picture Lisa Baden and Beverly Farmer going full out for Talk Like a Pirate Day, dressing up like Capt. Jack Sparrow with Keith Richards eyeliner: "Arrrgh, ye commuting lubbers, there be a mighty wicked backup on Route 50." (12/29/06) "Lisa Baden taking an extra week of vacation... Honey, PLEASE, take all the vacation you want. You continue to be the most annoying voice on Washington radio today." Lisa is one of the few traffic wenches with any broadcasting experience. She has character and adds character to her precisely enunciated reports. You remembered her name! Hope you get a diary! "Pam Ward to broadcast NFL games, I'm sure she is a nice person, but she is a lousy play-by-play person." Another broadcast pro! Cut her teeth, among other places, at WTEM and Metro Traffic. Great person, hard worker and knows her sports! Rather listen to her improve than to hear Larry Michael disintegrate a legendary broadcast team...Sonny Sam and FRANK! Speaking of football....how awful, awful awful is TONY, TONY, TONY? By the way, can anyone say anything nice about BZ....like nice hair? What's wrong with the Washington Business journal naming "Richie Rich" Snyder the business person of the year? Did he buy that publication too? "The AQH Listener" (12/29/06) Yeardley Smith did not play the bass player in "This is Spinal Tap." That was Harry Shearer (who does the voices of Mr. Burns, Ned Flanders, Principal Skinner, Reverend Lovejoy and Otto, among others on "The Simpsons."). (12/29/06) Someone at the nbc4dc.com web site needs to learn proper grammatization. In the top right corner of the site today, under Jim & Doreen's photo, it reads: "Friday, December 29, 2006, 6:22 a.m. - Tonight at 11:00 p.m.: Gerald Ford's funeral will effect the lives of every federal worker." It's not "effect"; it's "affect". -Silvie in Waldorf- (12/29/06) Rumors of Allan Etter leaving DCFD-EMS because the new Fenty administration wants a change? Methinks Mr. Fenty knows that Etter outshines him in every way... and the spokesman is his own man, unable to be subjugated, so the new Mayor gets rid of him. Tsk tsk tsk, Mr. Mayor! Etter is one of only a handful of civilized DC government employees! (12/29/06) "Mike's having a sex change" hell he's already half way there with his big man tits. (12/29/06) BZ usually has a fall guy for his debacles. Who will he try to blame this 104 disaster on? (12/29/06) Don and Mike were good in the beginning, but they went too far. web.mac.com/kurtfoster (12/29/06) So is Mr. Zier walking around with a tight sphincter these days?.......so I assume it's full speed ahead trying to up the wattage on 730am?.will Red Zebra be galloping southward anymore to round up more radio stations?........strange coincidence but seems to this listener that ever since CHWO 740am out of Toronto started streaming online it is harder to pick up on my car radio...could they have cut the power a bit?....say did Hardin and Weaver ever have Orson Welles on the show cause I know of these great Welles outtakes about peas and fijords? Any outtakes of Hardin and Weaver? Does Mr.Hardin live over in Sweden these days?........anybody got James Brown's record of "Hot Tub"?.....channel 5 had story about mr. Brown laying in soul at the Apollo and in the line to pay his respects was Paul Giamatti...said he had been fan all his life and he had to say it twice to convince the reporter , when they came back to Brian bolter, he had his face all scrunched up as if mr. giamatti presence was offensive...perhaps a bit of gas instead (12/29/06) Yeardly Smith was also offered money by Dan Snyder for one of his radio stations. But seriously folks, at 10pm tonight, Mastercraft Interiors will officially go out of business. Mastercraft used to buy a lot of time on 104.1. Would it be asking too much to have hourly updates on the deathwatch for the Bonneville Looney Tunes station? (12/29/06) Dave's response: And Don and Mike used to do spots for Tower Records - and look at what happened to them! Hmmm..... /\ December 29 Messages /\ \/ December 28 Messages \/ how come don and mike have bee off for so long (12/28/06) Dave's response: Mike's having a sex change, and Don didn't want to do the show until Mike's surgeries are completed..... "....but he was also Yeardley Smith's (voice of Lisa Simpson) father." Yeardley Smith also appeared in the movie Spinal Tap, as the bass player. (12/28/06) Not only was the late J.Y. Smith Ford's obit writer, but he was also Yeardley Smith's (voice of Lisa Simpson) father. (12/28/06) Okay folks..in case anybody is interested..this is the response I got, concerning the email I sent to Dishnet the other day: "Thank you for your e-mail. Specific information regarding your request for Mid-Atlantic Sports Network (MASN) is not currently available. We would like to add that channel, to make viewers like you happy, but we do not know if or when this will happen. We will gladly forward your request to our Programming Department for further consideration. We thank you for your input as we continually review our options in order to provide a compelling lineup for our viewers. Please stay tuned for consumer Charlie Chats that are broadcast monthly on Channel 101 or logon to our website for future programming announcements. Furthermore, in order to research your account, we will need more account information. Please provide us with the phone number listed on your account and your account number so that we may further assist you. Your business is greatly appreciated and we thank you for allowing us to be of assistance to you. If you have any further questions or concerns, please refer to www.dishnetwork.com or reply to this e-mail. Sincerely, Jose P." (12/28/06) I heard that Pat Collins will be manning the OB/GYN booth at the Channel 4 Health and Fitness Fair in Jan. Ladies, line up now. Yum Yum! Paul (12/28/06) "I have often wondered approximately how many people, in absolute terms, are listening to the most popular radio station in Washington at the peak of drive time. I am equally curious to approximately how many people are listening to the lowest rated station at 3.30 a.m." Steve, these numbers are available but only if you subscribe to Arbitron. Ad agencies and radio stations pay big bucks to get numbers like those. The partial answer to your first question is WTOP is the station but they divulge that only to clients. The easy answer to your second question is zero.....many stations in town show zero audience at 3:30am. (12/28/06) “FYI: The writer of this (Gerald Ford) obit, JY Smith, died last January.” Obits for famous people are typically already in the can long in advance of their demise, and updated as time goes on. It was nice of the Post to give him credit for his work posthumously. (12/28/06) I have often wondered approximately how many people, in absolute terms, are listening to the most popular radio station in Washington at the peak of drive time. I am equally curious to approximately how many people are listening to the lowest rated station at 3.30 a.m. The cumulative listener numbers don't speak to these numbers. If anybody could enlighten me, a non-media person, I would appreciate it. Thanks. Steve Cohen (12/28/06) I can't imagine anyone wanting to deal with Dan Snyder if he backs out of the Bonneville deal. He would have to put all of his cash up front in the future. He won't be able to broadcast a game of jacks or tiddly winks. This deal must go through. I'm going to protest by witholding my tithe until John Riggins is heard on 104.1... (12/28/06) "Can something be done about Deidre's [Imus] voice? Man when she starts off on her soapbox that voice is just wicked..." I was going to comment on that some time back but given his limited audience, figured most people have not heard her. That said, she really is an annoying cow. The show comes to a grinding halt when she's on and you can just hear what little audience he has tuning out in droves. She must be a real firecracker in bed. I don't know of any other reason why a guy would subject himself to someone like that 24 x 7. (12/28/06) "Does anyone have a link to audio of Charles "Chazz" Offutt dying on air? I'd like to hear it." Dude, seriously, get a life! (12/28/06) Put Sadam Hussan's execution on pay-per-view, and divide the money up amongst the widows and orphans of the 3,000 brave American souls who gave their all in Iraq. Save some of the cash and buy beer for all the legless, armless, blind, and deaf veterans at Walter Reed Army Hospital, too. Al McGilvray (12/28/06) To the person who posted the following: "and for you "Homicide" fans Superstation WGN runs the show 11am weekdays..." a big thank you!! That series still delivers & rarely disappoints. (12/28/06) FYI: The writer of this (Gerald Ford) obit, JY Smith, died last January. www.washingtonpost.com (12/28/06) RE: Lisa Baden taking an extra week of vacation... Honey, PLEASE, take all the vacation you want. You continue to be the most annoying voice on Washington radio today. Oh, and "1.2.07" -- the most UNANTICIPATED return of two "has-beens" in the history of radio. (12/28/06) I saw Clay Anderson on NewsChannel 8 yesterday afternoon, is one of the numerous other weatherman leaving?, not a womens amongst'em, ain't that politically incorrect these days?(BTWS weht Marlin McGee?) I count Ron Riley(say wouldn't he make a great guest on the Magical History Tour show?) Joe Witte, Brian van der Graf, Adam Caskey, Dave Zahren(does he host It's Academic! in Baltimore?) and infrequently seen Ryan Miller........Is channel 7 unlikely to make a big hire to replace Ms. Matthews cause of the hefty payroll for the other lead anchors and head weathermun? .....I enjoyed Greaseman's bit this morning with the young teenage gal from calhoun, west virginny( that area just gives and gives to the grease don't it!)...the 17 year old gal was describing how all the men in the holler were trying to make time with her but she was turned off by there toothlessness(is that were all the toothless of fairfax retreated too?)