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Current Mailbag - Mailbag Archive Index - DCRTV Front Page - Support DCRTV DCRTV Mailbag - March 9 to March 15, 2007 Latest messages listed first..... \/ March 15 Messages \/ Re "I never understood the general dislike for Dan Snyder when I moved here" Let me explain it to you - "Short people got no reason... Short people got no reason... Short people got no reason... To live..." - I hope this clear this up. Signed Randy Newman (3/15/07) Whoa, always glad to see that the immediate Rosenberg family all got internet access! Yeah, those Youtube videos make McRosenberger real relevant . . . just like every large-breasted sorority girl who gets drunk in Florida and winds up on Youtube. I realize that McRosenberger will forever hate Donnie G., and therefore his family will, too, but Donnie G. actually has had a successful radio career. Peter’s a wannabe; he never even got high enough in the biz to be a has-been. Sincerely, TMU (3/15/07) In addition to WTWP reairing “Face the Nation” the station also reairs “Meet the Press” on Sunday nights. Until recently WTNT reaired “Meet the Press” at Noon (I believe) on Sundays but now airs “Fox News Sunday” in the time-period. And, after all, these programs are talking-head-shows and work just as well on radio as on TV. So please chill! (3/15/07) This is the debate that I had with a few friends recently as far as who has the most accurate traffic. Which is why I always say that the information in the report is as good as the information given out. So for all intents and purposes, Lisa Baden can only be blamed for singing, but not for bad information on a traffic report. The location largely depends on what is called out over the scanner and what is called in over the phone. The trick is hearing the location called out by the responder that is on scene. Also, my sentiments are with PLB on his response to the bitter bitter person with the agenda against WNAV. I read the original post, a whole bunch of shots, but no direct hit at all. In other words, a bad random attack. Grow up, junior. PKB (3/15/07) (Seen on the 'net) For Internet radio without a PC, Asus has introduced a receiver that looks like a regular tabletop radio but can currently connect to over 10,000 internet radio stations via Wi-Fi to 802.11b/g or through LAN itself. asia.cnet.com (3/15/07) Jack Kent Cooke was an interloper. He even had a to get a private bill rushed through Congress making him a US citizen in order to get FCC approval buy a broadcasting property. Mr. Snyder can't top that. (3/15/07) (RE: Dave's response: In the early episodes of "Seinfeld," didn't either Bob or Ray play George's dad, before they hired Jerry Stiller for the part? Inquiring minds want to know.....) Actually it was John Randolph...see item #14 www.imdb.com (3/15/07) Dave's response: Gracias..... Thanks Joyce Conroy for your very kind and gracious comments. Your posts are always kind-hearted and they are much appreciated. Regarding Arlene Kozak of the Buddy Deane Show…here’s an anecdote that folks may appreciate. Arlene once told me about a time in the early 60’s when after a broadcast one day at the WJZ Channel 13 studios, she was introduced by a staff member to a young man who was in town on a visit and wanted to learn a hot new dance that Arlene (herself an excellent dancer) had mastered. She went through the steps with the visitor until he got it down. He thanked her and left. The session was duly recorded by observers, and Arlene left for home and an afternoon dinner. When she arrived at the house, she told her husband Joe about the visitor. Joe asked his name. She told him. Joe replied, ‘Do you know who that is?’ Arlene said, ‘I have no idea, except he was a nice young man’. Well…the year was 1961, and Arlene’s dance student had another talent that he exhibited quite frequently that summer: Hitting home runs. Arlene’s pupil was none other than Roger Maris of the New York Yankees…who hit 61 dingers in ’61, breaking Babe Ruth’s single-season record (Ford Frick’s asterisk notwithstanding)…and also mastered ‘The Twist’, courtesy of Mrs. Kozak. Love those memories! Thanks – Bob Mathers (3/15/07) ...Mike & Mike are gonna have a "Mystery Guest" on any moment now who is reportedly an "exciting" actor: given the tired, old and outdated format of their show, can we expect the "Mystery Guest" to be maybe, Clark Gable or maybe Betty Davis? Give it up, guys: guests are usally a big dud on your show (witness the disasterous David Cassidy interview yesterday). (3/15/07) Who are these old fucking guests left over from 1981 on the Don and Mike show? Jesus, old fucking love boat stars and who is oswald patton? David Cassidy? This is 2007. (3/15/07) Calling Ehrlich a "dog" now thats a nice way to thank the former Governor for even offering his talents on that station! Sounds to me like WCBM didn't even offer the Ehrlich's a gig after talking about it for MONTHS. Then to call him a dog for taking a job somewhere else? The GM is a dog. A dirty stupid dog. (3/15/07) I finally figured out what annoys me about Lisa Baden's live shot on Channel 7 in the morning...it's that ridiculous microphone positioned to the side of her mouth. It looks SO stupid! If TV stations can pull off discreet mic's clipped to a shirt/blouse, why can't Metro traffic? Seriously..the damn thing is like the elephant in the room during live shots. Just my humble opinion. (3/15/07) ("For the life of me, I don't understand why so many people are offended by the Geico caveman commercials..Just to remind you, they no longer exist!!!!...") ME still around and no like GEICO CAVEMAN ADS, OFFEND ME! Atouck the Caveman, playing with fire someplace. (3/15/07) RE: [ " Not local, but it must have been a very slow news day at this ABC station in NYC" ]........ Wow, even NYC has a Marty Bass! :-) (3/15/07) Not local, but it must have been a very slow news day at this ABC station in NYC: www.nydailynews.com (3/15/07) I never understood the general dislike for Dan Snyder when I moved here. I figured people just assumed any owner other than Jack Kent Cooke was an interloper. I actually liked his purchase of the triple X stations, because it menat one more station with an English language format. But his "overtures" to Bonneville prompted them to fire the sales staff and get ready to flip a top 5 station. When he backed off, Bonneville was stuck with a station that had no commercial inventory, so they flipped anyway. That prompted the folks at WETA to flip back to classical, firing most of their news/talk staff, which causes employment gridlock for any job seekers in the area. So now we have a bunch of people out of work and a gridlocked news job market from NoVA to Baltimore, a public radio station telling listeners to tune to a commercial talk station (how that got past the FCC we'll never know), a jukebox stealing bits of share from stations that actually bother to employ talent, WAMU going deep into the pockets to take on some of WETA's off-loaded programming, and to top it off, Red Zebra's lousy management paradigm of hiring all of Zier's buddies caused a layoff of even more radio folks, all because Dan Snyder made a grossly inflated offer for a mediocre signal. Snyder's act was irresponsible and short sighted. Bonneville already made it apparent they will whore out even their heritage station, let alone a pair of weaker signals. And WETA appears to be run by children who failed to understand their actions, both flipping to news/talk and then flipping back, caused a great deal of grief. They might as well apply for a commercial frequency. They act like a small market Clear Channel station at its worst. (3/15/07) Chiming in on the WNAV Traffic debate. One poster suggested trying other stations for more information. This is what was going on on I-95 southbound, north of the Ft. McHenry Tunnel 6:55-7:00 this morning. WBAL (Detour Dave) Accident at Eastern Avenue has been cleared to the shoulder. WPOC (Mark Williams) Accident at O'Donnell Street, 2 left lanes getting by. WTMD (Liz Drabek) Unconfirmed reports of an accident at Eastern Ave. Ummm...really helpful ! For the record, Detour Dave was the most accurate. Sometimes I wonder why stations even bother w/traffic. On another note, WJFK-AM and WHFS are airing the Maryland - Davidson game, approx. 25 seconds behind what is transpiring on TV. 25 Seconds ?? I've asked before...WHY!! I guess the old WBAL/Orioles "Turn down the TV sound and listen on the radio" ain't gonna work anymore. Doug in Bel Air (3/15/07) I wish that I was making this up but "Face the Nation" already reairs on WTWP radio. Everett W. (3/15/07) (paraphrased pullquote) Danny Boy is a Category Five bleep (end para quote) God forbid he and the Birachs (WDMV - WGOP) should entertain a merger. The combination of arrogance, disregard and bullflop would blanket the earth. (3/15/07) As of 10:15AM, the Baltimore Sun website says that BOB Elliott's show is being moved to 5 AM Saturdays to accomodate the Ehrlichs. If BOB Elliott had a show on WBAL I'd actually listen. Howie (3/15/07) A sure sign that Channel 4's cutting back on sports coverage in the post-George Michael era is the fact that only one of its sports anchors is reporting from an NCAA tournament site this week. Here's how Washington, DC's four network affiliates as well as Comcast SportsNet are handling the local angle of March Madness: in Winston Salem, NC (for Georgetown) - Dave Feldman (5), Tim Brant (7), Brett Haber (9) and David Lee (CSN); in Buffalo, NY (for Maryland) - Dan Hellie (4), Lou Holder (5), Greg Toland (7), Levan Reid (9) and Chick Hernandez (CSN); in Sacramento, CA (for George Washington) - Sara Walsh (9). So three of the lead anchors are on the Hoya beat, which makes sense since Georgetown's believed to have the best chance among area schools of going all the way. Channel 4 chose to keep Lindsay Czarniak in the studio instead of sending her to Winston Salem. She did show some Hoya interview clips (probably provided by a sister station down there), but then merely noted the fact that GW's in the tournament as well. With the exception of WUSA-9, the Colonials are getting little or no respect from the media despite the fact that they're the only local team making a third straight apperance in the NCAAs. With Maryland slated to play Saturday if it gets past Davidson today, perhaps one or more of the reporters in Buffalo will shuttle over to Columbus in time for Sunday's games in the event that either UVA or Virginia Tech wins tomorrow. Over on the radio side, I briefly tuned in John Riggins' show on Triple X yesterday and he had the Camelot Showgirls handicapping the NCAA field. Excuse me - since when would anyone take advice from them in filling out a bracket sheet? To make matters worse, sidekicks Gary Braun and Kevin Sheehan were carrying on as if this was the greatest segment in the history of sports talk radio. While Tony Kornheiser always seems to devote too much time on his show this week to bracket predictions (and John Feinstein ripped him for it on WTEM's Sports Reporters last evening), at least he brings on bona fide college hoops experts like Jim Laranega, Jeff Jones and Michael Wilbon who give you useful information. A notable exception is the humorous bit with Phil's mom (the mother of Kornheiser's old ESPN Radio producer), who doesn't pretend to know much about hoops despite the fact that she hit the jackpot last year by picking George Mason to reach the Final Four. Incidentally, ESPN's Mike & Mike show ripped off Mr. Tony by having its own producer's mom (a native of England) pick brackets this morning. Mike, Fairfax (3/15/07) Has anyone else heard the rumor that Don Geronimo will be fired and that Sid Rosenberg of the Imus in the morning show will take his place? After thinking about it, it makes sense. Sid Rosenberg is a real talent and he draws good ratings and I from what I have heard, WJFK could be making big changes. Thanks, Theo D. (3/15/07) Dave's response: If only Don had quit back in November, we'd now have the Danny (Bonnaduce) and Mike (O'Meara) show. Every single day I think about what WJFK-FM afternoons could have been. Oh, how could such a cute Partridge Family kid have turned into such a god-awful looking man. Wow..... WCBS-AM newsradio adds CBS-TV's "Face the Nation." And I thought 880 AM was a radio station. It airs "60 Minutes" and now another TV show. Bad, bad, bad. Hey radio managers, can't you come up with any other bright ideas? You know, the more stupid decisions radio stations make just pushes radio listeners a little closer to Serum/Ex-Emina. (3/15/07) Dave's response: Hey, CBS owns WJFK-FM. How about "Face The Nation" on 106.7, too. Right in between the Junks and O&A. What say you, Uncle Michael Hughes? Happy Ides of March, Dave! In his article in the Baltimore Sun about the upcoming Bob & Kendel Ehrlich show on WBAL radio, Nick Madigan writes (in the Web version, at least): "Bob Elliott's four-hour Saturday show is being moved to 5 a.m. to accommodate the Ehrlichs..." It's BRUCE, Nick, Bruce Elliott! BOB Elliott is half of the legendary radio-TV comedy team of Bob & Ray (www.bobandray.com) and the father of comedian Chris Elliott. Hey, that would be great: a four-hour "Bob Elliott Show" featuring one of the funniest men on the planet. By the way, in just 11 days (March 26) we can all wish BOB Elliott a happy 84th birthday! (Don't know how old BRUCE Elliott or Elliott Segal are...) --RB (3/15/07) Dave's response: In the early episodes of "Seinfeld," didn't either Bob or Ray (I always get them confused) play George's dad, before they hired Jerry Stiller for the part? Inquiring minds want to know..... (snip) Why so many negative posts about Red Zebra? Why, so many posters who want to see Danny Boy fail? There are even more negative posts about them than about Bonneville which is the behemoth this town. Is it jealousy or just plain hatred? I don't get it. (snip) Because Danny Boy is a Category Five Asshole who rapes his customers and figures rules are for other people. His arrogance stands head and shoulders above the average for this town. When you consider all the politicos around here, that's saying something. Rates about 14 on the ten-scale dickhead meter. (3/15/07) Dave's response: For the record, the above poster's "rape" comment is figurative and not literal..... I've taken a few days to really look at the performance of WNAV during the "Accident". I think I must have been listening to an illusion. From my take they were on the story at every break with either a newsman/woman or police report. In my opinion, the ney-sayer..who eluded to having to listen to XM for reports is full of doo da! The negative tone of the "radio genious" was that of a ex-employee or a reject for a position(just guessing). I've lived in this area for over 40 years. WNAV has always been a leader in community service, attention to detail, Public involvement and has always had a top notch staff. That has not changed. I don't like re-cycling a story, but I think some individual was trying his or