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DCRTV Mailbag - March 16 to March 21, 2007
Latest messages listed first.....
\/ March 21 Messages \/
CSN debuted a new show this week and it seems to be a fairly good show, meanwhile MASN is going to launch another show, oh wait, no they're just simulcasting ANOTHER radio show. If I want to listen to the john riggins radio show, I'll tune in TO THE RADIO. Jim (3/21/07)
Couldn't find an obit in WaPo for Art Kellar. Shirley, Art Kellar deserves an obit in the Washington Post! And jes I know difference 'tween death notice and obit.............. why don't WaPo cut loose all the ballast like Kornholio and Wilbon and while they're at it Sally Jenkins and Mike Wise. I imagine they all get respectable salaries but produce very little content. Is the thinking at WaPo that the glamour of having Kornholio and Wilbon on board is bringing the paper more readers? That don't seem to be working do it? And for all the the exposure of WaPo front pagers get all over the tv is that generating more readers? And the WaPo radio is that bringing in more readers or generating income for MaWaPo? I say cut all this sh9t out and try to make WaPo the quality paper it was once upon a time. If the ship is going down at least go down knowing you tried your best. ....... .I sure wish Omarpeter McRosenberger would set up a webcam so we all could enjoy his hippity hoppity show! Hey McRosenberger perhaps you should axe the folks to finance some sessions with a therapist, you do seem to have tissues...... weht fred thomas.... hoot gibson (3/21/07)
Dave's response: Obituaries, which are editorial articles penned by Post staff, sometimes appear a week or two (or even longer) after a person has died.....
OK ... world's greatest "knock-knock" joke ... ready? "Knock knock" - "Who's there"? - "Peter Rosenberg" - "Peter Rosenberg who"? - "Exactly"..... 1,100 miles away and it still cracks me up! No name, those who know will "get it" (3/21/07)
Wonder for how long those secondary channels on HD Radio is going to be free of charge -- other than the cost of the receiver. Rumblings here of "conditional access" or "the handwriting on the wall" to dole out more cash ??? See www.radioworld.com (3/21/07)
So sorry to hear about Lyndi Starr and "Jammin' Jeff" Kaufman. I haven't lived in Harrisburg for quite a few years and so wasn't familiar with Lyndi, but I grew up listening to the Jammer on WTPA. Terrific jock. It's a damn shame that both of them are gone too soon. (3/21/07)
Don's ass is kissed at this site? Is today opposite day? Did I wake up in Bizzaro Superman's realm? I guess not. Peter Rosenberg is still really really really untalented, Rush made fun of "negros" today, and traffic still sucks. (3/21/07)
My my my, but young Master Rosenberg is most upset with you, Dave. Actually, I think he is just upset with all of the radio world for not seeing him for the 'genius' he is. He should be kissing the collective ass of the media for giving him any sort of play whatsoever (must've been a very slow news night for the TV station to do a story on him). And Youtube? Excuse me, but just because you get 100,000+ hits on your Duke parody, it does not make you a star. It gets you a lot of people who check you out for a few seconds, maybe leave a rating, and then move on. Son, take some sage advice: keep DJing at Mickey D's as long as they're paying you good money. But if you want to make your mark, get another job in this business somewhere, anywhere, even if it's just being a board op, get over yourself, realize you're not a Radio God (those other guys aren't, either by the way) and that you've a long way to go before you get respect. As Jim Rome once said, respect is earned, it is not given. The RCL (3/21/07)
Re: Geronimo's late for Wednesday's show because he's in traffic court. Anyone know who he ran over?//// Yeah, it was Rosenberg, video on YouTube at 11 (3/21/07)
Cerphe is alive and well; doing the best afternoon drive show in DC on 94-7 still. His shows are lively, funny and his interaction with the listeners are far and away the best out there! He is a DC legend and has never taken himself too seriously; at least that is the impression I would get when he was at station events! Speaking of taking yourself too seriously; Peter Rosenburg; someone needs to stop taking himself so seriously. Be grateful and glad that you have a "show"! And just how great to have your McFoot in the McDoor when this DJ challenge bottoms out as well. Dave, you really give him entirely too much free PR (remember when the only bad PR was no PR at all?) Let's see if Rosenburg comes back on his knees, presumingly covered in hot mustard sauce from the midnight slobs at McDonalds, begging to be mentioned again. Kristen (3/21/07)
How about ''Unzipped'' with Dennis Miller on JFK? ''Give me those BIG words, Dennis! MMMMM'' Paul (3/21/07)
Dave's response: Ah, no.....
...first of all, what kind of prig is McRosendouchebag? Oh, no: forget D & M as now you are really gonna get it, what with him snidely saying, "Good luck with your little (emphasis little) radiophile website. Actually, given your neo-gay photos of young guys in their underwear, more like a pedophile web site (two words)... Second of all: Mike just announced that The Other Mike (Don) will be at least an hour late as he is in traffic court. Look forward to the photoshopped (one word) pix of Don doing the perp walk: drinkingliberally.org (3/21/07)
Dave, WTOP's political analyst and host of "The Politics Program," Mark Plotkin, is a definite tomorrow at The Q&A Cafe. We will do a brief interview with him (about Bush bashing DC voting rights) before the main event, DC Police Chief Cathy Lanier. Both come a day after Fenty's "State of the Distrcit" address. Plotkin at 12:30, Lanier at 12:50. Reservations can be made with Jon Moss at 338.2000. Carol (3/21/07)
Alice Sweet is ready for opening day as well as Rhinestone Rusty. youtube.com. I'll be back to my WEBR radio show next Friday. - Rusty Gibson (3/21/07)
Harrisburg has been taking it in the chops in recent weeks, hasn't it? "Jammer" from the WTPA morning show also died recently. I was a production director in H'burg in the mid-90s and enjoyed the city very much. My condolences to the families of both Lyndi and Jammer. (3/21/07)
Geronimo's late for Wednesday's show because he's in traffic court. Anyone know who he ran over? (3/21/07)
My GAWD, this Peter is a real nasty SOB. I would think he'd have enough common sense to realize he is a nobody. And, to chastize you in such a disprespectful way. My GAWD Peter, Peter, Peter puleeze..just Mikkey D yourself, cool it and reach for a higher standard...TWAT-ANG (3/21/07)
Regarding the front page posting of the decline of CD sales, especially with the demise of Tower Records: Has anyone taken into account that maybe one of the reasons of declining CD sales is the fact that modern music sucks? Not all of us like what is considered to be "Top 40" these days. There are a number of music listeners who are having a hard time finding music that they actually like. Maybe if the big record companies realize that the "products" and "talent" that they have suck and actively try to return to more of their musical roots instead of producing crap that a vast majority of the music listening public doesn't want, maybe they may see an increase in music sales - physical or digital media. All they see are declining sales numbers and blaming it on file sharing - which may be some of the problem, but not all of the problem. Not a sermon, just a thought. Dave in Fredericksburg (3/21/07)
Dave, just who is this Peter Rosenberg? Seems to be a real loser. It's funny how people with this cancerous vile outlook seem to get into this business many of us love. I always called them the bottom feeders. Never get anywhere, never do anything worth noting and are always ready to cut someone's balls off....but don't know how. They seem to thrive on venom, hatred and above all rising to their point of failure time after time. Go figure?-PLB:0) (3/21/07)
MASN's website is now touting an April launch date for the simulcast of John Riggins' radio show, originally slated to debut in February. The lengthy delay can't be good PR for Dan Snyder's Red Zebra network. Perhaps MASN shouldn't have been so quick to get involved with a program that presents logistical problems due to Riggins usually broadcasting from New York while his two sidekicks are in Silver Spring, although the Riggins name is certainly a great selling point. A minor faux pas was committed last week when the show's pre-packaged intro gloated over Duke's opening round NCAA tournament loss to VCU and mocked the legendary Coach K in a rather juvenile way. What Riggins and his producers must have forgotten is that Duke happens to be the alma mater of Sonny Jurgensen, a major contributor to Triple X and Riggo's fellow panelist on Channel 4's Redskins Report (oops!). Mike, Fairfax (3/21/07)
Just off the AP Wire: hosted.ap.org: "Customers may elect to receive fewer channels at a monthly price lower than $12.95; substantially similar programming at the existing $12.95 price; or more channels, including some of the 'best of both' networks, at a modest premium to the cost of one service," Sirius said in the Securities and Exchange Commission document. (3/21/07)
From www.1057thex.com: Lyndi Starr, the brightest in the sky - Tuesday, March 20, 2007... Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of Lyndi Starr and especially the daughter she brought into this world before she left us suddenly on 3/20/07. Please join us this Saturday night from 6pm-12m as 1057 The X airs a live tribute to Lyndi Starr. Details on another event and ways for you to pay tribute will be forthcoming. (3/21/07)
Dave's response: We're hearing that Starr, 23, died on 3/20 following complications from the 3/9 birth of her daughter. She was a weekender at Harrisburg active rocker WQXA.....
Gentlepeople: See media.csosa.gov for an example of a federal criminal justice's effort to communicate via pod and video podcasting... We are the number one podcast in a variety of search engines and podcasting sites. (3/21/07)
Thanks for not getting back to me to explain, but instead mocking me again. You blow my mind dude. You show respect for Don constantly, even though he has said disgusting horrible things about you and yet with me, who has shown you nothing but respect, you mock and belittle me. Good luck with your little radiophile website. I'm sure the Count is proud... Peter (3/21/07)
Dave's response: Apparently, former WJFK-FMer Peter Rosenberg is mad at me for running a message from him last week touting his latest YouTube video. He says the message was personal and not intended for the Mailbag. But it didn't have anything personal in it, so I thought I'd run it and give him a little free publicity. And it probably generated some additional views of his video. Sorry to get you all upset, Peter. Good luck with the McDonald's DJ gig.....
Thank you to the Stern recap poster for wiping out any regrets I may have had about my decision not to follow Howard Stern to Sirius. Is that what you get for $12/month? With a few F words thrown in? Ugh. (3/21/07)
Who is this person that is summarily posting the activities of Howard Stern? Who cares? Who would be that fanatical? I swear some of the posters on this site are obsessive to fanatical. Give us a break. If we wanted to know what was happening with Howard we'd spend the bucks and listen.WHO CARES???????-ang (3/21/07)
With the features that are listed, I have probably the best HD Radio receiver for the money on order. radiosophy.com... We will see..... (3/21/07)
Hey, Dave, is $155 (plus shipping) for a digital radio cheap enough for ya? I don't know anything about these retailers or the radio, but it's getting tempting... www.emartinc.com... www.audio-discounters.com... (3/21/07)
Dave's response: What's broadcast digital radio reception like? In the car or with a home receiver?
RE: "Howard said he was just kidding but he hopes that she doesn't stay in the public eye when ....babble,novella,diatribe"/// Does this site really have the space for a COMPLETE blow by blow recount of the happenings on any given Howard Stern show, or any other show for that matter ? For those who care, there are other sites such as MarksFriggin.com where you can get a complete run down of each Stern show. I love Stern, but when a D-Bag like this wants to post a compendium of his personal minute my minute highlights, my eye's glaze over after about the third sentence. (3/21/07)
Dave's response: I just thought it was interesting that somebody sent us that Stern show recap.....
Would satellite radio be closing up shop right now without Howard Stern? Who cares about the rest of the programming on satellite? I have no clue what's on HD to make a comment, other than to say I'm not wasting my money on a radio with a few extra digital stations playing more standard commercial radio. I don't like most of what's on the dial to begin with because it's a bunch of boring shit. I disagree with Dave about putting the Junkies on some Dan Snyder owned station and putting O & A in morning drive at WJFK. I'd put them all in the unemploymet line because they have no talent. As for WJFK, kill the format and sell the station. As for Dan Snyder, go away. Aren't those positive thoughts? JOHN IN STAFFORD (3/21/07)
Mel Karmazin is going to the Senate to get his own personal version of the Telecom act passed so he can be the leader of the Sat Rad bandwidth, so the merger of the only two Satellite radio companies can take place Radio Ink: www.radioink.com... This may be the understatement of the new century, but I don't see how this benefits the consumer at all. The only way that this move could be good, is to pre-empt Ashcroft from getting involved as a consultant! Those two choices aren't very good. The Telecom act of 1996 must be repealed, and the merger cannot go through! Commercial Terresttrial Radio is bad enough, let's not ruin the only commercial alternative... (3/21/07)
I don't know about the Junkies being brilliant on sports. I listened to them interview a racer this morning and they had no idea that race cars have clutches, that drivers tend to live in Charlotte, that there's like this really big race track there, that cart racers aren't racing little 5 horsepower garage made jobs. When all of that was covered, they went back to their usual schtick, "so you get a lot of babes! How're the babes!" Jamie McMurray downplyed it at first, then it got awkward as he said he was in a committed relationship and track lizards aren't really the kind of girls he'd hook up with. The Junks are knowledgable about ball. Any sport that involves one. (3/21/07)
Have you heard any truth to the rumor that the program director of WSMJ FM in Baltimore is lobbying Arbitron to get "minor" counties like Queen Anne's dropped from the Baltimore metro? Wouldn't that drop the market rank of the metro out of the top 25? Are other PD's trying to do the same thing, or is this a result of poor ratings from a poor PD... (3/21/07)
I want to thank Mike G. for his tribute to "Rodricks on the Radio". Boy, I wish I had one of those t-shirts! It's a pity that the 50,000 watt blowtorch that used to be radio for all of Baltimore is now limiting itself to that same little angry audience every other talk station goes after. The first step toward ruining that station was back when they pulled Rodricks for Ellen Sauerbrey. That sure worked out well. Prell/Smith/Rodricks with Bruce Elliot before he became a shrill one note as fill in host. That was a great lineup. Jeff Beauchamp should be ashamed. Howie (3/21/07)
Enjoy reading your site. Can't believe you haven't reported on the liavely discussions going on on sportstalk radio and websites covering local High Definition TV about how CBS is not broadcasting all of the NCAA tournament games in high definition, and that local stations are forced to carry the local teams in standard definition. Steve (3/21/07)
With Elliot on vacation this week I'm forced to try out the other shows that go up against him. Russ Parr still kills it. Great show. The Junkies? Absolutely terrible, but what I found worse was that in my 35 minute commute this morning they went to break 3 times! I pop out only to come back to their commercials! How many units are they running an hour there?! Then, I came across the only show that actually makes the Junkies sound good. Kane. Holy shit this is the worse show on earth! Is everything pre-recorded? How much is Clear Channel paying that comedy troupe for their services? If it's anything over a buck, they're overpaying. I can't imagine his show is up over the mess that was on before him. This is a top 10 market people! Kane, Junkies, Weasel? These clowns don't deserve to be in the top 100! (3/21/07)
Dave's response: The Junkies are BRILLIANT when it comes to sports. They really shouldn't talk about anything else. Dan Snyder needs to get off the pot and buy 104 or 105 and then sign the Sports Junkies to do mornings - and only talk sports!!!!! Then 106.7 could put O&A in morning drive. Oh, Tony Kornheiser chatting "American Idol"? It stinks! Bad.....
