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Current Mailbag - Mailbag Archive Index - DCRTV Front Page - Support DCRTV DCRTV Mailbag - July 12 to July 16, 2007 Latest messages listed first..... \/ July 16 Messages \/ (Hey Dave, you missed a chance to show you led the way again on a media story, check the mailbag archives) AS FIRST REPORTED ON DCRTV.COM, LAST FALL -- "No Going Back To Old Copper After Verizon FiOS - 7/8 - From Slashdot: As it hooks up homes and businesses to its FiOS fiber-optic network service, Verizon has been routinely disconnecting the copper infrastructure..." ////There is a way around the problems Verizon creates with this policy. People in areas served by FiOS can order DATA ONLY fiber optic service. They will argue the hell against against it, but tell them you will accept two bills, and that you insist that their subcontractors do not touch the existing copper pair. (7/16/07) How long after Don & Mike leave WJFK, do you think it will take for the station to make a complete format change? JOHN IN STAFFORD (7/16/07) Dave's response: My guess is that it's already started - a gradual shift to sports talk..... As explained to me, the "move" of WTWP-FM from Warrenton to Manassas is all about saving money. With Maanassas as city-of-license, the studios on Idaho Ave lie _just_ within the magic 25 miles. Warrenton is beyond that distance and they had to maintain a "main studio" at Warrenton or at least within 25 miles of Warrenton. The "move" eliminates that need. Ain't radio wunnerful? (7/16/07) Maybe MPR is figuring that having LA and DC stations is the beginning of a news network to compete with NPR. Who knows? Perhaps they will partner with WNYC, which is busy making a new morning news show. Bring WGBH in Boston along and you have the core of a new service. (7/16/07) From the FCC...... It's official, Goodbye Warrenton, Hello WTWP 107.7 MANASSAS, VA. Transmitter will stay put, for now, (picture of clock ticking in backround). Now all they need is somebody in either city to listen. :-) (7/16/07) (From DCRTV's Classified Ads:) Growing technology services firm seeks qualified field installation and service personnel for full time positions. For more information, send contact information via DCRTV and we will reply to qualified applicants. (7/16/07) Just wanted to know if there was anything new on WRC and WTTG going HD for their news. There seemed to be alot of rumours last winter/summer about it, but nothing ever really developed. Thanks! Stephen K-Ashburn (7/16/07) Only one E-mail about Bill O being moved on WJFK? What would you expect? Check out their ever-declining cume! WJFK is the worst managed station in the market. Its gone from super-station to also-ran. And its not all about Howard. Dave...nobody CARES what is on WJFK except the D & M freaks. The rest just fills airtime. (7/16/07) Jim A, nobody called WAMU local news coverage "enemic." It was correctly called anemic, which it is. And this claim: "Just last week, WAMU beat WTOP in announcing the DC area severe thunderstorm and tornado warnings even though WTOP is the official EAS station" is easily proven or not if you post the exact time this allegedly happened. Loggers don't lie. (7/16/07) Dear Mr. Berry, WMAL Radio, This morning Fred Grandy made an illogical and faulty comparison saying "Lindsey Graham supports the President" and immediately after stated "Jim Webb doesn't support our troops." Andy agreed, and then Andy said the time was "7:13." This is all misinformation, Mr. Berry. Senator Webb cosponsored a bill that requires time out of combat for combat served time for our troops. I think that is supporting our troops. Mr. Webb travels to Walter Reid regularly, even before he ran for office, visiting the wounded. Senator Webb's own son is over there, for God's sake. Also, it was "8:13," not "7:13." Misinformation that would never make it onto your competition, NPR. Thank you, and have Fred tell ther truth next time. (7/16/07) (After checking out the playlists on the Web site for Minnesota Public Radio's music-formatted stations, minnesota.publicradio.org... I am REALLY hoping that this is what ends up on 91.9.) What I am hearing is they want to be in DC to do news, not music. (7/16/07) This was a very smart move for Mix. I mean, what do you do when the numbers get better with every book? You replace the jock, so the numbers get back to where they were. Just ask Kapugi and his "chiki-bang-chiki-bang-bang" morning show. It hasn`t been on longer than a year, but already pissed off more people, than Mark Kaye and Julian put together. KT Harris - you are great, best of luck to you, I am sorry that those tools in charge do not see this. P.S. Hi Vibegirl, you are terrible. (7/16/07) Re: "Dave's response: Damn, I completely forgot about that. I'll have to remember to re-add 106.7 to my car's radio presets....." That's funny, because I almost forgot to remove it from mine - Big Oh & Douche? The Junkies? G&A? Jim Rome? How far removed is this "superstation" from the days of Stern, R&F and The Hideout?! How little fun is there on that cess-heap now? Let's see how much support/pull the D&M haters will have once they are gone next year; will these hairless, how will the 10 internet tough guys be able to keep that abortion of a station on the air left without anything to draw in the big advertisers? (7/16/07) Dave's response: I have car presets for 94.7 and 100.3 but I hear old Steely Dan on both of them. Is it the same station on two spots on the dial? You're joking, right? John Martin to mid-days on Mix? He's been at the station for years and was only good enough on-air for Sunday late nights, etc. John is a nice enough guy but has no on-air talent whatsoever. He has the personality (in person and on-air) of white bread. At least KT had a personality. She is a single mom who could relate to her audience. John, on the other hand, has NO personality. Even his voice sounds like someone announcing a funeral. He will have zero appeal to women and men. He should remain production dude adding tags to produced material or just checking to make sure everything is ready for on-air. This just proves that Mix continues to make VERY big mistakes. The PD should be laughed out-of -town. Citadel needs to replace the PD with someone who wants to win with a station that sounds like it's 2007! (7/16/07) Dave's response: When I first heard "Martin to middays" I thought it was Randi Martin..... After checking out the playlists on the Web site for Minnesota Public Radio's music-formatted stations, minnesota.publicradio.org... I am REALLY hoping that this is what ends up on 91.9. While I love WTMD, this station in Minnesota puts them to shame. Of course, having a station with a good signal playing indie rock in D.C. 24/7 would just be too good to be true, now wouldn't it? (7/16/07) As for your "source" comments about WAMU's "enemic" local and regional news coverage and the station never covering breaking news or breaking a story: Enemic? WAMU has more local and regional news stories than ever. Try listening instead of relying on a "source". Breaking news? Just last week, WAMU beat WTOP in announcing the DC area severe thunderstorm and tornado warnings even though WTOP is the official EAS station. Breaking a story? WAMU broke the "Cut and Pasted Fenty School Takeover Plan" story a week before the Washington Post had it. They may not be chasing every police car and fire truck in the area, which, by the way, is not what the public radio listeners want, but WAMU's local and regional news coverage continues to get better and already is a long way from "enemic". (7/16/07) When George Michael left Channel 4 several months ago, I sent him an e-mail wishing him good luck. He had said on-air that he was going to personally answer all of the e-mails he received, but that wasn't the reason I wrote to him. But, true to his word, he did respond to my e-mail today...four months later. He apologized for the delay...I'm sure he received thousands of e-mails. I just wanted people to know that despite his tough/egotistical demeanor, he is actually a good guy. I said I looked forward to seeing him and Sonny during Redskins season, and he said they'd be doing the Redskins Report again. -- Bobbie (7/16/07) The last thing we need is another NPR news talk station! We already have one. WETA failed at it. How about something we don't have. A local Triple A Public Radio Music Station like WXPN. I will bet it would gain a lot of members. Leave MPR in Minnesota! Bob, Fairfax (7/16/07) It is the first day of the new JFK line-up and so far, I think it is a lot better. I say so far because the station is about to take a massive dump as it nears 3:00. The Tubby Twins followed by the something that resembles a bad impersonation of a Jim Norton routine. JFK, please get some talent to fill the vast expanse of crap that begins at 3:00. (7/16/07) Dave's response: Damn, I completely forgot about that. I'll have to remember to re-add 106.7 to my car's radio presets..... Re: KGSR in Austin. A wonderful station. AAA with a Texas tilt. Lotsa Willie, Dwight, John Prine, Roseanne Cash. A great choice for people who like their music more acoustic than the fare you find on most AAA stations. Another good one is KTAO "Solar Powered Radio" in Taos New Mexico. Small-town sounding in many ways, but in its own way, quite refreshing. (7/16/07) U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald, special counsel who led the prosecution of former vice presidential aide Lewis "Scooter" Libby in the CIA leak case, gets the tables turned on him when he plays "Not My Job" on the NPR news quiz show Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me!(r), airing the weekend of July 21-22 on NPR Member stations nationwide. It will be available as an NPR podcast beginning Sunday, July 22 at 7 p.m. at www.npr.org... (7/16/07) "Do you know of anyone who can get in touch with Bennet Zier ? I would like to invite him (and/or someone with his expereince maybe someone you know) to get involved in a radio project I am doing." Why don't you just use a bulldozer or a couple of sticks of dynamite, it will be a lot cheaper (and quicker). (7/16/07) Wait, Will Thomas isn't gay? I just assumed... (7/16/07) Dave's response: I don't think Will has ever publicly revealed his sexual orientation..... I haven't seen Evan Almighty and doubt that I will. Re: Topper and Steve Carell ... are they both starting to look alike? (7/16/07) One big problem with MPR (Minnesota Public Radio doncha know) "taking on" WAMU or even resurrecting something like WETA's brief news and info format, WAMU is a major purchaser of MPR programming. Especially now that WETA has gone back to classical, so that would be a major F-U to a big customer. MPR's current holdings outside the original stations include a former Minneapolis CHR in the twin cities they bought to place their classical service on, L.A. station KPCC which was in dire straits as a community college licensee in the nation's second largest market - which had no public radio news and info station (KCRW is a weaker signal licensed to Santa Monica), and the former classical station licensed to St. Olaf College in their original market. With a classical and an info station already in that market, they went with triple A on that frequency, and have received a ton of press coverage on that format. I think if MPR buys WGTS it's pretty clear what format they are touting these days. WTMD is the real loser. (7/16/07) Do you know of anyone who can get in touch with Bennet Zier ? I would like to invite him (and/or someone with his expereince maybe someone you know) to get involved in a radio project I am doing. (7/16/07) Dave's response: Sorry, but Bennett and I do not communicate..... If only all FM radio was this good.... KGSR 107.1 FM "Radio Austin" www.kqsr.com (7/16/07) (Rant - 7/16 - Wrong yet again. The radio station listing in Monday's Washington Post again claims that 94.7 is classic rock WARW. The station became adult alternative rock WTGB in February. A great newspaper strives for