...well Grease with his pearls of wisdom goes off on one of his bits o' advice for the young lass and in the background he's got morricone music going, which is nice....I then checked out MSNBC to see what best of's Imus they got going and it was some good stuff from say 10 years ago, Bernie had some hair left and McCord was getting pissed off at I-Man again and Imus was talking about how he was tired cause he'd been up late the night before helping his wife with her homework. Can something be done about Deidre's voice? Man when she starts off on her soapbox that voice is just wicked............and finally turned the transistor over 950 am WCTN and listened to them 60's oldies, somebody digs the 4 Tops, or they don't have a lot o' cd's I guess, anyways every minute is being offered up for infomercials so I'll enjoy it while it lasts...say maybe Rusty Gibson could buy an hourly weekly at WCTN and broadcast across Potomac?...so you just leave the meat soaking in it's own juices for an hour and that way it keeps all it's goodness...cooking show channel 32.....the Don and Mike effect......that DCRTV Flashback of the Colonel reminded me of the infamoso outtakes of the Colonel.....the wonderful April Winchell has provided them online for your listening pleasure www.aprilwinchell.com, towards the beginning it's them scrumptious KFC training tapes and about 3/4 down the page under Outtakes y Bloopers you'll find the Colonel. Of course, if you want more Xmas music I see she's added many a Xmas classic tambien. Enjoy! Major Ill Smith....i hate you Rupert Merdock, no MASH Xmas episode marathon this year!...as the butlers stand in the glow of the fire in utter servility (12/28/06) Dave: I read the post about people not caring about Don and Mike any longer. I think it is absolutely true. They are no longer relevant in radio and their demise is inevitable. I honestly don’t think they will be back and that is a good thing for WJFK. I believe they are still looking for a replacement for the afternoon time slot. Don and Mike are dead in radio and the public couldn’t be happier. Thanks Dave, R.J. Diaz (12/28/06) Did anyone hear the F-bomb slip out on the Anita Marks show on 12/27/06 around 6pm? I wonder if that got thru on MASN as well. (12/28/06) Does anyone have a link to audio of Charles "Chazz" Offutt dying on air? I'd like to hear it. (12/28/06) Re: "Moments in Love by Art of Noise"..."Cool song"...weird video! --RB (12/28/06) I'm a little late to the party as usual but I just read the Len Shapiro article and have had a look of horror and disgust on my face since. Andy Pollin the most informed radio personality, in this town isn't that the equivalent of being named Best in Show at the local dog pound? The Ed McMahon of Washington media, not surprising how unfunny Kornheiser is when his lapdog isn't around to laugh at everything he says. Pam Ward to broadcast NFL games, I'm sure she is a nice person, but she is a lousy play-by-play person, what did Mike Gottfried do to get demoted from the Saturday night game to getting stuck with her? Scott Van Pelt is an arrogant, pompous know-nothing, the best thing he's ever done is call some female while loaded and blabber on about trying to hook up with her because after all he is Scott Van Pelt. Tony Roberts, I'm a Notre Dame fan and he has been bad for years. Wouldn't it be nice if Len Shapiro removed his head from his backside and realized he is so out of touch with things that maybe he should join George Michael on the sideline in 2007? (12/28/06) “By contrast, Maryland's two days away from playing in the Champs Sports Bowl and I've yet to see any preview coverage from the TV stations here”--- so you obviously watch the BS sports on the local news instead of Comcast Sportsnet. They’ve had Chick Hernandez down there the last 2 days doing reports. (12/28/06) Mike, Andy Pollin needs to actually go to Nats' games. It's apparent he rarely does. If you've listened at all, it's clear that, despite being a local kid, he knows squat about Washington's baseball past, nor does he seem to care. I think the game is over his head, to an extent. It's not enough to simply know the object of the game. Left to his own devices, I suspect baseball would rate barely a peep. (12/28/06) Hold on. Recently I'm reading more posts about Dan Snyder than Don and Mike??? Come on, step it up people! (12/28/06) Dave's response: You know, Don and Mike have been missing for almost two months and we've all survived quite well, thank you. The only thing I've really missed was them playing "Happy Birthday Jesus" by now late talk show host Mike Douglas this holiday season..... "... as soon as Andy acknowledges that baseball and hockey aren't on his radar screen." I disagree somewhat with regard to baseball - Pollin at least makes an effort to work Nats discussions into WTEM's Sports Reporters, especially when Times columnist Thom Loverro's on the show. Of course, hockey's an entirely different story. Len Shapiro is dead on in wishing that Steve Czaban would cut out all the frat house stuff - totally unncessary and often drags the show into the gutter when Pollin's trying to discuss an interesting topic. Traveling in New York last week, I was astounded at all the media attention lavished on Rutgers University's upcoming bowl game in a town where college football hasn't been on the radar for decades. A full week before their appearance in the Texas Bowl, every TV sportscast had a piece on the Scarlet Knights. By contrast, Mary land's two days away from playing in the Champs Sports Bowl and I've yet to see any preview coverage from the TV stations here. How any sports director could consider the Redskins winding up their dismal season a bigger story than the Terps back in postseason play after a two year absence is beyond me. Mike, Fairfax (12/28/06) For those who miss Christmas music, Sirius still has at least one all-Christmas channel going. If you don't have a radio, you can listen online for 3 days. I, for one, did my best to avoid Christmas music and I am very glad Sirius' Classical Pops channel has been restored. Every store I went into during December was playing 101.9, and it seemed like they were always playing the same song. If I thought they'd use them, I'd donate my Christmas CDs to the station. Then they could go at least 72 hours (not counting commercials) with no repeats (and the Michael Kessler "Open Fire" remix of Mel Torme's Christmas Song is very, very cool...) (12/28/06) Dave, WBIG is a 36k watt stick compared to 22k for WIHT. It looks like Big covers more of VA & MD into Baltimore & Frederick and East into Annapolis. The cost of repackaging 100.3 is minimal in the grand scheme of things. But CC would get much more than 45 million for that signal or Big. I'm pretty sure both bill over a million a month. (12/28/06) Dave's response: You can't directly compare FM power levels due to antenna height and terrain. Basically, 99.5 and 100.3 both have excellent signals and easily blanket the DC metro (and then some)..... How stupid can local radio and tv stations get when they declare,"live" when they intro their news broadcasts. Has anyone ever heard or viewed a recorded news broadcast at 6 or ll o'clock. does the intro of 'live' here's is joe shmo from 'k' street really make that much difference to the viewer. Of course not. The complete insanity is when an anchor intros a colleague with"live in our news room". Barf. Just who are evening television traffic reports supposed to aid? The driver on the road? Preposterous. (12/28/06) Cool song. www.youtube.com (12/28/06) Rumor has it that between 11:30am & 12:30pm today, on HFS 105.7 Baltimore, Troy Johnson & John Bousche' (filling in for Ed Norris) will be doing an hour's worth of radio dedicated to radio. Supposed to include a restrospective on Baltimore radio, the who, what where and whens and lots of cool talk including some 80's airchecks and radio jingles. Might be worth a listen. Mole. (12/28/06) (to poster who wrote: hope you or one of your readers can help me out. I'm looking for the title/artist of a song that WPGC used to play during the early-mid 90's. They played it every night at about 10:30 to kick-off the "cool down" or "slow down"... something like that.) That song is "Moments in Love by Art of Noise. (12/28/06) Dave's response: Oh, I got that on vinyl. Trevor Horn. The guy who was in the Buggles - "Video Killed The Radio Star." The first song played on MTV..... So NBC4 cuts morning news producer Lisa Rasmussen, but Krebs and Harrison are still there. This doesn't make logic. I noticed Barb got a new 'do, though. Still, that will not help with the way the news is being delivered. (12/28/06) Believe if CC opts to sell an FM in DC. It will choose 99.5. Then make format changes to move the least successful to the 99.5 signal which suffers from co-channel problems to the East. The company is actively exploring the structuring of a compromise that will appeal to the FCC (obviously) as well as placate Congressional oversight committees (now Demorcratic) on the Hill. The compromise includes accelerated and slightly expanded divestuers in the under #20 markets, expanded AM sell offs in all markets coupled with a grandfather request for FM stations in the top 20. These moves would affect any dealings in DC. Further the $45 million price for 104 and 103.9 would work out to appox 12Xcash flow. That is not a premium. I suspect the handshake price was well North of that. Keep in mind that Nassau paid $45 million for WAFY and WARX-WARK in the Frederick market. (12/28/06) Dave's response: Come on! DC's 99.5 is the 15th (or something like that) top-rated station in Baltimore! Great signal! WIHT gets those young demos that advertisers love. So what? CC is going to sell 99.5 and then do all that expensive marketing to make it "Hot 100.3" to get it on a signal that's 1/1000th better? Yeah right..... The Lorber on WGTB was Steve Lorber not Jeff Lorber. He was also on WHFS in the late 1970's, early '80's. His show was called The Mystic Eyes Show and featured the Them song "Mystic Eyes" as its theme song. Jeff Lorber is a musician. (12/28/06) Dave, hope you or one of your readers can help me out. I'm looking for the title/artist of a song that WPGC used to play during the early-mid 90's. They played it every night at about 10:30 to kick-off