re: "(Dennis Miller) comes from the right and the libertarian perspective, but honestly--wouldn't you rather listen to him than blowhard rush limbaugh prattle on and on and on...?" No. I'd rather have neither of them. I'm relieved Dennis Miller isn't on in Washington. Too many "right thinking Americans" clogging up radio, and none of them taking ownership for the war they helped started or the country they helped ruin. Dennis Miller, like Tom Shales, became an irrelevant, quivering, fradey-cat joke after 9/11. Miller, unlike Shales, however, also showed some real racist colors the last 6 years. He is the Michael Richards of SNL alumni. Just like "Progressive" is code for "Self Loathing Democrat," "Libertarian" is code for "Self Loathing Republican." (3/21/07)
Dave's response: As a lefty, I am no fan of Dennis Miller's politics. But, it's a shame that his new show can't be heard in the Nation's Capital. It's a perfect fit for evenings on JFK-FM here in Wonk City. Gawd, is there a more dysfunctional station on the planet? Sheesh.....
Just wanted to add my two cents on HD radio—like satellite radio and TiVo, the purchase of costly hardware is still a barrier to entry for many consumers. Granted, I don’t understand HD radio’s business model (it’s still free and commercial free, correct?), but at some point equipment has to be a loss leader if subscriber growth is ultimately desired. As I understand it, Verizon takes an upfront loss on FiOS installs… Chris in Alexandria (3/21/07)
Dave's response: Look at what people are paying extra for these days. Digital cable or TV satellite, alone, can run $100 or more per month. Not to mention the expensive equipment for HD TV. Then there's broadband internet. Cell phones. Video games. Satellite radio. iPods. CDs. DVDs. HD-DVDs. Music downloads. Add to that regular radio, which provides more than 50 signals to the average listener, which is enough "diversity" for many. Is there any money or time left for HD Radio? Especially when receivers costs multiple hundreds of dollars and the marketing, which blindly touts mysterious "stations between the stations," simply stinks. The name "HD Radio" is silly. Digital CDs, which have been around since the 1980s, are audio "high def," right? Big deal! Call it what it is - digital radio. Much of the programming, I'm told, sounds "canned." No wonder it can't get any traction.....
Howard said he was just kidding but he hopes that she doesn't stay in the public eye when she's not hot. The guy thinks that Artie scored some drugs when he had a guy come to his window, lean in and say something to him. Howard said it would be so cool to have that kind of talent and be able to perform it on stage for people. Gary said that Shelly Winters was apparently hot at some point but he finds that very hard to believe. He made fun of her not getting that TV show deal she had a few years ago. 7:50am Hypnotist Marshall Sylver Visits. He moaned like he was in pain over the whole thing. He wasn't attracted to her so he sent her off to John Lennon's apartment as a goof. Howard said that what would be great is if Richards set up a whole fake trial and a fake jail that he could be sent to for all of this stuff he's done. Howard asked Paul how often he used the N-word in his act when he was using it. The first one was ''Booey Fever'' which was one of his new favorites. 6:10am SIRIUS Subscriber Forecast Lowered, Howard To Blame? Artie said that in the area he was in a silver Mercedes likes his isn't the norm so it probably stood out like a sore thumb. Paul said he had a little bit of a meltdown and laughed his ass off for a few seconds. He kept digging a hole deeper and deeper and he thought he was in a Klan movie or something. He wondered if the mood of the meeting was really heavy. If she's going to cheat on him she's going to do it no matter what so he doesn't want to worry about it. 8:35am Funniest Porn Clip Entries. Howard asked Paul if Michael Richards is safe in this world. 9:00am Howard said that John the Stutterer was there so he had the guys bring him in. He told him that maybe he should stop trying to talk and maybe learn sign language instead. Artie said that the internet betting thing has kind of hurt this guy so he has to make money with guys like him who don't know how to use a computer. Howard took another call from the guys who had some Riley Martin audio clips. Audio Clips, Phone Calls And More. Artie said he's not going to be able to do business with this guy anymore because this guy saw him and wrote in about it. Howard said he was just kidding but he hopes that she doesn't stay in the public eye when she's not hot. Howard took another call from a guy who said he thinks that Paul is full of shit with all of this. 6:55am A Little Metal Music. He played those song parodies before John could say anything though. Bobo told Howard to check out this FHM magazine cover that he was talking about because this chick in the magazine has a really great ass. Artie threw in Wheezie Jefferson while the other guys were throwing in other famous black women. Howard said that his father is constantly hounded at the horse track and it really bothers him. He gave him a plug for his album and went to break. Howard took another call from the guys who had some Riley Martin audio clips. (3/21/07)
Pick what happens after HFS 105.7 runs the Emergency Broadcast System tones 3/20 @ 4:28pm (1) Says it's a test. (2) States that the US has invaded the Bahamas to retrieve Anna Nichole's body & other stuff. (3) Says D.C. has been nuked and we have 20 seconds to kiss our asses goodbye. (4) Don and Mike have walked out of the studio AGAIN. (5) Says nothing but plays commercials for a few minutes afterwards until D&M come back. Answers - (1) Nope (2) Check "Entertainment Tonight" for that one. (3) Still a possibility but NO. (4) As they say on "Mythbusters" - Plausible, but not this time. (5) YOU ARE CORRECT! Nothing like wondering if something really did happen and nothing shows up on any news type radio station in the Balt-DC area because THEY WOULD USE THE EBS CORRECTLY! Hey, I'm a Fed Worker in Baltimore and 9-11 had me sitting in a probable secondary target building so I take EBS seriously. If it's a test SAY SO! GET YOU ACT TOGETHER HFS! - Brad in B'more (suburbs) (3/21/07)
I'll take a third hour of the talented Colin Cowherd at noon over anyone TripleXESPN cares to throw at me, especially Bram Weinstein. Regards Biff (3/21/07)
This isn't quite local, but there is a radio connection. Calvert DeForest (better known as Larry "Bud" Melman) died last Thursday at age 85. He was a character on 'Late Night with David Letterman' and 'The Late Show'. His paternal great uncle, Lee DeForest, invented the Audion, a vacuum tube that takes relatively weak electrical signals and amplifies them. Lee De Forest was one of the fathers of the "electronic age". The Audion was a pivotal development in radio's very early days, helping to usher in the growth of the broadcast industry. There's more about Calvert De Forest in Mark Evanier's blog www.newsfromme.com... (3/21/07)
Dave's response: Sorry to hear that. I was a huge Letterman fan back when he was on NBC. Back when he was funny. Back when Larry Bud was frequently on the show. Letterman remained kind of funny his first few years on CBS, but now, on the rare occasion that I catch his show, it's just not very funny any more. Why don't TV and radio "funny guys" retire, or do something else, before they use up their allocation of humor? I guess it's the big money. It's so pathetic watching/hearing the "suck up" sidekick forcing laughter at the "humor" that comes out of the formerly funny "top banana's" mouth. Quite painful for the viewer/listener.....
Is there anyone out there who will admit to listening to 'Unzipped'? There seems to be no shortage of callers (all male, of course, sounding very much like the same mouth-breathers who call Don and Mike) but I have never read or heard a good word about the show. I only listened tonight because Ron and Fez were not on the WNEW stream but I have heard enough to know that Unzipped has just got to go. Neither of the hosts -- a former traffic reported and a media-wannabe a la Peter Rosenberg -- has any business or the credentials to be giving out relationship advice. (3/21/08)
(Morse code transmissions ... "RR" - Dave's response: Sometimes, particularly at night and in the early morning hours, you can hear a powerful Cuban station on 570, underneath DC's WTNT) Oh, THAT'S what that is. Thanks for clearing up the mystery. (3/21/07)
(RE: The Q&A Cafe at Nathan's Of Georgetown:) Chief Lanier's scheduler believes she will be off the Hill and able to make the Thursday Q&A Cafe by 12:30, but just in case she's running late - and because he's always interesting and always has a lot to say - we will do a pre-Lanier interview with WTOP's Mark Plotkin. He'll bring us up to date on all things political, both locally and nationally. His interview will be 20 minutes; Lanier will be 40. Carol (3/21/07)
("Dave's response: WLTT? A joke, right?") Must have been a joike---I still think of 94.7 as WJMD...despite its transmogrification over the past 29 years. (3/21/07)
(How come we don't celebrate any German holidays over here?) de.wikipedia.org: O Tannenbaum Ernst Anschütz 1824 O Tannenbaum, o Tannenbaum, Wie treu sind deine Blätter! Du grünst nicht nur zur Sommerzeit, Nein, auch im Winter, wenn es schneit. O Tannenbaum, o Tannenbaum, Wie treu sind deine Blätter! (3/21/07)
Dave's response: Oooookay.....
Checked out the new show the Post and CSN put out. I was impressed. If you are an area sports fan, they had something for everyone. From the NATS to md womens b-ball. Coming on at 5PM isn't the greatest time, but two hours of sports coverage on TV if you include their 6:30 show can't be beat anywhere in this town. I like the new guy Chris Miller too. Doesn't look like Sage Steele leaving hurt them at all. Even more reason not to watch that crap on MASN. People write that CSN has competition. I don't see it. MASN has baseball, true. But both teams are going to suck this year. They have the Ravens, but their postgame show was one of the worst productions I have ever seen. We won't even talk about Anita Marks, el Riggo's show (if it ever comes on), and that "sideline" reporter in spring training. Keep getting better CSN, and hopefully no one will watch CRAPN and they will go belly up sooner rather than later.. sincerely DCSPORTSTV. (3/21/07)
Dave's response: We originally heard from one of our key area sports media sources that the deal to put Riggo on MASN wouldn't happen because, well, Riggo is sort of "tempermental." So it was kind of surprise when a deal was signed to put his Triple X show on MASN. Maybe something's come "up," beyond a batch of "technical difficulties." Hmmm.....
Peter Rosenberg made it onto the Fox 5 11 o'clock news for this video: www.youtube.com... They talked about how the Maryland alum created this viral video, which is the 10th most viewed video this week in all of YouTube. (3/21/07)
Dave's response: I really hope Fox 5 gets an Edward R. Murrow journalism award for its coverage of Rosenberg. By the way, can Brian Bolter properly pronounce the word "food"? In that killer pet food story, it sounded like he was saying "feud." Oh, don't get the impression that I watch Fox 5 news.....