her best to damage one of the WNAV staff. This type of person should not be in our business, they are the breeders of the cancers that permeate our profession. PLB (3/15/07) Dave: Starting at noon today and going almost none stop for 12 hours there will be college basketball on WUSA. Maryland, Georgetown and GW play back, to back to back today on channel 9. www.examiner.com... Lots to watch! Cheers, Jim (3/15/07) Speaking of questionable AM transmitter sites, whassup with WYRE? They've been off the air for at least a week now. I guess their supposed move to Essex has been easier said than done. Hawhawhaw! Get it? KOF (3/15/07) The Geico commercials annoy me for 1 reason... I have a perfect driving record, no accidents, & I've called a few times & they could never save me any money on my car insurance. In fact they were hundreds of dollars more! That to me is blatant false advertising, caveman or gecko. (3/15/07) Hey Dave- I have to correct the blurb you published about DC's Funniest Radio Personality Contest. Greaseman is not going to be a contestant. He may be an audience member, if I can drag his lumbering butt out of the Grease Palace. Thanks! Jill Nado (Grease's producer) (3/15/07) Dave's response: I did cover my ass with the following wording in that blurb - "We now hear that more local radio personalities are involved as participants or entertainment." I guess I could add "or audience member," too. If Big 100.3 was smart, they'd put the Grease on in mornings..... Technically, yes, Mark Viviano publicly broke the Browns to Baltimore story on WBAL 11 TV and was largely ridiculed for the story initially and very publicly on-air as well by then WJZ sports director John Burren and a few other media sources that either took a Cleveland bias (the national media) or got beat to the story (nationally & locally). His story turned out to be entirely correct within a week. But, unofficially, the story was really broken on the old Stan the Fan radio show (I forget whether he was on WCBM or WFBR or WWLG, he was moving around a lot back then). A person called into the show a few days before Viviano's story on WBAL and claimed his next door neighbor was a bodyguard/driver for then MD Gov. Paris Glendenning and that the Gov had been to BWI Airport and signed a deal for the Browns on a private plane. He didn't have any more info than that and said he couldn't give out his neighbor's name of course. The ever so friendly Stan the Fan berated the caller, basically calling him a nutcase, then hung up on him. I was listening and I remember telling several friends because to me the guy just sounded legit for some strange reason. In Stan's defense though, back then, the STF show used to get some crazy calls from seriously inebriated people from Dundalk. And yes, friends made fun of me as well until days later. A few weeks after that, I flew to Cleveland for $19 + tax (I kid you not) and have a picture of myself holding a Baltimore Browns sign in front of the old Municipal Stadium. And yes I did get safely out of Cleveland that same day, but not without some scary moments. True story. :-) (3/15/07) I think hairy men are sexy. Anyway, as much as I like the cavemen commercial compared to the Gecko or the ones with the famous people in them, don't we have anything else better to talk about?! (3/15/07) Dave's response: Then you'll really like me, according to this Photoshop from D&M's website..... Re: "The cavemen ads are funny because these guys..yada,babble,ramble." Wow..thanks for the complete blue chip panel analysis, I had been laughing at the GEICO commercials for years, but until now, I didn't know why. Now that it's all explained, I must confess I would rather date the Gecko, than any of the Cavemen. I mean, the Gecko is smooth and hairless, and even with a Cockney accent, he seems more intelligent. Dollars to doughnuts the Cavemen have hairy backs, smelly breath from those rotting teeth, and aren't gentlemen in the boudoir. An Unnamed Poster. (3/15/07) "They (the cavemen) are getting a pilot on ABC." My friend at The Martin Agency in Richmond (the creators of the entire Geico campaign) has told me this not correct. There is no Caveman pilot in the works. A memo went out at the agency squashing that rumor. (3/15/07) Kornheiser has just over 1600 registered members on thiswebsitestinks.com. Don and Mike have just over 1300 on donandmikewebsite.com. Since both websites launched (D&M's revision) about the same time in February, this is probably an accurate look at the popularity of both shows regarding hardcore fans. Martin S (3/15/07) RE: [ " Bob Erlich should do well as a radio talk show host, he's already an arrogant prick who acts let he knows more than everyone else. " ].......... I actually think the Ehrlich show might be a bit boring, it's probably good he's only doing it 1 day a week. But I have to say, having met the last 3 MD Govs, you must have Ehrlich completely confused with the new MD Gov or you absolutely don't know what you're talking about. Of the 3 I've met, the new Gov just had an intense disturbing personal stare into your soul thing going and the handshake was practically bone crushing, the smile sort of out of a bad clowns that kill horror movie. I'm not surprised he won and I certainly wouldn't F with him, that's for sure (as WBAL's Chip Franklin found out personally when he threatened to kick his ass! haha). But if WBAL really wanted to shake things up, how about a former Gov Willy Don WBAL radio show. Now THAT would be a laugh riot! :-) (3/15/07) About the Danny Snyder story in The Post..... My theory is that the jurors probably didn't actually believe the Nanny's story at all. They just came to the conclusion that anyone working for Danny Snyder and/or having to deal with him probably deserves at LEAST $97,000 a year just for pain and suffering! And I just noticed, the Post didn't even mention the fact that the house they referred to in the story was illegally constructed violating Federal law (it was in a previous Post story). According to the Post in that story, Dannyboy just bit the bullet there too and paid the fine of thousands of dollars..... House built. Great view of the Potomac. Gotta love it. (3/15/07) Any chance of bringing back the Broadcast Facilities Changes section Dave ? I always found it interesting to see what different area stations are proposing to do with regards to facilities upgrades. Of course, I know where to find this info on a daily basis through the FCC website, but for most people, searching the FCC database is a fate worse than death. The section that Dave Loudin previously did was a great synopsis of potential changes and proposals for this area's broadcast landscape. By the way, DCRTV Plus ROCKS! :-) -- Joe in Essex -- (3/15/07) Dave's response: Thanks! I did include Broadcast Facilities Changes in DCRTV Plus but I forgot to put a link to it on the DCRTV Plus index page. I've just added it. Hopefully, Dave Loudin will update it soon..... ("How can Clear Channel expect 1260 to get ratings if you hear double audio, dead air, and outdated imaging, on an hourly basis. They have a pretty good lineup now (besides whatever trainwreck they have at 6p) and it could be a success in this market if they just ran it tighter") - Clear Channel DOESN'T expect 1260 to get ratings. It's a flanker station for the cluster, effectively preventing/discouraging another owner from launching a progressive talk station. To Clear Channel's thinking, there's also probably some PR benefit to having a CC owned station run the progressive talk format in the Capital; within ear shot (barely) of a Democratic Congress. As for the stale imaging, bad audio; etc. They didn't earn the nickname "Cheap Channel" for nothing... Seriously, this station can't be heard anywhere on the NoVA beltway before sunrise. I wish some engineering types could step up and report the total *neglect* of the groundwave systems of the Clear Channel AMs. Further, wouldn't it be a beautiful thing if the FCC actually performed an enforcement function and fined owners or revoke licenses of owners that neglect their facilities as badly as old 1260 has been neglected? Jeremy - Alexandria (3/15/07) DCRTV Non-Transmitter Site of the Month (sorry I've missed a few months). Here we go again, more Delaware AM radio madness....... The AM 1260 ( WNWK or whatever its called this month ), Newark, DE, which has been under STA or dark for like a decade now, has been sold once again! Every time they run out of STA extensions, they sell the station to a friend, colleague, or family pet and the process starts all over again, fooling the FCC and evading FCC policy for years and years while the station remains either dark or transmitting from a Radio Shack kit attached to an erector set mounted atop a clothes line pole at the end of a cul de sac (see transmitter site pic, it's less of a joke than you might think!). How can the FCC allow a station to not broadcast it's licensed signal for this long or allow people to pass around a broadcast license for a dark station like it's a poker chip or a shell game? Any idiot can see what they are doing, warehousing a signal and frequency, almost the way the average joe collects stamps or comic books in hopes of future value. The only difference here is that they are stealing and misusing the public's airwaves, not a private collection. If this license and allocation were to get yanked (and it honestly should), a station like Washington's AM 1260 would have the wiggle room and maybe take the initiative to fix their own signal problems and possibly serve the public in a better way. Obviously WNWK 1260 serves no public good whatsoever nor has it for a decade or more. Pathetic government SNAFU. I wish I knew how to file an objection to this. (3/15/07) Does anyone else find it annoying that they are pronouncing the new MASN network "Massin"? Why aren't they just saying M-A-S-N, like E-S-P-N? "Massin" sounds an awful lot like "Massa" to me. Then again, with Angelos owning the channel, Comcast fighting tooth-and-nail to not carry it, and the pathetic fact that both channels will be entirely standard definition...O's and Nats fans are being treated like slaves. (3/15/07) Dave's response: I always wondered why they called it Black Entertainment Television and not the Black Entertainment Network. Uncle Ben jokes, I guess..... "Re: Red Zeb's 730 Upgrade. Didn't I hear that the zoning for that got turned down?" Why so many negative posts about Red Zebra? Why, so many posters who want to see Danny Boy fail? There are even more negative posts about them than about Bonneville which is the behemoth this town. Is it jealousy or just plain hatred? I don't get it. (3/15/07) Is there anything more over rated than having strippers and porn actors on the radio. If I can't see them, what's the point. They add nothing.We get it, you party alot, you've banged celebs, you have a boyfriend AND (because it's so origional) a girlfriend. Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaawn. (3/15/07) Re: "Wasn't Mark Viviano WBAL's Sports Director not too long ago?" No Rusty, Mark Viviano was the weekend sports guy on WBAL-TV, and an occasional sports-talk host on WBAL-AM 1090. Not long after his arrival in Baltimore he broke the story of the Browns' move from Cleveland. From WBAL-TV he went to CNN, before returning to B'more at WJZ to replace John Buren. He's been on ESPN 1300 for a couple of years now. Rick in B.Q. (3/15/07) The cavemen ads are funny because these guys, who look like cavemen, behave like fully integrated members of our society. How many real cavemen carry backpacks with tennis rackets poking out and check their airline tickets while standing on a people mover at the airport? How many real cavemen seek psychotherapeutic help because they having problems dealing with society? How many got the restaurant routine down so cold that they can a) be so pissed off that they are not interested in eating, and b) can tell the waiter that they don't have much of an appetite? It is a thought experiment. What if cavemen somehow survived into our time? Would they be viewed as dumb? Would they be discriminated against? Would Geico's website be so simple that even a cavemen can use it? On the whole, I prefer the Geico gekko. His charming Cockney accent and his manner as corporate spokesman click with me. He's a fellow I'd like to invite to dinner for conversation about anything but Geico. He is also very handsome. Some perpetually angry and, by modern standards, unkempt caveman would not be good company. Geico gekko. Gekko. Geico. Get it? (3/15/07) If I get that new-fangled HDTV, can I pick up this show here in Northern Virginia? tvinjapan.com (Not safe for work or if Mommy's looking over your shoulder) (3/15/07) For the life of me, I don't understand why so many people are offended by the Geico caveman commercials..Just to remind you, they no longer exist!!!!...So, how are these commercials considered offensive?..Will we next see posts from the British saying they're offended that the Gecco has a British accent and Geico is making fun of the Brits?..Lighten up people.. (3/15/07) Gotta say I love the GEICO caveman spots....as for the previous poster who didn't, looks like someone got up on the wrong side of the rock......(Peter Graves voice) "But you know I still love him.".....They are getting a pilot on ABC, and I recently stumbled across cavemanscrib.com.....(Peter Graves voice again) "I was one lucky woman."