the "cool down" or "slow down"... something like that. It's a pretty common instrumental song with some breathy parts to it. The DJ would talk it up, play the song and then they'd do a nightly countdown. Figured one of your readers might be able to help me out. Thanks! - Joe in Hyattsville (12/28/06) If you check the schedules of both teams, you'll see that the Nationals and Orioles are not playing at home on the same date at any point in the 2007 season. Therefore, there's no choice to make. And yes, MASN will have 2 separate channels of baseball play-by-play when both teams are scheduled to play at the same time. Why is this so hard to understand? (12/28/06) /\ December 28 Messages /\ \/ December 27 Messages \/ Dave, Thanks for posting the pic of Harden & Weaver. Brings back memories! Tom (12/27/06) OK, now that Peter Angelos is the "Godfather" of baseball in Baltimore, care to guess whose home game get carried on MASN if both the Nationals and that team from Baltimore are playing home games at the same time? I see Wasgington Nationals fans losing again! Will there be an alternate feed for MASN, ala ESPN? Or, will the Nationals games be carried on "MASN HD"? (12/27/06) New drinking game: Do a shot every time DCRTV uses the word "rumblings"... Christ Dave, go out and get a thesaurus, will you? (12/27/06) Dan Snyder would be crazy not to buy 104.1. They is no guarantee that he will be the only bidder for WBIG. If he wants a discount, maybe he could give back 103.9. They could then keep it as a micro station and keep airing classical music. It would probably mean huge pay cuts for the announcers, but I don't think they would mind since they love what they are doing so much. I remember what Pat Buchanan said once when he was running for president. He said there was no need to increase the budget for NPR. Quoting Mr. Buchanan: "They don't make a lot of money, but they are happy". Hurry up, buy the station, and change the format already! WE WANT REDSKINS! "Hail to the Redskins, Hail victory................" (12/27/06) "I heard that cc called Bennett after they heard that he was buying WGMS and offered him WBIG... The pending sale of WGMS did exactly what Bennett wanted, it smoked out the real DC stations that were up for sale and put cc and WAVA back in quick talks in hopes he would drop the WGMS deal and take theirs." That's totally made-up b.s. Red Zebra hired a broker who was calling every group owning a station in the market last Summer looking for sticks for sale. (12/27/06) Just a reminder to my fellow "Mailbaggers" to listen to my "Magical History Tour" on Friday (between 3&5) as "DCRTV Dave "will be the 2006 ""MHT Moment Of The Year"! Especially with all of the wonderful elements he has brought to my show in '06. And as I always say, a splendid time is guaranteed for all!. B/T/W the site is www.fcac.org... Love, Rusty Gibson... HAPPY NEW YEAR FEeLLOW" MAILBAGGERS! (Luv U ALL!) (12/27/06) On the subject of Stern's age I can't say for sure but I can say that I went to college (BU) with him. He was part of the class of 76 so the 1954 birth date makes sense---of course he may have spent 3 years in the first grade for all I know. (12/27/06) ("Hey, no one's forcing you to read DCRTV." Go get your local media news from the...) Good heavens, no! I can't get by without my hourly dose of DCRTV. Do you want me to end up under my desk, curled up in the fetal position muttering "Where's Don and Mike? Where's Don and Mike? Where's Don and Mike......" (12/27/06) Is it me or is Jim Vance getting too old. I was watching Channel 4 and he stumbled on words, I wonder if it was just a bad night or is staying up past 11 to do the news just to much for an old guy. (12/27/06) Dave's response: Those wooden teeth..... Dan Snyder may buy WBIG? Just when we finally got a choice for classic rock. One more reason to hate Snyder and the Redskins. Paul in Waldorf (12/27/06) Dave's response: Don't worry. WARW PD Max Dugan assures me that if WBIG goes all-sports, you'll still get to hear Elton John's "Tiny Dancer" and "Daniel" every hour on 94.7..... "Is it just me, or do most of the all-Xmas 24-7 stations have an embarrassingly limited playlist? You know what I mean, as if Whitney Houston's "Do You Hear What I Hear" is the ONLY version ever recorded, and it comes around only 2 hours after the last time it's played?" Actually, the package played by Washington Post Radio on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day was very good, with a lot of versions of Christmas songs I had not heard before. (12/27/06) Despite the misinformation put out by AP and virtually all TV and radio stations, James Brown was in fact born on May 3, 1928, not 1933. He was 78 years old, not 73. The correct date is found in all his various court docments. --Richard Marcus, WKHZ (12/27/06) Dave's response: Speaking of funny dates, I've always suspected that Howard Stern was born several years before his alleged 1954 birth year. I know, I'm nuts..... Let me get this straight. Dan Snyder reaches a deal to buy WGMS and agrees on a price. But after DCRTV quotes sources as saying it was a high price, Snyder reneges on the deal? Dave, buddy, you have more clout than you know! (12/27/06) Dan Snyder agrees on a price to purchase WGMS. Then he asks for a lower price later? Is the Redskins owner an Indian-giver? (12/27/06) I heard that cc called Bennett after they heard that he was buying WGMS and offered him WBIG... The pending sale of WGMS did exactly what Bennett wanted, it smoked out the real DC stations that were up for sale and put cc and WAVA back in quick talks in hopes he would drop the WGMS deal and take theirs. It was a very bright move to lay out the big time cash because it really showed cc and salem he was serious. (12/27/06) Pity poor Andy Pollin. His entire career consists of being the subject of a sound clip from the Kornheiser show. "Andy Polley, you are an idiot!" (12/27/06) "I just noticed that Don & Mike haven't been mentioned in a couple of days, so..." Don & Mike can kiss my ass. How are things going for you now boys? Leah Remini (12/27/06) Dave's response: With O&A doing the Leno-Letterman circuit, I hear D&M were planning to guest on Rusty Gibson's WEBR cable radio show. But he turned 'em down..... Breaking News! [Insert Radio Conglomerate] is planning to sell W[insert 3 random capital letters] and there are rumblings that Dan Snyder is interested in buying the station for Red Zebra. ENOUGH ALREADY, Dave. Stop the endless speculation about every single station on the dial and let us know when something actually, you know, happens. (12/27/06) Dave's response: Hey, no one's forcing you to read DCRTV. Go get your local media news from the Washington Post, which is waiting until after the WJLA press release gets released to report that Arch is jumping to 7..... Dave - I AM getting old - I believe it was "Jeff Lorber" on WGTB, not Steve. Hilarious 70's memory: the Urban Verbs were playing 9:30 club after the debut album was released, and Jeff/Steve Lorber kept chanting "Hotpants on the base player!" over and over, to the total disgust of my girlfriend at the time. (The base guitarist for the verbs was a very nice young lady - someone surely knows her name.) Lorber pushed the Razz on his GTB show - and he was a rock DJ who thought the "Verbs" were a little too fey as I recall... PJ_DJ_in_VA, who's support check will be in the mail to you in Reston shortly. (12/27/06) Dave's response: Gracias..... I swear to gawd, jack that grease manelli is the hardest working dude in d.c. radio and I'll dance on Donnie G.'s glass table top and proclaim it...here it's a day or two after xmas and the dude is a working on 1130 am wmet mornings...just can't get enough of the "Highness of Hydraulics"........man that Carrieokee song "Double Dose of a bearded clam" GREASE, I SAID GREASE...where do you come up with this stuff? do you know what I'm talking about? and the way he can seamlessly roll into a bit from a random phone call, how does he do it?......and you fans of 'TOP radio, come on now in a world of constant change that's your snug harbor ain't it....I mean it's 1 minute of reading a headline then a time check and then 2 minutes of commercials and then a time check pretty much 90% of the day ain't it? sorry Neal Augenstein even if you give a nod to Joe Carrasco.....i'm digging the soul music on 950 am on my radio shack transistor ...is that Levi Stubbs I hear...take me back,doododoodo, take me back.....i wanna go back and do it all over but i can't go back i know....... and for you "Homicide" fans Superstation WGN runs the show 11am weekdays...today's episode one of my fav's where Munch is called in to investigate the death of a girl he had a crush on way back when at Pikeville High..........I was listening to the radio, I heard a song reminded me of long ago....was Michele Hughes at the Hughes Xmas Partay or was she off doing traffic? And I sort of wish the Bullets had kept Larry Hughes but nevertheless they do seem to be En Fuego! Who's King of the Hughes' now, see! (12/27/06) Dave's response: That's 1160 WMET..... Earlier, a post lamented James Brown not being remembered by WASH during its last day or so of Christmas music. I'm sure its just that no one bothered to insert any of his stuff into the well-preprogrammed selection. Which brings up a question about all of the Xmas radio that starts just after Halloween : Is it just me, or do most of the all-Xmas 24-7 stations have an embarrassingly limited playlist? You know what I mean, as if Whitney Houston's "Do You Hear What I Hear" is the ONLY version ever recorded, and it comes around only 2 hours after the last time it's played? Is there some purpose for the variety being that bad? And seriously, someone actually decided that "Christmas Eve in Washington" belongs alongside the classics??? Or is it on there as some kind of inside-joke thing, like "hey, could this song suck any more?" Please, some insider answer these burning questions! (12/27/06) After seven years, I switched from Dishnetwork to Comcast. Since FIOS isn't available in Alexandria, VA, Comcast was my choice based on HD content. (Rhetorical question: How many