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DCRTV Mailbag - August 20 to August 24, 2007
Latest messages listed first.....
\/ August 24 Messages \/
The WFED power upgrade is beneficial to Bonneville for two reasons: 1) The signal should penetrate federal office buildings better, in addition to allowing feds on the road to hear the station for longer periods on their commutes, and 2) it increases the value of the property in Bonneville's portfolio. (8/24/07)
"All e-mails sent to me become the property of DCRTV and only I make the editorial decision as to whether things get posted or not. Nobody tells me what to do. So there....." True, but an attitude like that is one way to insure that your news tips shared in confidence dry up in a hurry. (8/24/07)
Dave's response: Jesus, get a sense of humor!
Dave, on the front page where you have two pictures of Donnie Simpson, are you saying that the picture on the right is a current picture?..Don't think so..Looks like one from his "Video Soul" days..This picture is much more current. (8/24/07)If there weren't a double-standard on use of the "N" word & race, Radio One would have gone out of business years ago. No radio company has used race more effectively (and lately ineffectively) to make money than Radio One. Has anyone actually ever listened to WOL/WOLB's brand of hate talk? If you think Ron Smith or RUSH is bad (and I'll only agree with you on Rush), give the Radio One stations a listen for a couple days white people. You will see a whole other world of hate-talk you never even knew existed. Seriously, without the double standard on race, these stations would have been ceized by the FCC or sued out of business years ago for all the anti-white jokes and racist comments or code words I've heard. If you think Imus crossed the line, give these stations a listen. The same accusation simply can not be said for the Ron Smith show or WBAL and to suggest so is just plain ridiculous. Just because some idiot posts public racist comments in an open website section does not a racist radio station make! Wake up to the internet. Wake up to free speech. Wake up to the REAL WORLD! I could find hundreds if not thousands of web sites &/or forums that have probably let terrible words like that slip through. Gee, some of them might even be rapper websites or possibly even government funded websites!........ Signed -- A Fan of The Voice of Reason (8/24/07)
Dave's response: Damn, just got a brainstorm for WBAL middays - Mrs. Fred Grandy.....
Several FCC notes....... Baltimore's WBJC is applying for a signal upgrade at the same power but a different directional signal to increase the signal east, northeast, & southeast from, apparently, the same location (& requesting an interference waiver)............ WFED AM1050 gets is signal upgrade to 3500 watts instead of the current measily 1000 watts............ and WMAL is officially 10,000 watts. Does anyone notice a difference? Oh, and anyone know why DC 101 & WMZQ are both on STA (Special Temporary Authority), presumably from their backup transmitter/locations? Problems? (8/24/07)
Dave's response: WMZQ had a transmitter fire a few months ago.....
Another note about the WFED 1050 upgrade...... A modestly stronger signal in places like Gaithersburg, Bowie, Arlington, & Laurel. Also, should be able to gain new listeners in a line (if you drew it on a map) between Annapolis to Columbia & Burke to Leesburg, areas which previously would have been a more difficult catch. Might even be able to pick it up in the Baltimore suburbs finally to some degree although not well. And probably not a costly upgrade for Bonneville either. (8/24/07)
Dave's response: Wow. WFED will go from 12 listeners to 15.....
Sorry BOBB or is it BOOB. I didn't realize you're the censor of what can and can't be posted to DCRTV. Given today's broadcast environment I think it's interesting that WBAL publishes comments calling African-Americans n*ggers, knuckle-draggers, and many other vile terms. So if they feel it's appropriate to publish that type of thing I feel it's OK to point it out. Oh--by the way--I found it really, really scary that you typed in all caps to show me how you really, really mean it. (8/24/07)
We keep seeing the same bitcher about WBAL and the word n****r ont he Ron Smith Website. JUST DROP IT, no one else has even mentioned it. DROP IT ALREADY!-BOBB (8/24/07)
Re: "This is a totally random question and not for the mailbag or a post" - And you wonder why people think you are full of it. Way to post something that was not meant for public eyes. Paul Schlegal in Double A. (8/24/07)
Dave's response: All e-mails sent to me become the property of DCRTV and only I make the editorial decision as to whether things get posted or not. Nobody tells me what to do. So there.....
Oh that Chris Core! Isn’t he one edgy radio talk show host? Is there anything he will not do for money or to keep his job. I see the WMAL insider web site is featuring Chris’ special letter to his daughter. The personal testimonial ads are bad. But repeatedly involving your kid in advertising and now in special messages is sad and desperate. (8/24/07)
If Tony Kornheiser's show ends up being the lead-in to Bill O'Reilly on 1500-AM next year, that may not be great synergy considering the number of times Kornheiser has savaged O'Reilly on radio in the past. WTEM's Feldman & Maloney show aired an extended sitdown with Joe Gibbs yesterday, portions of which had been shown previously on Dave Feldman's Channel 5 sportscasts. Clearly, the ability to provide such interviews was a factor in the hiring of Feldman by 980 (which hasn't had direct access to the Redskins head coach since Red Zebra debuted a year ago). The station has been promoting the fact that Skins games can be heard on its sister station WBIG FM. This situation has to be somewhat awkward since RZ produces the broadcasts as well as the pregame and postgame programming hosted by Bram Weinstein, Kevin Sheehan and Joe Jacoby. I'm sure Clear Channel would much rather simulcast WTEM's pre and postgame shows instead, but for obvious reasons Dan Snyder wasn't going to allow that as part of the deal. While I understand that the Michael Vick dog fighting story is a hot button issue for sports talk radio and has a local angle due to the beleaguered Falcon QB being from Virginia, it's definitely starting to get tiresome and some callers (mostly Vick defenders) have embarrassed themselves with their ignorant comments. When someone actually expresses the view that Vick was performing a public service by (allegedly) killing dogs than might otherwise have attacked people in the future, you know it's time to move on to something else. There are three areas where moral relativism arguments run smack into a brick wall in this day and age - terrorism, child abuse and cruelty to animals. The flip side of the coin to 980's Sports Reporters becoming nearly unlistenable when Steve Czaban's hosting it alone is that it improves considerably when he's on vacation. Yesterday's discussion by Andy Pollin, Mike Wise of the Post and Thom Loverro of the Times regarding the evolving role of the newspaper columnist may have been a bit too cerebral for Czaban's liking, but it sure beat 'your favorite strip joint' as a worthwhile sports radio topic. Mike, Fairfax (8/24/07)
Well it's a week later and WBAL continues to run the word n*gger on the Ron Smith web page. (8/24/07)
I recently read in Radio World that some stations were turning off their HD signal due to interference in BMW and Volvo radios with wideband inputs. I understand that a lot of HD was started last year before a licensing deadline that would have raised the rates to Ibiquity. Any local engineers or techs want to fess up that they are no longer running or plan to shut off their HD signals? Charlie / Springfield (8/24/07)
New addition to the "Most annoying radio ads" file...The damn ads run on WJFK for this mob boss sounding clown hocking his mortgage service company are mind numbing..."Its the biggest no brainer in the history of Earth"...This douche really attempts to sound like some tough guy in the financial business...."I am not your Dad" is a quote from the latest....And my absolute favorite "You hurt a child...One day someone going to work on you with a drill and a blow torch" WHAT????? What is the hell is that all about....These god awful spots are just a shade below the "Tahiti Village" scam ads JFK runs....Apparently the sales office at WJFK have no shame. (8/24/07)
Dave's response: A number of local stations have been running that "blow torch" ad......
Hey, Dave...why are you so defensive about the question on Barbara Harrison's race? She's not defensive about it...I've heard her mention on air that she's bi-racial. You, yourself, have pondered the sexual preference of various news people...what does it matter? -- Bobbie (8/24/07)
Dave's response: I'm not defensive. I just think it's stilly to argue about it. So what if she's 45.7 or 53.8 percent black. OK, she's bi-racial. Why care if she's "more black" or "more white." Sheesh. My heritage is English, Welch, Scottish, Irish, and German. It seems silly to argue whether I'm 23 percent this or 37 percent that. We're all human beings. That's all that should matter.....
Hi Dave...My friend, Tim Watts, is also celebrating a 30-year anniversary. I have attached a press release for you to see. I'm proud to know him and call him a friend. Regards, Bill Worthington (8/24/07)
Congratulations to Donnie Simpson. Donnie Simpson is a member of very exclusive club that includes Eddie Gallagher, Frank Harden, Jack Weaver and Melvin Lindsay. They were all true radio professionals who sounded like a family member on the air and were tied into the DC community. No shock, no hype …just class! Keep reaching for the stars Donnie. (8/24/07)
Dave's response: Two radio Don's I've never heard a bad word about - Donnie Simpson and Don Geronimo. OK, maybe not the latter. Just joooooking.....
"Bill in Lothian": You mentioned that you had a book published, I would LOVE to read it. And b/t/w, Lothian was the home pf my aunt and uncle. Have you ever heard of the Moreland family? Rusty (8/24/07)
(RE: early WRC-FM/WKYS) ....AND IT WAS PRETTY CHEAP TO RUN. I QUESS BOB SHENTON KEPT IT RUNNING. I QUESS FOR US NABETS IT WAS BETTER WHEN WE WENT TO DISCO 93. CORY (8/24/07)
I'll be sorry to see Post Radio go if the rumors you're reporting are true..or at least truer than last month's rumors. Two questions: (1) If Bonneville is going to keep Burd around for morning drive, why turn afternoon drive over to a syndicated caveman when you've got Hillary Howard, who IMHO is the best thing Post Radio has going for it? (2) Rather than the (mostly) righty talk format which is now a proven loser here, why not try sports talk as nearly happened with 104.1? Kornheiser may be willling to stick around and rub elbows with O'Reilly, Boortz and Beck, but I doubt if the Nationals will be willing to do so (Kasten agreed to just a one-year extension of the Bonneville agreement for just this reason). Why not get some local talent for AM and PM drive, keep the Nats and build around them, and get ESPN or Sporting News or something similar to fill up the rest of the time? Seems to me a better shot than trying yet again for the diminishing Bushie flat-earth crowd. (8/24/07)
Dave's response: The latest Post Washington Post Radio line-up I'm hearing is: Burd mornings, Kornheiser late mornings (come Jan or Feb), Bob Kur afternoons, and syndicated talkers the rest of the time.....