..... (3/15/07) I hate the Geico caveman ads because they annoy the piss out of me. JOHN IN STAFFORD (3/15/07) Anyone have any idea why every time I drive by Channel 5 on Wisc Ave they always have a marked police cruiser in the driveway? Never seen that at 9. Are they worried Dave might get American Idol overload, snap and go postal? (3/15/07) Dave's response: All I know is that Roger Ailes really needs to go on a low calorie diet. He's downright jowlish..... /\ March 15 Messages /\ \/ March 14 Messages \/ Bob Erlich should do well as a radio talk show host, he's already an arrogant prick who acts let he knows more than everyone else. (3/14/07) Sorry Dave, but I find the Geico "Caveman" ads offensive. Somehow, I don't think its funny when a person is continually discriminated against and belittled because of his/her ethnic/cultural background. What makes it worse, those clods get away with it every time, and the laugh is on the caveman. I'm surprised at you for lauding them. (3/14/07) Dave's response: All I said is that they're effective in that they get you to remember the sponsor's name. The caveman ads say absolutely nothing about the product (auto insurance) that's being pitched..... "Socially relevant" ??? What the HELL does that mean? (3/14/07) Peter's video trashing Duke basketball is amazing. If he really wants to apply his talents to a worthy target, how about a hiphop spoof of Don Geronimo. Only problem, only 50 people have heard of Don. Still he's a phat target for Peter. Jake Cohen (3/14/07) Question---do you think it irks Don G that Peter Rosenberg has nothing but a job at McDonald's, an internet connection, and a video camera--and is still much more socially relevant than D&M have been in years?? Here's my thought---YES!! So great to see...Ahhh poor donnie g (3/14/07) Following a day of working from home (with the TV on...) - one thought comes to mind: For the love of God, Kim Martucci **PLEASE GET A HAIRCUT**!! Girlfriend, you can afford it. If you do, maybe we can prevail on one of your DCRTV.com fans, the great Perrynoid, to throw in a pedicure - a la Costner/Saradon in the latter stages of "Bull Durham". (3/14/07) So sad to hear of Arlene Kozak's passing. I had a chance to meet her when I was working at WAMD and it was always fun seeing her at the Buddy Deane record hops. Both Arlene and Bob Mathers provided lots of encouragement when I was producing Buddy's Saturday morning radio program at good ole' Hiob Lane. Arlene was such an amazing lady and I am sure Donald Trump would have been envious at the way she juggled the myriad of duties and logistics involved with Buddy's TV show. There is a section devoted to Arlene along with some great photos in Tony Warner's book "Buddy's Top Twenty" I understand that she wasn't much older than the teens who danced on the program. In the movie "Hairspray", Mink Stole's character was patterned after Arlene. Needless to say, Arlene was a tough act to follow and I for one will miss her. Blessings. Joyce Conroy (WHFC/WYTI) (3/14/07) Re: Red Zeb's 730 Upgrade. Didn't I hear that the zoning for that got turned down? (3/14/07) Dave's response: Yeah, Dan Snyder's ex-nanny is on the Loudoun County zoning board..... I like to add my “2 cents” worth about Geico’s Cavemen Ads. I really like them, but can someone really tell me the purpose of the ads? What about the one where there’s a party going on and 2 cavemen are outside and a 3rd caveman pops up. What’s that about? And what about the Therapist ad and one caveman have a cell phone? As stated, I really like the ads but needs some clarification on them. Joan (3/14/07) Dave's response: The best ads, like the Geico ones, simply get you to remember the name of the company. How many times have you seen a "cool" ad, like on the Super Bowl, but later have no idea what product was being marketed..... Today, Geronimo said that Kornheiser often recycles bad jokes - in the paper, on his radio show, and on PTI. An example being the "Claire Dane" bit. (3/14/07) www.sun-sentinel.com - His radio show is called the Dr. Marc Goulet Show, but authorities say the Fort Lauderdale man is a fake doctor who doled out erectile dysfunction treatments and psychological counseling at unlicensed clinics. Marc J. Goulet, 60, headed at least five such clinics, including one in Broward County and two in Palm Beach County, under the names "British Diagnostic Institute" or the "Suncoast Vascular Clinic," said Elliot Cohen, spokesman for the Broward Sheriff's Office. Goulet also had radio shows on WSBR, AM 740, and WWNN, AM 1470, that broadcast throughout South Florida... (3/14/07) Dear Ghost of Vince(blasphemous) Just what did that crack mean? I was not being a hypocrite I am being an evaluator on O'Meara's career, that's all. ANG (3/14/07) Help bring Ron and Fez back to WJFK! Sign the petition linked below and let's get their NYC Free FM show on our DC Free FM! Put 'Unzipped' out of its and our misery! www.petitiononline.com (3/14/07) Dave's response: Or how about El Jefe and J-Dubbs..... Been watching a bit of The Anita Marks Show on MASN w/ Brian Roberts and Mark Viviano. Didn't Mark spend some time as WBAL's Sports Director not too long ago? Rusty Gibson (3/14/07) I heard an ad for www.fantasiesnightclub.com (not safe for work) during Don and Mike at 3:30 PM today. Does CBS Radio think it's right to advertise such adult fare during times when our precious children could be listening on their way home from school? Shame on you Michael Hughes, you bottom feeder. (3/14/07) I hate to be a stickler - but the "Whip Your Cow" is not PAMS - it is from TM's "Tomorrow Radio" that was blasting around in the mid 70's. "The Old man has something to say...pull that kiddie shit off the air, we're going PUNK COUNTRY!!!" I believe it was credited to "The Stiffs". Now "Whip My Cow...I'll show you how..." (3/14/07) Understandable about Unzipped. If you are cruising Baltimore at night you could check out the Back Room 1057, with Troy and John. If nothing else, these guys know how to NOT take themselves too seriously. Last night it went from nightlife.... to don't ask... to women who don't tell. The young lady who called and said she couldn't.... unknowingly told her boyfriend, cuz he was listening somewhere else. She called back to thank the guys for helping with her achieve new heights in the bedroom. These guys did more than Unzipped....accidently! Funny radio. JR Towson (3/14/07) RE: "The time change actually benefits AM daytimers by giving them a longer stretch of long daylight days." Actually, not really. The amount of daylight is the SAME. After the time change in the spring, more of it is shoved into the evening. With this year's earlier time change, daytimers lose some valuable morning drive (6 am hour) daylight in exchange for some new daylight after 6 pm when people are mostly home watching TV or eating dinner anyway. (3/14/07) ANG--Can you say, or spell, hypocrite? Signed, The Ghost of Vince Lombardi. (3/14/07) Here's a suggestion for the radio comedy show....Why not add Jeff Kapugi to the show?....He get laughs now...just look at the ratings. (3/14/07) Hey man - just wanted to clarify - I'm not competing in this thing, I'm the opening act before anyone goes on - keep up the good work - Marc Sterne (3/14/07) Laugh-Fest - You can ad Hitman to the list, I will get the biggest and loudest applause just by reading the other contestants names on the list, so give it up fellas...JJ McKay (3/14/07) Arlene Kozak passed away last night in Baltimore from lung cancer at 69. She was instrumental in managing the celebrities, record promoters, daily guests, and regular dancers (‘The Committee’) who appeared on ‘The Buddy Deane Show’. She also served as technical advisor to John Waters during the making of the movie ‘Hairspray!’ Story on her career and accomplishments is posted at www.ultimateoldiesradio.com (3/14/07) Don and Mike...Don and Mike...D&M, D&M....GEESUS CHE-RIST! Give it a rest. If you don't like them don't listen, if you do...listen but please, please stop this incessant whining, bitching, moaning trivial bull****! I believe in my heart if Mike had been solo all of these years he would have succeeded. But he has been dragged down by the miserable wretch that is supposedly the "LEADER". Don is a bitter, angry unfullfilled sad shadow of a man. ANG (3/14/07) Dave, There’s a very good story profiling Maryland Terps broadcaster Johnny Holliday in this mornings Baltimore Sun. Great reading and it offers a good insight into a remarkably talented man whose interests go well beyond sports. Here’s a link…. Link: www.baltimoresun.com... Thanks, Mike Dawson (3/14/07) Man, that Unzipped show is AWFUL. What kills me is that it is dominated by Michelle Jerson, a chick who is around 30, who is single, trying to discuss relationships. It is OBVIOUS there is a reason why she is single. Listening to her, I don't see how any man could tolerate her "I think I know everything about relationships" attitude. She seems so scorned from past relationships or something. And that poor Checkoway dude sits around and plays second fiddle to that hole. I wish he would grow a set of balls and act like a man. Anyway, the Jerson broad is just a whiny, annoying chick with no qualifications for talking about relationships. I tried to listen, but until she loosens up, I will skip the station. BLECH! (3/14/07) So I understand there was someone complaining about WNAV and their not identifying every song. I have to wonder if they sent a similar Jack in Baltimore and George in DC. Happy hump day! PKB (3/14/07) This just in.... As you may know, Tina Brown's book on Princess Diana, "The Diana Chronicles," sure to be the big seller of the summer, hits book stores on June 12. On Thursday, June 14, Tina Brown will appear at The Q&A Cafe. This summer is the tenth anniversary of Diana's death, an occasion that will be marked by no fewer than a half dozen film and TV projects, not to forget the ongoing investigation into the cause of the accident that killed her, her boyfriend and the driver of the car. I expect the Tina Brown lunch will sell out fast. Reservations can be made at 202.338.2000 with Jon Moss. Carol (3/14/07) The guy who was ranting about 950/WCTN replied to my “cool it” message with “Something about your 'tude tells me that you wake up every morning already pissed at the world, so no format I could create would please you, no matter what. But don't presume the ownership thought hasn't crossed my mind. Oh and by the way, why defend a property you yourself call "little ol'", "little SOB", "[not] worth the land their towers are on", etc.?” First, I’m hardly defending the station—I think it’s outlived its usefulness in its present technical form—and second, I’m not pissed at the world—I’ve just operated enough little AM sticks over the past decades to know that CTN is a property that was marginal 40 years ago—before FM surfaced—and in today’s world is effectively dead. A few months back, someone suggested that Red Zebra buy WCTN—on the same frequency as the station they bought in Richmond (WXGI)—and use the channel space to create a combined “Big Stick” serving both markets. Think 50-kw with a DA rig somewhere in the Culpeper/Fredericksburg area—or something north of DC shooting a fairly narrow lobe straight at Richmond. It would be an engineering challenge, but they’ve already showed (with their 730 upgrade application) that they’ve got someone on board who understands creative engineering. That would be a much better use for 950 than the current WCTN situation. (3/14/07) RE: Did anyone else want to drive an icepick into their ears after listening to about 4 minutes of the Don & Mike lovefest?..//// Not sure why anyone would post painful moments from the Don & Mike Show. If this is the first time you have considered putting an ice pick through your head while listening to their show, I would suggest you are about 20 years late to the party. Don & Mike are on their farewell tour. Their talent never matched their egos. Their hopes of ascendancy to what they thought would be Stern-like syndication, is long over. We know, they know it. At this point they are like that old car that served you well, but you just can't get rid of, and drive once or twice month for shits & giggles. They are a known quantity who are coasting on autopilot, any hopes of change or improvement are long gone. Critiquing their show is like saying Richard Jeni's comedy sucked, why bother making fun of the dead. (3/14/07) In response to 2 mailbag posts, Quantegy announced that they were scaling down their tape manufacturing about 2 years ago. It's a real bummer for music studios that have 2 inch tape reels because you still can't match Quantegy tape in the digital domain. The time change actually benefits AM daytimers by giving them a longer stretch of long daylight days. On another note. How can Clear Channel expect 1260 to get ratings if you hear double audio, dead air, and outdated imaging, on an hourly basis. They have a pretty good lineup now (besides whatever trainwreck they have at 6p) and it could be a success in this market if they just ran it tighter. -tb (3/14/07) Does anyone know what's happened to Craig Heyward(sp?), formerly of WYPR in Baltimore? Andy Bienstock confirmed to my wife in an email that he left the station, after she wrote him to complain about 'Blue Lines & Back Roads' going off the air. Admittedly, I miss it too, and would like to know if Craig plans to revive the show on another station, or in another format? Signed, Fferret (3/14/07) RE: [ " I heard Rush Limbaugh use the word "asshole" on the air yesterday. Is that word still an FCC no-no? " ]................ I'm pretty sure that's allowed by the FCC since it almost certainly had to refer to one of Rush's medical conditions that requires an intense medication regimen. :-) (3/14/07) Dave's response: I believe he had an anal condition that got him out of the Vietnam draft in the early 1970s. Seriously. Check out www.snopes.com..... The other day, someone asked about late night talk shows on WWDC. Here's a link to some memories of that era, from writer Sam Smith prorev.com (3/14/07) "When Channel 9 and the rest of the media sends someone to Columbus to also cover UVA and VA Tech, then they deserve congrats - until then the local media continues to send their usual message - "Virginia residents drop dead." Oh come on! You want local coverage of the Cavs, go to Charlottesville. You want local coverage of the Hokies, go to Blacksburg. Sure there is local interest, but schools that are 2.5 and 4.5 hours away are NOT local. And by the way, if you watch any of the local sports, when GW is playing the same day as Tech or UVA (or both), guess which highlight comes last. If you guessed UVA or Tech, you're wrong. It happened last weekend. (3/14/07) While the National Mall or the Capitol steps may be an interesting place to hold the US part of Live Earth, it does have its drawbacks. First, the Smithsonian Folk Life Festival traditionally has had most of the Mall during most of July. Second, you can not collect money (donations) or more importantly sell beer on the mall. Thirdly (is that a word?) July 7th will be very hot and humid - the park police will be working major overtime picking up the bodies and the limited DC hospitals will be overwhelmed with heat exhaustion/dehydration cases. And lastly, the damage to the grounds from 250,000 to 500,000 people reveling to hear The Police or Red Hot Chilly Peppers would do so much damage and leave far too much garbage behind that conservative talk radio hosts will be complaining about it for years. Take my advise: FedEx Field will probably be empty that day. Book it! . Charge $100 per ticket for expenses and donate the rest to the cause. Mark in Annandale (3/14/07) That announcement in DCRTV.COM's Tuesday Mailbag about "HEE HAW HELL!... the world's first cow-punk-rock-opera" brought back a real "déjà moo" moment of the PAMS Dallas "Punk Country" demo making the rounds in the '70s. For a limited time only, hear Skip McCloskey's extended mix of "I Wanna Whip Your Cow!" (updated to 2007 in full glorious stereo) at dcmemories.com (MP3)... Both Elsie and Bessie will thank you. (3/14/07) NCAA Tournament Games not in HD? Apparently, due to technical limitations, if you’re in a team’s home market (as DC is for Georgetown, Maryland, GW), you won’t be able to see the games in HD! (GW may be an exception as they have an exclusive time slot). Basically, CBS has the capability for 12 feeds, and they’ve decided to use them as follows: 4 HD Flex (jump from game to game)... 4 SD Flex (jump from game to game)... 