accuracy, even with the "small stuff.") Dave, it sounds like you consider yourself a "journalist", since you always complain when you don't get attribution on breaking stories. Either way, why don't you just CALL THE POST and talk to a Style editor and ask them why they haven't changed the calls and the format. then you can "report" what you find out back to us. Or maybe it is just more fun for you to complain about the organization you hate so much. BTW...you may be the only one that cares about this non-story. (7/16/07) Dear Jazz Fan: Our featured artists line-up for the week ahead includes a young hardcore bebopper, a significant female jazz singer and DC's leading contemporary jazz pianist... to find out more click here... jazzradiodc.com. Thanks, Carl David (7/16/07) USA TODAY back to back champs in the media softball league. For more check out www.mediasoftball.net (7/16/07) The fact is that Dodgers games on TV feature Vin Scully and only Vin Scully doing the play-by-play and color. He does not need anyone else who would probably mess up his broadcast. Scully is the GREATEST baseball announcer in the history of the Universe. That's it. And I think that the Dodgers radio broadcasts may feature and inning or two of Vin's TV announcing while the radio guys, Charlie Steiner and Rick Monday, take a break. (7/16/07) Re: "Here’s a prediction, the Post’s subscription numbers will continue to drop. How’s that for going out on a ledge" Way to echo common knowledge--the Post, like virtually every daily newspaper on planet earth, is seeing its subscription numbers drop. In part its because more and more people grab papers on the run and new stand numbers don't figure into subscription rates, but mostly its because nimrods like us read stuff online too much. And--all due respect--we've all seen in recent days that the "news" we read online is way too often somebody spouting off without having all the facts. I think there's something else at work with the Post's dwindling subscription rates, though, and I've seen it elsewhere (WTOP makes the same bonehead mistake): All of the promos for the website eventually make you wonder why you're reading the rag. Today there's a big blow-out about an online section for Loudoun County. After a while I just figure, what the hell, the paper's become nothing more than an advertising vehicle for the web site, and who needs to pay two bits+ a day for that? 'Course, I never go to their ponderous web site, but that's a whole 'nother story. (7/16/07) Dave's response: Oh, I did find a way to quickly dispatch with those horrible Post site ads that sit there on the top half of articles for 15 to 20 seconds. You simply "refresh" or "reload" the page a time or two..... Thanks to Sam Lizinger's interview with the guy from the Smithsonian's Folkway records I came across this album of an interview with Jim Farley's father, who was a political power player in NY. www.folkways.si.edu... Quirky stuff on Folkways! Thanks again Sam. (7/16/07) Dave's response: That wasn't Jim Farley's father. "But once in the '60s my dad and James A. Farley got their bank statements switched. That Jim Farley was a very wealthy man," he tells us..... I previously lived in St Louis, and while there, I became a huge fan of the St Louis Cardinals. Until the Nationals arrived, that was my team.I followed them from afar! I still can't root against them, even when they play the Nats! Last night, I had to work, and so I didn't get to see the game on ESPN. I was, however, able to listen to it on the radio. Since I'm in the Warrenton area, I was listening on 94.3 Just as the Cards were starting to get a solid lead that even their bullpen couldnt blow, a thunderstorm came through the Warrenton area and knocked 94.3 off the air! Even though it was not raining where I was, there was just too much static for AM730 to be viable. I missed the rest of the game. Guess what! 94.3 was still off the air at 7:00 this morning!! I know the station runs automated, and does not have any locally produced programs except the Redskins games and the John Riggins Show, and they don't have actual over-the-air reception of 94.3 at their studio, but isn't that amazing! You would think they would at least have a system set up to page an engineer when something like that happens! (7/16/07) “A great newspaper strives for accuracy, even with the "small stuff."” The Post is a dinosaur. They’re only important in their own mind. I have to laugh over their concern of a right leaning critic’s review of Moore’s movie yet; you see no concern about all of their left leaning reporters and their coverage of the news. Here’s a prediction, the Post’s subscription numbers will continue to drop. How’s that for going out on a ledge? (7/16/07) I can't imagine the Nationals not having an AM or FM station for their radio broadcasts. Sure, one can watch them on TV if one is home. But I would venture to guess that the huge majority of people who listen to the Nats radio broadcasts are in their car, working out in the gym or doing something else away from home. And folks, satellite radio hasn't achieved nearly the market penetration necessary to satisfy that demand. (7/16/07) Can anyone name a radio show that has been #1 12+ in Mornings, Mid-Days, Afternoons, and Evenings (with evenings being a little different than the AM/PM/Mid-Days)? Tim, Gaithersburg (7/16/07) Nice of the WJLA to pony up for a new digital encoder after the embarrassing incident - meanwhile the Allbirtton family just purchased a $22 million piece of property in Maryland. (7/16/07) I just noticed that in addition to the 1260 simulcast on 97.1 HD-3, Clear Channel is also simulcasting AM 570 WTNT on the HD-3 stream of 98.7 WMZQ. What's next, Sports Talk 980 on 101.1 HD3? This is just about the smartest use of IBOC yet. Now if only Bonneville would take a hint and simulcast Washington Post Radio on 103.5's HD multicast. I have a hard time imagining that anyone is listening to that unsigned bands channel that they have on there now. -jason (7/16/07) Dave's response: Confirmed. Yes, a WTNT relay on 98.7's HD3. I also noticed that WMAL is not running its HD signal today..... On the hdradio.com site, WTGB HD-1 ( The Main signal) is listed as Classic Rock, while WTGB HD-2 is listed as AAA ( The Jam) Are they colluding with the Post? (7/16/07) Dave's response: Couldn't CBS Radio do a deal with XM to put indie rock XMU on the Globe's HD2 channel? Great promo for both firms, me thinks..... All anyone needs to know about the rumor concerning the Post Radio sale to the short little rich guy is in the denial. The 104 deal blew up because of loose lips on both sides. The more Bonneville denies the rumor, the more it is probably true. Both sides are losing millions of dollars per year with equally ill fated concepts. The first one out is the winner. (7/16/07) Dear Dave: A poster writes "...[h]e is a much bigger fan of satellite radio, and he envisions simulcasting the TV announcers on satellite radio ala the Dodgers..." Well, a visit to Dodgers.com has a link to KFWB radio, a news station in Los Angeles, which advertises itself as the radio home of the Los Angeles Dodgers. I rummaged around on that site, was able to find a broadcast schedule, and it looks like all the games are available for listeners with an AM radio. From what I understand, for quite some time the play-by-play announcers for the Dodgers (including the legendary Vin Scully) split time during a game between the radio and television side. I've had the pleasure of listening to Scully's calls on my XM receiver, which carries the KFWB feed for Dodger home games, which may be what that poster is referring. Now as much as I love my XM service, I can only see it complementing, but not necessarily replacing or obliterating terrestrial radio. On another subject, as a Nats fan, I'd be a little leery about Snyder owning the stations that the Nats are broadcast. Oh sure, he may be able to turn on the promotion machine for the team, but why would he want to do so and take attention away from the Redskins? I think he'd be more inclined to use the stronger signals on the WTWP chain for his primary investment, the Redskins, than for the Nats which, when you think about it, are competing with the Redskins for the same entertainment dollar in this area. Just a thought. Great site Dave! Sincerely, Joe Kasell (7/16/07) A Major League baseball team without a terrestrial radio deal? That's the most idiotic thing I've ever heard. Cutting off an entire revenue stream? Getting rid of the more recognizable "voices" of the team in Charlie and Dave when the TV team has changed every single year. Ron Darling WHO? Mel Proctor WHO? MLB's agreement allows the RE-broadcast on satellite radio and the poster below seems to forget the current LA Dodgers situation stems from Vin Scully going back and forth between the TV and radio booths and it is not a simulcast with KFWB. The Dodgers do not have a separate satellite radio agreement, it's negotiated along with the other teams thru MLB's offices in New York collectively and like every other team, their home games are heard on XM. The best example of a radio/TV simulcast was the late great Chick Hearn who called the Lakers on TV and KLAC radio together. Here in DC you have different entities in MASN and WTWP who are owned and operated under two quite different rights structures. Isn't this the same unsubstatiated scare nonsense we've heard before about the Nats not wanting to deal with radio next year? That sounds awfully suspicious in light of the new stadium press area being customized for radio and production next year. Charlie and Dave have even joked about the fact that their new radio home at Nationals Park with be higher than the press box in Pittsburgh, with print media below them again. I still say it's all speculation and the original rumor was probably floated by someone either at Red Zebra who has wishful thinking syndrome or by someone at Clear Channel who is still PO'ed by either the lost of Nationals rights or the interruption of music by upcoming Skins games on WBIG. Nothing points to this WTWP Synder rumor as being even remotely true. (7/16/07) Dave's response: You know, we sometimes report a "wild rumor" that is really "out there," with no anchor in reality. Those simply generate little or no response from the affected parties. But this Snyder thing, about him possibily buying 1500/107.7, generated such an immediate "backlash" from some B'villers, that it almost makes me judge it as being more believable. Like it touched a nerve. What a perfect way to "save face" and put an end to the WaPo Radio "experiment" than to have Snyder make them "an offer they can't refuse." Something's brewing..... "No surprise, Stinger somehow managed to leave out a few of the more inconvenient facts, such as...Fact: There is a clause in the Nationals contract with WTWP that allows them (WTWP) to move the Nats games to another signal in the event WTWP should secure rights to the Redskins and there is a conflict. The Nationals agreed to this. Fact: The Nationals are giving very serious consideration to not having a terrestrial radio broadcast at all next season. Stan Kasten may love Clear Channel to death, but Mark Lerner is the one with the purse strings, and he is not a fan of radio. He believes as long as the team has a strong TV presence, which he thinks they do, terrestrial radio is a waste of money. He is a much bigger fan of satellite radio, and he envisions simulcasting the TV announcers on satellite radio ala the Dodgers. Those are the facts." Someone is being foolish here, and there are two possibilities. If Mark Lerner believes terrestrial radio is a waste of money, he's being asinine. He'd be missing a chance to sell the rights to a local station, a money maker -- and even if the Nationals somehow regressed to a 2005 flagship combo comparable to the weak 1050/103.9/104.1, they would still reach more local listeners than satellite radio could. The public relations backlash, especially among those who can't afford cable TV or