MONSTER MADHOUSE LIVE RETURNS TONIGHT At 10:00 p.m., on Falls Church,
Virginia based FCCTV, for the SEASON THREE DEBUT! Performance artist
Bobogolem returns with Karlos Borloff and the rest of the
Monsterminators in hosting the 1968 Gamera classic "Destroy All
Planets." Lots of surprises are planned, and a couple of lucky viewers
will win DVD copies of "Flash Gordon." 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
exhaustion! FCCTV can be seen in Fairfax County and Falls Church on
Cox Channel 12 on Starpower Channel 2, all of Northern Virginia on
Verizon's Fios service Channel 35, and beginning tonight STREAMING
LIVE on the internet at
www.monstermadhouselive.com. (8/24/07)The silence on WMAL Wednesday may have been related to preparing to use the new 10kW / directional pattern permanently. They received Program Test Authority yesterday. Regards, Dave Loudin (8/24/07)
Dave's response: MAL ain't running its HD signal today.....
Thanks for setting the record straight about the WRC-FM / WKYS call letters. The 'beautiful music' programming that ran before 'double monday' was Schulke. Check out Lee Abrams' blog for Monday, August 13 for a tribute comment. leeabrams.blogspot.com... Of course for more WKYS history visit us at WWW.98WRC.COM..... Mike Berry (8/24/07)
Hi Dave, This is a totally random question and not for the mailbag or a post… but we’re having a newsroom debate on this and I couldn’t think of a better person to ask. Is WRC’s Barbara Harrison black or bi-racial? We lifelong Washingtonians are stumped. Do you know??? Thanks! (8/24/07)
Dave's response: Ahhhhh, not this question again! We've had lengthy Mailbag debates on Barbara's racial heritage in the past. What does it matter?
Speaking of Ron and Fez, does anyone know why the show suddenly cut away yesterday during their XM broadcast? Fez had taken a day off for unknown reasons to listeners, and an hour or so into the program, Ron Bennington received a personal call on his cell phone that lead to an abrupt ending of the show. At that point, XM began running replays from an earlier broadcast. Ron and Fez can still be heard in the DC area everyday from noon to 3 on XM 202. (8/24/07)
Dave, you keep mentioning that "WNWP" (NOT WaPo radio) is going to have a range of talkers like Bill-o, Beck and Stephanie Miller. Now you've added Burd and the fact that Tony K will return. I assume that means that the lineup will be Burd, Korny, Bill-o live and Beck and Miller delayed. I'm guessing Beck gets afternoon drive and Miller gets three in the morning. That's really innovative programming and will probably draw an even lower share that WTWP currently does. Howie (8/24/07)
Dave's response: I've said from the start that Burd will remain with Post Washington Post Radio. I'm also hearing that Bonneville is gunning for the WWWT calls for 107.7. If I was the head of Bonneville, sitting in my palacial Salt Lake City office, I would put all-news WTOP back on 1500 AM, along with 103.5 FM. I'd then sell 107.7 to CBS for a Virginia relay of El Zol. I would then push to develop WTOP's "local all-news leader" status on the web and via HD Radio with instant traffic/weather, biz/stocks news, and federal (WFED) news streams. Another middle-aged male-oriented talker on the DC radio dial? Nah. Look at WJFK-FM's ratings slump. Look at WTNT's chronic lack of listeners.....
Paul Farhi writes: (Donnie Simpson) started as the night man on the old WWRC-FM, but moved to the morning slot within two years. When the station was re-christened WKYS ("Kiss FM"), Simpson became its program director." So, if Simpson is celebrating his 30th anniversary of being on the air in DC, that must have happened in 1977. But didn't NBC flip 93.9 to WKYS in the early 1970s - a few years earlier. So how could Donnie have been on the air at "WWRC" (which, as DCRTV Dave says, was WRC) 30 years ago when it was WKYS then? Plus, didn't NBC try a short-lived easy listening format on 93.9 in the early 1970s (after the demise of jazz formatted WRC-FM), which is when the WKYS calls got put on the frequency? - Steve in Suitland (8/24/07)
I was reading about Donnie Simpson. Didn't he back in the 80's do freelance at Channel 4 as one of the sports anchors. I think on the weekends. Just wondering. (8/24/07)
Dave's response: Yes. When Donnie was hired by 93.9, it was owned by NBC and in the same building as Channel 4.....
Two things in today's Washington Post caught my eye this morning A) "Ari's the central manager of our message, which is supporting a strong national defense against terror and achieving prosperity through free enterprise." In the Style section. But if you look on the front page of the paper, "free enterprise" is failing in Iraq. B) Chris Core's immigration stunts in Metro; hey, directly above the Core article is a picture of a local boy's, (killed in Iraq), funeral. When will Chris ever talk about laying to rest local friends before their 30th birthday without the mantra of "supporting the mission" behind it? Not a sermon, just a thought. (8/24/07)
Dave, isn't life short? While frying 25 pieces of chicken for the kid's dinner last nite,a big slab of hot oil went straight into my right eye. My screams had the kids calling 911. Coming back home from the ER, one eyed since the other is in dressings, I began to update my blog when I read in the DC Post that Elizabeth Callan of PBS DIED! This is so shocking then I found out she died from burns suffered in a kitchen fire! Let me tell you it hurts when you read stories like this. I then thought about my right eye. My condolences to her family and the PBS folks. Kemi Joshua www.keminications.com Toronto's Media News (8/24/07)
Just in time for the 2008 Presidential Primaries - Gunman Who Shot Wallace Is to Be Freed! (This should liven things up on the ol' campaign trail!) Arthur Bremer, the gunman who tried to kill Gov. George C. Wallace of Alabama as he campaigned for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1972, is scheduled to be released from a Maryland prison in December. In 1973, Mr. Bremer was sentenced to serve 53 years for shooting Mr. Wallace and wounding three others at a campaign stop in Laurel, Md. The bullet that lodged in Mr. Wallace’s spine paralyzed his legs, and he used a wheelchair until his death in 1998. Personally, I think this has "bad idea" written all over it! By his own admission, Bremer had originally wanted to kill Nixon and he even stalked him for a while, but he was never able to get close enough. So, he settled for trying to kill Wallace. In April 1972, about a month before Wallace was shot, the polls had Nixon and McGovern tied at 41% each, with Wallace at 18%. Four years earlier, in the 1968 election, the margin of Nixon's victory over Humphrey was slim - 43.4% to 42.7%. Wallace got 13.5% of the vote and carried five states. He was poised to do even better in 1972 (at Nixon's expense) attracting potential Nixon voters, as opposed to gaining votes from McGovern's column. In the aftermath of the Wallace shooting, it was thought that Nixon's "dirty tricksters" were somehow connected to the attempted assassination. While this remains just a theory, the Nixon Tapes offer this: www.maebrussell.com... Bremer's early release from prison carries the provision that he must stay away from political figures and events. Of course, should he decide to ignore this special provision, the timing is perfect for him to *ahem* "participate" in his uniquely crazy way! Here's a link for some video by Gordon Peterson at Channel 9, on the 25th anniversary of the Wallace Shooting in Laurel. www.wusa9.com (8/24/07)
/\ August 24 Messages /\
\/ August 23 Messages \/
About Ch. 4 using broadcasts sound during video highlights. This is BETTER than dumb George Michael and his FAKE fan noise during highlights. That's so, so bad. (8/23/07)
Rusty…An answer to some of your questions. I guess that the year in the 70’s was ‘72 or ‘73 when I played that gig at Hunter’s. As I stated I the earlier post, I was working on the road and back then a musician could work every day of the year without much of a problem. There was a ton of work if you wanted to travel…clubs, Holiday Inns, USO shows, and more. I could write a book but, I think it’s already been published…It was kind of the “bush league” but live music was still happening everywhere. I don’t know what the young upcoming musicians can do today to actually earn a living wage. I never worked in Wayson’s Corner…I’ve never even played Bingo there You mentioned a couple of Virginia venues ( I don’t think that word was part of my vocabulary back then we referred to them as clubs, bars, beer joints or toilets, but not necessarily in that order)…Partners II…never worked there, but I know it was down the road from Hunter’s…Hillbilly Heaven , I played there a couple times as a fill-in sub. Earl Dixon…major piece of work. Quick Earl story…the singer had the PA amp near the front of the stage, it might have been sitting on one of those decorative fence posts with the speaker wires hanging down…a woman of the dreadnaught class dances too close to the wires and CRASH brings the whole PA down…the damn thing’s broken…Earl comes to the stage and asks if the band has another system…the singer quits on the spot…Earl is frantic…Heck, I’m just doing a sub but I want to get paid so while rigging up something that works, this guy that’s stationed at Ft. Belvoir comes up and says that he can sing a few songs… I tell Earl and he turns to the audience and says, “Don’t go anywhere…We’ve got a special attraction…This fine young man(turns to the singer, “What’s your name son? He answers Dave) Dave is gonna sing …he just arrived in town from Florida…Got his own TeeVee show down there…Priceless…Bill from Lothian (8/23/07)
Here's a priceless YouTube clip of baby Doni Geronimo from his pre-DC years. The eighties were not kind to that man. ---> www.youtube.com (8/23/07)
To that sensitive correspondent who hinted he has grown fatigued with Michael Vick stories in the media, here is the "an eye for an eye" video which shows the actual events leading to his decision to plead guilty: www.youtube.com (Rated R for Language... Not Safe For The Workplace.) (8/23/07)
Forgive me if this would not be a factor, but I’ll throw it out there anyway in regard to DC dropping from the 8th market to No. 9. Would the loss of Winchester-Frederick County and Warren County play into that, if indeed this area did get added back to Harrisonburg? Between the two counties and city there are more than 130,000 people out here.... Charles in Winchester (8/23/07)
"Smash,Smash,Smash..diggin the Smash..Everyday at the studio the man arrives standing six foot two, weighing two twenty five..." or something like that. I remember in the mid 1980s Smash and his band along with the Greaseman used to tour and do gigs together. One such time they took a bus ride to Longwood College, the home of three girls to every guy, in scenic Farmville, Virginia. After they arrived, Grease started strolling amongst the crowd at the outdoor concert, no one seemed to know him but me and some of my NOVA buds, so we tipped back a few brews with our favorite boss jock, before he went on stage to open the festivities. Sadly, Grease's gig was very short-lived as he decided to make lesbian jokes and insinuations about our college president, to which the local police didn't take kindly and shut him down almost as soon as he had started. He retreated to the sanctuary of the bus; a little later the Adam Smasher Band hit the stage and did the per usual popular cover songs of the day in workman like fashion. Maybe one day I will send some of the photos I took to DCRTV Plus, I guess they would qualify? (8/23/07)
It's been my experience that most of the "fake hard-ass right wingers" ARE playing a role. There's no way they could be that way in real life, they'd be walking around with fat lips constantly. (8/23/07)
Dave's response: Hey, Rush Limbaugh is spending a week in Hawaii with some guy friends and a big stash of Viagra. Not that there's anything wrong with that.....