4 SD Constant (Stay with your home game)... The DirectTV package, apparently lets you get all the games in HD as it’s a feed that doesn’t go through CBS somehow. From the WUSA website “CBS is not offering our local games as constants in High Definition. To contact their audience services department send e-mail to audsvcs@cbs.com”... Most info from avsforum.com but also from this post on the WTVR website (same issue as DC) www.wtvr.com (3/14/07) FCC Alert? I heard Rush Limbaugh use the word "asshole" on the air yesterday. Is that word still an FCC no-no? JOHN IN STAFFORD (3/14/07) I have a couple of question for the poster talking about the deathnell of recording tape. Now that a lot of recordings are made in the digital format, where or how are they stored when an artist is finished recording? Are the masters kept on a CD? Can a multitrack recording be stored that way? I'm not an engineer. I'm just curious about modern recording techniques. JOHN IN STAFFORD (3/14/07) Did anyone else want to drive an icepick into their ears after listening to about 4 minutes of the Don & Mike lovefest? "Oh you're not fat" "Oh it's ok I like big boys" "You look svelte." I wonder if Don got a boner listening to Mike talk about how he doesn't look fat anymore and that he is wearing pretty colors these days? Or maybe he got a boner and rubbed it up against Mike a few times to take care of it like he possibly did with his step brother? (3/14/07) /\ March 14 Messages /\ \/ March 13 Messages \/ Who is the new voice for CC's community affairs broadcasts on Sunday morning? Swore I heard the name Steve Solomon? Sounds remarkably like Rev. Lon......LO (3/13/07) Turned on WJFK on my way home and came across that "Unzipped" show right at the time a caller dropped the "S" bomb..The host came back with "warning" him to watch his language..Oh well, too late buddy. (3/13/07) Thought you might find it interesting... ... the creator of the Geico Caveman series? ... Sieg Fuster, lead guitarist for the Speaks ... and now you know! (3/13/07) Dave's response: But I wanna know - is Korny stooge Marc "Nigel" Sterne the voice of the Geico gecko? caught WTOP running an ad in the 2 pm hour today for a Feb. 19th event at Ferry Farm in Stafford. This isn't as bad, though, as WMET running spots for a Dec WWE event during the Greaseman show these last two weeks. (3/13/07) (RE: "Anyone notice that Washington Post Radio now refers to their sister station as "103.5." ") It's been that way for months. You're just noticing now? (3/13/07) (RE: "Am I alone on this, or does anyone else think the attorney for exposed outcall executive, Deborah Palfrey, is using a pseudonym? I mean, 'Mongomery Blair Sibley'") Hey Rick I guess you weren't paying attention during history class. Montgomery Blair was the Postmaster General in Lincoln's cabinet and had his house burned by the Confederates during their raid on Washington in 1864. Montgomery Blair is not a combination of a county and a high school. The high school was named after this gentleman. (3/13/07) Caught Channel 9 at 9am this morning. They introduced Mike Walter as a new anchor to the newscast, along with Andrea Roane. Guess they're trying to bring that morning team success to 9am like they've had from 5am-7am. Also, before we start praising Channel 9 for sending its sports reporters all over the country to follow the three local teams in the men's NCAA tourney, let's not forget Gannett convieniently has affiliates in all three first-round cities (Sacramento, Buffalo, and Winston-Salem - near to the Gannett station in Greensboro NC). Even though UVA and VA Tech are playing the closest from DC distance-wise (in Columbus Ohio). (3/13/07) Emtec/RMGI (formerly BASF) --- Maxell --- Fuji --- Sony: all non-domestic companies. As I wrote, "Overseas companies will continue til the inevitable end, but here in the US its over." Quantegy produced its products in Opelika, Alabama. Oh, speaking of pseudonyms, has no one noticed that DCRTV poster "Lou Kadishe" is a pen name? It's Greasemanese for "look at this!". Say it out loud in your best Grease voice & you'll get the gag. (3/13/07) OK, maybe I’m a dumbass, but I don’t see any news value at all to the “records of up to 15,000 client phone numbers” that the ”former owner of an escort business” says she’s selling to a media organization. By selling her list of clients the whore—that’s what they were called in the old days—has admitted her own guilt. Since when are confessed felons considered credible news sources? Why on earth should we believe that any of the celebrity names on the list she provides actually did “business” with her? Fer chrissakes, I can make up lists of names too, but that doesn’t mean they paid me for sex. I’m willing to do plenty of things with a hooker, but believing what she tells me ain’t one of them. (3/13/07) From saratells.blogspot.com: I'm one of those people who gives a book at least 30 pages before giving up on it. I'll taste almost any food once. I even try to walk a mile in someone's shoes before judging them. But after weeks of occasional reading, I'm sure that "The Politico" sucks. It's simplistic, both in writing and in the overwhelmingly obvious "news" it shovels on readers. Today's inside headline for an incredibly mediocre piece is "Senators Fare Poorly in White House Races." Really? That kind of news-less "news" with little fresh information that reasonably informed readers don't know is par for the Politico.... (3/13/07) Am I alone on this, or does anyone else think the attorney for exposed outcall executive, Deborah Palfrey, is using a pseudonym? I mean, 'Mongomery Blair Sibley'? It's almost as if he grabbed three local names and strung them together. Or he used 'Mad Libs' to find a stage name for himself: 'Let's see... I need a Maryland county, a Maryland highschool and a noted DC hospital...' Rick (3/13/07) Anyone notice that Washington Post Radio now refers to their sister station as "103.5." The WTOP calls on WTWP are now verbotten. Why? (3/13/07) Regarding the DC IMPROV Funniest Radio Personalities Contest. I don't know about the others mentioned on the front page but Kirk from KMS can bring it as a standup. He's been doing standup on and off for years. I've seen him 2 or 3 times and he's actually pretty good. You know who will not be participating? The unfunny J.P. from the Junkies. Sorry J.P., I had to Joaaaaaan.-Mike in McLean (3/13/07) Viacom sues You Tube... You probably know about this... but if not... articles.moneycentral.msn.com... Walt (3/13/07) Dave's response: I saw it but didn't see a local angle in it, so I didn't run it on DCRTV..... Audio tape isn't quite dead, but it is in the death quivvers. Emtec/RMGI (formerly BASF) is still making 2-inch, 1 inch, 1/2 inch and even some 1/4 inch open reel studio formats. Maxell still makes DAT media, and any good S-VHS will suffice for an ADAT, although Fuji, Sony and Maxell dropped pro-grade S-VHS. As for videotape, hell ... you can still get 3/4 inch and M-II for godssakes!! (3/13/07) Is some of the material the late Jack Alix sent in on display in the dcrtv plus section? Are podcasts of the interviews rusty gibson and dcrtv conducted with some D.C. area radio legends up for folks to hear in the DCRTV plus? Has the links page been moved to the dcrtv plus section? When do lark mccarthy and jack diamond leave? thanks (3/13/07) Dave's response: We are in the process of putting together a tribute page for the late great Jack Alix on DCRTV Plus. Plus, we're working on DCRTV Plus tributes to "top 40" WCAO, Ralph "Petey" Greene, Max Robinson, and Jerry Turner. All should be available by late March or early April. No, the Rusty Gibson WEBR audio interviews (Bicknell, Holliday, Dark) aren't yet available, but hopefully soon. Yes, the links are now at the bottom of the main DCRTV Plus page. As for Lark and Jack, I have no idea. By the way, how about a DCRTV Movie Party this summer for the new "Talk To Me" film about WOL/WDCA legend "Petey" Greene! We could all meet for a few drinks at Coastal Flats and then catch the film at the deluxe stadium seating of those cool theaters at Fairfax Corner (if it'll be playing there). We're been promising a DCRTV "get together." Maybe finally this summer. Stay tuned..... Virginia, Virginia Tech and even the woeful James Madison have spent the time (and money) to establish radio affiliations for their basketball games in the D.C./Northern Virginia area. If/when Virginia Commonwealth decides to make that same effort, then its fans can start to fairly demand more D.C. area media coverage. Otherwise, VCU is just a really good Richmond area team. Everett W. (3/13/07) Seeing Steve Allison's name posted several times in the mailbag brought back a number of memories to me. I was introduced to Steve by Earl Robbin and we became good friends. Occasionally, I'd stop by to see him at the restaurant that he was broadcasting from. Frequently, he'd call me up from the audience to spend a few minutes with him on the air. From time to time, he would call the WEAM studio hotline and invite Earl and me to join him for something to eat. One night in particular, he called and invited us to meet him at an Italian restaurant on New York Avenue. When we got there, Steve was seated at a table with Sandy, his producer, Bobby Darin, and Walter Winchell. Darin and WinchelI had been guests on his WWDC program earlier.It was a kick for me as I introduced Bobby Darin at his first show earlier in the week at the Casino Royal prepping for the Copa in New York. Winchell was traveling with him giving him rave reviews in his column. FYI...With Winchell holding court that night, we mostly listened....Johnny Dark (3/13/07) (RE: When Channel 9 and the rest of the media sends someone to Columbus to also cover UVA and VA Tech, then they deserve congrats - until then the local media continues to send their usual message - "Virginia residents drop dead.") Now you know what it’s like to be an alumnus of the state’s largest university (Virginia Commonwealth) and never get ANY information on your teams from the region’s media, the Post included. You might get a score when the Rams play Mason, but other than that, they’ve been telling thousands of alumni (probably tens of thousands by now) in the region to kiss off for decades. The Post actually had a poll question yesterday asking which of the “local” teams would lose first, and the choices were Maryland, GW, Georgetown, Virginia and Virginia Tech....VIRGINIA TECH? That’s four hours from DC on a good day. If that’s local, I’ll be looking forward to more coverage of WVU as a local team, since Morgantown is 50 miles closer to DC and only 3 1/2 hours away. Charles in Winchester (3/13/07) It should be noted that the GW-Vanderbilt game will air at 5 p.m. Thursday, completing a tripleheader of area hoops (Maryland at 12:20, Georgetown at 2:45 or thereabouts). It's also the only game in between the day and evening blocks of first-day tourney action (so most people outside the Washington and Nashville markets won't see it, at least in the East and Central time zones) -- and will force WUSA to pre-empt its local newscast (although one would guess that the station will forego the CBS halftime show to run an abbreviated news roundup). This will probably pre-empt Katie Couric's network news as well. -- Vincent in Triangle (3/13/07) Dave's response: Jesus! How will we know what happened today if Katie's pre-empted! WUSA/9 should be commended for sending sports anchor/reporters to all three sites of tournament interest, the only problem is that the station may not have a good opportunity Thursday to actually air any of their reports. The George Washington game was assigned an irregular timeslot (approximately 5:10 p.m. EDT) outside of the national CBS broadcast window. As the CBS affiliate for GW's main television market, WUSA/9 will have to preempt its early evening news programming to air that game. Everett W. (3/13/07) When Channel 9 and the rest of the media sends someone to Columbus to also cover UVA and VA Tech, then they deserve congrats - until then the local media continues to send their usual message - "Virginia residents drop dead." (3/13/07) Is it my imagination or has WMPB's and WITF's fundraising been going on forever? While surfing last night, I saw Rhea Fiken (spelling???) on both WITF and WMPB at the same time.She did not give the phone number for WITF. She just said,":call the number at the bottom of the screen." Along the same line, I spent last weekend in Columbus, Ohio and their PBS station was raising money. JohnnyuinHanover,Pa. (3/13/07) Dave's response: Those pledge break infomercials are the pits. Someone should change the rules and allow PBS stations and other non-comm TV licensees to run ads in between shows, or at the top of the hour in longer shows. Say five minutes per hour..... While Brett Haber's sportscasting style may not be everyone's cup of tea, Channel 9 deserves credit for going the full mile with its coverage plans for the upcoming NCAA mens basketball tournament. When it was first annnounced that Maryland would be playing in Buffalo, Georgetown in Winston Salem and GW in Sacramento later this week, I assumed that the local TV stations would send their sports anchors to just the first two sites and bypass California. But on one of yesterday's sportscasts, Haber announced that he'd be traveling to North Carolina to cover the Hoyas while Levan Reid follows the Terps to upstate New York and Sara Walsh makes the cross country journey to Sacramento to report on the Colonials. All three teams are scheduled to play at separate times on Thursday afternoon, with 9 presumably carrying CBS's telecasts of those games. Mike, Fairfax (3/13/07) Today’s Post Business Section www.washingtonpost.com has an article which say in part, “A coalition of big technology companies wants to bring high-speed Internet access to consumers in a new way: over television airwaves. . . The coalition, which includes Microsoft and Google, wants regulators to allow idle TV channels, known as white space, to be used to beam the Internet into homes and offices. But the Federal Communications Commission first must be convinced that such traffic would not bleed outside its designated channels and interfere with existing broadcasts.” The story goes on to say that this idea may be a way to offer high-speed internet access to rural areas where hard wiring by phone and cable companies proves to be too expensive. My question is what are “white space” channels? I’m familiar with the vertical-blanking-interval where data can be transmitted, such as closed captioning. Are “white space” channels ones that are allocated but unused? And if so how many of these channels may be available in rural areas? Bill R. (3/13/07) I don’t know whether he replaced Steve Allison, but Earl Robbins was the overnight personality on WWDC throughout a number of years in the ‘60’s. At the time, Fred Fiske was still doing mornings. Later on—I think after Johnny Holliday arrived—Fiske moved to a late night talk show called “Empathy.” Roddy Freeman (3/13/07) www.oldradio.com - WJLA, stuck in the