people, like myself, purhcase mega-flatscreen HD TVs, then realize how little HD content there is?). Anyway, Dishnetwork changed over the years IMHO, primarily in how drastically customer service declined. It took years before Dish added additional local channels (i.e., 26, 32, etc.), and rather than adding MASN, the most recent addition to the DC-metro area lineup was Channel 25 in Hagerstown?!?!? Ok, the Hagerstown local news was interesting from time to time, but that channel additon amounted to duplicate NBC programming. Best holiday Comcast HD viewing on the new TV this Xmas weekend: Channels "INHD/2" broadcasting a burning log for two days! President Ford's passing takes me back to the mid 70's in DC radio and entertainment: The heyday of WHFS, Steve Lorber on WGTB(?), the 9:30 Club on F Street, the Urban Verbs, Root Boy Slim and the tireless Slickee Boys, Bryan Ferry @ Lisner Auditorium, The Who/Wings/Led Zeppelin @ the Cap Centre to name but a precious few memories. (An aging) PJ_DJ_in_VA (12/27/06) I have been a longtime reader of your site, and as I realize you strive to have a "cutting edge" slant, I am offended that you chose to describe the ending of Chazz's life by saying he "dropped dead". A bit blunt don't you think? Chazz was a friend of mine. I had the pleasure of calling him a friend for over 25 years. He was a true gentleman and he had a passion for broadcasting. I can't imagine him wanting to die any other way. He may, however, have wanted it to be described with a little more sensitivity. Jim (12/27/06) Van Pelt also a Maryland grad. He's also a very good fill in Dan Patrick and Eric Kusselius on their shows. I'd be surprised if they don't find a permanent radio location for him. He's better than both of those guys. (12/27/06) Separated at birth? (Leonard Shapiro, Andy Pollin) Hmmm… (12/27/06) There's a real radio station called WCUM. It's a 1000 watt Spanish Station in Bridgeport, Conneticut. The WCUM call letters stand for the company that owns the station Radio Cumbre Broadcasting. www.wcum1450.com... Marc (12/27/06) Dave's response: Why does WCUM make me think of Frankie Goes To Hollywood? Oh, nevermind..... I have heard that Len Shapiro used to be on Andy Pollin's payroll with respect to appearances on his show until it was pointed out that Shapiro, as the Post's sports media reporter, might have a tad of a conflict of interest under those circumstances. Journalistic "ethics" anyone? As for Pollin, he is the living embodiment of the term "dead wood". He's been at WTEM for far too long and the station knows it as evidenced by moving him from afternoon drive to late mornings. He is largely responsible for the perception (which the station is now trying to change) that all the station cares about are the Redskins and Maryland Basketball. Although Czaban is not everyone's cup of tea, he is in fact a rising star at that station and Pollin just drags him down. (12/27/06) I also contacted DISH Network by email asking about whether they planned to get MASN. Their unresponsive reply was: " Based on your Regional Sports channel, you will get Comcast Sports Network (CCSN) . We thank you for allowing us to be of assistance to you. If you have any further questions or concerns, please refer to www.dishnetwork.com or reply to this email." I was interested in DISH for the extra HD channels, but I won't signup with them unless MASN is an option during baseball season. Howie (12/27/06) I emailed MASN..and got no response. However, a few weeks ago, I emailed Dish Network's "feedback" section..and they talked like..if there were enough interest, efforts may be made to bring that channel to Dish Network customers. Provided there's enough interest (I believe I still have the email)..I'll post it on here..if it' okay with Dave..and there is enough interest! Personally, I'm pretty well satisfied with Dish Network; I have no reason to change..only..I would like to be able to get MASN. Tom Kaufman, Denton, MD. (12/27/06) Len Shapiro's Sports Waves column in today's Post was the (annual) useless ramblings of someone who obviously doesn't know a thing about today's radio/TV sports scene, evidenced by the absurd cronyism slobbering over Tony Kornheiser, his meanderings about Washington-somethings from 20-30 years ago (Tony Roberts), his unfathomable praise for lucky-to-have-a-job Dave Feldman and, most of all, his ongoing ass-kissing of shameless shill Andy Pollin. If Pollin is the best-informed sports voice in this town, we should all move to Baltimore, where there are at least intelligent sportstalk options. This piece should have never wasted the tree from which the paper was born. Signed, The Dim-Witted Poster (12/27/06) After nearly a year's wait many of us in Montgomery County are now getting Fios cable TV. Ours was installed two weeks ago, just two weeks after the County Council granted the franchise contract. Fios was very quick to install for those of us who already had the sensational Fios high-speed Internet. And I must say that, on the surface, this is a solid cable system with more HD options than DirecTV and a superior picture than Comcast. I'm also paying about $20 a month less than with Comcast but about $15 more than DirecTV. In all, we're pretty dang happy with what we have seen thus far from Fios. But then, two long-eared rabbits on a hilltop would be better than Comcast. Signed, The Dim-Witted Poster (12/27/06) The channel 9 weather team is making a bold prediction for today's high temperature. See the i-bar. (12/27/06) Dave's response: Man, JC's facial expression makes it seem as though she's sitting on a whoopie cushion..... A slip of the tongue. Fox News's David Asman just told us that Gerald Ford was "793" when he died. Hey, where do they get all that "sad but uplifting" music the nets run at times like these? (12/27/06) Is WCUM still on the air? (12/27/06) Dave's response: So many jokes, so little time..... "Wouldn't it be nice to acknowledge Andy Pollin as the most informed sports radio voice in town?" Sure, Len, just as soon as Andy acknowledges that baseball and hockey aren't on his radar screen. Wouldn't it be nice if Len Shapiro had a clue? Geez, pathetic... (12/27/06) FYI...I heard last night (Tuesday night) on WTOP at 103.5 FM a report on the death of former President Gerald Ford shortly before midnight. On a related note, at 12:05 a.m. today (Wednesday), WMAL carried another boring recorded hour of George Norry on Coast/Coast. WABC in New York carried a special ABC Radio Network report on the passing of Ford. Now that's the right thing to do. (12/27/06) Dave's response: I woke up at 6, updated this here site, and then went back to sleep at 7 with WMAL playing. Those boring substitute morning guys sent me back to sleep until almost 8:30. Gee, I guess there's not enough material for a "best of" Grandy and Andy. Ha ha ha..... About MASN on Dish Network. 1) I have called them and the alleged customer service reps know nothing about MASN. Very sad. 2) I e-mailed Dish folks; no response. 3) I wrote a letter to CEO Charlie Ergen at Dish about MASN; no response. Nix. Nothing. I shall leave Dish but am in the middle of a 18-month HD deal. But when it ends ... ... ! (12/27/06) Dave, You got that mention on NBC25. Would have helped if I mentioned that before. Rock on, Tybois Uphold, Editor/News Director, SVRTV-Winchester, VA (12/27/06) The issue is this: Verizon has laid FIOS wire (the hands-down best way to get HD programming, as you mailbag correspondents in VA who have it have attested) in DC, but because of some glitch/dispute/fuckup with the District, have not been allowed to make it available to their customers. I'm trying to find out why, and am sure a lot of local HD junkies would like to know too. Here's what I found out: I have DirectTV and fucking hate it--they're horrible people, offer a shit "HD lite" signal, and basically have their heads up their asses. I got a sweet Pioneer plasma to watch sports in HD and am pissed, so I called Verizon to see if I could get FIOS. Long story short, wound up getting bounced over to the PIO (I'm a reporter) who said, "Actually, we've wired DC with FIOS cable and it's all set to go--but the City is holding it up." I called the city's 727-1000 line, and the guy who answered was subliterate and had not idea what was going on... Wouldn't suprise me at all that DC's just fucked everything up, as usual, but still would be good to know what's up and when FIOS is coming to the District. (12/27/06) Chief, I sent the Fishbowl to all the Woodacres Neighb amigos. Good stuff. More Nils in studio if you can get him next time he's in town. (12/27/06) Linda Cropp's comments about the Post's "biased" coverage are HILARIOUS!!! NEWS FLASH, LINDA: Adrian Fenty is a young, handsome man worthy of large pictures. You are an UGLY, FAT, OLD woman worthy of pictures no larger than one pixel. Get a clue. (12/27/06) On the mid-1970s WWDC-AM "wanted" poster featuring Lew/Loo Katz, I noticed that he's an Alexandria native. Is he any relation to the owners of Morris Katz? It's a company in Alexandria for car radios and sound systems. (12/27/06) I thought you’d find it interesting that when I learned of Gerald Ford’s death on CNN while surfing Wednesday morning at about 2:15 am, both FoxNews and MSNBC were on it too. I checked the KYW1060 website and they had the story with audio posted. Oddly, in the nation’s capital, there was nothing on the WTOP site. (12/27/06) Was that Tom Gavin I saw on MASN filling in for Aneata Marx yesterday afternoon as I surfed by? Watch It! ......... Say DCRTV Dave do you think the illustrious Michael Hughes will get off the vino and make a real choice for a new show evenings on WJFK after the "dynamic dullards" or just let it linger for awhile and then drift off rudderless into an iceberg in the North Atlantic? My choice would be the return of the "Hideout" but actually I found Marianne Groaning tolerable and witty when taking phone calls....on the other hand when she was gabbing with the other broad in the studio it turned into one effing i scream headache real fast as each of them tried to out talk each other(and one night was Monkeyboy's wife, ugh!). It reminded