El Jefe and J-Dubs rule. I moved to DC from Michigan at about the same time J-Dubs relocated from Fowlerville. Washington radio hasn't been the same since that duo left (not to mention Ron and Fez). Tell us, Dave, in your infinite wisdom, will El Jefe, J-Dubs, Ron and Fez EVER return? (8/23/07)
Dave's response: Apparently, CBS Radio DC honcho Michael Hughes was not impressed with R&F's lackluster midday/evening numbers on 106.7 a few years back. I think he liked their show, but they didn't deliver, he'd probably say. You could argue that maybe CBS didn't do its share in promoting the duo.....
I can't hold my loathing for Mike Source "Don" anymore. On Tuesday's show Buzz had another story dealing with the Mattel toys made in China. "Don" plays the go-to-oriental sound bite. Very fresh....very original....very funny. "Don" then proceeds to mimic the language. Doesn't matter what the language is...its a horrid sound bite as it is. Repeating the sounds over and over and over again. Stopping to get the sounds perfect and languish in his poor attempt to copy the sounds. GREAT radio...ASS! Please to be making more stupid sounds! "Don"!! Hey, Tool!! You've got enough trouble reading words in English out of magazine! Stop already. It is over for you....old "pathetic" man. Take another leave of absence and let the show grow back to what is was before your OCD and ADHD kicked in. I have taken your advise and stopped listening. Now, let me leave you swinging.....YOU SUCK! - Skimmell (8/23/07)
Boy, I'm sure enjoying the heck out of the dvd release of "The Fugitive". I find the writing consistently very good and heck all them character actors of yore in each episode. Say didn't Mel Proctor write a book about "The Fugitive"?.....looking at the overall arbytrons and looks like WTGB dropped a wee bit? I guess D.C. is a Smooth Jazz kind of town looking at WMMJ ratings. I thought many stations across country had been dropping the Smooth Jazz format but D.C. likes that noodling and hearing the announcer say "Smooth Jazz" 50 times in a half hour. DC101 seems consistently strong even with WTGB trying to encroach on their territory. Say didn't Atom Smasher find Geezus, but not in a bar?....back when MHZ was WNVT/WNVC they showed a program from Hunter's Lodge, i think it was Saturday night's before the horror show. I wonder if the wunderkinds running mhz have saved the tapes of them shows? Wasn't Mark Kessler doing the announcing at Lil' Danny's stadium? (8/23/07)
Ahoy, mateys! Sharing a birthday with the late hoofer Gene Kelly, DC's favorite tugboat captain Lee Reynolds turned 81 years young today. This photo shows LeeR as he was chillin' in the Chateau de Chillon in Switzerland last May. See footage from 1963 of his Cap'n Tugg show (where he assumed all of the roles and voices through the magic of video tape) on the home page of KaptainKidshow.com... And YouTube has a second clip of LeeR from 1957 doing a live Cocoa Marsh ad on his Grandpa's Place set at www.youtube.com... (8/23/07)Dave, You are right on target with your remarks about WMAL’s Andy Parks. I’ve known Parks for years and he’s a decent and caring man. Wishing him a speedy recovery has nothing to do with your views (or mine) on his air work. Some DCRTV readers don’t understand that you can sympathize with a man’s personal problems and dislike his public views. Tom Gauger (8/23/07)
Dave's response: Some WMALers have privately e-mailed me to tell me that Andy's a much nicer guy in person than the "character" he plays on the radio. Come on, Andy! Stop pretending to be the fake hard-ass right-winger. Let your compassionate lefty self shine through on the radio. We know it's there.....
Just wanted you to know that I am going to be on the Nancy Grace show tonight on CNN Headline News (not on the main CNN channel). It airs live at 8pm and repeats at 10pm. I will be discussing steroids and pro wrestling. Christopher Cruise (8/23/07)
During C-SPAN'S Washington Journal program this morning, I heard locally on FM radio, The Atlantic Monthly's Megan McArdle was asked at 8:47 AM "what percent of the time would you say you 'Phuk' on a ...", and the phone line went dead. Does anybody know what the complete question was, andf what her answer was? JOKE! "The F Bomb" live on the radio at 8:46 AM this morning! Alert the FCC! You can see and here it here at 1:46 and 50 seconds... www.c-span.org (8/23/07)
The last two nights' sports reports on NBC4(6:45) have been absolute bullshit. On Tues night the lead story was the Skins cutting Lemar Marshall. OK. Then we are treated to video of Marshall..in slow motion of course. The man is gone..cut..What is the point of showing video of a released player? Well here comes the Wed. sports. What is the lead story? The release of Lemar Marshall. This time we are treated to slow motion video of Marshall rolling around in the grass with a dubbed-in wildly-cheering crowd. I guess NBC4 thinks this is one of big Skins stories of the year! The man performed poorly and got cut! Please NBC4.. have you no other Redskins news for us??? While we're at it, please back off Nascar and soccer. And PLEASE back off the slow-motion shit. Slow motion should be used to show the nuances of spectacular plays that beg to be replayed and examined..NOT.. players jumping up and down in the end zone.. champaign sprays and streamers at Nascar races..coaches walking menacingly along the sidelines etc etc. One other thing.. I notice NBC4 is "trying" to use actual announcer play-by-play voiceovers in the background for highlight clips, like ESPN and every other network does. This is a nice gesture except you can't hear what they're saying! The voices sound muffled( obviously on purpose ) and honestly I can't tell if they're authentic or fake.. The purpose of the voiceovers is to add excitement to the narration of the NBC4 sportscaster... But if you can't hear them it adds nothing. Regards Biff (8/23/07)
You may have heard this , but wanted you to know: Fez was out today (unplanned & unexplained)... In the middle of a Tom Rhodes interview (about 1:10 E), Ron takes a call on his cell... Eastside Dave tries to fill w/Rhodes for 45 sec.... They go to extended break... They go to "best of"... No one on the message boards knows anything.... Could be nothing....still... -- Kelly (8/23/07)
RE: Adam Smasher's son on ER…. Yes, in fact, Abraham Benrubi (Jerry the big lug!) is the son of Asher Benrubi, aka Adam Smasher. I obviously know way too much about the Benrubi clan.. (8/23/07)
In response to the latest on WBAL's "help wanted" sign, can anyone check into the rumor that before they make a decision, all eyes at WBAL (and at another talk station) are on the Baltimore mayoral race, for it could very well determine who they hire. One scenerio has it that should Baltimore City Councilman Kieffer Mitchell come up short in September's primary, BAL (or another talk station) would consider raching out to him to team up with fellow BAL host Clarence Mitchell, IV (known to all as "C4") as a co-host. That would make a pretty formidable show and if BAL doesn't bite, another station could very well make some type of offer to steel C4 away and team him up with Cousin Kieffer. (8/23/07)
I don't like the Channel 9 morning show promotion with Andrea Roanes’ arm around Mike Walter while grasping his arm. It is so completely and utterly inappropriate. The promotion should be pulled immediately. I can't believe Roane would even agree to such a staged and odd pose. Horrible judgement on behalf the promotions department and the anchors involved. Shame on them. (8/23/07)
Hey isn’t Adam Smasher’s son one of the cast members of ER. I thought he was Jerry, the big lug at the front desk (8/23/07)
he local broadcast historian who uses the YouTube name "eyeontv" writes: "(Dr. C. Francis Jenkins' TV studio in Wheaton) was in a house at Windham Lane and Georgia Ave, just south of Wheaton Plaza. One of the Montgomery County weeklies had done a series on Jenkins in the '80s and listed that location. There is still a house on that corner, not sure if it could be the one..." While we're bumming around Wheaton, perhaps someone has knowledge about FM station WHIP which, according to the WaPost of August 10, 1947, was being built along Kemp Mill Road. (Both WGAY AM and FM were ALREADY on the air along Kemp Mill Road by April '47, so WHIP was an unrelated venture.) Any evidence that WHIP-FM ever made it to the airwaves? (8/23/07)Dave, I just learned that Don & Mike are moving to AM on the shore. It seems some changes are underway for 96 Rock, in afternoon drive, so D & M are moving to sports talk 960. (8/23/07)
Dave's response: Wouldn't that be a demotion? From an FM rocker to an AM sports talker? Can anyone confirm?
In January of 1986, former Doubleday Broadcasting programming honcho Bobby Hattrik was murdered in the St. Louis area. For a number of years he was responsible for the direction of then album rocker WAVA. Does anybody know whether his murderer was ever identified? (8/23/07)RE: Does anyone know where Adam Smasher is now - Asher Benrubi aka Adam Smasher now does a morning show in St. Louis on KLOU. He is just called "Smash" these days. (8/23/07)
Dave's response: We get that same question from someone every other month or so.....
Not totally related to the DC/Baltimore area, but it does have a common connection to this region. Longtime Providence mayor Buccy Cianci, who recently served time in the federal slammer for conspiracy charges, has gotten a radio gig on WPRO in Providence, RI (source: abcnewsgo.com). He joins Baltimore's Ed Norris, and Washington's G. Gordon Liddy as fellow public officials who served time in federal prison, and were rewarded with a radio talk show. Cianci did do some radio back in 1980's on WHJJ in Providence. (8/23/07)
Dave's response: We've been covering that on DCRTV's new Boston/Providence/Hartford media news page.....