SD 20th Century, is still using that equipment, correct? (3/13/07) Re: "Back in the late fifties, there was a fellow named Steve Allison, 'The Man Who Owned Midnight' (on WWDC)" Read a January 1958 article about Allison in his prime, courtesy of DCMemories.com: dcmemories.com... You may want to right-click with your mouse and "Save Picture As" if you have a hard time reading it. Internet Explorer will likely squash the image to fit it all on your screen.... To Victoria Boucher and TWIMC: The January 1958 TV-RADIO MIRROR article about Steve Allison mentions that he arrived at WWDC "this past June". That's the answer to your question about when he started in DC radio. I believe Allison held that job well into the 1960s. Wasn't he eventually replaced by Fred Fiske with the same sort of format in the overnight slot? (3/13/07) LOU BRUTUS GOES TO "HEE HAW HELL!" Radio legend Lou Brutus has added yet another feather to his creative cap...co-creator of the world's first cow-punk-rock-opera. It's based on Dante's Inferno and is entitled "Hee Haw Hell." "Hee Haw Hell" is the new album by country punk rockers Dash Rip Rock, best known for the novelty hit "Let's Go Smoke Some Pot" plus their decades of hard touring and hard living. Brutus had written the lyrics for a song called "Hee Haw Hell" and called the band's Bill Davis about contributing the music. After hearing the results and going over the lyrics for some other new Dash Rip Rock songs, Brutus suggested tying the tunes together as a rock opera based on Dante's Inferno. The band agreed and went ahead with recording their new tunes while it was Lou's part to write the "cantos" or short poems to tie the songs together in a coherent piece of audio theater. The album tells the story of the narrator "Donkey" (Dante) meeting with Ol' Virg (Virgil) and crossing the river Sticks on a flatboat into Hee Haw Hell. They encounter various demons, dead southern rockers and others in a send up of the New South who are voiced by a variety of underground music stars including Dead Kennedy's founder Jello Biafra and Mojo Nixon who plays Beelzebubba, the demonic leader of Hee Haw Hell. As each part of Dante's Divine Comedy, including Inferno, ends with the word "stars," the last words spoken on the album are by a demonic Casey Kasem soundalike (voiced by Brutus) who exhorts Donkey to "keep reaching for the stars" as he escapes Hee Haw Hell. "It was an absolute pleasure to work with Bill Davis and Dash Rip Rock on this album," said Brutus. "To be able to take part in the creation of something so sick and twisted and then release it to the world is a nightmare come true." The album is available now. The band will tour through the rest of the year. Lou Brutus will be part of special shows in New York and Washington, DC where the opera will be performed from in its entirety. (3/13/07) Those interested in freedom of information should note that tonight, 3/13, President Barbara Cochran of the Radio Television News Directors' Association will discuss Sunshine Week on Westwood One's Jim Bohannon Show, 10:06-11PM ET nationwide including Washington Post Radio, 107.7-FM and 1500-AM. (3/13/07) "Anybody have any idea how the change in Day Light savings time affected AM's Day-Night pattern?" It has been a first-class mess. Around the end of February the FCC came out with new powers and times FOR THE WHOLE YEAR. That changed, often reduced, the night power even during periods not involved in the DST change. But the program they used made lots of errors. Stations screamed. The changes were all withdrawn about a week ago and the stations were told to adopt their old time/power schedule, but use the April values starting March 11. New "correctly computed" power/time values will be issue in due course, according to the FCC. (3/13/07) This is addressed to the "griper" who couldn't figure out where the accident was and listened to WNAV all of the time. As someone suggested a simple solution would be to change the dial. WNAV is not the only radio station on the dial and suggesting that you changed to a satellite station tells me something about your intelligence. Listening to the same station for all of that time and not getting any info is like the man who kept hitting himself over the head with a hammer and wondered why it hurt. (3/13/07) RE: "I expect more and better local coverage from a local radio station like WNAV. They've got a long and illustrious history of doing just that in Annapolis. But the current crew either doesn't get it, or doesn't want to get it" - Since your such an expert on how to run a radio station, why don't you give them a call and tell them where they fouled up yesterday? Oh wait, they probably don't take advice from former employees. (3/13/07) RE: WNAV. The jock was probably doing what her and every PD preaches...Tease, Tease, Tease. Get the listeners through as many quarter hours as possible. When an incident like this happens, it then falls on the good judgement of the jock. It seems like they might have some liner card jocks over there that don't know how to use the best judgement in a case like this. Yeah, I do echo that it is sad that a local station missed out on this great opportunity to inform the public, but then again...if all the jocks are taught to do is to read from a card, then when it comes time to use thier own brain, they have no idea what to really do. It's a sad part of this business. (3/13/07) (regarding a previous post) Speaking of old school video formats, here are some vintage pics of the RCA-TCR 100 www.oldradio.com which was used for commercials and promos on TV. I remember seeing one at Channel 4 way back when. Here are two pics of the unit at WDCA-TV 20. Field test www.oldradio.com and in regular use www.oldradio.com (3/13/07) Anybody have any idea how the change in Day Light savings time afftected AM's Day-Night pattern? If must suck for the low watters in am drive right now. (3/13/07) "Just wanted to let you know that President Clinton will be joining former advisor James Carville and his XM Satellite Radio '60/20' show co-host Luke Russert this week to discuss his NCAA picks. Other topics of conversation will include the both Clinton and Carville’s respective universities (Arkansas; LSU)..." Uh, Clinton may hail from Arkansas, but he never attended the university. He got his undergrad degree at Georgetown, then went to law school at Yale. He knew in today's political climate, it's virtually impossible to be elected president without an elite private university imprimatur (alas). -- Vincent in Triangle (3/13/07) Tape is finally dead. www.quantegy.com... Domestic magnetic tape manufacturer Quantegy recently announced it is discontinuing numerous products due to the industry-wide shift towards digital storage. Radio favorites such as analog formulas 406 and 456 are being dropped, as well as all DAT and Alesis ADAT tapes. On the video side, say goodbye to Betacam, VHS, SVHS and classic UMatic tape. Orders were being taken up until the end of February, and all deliveries pending will end April 30 this year. Overseas companies will continue til the inevitable end, but here in the US its over. Goodbye my skinny brown friend, I wont miss having had to splice your ass all these years. (3/13/07) "To the griper about traffic REPORTS: why not just change the station to get more details about the traffic accident on Rt 50? (snip) you can CHANGE THE STATION." This is the griper speaking: Hey, listen. I really don't need any advice about how to listen to the radio! I've figured out what my choices are . . . and if I needed the information, I would have dialed up XM 214 or WTOP or something else. I was in Baltimore, driving to DC . . . scanning the dial . . . knowing that WNAV puts a pretty good signal across about 50 miles of Route 50, from inside the DC beltway way over deep into the Eastern Shore . . . trying to figure out what I would do if I were on Route 50 . . . and every time the "announcer" mentioned it, she missed the chance to provide helpful information, instead just wasting the airwaves and the attention of her listeners. I expect more and better local coverage from a local radio station like WNAV. They've got a long and illustrious history of doing just that in Annapolis. But the current crew either doesn't get it, or doesn't want to get it. It's a sad day for our field when the major metro stations do a better job --from 35 miles away -- of covering a story that is happening in the shadow of WNAV's own towers. It's a sad day when the "talent" on the local AC/information/talk station is so clueless that she takes for granted that everyone already knows where the accident is, and doesn't consider people who are just tuning in . . . and just getting caught in the backup. . . at the beginning of afternoon drive. DCRTV is where people in the biz talk about the biz, and that's what my message was about. However, when I need advice about how to operate my radio, I know I can count on you! (3/13/07) Why does Brett Haber have to be such a asshat? It's as if he has to poke fun of someone in every highlight. Tonight he shows clips of Barry Bonds losing a couple fly balls in the sun and concludes that Bonds is a terrible fielder, and will "blame the media" for it. Now I hate Bonds as much as the next guy, but anyone can lose a ball in the sun, OBVIOUSLY. Hey Brett - quit thinking you're better than everyone, TOOL. WUSA really needs to can his sorry ass... he has no business being on that newscast. I wonder what Glenn Brenner would think of his perpetual negativity. (3/13/07) Dear friends, Our brief hiatus ends Thursday, March 22 with the appearance at the Q&A Cafe of Cathy Lanier, who will be newly confirmed as DC's Police Chief.... We've just added a couple of great guests to the spring line-up. I'm very pleased that Washington's beloved and long-time sportscaster, George Michael, has accepted an invitation to appear on Wednesday, April 4. On Thursday, May 10, Jonathan Tisch, chairman and CEO of the Loews Corporation, will be the guest. Jon has a new book, "Chocolates on the Pillow Aren't Enough: Reinventing The Customer Experience." What an interesting prelude to the appearance two weeks later of the Today Show's travel correspondent, Peter Greenberg, on Tuesday, May 22. Also upcoming this spring: Chris Matthews on Tuesday, March 27; John F. Harris, editor of "The Politico," on Thursday, April 12; the notorious Jeff Gannon on Thursday, April 19; Washington's City Administrator, Dan Tangherlini, will appear Thursday, April 26; columnist and Newshour pundit Mark Shields, on Thursday, May 17. Unfortunately, Richard Moe has to postpone for the moment, but we will have a new date for him soon. As always, the doors open at noon and the program begins at 12:30, the fee is $35, all inclusive; for reservations please call Jon Moss during weekday business hours at 202.338.2000. Carol (3/13/07) Re: "They're counting down the days, hours, minutes and seconds until Don and Mike's retirement at www.donandmikewebsite.com" - THEY being message board posters on the D&M website, not the show itself...as your note would have us believe. (3/13/07) (Back in the late fifties, there was a fellow named Steve Allison, "The Man Who Owned Midnight" whom many think was the first radio talk show host, if you discount Arthur Godfrey, who had something of a variety show--but a lot of chatting too....) this note in Mailbag brought back memories; I hadn't thought of Steve Allison in decades.... Allison, in the early-mid 50's was live on WPEN, Philadelphia. I wasn't aware that he was networked to DC or whether he moved here (or for that matter, started here in DC). All I can recall is that it was a lively show and I listened frequently while doing my homework or goofing off trying to stay awake. He huckstered time on his show -- he hit up my tire-dealer father once for a set of tires in exchange for an on-air plug. Finally, if memory serves correctly, Allison acted in a Philly-made movie starring Mamie Van Doren called "The Burglar. " It was awful. (3/13/07) /\ March 13 Messages /\ \/ March 12 Messages \/ Check out the link below. It was just put back on Nathan's Restaurant site this afternoon. It is of Sen. Fred Thompson speaking at Nathan's Lunch in Georgetown just 4 months ago, Nov. 15th. He's been doing the news show rounds as the rumors start to swirl around his possible bid for the White House. There a few parts worth noting: Scroll to about 18:43-18:50 of the interview and see where he says that he is in favor of sending more troops into Iraq (He's already on record about this). Then from 20:40-20:55 she asks him if he would ever be interested in running for President & he says that he's not at all interested and that if he was, he would have started about 2 years ago. 20:41 he says that running "doesn't make sense" for him. 20:41 he says that I "don't miss what I see going on (in politcs) one bit"..... www.interfacemediagroup.com (3/12/07) FYI, The ABC27 Evening news had a business item about COMCAST branching out to the cell phone business. I'm sure all you folks below the Mason-Dixon Line can't wait to switch over to it. JohnnyuinHanover,Pa. (3/12/07) RE: "but this afternoon woman on WNAV just does not get it!" I am very amazed that somebody that desperate for information would listen for 45 minutes, document every single thing that was said and then get on the internet and take shots about the DJ. So let me get this straight - You were stuck in traffic and CHOSE to listen to WNAV, but didn't get the information you were looking for and came on the internet to bitch about it. VERY COOL!!!!!! You seem to know the format over there rather well. I can see why you no longer work there. And in the snowballs chance in hell you aren't a disgruntled former employee check out 93.1 FM, 1090am, 103.5 FM just to name a few. All of them put out a great signal in Annapolis. Maybe you can come back here and document every single thing they did too!! (3/12/07) Back in the late fifties, there was a fellow named Steve Allison, "The Man Who Owned Midnight" whom many think was the first radio talk show host, if you discount Arthur Godfrey, who had something of a variety show--but a lot of chatting too. I would like to know the dates of his first and last show on WWDC. No one at WWDC, now a rock station, had heard of him and I was told that there is no relationship between the present station and the old one other than "we're on the same frequency." Can you give me any leads? Thank you, Victoria Boucher (3/12/07) To the griper about traffic REPORTS: why not just change the station to get more details about the traffic accident on Rt 50? I heard about it on 3 different stations running errands this afternoon in White Marsh, each time the station mentioned it was on the Severn River Bridge ( about 2 pm) heard it on: 1) AM Talk station and 2) FM stations, one was "Country" WPOC, one was SMOOOOOTH jazz. Thats why I love radio in my car you can CHANGE THE STATION WHEN YOU WANT TO HEAR MORE, OR LESS OF MUSIC OR NEWS OR TRAFFIC. I heard the info repeatedly and didn't even NEED to hear it, but it went in one ear and out the other.... turn the knob, people! (3/12/07) "Whoever the poster is who is obsessed with little ol’ WCTN needs to GET A LIFE" Yo, Mr. Warmth. I have a life, thanx for asking: Better than 25 years as a pro broadcaster who hates to see a good signal go to waste. (snip) It’s a daytime AM, for Chrissakes (end snip) So? Show me the link to the FCC rule that says a daytimer HAS to suck. Can't they get some production madman from Connecticut School to cut some affordable bumpers for them? (snip) If you’re so damn worried about what kind of programming is slapped on 950 kHz, go ahead and write them a check. (end snip) "Worried"? No, just disappointed. How much grousing has gone on here about Oldies disappearing from the dial, and the one property trying it isn't living up to potential. (snip) Buy it, and then put some brilliant radio on the sucker for all of us to enjoy. (end snip) Something about your 'tude tells me that you wake up every morning already pissed at the world, so no format I could create would please you, no matter what. But don't presume the ownership thought hasn't crossed my mind. Oh and by the way, why defend a property you yourself call "little ol'", "little SOB", "[not] worth the land their towers are on", etc.? Your posting is contradictory. without credibility, and immature to boot. Maybe you require a life yourself, sir. (3/12/07) Memo to Pat Sajack: Fire the WNAV PD. If you have one. I listened from 3:25 to 4:10 this afternoon, and apparently there was a big accident on Route 50 at the Severn River Bridge around 1:00 today. It had both directions of Route 50 closed off and on all afternoon long. At 3:25, the "announcer" says that traffic on Route 50 is all screwed up, in both directions, but never says where on Route 50! At 3:28, same thing . . . "terrible traffic troubles on Route 50, details in Traffic coming up." 3:30 cold open into a CBS news feature. 