satellite radio, would be massive and devastating. In addition, suppose the Nats ran into a situation similar to what will come up this Saturday, when a scheduled Fox telecast is scrapped by the network? Where would people get the game broadcast? More likely, though, the fool here is the person who had posted this. I could see WTWP bumping the Nats for Redskins regular-season games, but not exhibition games in August. "These are the facts"? Probably not. -- Vincent in Triangle (7/16/07) Does The Globe have 3 years to make some headway in the ratings? They sure seem to have a lot of contests on The Globe lately. Was this day one of the end of internet radio or was there a last minute reprieve? In light of the over 19% drop in compact discs in the 1st 6 months of 2007 would it have illegal for a consortium of record labels to have taken over Tower record stores? (7/16/07) Check this out, about how the Post and their website are sharing content - photobusinessforum.com (7/16/07) /\ July 16 Messages /\ \/ July 15 Messages \/ No surprise, Stinger somehow managed to leave out a few of the more inconvenient facts, such as...Fact: There is a clause in the Nationals contract with WTWP that allows them (WTWP) to move the Nats games to another signal in the event WTWP should secure rights to the Redskins and there is a conflict. The Nationals agreed to this. Fact: The Nationals are giving very serious consideration to not having a terrestrial radio broadcast at all next season. Stan Kasten may love Clear Channel to death, but Mark Lerner is the one with the purse strings, and he is not a fan of radio. He believes as long as the team has a strong TV presence, which he thinks they do, terrestrial radio is a waste of money. He is a much bigger fan of satellite radio, and he envisions simulcasting the TV announcers on satellite radio ala the Dodgers. Those are the facts. (7/15/07) It is doubtful that Danny Boy will ever try to do business with Bonneville again, and the reverse may be true as well. But the biggest difference between his operation and WaPo's boils down to a signal issue. Danny has decent programming and is by no means bleeding cash, even if its 'planned for'. With a good signal he's sure to win big. WaPo on the other hand has a great signal and horrific programming, that's why they are in such a bad way financially. He's not about to wait for them to fail, I've heard he's already negotiating over WMAL hard with Citadel, and he can probably get for a lot less without the headache. (7/15/07) Easy on DcrtvDave, okay? Very few of you fuckers know much more than what's overheard outside your cubicle. He was burned by a source. -MontCo (7/15/07) Dave's response: We reported a rumor as a rumor. Take it for what it's worth. But, I'd say about 85 percent of the rumors we report do actually happen..... Fact: The Nationals have never moved GW men's basketball to WFED. A Nationals game broadcast has conflicted with a GW game once, during the baseball spring training. The Nats broadcast was moved then to WFED. Fact: The Nationals have never moved Navy football to WFED. All Navy football games last season aired on WFED anyway. Most Navy games also aired on WTWP, except when pre-empted by the aforementioned Nationals. Everett W. (7/15/07) Fact: The first preseason broadcast of the Redskins in August 11th at 8PM which would conflict with the Nationals broadcast that Saturday night against Arizona. Fact: Your rumormonger incorrectly stated the first Skins broadcast is August 8th. Fact: The Nationals have priority on WTWP, as witnessed by the Navy Football and GW sports delayed or moved to WFED in the fall and spring last year when there was a Nats game. Fact: The other preseason Redskins dates conflict with the next 3 Saturday night Nats games. Fact: The opening regular season game, which I'm sure Snyder would never allow to be tape delayed, is a direct conflict of the Nats game that Sunday afternoon...and so on and so on. Fact: Bonneville could not come to a solution concerning the Washington Capitals desire to be on 1500 last year and would not split the signals (1500 & 107.7) to accomodate what was to be a very nice deal for both Leonsis and Bonneville, but had too many possible regular season Nats vs. late & possible post-season Caps conflicts. There are only so many hours in the day and so many signals to go around and somebody spent one of those hours yanking you around like a dog with a chewtoy. Stan Kasten would never allow his team to play second fiddle to another DC franchise and chances are, with the addition of Nationals Insider, Nats Talk Live, the immediate cross-promotion from WTOP and other Bonneville accomodations for the team, I'm sure he would be very happy staying on 1500/107.7 for many years to come. My money is on Snyder doing a deal with WMAL if he does it with anybody. I call bullsh*t on this deal. - S (7/15/07) Vincent, Clear Channel in Atlanta is not the same thing as Clear Channel in DC. There's no corporate suit who negotiates deals with sports teams. As hard as it is to believe here in DC, Clear Channel runs some outstanding news/talk AM stations that make big money. Just not here in Washington. There's nobody in radio here in Washington that Stan Kasten knows or trusts better than Joel Oxley. There's also no smarter radio operator than Joel. So don't be surprised to see the Nats back on 1500/820/107.7 when they open in their brand new stadium next year. Oldie. (7/15/07) Vincent in Triangle you're wrong about Stan Kasten and Clear Channel. His longstanding radio relationship was with Cox Radio and WSB. WSB has clobbered Clear Channel's WGST forever. Clear Channel entered the picture just a few years ago and dramatically overpaid for the Braves. Didn't help. WSB still creams WGST in the ratings. (7/15/07) HI: I notice that on Page 6 (of the DCRTV Plus Photo Gallery) the picture of George from his WABC days. It is actually from his WFIL days circa 1971. Just thought I drop a note. Thanks, JH (7/15/07) Dave, "Talk to Me" is showing at Muvico Arundel Mills, as well as the Avalon and Regal Gallery Place in DC. I saw it Friday at Muvico, and it is great. The film will be expanding gradually to other theaters in the weeks ahead. Hope you are able to see it soon. (7/15/07) How much are the Nationals a linchpin of Washington Post Radio? Remember, team broadcasts have been part of the WTWP format from day one in late March of 2006. I bring this up because Stan Kasten reportedly has had a good working relationship with Clear Channel dating back to his days in Atlanta, and in the past few months WTEM has become a far more baseball-friendly station (bringing back Phil Wood, etc.). If the Nats bolt WTWP for Clear Channel in '08 (and given 980's relatively weak nighttime outlying signal, an FM station had better be part of the deal), might it deliver a substantial blow to the station and give Bonneville leverage to force the Post to accept more syndicated programming? -- Vincent in Triangle (7/15/07) Swimming in Quicksand; A Daily Journal of Survival, By Carol Joynt nathansgeorgetown.com... Email to me (Saturday( from DEBORAH JEANE PALFREY, the "DC Madam." Make of it what you will: "FYI (for what it may be worth) I can tell you that Harlan Ullman’s name is splattered throughout the phone records. In addition, I remember taking a few checks from him over time. -Jeane" Here's Harlan's response: "no comment--except those were her calls, not mine" In an interview with me at The Q&A Cafe, available on youtube.com, he denied having any connection to Ms. Palfrey or her escort business. You can also watch Ms. Palfrey's Q&A (on the Nathan's site).... (7/15/07) Don Geronimo is not really going to takeover for Art Bell is he? (7/15/07) re: "Dave's response: You assume that the Washington Post doesn't want to get rid of Washington Post Radio. Maybe it does?" You forget one thing, here, Dave. WTWP isn't the Post's to "get rid of". The transmitters are still owned by Bonneville, and the programming of the station is still ultimately the responsibility of Bonneville, since they actually own the licences. The reality is that except for the Nationals, and Jim Bohannon's overnight show from Westwood One, Post radio is essentially a big infomercial for the Washington Post newspaper. Their 'partnership' with Bonneville means they put their brand on the station, provide a venue for their reporters, and use it as a place to promote the station. Are they wildly successful beyone anyone's possible dreams? Hell no. No station with a new, untried format ever can be within the first few years. That especially goes for talk. Have the Bonneville folk had challenges in making Post radio a compelling "must listen" destination for people in this area? Of course they have. But the fact of the matter is they're finding an audience (as suggested by the monthly trend reports), and it may only be a matter of time before a significant part of the audience finds them. We know you don't like Bonneville because they don't bow down to your claimed expertise in programming radio stations, we do. And another thing: I do think its highly likely that Citadel will wash its hands of the muddle that WMAL has become, and sell it to him to finally give him the clear metro-wide signal he needs to have a radio station all his own so he can embrace the alleged pile of money he will make from Redskins broadcasts. Heck, he should do pretty well now that the station has that new 10,000 watt signal pumping through the new digital transmitter out on Greentree Road (no need to move 730 out to Ashburn and go through all that hassle), which isn't gonna happen now anyway thanks to the FCC. I'll be happy to see Rush and all the other satellite-delivered righty squawk-shows head over to the mess that the Clear Channel D.C. AM stations have become, can't think of a better place for 'em. I know a bunch of my former colleagues from the sales end of the biz now at 1800 Rockville Pike who secretly would love to see them put WTEM out of its misery, move Air America to 980 (where they could genuinely grow an audience), and put a righty talker on 1260 to give them a stick (but nothing more) for Rush and company when WMAL flips to ESPN sports. Ah, one can only dream... Anyway, gotta go...one of my kids needs 6 dozen cupcakes for a birthday party at her swim camp on Monday, and I'm only through making the first 2 dozen... But you keep dispensing all that razor-sharp, experience-based radio programming advice of yours to the hungry masses, Dave...keeps 'em coming back for more, dontcha know. -stepping gingerly off the soapbox in her Etienne Aigner strappy sandals-, - Call Me 'Legs' (7/15/07) I suspect Dan Snyder is probably closer to shutting down the failed Red Zebra experiment than he is to buying more radio stations. (7/15/07) Good news if it's Minnesota Public Radio buying WGTS. Maybe they'll put " The Current" on in DC. It's sorely needed. (7/15/07) /\ July 15 Messages /\ \/ July 14 Messages \/ (Movie Reviews for 'Talk to Me') The film itself is receiving raves aplenty... Claudia Puig in USA Today sums up: "Talk to Me speaks powerfully to audiences with its potent blend of extraordinary performances and engaging soundtrack." Michael Phillips in the Chicago Tribune remarks that the film "has a great subject and a great actor working in tandem." And A.O. Scott in the New York Times calls it "a movie that offers uplift without phoniness, history without undue didacticism and a fair number of funny, dirty jokes." Don Cheadle's performance as real-life Washington D.C. disc jockey Petey Greene is receiving the same sort of cheers from critics as his very different performance as a hotel operator in Hotel Rwanda did. "Picture by picture, he is showing us he can do just about anything," writes Roger Ebert in the Chicago Sun-Times. "Don Cheadle is an absolute gas," comments Jan Stuart in Newsday. "The man just keeps exploring The Outer Limits of his talent," says Glenn Whipp in the Los Angeles Daily News. "One of the year's most fully realized performances," cheers Jack Mathews in the