Note to local and national media..... ENOUGH with the Michael Vick crap! Enough already... He did it..He is going to plead guilty... He is going to jail... We get it... Now drop it! Vick... Vick...Vick... Vick... Shut up already! Stop trying to make this into a Black vs. White "OJ" type thing... (8/23/07)
Does anyone know where Adam Smasher is now? He was on DC101 in the 80s. (8/23/07)
Roy Self was a great singer,bass player and front man.He always had time for some no nothing guitar player who would stand in front of the band and request Ray Price shuffles all night long.He fit right in with the twin fiddles of the Justice brothers and the steel guitar of Buddy Charlton .Every musician who could play or in my case thought he could play could hardly wait for the chance to sit in with The Stringdusters.Man those guys were hot. There wern`t nothin little or bitty about Roy.......He was the real deal.......Ratso (8/23/07)
Dave wrote: "Andy doesn't impress me as being a terribly compassionate fellow" - Huh? I don't think there's compassion oozing out of you when you knock someone down while they're strapped to a hospital bed. If you don't like WMAL, just changed the dial. Simple idea! (8/23/07)
Dave's response: I've said several times (!) that I wish him well regarding his current health hurdles! I still don't like his "righty hard-ass" radio schtick. There's no compassion oozing out of Andy when he talks about an entire class of people that is struggling to overcome poverty and just simply survive. Agree or disagree with the current state of "illegals," they're still human beings. You don't talk about them as if they're cattle.....
Re: C. F. Jenkins - several years ago, I visited a bookstore on Georgia Avenue. The building corresponded to an address I found in a city directory, but the woman said the building itself did not go back as far as 1928. I believe on of the engineers at WMAL is related by marriage to Mr. Jenkins. Perhaps he can weigh in on this; that is, if anyone at WMAL actually reads DCRTV. Al McGilvray (8/23/07)
Emmanuel Touhey is the guy who will putting together a Dick Cheney marathon on CSPAN3, accidentally found that interview from 1994 that is getting a lot of play on youtube and the Daily Show. It is the one where he says that going into Baghad would have created a quagmire and they could not see the value in losing the lives of any more of our soldiers. LO (8/23/07)
Hi! My name is Amina Vohra and I am a DC area actress, model and professional fusion dancer. The reason I write is for two reasons, one is to apply for hottie of the week (you can see my picture on the website below -- it is the picture o the top right of the bar of the girl in a blue belly dance outfit). The second reason is that I also own and direct a dance school called "Amina's Dance School" where I have fusion dance classes as well as Hip Hop for Nightclub Dancing class. I was featered in dailycandy, dcstyle mag, and will be featured on fox 5 morning news next friday morning. If you'd like to say something about me in your forum I would be very happy! Hope to hear from you via phone or email! Sincerely, Amina Vohra, www.aminaartist.com (8/23/07)
I have a DC area AM Nighttime Radio list from April 2004. I don't see a current list on the website. Is there an update? Ron (8/23/07)
Dave's response: I yanked that page a while back because it was out of date. I may restore it there's demand for it.....
/\ August 23 Messages /\
\/ August 22 Messages \/
Hey "Bill in Lothian": You mentioned "Hunters Lodge" in your post. Do you remember a group called "The Dry Gulch Band" ? I was their drummer many moons ago. And how about other venues in the area such as "Partners II"? or the "legendary "HillBilly Heaven" which was owned by the ultimate snake Earl Dixon (who's daughter went on to marry Dan Ackroyd). Were there not any venues around Waysons Corner to play? What years are we talking? Rusty Gibson (8/22/07)
I'll wish a "Happy 140th Birthday" to Dr. C. Francis Jenkins, inventor of "Radio Visualizing" (or what you young whipper-snappers call "TV"). His obituary has now been added to the bottom of a web page featuring a few Washington Post articles and photos from "back in the day" when Jenkins' "motion pictures by radio" process was experimental. DCMemories.com... Though Jenkins did his early work at his Dupont Circle lab, in 1928 he built a more elaborate studio "five miles north of the National Capital" in Wheaton. Does Al McGilvray or anyone else know the location of Jenkins' Wheaton studio? (8/22/07)
Ah, ‘Mad Man’, you’re alive and well. After what that corporate lapdog poltroon Bloomquist did to Kari, Kim, Snake, and Wayne No Offense, I figured the buzzards had gotten to your carcass, too. LOL Just keep on keepin’ an eye on the ball and a shiv in your sock. VIVA LA KIMMER!!!!!!!! Elegantly Wasted, Eric In Alabamstan (8/22/07)
New Don & Mike affiliate KGOW/1560 in the Houston market apparently got its satellite equipment, as the station did air D&M tonight (Wed.). Well, for an hour, anyway. After a covered legal ID mentioning both KGOW and sister brokered outlet KLVL/1480 at 7 PM CT, the DC duo was dumped for...a Louisiana State University coach's show. Coming in via a bad phone line. I heard all this via the station's webcast... (8/22/07)
Damn right the Junkies are up! They are so MONEY! Long live EB,Cakes,Lurch and JP....... Spread the word Donkeys (8/22/07)
"The lineup revamp makes it easier than ever for customers to find their favorite programs" Then why would comcast move to TV Guide Network to channel 100, where a digital converter is needed? I should not have to keep a channel lineup from the paper near my TV to find out the channels. There are plenty of open spots under 100, but they just had to move it? I dont understand the reasoning. Andrew in Sterling (8/22/07)
After reading your rants and comments after contributor's emails I can only come to one conclusion. You must be a very insecure man who gets his satisfaction from an obsession with WMAL's failures and the misfortunes of their employees. To make an distasteful remark about a man in the hospital is uncalled for. And for someone who claims to hate the station so much you certainly listen enough to be able to get the exact time of an off-air period. If that is how you release your frustrations then that is great but I won't contribute to a site run by someone with an agenda. (8/22/07)
Dave's response: How will I survive without your $5 yearly donation! Look, I said I could like Andy Parks as a fellow human being. I just think he's a bit of a narrow-minded bore on the radio. Especially when he talks about shipping "illegals" back to Mexico as if they were cargo. These are people, for Heaven's sake. I know he's probably just trying to be funny, but he too often bases his humor on the backs of poor souls who are struggling and suffering just to make a living. Andy doesn't impress me as being a terribly compassionate fellow.....
DAVE! Kessler's alive & livin' large as the voice of the Redskins at Fedex Field. He's also been mc'ing a number of benefits because no one works a room like "Captain Cocktail"! --ART (8/22/07)
The FCC coordinates for the new Quantico AM station (38 deg 34' 5.00" N, -77 deg 20' 20.00") put it just below and behind WPWC-AM's tower site. Is the new station going to share towers or build three new ones and detune the crap out of everything there? (8/22/07)
Dave -- Just read where you've got WARW shirts. Just wanna' letcha' know if there's a run on em' that Mark Kessler, Allison Oakley and I can handle the overstock. --Art "Madman" Mehring; Atlanta, GA (8/22/07)
Dave's response: Hey Art, good to hear from you. If CBS doesn't get on the ball with the new alt rock-ish 94.7 pretty darn soon, we might be getting the old Arrow back. Ha ha ha. What's Mark Kessler up to these days?
CSN's Ed Tapscott to join Wizards staff (8/22/07)
i bet don and mike wish their stomachs were as flat as their numbers ! ZOWSA! (8/22/07)
Dave's response: Just as I'm posting this (4:46 PM), Don and Mike are talking about how fat they are. And how Mike now has to buy "maternity jeans" with waists of more than 40 inches.....
Somehow it didn't occur to MSNBC to fire the enormous blowhard Matthews instead? It's the producers' fault? (8/22/07)
Dave – Comcast is announcing today it will realign channels in Fauquier, Stafford and Spotsylvania Counties, making way for more than 50 new digital channel additions, as well as high-definition programming and expanded Video ON DEMAND offerings. Comcast announced similar realignments in Loudoun County last week. The lineup revamp makes it easier than ever for customers to find their favorite programs, dividing programming into distinct genre-based categories, including news, children’s programming, educational shows, documentaries, sports and more. The new channel lineup and channel locations will help make the four counties’ lineups more consistent with the other Comcast service areas throughout Maryland, Virginia and the District. (8/22/07)
Dave's response: Yeah, Comcast likes to do two things. First, they group together common analog channels in their basic/expanded basic tier (below channel 100). Putting all the sports channels next to each other. Ditto with the news channels, the kids channels, etc. Second, they have system-wide set locations for their digital channels (above channel 100). No matter where you are, if you're connected to a Comcast system you'll find National Geographic on 109, BBC America on 114, MTV Hits on 139, HBO on 301, etc.....
Good day for Don And Mike. I love listening to them on the radio talking about how great they are, how great their ratings are and how everyone else wishes they could be them. Meantime, their ratings continue to slide: 18-34 they are in 9th place with a 3.3 rating. 25-54 they are in 10th place with a 3.6 rating. (8/22/07)
RE: "Is everyone just on vacation at the same time this week?" DUH - It's August and a month before the Fall book begins. Where do you think everyone is? (8/22/07)
"Is everyone just on vacation at the same time this week? Jack Diamond, Jimmy, Chili and Carson all seem to be AWOL (although I didn't listen long enough in the afternoon yesterday to know for sure). Erica is saying nothing in the mornings regarding the location of the rest of her team, and is just playing "best of" tapes. Usually they'll say another team member is on vacation if that is the case. We were concerned that maybe the Citadel layoffs had begun. What do you think? (8/22/07)" - Chili is working this week, heard her doing a few traffic reports yesterday. I suspect because schools start in MD and DC Monday (except PG County which already started), that would be the reason for taking the time off. Jack gets one last week w/his six year old, Carson I think has some kids, you get the picture. You are right, Erica is adding nothing to the show this week. It is pretty sad when you think about it, wasn't she on Z104 at one time doin g her own 4 or 5 show mid-morning show? The Junkies are on vacation too this week. Elliott is live this week, but I can't stand him, I tried to listen to him, and he is downright annoying. WASH does nothing other than music, same with WINC (why they got rid of their female co-host in the morning I will never know). I don't listen to the urban stations, so that is out. Oh well, good thing for CD's. Mike in Waldorf (8/22/07)
I was sad to read about the passing of Roy Self on your Front Page. I recall him as one heck of a musician back in the early’70’s with The Stringdusters at Hunter’s Lodge. At the time I was working the road with a trio and Roy Justice, the owner of Hunter’s and leader of the Stringdusters booked us one Saturday night to play their breaks. I had never been to the Lodge before. After playing what I thought was a pretty good first set, the Stringdusters took over and was that ever a humbling experience…It might as well have been The Texas Playboys or Hank Thompson…Twin fiddles, pedal steel guitar, great rhythm section all fronted by Roy’s singing as he played bass. I’ll never forget it. And later after the joint closed, everyone took part in an all night jam session…Memories of a past life I barely survived…Bill in Lothian (8/22/07)
"Communists killed Kennedy." So said Rush Limbaugh on his national radio show today. Now we know. (8/22/07)
Is everyone just on vacation at the same time this week? Jack Diamond, Jimmy, Chili and Carson all seem to be AWOL (although I didn't listen long enough in the afternoon yesterday to know for sure). Erica is saying nothing in the mornings regarding the location of the rest of her team, and is just playing "best of" tapes. Usually they'll say another team member is on vacation if that is the case. We were concerned that maybe the Citadel layoffs had begun. What do you think? (8/22/07)
I'm sure all of you "journalists" will find this as shocking and appalling as I do. How bots rigged D.C.'s "hot" reporter contest (at FishbowlDC).... Trying to find the hottest reporter in the nation's capital is like trying to elect a president in Ukraine. Don't expect fairness. machinist.salon.com... Rick (8/22/07)
Dave's response: I personally monitor all the e-mail votes cast in DCRTV's "Media Hottie" contest. We'll get 50 votes from the same person via the same e-mail address within a two-minute period. And all those votes get trashed. In fact, I have to trash about one-quarter of the votes cast because of suspicions of ballot "stuffing".....