me of that bit Don and Mike do each Chrismus when they have all the evil van driving soccer mom miscreants call in and rant and rave till the ears bleed to get some goofy toy that's popular that year. It's funny once a year but not every night for 3 hours......or maybe if I make a wish next time I hear a bell ring it'll be Ron and Fez back evenings on 'JFK, pretty please Sinter Klaus........I caught that sweater Tony Pann was wearing the other night....now I ain't no fashion plate expert like Mr. Blackwell but if I'm pear shaped like Homer Simpson I'd get a baggier sweater, d'oh! of course, if I'm Haber he ain't got much to talk about with them tight collared shirts he's awearing, why he looks like he's about to choke.....and speaking of tv weatherman ur people, a couple weeks back the old weathergang at channel 9 each gave their predictions for the weather this winter and the next night I saw pious but sneaky Mr. Hill give his prediction on channel 7. Now this is one of the few areas I agree with donnie g. and would like to sharpen my meat cleaver for that day in March when we can look back on winter and see who was wrong and take a thumb or two. I think this would encourage your tv weatherpeople to be more accurate and stop prattling on to fill air time all the time. I don't get that theory about why sport's has pretty much disappeared from local news because of all the sport's on the evil espn and faux sport's and comcast, etc and at the same time weather has increased in coverage because folks can get their sport's info elsewhere. too me that theory don't hold golf ball sized hail cause one could point out the weather channel(and I still don't know wha' happened to Dave Schwartz and Hilary Andrews) and all them 24/7 cable news channels have lots o' weather too. Could it be it's far cheaper to present the weather on local news than sport's?.........Ho,ho,ho Bill Smith....I just heard WEBR play that Christmas classic by Herb Alpert, "The Bell that wouldn't Jingle", now it finally feels like Christmus, well except for missing the Mister Magoo Christmas special, and who are the evil Potter like slime that got "It's A Wonderful Life" out of the public domain, d9mn lawyers! (12/27/06) Dave's response: I saw my Uncle Michael Hughes at the family Christmas party and he tells me that he'd really like to run that "colon cleanse" infomercial during 106.7's evenings. I told him to put El Jefe and J-Dubs in the slot. Just then, my Aunt Cathy Hughes came over and made an offer for the station. She wants to flip it to gospel. Uncle Mike gave her an impersonal peck on the cheek and said he'd pass her offer on to the "guys in NYC." Nice Christmas with the relatives, including my three other "Uncle Mikes," who aren't really relatives at all..... Hey Dave, DCRTV got a mention during the story of Chazz Offutt. Only a short mention, but a mention none the less. Rock on, Tybois Uphold, Editor/News Director, SVRTV-Winchester, VA (12/27/06) Whoever touched this picture up should not have a job. Look at what they did over JC's shoulders. This is from the WUSA9 web site. At first, I thought RuPaul had joined the anchor team, but realized that it was just Tracey Neale. (12/27/06) "I especially feel bad for the 2 sales people who were let go." Didn't I read that it was actually 3 people? And who said those firings had anything to do with the sale of the station? If so, then why weren't ALL the salespeople let go? (12/27/06) www.kstp.com Editor’s Note: Wondering what happened to Chikage's hand? Well, you've heard of the saying "Break a leg," right? The night before her scheduled debut at 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS, Chikage broke her fingers. She was helping move a big TV into her house when the cart it was on tipped over. She dove in to save the TV, but the TV was too heavy and came down on three fingers. The good news: the TV survived. The bad news: Chikage will be in bandages for a while as she heals. She says she's leaving all the heavy lifting to the pros from now on (12/27/06) Dave's response: For those who don't remember, Chikage Windler used to do the weather on Channel 4..... /\ December 27 Messages /\ \/ December 26 Messages \/ Dave, I was listening to WFRE today, and I heard a brief promo -- the sound of football players hitting each other, and a voice that says, "Hear the Washington Redskins this season, on WFRE." I'm not sure what "this season" means, of if I heard correctly, but my ears definitely perked up. Isn't this huge news, or have the games been simulcast on 99.9 all along this year? There were no further details: no format change announced, nothing else beyond those few words about hearing the Redskins on WFRE. Check it out and let us know the scoop. Christian (12/26/06) Dave's response: Frederick country outlet WFRE, 99.9 FM, has been a Redskins affiliate all season. Its talk sister, WFMD, 930 AM, carries the Ravens..... No need for a licking. I didn't like David Burd much either when I first started to listen to him. That was when he was on WMAL. He is an aquired taste. But he will grow on you. And what's the buzz? You ask. Don't know, but you're talking about him. Now was that such a bad licking? (12/26/06) The news about "Chazz" Offutt's on-air death and WETA-FM's possible return to a classical music format reminds me of the passing of the great Bill Cerri during his regular morning program. The phones starting ringing off the hook after a recorded selection had concluded, and the only thing the listeners heard was the "whump, whump whump" of the needle on the gutter groove of the LP. Shortly thereafter, someone discovered a dazed and confused Cerri just walking aimlessly around the Shirlington facilities. A ruptured brain aneurysm had caused a massive cerebral hemorrhage that would end Cerri's life that day. (12/26/06) For fans of James Brown's music, www.ultimateoldies.com is presently featuring a 2 hour program of all of his hits in chronological order and a review of his career highlights as well. The show is available in real audio and windows media audio. Thank you. (12/26/06) Condolences to the family of Chazz Offutt - I'm home in Cumberland for the holidays and just got the news. He and Dad went back a LONG way. - Eric (Temporarily Not) In Alabamastan (12/26/06) WRBS 95.1 Still playing Christmas music at 7pm Tuesday night. And it's not that novelty Christmas music either. Real Christmas Carols. No chipmunks, Adam Sandler or any of that other crap. Robert. Perry Hall (12/26/06) Would someone please tell that female traffic reporter on Channel 4 that the "L" in "folks" is silent...it's correctly pronounced "fokes." She pronounces it sounding the "L," which is incorrect and annoying. It's almost as annoying as someone pronouncing "nuclear" as "nucular." -- Bobbie (12/26/06) Dave's response: Almost as annoying as that WMAL newsreader who says "Double Eeeeeewwwwweeee MAL"..... You run around for four weeks getting ready for Christmas. When you finally have time to sit down and actually ENJOY the holiday, the holiday music is gone. That's all. (12/26/06) Dave's response: Ahhh, WASH is back to its "Tunes For Dentists' Offices" format. Enjoy Loo and Lori while having your molars drilled..... Hi, I was so surprised that suddenly the talk shows on Baltimore's 1230 am are now off the air and replaced with religious broadcasting. While I can get the programming through the internet, I am not always at a computer. Do you know of any Baltimore area station that will be picking up these talk shows (I especially listen to Mike Gallagher and Dennis Prager) or if I can tune into a DC area station that reaches Baltimore? Thanks in advance for your reply. Isabel (12/26/06) Dave's response: You might want to contact WCBM and let them now who you like. That's the most likely "landing place" for those displaced by 1230's conversion from righty talk to religion..... www.radioandrecords.com..... It appears that the Clear Channel, Bonneville, Red Zebra and Salem merger could take forever. (12/26/06) "that by Xmas Eve I'm ready to down some Percocet with wine and count the seconds left for my in-laws to take a flight back to Puerto Rico" - Oh Sylvie, how I missed you!! (12/26/06) I know I'll get slammed for this big time by other DCRTV'ers, but I just don't get the David Burd "buzz." I've never warmed to him, even since the Baker and Burd days. His humor (if you want to call it that) strikes me as somewhat bizarre and his deadpan delivery is just morose. He has no inflection in his voice whatsoever and it's enough to put you to sleep. And his constant interrupting his guests is annoying as hell. I know he's a warm-hearted soul but I just don't understand his radio appeal. I mean I can't stand Jack Diamond on WRQX, but the few times I've heard him do fill-in talk radio, he shines at it. Great voice, good resonance. Just not that way with Burd. OK, I'm ready for my lickin. (12/26/06) QUOTE: "Your in-laws are here for their annual visit." QUOTE 2: "One problem - at the stroke of midnight, all the Christmas music disappeared off the radio." I don't know Al, after Christmas Day is over and done with, I'm ready to get on with life... this holiday season started in August (I recall going to my local Safeway on 8/28 and they had half an aisle already stocked with Xmas decorations), that by Xmas Eve I'm ready to down some Percocet with wine and count the seconds left for my in-laws to take a flight back to Puerto Rico. Oh, and if I hear one more Xmas song with a dog barking or a cat meowing, I'll pull my hair out. -Silvie in Waldorf- (12/26/06) I’m just wondering if the lack of D&M posts are a sign of things to come ratings wise… Professionalism counts, what say you Doni? Frank (12/26/06) Weasel songs - don't forget "Here comes the Weekend" by Rockpile, Dave Edmonds and Nick Lowe (12/26/06) I just noticed that Don & Mike haven't been mentioned in a couple of days, so... (12/26/06) Dave's response: How quickly we forget..... Ed Jones, I totally agree with you. FIRED IS FIRED, and it's not a nice thing in any words. You told it like it was and that's the way it should be. I too remember when the "nit-pickers" were taking shots