3:33, out of the CBS feature, she mentions the accident again, still not saying where it is, but promoing a traffic report "soon." 3:35, same thing AGAIN. Finally, at 3:38, a traffic phoner, which actually tells listeners where the accident is. For the rest of the half hour, she opened the mic after every record, repeated the same stuff about the accident, and still never said where. at 3:45, a nice essay by Sajack about not understanding the "left the cake out in the rain" line from MacArthur Park the way he did when he was 35 years younger. Spots. Live tags. At 3:50, she opens the mic and says, "State Police tell us they'll be opening all of the lanes on Route 50 at 4:00 (still never says where), and then throws it to the traffic guy on the phone, who can only say the same thing that she has just said. Talk about a bad setup for a phoner! Plays some spots and promos til 3:56, plays another song I've never heard of, open the mic, and promos the news which is coming up, well, it's coming up right now! Fortunately, the new reporter, Jane Schlagel did mention the actual location of the accident in her promo and the news story at 4:04. But it we had to depend on the jock for this, we'd be sitting on the Kent Island bridge, wondering, should I drive, or should I swim! And, in all of this, she never once ID'd a record or an artist. She opened the mic out of every single record, gave the time, sometimes the temp, sometimes the calls, and NEVER identified an artist the whole time. It boggles my mind! Where did this woman learn the biz, Sears? It may be the format there at WNAV, though, because I hear Duckman doing the same thing sometime. It makes no sense that a station would have a jock open the mic after the song, and NOT ID the last song . . . not all of the songs in the preceding set, but at least the last one . . . but this afternoon woman on WNAV just does not get it! (3/12/07) Just wanted to let you know that President Clinton will be joining former advisor James Carville and his XM Satellite Radio “60/20 “show co-host Luke Russert this week to discuss his NCAA picks. Other topics of conversation will include the both Clinton and Carville’s respective universities (Arkansas;LSU). The interview is scheduled to air this Friday, 3/16 at 8am. XM Sports Nation - XM 144... Encores: Fridays 11PM ET; Saturdays 12mid, 9am, 12noon ET... (3/12/07) Kane, I have it on good authority that Gary Glitter's not doing much these days. Couldn't help myself. Paul (3/12/07) The Baltimore-based Sinclair NEWS CENTRAL failure to me reminds me of the AIR AMERICA failure (I know, Air America hasn't completely failed yet, but...)....... Sinclair's NEWS CENTRAL had TV stations in plenty of conservative markets yet failed to get any ratings in any market of any kind other than in Baltimore where they started from scratch with a locally based pre-NEWS CENTRAL with topnotch people and not the profoundly conservative biased canned news operation that NEWS CENTRAL turned out to be. Plus, if the technical flubs I saw from Baltimore were any indication of what was going on at much smaller market stations, well, there you go. Ok, now the Air America comparison......... Air America fails to get ratings in the largely liberal markets that it's biggest radio stations are in no matter what they do. Go figure. Summation...... A bad product is a bad product whether it's conservative OR liberal based. People just get it. (3/12/07) What is---or was---News Central? Did I miss anything not knowing about them? JOHN IN STAFFORD (3/12/07) re: "RE: "While Kane is down in Florida, he may want to look into getting his old house and afternoon show back" He never left Florida. He is still on 93.3FLZ afternoons 3-7PM."---Then who is that guy I see in the studio when I'm there? Well, yes, it's Kane. He is now tracking FLZ. (3/12/07) Dave, FYI, Fred Thompson, who may run for president, appeared at the Q&A Cafe. In November and, among other things, talked politics and ambitions. We have reposted the interview at the Q&A Cafe TV link on our website: www.nathansgeorgetown.com. Carol (3/12/07) Dave's response: It's a shame that Fred didn't win an Oscar for his role in "Looking For Comedy In The Muslim World"..... So, News Central is done? I wasn't sure who was even SUPPOSED to watch it. Was is supposed to be like the dinner time local newscasts, where there might be a chance of good news? Or was it like Sports Center just run over and over? Was it local or national news? I guess I could have actually watched it (though somehow I prefer Jennifer over Joy), but I would have to miss Seinfeld. I would draw an analogy to the Columbus Center in Baltimore. The operators complained that nobody went there after it opened, but myself and everyone I talked to had no idea what was there in the first place. (3/12/07) They're counting down the days, hours, minutes and seconds until Don and Mike's retirement at www.donandmikewebsite.com (3/12/07) Do you have an RSS feed or do you plan on setting one up? (3/12/07) Dave's response: DCRTV is a hand-coded site. We don't use blogging software. If I can find an RSS feed generator that works with a site like ours, and is easy to use, I will start restart a feed. There was an RSS generator site a few years back that we did use, but it's gone..... Since it's gripe about WJFK day....that home improvement show is a joke. it sounds live but isn't. I called in (I know what was I thinking) and said I'd like to ask a question. They had some schlub answering the phone that wanted everything but blood type: name, phone number, address so they could call me back to go on the air later. it was a simple question that I was too lazy to go to Home Depot for. He wouldn't tell me when they would call, just "sometime in the next few weeks". You wonder why WJFK is running ads for sales people on air....from the sound of D&M & the Flunkies, WJFK is one step above Baghdad police recruit. (3/12/07) Whoever the poster is who is obsessed with little ol’ WCTN needs to GET A LIFE. It’s a daytime AM, for Chrissakes (the 47—or 39—watts at night still qualify it as a “daytimer”), and daytime-only AM rigs in 2007 aren’t worth the land their towers are on. So they’re just doing the bare minimum to keep it on the air until… what? Til some “greater fool” comes along to offer them what they paid for it so they can wash their hands of it? If you’re so damn worried about what kind of programming is slapped on 950 kHz, go ahead and write them a check. Buy it, and then put some brilliant radio on the sucker for all of us to enjoy. Better yet, buy it, then knock the towers down and sell the real estate and put the little SOB out of its misery. (3/12/07) This just gets better. I visited www.ontheradio.net to see if WCTN had a playlist mounted. They do not, but the website offered to put up the top 50 "inspirational" songs available through iTunes. Maybe I'm missing something, but I dont recall "Cupid's Chokehold", "This is Why I'm Hot" or "Glamourous (Explicit Version)" being exactly Inspirational. For that matter, WCTN is no longer a religious station, but if this is what passes for Inspirational music these days, WAVA-FM here I come ! ! ! (3/12/07) ("I remember the day when PF hiked the price of their records albums from $3.99 to $4.99. Almost $5 for a record album!!!! Sheesh.....") I remember when CDs were supposed to drop the cost of buying music down even further! (3/12/07) Dave's response: Browsing the other day at Beast Buy, I found classic David Bowie albums on CD for $25 each! Ouch..... Just got HD radio, and here are some first impressions: 88.5: WTMD is pretty great with World Cafe, Sounds Eclectic, the New Release Show, and a nice rotation of music that has been absent from the DC dial (I've been hearing the new Lucinda Williams, The Good the Bad the Queen, Cold War Kids). The bluegrass stream is nice also. 94.7: Their HD2 channel, The Jam, is pretty much exactly like The Globe, except with no DJs or commercials. Which is nice if you like the Globe, but not so nice if you find it boring, and wished that the HD2 was a little more adventerous. 100.3: Their H2 "oldies" station is 50s/60s with an emphasis on the former. Very nice, playlist seems deep but the fourth day of listening I think I noticed a loop... 101.1: Supposedly broadcasting in HD with a "new rock" on HD2, but I cannot get this to pick up the HD signal (I drive throughout DC and NOVA) - even though it comes through crystal clear in stereo. Since I have no problem picking up any other proclaimed HD signals, is something wrong with theirs?? Still need to check out the classic country and gospel streams elsewhere on the dial... (3/12/07) Dave's response: Can I have your radio? Pretty please..... Piling on WJFK...Saturday the 'best of Don & Mike' (I won't get into whether that's an oxymoron)went to commercial at about 3:25. As near as I can tell there were 20 STRAIGHT minutes of commercials. I flipped around and every time I came back more commercials. At 3:45 I bailed since at 4PM is that horrid home improvement show. BTW Sunday's replay of D&M was the same segment as Saturday. Brilliant...f'ing brilliant. This is the same station that, while CBS wanted to expand the Penn Jillette Show (R.I.P.) to 2 hours, relegated it to filler between infomercials. Brilliant...absolutely brilliant... (3/12/07) RE: "While Kane is down in Florida, he may want to look into getting his old house and afternoon show back" He never left Florida. He is still on 93.3FLZ afternoons 3-7PM. (3/12/07) Bobby was also going to be on FLZ. - "Bobby Brown "Bails" On Offer "The Kane Show" and 933FLZ , have decided to rescind the offer made to Bobby Brown and agreed upon as of Thursday, March 1, 2007. 933FLZ and Bobby Brown's Attorney have mutually decided that this wasn't in their best interest and Bobby's attorney has agreed to return the money to 933FLZ" (3/12/07) Kevin in HdG says of XM/Sirius “But now that all the die hard radio junkies have already chosen their sides, the rest of the listeners that are left are balking at the cost involved and are just kind of saying, "So what??" to Sirius and XM and this is slowly going to kill them both.” Naaah. There’s a strong parallel to the HBO/Showtime premium cable model. Yes, the tech-heads, early adapters & Stern fans constituting the first wave are in the fold, but there’s plenty of growth left among normal folks for whom 12 bucks a month is no big deal—and for whom local radio holds little charm. I guess I’m one of them. My wife got me an XM subscription for Christmas, and I’m enjoying the hell out of it. I once ran a Stern affiliate, so don’t really care if I hear Howard again—so XM is fine. We live far enough out from 1260 (Hagerstown) that XM’s “Air America” is the only version available; its bluegrass channel makes up for the spotty WAMU reception up here; the XM Public Radio & BBC channels make up for WETA’s move to fulltime Classical; its ESPN channel finally gives me clear reception 24/7 up here where only a daytime AM carries it. And I’ve enjoyed hearing great personality radio from Gary Burbank (too bad he’s retiring) on WLW & Gerry House on Nashville’s WSIX—DC/Baltimore has no one in the same league. And their carriage of all ACC & Big Ten basketball games allowed me to hear every game of both of my schools in the conference tournaments last week—pretty cool. Worth 40 cents a day? Yeah, sure. (3/12/07) WCTN's current playlist belongs in a restaurant or supermarket, where nobody notices or stays around long enough to hear it repeat every hour. How long has WCTN been doing this? Two months already? No wonder they're still begging for clients. KOF (3/12/07) Did anyone else notice this find print on Rush's site: "EIB, a Halliburton company"??? (3/12/07) Regarding "WJFK is on auto pilot": WCTN-AM is already there - and the pilot is drunk, passed out at the control stick and heading nose-down into the ocean. Why are these guys even wasting the electricity it takes to put this signal up?? I was looking for a dose of Oldies again this past weekend, and sure enough along comes "Love Grows Where My Rosemary Goes" at least six times while I had the station on, then a whole block of Four Tops tunes, "La Bamba" a couple of times, "Where Did Our Love Go" from the Supremes, and very little else. The music flow was broken up by the predictable solicitations for advertisers to buy a block of time on "this hot new radio station" and some IDs. I've heard college stations update their imaging more often than these guys. Evidently this is what passes for a Washington area AM station today? Hey WCTN: Call the number on your screen for the Time-Life collection of "Greatest Hist of the 50s" "...60s" and "...70s", buy one or two Rhino "novelty" collections, then rip them into your audio computer and PLAY them. They already did the research FOR you! (3/12/07) Congratulations to Joel Oxley--one of the last of the "good guys" in the radio realm. Those who work, or have worked with him, know what I'm talking about. He actually treats his employees with respect, unlike some of these other asshats in the market who will throw whomever