There are few things in this world as terrifying as Tom Fitzgerald’s eyebrows. His reporting is a close second. (8/22/07)
I get them impression the Mr. Nader doesn’t understand the nature of endorsement advertising. When an ad agency makes a deal with a station for an endorsement, the personality is encouraged—usually required—to use and become familiar with the product (and the company). And the personality does receive a talent fee in addition to the spot costs that the station gets. Payola is a free play/plug in return for gifts when the station is not officially paid. The GM deal is completely above board and is simply designed to make the endorsers familiar with (and favorable toward) the brands they will endorse in paid commercials that are on the log. Roddy Freeman (8/22/07)
Dave, how can you wish Andy Parks well while on the other hand you're taking a stab at his performance on the morning show and telling the world that you can't wait for him to leave WMAL? That's not what one wants to hear while recuperating. If "Grandy & Andy" win the award that they are nominated for at NAB in Sept., will you make a public apology? -Silvie- (8/22/07)
Dave's response: No. WMAL does not deserve the NAB award. I'm sure Andy Parks is a wonderful guy. I'd be happy to have him as a neighbor or an uncle. He's a rather sweet old coot. But not as a morning radio host.....
What’s up with the WMZQ DJ team? I went out of town for a week and came back to find no trace of Jim London, he’s not even listed anymore. Jim Campbell (8/22/07)
Dave's response: They've been purged by the Clear Channel's Rockville gulag.....
"... all in all..the team of patrick, theisman and maguire would have done just fine on MNF. strange move by espn to blow that up." There's little doubt that Joe Theismann was booted off the telecast because he never warmed up to Tony Kornheiser's shtick and it led to uncomfortable moments on the set. The fact that he'd been doing football commentary for ESPN since the 80s didn't seem to carry much weight with the network execs who put the show biz factor ahead of football analysis when planning the Monday night product. While Ron Jaworski's equally capable as Theismann to break down games, he seems much more the jolly type and has better on-air rapport with Mr. Tony. Speaking of Kornheiser, Andy Pollin lifted his patented "if you're watching on Channel 8" line and used it on WTEM's Sports Reporters yesterday. I know that Pollin was Kornheiser's radio sidekick for 15 years and heard his catch phrases and inside jokes numerous times, but there's something to be said for coming up with your own material as opposed to copying someone else. Yesterday's show was somewhat of a bumpy ride - Pollin and Steve Czaban first got yelled at by Nats GM Jim Bowden for prying into whether the team plans to sign Manny Acta to a long term contract, then spent ten minutes ripping ESPN's Chris Berman for being long-winded while hosting a panel discussion. That last thing was totally uncalled for, not to mention hypocritical when you consider how many times Pollin and especially Czaban have run their mouths on that show and not let the guest talk enough. For whatever reason, they seem to harbor animosity toward some of the high profile ESPN personalities (perhaps Berman gave Pollin a bonecrusher when the latter was working part time for the radio department up there several years ago). But sports talk radio's not the proper forum to vent your grievances or petty jealousies toward those who've reached much greater heights in the broadcast business than you have. Mike, Fairfax (8/22/07)
Ummmm, Dave.. Geraldo and Steve Doocy were clowns long before Rupert got ahold of them. (8/22/07)
"When Brian Bolter is off, Will Thomas usually fills in. Why not this time around?") Hmmm, maybe because Will was locked in DCRTV Dave's basement? (8/22/07)
Dave's response: Sorry, I live in a condo. No basement.....
Bob in Sunny Tampa: Don't be ignorant. Since when are news shows and reporters concerned about "the people" during hurricane coverage? It's all about ratings, baby! I don't see any reporters helping the Mexicans or Jamaicans right now. As we speak, Steve Harrigan is probably flying first-class with a rum runner in hand. (8/22/07)
Dave's response: Sad to see what Fox News has done to Steve Harrigan. He used to cover important things like wars in the Middle East and Africa. Now he runs around and does cartwheels in hurricanes. Face it, Steve, Rupert has turned you into a clown - like Steve Doocy, John Gibson, and Geraldo.....
I'm happy to hear Andy Parks is coming out the other end of the hospital on his feet and ready to live. On Tuesday, I paid a visit to my own cardiologist for an update on my heart rhythm problem of 3 years ago. In spite of all my other crazy issues, my ticker be doin' its job just right, and happy to hear that; my cardio doc says people at my age are routinely having open heart surgery. Let's hear it for clean living and good genes. -ap (8/22/07)
Dave's response: I can't wait for the day Andy leaves WMAL. But I want it to be because of low ratings and not bad health. All the best to you Andy! Get well soon.....
Today (8/22) is the dual birthday anniversaries of the pioneers of mechanical television - Paul Nipkow (1860), originator of the "Nipkow disc;" and Charles Francis Jenkins (1867), who operated mechanical television station W3XK in Washington, DC. Al McGilvray, TalkRadio WRNR 740AM, Martinsburg, WV (8/22/07)
So, is FOX5's Tom Fitzgerald the "Pat Collins" of channel 5?..Has anyone seen his reports?...I just saw a story he did about a man who rescued some woman from the C&O canal. Talk about drama!!..He did the whole Pat Collins re-enactment of what happened..Really kinda funny though. (8/22/07)
just got word from a very reliable source that the ABC Bureau is still ABC, not Citadel, and that the layoffs had more to do with the weaknesses of the network business model and nothing to do with the Citadel merger. (8/22/07)
I agree with the fact that Comcast passes along Baltimore affiliates in the DC suburbs makes no sense. However, they do pass them along the Baltimore stations in the bandwith on the QAM band, and I am expecting them to disapear at any time. But until they disapear, I like the fact they are there, and I will watch them. The Baltimore stations cover Annapolis politics better than the DC stations and the 11-2 WeatherPlus feed includes forcasts for Deep Creek Lake and Ocean City, both of which are not included on the 4-2 WeatherPlus feed. (8/22/07)
Ain't Albie Dee pretty much the evening jock on The Globe....I hear him most nights as I surf by...just got tired of the gossipy tidbits of Mr. Dee( i know i'm out of loop in todays society with everyone eating up this gossip sh8t about lindsay, britney, paris et al. i wish a space ship would come and take'em all away) and the mediocre music selection...I sure miss Weasal in the evenings...... and Schelby picked up that way she talks from that Delilah didn't she? the horror, the horror (8/22/07)
When Brian Bolter is off, Will Thomas usually fills in. Why not this time around? Steve Chenevy has been on instead, pushing Will to just reporter status during the weeknight show. I always thought Will was the primary back-up, not the early morning news guy. (8/22/07)
/\ August 22 Messages /\
\/ August 21 Messages \/
"Should (CBS affiliate) channel 9 be running web ads for NBC shows?" Nickelodeon does it all the time for the Disney Channel, and vice versa. Hey, if it brings in some revenue, why not? (8/21/07)
Someone at WUSA must read DCRTV. The online doppler radar has been cleaned up and all of that green crap has been removed. (8/21/07)
Re: "Nader Wants FCC To Investigate GM "Payola" Deal With Radio Hosts": Apparently, Ralph Nader, siding with Herbert Hoover, would rather have commercial-free radio instead of the current advertiser-supported free radio we now have. Mr. Nader ended his "Open Letter to FCC Regarding GM Payola" with: "...Secretary of Commerce, Herbert Hoover, later to become President in the nineteen twenties, called radio “a public trust.” He believed the public airwaves, being owned by the people, should convey no advertisements whatsoever..." Wonder what Mr. Nader thinks of the "commercials" on Public Radio (and TV)?! --RB (8/21/07)
Late to the party but...The Redskins game was not on CSN in Winchester either. Nor was the post game show. It was listed on the preview guide but they had boxing on instead. Does anyone know why so many people were unable to watch it on CSN? It was promoted all week on the channel and then they aired boxing? BOXING? F BOXING! I want B-Mitch and the post game show back on in Winchester. Perry, Winchester VA (8/21/07)
Regarding Comcast passing DC and Baltimore HD locals in the DC metro area... why in the world does it make sense for Comcast to be sending signals (especially bandwidth-hungry HD) down the line that their customers can't even tune with their equipment. Pull the extra locals off and give us more HD cable network channels! --John in DC (8/21/07)
WUSA had a 5pm story on dorm safety. The kid interviewed was wearing a Heineken parody t-shirt that read "Highagain." I'm sure his parents must be proud. I wonder if he'll have problems with fire? (The attached pic is not a screen capture, just someone else wearing the same shirt) (8/21/07)This is the first timeI'm hearing of this. Am I to understand that Seth Warner is no longer a WMZQ Jock? Anyone with more info. please advise. Rusty Gibson (8/21/07)
Dave's response: Yes, Rusty, Seth and Jim London have been received the steel-toed boot up their posteriors from Clear Channel.....