/\ March 21 Messages /\
\/ March 20 Messages \/
I may be a little late, but I had to jump on this Dan Rodricks stuff. Honestly, we'll never know the real reasons behind his departure. But I can give a little insight into his history with WBAL. I was Dan's producer during his tenure as evening host, and these were great times. I'm proud to say that instead of plodding down the same tired talk-radio path, Dan took a "new/old approach." We paid homage to the golden days of the wireless, while planting ourselves in the here and now. We were the only non-sports AM show in the market taking the broadcast to the people and out onto the streets. We did live shows from homeless shelters, jails, and schools. We broadcast from the Hyatt downtown, with a big band, comedy sketches, and lots of local talent. Sure, the FM guys got out a little, but they didn't do it with class. And that's what the Rodricks show was all about. Class. He respected his listeners, and considered his voice theirs. Dan never shied away from the big issues, and was always fair and respectful to any and all who shared the airwaves with him. Behind the scenes, sure, there was alot going on. Sometimes management got what he was trying to do, and other times, it was a fight. Remember, Dan was the new kid on the block. Prell and Smith, two very talented guys who I produced also, were the vanguards, and they were a tough act to follow. They had been honing their craft for years, and had it down to a science. Ironically, it was Dan's new approach that gave both of them a little push to break out a little, and try something different. It would be unfair of me at this point not to mention Mike Wellbrock (friend, executive producer, and the genuis behind anything good that ever happened at WBAL), Aaron Harris (friend, producer, studio wizard, kid with no fear), and Gary Yealdhall (genuis, friend, BIg Little Joey Pesci, a voice and talent that I still hear in my dreams); and countless others that helped to bring Dan's vision to life. A previous poster mentioned the "Miracle on 33rd" radio essay. I remeber this guy and I was the one who sent him the copy. This is what we did, the listener always came first. What most people don't know is that "Miracle on 33rd" and "What is Baseball", together raised a large amount of money for charity, and got me the Associated Press Award for Best Sports Feature of 1990. Look beyond all the politics, and know this, a true voice of the Baltimore everyman is gone and will be missed. "I could go on for hours, and probably would, but I'd sooner put some joy back in this town called malice." -Mike G. P.S. Greetings to Ed Graham. You may not remember me, But I remember you. Glad to know you're still out there. You were a good "Big Boss" in a very weird place, at a very weird time. Someday, maybe we'll all come clean and write a book. I don't know if anyone would care, but it sure would be nice to just tell it like it was. Sitting here, I'd love too, but for some strange reason, I'm still loyal to the 37 cent raise Beauchamp made me feel guilty for. (3/20/07)
XM is great in the summertime when they have every MLB game every night. Their own baseball coverage, channel 175, however, bites the big one. They never, ever break a story, their ex-players are apologists for the current players, regardless of what hideous thing they do off the field, Charlie Steiner's show is him and his pals swapping inside jokes, the nighttime host is a disaster, the morning guy is, with apologies to TK, a preening schmoe who thinks his stuff doesn't stink, it could be so much more but it's clear their management has really no idea what a knowledgeable fan wants to hear. (3/20/07)
Quote: "I got this in an email this morning from Inside Radio... " .......Guess who is owned by Clear Channel?? Somehow, I suspect they managed to leave out some facts. (3/20/07)
More heads rolling at Clear Channel Baltimore - DC Metro Area. No one is safe.! Can't raise revenue (so now Less is More) so cut expenses and make it appear that way. Pretty soon they won't have to worry about employees since no one without an intense sense of masochism will work for them. (3/20/07)
Hello, I was just wondering if anyone knows if everything is okay with Gordon Peterson. I have noticed that he has been off for a couple of weeks. Is it just vacation? Does anyone know. Thanks. (3/20/07)
Do you have any idea where Serphe (sp) is nowadays? Thanks. (3/20/07)
Dave's response: Maybe he's hanging out with Gordon.....
Dave, did you notice on the Examiner, the small blog about Robert Elrich's new show on WBAL on Saturday mornings? (3/20/07)
Dave's response: The Examiner here in Fairfax County? Ha ha ha ha ha ha! Imagine if that rag could get its distribution shit together. Oh the possibilities.....
Don and Mike, a bit today on that old flick Poltergeist. Cutting edge culture, you have there. Yoda McBride (3/20/07)
Nice to see "Weasel" at the Climate Change Rally today on the West
Front of the US Capitol. Sure, he promoted WLTT, but he's a good
insttitution to have around. (3/20/07)Dave's response: WLTT? A joke, right?
Was watching channel 9's 11 pm yellow jounalism tv cast monday and they had bit about some poor limo driver over in P.G. county getting sh8t beat out of him at a gas station over the weekend. what struck me as a bit odd about the piece is they interviewed the owner of the limo company standing in front of a sign a blazened with the limo company's website and phone number as the owner went on and on about the steps the company takes to protect the drivers. So one of his drivers gets beat up and they dude is telling us how they protect their drivers? Just seemed a bit askewed too me. It occurred too me that maybe this was some kind of commercial wrapped in a news story for the limo company.......and speaking of p.g. county ain't it time for channel 5 to bring the old crack mobile from the 80's out of mothballs with morris jones and hit the streets of lanham et al?........didn't EZ communications have a station in Dallas?....and weht Alan Grip? Hoot Gibson (3/20/07)
so, because we won't be getting dennis miller's show on JFK (too bad)--i went to the westwood one website and clicked on a 5 minute demo he's got there...for all his sometimes forced metaphors and analogies, dude is smart and funny. he comes from the right and the libertarian perspective, but honestly--wouldn't you rather listen to him than blowhard rush limbaugh prattle on and on and on...? come JFK dump that awful show at night--find a place for Miller--it sounds promising. (3/20/07)
Hardly an auspicious beginning for the show, given that they were promoting an interview with Ovechkin” ----- if you had watched a portion of the show and were a true ovechkin fan, he canceled because of getting caught with a high stick in Sunday’s game and woke up unable to move his mouth. He has rescheduled for next Monday, tune in then. ---- Jim (3/20/07)
On this morning's "Mickey & Amelia" radio show on 98 Rock, Mickey announced that he and Amelia will be hosting a live, uncensored web-only broadcast for an hour everyday after their regular morning show. Mickey said this would take place after construction is completed on the new studios. They called program director Dave Hill live on the air to confirm that this would be happening. (3/20/07)
Anybody remember Reggie Thomas from Baltimore radio sales back in the day? Is he the same guy suing Stevie Wonder’s station in LA? The story has been well reported in the media. (3/20/07)
Dave, Love this site. Can't get through the day without my DCRTV fix. Need to do an AM drive-time mini-rant. I don't usually listen to the rockers in the morning, but since Czaban on WTEM now has almost as many spots as Imus, I tend to surf about before and after the hour. The Globe reminds me of what happened with WHMC in the Barry Richards days. Started out waaaayyyy underground but revved up to "What can I possibly say" mania and back in the mainstream in no time at all. Sure wish they's stay with the true "Alternative before it was Alternative" format. 3 weeks ago I heard Echo and the Bunnymen. Today, I get the Rolling Stones (again). I doubt that Weasel will be playing any Slickee Boys or Beatnik Flies anytime soon. But this also brings me to BIG100. I simply cannot believe how much compression they are using; more than I did on my Fender in the 80's, and that was quite excessive. I heard the Who's "Behind Blue Eyes" and it was flatter than a pancake. Doesn't anybody listen to what they're playing? Rock is supposed to be dynamic; yes, even the Cocteau Twins. My 2 cents worth. Thanks, Frank in Arlington (3/20/07)
If yesterday's debut of Washington Post Live on Comcast SportsNet is any indication, the show will be taking an inclusive approach to the area sports scene. Host Russ Thaler actually devoted some time to discussing the women's NCAA basketball tournament with panelists Tom Boswell, Mike Wise and Dan Steinberg. Interview guests included Redskins QB Jason Campbell and the Nationals' Ryan Zimmerman - and Capitals superstar Alex Ovechkin was orginally scheduled to be on as well. Sports radio listeners turned off by Andy Pollin's narrowcasting on WTEM and John Riggins' seeming inability to get up to speed on anything not football related on Triple X may find this a refreshing alternative. CSN repeated the program twice last evening and hopefully will continue to provide at least one nightly replay (working around Wizards and Caps telecasts) for those unable to catch the live broadcast. One minor criticism is that they appeared to be pushing the 'Dan Steinberg, internet wiz' thing too hard, as if knowing how to click an icon to play audio of Rich Chvotkin calling Georgetown hoops or video of NBA action was something to be marvelled at. Hello - it's not rocket science. Meanwhile, it appears that Clear Channel managed to scrounge together enough nickels and dimes to send WTEM's Jerry Coleman to Florida to cover the Nats in spring training. While it's all well and good that he'll be filing daily reports for the station, it pales in comparison to the baseball coverage provided by Baltimore's WJFK-AM which had Anita Marks doing her afternoon show (simulcast on MASN) live from the Orioles training site all last week. Not only that, but you can often hear more Nats discussion on the weekly show hosted by Tom Davis and Phil Wood on that station than any program on either WTEM or Triple X - a sad commentary on the attitude toward baseball of those who program sports talk radio in DC. Mike, Fairfax (3/20/07)
To any of the big brains at XM or Sirius who may peruse this site: I am not paying any more money than I now pay for a combined service, or anything else. Period. I am familiar with what is offered by both services. I love my satellite radio, but I see Sirius & XM as much of the same, with difference being the various niche programming. I have Sirius for Stern, and a few of the music channels, in other words, I don't want any more niche. Giving me more of what I will never listen to, and charging me nearly double is a nonstarter. If I have time on a weekend or evening to watch a sporting event, you can damn sure bet it's going to be sitting in front of a TV, and not listening to the coverage on radio. You figure after you ax the duplicate programming and ad more commercials, the price should go down. 18-20 bucks a month, no way. I don't think with technology changing at lightning speed that satellite radio has the elasticity to survive huge jumps in cost to the consumer. At the rumored future cost, I will put my satellite receiver right next to my old 8 track player and they can gather dust together. You can take that to the bank. (3/20/07)
A couple of things: First, to Larry in Luray..I'm hoping too..that Dish Network will pick up MASN! But I fear that they may think that those of us who are "O's fans/Nationals fans"..may only represent a small part of their customers..they may not think it worth whatever they may have to pay to carry the channel! But I am..as I said..still hoping! As for the new show on Comcast Sportsnet: I tuned in just to see what was going on (this was during the first half hour)..they said that Alex Ovechkin had been injured during a game and..well..could not talk! So I would imagine that's why you didn't see him. Tom in Denton MD (3/20/07)
If Don Geronimo would pay attention to your website, he would know the reason WJFK does not mention much about his radio show on the website is because he is going to be kicked out of his job soon. The guy can’t get a hint can he? Bad ratings equal no job. Maybe someone can relay this information to the genius. Sincerely, Nick (3/20/07)
Regarding the posts below about a merger of Sirius and XM raising the monthy rate to $18-$20, Mel's got to be kidding. How can it be successful when there's no overwhelming groundswell for the two companies' product at the current price? Wouldn't they both be better off to forget the merger and try to get more listeners at their current rates? JOHN IN STAFFORD (3/20/07)
[Just because lots of people are looking at the video on Youtube does not guarantee anything more than cheap notoriety] Just because some suckers clicked on Rosenturd's YouTube creation doesn't mean that any of them actually sat through the whole thing. (3/20/07)
I tuned in to the new Washington Post show on COMCAST yesterday mostly because they had been promoting an interview with Alex Ovechkin of the Caps and I'm a hockey fan. Well, I saw Ryan Zimmerman of the Nationals and Jason Campbell of the Redskins, but no Ovechkin. Hardly an auspicious beginning for the show, given that they were promoting an interview with Ovechkin. You know the old saying about fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice shame on me? (3/20/07)
Hello everyone, Yesterday evening I got a call from Officer Contee on behalf of DC Police Chief Cathy Lanier, telling me the chief has been asked to testify Thursday morning before a House homeland security subcommittee. She's been told her testimony will happen at some point between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. We're hoping it's on the earlier side and that she will be able to make it on time to her scheduled appearance at The Q&A Cafe. Even if her testimony is as late as 11 or 11:30, she can make it because, for one thing, she can get through traffic. I told Officer Contee that rather than cancelling her appearance I would like to take the chance to see if it works out. It's worth the gamble. No matter what, we're not scrapping the lunch, our first of the spring season. To that end, after Contee's call I called the wonderful political commentator and analyst Mark Plotkin, and he's generously agreed to be on standby if Lanier gets stuck on the Hill. Mark, who hosts The Politics Program for WTOP (103.5 fm) is an ace on politics in general but DC in particular. If he is our interview on Thursday, there will be a lot to talk about - including the police department, Mayor Fenty's performance (so far), Bush, Iraq and so much more. (And if he's not, we'll have him at a later date). So, if you have a reservation for Thursday, please keep it. If you don't, please make one. It's gonna be a lovely day. We'll be serving yummy chicken parmigiana. I'll post on the website tomorrow whether Lanier looks like a go or no-go. Or, just show up and be surprised. Either way, your contact is Jon Moss at 202.338.2000. The doors open at noon, the program begins at 12:30 and the fee is $35, all inclusive. Best regards, Carol (3/20/07)
Whatever became of Joe Palka, the radio columnist for THE WASHINGTON TIMES? He used to write the nicest articles about me in his column. I wish I could connect with him once again. He's one of the good guys in the print business. BOB "THE BOPPER" O'BRIEN - (formerly of the now-defunct WXTR - XTRA 104, currently with KDES-FM, PALM SPRINGS) (3/20/07)
WRNR isn't going anywhere. All you have to do is click on the logo at the bottom of the page, and you get their full web site... (3/20/07)
Dave's response: I still say Nassau ought to buy Frederick's 103.9 from Bonneville (the George 104 relay) and put Key 103 there. And then relay WRNR on Frederick's 103.1. That would improve WRNR's signal to parts of Montgomery and Fairfax counties.....