at me for just being honest. As you probably well know, the broadcast industry is full of insecure nail biting folks that think everyone is out to get them. Ken Merson is truly one of the nice guys, and he will land on his feet. Be sure of that. As for Rouse.....well, he's not worth what he's earning, that's for sure. He is REALLY BAD ON TELEVISION....REALLY BAD.!! The real radio folks just read the nasty stuff and continue enjoying. Do the same.....ANG (12/26/06) Damn you James Brown...you were taken way too soon....First you leave the FOX NFL Pre-Game show and now this???!!! I guess god needed a sportscaster...I just hope Terry, Howie and Jimmy have a nice tribute show for you on Sunday..RIP JB...we'll miss you...WB Centreville, VA (12/26/06) Dave's response: "Here Lies JB - Indeed." Oh, nevermind. Yeah, when my sister told me over Christmas dinner that James Brown had died, my first thought was about the CBS (former Fox) football guy..... Scott Van Pelt is also a local boy from Olney, MD. (12/26/06) To the poster talking about how Christmas music is pulled at the stroke at midnight..this has always been a pet peeve of mine! Some people may disagree with me on this topic. But to me, pulling Christmas music from the radio is like saying, "It never happened; all that good music and..it's just gone! But take heart: I see where 1101.9 WLIF is still playing some Christmas music now and then..mixed in with their regular programming! I happened to be up late last night..and was pleasantly surprised when..midnight came..and the Christmas music was still going on 101.9! Most all of the stations I can pick up around here that were doing Christmas music non-stop (WQHQ, WKDT (not sure about those call letters..it's at 107.1 and WASH seemed to have ceased playing the Christmas music! But as I stated earlier..Light 101.9 still is playing some of it! On a completely different topic: would any of you folks happen to know if MASN is planning to be carried on the Dish Network? I know they're on Dirrect TV; I'm not in any hurry to get rid of Disnet as I enjoy what programming they offer. But as of this writing, MASN is not available! Am hoping it eventually will be, so I'll get to see the Orioles games on the tube; would also be nice to see the "Orioles Classic" games..as well as other programming that might be of interesting! Tom Kaufman, Denton, MD... P.S. Actually..now that I think of it, I believe that 107.1 is WTDK; hope that's right! (12/26/06) I just want to say that I was so sad to hear about James Brown. Although I never met him, I knew him through his music. So sad to hear that. On a much lighter note, so glad to hear that Arch Campbell (WRC4) found a job at channel 7. That’s good news. And on a last note: I’m getting sick and tired of those management folks at WRC getting rid of the “seasoned” people. I’ve been watching that channel for about 35+ years and it is my favorite. If they start getting rid of the “oldies but goodies” it will no longer be my favorite and they will lose me as an avid watcher and many others too. Can I get an ‘AMEN’? Joan (12/26/06) I just wanted to say that Susan Kidd is a class act. The way she ended the show last week, with no hoopla; just a farewell. She did it with class and dignity. That’s awesome! Joan (12/26/06) (This is in response to: "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.) My response: If a contract is not renewed, then what is it? Is it a layoff? Is it a firing? In the world of athletics if a coach's contract is not renewed, it is referred to as a firing; even though he/she may be paid a salary and full benefits until the contract is up. When I said that the Merson Person was fired, it was not meant with malice. I said that in the spirit of what's stated in the sentence above. The Merson Person is a legendary personality which I truly miss along with the other posters. He is irreplaceable and I hope he gets another on air gig. For my saying he was fired, no apology needed here. If I'm sorry about anything, it is the nit picking and mindless word games, along with the cruel and obscene name calling that we see on this site on an increasing basis. Please note that the previous statement is NOT a complaint, but merely an observation. Ed Jones, Bel Air MD (12/26/06) "James is dead, James is dead!" "Damn, Damn, Damn!" Signed, Florida Evans. (12/26/06) Those still wishing for Holiday music can tune to xm103. That's the one place I have found it today. --Brent (12/26/06) The relationship with ESPN really helps Triple X. Good job to get Scott Van Pelt on this morning to do their Redskins show instead of talking about the Redskins. He's very funny and it made for much better radio than a Jacoby breakdown of a meaningless loss to the Rams. Van Pelt is actually better on radio than on Sportscenter. (12/26/06) If the WGMS deal is dead and the station is staying classical, WETA should change formats anyway -- to jazz. Leave the news and public affairs to WAMU, and focus on America's great gift to music...and I don't mean the neutered Kenny G claptrap and other "smooth" stuff. Duke Ellington's hometown, a city where Louis Armstrong regularly performed, should have its own full-time noncommercial jazz station. -- Vincent in Triangle (12/26/06) Dave's response: I'd like to hear WPFW focus more on blues and jazz and offer less talk. If classical WGMS survives, I'd like WETA-FM to adopt a musical variety format like Philly's WXPN - xpn.org. The DC radio dial is "too talked out"..... (...You don't know...) Yes we do know. The deal is dead. Everyone loses. WETA could have been great. They should switch back to classical anyway. I especially feel bad for the 2 sales people who were let go. (12/26/06) Tuesday, December 26th - you're home from work, the kids are on school vacation. The decorations are up and sparkling, and your in-laws are here for their annual visit. There are still a few unopened presents in the far corners of the living room, and everyone is feeling "Christmasey." One problem - at the stroke of midnight, all the Christmas music disappeared off the radio. Doesn't make any sense, except, of course, the only reason for Christmas music on the radio in the first place is to get everyone in the buying mood, and that's over for another year! Al McGilvray (12/26/06) It is a shame; I listened to wall to wall Christmas music on WASH radio all day today (Christmas). As we all know, "The Godfather of Soul,"The Hardest working man in show business," Mr. James Brown, dies on Christmas day. WASH radio completely missed a great opportunity to provide a tribute. WASH radio's Christmas day musicathon did not include the late Mr. Brown's Christmas classic "Santa Claus Go Straight to the Ghetto." A travesty I tell you! God Bless Mr. James Brown, even though WASH radio snubbed you. (12/26/06) To all the armchair quarterbacks (so to speak) who see trouble on the horizon for Mr. Snyder, for Mr. Zier and the rest of the Red Zebra Empire for the possibility of "breaking" the deal for WGMS: Step back. You know nothing. It could well be as simple as RZ having an "escape clause" in a contract to buy WGMS, or that contract having not reached finality. You don't know...you're not there, and for that matter, I don't know, either. It would seem to be a good move to back out of a $45 million deal for 104.1/103.9 if market conditions change, and a better signal would be available (say, one of CC's) for the same or not much more money. I don't know if Dan Snyder or any of his executives "messed up" here, and NEITHER DO YOU. Speculation is one thing, but without nearly all of the facts? It makes folks look stupid. You should feel lucky most of us are anonymous on this mailbag. (12/26/06) /\ December 26 Messages /\ \/ December 25 Messages \/ I believe the We Just Want to Dance song was "Was just want to Dance" by The Flirts..... (12/25/06) ("You may or may not like Danny, but he lives in a deal-making world where your word is your bond.") I neva fucked anybody over in my life, who didn't have it comin' to 'em, you got that? All I have in this world is my balls, and my word, and I don't break 'em for no one, jou understand? -- Danny Snyder (12/25/06) Dave's response: Obviously not the "real" Danny..... urrr sorry dcrtv dave but mention of Joe "King" Carrasco got me wondering if he still out there playing..... www.joeking.com and by golly he is....i think weasal mentioned on one of his friday partay box set show that joe king don't tour east coast anymore cause he lacks venues to make it affordable.......can't someone out there in dcrtv land line up some gigs for Joe King in Raleigh, Richmond, D.C. Baltimore and New Yawk and get a return of Joe King.......well you know the old caca de vaca bill smith (12/25/06) The second of three songs the former WHFS listener was referring to was "Party Weekend" by Joe "King" Carrasco & The Crowns. Cheers, Neal Augenstein (12/25/06) Merry Christmas, Mr. Hughes! The CW Washington has just aired the "Yule Log," which included audio in the form of Christmas music from WASH-FM (which ends its annual all-Christmas music fest tonight). Last week, all of the former Adelphia cable systems in Front Royal & Winchester (both in Virginia) were switched over to Comcast. And last, but not least, Fox 5 (WTTG) will air the final Redskins game of the 2006 season this Saturday night (December 30th) as they play host to the New York Giants, live from FedExField. Coverage begins at 7:00pm with "Redskins Pregame," followed at 8:00pm by the Giants-Redskins game (an NFL Network production), which will also be broadcast in HD. (12/25/06) Dave, I'm not so sure about your sources who say the WGMS deasl is threatened. To a billionaire like DanSnyder, 49 or 50 million is chump change. If he reneges on a deal he made, that will hurt his future deals and bering his credibility into question. You may or may not like Danny, but he lives in a deal-making world where your word is your bond. (12/25/06) Three comments: 1) I bought a Stanton turntable at Chuck Levin's Washington Music in on Veirs Mill Road just south of University Blvd. in Wheaton, MD about 4 years ago for $129. It was in their section for DJs. The turntables ranged from $100 - over $3,000. So I got the second least expensive, and it has worked out great. But you have to have a stereo that has a phono input capability; if it doesn't you need a turntable pre-amp. 2) Reading about all the free concerts that used to be in Washington reminds me that the Washington National Cathedral used to have weeknight concerts in the summer in the 1970s. It was wonderful, hearing baroque chamber music in that cool (temperature-wise) stone building on a hot summer night. Also, the Archives used to have free concerts in the summer, too. Now it's just the Millenium Stage, and its one venue. 