they can under the bus to save their hind end. (3/12/07) i saw mike at the dulles mall on saturday and he was fat (3/12/07) Dave's response: I saw a very fat guy this past weekend who looked just like Andy Parks. But I'm pretty sure it wasn't him..... Re: satellite radio. We put Sirius in my wife’s van two years ago. It’s very simple – we drive LONG distances five or six times a year. I can’t tell you how many times our sanity has been saved by Sirius on those trips. Yes, we could carry a pile of CDs, or I could hook up the iPod, but there’s still something about hearing NEW music. For my last birthday, she asked me if I wanted Sirius in my car, and I said no – I don’t drive enough to make it worthwhile. Sincerely, TMU (3/12/07) Congratulations to Tony Kornheiser for landing The Virginian assisted living facility (aka nursing home) as a sponsor of his Washington Post Radio show. With Catholic Cemeteries already a sponsor of Tony's show, it looks like all the top advertisers are going with Tony. (3/12/07) Dave's response: For the record, I heard another WaPo Radio (owned by Bonneville) spot for that Mormon-based LDS Adoptive Services on Tony's show this morning. No hate mail, please..... From AP: Ann Coulter has been a reliable name for years among people who plan television news shows -- an attractive, articulate blonde conservative who's made a living lobbing verbal bombs. Following her use of a gay slur about Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards this month during remarks to the Conservative Political Action Conference, some on TV are wondering whether her shelf life is expiring. Many were angered by her use of the ''f-word''. Coulter later said she considered it a ''schoolyard taunt.'' She said it was a joke about ''Grey's Anatomy'' actor Isaiah Washington saying he would seek counseling after using the word to refer to a fellow actor. At least four daily newspapers have dropped Coulter as a columnist, citing her comment about Edwards..... (3/12/07) I remember seeing Brad Delp and other members of Boston playing YDB, Commander Mckay, and Howard Page in a DC 101 charity basketball game at Cole Field House in College Park. Later on, YDB brought the band on stage at the old Cap. Center. Great memories, but only the names have changed. You don't see that kind of stuff anymore. Sad about Delp. Ken/Bethesda (3/12/07) JOHN IN STAFFORD, I think you kind of represent that audience out there that satellite radio is having such a hard time convincing to go out and shell out the up-front cash and monthly fees to come and listen to them. It's like there's a curiosity there with people but at the end of the day, most would just rather hold on to their money because, really, what do you have? Not much... in my opinion. Sure if you love Howard or O&A or whatever else satellite radio currently offers, you'd probably already be subscribing to one of the services, whichever one carried what you originally wanted to sign up for. But now that all the die hard radio junkies have already chosen their sides, the rest of the listeners that are left are balking at the cost involved and are just kind of saying, "So what??" to Sirius and XM and this is slowly going to kill them both. That's why I just see this merger as sort of a last second, Hail Mary play for Sat Rad. Maybe it works, maybe it doesn't but they have no other choice now but to try it. Kevin in HdG. (3/12/07) ED: I thought that was you that I spoke to about WAMD. But, I couldn't put my finger on your name. Ah, that ol Barn-building. It's now a hair salon on W. Bel Air Avenue. I remember there was talk of First Broadcasting filing for a power reduction, to 300w day/500w night. Is that still in the works. I was in town this weekend, and noticed the station was off the air (Saturday afternoon). Steve (3/12/07) Happy 180th Birthday Black Press! From the picket lines to online, the Black Press has stood the test of time. In 1827, the first Black newspaper was published. Imagine that: Black newspapers started at a time when it was illegal for Blacks to read, now America's Black Press turns 180 years old this week. From publishing on the downlow to reporting about the down low, for 180 years the Black press has been there for its readership. Did you know that the Black Press has a combined circulation of over 60 million readers every week? That's right. So the next time you're in the check out line, don't just read JET, buy it. Whether it's Ebony, Sister 2 Sister, TV One or the Black Family Channel or maybe you prefer the District Chronicles, Chicago Defender online or Metro Herald, chances are you read a member of the Black Press everyday. But how often do you get to meet the people involved with publishing your favorite publications, websites or broadcast outlets? Come celebrate with the Historical Black Press Foundation at: * Capitol Hill Day (Voice your concerns to Congress) (3/15)... * Black Press Week Luncheon (3/16)... * Black Press Week Official After Party at AVENUE 3/16)... * Black Press Washington Wizards outing (3/17) ... Join us in remember the late Gordon Parks in pictures and words, plus hear from his only surviving son. Luncheon attendees will receive complimentary copies of Black newspapers and magazines. One lucky winner will win a subscription to a Black owned newspaper of their choice, courtesy of the Historical Black Press Foundation. Plus stay tuned for our media blitz including radio interviews with Bowie State radio, The Armstrong Williams Show, WPFW among others and a very special Black Publisher podcast series on the history of the Black Press, sponsored by BlackPodcasts. com. As part of our yearlong celebration, the Historical Black Press Foundation will host events including this luncheon, a reception in New York City in June and the Black Press All Stars Awards in September. So stay tuned to BlackPress.org or Myspace.com/ blackpress for all the latest information on the 180th anniversary of America's Black Press. www.blackpressweek.com... Presented by the Historical Black Press Foundation... Sponsored or supported by Van McCoy Music.com, DC Public Schools, Omar Newland Realty, Black Podcasts.com and Hilton Family Hotels... 180th Anniversary of America's Black Press : 1827 - 2007... Join us for the Black Press Week Corporate Luncheon... Friday, March 16, 2007... Washington, DC... Email: blackpressmagazine@yahoo.com... Historical Black Press Foundation, 1000 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, D.C. 20036, www.BlackPressMagazine.com (3/12/07) On Monday March 12th at 10 AM the Press Room on the 5th Floor of the Wilson Building will be dedicated in honor of Maurice Williams. Maurice was the WHUR reporter who was killed when the building was taken over by Hanafi Muslims. The dedication will be held just a few days after the 30th anniversary of the take over ( March 9, 1977 ). Confirmed Speakers: Mayor Adrian Fenty ( Presenter )... Council Chair Vincent Gray ( Presenter )... Council Member Marion Barry... Former Council Chair Sterling Tucker... Daniel Maiaschin, Executive Vice President B'nai Brith... J. Millard Watkins III, General Manager WHUR Radio... Kojo Nnamdi, WAMU Radio... Bruce Johnson, WUSA... CONFIRMED GUESTS: Current Council Members: Council Member Harry Thomas... Council Member Tommy Wells... Council Member Jim Graham... 1977 City Council Members: Former Council Member Willie Hardy... Former Counil Member William Spaulding... Former Counilmember Rev Jerry Moore... Special Guest: Christine Rodgers-Cantrell and Yvonne Rodgers-Anthony-Cantrell, daughters of D.C. Special Police Officer Mack Cantrell who died from wounds he suffered at the District Building on March 9th 1977. Friends and colleagues of Maurice Williams: Commander Rudolph Brewington, USN... Paul Brock... Milt Coleman... (3/12/07) I remember waiting at the Penguin Feather store in Vienna at midnight for the DC-101-sponsored early release of the second Boston album. I did that because I had been blown away by the songwriting and production of the first album and their show at the Capitol Center where they previewed some of the songs from the next release. I loved the back story of the band involving Tom Schultz and his invention of one of the Poloroid cameras that I used to read about in Creem and Rolling Stone. Listening now to the pathetic "Classic Rock" stations I do get tired of hearing "More than a Feeling" over and over. It now sounds over-produced and contrived. However, I still get a chill when I hear "Rock and Roll Band" hit the bridge. This was a technically advanced group (sort of like Kansas or SuperTramp) that put on an incredible show for those lucky enough to see them. Brad Delp hasn't been heard from for some time but his death still saddens me. I guess this is something we must get used to as we get older. Sprawl and Crawl Steve (3/12/07) Dave's response: Hey, I spent a good chunk of my youth at that old house in Vienna (where Anita's Mexican restaurant now stands). We've probably run into each other. I remember the day when PF hiked the price of their records albums from $3.99 to $4.99. Almost $5 for a record album!!!! Sheesh..... A program about home building on sports stations. Daniel "Sheister" Snyder's stations...did I say sports? Saturday morning on XXX or whatever they call it, there was no sports. Nope. A show about housing and contractors and home builders. Yup. Must be a new sport. Like poker. Home building. Maybe Til Hazel can do the play-by-play. Snyder prostituting the airwaves by selling brokered shows. Red Zebra? Sports? Just a bunch of crap (3/12/07) Dave's response: If it's good enough for weekend fare on WMAL, WTWP (it sure sounds like it on weekend mornings), and WJFK-FM, why not Triple X, too! I wonder what a half hour infomercial costs on a station that blankets Prince Frederick, Warrenton, and Mount Vernon? $35? To follow up my previous post, Snyder's alleged sports stations carrying a home builder's show. Unbelievable. It's time for March Madness: Georgetown, George Washington University, Maryland, Virginia Commonwealth, Virginia and much more. Oh...don't forget the Wizards and even the Nationals playing baseball. And the Caps are still around for those who care. But Snyder's pockets are lined with a show about houses. Idiots running that asylum. (3/12/07) It's no longer a secret. We know it's hard to imagine but..."The V", WVIE 1370AM just got better! There are a couple of new guys in Baltimore ready to let it out. Jeff "Rock" Applebaum and Steve "The Mad Scientist of Laughter" Lebowitz will debut "The Rock & Leebow Show" , Saturday, April 7th, 6P - 7P. Look forward to a fast paced hour of local, topical, relaxed fun and laughs for your whole family... featuring your calls, lots of live guest performers and a Size 7 shoe box full of prizes. Tell us you wouldn't you love a free car wash right about now? But I thought "The V" was predominantly female personalities? I'm confused. Well don't be Mr. & Mrs. Burnie!!! Just consider Rock & Leebow...well...thorns among the roses. What prize do we have for the lucky winners Leebow? Well Rock, for the Burnies we have...dinner for one!!... and no sharing... at Larry's Pig Sty..plus...your own box of individually wrapped toothpicks!!!!! (And the SFX are just going wild! Can't ya hear 'em???) However, we're not giving the location or phone number 'til we get the check...you hear me Larry?..., but you kids go and have a good time. You're a deadbeat Larry! And your wife dresses you funny. And wipe that BBQ sauce outta' your ear! April 7th and every Saturday from 6P to 7P on 1370AM, WVIE...The Rock & Leebow Show! We've got 50 thousand watts and we intend to use every one of them! Streaming live too, just for you. (3/12/07) This is not a chop bust, but someone said "Does the proposed merger of XM and Sirius have a good shot of passing Congress?" I don't think Congress has any say in it beyond holding hearings and other things, its a regulatory matter that is handled via SEC, perhaps FCC and a few others government folk, and of course the courts will have the final say I suppose. (3/12/07) /\ March 12 Messages /\ \/ March 11 Messages \/ The Larry Allen/WAMD story is that I'd played "Hymn 43" by Jethro Tull going into Mrs. Allen's Homemaker's Show (..."with... Jean.") the day before. As I came into work, he stopped me to tell me that rock music was fine... but, only on rock stations. THAT'S when I stammered out, "B-b-but I thought we WERE rock..." Then, he picked up the intercom and called PD Bob Lee, who told him we'd been rock for five years! And, the look on Larry's face was priceless! Completely slack-jawed! That was when we were in "The Barn." And now, I work in ANOTHER radio barn. "And the Wheel in the Sky Keeps on Turnin'.".. - Ed. Rodriguez (3/11/07) Regarding George Michael’s staff, it doesn’t appear to have been an either/or thing, according to the interview with him in the March Washingtonian (which doesn’t appear to be online yet). In the intro to the interview, it states that “in November, NBC told Michael he would have to lay off half his 20-member staff to cut costs” though he could have remained as anchor. In the interview itself, Michael states that on November 14 he fired 14 people. Apparently he felt that if they had to go, then he couldn’t stay on himself in good conscience. Maybe there’s more to it than that which we don’t know, but in any case it appears that most of his staff is no longer there. (3/11/07) Are Carol Mason and Jerry Houston still on the air at WPOC? Greg (3/11/07) WHAT IS THE FUTURE OF SATELLITE RADIO? Does the proposed merger of XM and Sirius have a good shot of passing Congress? If it does pass, does it save satellite radio? Sirius is knocked by some people for paying Howard Stern half a billion dollars, while being the only "real star" of the format. It seems that without him, there would be little buzz about the format. Would Sirius be able to pay Stern's contract off if it failed? Would he be allowed to go back to terrestrial radio until the date his Sirius contract expires, even if Sirius dies? Do Opie & Anthony get pushed aside by a merger because their show would be seen as competion to Stern? I have DIRECTV and get XM though the TV. It's okay. I doubt that I would pay for it by itself. There is nothing on there compelling enough that I want to pay extra for it. I don't have Sirius. If I did buy it, it would be for Stern and no other reason. I can get sports from many other sources for free. The music playlists on XM are fine but still not as good as the old Bethesda era WHFS or my own CD collection. They seem repetitive to me, though not as bad as terrestial radio. JOHN IN STAFFORD (3/11/07) whew! another bile filled post, this time all over the mojo nixon piece in the post. chill dude. i actually found the article kind of interesting--and i have over 25 years in the biz. remember, the general public out there doesn't have the "expertise" of some our jaded posters here in the mailbag. having done 100s of "remote" broadcasts and meeting the great unwashed, you would be surprised