Good news for Radio One's WOLB 1010 Baltimore from the FCC... WIOO Carlisle PA's attempt to move to AM 1010 at 5000 watts appears to have been dismissed. If it had been approved, it could have negatively impacted their now much lower 250 watt signal northwest of Baltimore. (3/20/07)
I'm pretty sure that the In Memorium page on WRNR is regarding the 4 year anniversary of the war. Today's Sound Connection (3 themed songs) had to do with "War." Barbi (3/20/07)
Re: the WRNR web page - I'm not 1000% certain, but they were making a big deal about the anniversary of the war on WRNR this AM, so I'm guessing that's what the web site is about. (3/20/07)
WRNR wasnt doing anything different this morning. I think they have been around a lot longer than 2003, also. I truly will be saddened if they change format. Kevin in Annapolis. (3/20/07)
Tony going on and on about Dancing With The Stars. Its further proof that Tony is hollow and the show stinks. If I want to hear that crap I'll listen to Jack Diamond. Washington Post Radio is a piece of shit. (3/2/07)
Dave, I went over to WRNR 103.1's web page and it says, "In Memorium 3/20/2003 - 03/20/2007" What's up with that? I can't hear them over here in the Dulles area but do visit their site. (3/20/07)
Dave's response: I get Frederick's WAFY, Key 103, on 103.1. What is WRNR playing this morning?
WYRE had a great signal all over the Chesapeake back in the day. I remember listening it all the way down in Norfolk on a good day. Music on AM is alive and well on Heaven 600, in any given book this station will beat Jack FM, Mix 106, WHFS or WZBA. Clear Channel should simulcast Lee Michaels and his crew (who have been there forever) on 104.3 FM. You would have a guaranteed top 4 station. (3/20/07)
I got this in an email this morning from Inside Radio... "Willing to pay $18 to $20 a month for a "best of" Sirius+XM lineup? The same day Mel Karmazin was wriggling around the pricing question at the House Anti-Trust Task Force two weeks ago - XM COO Nate Davis was giving the Bear Stearns conference a better fix. He was ballparking the "best of both worlds" XM+Sirius lineup at perhaps $18 to $20 a month, and that may be more than some folks on Capitol Hill expect." (3/20/07)
(regarding some previous posts) According to www.laradio.com... Steve Allison was on KABC from 1967 to 1969 and he died of brain cancer. (3/20/07)
With all of the banter about Dan Rodricks, he produced a brilliant show after the last O's game at Memorial Stadium called "Miracles On 33rd Street". WBAL made the tape available to interested listeners. I ordered my copy immediately. Of course the tape deck in my van made a meal of it within weeks. So I called in to Dan's show and told him and he sent me a replacement copy at no charge. Dan will always be OK by me! Rusty Gibson (3/20/07)
The very best thing about the new Washington Post Live on Comcast Sports Net is "Bogman" Dan Steinberg. Cute! I just love his bald head. He acts very gay but I know he's not. What a dreamboat! Maybe he could be Metro Weekly's coverboy? - Another Dan (3/20/07)
The National Association of Broadcasters is as arrogant as the industry it represents. These people aren’t broadcasters, they are appropriators. They take from everyone and give nothing in return. There’s a stink all over this industry. (3/20/07)
Dear Music Fan: This week on www.jazzradiodc.com our featured artist are as follows... March 19 to March 23... Monday - Rahsaan Roland Kirk, saxophonist... Tuesday - Kurt Elling, vocalist... Wednesday - Javon Jackson, saxophonist... Thursday - Stephane Grappelli, violinist... Friday - Lester Young, saxophonist... We're on the internet 24 hours a day at www.jazzradiodc.com and on the radio Monday through Friday from 4 pm to 5 pm in Washington DC on WMET AM 1160. On the internet you can download any of the archived show as a podcast. The archived shows also allow you to check out a show you may have missed the day it originally aired. However, I suggest you check the website periodically because currently we are limited to five archived shows at a time. Listen daily and tell a friend. Your comments and suggestions are welcome. We're here to promote jazz and keep this great art form alive and growing. Visit our website for what's happening in Washington DC. Please note we are a commercial venture and do accept advertising. If you would like to know more about selling your product or service on www.jazzradiodc.com please contact me by e-mail at cdf@jazzradiodc.com. Thanks, Carl David (3/20/07)
/\ March 20 Messages /\
\/ March 19 Messages \/
Ordinarily, I don't respond to negative reactions like the poster who "accused" me of being a Don Rodericks fan, but I will this time. I'm not a big fan of Dan Rodericks. However, whether or not I am, I was merely indicating as a recurring listener of WBAL what I thought was some tension between him and Chip Franklin. I posted a simliar observation when The Buzz began that I didn't believe Rodericks would be around long. He's undoubtedly at his best writing his column. I still recall Rodericks blowing his top during an argument with Chip over The Iraqi War. After reading a document confirming his opinion Franklin still refused to accept Roderick's viewpoint. I think I would lose control too if someone refuted something I said that was confirmed elsewhere. At least it would indicated that Chip was LISTENING and THINKING. However, I'm starting to rant. If anyone else wants to continue to listen to WBAL, that's fine with me. It seems to me that if I state a viewpoint that's considered liberal or severely criticial of a conservative viewpoint then I'm ready for the funny farm. That frightens me - should anyone who is diametrically opposed to my opinion be arrested? I thought I had calmly expressed my own opinions about what WBAL's talk jockeys are about right now. I believe it was only ten years ago that WBAL had talk jockeys with divergent points of well (Allan Prell, anybody?). Ron Smith was the only conservative in the mix. However, over the years, it gradually went in the other direction. Fine - but I chose not to listen to anymore. However, if a person want s to listen to WBAL which confirms his own perspective, good. However, let's not debunk each other because we don't share the same attitudes or views. (3/19/07)
Dave--Your PR Newswire link did not bring me to the new public radio morning program press release, so I found the info (on the WNYC site) and here it is - www.wnyc.org - (it'd be a great move on their part if they hired Bob Edwards!)--Mike from Silver Spring (3/19/07)
Dave's response: Whoops. It's fixed.....
"Loverde Family Foundation which helps privileged families." Don't you mean underpriviledged families? (3/19/07)
There will be a 50’s and 60’s oldies dance featuring ‘Committee’ members from the old Buddy Deane Show. The event is Saturday June 2, 2007 from 8 until midnight at the Wells-McComas VFW Post 2672, North Point Boulevard in Edgemere, Md. Bob Mathers is the DJ and MC. Admission is $25.00 and partial proceeds go to the Loverde Family Foundation which helps privileged families. For information and tickets, please call Joe Loverde at 410-788-9995. (3/19/07)
Still waiting for word on MASN 1 and/or MASN 2 on Dish Network. I'm turning blue from holding my breath in anticipation - - - - - Larry in Luray (3/19/07)
(Re: Tech query: I keep hearing Morse code transmissions during Imus's morning show on WTNT...) It's Imus' pacemaker. (3/19/07)
(Re:Tech query: I keep hearing Morse code transmissions during Imus's morning show on WTNT. What I hear being transmitted is "RR". Are there engineers out there who can tell me what's going on?... Dave's response: Sometimes, particularly at night and in the early morning hours, you can hear a powerful Cuban station on 570, underneath DC's WTNT.....) That's Cuban Station "Radio Reloj" (hence the "RR" in morse) from Santa Clara, Cuba. I think it's a 50,000 watter. There are a couple of other Radio Reloj's (on AM and shortwave) and you can sometimes hear the clock "ticks" under the announcer. MikeTangoSierra (3/19/07)
Still waiting for word on MASN1 in Winchester. Charles in, well, Winchester (3/19/07)
Note to the Rodricks non-fan: Jeff Beauchamp at WBAL was quoted as saying that Rodricks was offered his own show on WBAL-probably the slot Douglas now has-and turned it down. So Rodricks wasn't canned. I'm guessing that Ron Smith and Chip Franklin were growing weary of their extended hours and needed to cut back. Smith, for one, seemed quite pleased to announce the return to 3 hour shows. As far as the "homeless from Philly" goes, the story was well covered on election day. Howie (3/19/07)
The BBC thinks it is okay to talk about the word 'n*gger' on the air and the radio station that airs the BBC. They said it over and over and said it was acceptable. A few days later they said its okay to say black bastards. It did not stop there. WHat is happening on public radio? (3/19/07)
Advertising firms will tell you these small AM radio stations are a waste of time (that's what they told me) and I ended up dumping that advertising firm because........ I'm not a gospel music fan or even black, but I once purchased advertising on WCAO and WBGR a few years back for a local retail sales company and yes, it was the best spent advertising money I think I ever did as far as bang for the buck. Same story with WRBS, it's the loyalty factor of the listeners, not the volume or ratings, and I suspect other advertisers have experienced similar results on small AM radio stations like these. And I don't have any inside info on this, but I suspect that the WYRE 810 move is to serve Baltimore's still small but fast-growing Hispanic community as even a 250 watt signal from that location would completely blanket the entire Hispanic community of Baltimore city and yes, believe it or not probably could be successful given the limited costs of the move. But, the beautiful irony here is that you're going to see the largest collection of white anglo-saxon toothless rednecks collected at a public hearing ever all shouting down a proposal they'll claim endangers wildlife against a backdrop of a shit plant, AND against a black gospel radio station, WBGR, and a potentially Hispanic station WYRE, a setting that probably couldn't be re-produced in a John Waters movie even if he staged it! I can't wait! Bring on the public hearings HON! :-) (319/07)
There are some AM daytimer owners that have hung on to their sticks in hopes that the upcoming digital revolution will be their salvation, perhaps placing them on par with FM at long last. Others are waiting for that real e$tate miracle to come along before selling their tower sites for an obscene profit, but some are built on farmland or in swampy areas that are unusable for any other purpose. And of course, there are those waiting for the bigger sucker to come along and buy them out. I dont know what goes on in the minds of the owners of WDMV, WYRE, WMET, WCTN or the other daytimers/day-night stations in our area, but these are actual reasons why some dinosaurs are still walking the earth and crapping up the dial. (3/19/07)
dave, i saw don at the cvs, he was buying some of that shitty pipe tobaco and one of those things to check your tire pressure.. (3/19/07)
Just got confirmation from Cox Cable, they have no plan to set up a channel for "MASN2" in Fairfax County. Though I was told that channel space will be provided for O's games once the season begins (but not "MASN2"). Was told to simply "watch my cable bill for details". As Linda Ellerbee used to say, "And so it goes". Rusty Gibson (3/19/07)
Dave's response: Cox will be carrying MASN2 on channel 74, in place of Discovery Health.....
WYRE had some cool song contests back in the day. Remember Lirpa Loof? On April 1, 1970, the station spent the whole day regularly playing 30-second segments of the current hits backwards and offered some kind of goofy prize to those who called in and correctly guessed the song titles (thus the name Lirpa Loof, which is April Fool in reverse). It wasn't that easy; the only one I remember guessing right was Mary Hopkin's "Temma Harbour." Radio was so much fun then. KOF (3/19/07)
Tech query: I keep hearing Morse code transmissions during Imus's morning show on WTNT. What I hear being transmitted is "RR". Are there engineers out there who can tell me what's going on? (3/19/07)
Dave's response: Sometimes, particularly at night and in the early morning hours, you can hear a powerful Cuban station on 570, underneath DC's WTNT.....