3) Finally, (shameless plug from a proud papa) you can see and hear my daughter singing "I Am a Latke" in the Millenium Stage Archive for December 3; she is in an a cappella group called the DC Accidentals, and this song is in the last 4 minutes of the 55-minute performance archive. -- Carl in Olney (12/25/06) R.I.P., James Brown, who made countless appearances in this area at numerous venues (including Ritchie Coliseum in College Park)...and let's not forget his ties to local radio. He owned a Baltimore station (whose call letters escape me) for a number of years. -- Vincent in Triangle (12/25/06) Dave's response: It was then soul music WEBB, AM 1360. Which is now WVIE at 1370..... If the WGMS deal is aborted (and I still have my doubts) it would mean BZ is in the doghouse with Dan Snyder. First BZ has to layoff buddies he hired just months ago and now (if your sources are correct Dave) a major flip-flop on the deal. Danny boy may no longer be buying BZ's act. (12/25/06) Does anyone know Augie Wren's Christmas story? It goes a little bit like Big Don O'Brien's Christmas parrot story. Well I know someone who's not feeling good today. And kids you may want to be just like James Brown but stay in school and get that education first. BAM!......"it was Christmas in prison and the food was real good....Wait awhile eternity, ole Mother Nature's got nothing on me"...I drove by the old Tower Records in Tysons on Xmas Eve....the employees left a nice goodbye on the windows and if you look in the front door you see this wonderful statue of an angel...RIP Tower you've gone to that great record store in the sky ....Cause hell is Chrismus at the Seven/ Eleven.......and a dance of the sugarplum fairies to all the mailbaggers this holidaze season...and too all you YUTES out there in dcrtville, self doubt ain't always a bad thing, yes I know, Op and Ant rule but lemme ask you this, ain't they a bit like Scott Farkus?.......well this is the Ole Mange Bill Smith.....and it's such a sad old feeling, but your innocent when you dream, when you dream www.youtube.com gawd bless Hamburger James and even Mr. Potter in prison that is (12/25/06) What sad news about James Brown. But, on the other hand, 'twas nice to spend Christmas Morning opening presents while watching another "MASN "Oriole Classic (this time game 2 of the '83ALCS)! And again, Happy Christmas to ALL! Rusty Gibson (12/25/06) To the Coast to Coast fan and fellow mailbagger, don't ferget you can catch the show live on the internet at www.coasttocoastam.com ....Merry Christmas, everyone, and a special tip of the ol' jaunty Santa hat to our good man Dave! (12/25/06) Dave's response: Ha ha ha. Er, ho ho ho..... For those who like to reminisce about the "good old days" of growing up in the DC area, here's a website devoted to those memories: www.geocities.com/Heartland/Flats/4759... People have posted their rememberances of things past in the DC area including old local radio/tv shows among other things. It's a very interesting site for us DC natives, and maybe even to non-natives. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all. -- Bobbie (12/25/06) Dave's response: That old Geocities address reminded me of an e-mail I recently received telling me that DCRTV's original address - www.geocities.com/CapitolHill/Lobby/4619 - still works. I'd actually forgotten the old address. Yup, that's where the site was when I started it in 1997. It soon became www.geocities.com/~dcrtv, which eventually begat www.dcrtv.com, etc. And the rest is infamy..... As I’ve said many times, the best place for the Redskins is WMAL, its long-time home (years ago). Their signal, even without planned improvements, still covers Washington better than any other AM-er. While the price tag may be inflated, Dan Snyder could cut a deal in many different ways that would make everyone at the table happy. Tom Gauger (And Merry Christmas! Sure do miss our annual Christmas get-together at the Kennedy Center!) (12/25/06) Awww ma-annn, not James Brown ... damn ... (12/25/06) (Dave's response: Ever catch that old Cary Grant flick "Houseboat" on TCM? Some scenes of a waterfront concert on the Potomac, near where the Watergate and Kennedy Center now are.....) Not to mention a passenger train on the RF&P. I'm too cheap for cable. This movie has been on Channel 26 too. (12/25/06) For the twelfth consecutive Christmas Eve I have bought my thirty pack of Milwaukee's Best and am prepared to descend into my cold basement and watch endless Christmas movies on TBS. My only interruption will be at midnight when I go out front to shout and curse at carolers who are on the way to midnight Mass. (12/25/06) Dave's response: Hey, the Sundance Channel ran a Kath and Kim TV movie at 10 PM on Christmas Eve. Fine viewing, there. Put another steak on the XMAS barbie. You know, summer's just starting down under in "Oz"..... Listen live on the web at www.v1370.com or tune in to AM1370 on Dec 25th from 9am-9pm. Call in at 410-481-1370 or stop by at TOV 6313 Reisterstown Rd (12/25/06) I have to get this off my chest. I love listening to Coast To Coast AM on 630 WMAL. At 1:05 a.m., I tuned in to hear my favorite show was not on. Instead, we have Christmas music. C2C is the only show I listen to on that station. They have pissed my Christmas down the toilet. It's got me pissed. Kurt Foster (12/25/06) Dave's response: Then swing your AM pointer up the dial. You'll find "CTC" on many a station. Try 770 WABC from NYC, 1100 WTAM from Cleveland, 1110 WBT from Charlotte, or 1210 WPHT from Philadelphia. Or XM 165..... I'm a 44 year old listener of WGMS, but the real fan in my family is my 11 year old son. He listens to WGMS religously online now that we live in upstate New York. (12/25/06) /\ December 25 Messages /\ \/ December 24 Messages \/ Wow, what memories! The Watergate concert shell! Yes, I recall hearing many fine concerts there with my parents. That poster is right: it is amazing to recall how rich was the musical life of DC even up to the mid 1970's. As a kid growing up in College Park, I remember going to Langsburgh's department store to hear children's music appreciation concerts by the National Symphony. When I was a little older, I was allowed to go to the meetings of the Toscanini Society in Bethesda. I'd save up to buy records of Furtwangler, The Budapest String Quartet, and Stravinsky at the Disc Shop on Connecticut Avenue. At the head of the city's classical music life was WGMS, which boasted one of the largest collections of classical records in the world. Sometimes, Renee Chaney would supplement with rare records from her own legendary collection. For a time, WGMS even ran its own listener's club, which entitled you to some now rare historical recordings by the first National Symphony conductor, Hans Kindler. Now, this all seems like a another world, a lost paradise. (12/24/06) Dave's response: Ever catch that old Cary Grant flick "Houseboat" on TCM? Some scenes of a waterfront concert on the Potomac, near where the Watergate and Kennedy Center now are..... Don't dismiss the possibility that Snyder's retreat from WGMS may just be part of a negotiation. If the only thing standing between a willing seller & a willing buyer is the price-tag, don't be shocked if it still happens. With his flagship sports season nearly done, he may not feel quite so compelled to make a deal in the next 10 minutes. At the same time, Red Zebra's EOY staff-trimming may indicate Snyder's impatience with this whole radio process--the same kind of impatience he's shown with the Skins. Hey, his success in the internet business didn't take this long, did it? One day he was a kid fresh out of college, the next day he was a billionaire. Doesn't it always work that way? (12/24/06) I listened to Pat Goss yesterday and I've concluded that he's the Grinch who stole Christmas. Geez, what a grouch. (12/24/06) No growth potential in Classical music? Just wait for the listeners to die off? Are you an idiot or just a snob in reverse Goober? I guess all those people who first tuned into WGMS in 1946 are still around and the station has never renewed it's listenership base. I guess all those who still tune into Renee Chaney and John Chester, and pine for Dennis Owens to return to the air even just for a brief fill-in, are just gumming their pudding in the nursing home. As a long-time under-50 listener and business owner I'd rather have 100 WGMS fans come into my store than 1000 Don & Mike, Stern, or Opie & Anthony fans. Those "fans" couldn't afford to buy much of anything and are the sketchiest of P1 listeners who move onto the next flashy thing instead of being real P1 loyal listeners who stick with a station years after year and decade after decade. My father, who worked in radio & television for 30 years, had the good sense to teach us how to appreciate all forms of music and took us around to the free concerts on the Capitol steps, at the Watergate bandshell and on the Mall growing up. we saw everything from Doc Severinsen to Count Basie, the Beach Boys to Chicago, and the National Symphony to DC's native son Duke Ellington performing with the Navy Band. The majority of the last wave of baby boomers have more disposable income & are more loyal to a station like WGMS than you punks who glom onto Hot 99-whatever and Mix 10-whocares and the blandest of the bland WASH-Snorefest just because they babysit your empty lemming-like minds with cookie cutter radio. Face it, you are going through life with blinders on thinking your music or entertainment is the only stuff worth listening to. WGMS is an insitution in Washington that should be preserved as an oasis of good taste in a city that has long since forgotten it's own musical roots. (12/24/06) (...or do they use the (WGMS) frequencies for Washington Post Radio and Federal News Radio?"