Somebody wrote, "no one beats Steve Harrigan from FNC in Hurricane Dean coverage... the man almost got swept by a riptide, blown to pieces by 200+ wind gusts, palm trees falling all around him." Really? I was under the impression that really good hurricane reporting would focus on how the event was impacting residents, not just the reporter. "Hey, look at me! I'm in a hurricane! doesn't equal in-depth reporting. Bob in Sunny Tampa (8/21/07)
According to FCC records, WOL on 1450 Hz has another Special Temporary Authority. This is the latest of several. (8/21/07)
Well, WUSA has replaced the mostly green weather radar background with light grey, at least for now. But it still has the, uh, crappy brown highways. (8/21/07)
Dave's response: A big improvement.....
MASN is going to have to clarify how anyone outside of the Baltimore area can watch its feed of the final Ravens preseason games. On the evening of August 25, MASN is set to air the Orioles and MASN2 is scheduled to air the Nationals. As for August 31, MASN has the Nationals and MASN2 has the Orioles. The Ravens will be on channel 45 in the Baltimore area regardless but unless there's a MASN3 hiding around somewhere, I'd love to know how MASN will fit its remaining pro football broadcasts in anywhere else. Everett W. (8/21/07)
"He has that cheesy fake radio announcer voice that grates at my nerves." I thought you were talking about that pre-recorded pewker on that news station on FM here in town. The voice that adds no value, just nausea. (8/21/07)
The report about CSN doing the skins in HD and not MASN for the ravens was very biased for the home page. Gee, who did not know that MASN was not in HD this year. Also was CSN in Hd their first year? No they started the HD so people could buy their HD package and used it as a tool to sucker more people into their crapy service. MASN has no financial incentive to do HD as the commercial prices are the same. The key with MASN is that I would rather watch a comcast free product in SD than CAA crap in HD... MLB FAN DC (8/21/07)
About that new Houston affiliate for D&M: The Houston Chronicle (www.chron.com) says the new station will lease the nighttime hours on KLVL/1480 starting at 7 PM, a 3000 watts day, 500 watts night signal. It's an "international" station, presumably brokered like similar stations in DC. KGOW apparently hasn't decided if it'll build out a 1,000 watt nighttime signal, or fight to get a 19,000 watt nighttime signal approved. Until then, the 100 watt signal they will put up first is listed as an auxiliary backup. KGOW is Houston's fourth sports radio outlet...and started Monday with a blown 50,000 watt transmitter. What's D&M's phrase - "broke-d*ck stations"? (8/21/07)
Dave's response: So what does that mean? If you're listening to D&M on tape-delay at 6 PM on KGOW 1560, at 7 PM you'll have to "tune down" to KLVL at 1480? And that's got to be a 500-watt directional night signal. Still not a lot of coverage. Oh, according to the Chronicle, D&M did not debut Monday as expected: "After its last local talk show ended at 6 PM Monday, the station went to automated music rather than a syndicated sports talk show because it has not received the satellite equipment needed to download the program." I didn't know D&M were "syndicated sports talk".....
To WUSA's credit, J.C. Hayward did come back on at 12:55 p.m. during a "The Young and the Restless" commercial break to apologize and inform viewers that the technical problems were resolved. Howard Bernstein then gave a minute long weather report before the station switched back to the CBS program. Everett W. (8/21/07)
Nah, no one beats Steve Harrigan from FNC in Hurricane Dean coverage... the man almost got swept by a riptide, blown to pieces by 200+ wind gusts, palm trees falling all around him. Classic Steve! (8/21/07)
Ch. 9? DC's Ch. 9? I did not know anyone watches Ch. 9 news? Thought Ch. 9 did not have news. Certainly the network presentation of features/fluff with "Bar the Door Katie" isn't real news. (8/21/07)
quilted together from a wusatv9 screen shot this morning. Should (CBS affiliate) channel 9 be running web ads for NBC shows? (8/21/07)
Hey Dave, Can you find out what happened to WUSA's 1200 noon newscast? There was nothing but commercials from 1200-1210. They joined the newscast at around 1211 with JC off mike. She said something about "having problems" but I couldn't hear exactly what she was saying about them. The newscast went to 1217 and then JC quickly cut away to "Inside Edition." --Vince (8/21/07)
Dave, There must be a wicked computer problem at Ch. 9. It's 12:08 and their Noon news has yet to begin. They're running commercials and promos. The Empire Carpet has aired at least six times! (8/21/07)
Dave's response: Gremlins. Just got a Front Page blurb up.....
Comcast doesn't want anyone to know that by investing in a standard "over-the-air" HD antenna, you can pick up all of your local channels and some of DC's or Baltimore's channels depending which city you live farthest from. I have Dish Network, which does not offer HD local channels via the satellite dish. I have installed an HD antenna and get channels 2, 11, 13, 45, 54 and 67 along with all of their respective sub-channels. I can also pick up channels 7, 9, and 20 (and sometimes channels 4 & 5) from DC...channels not offered in the Baltimore area through Comcast. In addition, Dish Network has just added HD versions of the Discovery Channel (not Discovery HD Theater, the actual Discovery Channel), Animal Planet, and the Learning Channel bringing their total of HD channels to over 35! Now, if only MASN would get its act together and carry HD, I'll be happy! How pathetic is it that I can watch the Little League World Series, Poker Tournaments or Beach Volleyball in HD, but not the O's or Nats? Greg in Reisterstown (8/21/07)
"Nothing beats the Today Show coverage, with Matt Lauer sitting comfortably in the studio" NBC's crowning moment for storm coverage has to be the time Michelle Kosinski is paddling around in a canoe only to have two guys walk in front of her showing only ankle deep water. What made this even better is in the proceeding segment they were calling out the Pentagon for "staging" answers in a videoconference with the troops. Doh! www.youtube.com (8/21/07)
In regards to the V-Me channel, on my HD TV, hooked to the Comcast cable directly, without the cable box, I am able to get V-Me, despite the channel not being "offered" in my county. Why? I'm bypassing the cable box with the built in HD/Digital tuner on my TV, which is completely legal. I'm also able to get the Baltimore stations (2, 11, 13, 45, 54), both the HD feed and the sub channel feeds, in their "proper" location on the dial. Comcast does not tell their subscribers in certain counties about the capability to get both the DC and Baltimore feeds. They would rather rent you the HD box for $7 a month, not pass along the Baltimore stations, and then, because the 200 station tier is so disorganized, most people never bother with HD feeds. (8/21/07)
The new HD Doppler 9000 radar color issue is being dealt with as we speak, and will be corrected. Thanks for playing. (8/21/07)
Interesting post on The Globe. In this day and age does management really care what the airstaff thinks should be played? I always assumed the airstaff always disagreed... As for Linkin Park, does anyone want to be playing it? To my ears, the station should play more new music. The occasional Guster or KT Tunstall isn't cutting it. The same old classic rock is so tired. Have the familiar DJs present the new stuff with some enthusiasm and it'll be fine. Play some My Morning Jacket or Spoon, the world won't end. (8/21/07)
Dave's response: The Globe claims to be a politically aware "green" rocker. Yet, it refuses to play one of the most politically powerful American rock songs of 2007 - Linkin Park's "What I've Done." It ranks right up there with anything Green Day's done. Check out the video at youtube.com. I realize that LP has a "skater punk" image. But The Globe should put silly radio biz stereotypes behind it and play it. A damn great song. I'd rather hear that than old CSN.....
What is up with WBAL 1090??? Who is this Shari Eliker chick and why is she on the radio?? The past hour was her and someone named Neil playing bits of songs to replace the MD state song. It sounds like college radio. WBAL needs help, but I don't think Shari is the answer. Paddy O.... Columbia MD (8/21/07)
Don't look now... but, thanks to "eyeontv", the WUSA UFO's are hovering over DC again. (Might be smart to skip your tour of the Capitol today.) www.youtube.com (8/21/07)
WMZQ Jim London and Seth Warner - I am just appalled that 98.7 let these two go. Jim London is the greatest and a known authority on country music. What were they thinking!!!!!!! I will definitely have a different outlook for this station! Keep us informed where these two turn up. both are too talented to be out of the business. (8/21/07)
Re:"another idiotic MPT decision... this time to drop high-def programming in the evenings so they could add another low-res channel." Agreed. It's really a waste since V-me is already available on Dish Network. Why don't any of the TV stations pick up some of the tons of channels that *aren't* available in this area for their digital subchannels? 50 has The Tube, 45 is making a half-assed attempt at programming a subchannel, and 7 has the promising but very repetitive Local Point. And that's about it aside from endless weather stuff. There's the potential to add at least 20 more subchannels on Washington and Baltimore TV stations without harming the HD streams. They could be filled immediately with national channels that aren't available here. (8/21/07)
RE: Hurricane Dean on CNN…. Nothing beats the Today Show coverage, with Matt Lauer sitting comfortably in the studio talking via cell phone to Big Al Roker, who is in Mexico standing in a foot of water and getting blown sideways. Lauer even went so far as to make a quip about how great Roker's cell phone carrier must be to provide coverage at a time like that. (8/21/07)
In ref to OCQ running "#1 R&B Station" promos that's the beauty of maximizer.You can make any station or daypart "#1" i.e OCQ is probably #1 with males that walk with a limp; have a speech impediment and drive a used car more than 10 years old... (8/21/07)
Did anyone catch CNN American Morning's coverage of Hurricane Dean this morning? They were practically salivating over this story, and it's not even a good story to begin with! Yes, it's a big storm, but there didn't really seem to be any news to go along with it. They just kept talking to random people and reporters in Mexico, and all those people had to say was that it was rainy, windy, and trees and power lines were down. Yet they stuck with this story exclusively for at least 40 minutes! That has got to be the worst morning news show, but it has that train-wreck quality to it that makes you want to keep watching. Kiran Chetry is a complete ditz, and while John Roberts is semi-competent, the ditziness seems to infect him as well. This morning they had Rick Sanchez filling in for him, and that guy is completely annoying. He has that cheesy fake radio announcer voice that grates at my nerves. The quality at CNN has certainly gone downhill. (8/21/07)
Hey guys, Albie had to go through the trouble of sending me a myspace message (this time with out spelling errors). His concern was that someone will call me out. I`ve been out since I was 18, my mama knows, she is okay with it and even picks up Washington Blade for me sometimes:-) . Seriously though, my name is Misha(Mikhail, if you feeling frisky), my myspace is myspace.com/mskradio and I am the guy that wrote about Toby, Ravin, KT Harris and Vibegirl earlier today. There are my pictures on there and my favorite song. Albie, add me as a friend if you want. I`ll make sure you are on my friends list between Toby and Ravin. Btw, which station are you on today? (8/21/07)
Amen, Dave, to your rant about the WUSA9 radar. If it ain't broke, don't fix it! Crappy colors and crappy resolution are the reasons I never used channel 7's radar. And speaking of resolution... another idiotic MPT decision... this time to drop high-def programming in the evenings so they could add another low-res channel. The only benefit of that is that I don't have to get a high-def picture of Rhea Feikin! (8/21/07)
Dave, Former Va Tech alum and Atlanta Falcons QB Michael Vick plead deal for dogfighting became more than just a sports story as all the major cable news outlets scrambled to find sports experts and legal experts to breakdown the what deal might mean to his life and his career. www.examiner.com... Cheers, Jim (8/21/07)
"Dave's response: You have an imagination. Use it....." yeah but you're always showing us Liddy's Speedo encapsulated "package." What's up with that??? (8/21/07)
Dave's response: Just be thankful I don't run that pic of Mike O'Meara in a Speedo.....
