Current Mailbag - Mailbag Archive Index - DCRTV Front Page - Support DCRTV DCRTV Mailbag - October 5 to October 11, 2007 Latest messages listed first..... \/ October 11 Messages \/ It used to be Yankee Stadum used to alternate versions of "New York, New York" - the Sinatra version when "thuhhhhhhhh Yankees win!", and the mellow Liza Minnelli version when they lose. Nowadays, I guess they play the Sinatra version straight through... Which begs the question: With the RIAA going nuts these days, do you think stadium PA systems are going to be next? What if, following a home run, in lieu of Gary Glitter, you had to hear Itchy Brother? Anyway, as far as Monday's Yankee game is concerned, the song that should have played at the end of the game was Daughtry's "I'm Going Home" with a video montage of Joe Torre simultaneously on the Diamond Vision screen, because that's exactly what's going to happen. - BulldogFan (10/11/07) Am I the only one who notices Brent Harris say "Sportsnet" at the end of his Ravens reports on Comcast Sportsnet?? (10/11/07) Tom in Denton: You are correct. Brenda Bissett actually worked for WBKZ which I believed was owned by Harry Shriver. It's that vintage memory of mine again. I would also like to extend my congrats to Michael Popovec. Michael does an excellent job with a music format and I wish him all the best. Rusty Gibson, radio brother. We look forward to MHT this weekend. Blessings. Joyce Conroy (WHFC) (10/11/07) To the person asking about WJFK's legal ID. As of September 14, 2007 all stations broadcasting in HD must ID as such. They're legal ID should be WJFK-FM HD1 Manassas. Whatever is on the HD2 should be doing a legal ID of WJFK-FM HD2 Manassas. (10/11/07) I forgot last time around to say "congratulations" to Mike Popovec! I did get to listen to you a few times; you took time to respond back to my emails that I sent! Always thought (as I listened) that you had a great voice for some sort of "top-40" format. Hey..if you ever do start an "ESR-TV page (or whatever it was called)..I'd surely visit it as I'd love to be able to keep up with what's going on with radio here on the eastern shore! Tom in Denton, MD (10/11/07) Many of you may have seen the nice blurb by Mr. Hughes with details on the 31st Annual Washington Quarter Century Broadcasters dinner. It is set for Saturday, October 27th, at 6:00 PM, at the Kenwood Country Club in Bethesda. Please don't let the "Quarter Century" part scare you. This dinner is open to broadcasters young and old. It is a chance for radio and TV people from various generations to mingle. We also encourage you to bring memorabilia from your career to the event. Like last year, a table will be set up for everyone to look at the material and hear video and audio tapes during the cocktail hour. The WQCB staff is also working on new stuff for the program, which will once again be hosted by David Burd. A new (old), live radio drama will be directed by the wonderful Don Richards. This time Don will have a few guest artists, including some who weren't around for those glory days of radio (we shall see just how well they do). But the most important element of the evening is that we will all be together, sharing stories and trying to determine who has the record for the most firings in the Washington market. Remember it was our friend Walt Starling who helped keep this group going and encouraged the participation of the younger crowd. So, in honor of Walt, all of you veterans out there, invite a younger broadcaster to join you. Look forward to seeing you and your scrapbooks at Kenwood. For ticket information, contact Anee Raulerson at AFTRA, 301-657-2560 x 227 or araulers@aftra.com. Thanks. Dave Statter (10/11/07) A few words about Red Shipley: I worked with/for Red in 1975 at WPIK/WXRA. I don't think many air personalities who've stayed in DC didn't work with him or for him at some point. It didn't take much time to figure Red out. He was home-grown, for sure. You either loved him or hated him. The more I talked to him, the more I found out just how much he knew about everything--the people, the acts, the artists, the venues and, especially, the music. Red was hard-core country and bluegrass. He knew everyone and they knew him. WPIK/WXRA had a 45 bin called "Progressive Country," featuring Linda Ronstadt, Eagles, Poco, etc...music that crossed over but only got limited airplay on "Washington's Twin Country Giants." One day, Red taped over the title of Gene Watson's "Love In The Hot Afternoon" because he didn't want anyone backselling it and getting cute with it. One night; I was doing the overnight Monday morning shift (I was 19 or 20 at the time) and got a call from Red about 12:30 AM. Red had "just come back from a Bluegrass festival" (I knew what that was about) and he wouldn't be in that morning to do his 6-9 shift. So, there not being anyone else--I did nine hours on the air. The things we did when we were young. Alas; Red fired me to make room for that guy Jerry who shot out the Coke machine some months later. He was sleeping in his car and I was working three jobs, including that one. Red was very nice to me, paying me 40 hours severance for a job I worked at one day per week. I'll always remember the talks we had and lunches we went to across the street from the Virginia Theater Building. Red was a true original and will be missed by many. sean hall (10/11/07) From today's Radio Online: "Morning Co-Host, Available: Ben Campbell, E-mail: ben@bencampbellradio.com, Materials: Aircheck Resume, Telephone: 301-xxx-xxxx, I've been doing morning radio the past 15 years. The past 11 have been in the majors(WMZQ and KMLE). I'm currently looking for two things: 1. A station/company committed to winning. 