steve allison... I remember him on WWDC AM, when I was a kid. Early talk show on radio from 10-12 PM at a local resturant. Phones, plus guests. He went to KABC for more talk show. then died. rk (3/19/07)
Tom Conroy says “I have to agree with Sean Hall about WYRE, they will probably never have the ratings they had years ago.” There’s an understatement for you! The daytime-only restriction—regardless of whether daytime power is 250 watts or 50,000 watts—is a critical handicap. So critical that a great number of AM daytimers gave up, knocked down the towers and sent their licenses back to the FCC 15-to-20 years ago. The real question here is: what the hell are these people thinking? Going to all the trouble and expense of moving WYRE 23 miles up the road—with no increase in power or operating hours—to do WHAT with it? Play more Gospel music for East Baltimore? Is the daytime-only AM Gospel business THAT good? We all agree that WYRE was a cool little station 35-40 years ago in its relatively short life as a Top 40 gun, but it has spent the past several decades just occupying spectrum space. In the interest of cleaning up the AM dial a bit, the best outcome would be for WYRE to disappear into that place where it belongs: our foggy, distant memories. Clang, clang. (3/19/07)
Earth to the Dan Rodricks fan.... I think it was the other way around. WBAL radio most likely got rid of dim-bulb Dan Rodricks just like WBAL TV did years ago and good for them. Anyone who has ever met this guy would be amazed that this guy who's been hit in the head with the puck a few too many times during youth hockey league actually manages to successfully use a thesaurus dictionary to write a major column for one of the east coast's biggest newspapers. The only thing better WBAL could have done would have been to get rid of dim-bulb failed comedian Chip Franklin along with him! Although I'll give Chip Franklin credit for one thing...... he had Martin O'Malley pegged correctly from the very beginning. Despite your crazed "slandering broadsheets" comment (isn't that line a campaign talking point?), it should be noted that even the very liberal Baltimore Sun has admitted that O'Malley campaign people made up the philandering stories about him on purpose in an effort to pin rumors that had been going around for years on political opponents. So do yourself a favor and please climb out of your exclusive NPR liberal radio thesaurus bubble and step into the real world. As for your other comments, "xenopho[B]ism", racism, "bussing homeless from Philadelphia" ????? Seriously, are you writing a comedy routine? Because if you actually believe that crap, I definitely would stop listening to WBAL radio and move onto serious therapy man. The help you need is far beyond the scope of WBAL radio, that's for sure! :-) (3/19/07)
Hoot Gibson mentions Barry Richards below. I haven't heard that name since the 1970's. I remember that, besides radio, he also had a local TV dance show around 1974 or so. I think it was on channel 20. What did happen to him? Will people be asking questions about whatever happened to Don & Mike and the Spots Junkies in five or ten years? JOHN IN STAFFORD (3/19/07)
To: PKB, Sorry about the confusion. So many posts, so little time. ** Like to hear Dan Rodricks take on WBAL. I only hear some of the morning drive and some afternoon drive. Great radio. When I hear the rest of the station, I just can't take the politics. Dave Durian continues to do an excellent AM morning show. Ron Smith, the best. Somehow, he was able to oppose the horrible war in Iraq with out incurring the wrath of Toby Keith and Carl Rove. I have been wanting to mention Leonard Roberts. It is really great to hear his news in the afternoon. Leonard has always been devoted to doing an interesting and informative newscast, and has such an identifiable voice and delivery. Smith with Roberts - - great stuff. Now, move them to FM and make the AM the best sports station on the east coast. Ed Graham (3/19/07)
I have to agree with Sean Hall about WYRE, they will probably never have the ratings thay had years go. Like Spa Creek, they should have a respectable signal from Back River as well. Certainly a huge part of AM signal is based on conductivity of the soil for the radials, and having them in the water is a plus. I recall years ago when the old WFBR did the same off Waterview Avenue in Baltimore. Also, after further research, they will indeed be diplexing off of 2 of WBGR's towers as was pointed out, my mistake earlier. It's interesting that we are talking about a joining of such between 2 heritage stations from the 70's (WYRE and WAYE-now bgr). Tom Conroy (3/19/07)
I'm hoping this Mr. Ayres from WCBM fame is serious about public hearings about the WYRE 810 move to Essex. This could make for a great John Waters' movie scene. I might even show up with a video cam myself. I can hear it now, "Give me a clear view of the shit plant or give me death!" These Chesaco Park people will make for a great scene. If anyone has driven by there (and driving by on I-695 is about the only way that would happen), you'd find not such a great view. The neighborhood is underneath the Baltimore Beltway, has the main northeast AMTRAK line running straight through it, huge Constellation Energy high tension electric lines, and these 3 towers that block the only view of what is now ridiculously called this Black Marsh watershed, often filled with rusted old kids bikes and truck tires either tossed by "concerned residents" or washed away from their yards. The view that these few people have (and apparently this Mr. Ayres), is a view of the water with a backdrop of what people humorously joke of as the beautiful golden dome of shit in the sky that is the Back River Waste Water Treatment Plant, the city of Baltimore main waste water treatment plant! Seriously, you cannot make this up. John Waters are you listening? I for one cannot wait for Johnny Olszewski Jr, Joseph Bartenfelder, & Jim Smith to make public asses of themselves on this one! And hey, does anyone know if Jim Smith will bring his lisp with him too? John Waters, please, please, please hire people to tape this event! It could be a hit like Appalachian ER on Saturday Night Live! :-) (3/19/07)
I'm not surprised Dan Rodricks ended his contract with WBAL. On evidence of his appearances on The Buzz he sounded unpleased with Chip Franklin's attitude. Towards the end he was becoming wary of Chip Franklin's rigidity. Rodricks was occasionaly unduly criticized for his column writings by Franklin and the other "Bastions of conversatism". Mitchell on the other hand immediately click and always laughed at Franklin. Franklin believes shouting at each other makes a debate. Can anyone understand why Rodricks left WBAL? Now that Rob Douglas has the 12:00 Noon spot I personally will no longer listen to WBAL. WBAL is continuing its adherence to so-called Conservative thinking (ready subtly concealed racism nad xenophonism) and denial of any wrongdoing by Ehrlich(no criticicsm of his bussing homeless from Philadelphia to spread slandering broadsheets concerning O'Malley, etc. Maybe that Democrats at the moment are running Congress plus NPR's growing ratings reflect that Conservative thinking is not necessarily representative of the majority. (3/19/07)
Did dcrtv dave and count gore do any sword fighting in the deep dark dank basement? Watch It!? Does the count know of musician the Unknown Hinson? is "Carnival of Souls" in public domain? Has the count ever visited the studios of Ghoul A Go Go?........You know that fellow Marc fisher mentions in his column on the likely death of most internet radio sounded very familiar...why he helped steer careers of Mary chapin carpenter, and steve forbert for a bit. Ms. carpenter is getting quite close to the stage in her career were the only place she'd be heard would be over internet radio and forbert reached that stage several years ago. and the dude also was involved with WAMA , why I know some members of Washington Area Music Association might have dreams of grandeur but most ain't going to be heard unless there is internet radio...perhaps this gentleman's fish are being fried by a far more wealthier chef......... does anyone know weht barry richards 60's to early 70's d.c. area d.,j. and rock show promoter? Hoot Gibson (3/19/07)
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So WYRE is moving to Essex...or thereabouts? My prediction is it will never eclipse the ratings we had in the late 70s and early 80s with 250w and a stick that still had radials in Spa Creek. A lot of money for nothing. /sean hall (3/18/07)
Dave's response: Hey, AMer WMET pumps out 50,000-watts of ratings power (during the daytime, anyway) and can't make a dent in the ratings.....
Back in the 1970's , a long time ago, I used to vacation on the South River near Annapolis. I remember listening to WYRE. I couldn't get it in my home near Westminster. I can remember that I liked it and wished I could get it up home.Now, all these years later,I haven't heard it in many, many years. What in the world is all the fuss about the proposed move to Essex? Does anyone really care? Do you people really listen to it now? Will it have an effect on your life? Does anyone out there listen to AM any more? JohnnyuinHanover.Pa. (3/18/07)
Dave's response: With the move of WTOP to FM, there are only two AM radio stations that show up regularly in the top 20 ratings in DC - WMAL and WTEM. And WTEM is in serious danger of falling out of the top 20. That's how bad the AM band is in DC. In Baltimore, a mere three AMers get decent ratings - WBAL, WCBM, and WCAO.....
(RE: "How come we don't celebrate any German holidays over here in America when we have so many folks of German ancestry? My grandmother's family came from Germany. Hmmm....." ) You mean like Octoberfest? (3/18/07)
Dave's response: How about Wim Wenders Day.....
Great article in Thursday's Wash Post about Baltimore's Felicia "Snoop" Pearson of HBO's The Wire. www.washingtonpost.com (3/18/07)
I don't think that WYRE proposes to use more than one of WBGR's towers. WBGR's three towers are in a line NE-SW. WYRE's proposed two towers are in a line NW-SE. (3/18/07)
A Dave Loudin/tech guru question... The WYRE CP and WBGR daytime plots (according to radio-locator.com) do not appear to have the same directional nulls or really even the same pattern at all. Is this possible when diplexing 2 AM stations on 3 towers where 1 is using only 2 of the 3 and the other all 3? And 1 is 2500 watts, the other 250 watts, seems like quite a few differences here. Is this technically possible? (3/18/07)
ZZ Top on Creature Feature! Very scary! Dave breaks out the dress sweats for the movie with Hawkeye's dead dad….. (3/18/07)
Dave's response: Gawd, I still haven't been able to mount enough courage to watch it. Will have to get mighty drunk.....
If the WBGR 860 (and soon WYRE 810) towers were to fall into Back River (Black Marsh watershed or whatever the environmentalist nutjobs call it now), it would be an improvement over the rusting bikes and truck tires that the wonderful "concerned citizens" of Essex and Chesaco Park have been tossing into the river for decades because the towers falling might actually stop all that debris from eventually washing into the Chesapeake Bay during a storm! I am so amazed by these nutcase NIMBYS, not so much how nutty they often are, but how politicians fear and are intimidated by them into taking public actions that are far too often detrimental to the general public or just an outright abuse of political power. If you were really concerned about this watershed, maybe your time would be better spent asking the city of Baltimore and the federal government why it is still dumping nearly all of the Baltimore metro area's human fecies/waste into this river, just about a stone's throw from these "dangerous" radio towers you claim are endangering birds! Sure, they have all those signs up with all kinds of BS stating they've taken this step or that step to clean the river up. But truth be told, if it smells like shit, it's a good bet it is still shit. Work on that and get back to us Mr. Ayres. Obviously you have plenty of useless wasted time on your hands. I live not far from the 3 towers myself (yes, I can even see them from my house!) and they don't bother me or anybody nor have I ever heard a complaint about them until now. So good luck WYRE 810, Essex Maryland's FIRST radio station! Booooo all these stupid politicians & community activist NIMBY nutjobs who need to get a life............... Joe in Essex (3/18/07)
Thanks for the Bob Strickland info thru '96 (I jumped ship from ch.9 before then). And re: St.Peter's reply to Mr.Longwinded-- BRAVO! TOO FUNNY! (3/18/07)
My fondest memories of WDCA when it started : 1) Powerboat races on the Potomac. 2) "Ghidra, the Three-Headed Monster"... they showed that film nearly every week! -- GAB in the Airless Cubicle. (3/18/07)
RE: [ " I will communicate more about the WYRE intervention into the Dundalk, Essex, and Chesaco Park, Rosedale area within the weeks to come. " ]............. Geez, don't waste your time. I hate to disappoint an idiotic NIMBY just when he's got himself all worked up into a blinding fact-avoiding lather, but none of the political people (and what a non-esteemed load that list constitutes) and/or community organizations mentioned is going to have ANYTHING to do with WYRE's move to Essex and Baltimore county. Why? Because it doesn't appear as if any tower construction is planned at all, hence no zoning hearings will happen. The towers are already there and have been for decades! DUH! And no wonder WCBM/WWLG never got any ratings with this guy at the helm! What a load of BS. It's people like you that systematically drain the life out of today's society. So you can put away your typewriter and head back to the assisted living facility's 500 rummy tournament. Crisis averted. You'll live to fight some other useless issue some other day I'm sure. HAha! :-) Signed -- St. Peter -- PS: Let me guess, I bet you're also involved in the Dundalk LNG opposition too right? "Ya dont wanna get ur howse all blowed up Hon!" :-) (3/18/07)
Instead of becoming _SO_ excited, Mr. Ayres ought to have used AMSTNS and Google Earth and discovered that WYRE is proposing to use the WBGR site. The small frequency difference (810 to 860) would make diplexing very difficult. Nevertheless, since one of their proposed towers has an FAA registration, it's likely to be a WBGR tower. The coordinate difference from WBGR is 88 feet in latitude and 176 feet in longitude, probably because a different "reference" tower was chosen. (3/18/07)
Re: Bob Strickland ... From John Carmody's WaPo TV Column, 8/14/96 "Another Channel 9 veteran is stepping down as illness forces Bob Strickland to resign after 27 years with the station . . . Strickland, 64, who has been a general-assignment reporter and has subbed as a weekend anchor, hasn't worked full time since mid-June, according to station sources. Friends said yesterday that he had hoped to postpone his retirement until age 65 . . . Nine old-timers recalled that Strickland was the first general-assignment reporter at the station, as the job is currently defined. For years he covered local politics, especially the mayor's office, and the state governments of Virginia and Maryland. A native of Panama, the bilingual Strickland had a major role in coverage of the Mount Pleasant riots five years ago as well as the Panama invasion in 1989 . . . Staff members, notified yesterday of Strickland's decision, are planning a farewell party when Bob is feeling better . . ." (3/18/07)
Dave's response: Ahhh, back when the Post's TV columnist covered local news. Imagine that.....