Hey, if anyone has any old Howard Stern tapes, he'd love to hear from you. From www.howardstern.com: DO YOU HAVE OLD HOWARD STERN SHOW RECORDINGS FROM WWWW (Detroit), DC101 (Washington) OR WNBC THAT YOU WANT TO SHARE WITH US? IF YOU DO, SEND THEM TO: The Howard Stern Show, Sirius Satellite Radio - Attn: Laura, 1221 Ave. of the Americas - 36th Fl., New York, NY 10020... BUT FIRST SEND AN EMAIL TO LAURA@HOWARDSTERN.COM WITH THE SUBJECT "OLD SHOW TAPES" AND TELL HER WHAT YOU HAVE SO SHE CAN MAKE SURE WE DON'T ALREADY HAVE IT. We will make every effort to return your tapes to you after we digitize them as long as you give us a valid address to return them to, but cannot guarantee this, so be sure to keep a copy just in case. (BE SURE TO CHECK BACK FROM TIME TO TIME AS WE WILL POST SPECIFIC KROCK-ERA SHOWS WE MAY BE LOOKING FOR.) (8/21/07)
Will someone give WUSA a wake up call and get someone to do traffic again. I realize that even after the first day that Tracy Metro was not a good fit, but it will still better than Mike or Andrea doing it, they "already" have enough do it. Might as well make them do weather too. (8/21/07)
(Regarding yesterday's Rant - "Who's the idiot who screwed up Channel 9's weather radar?") Hear, hear! I hate that new map for the exact same reason. It's near impossible to tell by the thumbnail if there's any rain at all, and it's full size map is barely any better. Bring back the old background where land is that silverish color. Since they label the map as "BETA" I'm hoping they are still open to feedback. I sent an email to one of their addresses to express my disapproval of the map, and I suggest everybody else who dislikes the new map to do likewise. Anyway, I'm liking the new Weather Channel maps that you can zoom in on. www.weather.com... --W. McGee (8/21/07)
I'm not sticking up for Mitch Scott-as I like him as much as a urinary tract infection, but running the old #1 brag promo on OC104 is thanks to Wookie. That is PRIME example of the lack of fresh ideas floating around that place. OC 104 and ZBH has the same tired imaging, lacking personality. JOE FM's playlist and imaging have not been updated, as they are still saying "New"-after a year. So, the station that GS never thought would amount to anything beat OCQ. Mmmmm. (8/21/07)
This seems like interesting article for folks who want to listen to internet radio sans a pc. - Internet radio without a PC offers alternative reception By Dirk Averesch, dpa - Berlin - Somedays it seems broadcast radio's options range from bad to worse. But there is hope as thousands of radio stations are available on the internet and accessible via your computer or a special receiver. Audio adapters are one way of accessing internet radio. Philips has a Wireless Music Adapter SLA5520 while Pinnacle has a SoundBridge HomeMusic. These connect to the internet via a WLAN network or a cable. Connections to a sound system are made with a jack plug or a chinch cable. For about 70 euros (95 dollars), they can open your world to the digital ether or play music stored on a computer. www.bangkokpost.com (8/21/07)
Albie Dee. Honey, I totally feel your pain on everything, but Toby Knapp part. Remember, you`ve got replaced by Mick Lee. So at least have a courtesy of including him there. Oh, by the way, he is an APD and an afternoon jock on Z100 now. He has a full-time job and he works for Clear Channel. Just like you want to:-). Anyway, back to Toby Knapp. I think his ratings are actually better than yours ever been and he does a pretty amazing job on afternoons. If only they`ve replaced you with him long time ago and left the rest of the line up as it was, it would have been one good radiostation. However, not to worry, you are not missed. The music is better these days with Ravin(Raven) in charge and afternoon DRIVE(keyword DRIVE) is very good too. While you were busy looking at the poster of Donnie Simpson in your room(don`t worry, you`ll never be like him), Toby Knapp was a PD in South Carolina. Perhaps if you focus hard enough on one of your many part-time gigs, you will be a PD too by 2020. One day. Until then you`ll just be writing your shitty messages on this board, knowing damn well the phone numbers of JK, Ravin(Raven) and the rest of the crew. So find the balls(literally), pick up the phone and call them to tell them all that, instead of posting it here. Work on your grammEr, say hello to KT Harris(still miss her on Hot) and eat a Happy Meal at that 2-story McDonalds across the street from XM:-). P.S. Starbucks psychic, you guys. Vibegirl...Vibegirl. I hold the envelope to my head...Name a jock on Hot 99.5 that sucks more than Albie Dee. (8/21/07)
Add the chick doing the WTTG website rundown to your hotties list. Yowza. (8/21/07)
"Empathy" was the name of the late evening WWDC AM-1260 talk show hosted by Fred Fiske starting in 1969, after Johnny Holliday came to Washington from KYA, San Francisco, and replaced Fred as WWDC morning man. (8/21/07)
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early MNF observations...adding "Jaws" good move. turico--still just an adequate play by play...mike patrick was better. kornheiser yells , then appears to be bored. his opening tonight on the differences between grossman and manning was loud and not particulary good nor did it offer any added insight . all in all..the team of patrick, theisman and maguire would have done just fine on MNF. strange move by espn to blow that up. (8/20/07)
Bob Mathers expressed it so beautifully about Wild Bill Hagy. Although I am not a big sports enthusiast, I would tune into the Orioles games just to see him make that famous "O" while leading the crowd with his infectious spirit. He was a special part of Baltimore history that will always remain in our heart. Hopefully, Bob and I will have some good news regarding the Committee to Honor Buddy Deane. We will be passing along an update in our effort (this courageous project is spearheaded by attorney Frank Lidinsky) to get Buddy inducted into the non-performer category of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. To Ed Jones: Keep the trivia questions coming, but don't make them too hard as Mathers keeps beating me to the punch. Darn you Unc. Blessings. Joyce Conroy (WHFC) (8/20/07)
Dave, Great blog. Very informative. On it daily. I added you to my links: www.gormanmediablog.com. JG (8/20/07)
Dave's response: Cool! Thanks.....
Ole Mitch Scott has no shame, as of this morning they are still running commercials for OC-104 as “Arbitron rated #1 Hip-Hop and R&B Station” It’s been over 2 weeks now that Magic 98.9 beat them in the latest booking by a healthy margin. I love the gall of being the #5 station in the market & #2 R&B station and calling yourself #1. (8/20/07)
Bob Grant back on WABC either full or parttime? Could be? Word is slowly coming out. Imus back on the radio this fall or early 2008? Could be? Isn't radio a great business. (8/20/07)
Dave's response: Gawd, old radio personalities don't die. They literally decompose on the air. Sheesh.....
Dave: Media Hotties – Again, need to find a way to DISCREETLY feature the caboose – these girls have got a lot more to offer than just a pretty face. M (8/20/07)
Dave's response: You have an imagination. Use it.....
Sorry to read of the passing of Wild Bill Hagy earlier today. He was the personification of Baltimore baseball fandom. Saw him a lot (as did millions of others) out at Memorial Stadium during that summer and fall of '79. I finally got to spend a couple of hours with him one night later in '79 up at WPOC. As Production Director, I was assigned to record him voicing a series of PSA's. He was only available after hours, so arrangements were made to let him into the building and record the session. When he got to the station, the copy was missing and I had to track it down from the PSA director who forgot to leave it in a convenient place. While waiting for the call from the writer, and subsequently during the recording session, I enjoyed a running conversation with Hagy. At the time he drove for Dundalk Cab. We talked baseball (of course) and cabs, and radio, and a lot of other things. The man was very intelligent and well versed on a number of subjects. He was true Baltimore. Unpretentious and shoot-from-the-hip. His celebrity was purely unintentional, and that made him all the more celebrated, because Baltimore loves its eccentric personalities. Baltimore baseball in the late 70's and early 80's was (with apologies to the '96 and '97 clubs) the last great run for the Orioles and their fans. Mr. Hagy's contributions both at and away from 33rd street were in no small reason a significant reason for those wonderful days. Bob Mathers - Seattle, Washington (8/20/07)
Years ago, there was a radio show called “Empathy” or something like that on WWDC. Wasn’t Fred Fiske the host of that as well? (8/20/07)
Elkridge Steve: I agree with you but steveo first brought up the argument of quality music and critical acclaim. I presented 3 artists I had in front of me on my desk and Outkast. As for Sgt Pepper, I was referring to the song. I hate that song as well as Yellow Submarine. In fact I could do without the Beatles. Give me the Rolling Stones and Let It Bleed any day of the week. Bryslock (8/20/07)
Kane getting press.Get all the press you can dude because you still suck in the ratings.Your Tampa Florida vibe aint happening in DC and for Open JOKE party. How much payola are you and Booger getting for adds on that show? It's good to see you continue to piss off artists.See if you will get support from the record companies. Let's face it, 99.5 will never be a winner. Booger,Kane,Ravin and Toby don't how to win.Look at what they have done in the year or so those idiots have been in control. Where has Kane won? how about Toby? and for Ravin,let's see if you will EVER get another gig after this? Show us winning Ratings....What?.. you can't? Let's see what happens on Wednesday at 10am. (8/20/07)
Was sad to read of the passing of "Wild Bill". A couple of years ago, a very good friend of mine was having a beer in a bar somewhere in the Denver area and struck up a conversation about baseball next to the fellow sitting next to him. Well, they were both discussing the Orioles, my friend kinda recognized the guy sitting next to him and lo and behold it was in fact Mr. Hagy. I met him on many occasions. A very friendly guy who was extremely passionate about baseball and the Orioles. And to Ed Jones: Keep 'em coming Old Friend. You B THE MAN! Rusty Gibson (8/20/07)
Re:"Don't ever, I repeat EVER, place anything out there today above Sgt. Pepper." Heh. I have never understood why people make such a big deal about that album. Sure, there are some good songs on it, but none of them have the visceral impact great music should have. It's Art Rock, something you examine and study; great music should be emotional. Even its fame as a "concept album" doesn't make sense--Lennon himself said that the record didn't go anywhere. ~~CA in BC (8/20/07)
Dave's response: The "White Album" is the Beatles' best. Murky and sinister brilliance. I lust for it.....