how few people have even the slightest idea of how the broadcast system works. "well, how does it get from here...to there?" asked ALL the time. so,not a big deal to explain about the home studio. and ol mojo was kind of interesting. not for you? fine. don't pay for the service, or don't listen to the outlaw country channel. hey , for such groaning and bellyaching that goes on in here daily about lack of choices, you would think that any attempt to expand on the exhausted radio formats of terrestial would be welcomed! (3/11/07) Further evidence that WJFK is on auto pilot: the Junkies "weekend replay" must be on an eight-track loop. On Sunday, just after Noon, WJFK replayed a Junkies segment and then, less than thirty minutes later, replayed the replay. The exact same segment replayed in less than an hour says to me that nobody (except this hurting) is listening. BTW: for the Love of God, please, please zip the nails across the chalkboard voice of the broad on WJFK's "Unzipped" and send the ankle grabbing dude to boot camp to grow some balls. Silence would be better weekdays between 7-10 PM on WJFK. (3/11/07) Re: The Henafi Seizure. Didn't Jim Vance win an award for his coverage of that event? Rusty Gibson (3/11/07) Which band has the record for best-selling debut album of all-time? Which band was created by an MIT grad? Which band had a singer that is considered to be one of the nicest guys in rock-n-roll? Boston. Whether you liked them or not, have a little respect for: a, the loss of a good man & b, a band that made its mark in music history. Sometimes I can't believe the lack of integrity by some posters in this mailbag. (3/11/07) You can't be Sirius! That story in the W-P about musicians 'moonlighting' as DJ's is the biggest whitewash I have seen since they tried to pretend that Whitewatergate was not a financial scandal. That story might as well have been about a 'retired' stripper tending bar at the titty club. Close your eyes and think real hard. Remove the names and the story is the same. The real story, the rest of the story is.. Washed up, has been, once was, (maybe never was?) musician is voice tracking from a home studio to a failing 'radio network' that has one highly overpaid talent and no other resources. Sirius gets cheap talent, and the 'musician' gets to extend his 15 minutes of fame talking about 'glory days' that nobody else remembers. Only the names have changed because the game is the same. It is no different than the dozen or so now bankrupt start ups that tried to provide music radio for AM throughout the 80's and 90's. How many of those have survived? Two or Three? Every AM station has a rack full of unplugged satellite receivers serving as ballast or doorstops from those days. The remains have all been consolidated in so far as terrestrial is concerned. This is a just an old master handing an old bone with some warm spit to a new dog and telling him to bury it in fresh earth. Just what is the median age and weight of the programming staff at Sirius- 55 / 255 ?? If you consider this groundbreaking and newsworthy, then your own 'groundbreaking news' can't be many spade-full days away. Nothing shows what's really going on behind the iron curtain like this story. Nothing new here, but the ending is clear for this tired old tune. (3/11/07) Where's Holly Morris these days?..Maybe on vacation? (3/11/07) Dave, A man that you look up to and admire is seventy-six today. That's right, Rupert has a birthday today. JohnnyuinHanover,Pa. (3/11/07) Dave's response: A very happy birthday, indeed, to gnarled old Rupy! Although their website hasn’t been updated, it looks (sounds) like WMAL has picked-up Leo Laport’s newly syndicated computer talk-show from KFI. I tuned into the station (WMAL) this afternoon and there he is. All I can say is YEA!!! (3/11/07) Antonella Barba is correct. There is no such thing as bad publicity. I'm guessing, within 90 days, Antonella will have offers to pose in most 7-11 magazine rack men's magazines, not to mention that 250K offer to do Girls Gone Wild. The deer-in-headlights look is a smoke screen. Of course her parents are "supportive!" What are they going to say in public? "Well, we knew all along she was a slut..." Doubtful. Of course the American Idol publicist is going to steer reporters away from questions about all that. If she hadn't--the conference call would still be going on! Antonella got voted off the show because she's a marginal singer. BFF Amanda Coluccio was booted while in Hollywood because she was even worse. Two girls cruising for guys. After this--they'll have to hire personal assistants to keep track. As Billy Joel once sang: "...you Catholic girls start much too late..." (3/11/07) Re: the George Michael post. Maybe I missed something, but I didn't take that post as someone hatin'. My question would be somewhat on the same line regarding his staff. If he's there only part time, is his staff also only working part time? Or do they also work with the other two sports anchors? (3/11/07) Check out the trailer at YouTube for "Talk To Me"... the new movie based on the life of DC's irrepressible Ralph "Petey" Greene. It is always a mistake to judge a movie based solely (should that be "soul-ly?!) on its' coming attractions, but I think the folks who loved Petey WILL love Don Cheadle playing Petey! www.youtube.com (3/11/07) It seems that Brad Delp / Boston has died at the same time that "classic rock" has died. WARW is some sort of hybrid now, "Big 100.3" is tanking, and up in B'more WZBA "The Bay" is drowning. Is it time yet for these so called programming experts that are playing "Hotel California", "Start me up", "Freebird", "Takin' Care of Business", "Another one bites the dust", "Levon", "Stairway to Heaven", "Born in the USA", "Lady", "Turn the page", "Money" anything by John Melloncamp - and yes "More than a feeling", in heavy rotation - to hit the road? Please - yes! There is a reason that classic rock is dying, and playing the same few played-out songs over and over with liner reading dull jocks is it! Hey "Big 100.3", hey up in B'more (100.7 The Bay), you suck! Your ratings show it, your employees know it. Lose the idiots programming your dull boring stations and become something worth listening to! Nobody wants to hear "Comfortably Numb" or "Born to be Wild" every freakin' day! Classic rock is great. Classic rock radio sucks! Sorry for the tirade, but I really like this genre' of music and am disgusted at what classic rock radio plays - same as everyone else apparently. Look at the ratings...Tank! Please - any classic rock PD: Explain why your station is playing the same worn-out songs over and over and how the tanking ratings aren't showing you that we want more. More music and more personality. It's obviously broke - Fix it! You are killing an entire genre' of music! -SJ (3/11/07) Dave's response: What the fuck is wrong with DC rock radio? Big sounds dull. George is bland. And even the Globe is already sounding stale - Led Zep, Steely Dan, the Police, Dire Straits are hardly adventuresome rock. Hey Michael Hughes, whoever is programming the Globe, please fire him immediately. He's running a potentially promising station into the ground with a limited and way way way too conservative playlist. I find myself flipping over to DC101 not because I like the music but because it sounds, at least, like it has a pulse. And isn't on some kind of classic rock life support..... Congrats to Joel Oxley on the R&R award. I can't think of anyone more deserving. It's nice to see some recognition go to a guy who is normally content to stand in the background and let his employees get the accolades. In 25 years in radio, he's far and away the best GM I've ever had. I'll leave this unsigned so the predictable naysayers can't accuse me of sucking up. (3/11/07) Re; Oh, I remember George saying he was leaving to avoid a number of his staff being laid off. Anyone know if those staff members are still there? George Michael still works at Channel 4, just not as a everyday anchor. He has his weekly Saturday Commentary's Full Court Press and Redskins Sidelines. And next Season will still do the reports from Redskins HQ. So his staff is still there. No go about your life and try to enjoy it, some people just want to be haters all of time. (3/11/07) WASA-WAMD can't remember which county station it was, But early one morning J.J. McKay broke the story that Cal Jr. had signed with the Orioles and all of the Baltimore stations picked up on the story soon afterward. I think It was Vince Baglie that actually gave JJ credit for breaking the story to the nation. Vince was a class act, miss that man...Didn't he have a daughter in the business, very good lookin' very good on air as I remember and I remember JJ McKay use to do a live auction on the air at one of those stations and raise money for the Jaycees I think it was....Jerry Turner use to make it up to Harford county and join JJ on air for the cause....yea local radio, the way it use to be and still should be....Clear Channel and the like take note, you see how well radio on the Dish is Doing, huh hon? (3/11/07) /\ March 11 Messages /\ \/ March 10 Messages \/ Kane has a name and a show that leaves nothing to memory. People (outside of 1801 Rockville Pike) are done talking about this. This was a sad and very pathetic attempt to generate publicity and ratings. Although the publicity was generated it's doubtful that the ratings will follow. Once people tune in and don't hear anything but a boring lame-o radio badass wanna be talking they'll simply change the channel and go back to ignoring the stale sounds of the Kane show. (3/10/07) Re: St Mary's Today: The contents of the paper ARE often tasteless; also often funny. I don't know of a group that hasn't been targeted in a less-than-decent attack. The publisher is cheap; was sued for non-payment of rent; publicizes his pizza place. He also won a freedom-of-speech lawsuit in the federal courts after deputies from the St Mary's Sheriff's Dept threatened clerks when buying up all the copies of the paper before an election. What probably led to the latest outrage was the robbery of the Third Base in Loveville and the Tackle Box in Lexington Park by three people. At least one hand gun was taken from the Tackle Box. Within the last two weeks, an engineer @ PaxRiver was found murdered in his car in the parking lot of his apartment complex. With the gun taken from the Tackle Box. The three males were arrested for the murder by the Sheriff's Dept were also charged with the Third Base and Tackle Box robberies. Check out the paper's website. Larry-in-Leonardtown (3/10/07) Funny picture of "King" George Michael..Read an article about his departure where Jill Sorensen gave a few comments. She said that working for George wasn't a job, but a lifestyle. And that she wanted to have a family and it pretty much seemed like the demands of that position didn't jive with her having a "life"..With George gone, I'm curious as to whether it's "calmed" down, for lack of a better word as far as demands of the job..Oh, I remember George saying he was leaving to avoid a number of his staff being laid off..Anyone know if those staff memebers are still there? (3/10/07) Ellen Kingsley. From the Houston Chronicle: www.chron.com (3/10/07) Kane, here's a really novel idea for you. How about finding a ''personality'' that's...well...a lil more current to latch on to. My condolences to Ellen Kingsley's family. I used to have a huge tv crush on her. Paul (3/10/07) Look, kids do lots of strange sexual things in their early teens. That's not all that abnormal. But I don't quite understand why Don Geronimo feels the need, as he approaches 50, to reveal such youthful sexual experimentations to millions (OK, thousands) on the radio airwaves. (3/10/07) King George Michael (photo in lower left corner) later went from KBTR to East Coast Top 40 stations like WFIL and WABC." (3/10/07) Dave's response: I'm told that he's still occasionally seen wearing that crown at Channel 4..... Whoa! Chill on the Boston hating. Not your cup of tea? Fine. Maybe you long for the electronic keyboard crap of the 80's or the PR machine dribble of the 90's boy bands. Or maybe you can't wait to grab the newest Idol compilation cd. Compare this to that. See where I'm going cementhead? We are at a time, where every 6 months we are gonna lose a rock & roll icon of some degree. I guess your disco dancing / spandex / all skate days didn't jive with rock radio Count me in as a fan of all their "albums"! (not cd's) and countless songs that got me down the highway. (by the way, the BEST selling debut album in history, double platinum greatest hits album). Show some respect and let the ride down memory lane be a pleasant one. JR Parkville (3/10/07) RE: WAMD. I was talking with an old jock from there one time, and he was telling me a story of the time he was playing a record (the name escapes me), and Larry Allan walked in and asked what he was playing. The jock replied and said what it was, and said that it is hot on the charts. Larry said that "We don't play rock and roll." The jock replied and said that they do. Larry got the PD on the intercom and asked what the format. The PD said that it was rock. Larry replied oh, well, why don't people tell me these things. Then he told the jock to play light music going into the show that his wife hosted. Funny stuff. I recall WAMD has hosted various formats, including rock, top 40, talk, an ac/country hybrid (more ac country tunes), light and easy and soon Oldies. For years, music was just a fill between spots, news, and Wade Cook and Orioles. (3/10/07) Anyone remember the huge multi-million dollar lawsuit between the band BOSTON and CBS, Inc. (which back then owned Columbia/CBS Records)? CBS was a slightly different kind of conglomerate back then and didn't even own a single local TV station in the Washington/Baltimore markets. Did CBS even own any radio stations back then outside of the big 3 markets? Anyway, that was the often used excuse for the almost never 3rd BOSTON album and no touring. Oh, that and the fact that founder/MIT grad Tom Scholz was already a multi-millionaire from his engineering company and really didn't need the hassle of recording/touring and had the financial ability to sue CBS indefinitely. In that sense, you could say BOSTON was ahead of its time for sure. (3/10/07) WAMD Past>>> I remember when WAMD was on West Bel Air ave, before they moved to the dirt. Also remeber WVOB at the Bel Air Bowl, then next to the Aegis as WHRF. Harford County radio in it's hayday. Where's Mark Thorner and "Trivial Pursuit" on the radio? or "Radio Bingo". Wow! Radio was local once. (3/10/07) (RE: the St. Mary's cartoon story:) stmarystoday.com... check out his site.. (3/10/07) I think the band BOSTON should be inducted into the Rock 'N' Roll Hall of Fame under the category..... Least Productive, Overpaid, & Overplayed on the Radio in History. Think about it, 3 original CDs, 2 maybe 3 mini tours in FORTY YEARS?!? There are probably some American Idol rejects wi