Does anyone know whatever became of former WJZ weather Guy (mid 60's) Jim Smith? Rusty Gibson (3/18/07)
Dave and Tom Conroy, It appears the WYRE AM 810 move to Essex is more than just what it appears. First, I still live in the Dundalk Essex Area, and once again, the Democratic Political machines of Baltimore County Councilman Johnny Olszewski Sr, (who was in my Dundalk High 1978 Graduating Class), his Son Johnny Olszewski, Jr (our new Delegate in Annapolis since the death of John Arnick Sr), Baltimore County Councilman Joseph Bartenfelder, and Baltimore County Executive Jim Smith may all be playing a roll in getting this Radio Station moved from Annapolis Maryland (Anne Arundel County) to Essex Maryland, Baltimore County 21221 (which is now being called the Gateway to the Chesapeake in all of the County Publications) This is going to sound somewhat complicated, but after reading Tom Conroy’s email about WYRE moving to Essex Maryland in Baltimore County I did some thorough checking and found the following: Martin State Airport (MTN) 201 Wilson Point Road, Middle River Maryland 21220, is located at 39 degrees 19 minutes, 54 seconds North Latitude, and 76 degrees, 24 minutes, 83 seconds west longitude, Essex Skypark (W48) 1401 Diffendel Road, Essex Maryland 21221, is located at 76 Degrees, 25 minutes, 58.85 seconds West Longitude and 39 Degrees, 15 minutes, 45.38 seconds North Latitude. The NEW WYRE proposed transmitted site is located according to the FCC Construction Permit at: 39 Degrees 18 minutes 44 Seconds North Latitude, and 76 Degrees 29 minutes 24 Seconds West Longitude. Using the Essex Skypark and Martin State Airport Coordinates as the base triangulation reference guides, WYRE’s new towers are to be located at or near the end of Edgewater Avenue in Chesaco Park within a literal stones throw of the WBGR-AM triple towers sight. There is not even a quarter of mile between the two sites, both as the crow flies and driving. I am very knowledgeable of that area since it is near where I currently reside. Trust me when I tell you, this will take an act of God, and St. Peter to get through and constructed. The Chesaco Park Community Improvement Association is one of the toughest organizations in Eastern Baltimore County, and when they find out about this, there is going to be hell to pay by someone. The proposed WYRE Tower site is right on the State of Maryland Environmentally protected Black Marsh-Back River Basin, and the State has forbid any type of environmentally damaging construction take place there at all. Even the adjacent Homeowners on Severn Avenue have had to get special permission for water, electrical, and sewer drainage that would not damage the fragile eco-systems in the area. Mr. Richard Dent and Company at Bay Broadcasting in Chevy Chase Maryland (WYRE Owner according to latest FCC Ownership Files) is really going to have a fight on their hands. The Chesaco Park community will roast him and his FCC CP in a pit (I am not joking) Also, every time a WBGR tower gets knocked over in the swamp during the stormy part of the season, the State EPA and Department of the Environment are all over the ownership to get the tower out of the water, which is the grazing area for the Gray And White Heron found here in this part of Maryland. It’s a very fragile eco-system area, and the only reason WBGR has been allowed to stay in the area, is because of a long standing grandfathered land clause in the Baltimore County Board of Land Records that goes back to the 1940’s, when the station was put on the air originally, and the folks at the old Glenn L. Martin Aircraft company used the station signal to home-in on Martin Airport, before the now obsolete and removed VOR and NDB were installed on the airport and off airport marina facilities. Moreover, I looked into moving into that area a few years back to build a house, and the environmental issues I would have had to over come were staggering, and Mr. Dent and Bay Broadcasting are going to really have to do some serious homework with both the Baltimore County and State of Maryland Government. Hence the political folks mentioned in the beginning of this email. The democratic political machine on the East side of Baltimore County are not happy with the constant pounding they have been getting from WCBM AM 680 since the elections in November, and the Dundalk, Essex, Middle River, Sparrows Point, Edgemere and Fort Howard areas have gone without a centralized community radio voice since WSPH-FM (The original 97 Underground) went dark on it time share frequency in the mid-80’s. I know because I did the original FCC application paperwork for that station’s time share application in the early 80’s, as I was one of the original partners of PCA Communications Corporation which then owned part of the original 97 Underground (and that’s another story, for another time) Therefore, I truly believe that Mr. Dent and Bay Broadcasting have been receiving serious assistance from the political folks mentioned in the beginning of this correspondence for this new sight. Moreover, I did some current checking on recent Baltimore County Maryland Zoning, Environmental, and Tower sight hearings that are and were scheduled on the Baltimore County Public Hearing docket schedules from January 1, 2007 to May 1, 2007; and there has been none scheduled to date for this new tower site. I don’t know whether Mr. Dent, his legal counsel and company are aware, but any all new tower sites must be approved by the Baltimore County Zoning, Environmental, and Tower sight commissions individually and be finalized before the Baltimore County Council before any construction digging of any type can be started. Furthermore, I intend to forward as a community leader, and in the best interest of all concerned, copies of this email and all of the retrieved and pertinent FCC Public information to the Chesaco Park Community Improvement Association leaders on Monday 19 March 2007 (surprise). As a fellow broadcast consultant with the best interest of all concerned involved, I welcome Mr. Dent’s opportunity in the Southeastern Area of Baltimore County; and I am willing to work with him and his organization on this project; as, the social environmental and political structure here in this area are on two different pages at times. However, I must also say, that Mr. Richard Dent and Bay Broadcasting are going to have to meet all of the standards required legally at the Maryland State and Baltimore County Government Levels to construct this Tower Site. Also, I believe through second hand sources, but cannot confirm at this time, that Mr. Dent is constructing, or has constructed a new residential property near the area of this new tower sight. If he has, or his planning to do so in the near future, this will give him a lot more clout with the social and political community’s in the immediate area of the new tower site. I have some friends who are in the residential construction business, and I remember a last name of Dent being mentioned in a meeting back in December of 2006, but do not remember any of the details why? I will check further into this matter and advise DCRTV in later correspondence. In the meantime, Tom and Joyce Conroy, as well as myself, know of only 1 Broadcast PRO Engineer in the Baltimore County area with the AM Tower site experience and clout needed to pull this job off. While I won’t mention his or her name, I will just state that this person has had to do this type of multiple Radio Tower construction job for two (2) other Baltimore AM Radio Stations in the last five (5) years, and I will leave the rest of it to you and your readers inquiring minds. However, one of those AM Stations was mentioned earlier in this email correspondence. Dave as always it is a pleasure to read DCRTV daily and I enjoy some of its fun antidotes. I will communicate more about the WYRE intervention into the Dundalk, Essex, and Chesaco Park, Rosedale area within the weeks to come. I will keep all posted as I hear from various community leaders about this project. Also, I understand WYRE did change to a country format a couple of weeks ago, and if Mr. Dent is planning same format for the new sight, we would gladly welcome AM COUNTRY to the area. We have not had AM Country since the old days of Clark West and WBMD. But, if he really wants to make a big hit here with a lot of the folks who grew up with “SOPHISTICATED ROCK ON AM RADIO” in Baltimore of the 1970’s, find Chris Emery, Bob White, and Chuck Decody for a great Rock Radio Revival in Baltimore County and we will have some real good times and support for Mr. Dent and his new WYRE Radio, Essex Maryland. Take Care, John D. Ayres, President and CEO, AYR-WAY Communications/Consulting, And Former Promotions and Public Relations Director, WCBM/WWLG Radio 1998 to 2000 (3/18/07)
Speaking of WYRE (as Joyce did), someone from Baltimore told me that WYRE has a new format after being off the air for about a week. Does anyone know anything about this? Roddy Freeman (3/18/07)
RE: [ " WYRE 810....it appears they will be building two new towers not too far away. " ]...... I'm pretty sure it's the same site and towers as WBGR 860 (see pic). They are just only using 2 of the 3, which I guess causes the coordinates to be slightly different. I believe the original plan was to build nearby along Rt. 40 closer in towards Baltimore City, but they scrapped that idea probably to save costs. Most interesting about the site pic is the water so close by. It almost looks like the snapshot was taken during a storm. I wonder if the site gets flooded often. Oh, and radio-locator.com has google earth links now so there is no need to manually plot any of these anymore. --Lazy radio geek :-) (3/18/07)
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"Unfortunately I don't have a grid map to plot both stations on." Download my AMSTNS (and/or TVFMSTNS) from home.earthlink.net. This allows marking transmitter locations on DeLorme Street Atlas or Google Earth. Get TXT2CSV from users.erols.com/rcarpen to convert TXT files that xxSTNS can produce to CSV Points of Interest files to upload to Garmin mapping GPS receivers. Can you say "Radio Geek"? (3/17/07)
For many of us who grew up in the 60's and 70's, we remember 810, WYRE, The Voice of the bay quite well. It appears that they will be making the move to Essex Md since the CP was issued. That means a complete change of city of license. Looking at the map, I immediately though they might diplex on WBGR's sticks, but after checking the coordinates, it appears they will be building two new towers not too far away. The coordinates shows are 38-58-13N, 76-30-28W. These are different from WBGR's. Unfortunately I don't have a grid map to plot both stations on. WYRE will still be 250 watts, daytime only, but will be directional SE. Now that I'm down in SW Virginia, I really count on DCRTV to keep me up on what's going on. I appreciate that a lot. Thanks, Tom Conroy (3/17/07)Why don't George Michael have Christine Brennan or Sally Jenkins or his daughter Lindseed Czarniak on Full Court Press? Have Wilbonds and Kornholio abandoned the show?...do the mcrosenbergers have strategy seesions? jump the snark (3/17/07)
Whatever became of ch.9 reporter Bob Strickland? (I have very few memories of him on-air after 1990, circa Marion Barry's crack trial.) Thanks. (3/17/07)
("Dave's response: Yeah, Ehrlich, such an Irish name. NOT. How come we don't celebrate any German holidays over here in America when we have so many folks of German ancestry? My grandmother's family came from Germany. Hmmm.....") Oops, Dave! Ehrlich is our former governor; the current one is Martin O'Malley. Last time I looked that was an indisputably Irish name. Mother Hubbard (3/17/07)
Dave's response: Two words - Spiro Agnew.....
Today, as I was listening to 92Q Jams, I noticed that former part-time announcer/ former assistant production director Dre Johnson was on the air during Paula Campbell's 3pm-7pm time slot. Could it be that 92Q finally see the need to not have a personality who was actually "not a personality" but an "R&B artist" who was on the air alongside MD Kelson (who ran the boards for her) just to help boost Saturday ratings. If so, it was something that should have been done a long time ago. (3/17/07)
The absolute funniest thing about Tarzan Theater on Channel 20 were the commercials for it that basically just used a close-up of an office plant. Claaaassic. (3/17/07)
Question Dave....... Why do you let people hammer Anderson Cooper repeatedly on DCRTV, especially The Washington Blade of all sources, possibly the worst journalists outside of 3rd world journalism? Only Baltimore's City Paper is less factual and more gossipy! And you give everyone ELSE who's gay and a hypocrit a free pass (and/or edit/delete posts) even when about people within the same organizations?!?!? It just seems a bit unfair/hypocritical or as if you have something against Anderson Cooper or something else I'm missing to this editorial madness? No, I have absolutely no special info about Anderson Cooper, but even if I did, I'd out Sheppard Smith FIRST! That man spent a long LONG time hangin out in the French Quarter during Katrina, pretending there was a crisis in that particular area (there wasn't at all), all the time half drunk at a bar that shall remain nameless forever! And gets a free pass. Grrrrrrr. (3/17/07)
*snip* Funny how none of the legions of Rosenberg haters *snip* First, there are probably less than 5 people who would even bother commenting on Rosenberg at this point. If he can turn his "talents" into notoriety on YouTube, all the power to him. But since his radio career was over in the time it takes to sneeze, not sure why his material is posted at DCRTV, unless it's by the kindness of the webmaster, or more likely that he will do anything to raise the hit counts on his YouTube vids./// *snip* top 10 in every category...Had 150,000 views in 24 hours. Seems to resonate a bit more than Don and Mike's old fat man schtick...*snip* Thanks for the update, we can count on you and Rosenberg to keep us apprised of his mentions, and activities on YouTube. This Rosenberg fan gives himself away every time by trying to link Don & Mike and Rosenberg's critics on this site. Because those two puffy mudflaps who still broadcast at WJFK couldn't get more than a 1000 hits on YouTube even if they oiled themselves and were wrestling each other in Sumo garb, or whether their ratings suck here, there, or everywhere is not comparative to Rosenberg getting one or a trillion hits on YouTube. The reality is D&M have a 20+ radio career and get stroked a fat check every week, and Rosenberg flamed out as a radio broadcaster because he was awful. Rosenberg's parodies on YouTube, no matter how popular, are the media of last resort. I don't hate Rosenberg, but he faces the same problem so many do on the Internet: how to make anyone pay for content, if indeed this is his goal. Lots of YouTube action may be personally satisfying, but turn those 5 zillion hits into more than 10 dollars, and I'll be the first to gobble a slice of crow laden pie. Until then, keep reaching for the soap in the shower stall, it's going to be a rough ride. An Unnamed Poster (3/17/07)
Dave, Dave, Dave.....the Friday blowjob to CBS Baltimore was an embarassment. It looked like a paid billboard. Did they write that themselves, or does that come with your new paid subscription to the site? It would have been more sad, if what was said weren't so laughable. You're congratulating a cluster that has failed in virtually every programming effort undertaken in the last 8 years. The cluster had a 12+ share in the mid 20's prior to 2000. Now, it's struggling to stay at a 15......and it needs a month of Christmas music on WLIF to pump its numbers enough to get that. A little history lesson: WHFS used to be called WXYV. It used to be at 102.7 as a CHR, until it began to eat away at MIX - so they flipped the frequency with WQSR (the Oldies, not the JACK) in 2001 and changed it to "X105.7 - Blazin' Hip Hop and R&B", ---going after the brilliant 92Q. Failed in less than a year. In comes Hot talk. Let's play "name the midday host" on that one. Remember "Out To Lunch"? They needed the HFS call letters in '04 to give even a minimum of credibility to a failing station. What about the new "music nights and weekends" on "the new" HFS? In a market with no top-40 and only 12 or 13 stations, they found better success running block programming on the weekends. The Junkies - successful in DC - couldn't draw in a market of so few male-based stations. The "next big thing" that they touted back then ended up as a big failure. In come Kirk and Mark, whose best days were behind them in the last sad year of Kirk, Mark, and Lopez. Listen to the show on HFS - nothing has changed - they're as boring and uninspiring as they were the last two years on 98. Other station successes? Oldies WQSR was dumped for JACK - and everyone knows the "roaring success" that's been. MIX is suffering too. Should I mention ESPN 1300---remember when it was called "The Jock"? Will this be the year it cracks the top 20? Maybe the team-controlled O's programming will help. While you're patting them on the back for revenue performance, ask yourself how many commercials run per hour on 'HFS or any of their other stations. Then, consider that they own more than a third of the signals for commercial sale in Baltimore - but three of them don't rank in the top ten in 12+ rankings. WHFS was 17th in the last book - in basically a 12-station market - and was outperformed in its home market by several DC stations. A 50% increase in ratings in the next book still wouldn't make the station respectable. I'm not sure what prompted such "service" for CBS Baltimore, but I hope they at least offered to clean up afterwards. (3/17/07)
Not only did WBFF 45 run Star Trek in re-runs in this area around that time, but few people remember that WJZ 13 for a time ran Star Trek every Sunday morning. I only remember because it made us late for church every week and drove my mom nuts. Before that it was Tarzan theater on WDCA 20 that drove her nuts for the same reason. (3/17/07)
It's St. Patrick's Day and WBAL radio 11 has yet to say anything about this so, anyone know if Maryland's brand new governor is going to do his normal routine, ya know... play guitar to a Green Day song, get drunk off his ass, pass out on stage, and? oh nevermind. You get the picture. Even if it happens again, no one will ever know, that's for sure. (3/17/07)
Dave's response: Yeah, Ehrlich, such an Irish name. NOT. How come we don't celebrate any German holidays over here in America when we have so many folks of German ancestry? My grandmother's family came from Germany. Hmmm.....