To Jack in Falls Church: Thanks for the answer to my question about "Six Man Band". To all posters, I'll have another "useless" trivia question soon. Ed Jones, Bel Air Md (8/20/07)
Just for the record, if you must have a "local media hotties" showdown, I'm putting a mention in for WJZ's Mary Bubala.... quite underrated in my opinion. She's got something going on in her own right. Anybody else with me on that? (8/20/07)
Bryslock, I have to agree with you. There is a lot of great stuff out there today. My tastes run more to the rock side than rap or country. I don’t need any beer burping redneck telling me how he loves his truck and drinking. I also don’t need some boy in da hood telling me how he beats his ho’s. But please don’t shoot your argument in the foot. Make your case for today’s music in an intelligent well thought out way. There are some truths out there that are self evident. Sgt. Pepper stands alone. Don’t ever, I repeat EVER, place anything out there today above Sgt. Pepper. The White album or Revolver are the only things that come close. OK? The stuff out there today is great. But none of it comes close. Hank III will be remembered for all time. I give him his props. I like Andre, but Outkast will be remembered only buy those who bought their CDs. Iron Maiden also gets props. But on the ladder of popular music, The Beatles are at the top and will probably always be there. Elkridge Steve (8/20/07)
Rush tried to scare us today that if we elect the Dems in '08 we will have '60s radicals in charge. What? These '60s radicals are now in their 60s and 70s! They're elderly! Rush, you're an idiot. Oh, congrats on the new teeth. (8/20/07)
Got new dentures. I don't so much like a mush mouth, do I? The Breck girl likes me better when I take my teeth out. - Rush (8/20/07)
Yeah, I think Lou Holder is no longer at Fox 5; at least his picture is no longer on their website. Does anybody know what’s going on? Was any announcement made? Joan (8/20/07)
One can credit Bonneville for the quick demise of Washington Post Radio but when "the next thing" is an unimaginative lineup of second and third-tier syndicated talk, there's no reason to be pleased. I can't imagine that either Tony Kornheiser or the Washington Nationals will want to stick around for post-Post Radio. Everett W. (8/20/07)
Dave's response: I can hear it now - the substitute substitute substitute host for Tony Kornheiser on post Washington Post Radio. It's almost bad as reading the damned top-of-the-hour ID for the station - WTWP 107.7, WTTP 104.3, WPWT 820, WTPW 1500, WTWT via DC's plumbing system, whatever. I know the calls are wrong. Just joooooking.....
Okay, I just watched the video of Don & Mike on the CBS Evening News. Are you f-ing kidding me? They actually did that bit LIVE on the air? Does anyone actually still listen to these guys? To do a radio TALK show, where all you do is sit there and not *TALK*? Come on guys, retire early & free up the airwaves for someone else, would you? And damn, Don, gained a little weight, did you? (8/20/07)
Kane must be really be desperate for publicity. www.washingtonpost.com: Did Joel Madden propose to Nicole Richie last week? One local radio DJ thinks so. After the band Good Charlotte played the Clarendon Ballroom Friday night, Madden was walking offstage when Hot 99.5's DJ Kane announced to the crowd: "He got engaged yesterday. Congratulations, Joel!" Madden quickly glanced over his shoulder but was unresponsive, making a hurried exit from the stage behind brother Benji, according to People.com. "We heard this morning," Kane told People following the band's set. Citing "good sources," Kane said he had offered his congratulations to Madden earlier in the night. "He said, 'Thank you so much,' " the DJ recalled. Madden, 28, and the four-months-pregnant Richie, 25, are "very excited about the baby and the wedding. They want to keep their personal life personal," he added. Yesterday, Hot 99.5 issued a news release claiming that "DJ Kane spilled the beans" about Richie agreeing Thursday to wed Madden. - Mike in Waldorf (8/20/07)
My take on the COL change for WTWP-FM - this allows Bonneville some more flexibility for main studio location (one of the rules is within xx miles of COL). I doubt there's any plan to move the transmitter, as there are usually non-grandfathered "young whippersnappers" that keep otherwise-grandfathered stations pretty much in place. If you look at the engineering exhibits for 99.1's and 104.3's moves, you'll quickly find the station(s) that limited those moves. Regards, Dave Loudin (8/20/07)
Credit the executives at Bonneville for the quick and mostly painless execution of Post radio. They made a big mistake, and they are willing to move on to the next thing. Bonneville was quick to pull the plug on Z104 and slow to move on WGMS and it appears they have learned a good lesson. Most companies dig in, and ignore the warning signs of failure. The cash king, that is, TOP allows Bonneville the luxury to bomb out with stations like Z104, WGMS and WTWP. A slow and painful death at Post radio would have destroyed a number of careers. There will be carnage, like the enormous fee they must continue to pay the Post for a couple more years, but that beats losing millions. (8/20/07)
The bandleader on Dick Cavett's show was drummer, Bobby Rosengarden. He died back in March, at age 82. Here's a link to his obit www.signonsandiego.com... A while back, some of Cavett's classic interviews were released on several DVDs. Good stuff and worth checking out. (8/20/07)
("While I am a fan of WBAL I don't understand why Ron Smith continues to let people post disgusting comments on his show polls. There are constant references to "n*ggers" and other such gutter language.") This kind of crap is typical 'white flight' talk in Baltimore. Those guys that move to Harford County and Southern PA. to avoid contact with black people. Yes, even in 2007. I know a BG&E executive who teaches his kids to think and talk like that so money and class have little to do with it. These guys are Ron Smith's most faithful listeners. (8/20/07)
FYI: "Neil" Boortz is Neal (8/20/07)
Just heard WTOP touting that Mark Plotkin's Politics program returns to WTOP in September. It used to be on WTOP but it was moved to WaPo Radio a while back. Sounds like "rearranging the deck chairs" to me. (8/20/07)
I enjoyed reading the newspaper clips about Fred Fiske today, as well as those about other Radio/TV stations and personalities that were previously posted. Is there a link to any kind of searchable index for DCMemories.com site? So far, I haven't been able to find it. Also, on an unrelated topic - someone mentioned a program on WMAL done by Mac McGarry, outdoors at the transmitter site. When, exactly, did he work for WMAL? I know he was an announcer for WRC Radio/TV, but I don't recall him ever being part of the WMAL line-up. (8/20/07)
Thanks for info on Jack Sheldon, I liked his trumpet playing. Didn't he lead the Griffin band the last few years it was on or Merv just talked too him a lot? Is Mort Lindsey still alive or was that the bandleader for the Dick Cavett show who passed away in the last year?.......C-Span ran a seminar this wekend for journalism professors entitled 'History of TV News" the moderator was Jim Upshaw, who has been teaching at the University of Oregon since 1992, among the panelists was Carl Stern, now teaching at George Washington University, Deborah Potter who worked at CNN, Jackie Judd formerly of ABC, did she work at channel 4 for a few years? I found the discussion most interesting in regards to tv journalism during the "golden age" and today. Haven't found it on the C-Span website. The seminar was put on by the Association of Education in Journalism and Mass Communication. Mr. Upshaw was named a distinguished educator in Broadcast Journalism. uweb.cas.usf.edu... Ms. Potter provided an outtake reel at end of seminar that had some interesting moments. .....I also caught a few minutes of "Out of the Past" on FCAC channel 10 cox(that's public access) and David French was the guest. Hope it gets shown again.....have the Dreadskin's told Comcast Sport's Net to dump Brian Mitchell and Czaban from the Post Game show cause of the negatives waves? (8/20/07)
In keeping with Marc Fisher's feature on Fred Fiske and Mr Fiske moonlighting with other assignments, Johnny Holliday who worked with Fred at WWDC, was also the Voice of "This Week with David Brinkley" and "This Week with Sam and Cokie" on ABC, as well as "Hullaballoo and "The Roger Miller Show" on NBC. I was at ABC when Johnny took over as Brinkley's announcer from Charley Hughes who had moved to Florida and I knew Fred from his early days at 1260. Two of the most professional and nicest people in the business. Shawn, Bethesda (8/20/07)
Because I was suffering from insomnia, I turned on the overnight news on ABC and our former ABC'er Christianne Klein was on with an Asian co-anchor and talk about irritating. They just talked all over each other, were goofy and just somewhat annoying..So, this is definately a cure for my insomnia..Good nite.. (8/20/07)
Dear Jazz Fans: We start the week with the exciting sounds of Latin jazz percussionist Wilson " Chembo" Corniel, then we move on to the guitar work of Larry Carlton and we also pay tribute to the late Max Roach... drummer extraordinaire. Find out more about next week on jazzradiodc.com by clicking below... jazzradiodc.com. Thanks, Carl David (8/20/07)
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