...) That is a great idea. There is no growth potential for classical music. Once the old people die off, there will be no listeners. The growth potential is in news. Especially in this town. WTOP can be considered light or fluffy news, and WTWP can be considered in depth news. If I could pick it up better, I would listen to WTWP all day. I prefer the in depth stuff. I would much rather hear classical music on WETA. You can hear the station all the way up to Baltimore. Perhaps Bonneville could form a partnership with WETA. Maybe some of the hangers on at 104.1 could beg for a job there. (12/24/06) To the mailbagger axeing about good off kilter chrismus music here's a good site for hearing all those whacky Beatles xmas greetings of yore www.beatlesource.com and here's a website that's kinda like what WHFS use to be woxy.lala.com and and if your in the western ex-burbs of Northern Virginia use to be a heck of a radio station out warrenton way call letters of WEER. And speaking of old record stores in these parts, what was that record store that was above the old Rolls Music in Falls Church? Nice guy who ran it, I believe later branched out to location in toothless fairfax. And a good store which I only got to a few times was Vinyl Ink in Silver Spring and then the old Yesterday & Today over in Rockville on the pike. I always found the dude kind of a bear to deal with but it was a great store. Think he's strictly online now. And Orpheus still going in Clarendon, right by the subway stop or if you time it right should find a decent parking space. Don't ask the guy about his fingernails though. Of course, if you want to venture a few miles south or north, Richmond and Baltimore still have record stores. And record players are still out there, especially if you have big bucks to spend. Do you hear that, Santee Claus? (12/24/06) Watched an old episode of SNL on NBC4 around 2am this morning and I could've sworn that heard Will Ferrell dropped the "F" bomb (saying "who the F--ck) during a skit he was doing with Jay-Z..Anyone see it?? (12/24/06) RE: "Perhaps your rant can land you a job being the chief researcher for WMAL’s Mark Levin and Chris Plante. Now, can we please get back to the WAR ON CHRISTMAS?" I regret to inform you, but just like their position on Kosovo, Afghanistan and Somalia, WMAL is backing the Bush Administration position on the Global War On Christmas and you won't be hearing much about any of these war fronts on 630 until somebody discovers a big-ass CRUDE OIL field smack-dab under the North Pole, in Downtown Mogadishu, or near the Albanian border....Sorry. - Jeff in (please excuse the sarcasm) Bowie (12/24/06) Trivia question from the 80s: Every Friday afternoon, WHFS deejay Weasel would end his show (at four p.m.? five p.m.?) by playing the same songs. One was "(You've Got to) Fight for Your Right to Party." He also played "It's a Party, a Party Party Weekend," and some song with the lines "All dressed up with nowhere (or no place) to go; we just want to dance. Don't want to watch, want to be in the show; we just want to dance." The first tune was by the Beastie Boys. The second, I don't know who did it. The third, I'm thinking was by the Go-Go's. Who can offer guidance on this issue of timeless importance? Thanks. Merry Christmas, or Victory in the War on Christmas, as you prefer. (12/24/06) Have said this before, but it bears repeating. Happy Christmas to ALL DCRTV "Mailbaggers" all over the world! Love, Rusty Gibson WEBR/Radio Fairfax (12/24/06) I'll tell you what, what. If Channel 7 really wants to compete with Channel 4, EXPAND the 6pm news to a FULL HOUR. Channel 4 has local news from 4-7pm. That's why they're winning in the ratings. They allow more time for their stories. When people get home after 6pm, they're not going to turn on Channel 7 or 9, because the news is almost over. People are turning on Channel 4 because local news will run until 7pm. If Channel 7 picks up 4's people, they better have time to use them. Also giving Allison the 6pm news at a full hour would help them. WHY ARE ALL THE WOMEN NAMED ALLISON HOT!!?? At least the I know. Dave, I you can see I didn't type with proper paragraphs. (12/24/06) My predictions for the year 2007... Over at NBC 4... I'm predicting that NBC 4 could and might be getting about ready to lose its ratings victory, after NBC dumping popular D.C. news personalities, like Arch Campbell, Susan Kidd, I.J. Hudson, and George Michael, and the $750M budget cut being imposed by NBC. I'm also predicting that NBC could be considering ending the 10am and 5pm newscasts, in favor of a new noon newscast, and Dr. Phil's syndicated talk show at 5pm... NBC ending the syndicated "iVillage" show. Over at FOX 5... I'm predicting that a new 6pm newscast could be in the works. FOX 5 had been offering a morning, noon, 5pm, and 10pm newscast for the past several years, and recently began offering an 11pm newscast. Like several or most other FOX-owned stations, I'm predicting that News Corp. could be eyeing more news for this flagship FOX affiliate. Over at ABC 7... I'm predicting that Alison Starling will most likely be promoted to the 5pm newscast, replacing the recently departed Kathleen Matthews. I'm predicting that ABC 7 and sister station NewsChannel 8 could and might be planning on hiring some of NBC 4's former news personalities, like they did with some of WUSA 9's former news personalities. I such hire I can picture happening... 7 hiring Susan Kidd as a new morning anchor, and being re-teamed with her former NBC co-anchor Doug McKelway. I'm also predicting that ABC 7 could and might be on its way toward a major ratings victory. A victory, which WUSA 9 lost to NBC 4, roughly 10 years ago. With ABC 7 being the fastest growing news station, it woud appear that NBC 4 might not be holding onto victory for much longer. Over at WUSA 9... I'm predicting that they'll be rebranding their newscast yet again, and dropping the "9 News Now" branding in favor of something different. Or 9 possibly going back to their "Eyewitness News" roots. I'm predicting that 9 could and might be eyeing the possiblity of hiring Morris Jones on as a new evening anchor, and being reteamed with his former FOX 5 co-anchor Tracey Neale. I'm also predicting that 9 could and might be considering ending the 9am newscast, in favor of a new local variety show, similar to what other Gannett-owned station have. It be branded as "Studio 9" or "Washington and Company". It be co-hosted by former "Survivor: The Amazon" runner up Matthew von Ertfelda, and former Maryland Public Broadcasting and WBAL-TV alum Jennifer Khasnabis. With the Tribune Corp. not doing well financially, I'm predicting that Gannett could and might be considering acquiring ownership of CW affiliate WDCW. 9 offering a new local 10pm newscast, 7 nights a week. It be co-anchored by Todd McDermott, and Jennifer Ryan during the week... Bruce Johnson and Cindy Peña on weekends. Happy 2007! Thanks, Eric (12/24/06) George W. Bush was President three and a half years after we went into Kosovo. Revisionist timeline. Perhaps your rant can land you a job being the chief researcher for WMAL’s Mark Levin and Chris Plante. Now, can we please get back to the WAR ON CHRISTMAS? (12/24/06) Classic TV meets movie icon - what a great t-shirt idea: www.tshirthell.com (12/24/06) Dave, I'm headed up to Baltimore to spend some time with my family especially with my brother who just came in from Texas. He's PD at KLAK in McKinney. Since I won't have access to a computer for awhile, here's wishing you and everyone one on the Mailbag a very joyous holiday. Love and blessings. Joyce Conroy (WHFC/WYTI). P.S. Had fun on-air at WTYI helping out with our Christmas Shopper's Guide. (12/24/06) I'm glad that Arch Campbell is going to work at Channel 7. Maybe the other people who lost their jobs at Channel 4 will find work there, much like the old Channel 9 news team of Maureen Bunyon, Gordon Peterson and Doug Hill did, as well as Mike Buchannan. (12/24/06) I'm not so sure that WAGE/1200 will actually carry "ALL of the games" of the Washington Redskins this season. WAGE.com states that the station will carry Virginia Tech's bowl game. That broadcast would conflict with the Redskins season finale on Saturday night. Everett W. (12/24/06) Dave's response: Don't forget, the Skins are also on Frederick's 99.9 - a killer signal throughout most of Loudoun and the northwestern suburbs..... Heard Michelle Basch on WTOP today. She sounds great! (12/24/06) "After three and a half years in Kosovo, was the president walking inand 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 getus out of the chaos he created?" - No! He was blithely and blissfully getting his Johnson liplocked by an intern young enough to be his daughter, who happened to be his subordinate, on the Federal payroll. And, while your Communist friends in the local media were whining that whatever happens in someone's bedroom is their own business, they were neglecting the fact that the trysts were happening in the Oval Office of the building that "We, the peopel" own and pay for. - NEXT! (12/24/06) Dave's response: Watch it. Getting off-topic with this thread..... Maybe I'm wrong here, but I could have sworn that Birach's WGOP AM 540 Damascus, Maryland FCC construction permit was set to expire in Nov 2006 (3 years from the approval date). I posted about this a couple times in Oct & Nov I think. Was I wrong or did it somehow magically get extended to Nov 2007 as a timely Christmas gift to an influential Republican donor just before the Democrats get FCC oversight authority in the new year??? (12/24/06) www.youtube.com (WRC) the funk music is gone and the theme is updated to Michael Randall's NewsCenter II. Lacks a bit of the fun of the earlier versions, but the new theme is great... Blast from the past (12/24/06) /\ December 24 Messages /\ Jump to the Mailbag Archive Index.....