MASN rehash. Many Maryland residents that live just outside Ocean City get to use MediaCom as their cable operator. That's one cable outfit that currently, according to their service reps, have no plans to add MASN at this time. Actually the phone rep from the midwest that I talked to didnt even know what it was. She said we already had 'Home Team Sports' as our local sports network. I don't have high hopes on this happening. (3/17/07)
I loved Creature Feature even as a kid growing up in Baltimore. Everyone I knew as a kid struggled to get the grainy pic of channel 20 WDCA back then from around here and our TV was in the basement! Desperate for that show, Ultra-Man, Johnny Socko, Marineboy, & Aquaman/DC Comics 15min cartoons (none were on WBFF 45 at the time), I somehow hoodwinked my mom into thinking the TV was broken and needed a $200 outdoor antenna installed on the roof. Boy was Dad mad when he figured out I'd just unplugged the rabbit ears from the back of the TV, but unfortunately he got home from work too late to stop the installation. I was now the popular kid on the block. Thanks Count Gore De Vol! :-) (3/17/07)
Dave's response: Hey, here in Northern Virginia in the early 1970s, I recall many evenings when several of my high school pals and I would gather around a TV with a grainy broadcast signal of Channel 45 watching classic "Star Trek" or "Get Smart" reruns. In fact, we did have cable at the time (Warner Cable of Reston), with channel B-8 "reserved for" WBFF. But it was several years before the cable system actually got around to adding the Baltimore indie.....
I wonder if that initial Comcast SportsNet ad on page one of the Post's Sports section will end up being for its new "Washington Post Live" program. The Post writer should have asked that quesation, considering the obvious intersections of interest. Everett W. (3/17/07)
Dave's response: And I can't imagine that CSN is paying a "premium" rate for the ad since it's a cross-promotion with the Post.....
As a Maryland Terp's fan someone sent me this video on why Duke Sucks. And then I realized, isn't this Peter Rosenberg??? Note to those clicking on the link, it contains offensive language and is offensive to all rappers, even the White ones..... www.yikers.com (3/17/07)
Comcast already shows all those college baseball games on its CSS venture with Charter Cable in the Southeast. I wonder if they'll pick up the CSS minor league Game of the Week as well. Howie (3/17/07)
Actually, the video is not anywhere near being most watched today on Youtube. Did you really think nobody would check? (3/17/07)
I've worked in traffic and I've worked at WNAV, and I really can't understand the grief fired at the DJ and PD. Traffic is a world all to itself; it takes ages to really get on top of it. Few people outside of the specialty understand all the nuances of sorting out what's important and what's not and getting it across to the listener, and there are more than a few working in the business that don't completely get it. I'll agree that it would have been nice if the DJ had put more information out more often, but she did what she knew how to do and that's that. She may not even have known where the closure was. WNAV is a small station and they don't have 20 people standing around to back you up; the DJ may well have been busy with other things when the phoned traffic reports came in. I have to give the station credit, as others have, for staying live and local. That fact alone is enough to earn my respect for the PD. I'd also point out that WNAV is a known product-like a lot of stations, traffic isn't their specialty. Those of us who have to have dependable traffic information know where to get it; like others I don't understand why this person didn't simply change the station. Going to WTOP for a minute or two to catch a traffic report is not exactly rocket science. I think this guy was way off the mark and I've got to wonder about the rest of the story. While there was no hope of getting rich at WNAV (at least for me) it was a decent place to work and the people there were great. If I could afford it, I'd go back in a heartbeat. (3/17/07)
Dave's response: As they say at the end of foreign films - "fin" with this topic. I really mean it this time.....
I not just want to clarify something for Mr. Ed Graham...PKB is not attacking WNAV. That was someone else. PKB if anything was agreeing with PLB. PKB (3/17/07)
/\ March 17 Messages /\
\/ March 16 Messages \/
"not to toot my own horn..." -- but you're going to anyway, right Peter? I haven't seen this video yet, and I'm not sure I'm going to waste my time with it. Just because lots of people are looking at the video on Youtube does not guarantee anything more than cheap notoriety. Would seem with all his stunts that Rosenberg is proving Andy Warhol's adage true, that we all get our 15 minutes of fame. I just can't be sure when those 15 minutes were, in Rosenberg's case. (3/16/07)
Damian is no longer on in the evenings on WRNR. I guess the further slide of WRNR. The website says he is on Sundays from 9-12, what a shame. (3/16/07)
Indeed none of us are perfect, but the perky Doreen Gentzler made a unforgiveable error in grammar on the 6PM news tonight. She said someone was "drug". The past tense of drag is "dragged" not "drug"... Regards Biff (3/16/07)
Nice to see Harry Jaffe's hard on for the Post continues. Now he's complaining about a lack of columns on the front page? The whole front page of the Sports section was devoted to the touranment! Five different stories, for each of the five "local" teams in action, plus a substantial amount of art. They then devoted several more pages inside, including columns from Wise (the best the Post has now) and Wilbon (second best, and not in any way an insult) on the scene. On top of that, they've provide lots of content online. Harry Jaffe is clearly just a whiner, and no matter what the Post did he'd still find fault. Does he enjoy living life as such a raging, whining, miserable douchebag? (3/16/07)
One difference: Weird Al more talent in his little pinky than McRosenburger has in his and his stooge's entire bloated bodies. I am so angry I wasted 2 minutes of my life before hitting stop on that awful horrid tripe. That was 2 minutes I could have spent clipping my toenails, plucking nose hair or flossing the cat. I had to turn on Unzipped to rinse out my ears *PUKE* (3/16/07)
I give Rosenberg a "P" for persistence. He won't go away. Ok, I won't bash the speed bump that was his radio career, that has been well hashed. At least this latest horn tootage is slightly more accessible, so at least he has learned that much. If you can figure out how to make money being the poorman's YouTube version of Weird Al, more power to you. But, I think you need some better visuals to sell your parody tunes. Let's face it, you aren't a stunner, but at least surround yourself with some eye candy. Image is everything, or just about. If you angling to be a one-hit novelty wonder, it might help if you have some natty skanks dancing around during the interludes. (3/16/07)
Funny how none of the legions of Rosenberg haters chime in to say that he had the biggest video on all of youtube yesterday. "This Is Why Duke Sucks" within hours was top 10 in every category on the site and was mentioned on the AOL sports blog and Washington Post sports blog. Had 150,000 views in 24 hours. Seems to resonate a bit more than Don and Mike's old fat man schtick which can't even get decent ratings in the second rate markets they are in..... youtube.com (3/16/07)
blogs.tvweek.com: As we countdown to the wrap of “Sports Machine,” we’ve been working on setting up our show’s finale and going through our entire library of tape pinpointing key moments from our show to re-air.
Boy is that a tough job. What do we include? What do we delete? There is so much for us to review and we want to make it good so people will enjoy it. I’m proud though that we’ve been able to get so much footage as we’ve always been able to get athletes to give us what they were really feeling at the time, not just canned quotes.
One clip I want to put it was from when I spent a lot of time with NFL great Walter Payton. Another one that jumps out at me was an interview I did with NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt. That was just after John Elway had finally won his first Super Bowl and Dale wanted to look at the tape of Elway where he was running for a first down and the look on his face was clear “I don’t care if I get killed, I’m going to make this first down.”
After never winning Daytona, Dale said to me on camera, “I don’t care what happens, I’m winning this race.” He then went out there and did it. It was incredible!
Other interviews were looking at showing include baseball great George Brett just after he won the World Series, and Wayne Gretzky right after he first became a pro. I’m telling you, if you look at him today compared to when he was a kid, he hasn’t changed at all.
I’m telling you, now that I don’t have to work the NCAA tournament, I realized that now I’m actually going to have to lay money out to watch the games. Needless to say, I turned out the credit card and now for once I get to sit back and enjoy March Madness without having to thing about what we should be doing for the news or the show.
I’m going to like this. (3/16/07)I find it sad to report it is now clear Chris Core has lost his ability to think logically and this burgeoning mental illness does not appear to be subsiding. This loss was discovered after Chris' first segment this morning on the fired US Prosecutors. When Chris said that he could not understand why it was such a big issue, (dismissing US prosecutors for political reasons juxtaposed with political protection), it became clear Chris' mental facilities have slipped away-in other words, Chris' statements were aggravatingly illogical and sounded like the rants of extremely disturbed man with aluminum foil sheets sewn into his baseball causing his myopic vision (usually named Mark Levin). It was painful to listen to Chris this way. In Lieu of flowers, donations can be made in the name of Chris Core to Catholic Mental Illness Ministries, 39 N. Austin, Oak Park, Il. 60302. Thank you and God Bless. (3/16/07)
Ray Scott died a few years back. He was a great, restrained announcer. Shawn in DC (3/16/07)
not to toot my own horn, but my new video (www.youtube.com) that I put out Wed is just about the biggest video of the week on youtube. It has gotten written about all over the place and is a huge hit on tons of college campuses...just thought I'd let you know..you should check it out hope all is well... Peter (3/16/07)
Dave's response: Not for Duke fans.....
RE: "Oh, and I still think you're a disgruntled ex-employee or a rejection. I hope this is the end of this. You're wasting DCRTV space." Actually he's both. If he was so determined to point out that the traffic information was lacking detail perhaps he would have been SMART ENOUGH to go to the station management and tell them about it. Of course he won't do that because the voice at the other end would say "didn't we fire you a few years ago?". Instead he comes here, disects the entire hour of what was and wasn't said and INSISTS that the jock and PD should be fired. His complaint isn't about traffic it's about the people he didn't get along with when he worked there. This WNAV poster no longer works there for a reason. A reason actually stated in his most recent post - "the person with the complaint must be an a**hole". Out of all of your previous inane ramblings that was the only thing you managed to say that we can all agree on. Now please go away. (3/16/07)
Dave's respinse: And that's the last word on this topic.....