New York Daily News. And Amy Biancolli in the Houston Chronicle applauds, "Watching a great actor wrap his hands around a juicy role is one of the enduring thrills of cinema -- and in Talk to Me, Don Cheadle grabs it and runs." (From Yahoo's "Studio Briefing".) (7/14/07) Dave's response: I was going to go see "Talk To Me" today, but there are no theaters in Northern Virginia showing it. And I didn't feel like heading into DC for it. So, I saw "Joshua" instead. Not a bad "evil son" horror flick, in the Manhattan tradition of "Rosemary's Baby," which is one of my favs..... Heard this morning that Huggy Lowdown is going to be part of The Tom Joyner Show (102.3) beginning this Monday..What I liked about Huggy Lowdown was how he mentioned local venues, people, politicians of which the audience could related. With Tom Joyner's show being national, I suspect the local "inside jokes" may cease..In any case, I'm sure his moving from Donnie Simpson's show is a move up and I wish him well..Congrats Huggy, you BAMA!!!.. (7/14/07) Those translators for Hope Christian Church of Marlton. Is the consultant listed as either C. Beverage or Communications Technologies of Marlton? (7/14/07) Nobody (not even Dan Snyder) buys a radio station or takes an existing station and flips formats expecting to operate with a profit for the first three years. It's ridiculous to say WaPost Radio is "hemmoraging" cash, suggesting Bonneville did not set a budget and have a plan to account for this. Losing money? Probably, but also expected. Losing more than expected? Possibly. Hemmoraging? Doubt it. There has to be significant income from sports contracts and combined with a recent ratings increase (albeit small) suggests money is coming in, and just maybe hemmoraging is over stating it. (7/14/07) Dave's response: Well, you're talking about doing a live, locally-produced news/talk format from 5:30 AM to 7 PM (minus the two-hour "Tony" replay at 10:30 AM) five days a week. Not cheap, especially for a station placing at about 20th in the ratings. Also, you've got a big labor union hounding the Post for not paying newspaper people who do radio work. You do wonder, how much longer can this go on? At least Dan Snyder, if he is seriously thinking about buying 1500 and 107.7, offers a "face-saving" way for the Post and Bonneville to "get out of" this radio experiment..... More likely, the University of Maryland is buying WGTS, because they are loosing their FM station. (7/14/07) Dave's response: I'd put the most stock in the alleged Minnesota Public Radio purchase of 91.9 for a news talker, to fill the "hole" when WETA-FM flipped back to classical. This wonky area can easily support two public radio news talkers, especially now that WaPo Radio is looking like some kind of weird "WMALWJFK" mess..... Amber is much better than Anita. One thing against Amber though is that terrible Baltimore accent. Most of the men on MASN wouldn't qualify as good either BTW. Fred Manfra on the rdaio broadcasts is just plain awful. Who likes this guy?? (7/14/07) Strong rumor on the street in public radio circles – is the bidder Columbia Union College is going after is a non-Christian Public Radio group – Garrison will be very happy… (7/14/07) Dave's response: A la Garrison Keillor and Minnesota Public Radio? Doesn't MPR own some public radio stations in California? Hmmm..... Looking at the current list of CP's for Marlton Church of NJ for translators around Baltimore, it appears that there may be one or two less than a year ago. I see 97.5, 104.9 and 98.3. From what I recall, they once has one at 105 and 106mhz. (Not sure of the exact frequency). One of those stations appeared to have been licensed to be up on television hill because it pretty much blanketed all of Baltimore City. Could it be that CBS Radio protested and the CP's were pulled? 97.5 and 104.9 will cover NE Baltimore County, from Lutherville to about Overlea. 98.3 shows coverage around SE Baltimore County. I was under the assumption that translators had to relay a local signal too, Dave Loudin, what's your thought on this? Thanks, Tom Conroy (7/14/07) WBFF FOX45 and WIYY-FM 98Rock in Baltimore join the search for the "Next Great American Band". One talented group of Baltimore area musicians will fly to Las Vegas to audition for the producers of FOX's soon-to-be-hit "The Search for the Next Great American Band". (7/14/07) Re: Synder buying the Post Radio frequencies...Hold on thar! The posters (though not you, Dave) seem to assume that Snyder buying the frequencies means the immediate end of Post Radio. IIRC, the Post Company had an agreement with Bonneville to carry Post Radio on those freqencies for at least three years--if so that agreement has about a year and a half to go. Would that agreement terminate if Bonneville sold the frequencies?--I wouldn't think so. I would think that Synder would either have to put up with Post Radio until the agreement expire, or compensate the Post Company in some way for agreeing to scrsp it immediately. (BTW, I speak as one of the (apparent) few who like Post Radio and would hate to see it go). (7/14/07) The bidder the owners of WGTS's license have chosen to negotiate with, is not Christian/religious. So nope, no local churches in on the probable deal. Sale will cause a total format change. Entertaining to read the all the proposed theories, though, keep 'em coming. (7/14/07) RE: [ " Maybe the Hope Christian Church Of Marlton is one of the potential buyers of WGTS and its translators? Hmmm..... " ].......... LATE BREAKING NEWS, THE STATE OF NEW JOISEY INVADES THE STATE OF MARYLAND VIA THE FM BAND! What a wonderful group of FCC commissioners we have in our CLUBFED government run FCC! DOH! Somebody was probably just out to lunch for the day and missed all those translator apps, and then just stamped them DONE the next day assuming some other FED-PEON had carefully vetted them of course. Where is Dave Loudin when we need him ? :-) (7/14/07) ("Dave's response: Oh yeah, and how about hearing a cell phone ring on the radio while driving as you weave off the road trying to fish yours out of your stuff. Only to discover that it wasn't ringing in the first place. Sheesh.....") I agree, I do not like hearing sirens and cell phone sounds on the radio, who knows what could happen in that 0.5 second, s**t can happen that fast. (7/14/07) More hmmmm....... I'm not a conspiracy theorist, nor do I play one on TV, BUT....... If you add up all of WGTS's new translators and all of the new HOPE CHRISTIAN CHURCH OF MARLTON New Jersey translators (which are in violation of FCC policy by the way and should not have been approved because you cannot apply to the FCC for that type of translator for an OUT OF STATE radio station), WOW, you have LOTS of FM signal coverage ALL OVER MARYLAND! Vast right wing conspiracy? :-) (7/14/07) The possible Snyder-WMAL fit has always seemed perfect to me and should have been done a long time ago. The WMAL signal is the most easily heard in the Washington area and the deal would put the ‘Skins back where they belong. Now, what about the other six days of the week? If that huge, but vacant newsroom on Jenifer Street were to become re-populated enough to give ‘TOP a run for the money I think you’d see a real horse race. And while we’re on the subject, let’s get Frank Herzog back where HE belongs, too… in the Redskins booth with Sonny and Sam. Tom Gauger (7/14/07) Dave's response: Why would Snyder want the Redskins on AM? It's so "yesterday." But, then again, the Redskins' winning ways were so "yesterday," too..... Who gets the WGTS Translators? What WGTS Translators? – look at the FCC’s site, WGTS does not have any translators, and if you look to see who owns the translators that WGTS is on they are owned by HOPE and Radio Assist. My guess is that they had to have them on the air by a certain date and they can only get audio from an existing radio signal (they can’t use any STL, etc), and they are using WGTS temporarily until they expand their network of translators to reach Baltimore. (7/14/07) Is today April Fools? It must be, because only a fool would believe the whopper on your front page about Snyder buying WaPo Radio from Bonneville. For one thing, the Post has first right of refusal to purchase the properties should Bonneville decide to sell them during the term of the contract. Second, Bonneville is simply not interested in selling those properties. Not by a long shot. Speculate and rumor-monger all you want, but somebody fed you a line on this one, Dave, and you took it hook, line and sinker, and now whoever fed you this BS is getting a good laugh at your expense. (7/14/07) Dave's response: You assume that the Washington Post doesn't want to get rid of Washington Post Radio. Maybe it does? It's losing money. It's languishing in the ratings. It's making the station's reporters look silly, as so many of them sound so awful on the radio. Rather than shut down the station as a miserable failure, the Post could say "hey, we've got an offer that we couldn't refuse" from Snyder. Money talks..... Dave...that rumor about Snyder buying WaPo...someone got their "signals" crossed...I have it on good source that Snyder is close to a deal, but it isn't WaPo, it is with Citadel for WMAL. Citadel knows that WMAL has just floundered for years and everything they tried to do hasn't helped...WMAL's revenue is going in the wrong direction and Rush is WAY past his prime. Citadel is throwing in the towel and taking the cash to help finance other deals. word is that WBIG deal for the skins hasn't been inked officially and when this WMAL deal gets done, the WBIG deal will not be needed. The Bonneville part is totally untrue...they won't part with those 2 signals for a very long time...and pontificate all you want, but WTOP is the last station Bonneville would sell to CBS or anyone else. they would sell everything before they sold WTOP and their SLC news properties. (7/14/07) Dave's response: Bonneville is selling 104.1 to Radio One. Bonneville is stuck with Washington Post Radio on 1500 and 107.7 - a cash hemorrhaging deal that won't ever reach break-even unless something radical is done - and quick. Like turning the station into a standard, righty syndication-based talk outlet. Something the Post would never agree to. So, sell those frequencies and get out of the deal. That leaves B'ville with one station in the DC market - and Bonneville owns no other stations in the northeast or on the Eastern Seaboard. WTOP would fetch a great price and Bonneville could trade it for something in one of its western market clusters. Hey, if Michael Chertoff can have a "gut feeling," I can, too..... "RE: Redskins rumor... Dave...it only makes sense..and hooray! WTWP is one of the worst experiments in radio in Washington history...and 'Skins fans are really ticked off about not being able to hear the games. Please let it be true!!!! ps: say good bye to WTEM... this would put 980 out of business. Expect more syndicated right wing shows on 980 soon. Or religious. Or Spanish." As a Nationals fan who could care less about the Redskins, I'm not sure what to think about this. Have the Nats signed an agreement with WTWP for 2008? I would hope not -- if I'm Stan Kasten, I would realize that on a Snyder-owned station, the Nats would always be second-class citizens. I'm not that big a fan of WTEM, but if the Redskins go to 1500/107.7, I would hope the Nats would go to a combo of 980 and WBIG (or move WTEM to 100.3) for the '08 season. -- Vincent in Triangle (7/14/07) Dave's response: And then Dan Snyder could turn around and trade 1500 and 107.7 plus his 92.7, 94.3, and 730 to Salem for his "inside the Beltway" FM gem of 105.1..... Someone wrote..."Looks like the Botox was flowing freely at the grand opening of the Renaissance Hotel. I was also sorry to see that Kathleen Matthews now suffers from Pelosi Shock Syndrom." - Please don't be too quick to judge. It is far and away more effective than Viagra... except, I spend a lot of time smiling, catatonically, like that idiot "Bob" in commercials for "the other stuff!" - ERod (7/14/07) If WGTS is sold, what's going to happen to all of their translators? Some of them are brand new and just went on the air if I'm not mistaken. For instance, I just picked up WGTS on 106.1 near BWI Airport and a quick check shows they've now got 2 or 3 others around the Baltimore/upper eastern shore area. Speaking of translators, does anyone know when the Hope Christian Church of Marlton New Jersey's INVASION OF MARYLAND's AIRWAVES begins? I know I can't wait. (7/14/07) Dave's response: Maybe the Hope Christian Church Of Marlton is one of the potential buyers of WGTS and its translators? Hmmm..... /\ July 14 Messages /\ \/ July 13 Messages \/ RE: Redskins rumor... Dave...it only makes sense..and hooray! WTWP is one of the worst experiments in radio in Washington history...and 'Skins fans are really ticked off about not being able to hear the games. Please let it be true!!!! ps: say good bye to WTEM... this would put 980 out of business. Expect more syndicated right wing shows on 980 soon. Or religious. Or Spanish. (7/13/07) Looks like the Botox was flowing freely at the grand opening of the Renaissance Hotel. I was also sorry to see that Kathleen Matthews now suffers from Pelosi Shock Syndrom. (7/13/07) this "rumor" you printed on the front page about Snyder buying WaPo Radio is such a load of shit. I can't believe you print such crap. What are you going to say to your "source" when it isn't true. Didn't Red Zebra just agree to put their games on WBIG? if they were doing a deal with WaPo, then why in the hell would they do the deal with WBIG? I actually heard recently that the Bonneville brass made public what every smart radio person already knows and that is they will NOT sell the old WTOP frequencies because then someone could put on a competing news station on WTOP's old turf. Do you realize the revenue monster WTOP is? do you realize how much money WTOP makes for the mormons? WTOP makes more in profit than every other station bills in revenue. Say what you want about Bonneville, but they are not stupid. JC (7/13/07) Dave's response: I've said it before. And I'll say it again. I wouldn't be surprised to see Bonneville pull out of the DC market and sell WTOP to CBS, which owns all-news or major news talkers in Boston (WBZ), NYC (WINS and WCBS-AM), and Philadelphia (KYW and WPHT). Of course, Jim Farley would go to CBS (and continue running WTOP) in the deal..... I'm surprised that no one has yet commented on Jay Rockefeller's absolutely idotic proposal to go after "a single potentially indecent word is or image". Is this crazy or merely a tactic to get his name into the news? Or is a plan to get the government into control of all programming? ANYTHING taken out of context can be ruled to mean anything, based on your state of mind. Whatever the intent, it's also another disgusting attempt to promote an agenda by using children ("The Protecting Children From Indecent Programming Act"), and I wish someone had enough sense to criminalize _that_. When is the general public going to wake up to the idea that the government should NOT be involved in program content? And that they don't care about your kids, people, they really don't. (This would be a great time for a _real_ oldies station to educate the public with Stan Freberg's "Elderly Man River", which is about the insanity perpetrated in the name of "protecting the tiny tots". The way the word "children" is used in that record really emphasizes the sickness of it all.) (7/13/07) Better check your sources Dave. There is late word that 1500 and 107.7 are going to be sold to Snyder before August 8th, which happens to be the first Redskins preseason broadcast. Looks like Bonneville and Synder finally learned to play fair and the Nationals rights are probably part of the deal. Post Radio PD on vacation and Joel Oxley making a number of trips to SLC tells me this might be truer than true. (7/13/07) Dear dcrtv, I suspect there`s a lot more to this story than what Michelle Jerson is telling us. Her comment about being busy due to her other job and not being able to work both anymore and that she`s been working her television job for three months is her way of spinning a negative story to her advantage. I strongly suspect that the truth of the matter is that her show "Unzipped" always suffered from very bad ratings right from the very start. The only reason it stayed on the air as long as it did was because it was a new show and the radio station brass had hoped that it would eventually take off in the ratings. Michelle and her co-host Michael Checkoway both failed at attracting and building an audience for "Unzipped." This is why "Unzipped" failed and tanked. Plain and simple. If this had been a simple case of Michelle being busy with her other job,not being about to work both anymore and working her trv gig the past 90 days, then she would have been instantly replaced by someone else to co-host "Unzipped" with Michael Checkaway. This is what would have happened if Unzipped had been getting good ratings. It`s unfortunate because Michelle and Michael are both intelligent people with good radio voices. More proof that radio is a tough business. Best, dcrtc fan (7/13/07) The most shocking news coming out of the mailbag this week? Easy: at least two people still listen to those boring 'Junkies.' Amazing. Dave in Sterling (7/13/07) Big media softball tournament this weekend. The likes of WRC, WTTG, USA TODAY, COMCAST SPORTSNET, AND CNN will battle it out for softball bragging rights Saturday and Sunday at cabin john regional park. I’m sure you’ll receive the information about the winner Sunday evening or Monday morning. (7/13/07) all this talk about the sirens and beeps...come on guys...you sound like a bunch of old men talking about the good old days. don't forget this is radio and that good radio (which there isn't much of around here) is built on theater of the mind. Do I jump when I hear a siren? YES. but after a half a second I realize it is coming from the radio. Does that EVER make me come close to losing control of my car? NO. If it does, I would suggest that the problem is with your driving not your radio. (7/13/07) Dave's response: Oh yeah, and how about hearing a cell phone ring on the radio while driving as you weave off the road trying to fish yours out of your stuff. Only to discover that it wasn't ringing in the first place. Sheesh..... To the person who thinks I'm sticking up for the Man, I am simply believing in physics. Besides, if what I'm pointing to isn't right, then the whole allotment scheme for FM falls apart. Don't think so. Regards, DL (7/13/07) Hi Dave, I subscribed to your RSS, and I have it on my Firefox favorites, but I'm not seeing any content. Have you heard similar feedback? Thanks! Chris (7/13/07) Dave's response: Some "third party" has started an RSS feed for DCRTV's Front Page and I'm linking to it as a courtesy. I know nothing about it although it does seem to get updated on a daily basis..... Thank you Dave Loudin for clearly explaining that you firmly believe in everything federal government. :-) PS: Wait and see. Haha! (7/13/07) KMS are not what they once were. 98 Rock finally figured it out when they told Mark/Mike/Hambone last year that they would not be renewing his contract when it was up. They finally realized after 10 years he wasn't funny. 98 Rock was only going to renew Kirk/Chris/ Hip Hop. They left 98 Rock, which went to York & Northern VA for a station that doesn't reach north of Hunt Valley & not too far south of Laurel. I know of no one who is listening to them. I don't know the ratings, but Mickey is always bragging that the M&A show is #1. At least you laugh when you listen to Mickey & Amelia, & Spiegel. I heard KMS barely registers a blip on the screen. (7/13/07) For the true in-depth story of Petey Greene's life, look no further than Lurma Rackley's fascinating book, "Laugh If You Like, Ain't a Damn Thing Funny"... available through Amazon. On pages 226 and 227, Petey stated: "... a guy Matthews hooked up with a guy named Dick McCormick to do a television show on Channel 26, and they came and asked me to host. Neither one of us, me or Dewey (Hughes), had been in television. They took me over to Channel 26 where the white boy, Dick McCormick, was the co-host, and we began to do a show called 'Jobs 26', which had been the show of a guy named Harland Randolph who later became the president of the University of the District of Columbia. When me and the white boy took over, the white boy was the producer and he was the co-host with me. We used to talk about low-income jobs and where to go, and it was really entertaining because I used to just talk. Dewey would come over everyday, standing around. He is a cunning guy. He would stand around just like a little lost sheep. You know, that was Dewey. One day they came up and said they need a producer, a black producer. Now, I know Dewey had never been in no television, but I went to Dewey and said, 'I'ma tell 'em that you's a black t.v. producer.’ We messed around and got Dewey the job. He brought me in radio; I brought him in t.v. Dewey is a very shrewd person and he will listen. This was in the '60s, when a black man didn’t have to do much, just be black. Dewey caught on very quickly. He stayed up in that t.v. room . In fact, that’s how Dewey got most of his training, at Channel 26. I was still the host, and he was the producer. We did a lot of things . He even changed the show from 'Jobs 26' to a show called 'Where It’s At.’ We did issues with guests, me and the white boy. And we also did certain segments with entertainment, local bands and national acts, too. ... . Me and the white boy used to really go at it on television. People would be amazed, because we would really get hot at each other. And in the dressing room, we would cool out, you know. We'd be arguing about race issues. I’d say, ‘Man, don’t you be calling nobody a 'bama. You don’t know what a ‘bama is.’ Then we did a whole half an hour on what was a ‘bama. He was really a good guy, Dick McCormick. He was from Boston, had a job with Labor. Lived on Capitol Hill. That was really my start. I won an Emmy for that... " - dcmemories.com (7/13/07) MONSTER MADHOUSE LIVE RETURNS TONIGHT At 10:00 p.m., on Falls Church, Virginia based FCCTV, for the SEASON TWO FINALE! Count Gore De Vol, Dr. Sarcofiguy, radio's Bobo Golem are among the many guests scheduled to join the cast of MML ( www.monstermadhouse.com ) - including Karlos Borloff and the rest of the Monsterminators - in hosting "The Monster from Peidras Blancas." Lots of surprises are planned, and one lucky viewer will win DVD copy of "Freddy Vs. Jason," in honor of this day! Whatever you do, don't waste your time with "Harry Potter" - it will still be there tomorrow! This is a rare opportunity to catch live, LOCAL television again - grown men and women in make-up, monster movies, and the possibility of someone collapsing from panic! FCCTV can be seen in Fairfax County and Falls Church on Cox Channel 12 and Starpower Channel 2, and can be seen in all of Northern Virginia on Verizon's Fios service Channel 35. (7/13/07) TO: mailbaggers who think the Junkies "minutiae alarm" resembles the siren of an emergency response vehicle such as a police car, fire truck or ambulance. FROM: an avid Junks listener .... All you donkeys are stone-cold idiots if you think their sound effect (which sounds more like a fire alarm in a building, or perhaps a public address siren) could ever be confused with another vehicle speeding by you toward the scene of an accident and/or crime. How about, they're not even close. AND, when Cakes hits the button, one of them yells out "Minutiae!" as if it weren't clear already. Quit crying about it already. (7/13/07) Howie wrote "Anita's not great, but she's Murrow compared to the three different train wrecks that were on in the time slot prior to her hire." One of the train wrecks was the soon to be back on the air in DC "Dukes". Amazing, ain't it. And as for another poster, "but it would be nice if they actually had some credibility and not just good hair, a pleasant voice and a fit body." That's exactly correct. Please bring back "The Fabulous Sports Babe", a REAL talent. (7/13/07) Once more into the breach! After looking at the coverage plots for WSMJ at radio-locator closely, the "new" plot must not be properly factoring in the directional antenna (here) to be used. The real comparison is here: current versus new. Since WPRS and WSMJ are grandfathered short-spaced stations, the extent of interference to WPRS has no bearing on this action. The directional antenna is designed to avoid interference to WKCY, Harrisonburg. That the net area and population within WPRS's service area affected by interference is slightly less is a happy accident. Regards, Dave Loudin (7/13/07) Ahhh, the last weekday before the return of the only show less entertaining than Don and Mike, Big O and Dukes. Absolutely brilliant programming JFK! Dead air would garner better ratings than the Femme and the Fat Ass. (7/13/07) KMS Perhaps Not Liking HFS - Mark Ondayko, the Mark of Kirk & Mark on WHFS, made an interesting comment today. After they made their box office predictions for this weekend, the participants were given the opportunity to adjust their guess. Ondayko said "I've been second-guessing since February." I haven't seen any ratings for KMS, but perhaps the ship is sinking. - Jason (7/13/07) Dave's response: Working for Labrozzi can't be a lot of fun..... Channel 7 would be upset and so would DC citizens if they knew the Phyllis Wheatley YWCA Protest did not help Seniors and Disabled women! Does Channel 7 know yet: If channel 7 news gave us a ray of hope stating that the board of directors ordered beds and that they were arriving the next day after their announcement on Channel 7 news to replace the bed bug infested beds and get the Seniors and Disabled women off the floor at night, due to no beds, Channel 7 would be outraged at the deception! If Channel 7 knew that vision management and the board of directors still have not properly sprayed the Phyllis Wheatley YWCA as of to day and the the women are experiencing sleep deprivation, which is one of the first steps of recovery for any type of disability, Channel 7 would be outraged and so would DC citizens! If Channel 7 Knew that Office Staff is still abusing Seniors and Disabled Tenants: Channel 7 would be outraged and so would the people of DC! (7/13/07) Earth to Eddie... OVER-SHARING! DUH! And "Maureen" is not all that common of a name even on the eastern shore of Maryland, so it's very possible that someone ELSE has been outed too, namely YOU! And I don't mean in a gay/lesbian way either! Be more careful next time. 'Nuff said. Signed -- Someone watching your back from Bmore. :-) (7/13/07) Ref: Anita Who, I could not have said it better myself....end of the pity party and see you back in South Florida...give a local the gig - thanks (7/13/07) Dave, I would bet that the Junkies fool me at least once a day with the sirens of their "minutia alarm" that they sound to let everyone know that they are going way off topic into some mundane detail. The sad part is that I can tell when it is coming but damn if it doesn’t make me tense up and check my rear view window every time. I usually get pissed for about a second and then laugh at myself that I fell for it again. Chuck Yeager (7/13/07) Concerning MASN: I, too, noticed a difference in the sound quality of the O's game myself; the "highs" didn't seem to be there; I wasn't sure if they were (or were not) in stereo)..as for Anita Marks: if you don't like her, it's a "very simple game" (as Charlie Ecmond (probably didn't spell that right)..anyway..if you don't like her, you don't listen..or watch..it's that simple! Personally, I don't see where she's so bad; the only problem I have is this: they advertise the number to call in..but I notice that they don't take a lot of calls on the air. As for what she and Amber know about sports (I don't consider myself a "sports junky but)..I think I know a little..and both of those gals know as much (if not more) than I do! Tom in Denton, MD (7/13/07) HALL OF FAME BASEBALL BROADCASTER ERNIE HARWELL VISITS GW... JULY 15... EVENT: Legendary sportscaster Ernie Harwell discusses his career in sports broadcasting and his new audio scrapbook. WHEN: Sunday, July 15, 2007, 2 - 4 p.m. WHERE: The George Washington University, Media and Public Affairs Building First Floor, 805 21st St., NW, Washington, D.C., Foggy Bottom-GWU Metro (Orange and Blue lines)... RSVP: This event is free and open to the public. Please RSVP to University Events by calling (202) 994-7129. The event is open to the media. BACKGROUND: Hall of Fame sportscaster Ernie Harwell has entertained baseball fans for more than half a century. Harwell recently has taken highlights of his illustrious career and recorded them for Ernie Harwell's Audio Scrapbook. The CD set includes great moments in baseball history and Harwell's personal memories as the play-by-play voice of the Brooklyn Dodgers, New York Giants, Baltimore Orioles, and Detroit Tigers. Ernie Harwell's Audio Scrapbook will be available for sale at the event with a portion of the proceeds being donated to GW's student media programs. For more news about GW, visit the GW News Center at www.gwnewscenter.org. (7/13/07) I've known Edrod for many,many years, he's a good guy...yes, he's a radio journeyman, but it's because he loves the business and for no other reason. Face it, he's done well and I, for one, hope he continues to do well. Ed is one of the few that still wants purity in the industry and he strives to make that happen. Any entertainer that reaches the peak of a format and then pushes the envelope has to be ready for some people to criticize. Go get'em Edrod... PLB (7/13/07) I won't dispute that Anita Marks is terrible. She's clearly had no direction at any point in her career and now thinks she knows what she's doing. But let's be honest here: Amber Theoharis has no great depth of knowledge either. When Mark Viviano filled in for her on MASN, the sideline interviews improved 100%. Shouldn't female sportscasters be held to the same standards as their male counterparts? Or should they just get a free ride? There are a few extremely competent female sportscasters: Pam Ward and Jill Sorenson come to mind. The rest of the ones in the local market are just fluff: no real substance. Amber got her job for her looks, not her ability. Is that enough? I guess some quota is being filled when they're hired, but it would be nice if they actually had some credibility and not just good hair, a pleasant voice and a fit body. (7/13/07) Dave's response: "Some credibility and not just good hair, a pleasant voice and a fit body"? Mike O'Meara comes to mind. Oh, nevermind..... RE: "Actually heard on WNST @ about 1:15-1:20pm on Thurs 07/12...."It's a cops duty, if he knows someone is driving illegally, to pull them over and "citate" them! - I don't know whether to drink or cry, I'll probably do both. " Wat's matter hon. use don't like the way theys speak in dundawlk? The Tooz (7/13/07) Most people know by now about the movie "Talk to Me" which is a biopic about Ralph Waldo "Petey" Greene. What is not mentioned, as far as I can tell, is the fact that Petey Greene did a live television show called JOBS 26) at WETA-TV (then located in Howard University's old gym on Fourth Street, NW across from McMillan Reservoir), Monday through Thursday from 7pm to 7:30pm. This aired in the mid sixties, I think around 1967-68. I know because I directed the show. In fact, JOBS 26 was the first TV show I ever directed and live at that! Petey co-hosted with Dick McCormick from (I believe) the Dept. of Labor. The purpose of the show was to tell people what jobs were available in DC interspersed with hysterical monolgues from Petey. For those of you interested in TV technical stuff, we were on a six second delay. Our delay mechanism? Two two inch Ampex video tape recorders side by side with the tape loaded on one machine and the take-up reel on the other. It took exactly six second for the progrom to travel from the record head of the first machine to the playback head of the second. In the year or so the show aired, the delay was never used to bleep audio. David S. Deutsch (7/13/07) To Maureen from the Eastern Shore: MASN didn't bring Anita Marks up from Miami, ESPN 1300 did. The show being on MASN is part of a content agreement with CBS radio. Anita's not great, but she's Murrow compared to the three different train wrecks that were on in the time slot prior to her hire. Howie (7/13/07) RE: "While the comment about Rodriguez was an "opinion and not an indictment" it was written in a very snarky way. So, one can only surmise that you suck. Thanks. Carry on" - Likewise I'm sure. (7/13/07) Yes folks, please quit it with the sirens on radio ads and on shows. I agree with Dave & Marcus this is very dangerous while driving. The Junkies “Minutia” alarm is the siren sound Marcus is commenting on. I’m a Junkies fan as well, but they need to find a new sound when EB or Cakes goes into small or trifling matters. (7/13/07) (Regarding today's Rant:) I'd have to agree. I'm a Police Officer in Alexandria and it's amazing how many people don't pull over for sirens, often because they don't know if it's real or the radio. The Junkies - one of my favorite shows - plays a siren every once and awhile and I've thought of calling and telling them it's not smart. Even when I'm in my cruiser and hear it go off, I have a tendency to look in my mirror to see if a fire truck or ambulance is coming up behind me. -marcus (7/13/07) Dave's response: Or beeping sounds. While driving, I don't know how many times I've been fooled to think that my window washer fluid's low or that someone's seat belt has come disengaged after hearing a "beeeeeep" in a radio ad or in a news actuality..... Dave, You say: What if WETA-FM was to buy 91.9 and put classical music there with the classic WGMS calls, and restore news talk to 90.9? Stay tuned..... Why does the music have to change? I listen to it and it's pretty good music. Just because it's "Christian" does it make it expendable for classical? They all have their place and I get a little tired of people pushing aside WGTS or WPER because they think they're "religious". Funny how in times of trouble and hurt people turn to religion. The VT shootings, people held prayer vigils. On 9/11, there were immense religious vigils and memorials. You name it, when things go bad we turn to the God of our choice. Why can't we have that in our everyday life? WGTS works for me. Why are so many people afraid of religion? I'm 46 and I still listen to Led Zep and Pink Floyd, so I'm "young" at heart but my younger collegues were amazed that I go to church on Sunday. You would have thought I had the plague or something. Crazy.... Cheers. I'm now rantless. (7/13/07) Dave's response: Salem has one of the most powerful radio stations in the Washington area - WAVA 105.1 FM - and yet can't seem make it into the "top 20" most popular stations in the market. Why not flip the religious talk format to contemporary Christian music? Salem could use an AMer or two (780 plus an acquisition) for the blab..... Actually heard on WNST @ about 1:15-1:20pm on Thurs 07/12...."It's a cops duty, if he knows someone is driving illegally, to pull them over and "citate" them! - I don't know whether to drink or cry, I'll probably do both. (7/13/07) While the comment about Rodriguez was an "opinion and not an indictment" it was written in a very snarky way. So, one can only surmise that you suck. Thanks. Carry on (7/13/07) Speaking of the late great Eddie Gallaher & the very much alive Bob Duckman, one would be very proud of what Buddy Rizer has done with WTRI and the other is a big part of the station every afternoon. I think the Frederick Keys are very lucky to have a station like Buddy's step up and air their games, and from the Keys website and WTRI's Vegas Radio website it looks like all the day games are aired live, including some of the late afternoon