Hey PBL: Do you think that just because YOU state “end of conversation” that people on this site will actually listen to you? Just who are YOU ? The the DCRTV Censor? Or, just an obnoxious blow-hard trying to intimidate anyone who is just stating an opinion ? Oh… PBL it’s NOT the end of conversation. Look who’s calling whom STUPID. Case in point: Just what does the phrase “This is the the "radio genious" that suggests that 1)” mean? What is a GENIOUS? Perhaps you meant GENIUS. And what about the DOUBLE the-the. Also the sentence “any intelligence would KNOW what secdtion.” Again, what does that mean? What’s SECDTION? And you’re calling Too Bad stupid? Ever hear of “Spell and Grammar Check?” Probably not! I’ll await your reply, and I’m sure it'll be rife with poor grammar, misspelled words and incorrect syntax. LeeInDC (3/16/07)
WOW! College baseball produced by another company. That is big news from the bethesda giant Comcast sportsnet. Where did that plan come from. I bet record numbers of TV's will switch away from MASN's MLB coverage to watch the SEC. Why don't they find a community college in Oregon to televise. Well if you cant play with the big guys, this is what you get a month out of the baseball season. I wonder if color bars would get better ratings. At least we would set up our tv's at home.... MLB FAN (3/16/07)
The depths of stupidity: WTOP interviewed the whore who has been whoring herself out to every media outlet on planet earth, trying to sell her list of whore-clients, about her whoring today. The whore said she is actually a “shy” and “private” person. I’m not really sure what the news value of this was supposed to be. Bet she was a great whore, though. (3/16/07)
Does anyone know whatever became of the former Great voice of the Green Bay Packers ( &later TV voice of the old Washington Senators), Ray Scott? Rusty Gibson (3/16/07)
Celebrate the 30th Anniversary of GAMERA with a showing of the original classic, tonight on "Monster Madhouse Live" (monstermadhouse.com) from 10:00 p.m. until midnight on FCCTV (Channel 12) in Falls Church. Clips from the 2006 remake will be shown, scenes of a home grown monster "Zillagodd" rampaging Baltimore, and most importantly - how many members of the cast will make it in because of the weather? MML is what live local television is all about! Since it's debut this past summer, "Monster Madhouse Live" (hosted by "Karlos Borloff" and "The Monsterminators") has gained local and national attention, and has become a destination for guests such as Tom Savini and regional heart throb, Count Gore De Gol. In addition to being treated to some great giant rubber monster film action tonight, one lucky viewer will win a copy of JAWS on DVD! FCCTV can be seen in Fairfax County and Falls Church on Cox and Starpower, and can be seen in all of Northern Virginia on Verizon's Fios service. (3/16/07)
PLB calls me "stupid" after he read my "retort." Real intelligent, PLB. Is that the best you can come up with? If PLB knows anything about radio, it's not above his neck that's for sure. PLB is like a one-way street. Glad he has nothing to do with radio or we'd be in worse shape. I wonder who types his messages for him? (3/16/07)
WTOP reports that Larry King went in for surgery either yesterday or today. (3/16/07)
www.washingtonian.com - Washington Post Sports Columnists Missing in Action - By Harry Jaffe - "On the Wednesday before the start of the NCAA basketball tournament, March madness has overtaken the nation, and the Washington Post has not one column on the front of the Sports section. Nada. Zip. The biggest sports section in the nation's capital published no columns"..... (3/16/07)
Valerie Plame shows up late, drunk for her own hearing: is admonished by pink suffragette drag queen with no bush: hotair.com (3/16/07)
To: PKB Just wanted you to know that, over the years, WNAV has been one of the best run small market stations in the USA. You seem to take a mistake made by a DJ (acronym for incredibly busy entertainer who has to work under pressure - - in real time) and condemn an entire station. Remember, this personality is not a traffic reporter. A good PD would not fire someone that makes a mistake, a good PD would say, " great show...but, next time you have a road closure, if traffic is not coming up, mention where the problem is." It's a error, but not a big deal. PBL would create a disaster if he bought a radio station. He would hire good DJs and play great music. The rest of the market would have to start doing radio right. On a small station, a small mistake means nothing. The major stations make BIG mistakes and Joel Hollander still has a job. I just don't understand your attacks on WNAV. Ed Graham (3/16/07)
The way MASN runs its show (horrible SD broadcasts, reruns of High School basketball games from December, moldy O's and Nats "classics" from years past, and the annoying MASN sports ticker doing the squeeze), you'd think it really was "Pete's Independent Sports Network" broadcasting out of a garage in Wild West Fairfax. (3/16/07)
what ever happened to Karen Meyers at Fox 5? (3/16/07)
"Too Bad" I read your retort. Evidently you're STUPID! End of conversation! PLB (3/16/07)
Don Geronimo mentioned on a recent show that his dream guest would be Robert DeNiro. Well, DeNiro played the Rupert Pupkin character in the King Of Comedy. Does that mean Geronimo has a secret admiration for DCRTV Dave, who he has nicknamed Rupert after the Pupkin charaxcter? By the way, master "and then I really worked it" comic Jerry Lewis also starred in the King Of Comedy and today is Jerry's birthday. Happy birthday Jerry! It's a small world after all. - Tonic (3/16/07)
WJFK is currently running 3 different promos for the Don & Mike show, and all of them start off with someone saying something, then Mike chiming-in using some weird voice and yelling "ASS!" and everyone laughs hysterically. Now, having not listened to the show quite a while, is that all that they do now to garner laughs, or is that just some lazy promo guy cutting in the same quote at the end of every promo thinking it's funny? Wouldn't surprise me if that's all Don & Mike have left is yelling "ASS!" to get laughs. (3/16/07)
To PLB: Chill. If you're doing a traffic report, you say where the accident is located. The listener expects the location so they can take an alternate route. Sometimes the traffic reporter provides alternate route information. It is not acceptable on WNAV to say something like, "There's an accident on Rt. 50 and traffic is delayed." Any listener will ask, "Where!" And rightly so. So, PLB, I hope you do not own or in the future buy a radio station. That would be a disaster in the making. Probably automated with no live announcers and no traffic reports. Too bad. (3/16/07)
"The town of Green Bay owning the Packers" OK I'm a douche for nit picking but as a life long Packer fan and Wisconsin native, the Packers are owned by the fans (stockholders) and not the actual city of Green Bay. Interesting side note, until 1997 if the team was sold, the proceeds would go to the local American Legion post. (3/16/07)
It looks as if WDMV still has a studio somewhere in Fairfax. The station placed a Craigslist DC ad for board-ops. (3/16/07)
The WFLS party must have been a blast! To the staff members: Look yourself in the mirror every morning and thank God that your station wasn't gobbled up by one of the mega-conglomerates. Isn't it nice to be able to do "Real radio."...In spite of all the negative mailbag complaints regarding WNAV, I surely give props to Pat Sajak for keeping his stations in Annapolis and Westminster "live" and community involved. There aren't many properties like those left....Johnny Dark (World Space Satellite Radio) (3/16/07)
Speculation in the NY Post today that Joel Hollander is on the way out at CBS Radio, hopefully he'll take Hughes with him. www.nypost.com (3/16/07)
Just to add to Steve Chaconas's comments on WFLS and Brian Strobel...Strobel has been a "regional treasure" at WFLS for 30 years and is one of the classiest acts I've had the pleasure of working with in my 20 years in radio. Up until 6 months ago I spent 5 of those years working in the FLS cluster and not only was it a pleasure to come to work each day for that company but the people Steve mentioned (Jon, Paul, Kristen, John) were part of a larger group of folks that obviously get what it takes to win and have fun doing so. Congatulations Brian! Rich Creeger (3/16/07)
What if it wasn't named MASN, and named "Pete's Independent Sports Network" instead? Think they would call it....Oh, never mind. (3/16/07)
Yes, I do remember Issues and Answers. It was ABC's half-hour Sunday interview program, its equivalent of NBC's Meet the Press and ABC's Face the Nation. It was hosted for many years by Bob Clark, just as Meet the Press was hosted for many years by Bill Monroe (and in about the same time frame). I don't know when it began (probably sometime in the fifties or early sixties) but I do know when and why it ended. A couple of years after Roone Arledge took over ABC News, he lured David Brinkley from NBC, partly with the promise that he could host an hour-long Sunday news show. This show, of course, was This Week (with David Brinkley for as long as he was on it); it started in 1981 and replaced Issues and Answers, becoming the first of the Sunday talk shows to go to an hour (Meet the Press did not follow suit until some time later). (3/16/07)
Hey "Legs", we talk about tv & radio because, (drum roll) this is a site dedicated to tv & radio. Though some of the other things are much more important I agree. I respect Lisa Baden & the amount of effort she puts into her job, but I could do without the singing & posturing. It takes away from the information. I like the guy who compared the traffic reports & information given by 3 different Baltimore stations on one incident the other morning. Coincidentally, 3 different companies provide the information on those stations. Take that for what it's worth. WNAV, along with WAGE & WTTR are the last of a dying breed. Rimshot AM stations with live, local programming. In view of that, a little leeway should be given to the on air folks who may not be as polished as their big market colleagues collecting big market paychecks. Things like TSL & listener retention may not be top of mind to them. (3/16/07)
About TV on radio: thanks for the history and what TV shows aired on radio in the past. I think it wasn't right then to do it. And it's not the right thing now to do. "Local" radio has so much to offer but the corporate money-pinchers often won't allow it. And as for "local" WNAV in Annapolis, the complainant is correct about the announcer not giving enough information for too long a time. Probably an inexperienced person learning the trade. Not sure if the PD should be canned but for sure the PD should be educating the uneducated. (3/16/07)
Harden & Weaver, Casey Kasum, Dick Clark....Brian Strobel???? Last night the WFLS morning man celebrated his 30th consecutive year on the air! The station threw a listener party for him last night at Brocks Riverside Grill in Fredericksburg. It was packed! The lovely and talented princess of country music, his new morning partner, Jessica Cash (formerly of WMZQ/WBIG Murphy and Cash) was there! These two radio pros showed how to work a room and that you don't need to insult your audience to keep listeners. WFLS is a family owned station still cranking out great radio and demonstrating how to keep in touch with their audience. The rest of the radio staff, other DJ's like Kristin Nash, the PD, the OPs Manager, the owner, office staff and others were there. Even the Account Exec was there to make sure the event ran well and the sponsors were happy. A lot of the key people at WFLS came from successful careers in "corporate clusters" to be part of a continuing legacy of great radio! Corporate radio should take a lesson from WFLS in how to keep radio local and from Brian and Jessica in how to keep radio fresh. And from all of the staff, keeping radio FUN! Too bad corporate radio has forced employees into a position to try to "keep" their jobs rather than just allowing them to "do" their jobs! Great job WFLS, Great to see Jessica Cash! Congratulations Brian Strobel and thanks for 30 years of friendly radio! Steve Chaconas (3/16/07)
For the last time (I hope) This is the the "radio genious" that suggests that 1) They fire the PD-Sure he's only been there for decades and ALWAYS has run a successful LOCAL radio operation. 2) Format, format is format, backsell-no sell..so what? 3) Considering where WNAV is located any one in the area that had any intelligence would KNOW what secdtion. It's not up to the personality to be the newsperson. 4) As mentioned by YOU traffic and news did the job.5) If you owned that station it would be a disaster. Change stations forever. Stop second guessing success, stop speculating on what you'd do..Buy a station and DO IT! Oh, and I still think you're a disgruntled ex-employee or a rejection. I hope this is the end of this. You're wasting DCRTV space. PLB (3/16/07)
The town of Green Bay owning the Packers has worked out great up there, but the NFL many years ago changed the rules of ownership, preventing that from ever happening again. (3/16/07)
(regarding some previous posts) TV on radio is nothing new. I'm 52 and when I was 5 or 6, Arthur Godfrey's mid-morning TV program and Art Linkletter's House Party were on WTOP-AM and Channel 9. I seem to recall that they weren't simulcasts. The audio of the TV was "time-shifted" a bit to a late-morning slot on the radio. Another example of TV on radio was the Nixon-Kennedy debates. People who watched on TV thought JFK won and those who only heard the debate on radio thought Nixon won. Also, for a time, the popular quiz show with Groucho Marx "You Bet Your Life", ran on NBC TV one night of the week and there was also a radio version on another night. Believe it or not, they didn't merely run the audio track from the TV version. It was the same show with the same contestants, but edited "for the ear", so to speak. (3/16/07)
Dear Dave: "Legs' writes "...and the fact that Duke really stunk up the joint in their first-round loss in the NCAA Tourney yesterday (hey, they blew up my brackets, what can I say?)..." First off, as a Tar Heel fan, watching UNC win and Duke lose on the same day of the tournament was like Christmas, New Year's, and my birthday all rolled up into one. Secondly, last night gave me yet another reason why I prefer DirecTV over the local cable monopoly that is Comcast. As in the past, I added the Mega March Madness package to my DirecTV subscription, and last night it came in handy. The North Carolina/Eastern Kentucky game was scheduled to be carried by Channel 9 last night, which meant that of the four channels set aside by DirecTV for the March Madness package, the UNC/EK game would be blacked-out in order to protect Channel 9. True to form in the past, CBS switched Channel 9 away from the UNC/EK game about 7 minutes after UNC had built a 20-point lead in favor of the Indiana/Gonzaga game, leaving me fuming for a minute...until I switched over to the appropriate March Madness package channel and found that the blackout of the UNC game there had been lifted, allowing me to see the rest of the game (which looked dicey for a while until Carolina pulled away with a 21-point victory). I'm glad that DirecTV and CBS has that arrangement worked out because while I think CBS does a good job of covering the tournament, the most irritating thing it does is the way it makes subjective decisions of when a game is turning into a blowout and starts switching audiences to another game. I know the reason why: they don't want to lose viewers due to a yawner. OTOH, when you're a fan of a particular team, a package like this is a godsend. Until cable can deliver the same thing, I'm sticking with satellite. Great site Dave! Sincerely, Joe Kasell (3/16/07)
To the person who says "so please chill." Radio is radio and television is television. Different. Putting TV shows on radio, in my opinion, is running a radio station on the cheap. There are a lot of radio stations airing audio of CNN Headline News. It's terrible when an anchor or reporter says, "take a look at this." Cannot do that listening to the radio. Most radio station owners, the bottom-line corporate honchos, have taken radio down to the present level. Radio used to be fun to listen to. Informative. Interesting. Entertaining. Even educational. TV on radio doesn't fit. Voice-tracking sucks. Automation is for the birds. (3/16/07)
I'm the original WNAV poster. Let me say again what I've said before. 1) WNAV has been an excellent local station over the years. 2) On Monday afternoon, there was an accident that closed Route 50, and in the course of 45 minutes between 3:25 and 4:10, the jock said those exact words ("Route 50 is closed") about 8 times, without ever saying where. 3) Given that WNAV covers about 50 miles of Route 50, those mentions were of no value to listeners on Route 50. There were 2 traffic reports and 1 news report during that time that did mention the location of the accident on Route 50. 4) Also during that same time, the announcer opened the mic after every record, but never once back announced a song, including several that I had never heard before. 5) But that may be the format there, because I've heard Duckman do the same thing. 6) IF I were the owner, I'd fire the PD for allowing the announcer to do her "job" in that manner. 7) A local station has an obligation to the local community, which I believe WNAV did not serve that day. And, f