games that fit before sunset signoff. While stations like WAGE are ignoring their communities, every time you turn around you find WTRI doing local radio and going out to events in Leesburg and Frederick and all over the Catoctin Valley. For those of us who live beyond Wild West Fairfax it's a breath of fresh air to have them here. BTW..to set the record straight from this pprevious poster [snip] Do they think that more people will listen to the replay of a minor league game vs. their previous format of "Music of Your Life" or whatever it is? [end snip] The music WTRI plays is so far removed from that gawd awful "Music of Your Life" satellite feed that it's a joke to even compare it. I think the Post has it listed as "Contemporary Standards" and it's one of the few AM stations I have preset for something besides news & bookmarked for the online feed at work. - A Fan in Frederick (7/13/07) MASN....no HD and now, no stereo for tonight's O's game. I never saw a message stating they were having technical difficulties. Maybe I missed it, but if there wasn't a message that would be typical Orioles, not caring for their fans. $2 extra a month for this garbage huh? Thanks Uncle Pete! TJ in Baltimore (7/13/07) Hey Baltimore wake-up and smell the Miami wind-bag.....who in the hell at MASN decided that we had to bring in some over the hill sports chick from south Florida to do a Baltimore based sports show? And how did she get the job in the first place, don't they like interview and stuff for jobs like that? No doubt if she did send a tape a resume it didn't include a photo or Amber would have gotten that job for sure....And what's up with the freakin' pity party about here knee ( I think I know how she injured that, huh Peter A.?) Somebody at the whare or whorehouse better come to their senses and blow this chick outta town soon....it's the biggest joke not on radio but tv too, who made this hire? give me a break and get some talent in at MASN this is really bush league and I'm ashamed of my home town, I don't care what or who she does in her spare time - but I bet she has had more girl friends than my x husband - Anita Who ? Maureen from the Eastern Shore. (7/13/07) Has Harv Moore retired from radio? Did the station in Buffalo he worked at change format from golden oldies to more recent vintage stuff?.....Are Harv Moore and Don Geronimo going to go into the radio consultancy business together and calling their company Do You Have To Be So Blue LLP?....isn't Mr. Geronimo already making overtures to the local public radio station in Tampa Bay about taking over their Big Band Saturday night show?...and is Mr. O'Meara also employing some neato negotiation tactics by talking so much about his Florida home and how much he likes Florida? Does he aim for the CBS Radio suits to back up the moolah truck to keep him after Mr. Geronimo has left.......Why is Westwood One getting new Ham and Egg affiliates for Don and Mike this late in the old ballgame?.......is Julie Wright no longer doing the traffic reports on the Greaseman Show? Wha' happened?......and you ever noticed that Kim Martucci leans backwards a lot while doing the weather? is that because the rest of the weathermun at channel 9 are hobbitt size and they made the set more in proportion to them and not to the 6 foot 5 inch Ms. Martucci?....yeah what did happen to Woody West?..... I believe he found Jesus in a bar and after WEEL worked at a religious radio broadcaster in Manassas but that was many years ago....i thought he wasn't bad on the radio......speaking of WEEL are those towers next to the American Legion Hall in toothless fairfax for WDCT solely? what else do they carry,not WJFK right?......and finally when bonnieville sold off 104.1 to radio 1 was lil' danny involved at all in trying to counter a radio 1 offer or by then lil' danny was disgusted with situation and just said forget it and went off and bought dick clark? i see 6 flags has brought back the music but not the crazy bald headed dancing old man geek, come on! (7/13/07) Didn't know if you caught the news (Thursday) evening. Internet radio will not be shut off on July 15th. I posted the story on my blog about what happened with links to Wired. Credit is being given to listeners and fans of Internet web radio and their calls to their representatives. rocklandusa.com... This came on the heals of the courts refusing to issue a stay for the webcasters which left the only alternative for Congress to stop the madness. Todays actions are similar to what happened back in 2002. I can't tell you how excited I am this evening. This is turning out to be a great week. Just yesterday I was finally cleared of a cancer 'scare' that lasted over the past month. What do you think next? Lottery? Anyway, the story is started to spread across the net tonight. Thought you should know. Later, Craig Luecke, Rockland USA Internet Radio (7/13/07) /\ July 13 Messages /\ \/ July 12 Messages \/ RE:"Only someone with an axe to grind would direct a "flame" on an open forum like that. Eddie, along with the others, worked for me for several years, never once did a bad show that I recall! Bob in SDO" - Get a grip honey and please read the original mailbag letter thoroughly. Gallaher, Clark & Duckman are among the best that ever cracked a DC radio station microphone. Just don't feel that Rodriguez is comparable to that lofty trio of fine gentlemen. A journeyman jock? Yes! A legendary Washington broadcast entertainer? No! It's an opinion - not an indictment. (7/12/07) Have you heard anything on TOP about the labor dispute involving Wash Post people and Wash Post radio? One might think a news organization might report on news, even if it affects a business partner. In this case, I do not think Bonneville is part of the labor complaint, only the newspaper. (7/12/07) Dave's response: We have a rather lengthy newsblurb about it on the Front Page..... The following is my statement regarding The Washington Continent: "The Washington Continent became an active URL on late July 3, 2007. The Continent is scheduled to fully launch on July 30. It is a general interest continuously updated Web site covering politics in and around Washington, D.C. from a nonpartisan independent perspective. "People interested in working at The Washington Continent should e-mail The Continent at: jobs@washingtoncontinent.com." RCI is one of America's largest independent communications companies. For more than a decade its major interest have included internet, broadcasting, music, entertainment, e-books and the visual arts. Its assets include top black news sites: www.ReddingNewsReview.com and www.NewsBlack.com. - Robert "Rob" Redding Jr. (7/12/07) Eric in Urbana I beg to differ but this summer I have heard several weekday Keys games on WTRI and I have noticed that the announcer has said "tonight" when referring to the game. I know that sometimes, in indoor sports, that announcers sometimes get confused but I really do think that they are replaying night games. (7/12/07) Dave- I found a high quality MP3 of the WCBS-FM sign on it was really well done. Here's the link if your readers want to check it out. www.patdemos.com/wcbs101... Pat Garrett (7/12/07) My nominations for night dj's on an oldies station would be either Marvelous Marv or Johnny Jones from WPGC. Heck, even Dan Steele... those guys were there in our dorm rooms every night! They really made that station stand out back then. My sis and I came to U of Md and AU from Boston and always found WPGC to be a better station than WMEX. Marvelous Marv!!! Greatest WPGC night time dj EVER. Love to all... Rochelle (7/12/07) RE: 'I’d look for modern day equivalents of Eddie Gallaher, Jerry Clark, Bob Duckman, and Ed Rodriguez." The first three D.C. radio's Major League names are greats. The fourth just grates. *** Only someone with an axe to grind would direct a "flame" on an open forum like that. Eddie, along with the others, worked for me for several years, never once did a bad show that I recall! Bob in SDO (7/12/07) When I lived in the dorms at U of MD College Park, the stations most difficult to receive (besides WMUC haha) were 104.1, 104.3, 105.7, 105.9, 106.5, & 106.7, all adjacents. So it's difficult for me to believe, even with all the engineering prowess in this mailbag, that WSMJ 104.3 moving 20 miles CLOSER to DC will be a good thing for Praise 104.1. The best I could imagine would be no difference and maybe that's the case. If I were Radio One or Bonneville, I'd probably not be "hand-wringing", but I'd not be celebrating either. Would Bonneville have kept 104.1 if they could move it just 20 miles closer to DC ? You bet! (7/12/07) Interesting posts about WEEL in light of the sad passing of Lady Bird. Does anyone know whatever became of former weather guy "Woody West"? Rusty Gibson (7/12/07) (RE: Comcast Adds NHK) So first Comcast takes off TCM and Court TV and makes me move up to Digital service (which actually sucks), then thank you thank you thank you, they give us this channel... Geez, wheres my old am portable radio when I need good entertainment? (7/12/07) Regarding Don & Mike and the Six Flags Girl. One day after the accident Opie and Anthony commented that she was now too short for all of the rides. You know what I did?? I turned off the station asshat!! Stop hatin' and turn the dial if you don't like what you hear. (7/12/07) There is a live audience for the nighttime Frederick Keys games, the games are webcast on the team's site. I'm not sure why WTRI would be doing daytime replays of those games though. I'm all for localism but that's a bit much. Everett W. (7/12/07) Today's Frederick Keys game on WTRI wasn't a replay, it was live. They carry all of the Keys day games. This is the first time the Keys have been on the radio at all for a few years, I believe. Eric in Urbana (7/12/07) "And I am composing this note while listening to hour 1 of the return of CBS-FM 101.1." Yes -- it was great to hear WCBS-FM back as it should be, with Bob Shannon (whom I've been a fan of all the way back to his Don Bombard days at WOLF in Syracuse in 1969) announcing. Especially since now, unlike the earlier days of CBS-FM as an oldies station, it can be easily heard online. Welcome back! -- Vincent in Triangle (7/12/07) RE: 'I’d look for modern day equivalents of Eddie Gallaher, Jerry Clark, Bob Duckman, and Ed Rodriguez." The first three D.C. radio's Major League names are greats. The fourth just grates. Note to Ed Graham: Physical age means nothing as long as you possess and can communicate a youthful passion for what you do. Baltimoreans are still aching for a radio station featuring modern thinking personalities who live to play music from 60s - 80s. There's not a day that goes by that I miss hearing the likes of Johnny Dark, Ken Merson, Bob Worthington and Jack Edwards. And I am composing this note while listening to hour 1 of the return of CBS-FM 101.1. (7/12/07) (Labor Board Slaps WaPo For Not Paying Reporters For Radio Work) Good...maybe this will get most of the Post reporters off the station. The Post Radio concept isn't bad, but many of the guests from the Post stink and bring the station down. (7/12/07) Dave's response: Well, as long as they keep droning film critic Stephen Hunter off, I'll be happy. By the way, doesn't Tom Shales sound a lot like beatnik poet William S. Burroughs? Scary..... Hey, I've heard some of the reporters "working" on WaPo radio. I don't think I'd want to pay anybody for that snooze fest either. Dave In Sterling (7/12/07) I notice that WTRI 1520 AM is playing replays of the previous nights Frederick Keys games. Since they go off the air at sunset that must mean that the games are being recorded with no live audience the night before. Do they think that more people will listen to the replay of a minor league game vs. their previous format of "Music of Your Life" or whatever it is? (7/12/07) Interesting FM DX morning Tuesday down here in King George. On the way to work, I noticed that the band was quite a bit noisier than usual. Every other time I've noticed this, atmospheric ducting over the Bay was enhancing reception of stations from the Delmarva or from down Hampton Roads way. Stepping up the dial to see which would be the case, I stopped on 94.1 and heard Opie and Anthony -- WYSP! Some of the best DC signals (e.g. Hot 99.5) were getting stepped on by Philly metro stations, but the only ID I caught was for WJBR Wilmington. /// On the latest hand-wringing about WSMJ's move to TV Hill in Baltimore, the radio-locator plots don't look any different from what's included in the application submitted to the FCC. That's not too surprising as the same method for calculating coverage (as specified in the FCC regs) was used in both cases. However, I will say again that the net effect to the interference-free coverage area of what's now WPRS is minimal - there's a little loss in Anne Arundel and a little gain in Montgomery. What the poster forgets is it's not just a matter of how strong WSMJ is at any one place, but what the ratio of the strengths of the two signals are - signal-to-interference. In other words, in northern Prince George's and in DC where WSMJ's signal will be stronger, WPRS's signal is strong enough for it not to matter. Sorry, no kick in the balls or any nefarious reason for Bonneville to sell. Regards, Dave Loudin (7/12/07) A post on today’s WGTS blog from manager John Konrad says, “As some of you know several offers have been made to purchase the station from Columbia Union College - our parent organization (WGTS is a self-supporting subsidiary of Columbia Union College). Based on the college’s financial situation, they are voted on July 8th to seriously look at one of these offers. While we at WGTS do not know which offer the College has chosen to pursue, please note that the College Board of Trustees plans to decide on the issue at its next scheduled board meeting in September.” (7/12/07) Hey Ed: If Gary hits a big windfall in the Maryland lottery, would you be willing to take his place. Big shoes to fill (I mean really really big shoes), but I venture HCC would love to have you. Then, of course, you would have to put up with me. Let's not go there. Have a great day everyone. Blessings. Joyce Conroy (I think still at WHFC after this post) (7/12/07) To: Gary Helton. You're retiring January 31, 2020. I hope I live to see the day. Ed Graham (7/12/07) Some interesting programming ideas on DCRTV lately, and here are a few comments. Unsigned said, 'I’d look for modern day equivalents of Eddie Gallaher, Jerry Clark, Bob Duckman, and Ed Rodriguez." That is an important, but overlooked thought. There is so much talk about putting together a great Oldies station in DC or B'more by rounding up the old guys who did it right. To some extent that could work, but don't forget that creating an air staff that relates to the listener can also be done with new talent. The PD should train as well as motivate. Some of the greats can almost phone in a good show, but the key is intensity - - being totally involved in your own show, knowing what it actually sounds like to the audience, caring about the next few seconds, and only saying stuff that the listener wants to hear. Oldies don't have to be the same as before. Oldies can be better. Being static will kill listeners. Stations like WMAL, WTOP, and WBAL have to develop or die. Change is developmental. AM stations have a tough future. Ed Graham (7/12/07) big shake-up at Westwood - They kinda bury the lead......read through to see CEO Peter Kosann ousted money.cnn.com (7/12/07) Any bets on what the Big, Really Big announcement will be when Elliott gets back on Monday? (7/12/07) Dave's response: He'll be moving to new studios on Hubbard Drive on June 2, 2008, with Buzz Burbank, Mike O'Meara, and Robb Spewak joining the show? Dave, Newly added to the line-up for the fall '07 season of The Q&A Cafe: Connie Schultz, Pulitzer prize-winning columnist for The Cleveland Plain Dealer, and wife of Sen. Sherrod Brown, (D-OH), who has written a clever book about the campaign trail and life as a politician's wife, "...and his Lovely Wife." She will appear on Thursday, October 4. Carol (7/12/07) It's July 12th...shouldn't WASH in DC and WLIF in Baltimore start their All-Chirstmas music play lists in the next week or so? Greg in Reisterstown (7/12/07) Below statement released re the potential sale of the WGTS 91.9 non-com license. Sounds like bait and switch to me.... most people won't know different, so let them think a possible (rented from new owner? gifted back by owner?) digital channel will allow the current station/format to continue as is. Too late by the time they find out otherwise...... "VOTE ON RADIO STATION LICENSE - The Columbia Union College Board of Trustees voted to begin negotiations with a potential buyer for the WGTS license. The goal of any potential sale is to protect and grow the future of Columbia Union College as an Adventist Christian college in the nation’s capital. Contract stipulations include the ability to continue broadcasting WGTS using digital radio broadcast technology. That would allow CUC to maintain a radio broadcast ministry in the nation’s capital. The board expects to finalize a contract in September. Your comments about this decision should be emailed to comments@cuc.edu; they will be shared with CUC board members." (7/12/07) Dave, Your "rant" this morning prompted me to recall my own local radio memory of the late Lady Bird Johnson. As I've mentioned on this board before, her son-in-law, former Senator and former Va. Governor Chuck Robb, through the family company in Austin, Tex., once owned WEEL-AM (1310) in Fairfax City. This was in the days when Alan Prell was the PD, and my pal Sean Hall was the midday man/music director; his dad, Jim Hall, and also Elaina Taylor were in the newsroom with me. Dick Hemby was the morning man, and Steve Stephany did evenings. One day, Sean clued me in that the Secret Service would be conducing their security sweep of the station, in advance of a station visit by Lady Bird. We actually had to leave the station's small Oak St. bldg. for a few minutes while the sweep took place. Later that afternoon, Lady Bird came for her visit (before going to the Robb home on Chain Bridge Road in McLean). She popped into the production studio where I was prepping a story for the afternoon drive news. I expected a nice, polite, quick encounter. Instead, she showed a genuine interest in what I was doing, asked me about my story, and hung around to watch me record and edit my spot on the old reel-to-reel Scully tape deck. I was touched that she was so interested in my work, and my General Manager later told me after she left that she paid me a very nice compliment for my "professionalism" upon her departure. This meant a lot to me, knowing that she was the owner of two of Austin's more successful radio stations at the time (KLBJ AM-FM). She was gracious and warm, and I'll never forget her kindness to me that day. Amy Morris allowed me to share that story on the air with our listeners yesterday afternoon with our listeners on WFED's PM drive news show. Thanks, Lady Bird! And so it goes... - Max in Mild West Arlington (7/12/07) Mr. E Edward - If you're gonna kill Don & Mike for making a joke about the girl who lost both feet at Six Flags, why don't you listen to JFK during the day when they run O & A spots, where the whole commercial is Opie, Ant, and Norton clowning this girl. If you're gonna dogpile on D&M, do it for them being 3 weeks late to the party on this story. (7/12/07) Yep..I'm finally taking the plunge (for DCRTV Plus)! ... This is a great place to come and get news about radio; maybe exchange ideas and opinions concerning the radio industry (I've never worked in the business..but have always followed radio; the radio has been my friend while growing up..and is great to have a place to visit and find out what's going on..who's working at what station..what station is flipping formats..and the like! Keep up the good work... Tom (7/12/07) Dave's response: Thanks Tom! I don't have a subscription to find out the answer, but I am wondering if Salon had a seance to get reaction from (talk show host) Mike Douglas for their story: www.salon.com (7/12/07) I remember that phone booth sized newsroom of the WASH-FM of the 1970s. It was more of a storage closet cum studio, with a wooden sliding/folding door and a stool. The air studio was a stand-up affair. The production studio was sumptuous, with a padded rail console. (7/12/07) Even tho I love to hate them, and hardly listen (except for the first hour), I’m sorry to hear the boys will be leaving JFK so soon. As for their plans, I’ve said it before and I’ll day it again: Don has definitely already got a deal with XM. Buzz is going to get his own show (on JFK?). And godnoze what Mike is planning; he’ll prolly just be happy to run his restaurant. (7/12/07) (RE Anyone else watch the All Star Game and notice Russell Martin yell “SHIT!!!” as he popped up to end the 6th inning? Break out the audio engineering awards for FOX….) Reply: I watched the All Star Game...why would you blame an audio mixer for a player swearing? A player at bat knows there are nat sound mics on the field in every game, not to mention players are miced. It is up to network suits, in this case Fox, to institute an audio and or video delay policy, not the audio mixer or any other technician working the game. (7/12/07) RADIO HOST DON GERONIMO JOKES ABOUT A CHILD'S FEET BEING SEVERED - On Friday, June 22, 2007 between 6:30 and 6:45 pm, Don Geronimo joked on air: "AT LEAST THAT "SNYDER GIRL" WON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT ATHLETE'S FOOT". He was referring to a 13 year old girl at one of Dan Snyder's Six Flags amusement parks whose feet were severed in a terrible accident. Don and Milke were overjoyed that this happened because it allowed them to criticize Snyder, who admittedly deserves criticism about many things. However, this was a CHILD who was horribly injured. A couple of years ago, Don practically cried (on air) like a baby when his wife was killed and he soaked up the listeners' pity. I guess the injured CHILD should be a source for Don's humor but Don should be pitied. If any of the personnel on the "Don and Mike Show" had a family member so much as break a bone, the program would devote 15 minutes to how terrible the accident was. Mr. E. Edwards (7/12/07) I wonder how many people are actually able to listen to talk radio of whatever pursuasion on the AM band? I ask this because of a recent day of business which had me driving all ove much of Northern Virginia. And, WMAL was unlistenable in numerous areas of Northern Virginia due to powerline hash. Or, did I simply score an unlucky rental? (2007 Ford Fusion) I ask this as in the L.A. area, the FCC still keeps a pretty tight rein on DWP and Edison. Or, perhaps KFI has more connections than WMAL in keeping the powerlines clean? KFI has a particular problem as they're still on reduced power into a "temporary" antenna due to NIMBY's not allowing a new tower to be built following the collision of a general aviation aircraft with their old tower several years ago... (7/12/07) Since an earlier poster asked about Celeste Clark of MIX107... Sorry to have to pass along that Celeste Clark Jenkins passed away June 5, 2006 due to colon cancer. Here's a link to her obit... www.zwire.com -John Pinckney (7/12/07) (RE: Why in the world would they change WQSR in Baltimore back to "Oldies"? The station is Top 10, ages 25 - 54 and is currently tied with sister station MIX1065! While we'd all like to hear the great DJ's and incredible production WQSR used to have, Jack has ratings and reveune. The best thing CBS could do is switch their HD2 channel to the WQSR Oldies format or start an online stream of the station. QSR is nowhere near tied with Mix in that demo...) What a dumbass. Look at the rating stupid... (7/12/07) Dave's response: The above poster included a graphic snapshot of an Arbitron webpage which I'm not including for copyright reasons..... /\ July 12 Messages /\ Jump to the Mailbag Archive Index.....