2. A partner committed to winning. I believe I bring something unique to the table. Check out my website to see why: www.bencampbellradio.com 10-03-07..." A partner committed to winning??? As E.T. would say, "Ouch." (10/11/07) It is truism in police work that unless the incident is an overturned truck on the Beltway that is on fire that Metro Traffic is absolutely unreliable. What they do is hire someone to sit next to a police scanner and when an accident is mentioned on the police radio Metro Traffic will report it for hours even though the accident was never there in the first place or it was cleared. Same goes for phantom disabled autos. Don't blame the messenger. Blame the cheapskates who run the operation. (10/11/07) Someone wanted to know if anyone remembered WISZ: I do; I first encountered it sometime in the mid-60s. I was attending the Maryland School For The Blind at the time..my folks would take me back on Sunday evenings..during the winter months (when WBMD would not be on the air as it was a daytimer)..we found this station near the top of the "AM" band; it was WISZ in Glenn Burney. Not a bad-sounding country station at the time. In those days, I think they had guys like Bill Barden and Jay Mitchell; a guy named Bob Murphy came on from 3 until 7; not sure who did nights then. Later, I remember that one of their turntables was slow (don't know if this was purposely done or not)..I spent three weeks in Johns Hopkins Hospital in 1973. By this time, George Morgan did mornings; Rick Lewis did middays, Bill Barden did "afternoon drive"..and some guy who called himself "Steven Anthony Melpha did nights..and if I'm not mistaken, Alan Harvey did "overnights." To Mark Clark: you said you were there from 73 to 78; what airshift did you work? I remember the name..but not sure of when I would have heard you. I don't ever remember Brenda Bissett working there; the first time I remember hearing Brenda was when she started working part-time for WPOC. Sorry for the long post. But someone did ask about WISZ, so that's what I remember about it. Tom in Denton, MD (10/11/07) I am in complete agreement with "DC area commuters," Lisa Baden is an embarrassment. But WTOP seems to enjoy being an irritant, rather than informational, so don't expect a change any time soon. Dave in Sterling (10/11/07) from allaccess.com "ALL ACCESS Happy Birthday wishes (10/11) to WMAL/WASHINGTON D.C. OM RANDALL BLOOMQUIST." What he's back in town? I thought he was mucketing it up at the Atlanta station. Anyway Happy Birthday, Randall, thank you for introducing Washington's airwaves to Michael Graham. Michael allowed us to understand how some are credited with being conservative, when in fact, they are just stupid. (10/11/07) Dave's response: Randall followed Michael Graham out the door at WMAL in the summer of 2005..... Joyce mentioned Brenda Bissett and her husband, Pete Michaels. I was living out-of-town when WMAR-FM started its Hot Hits format. But when I visited Baltimore and heard the Night Wolf, I had never before heard any air personality who sounded quite like that. He did not sound like Wolfman Jack at all, proving there was more than one school of thought to sounding like a wolf, I guess. Several years later, when the station had gone AC, I heard Pete Michaels using his name and sounding like an actual human being. It reminded me of the B movie in which a man changes in to a wolf; in this case, it was the reverse. Roddy Freeman (10/11/07) RE: (Nobody tunes in to hear her "perform". Just read the traffic report like a professional and quit trying to be a "personality". Signed, DC area commuters.) First of all, you must be a total assface grouch. One of the reasons WTOP does so well during morning drive is because of Lisa Baden! Her upbeat personality makes my dreadful morning commute a little sunnier, and I'm positive a few thousand people would agree with me. So cheer up, assface! (10/11/07) Congrats to Mike Popovec on his return to the B. I know Mike really enjoys the music end of radio and he's going back to a place that embraced him. Mike, I'll be hearing you on The B! Steve (10/11/07) Your story about Radio One acquiring the calls and format of a station in Indianapolis is a little inaccurate. The station now called WNOU (93.1) will start their “93 days of Christmas” and become WIBC-FM with a news/talk format, migrated from the AM station, at the end of the year. WIBC-AM (which often can be heard in the DC area around sunset ) will become an affiliate of ESPN Radio. BTW, anyone who lived in central Indiana in the late 60’s and 70’s will remember this FM station as WNAP – and what a killer station is was!! (10/11/07) Dave's response: Speaking of Indiana radio, nothing like the old WOWO on 1190 before it got castrated..... Hi there. I'm fairly new to this area and I'm getting used to the news broadcasts here which are a lot different from where I came from (Ireland). I flip-flop between channel 4 and 7 in the mornings as both are fairly good for local and national news, but I have a question about Barbara Harrison on Channel 4 mornings. Is she a stroke survivor or maybe taking heavy prescription meds for something? She seems to slur a lot of her words, misread the teleprompter and mumble almost incoherently at times. When I first saw her I honestly thought she was boozed up, but I think that is very unlikely, at least on a daily basis. Am I missing something or is she just a really bad news anchor? (10/11/07) Bill Schumm is a retired fire captain who runs a popular fire/EMS blog, FireGeezer.com.... Hey, did you watch the live-stream broadcast Sunday from the Fallen Firefighters Memorial? I did and it was pretty amazing how high a quality the “broadcast” technology was. I punched the link button on STATter911.com, it loaded right up without delay, and I had an excellent color picture with perfectly clear sound. I’m still mildly amazed at how far the internet capabilities have come in just 10 years. I’m also pleased to see that many of the television news organizations are welcoming the new ways of delivering their product instead of trying to thwart it like many of the print media are doing. Just look at how many television stations are operating dynamic websites that keep their news page up to the minute on reportage. And many of them have video clips of their news stories posted as they happen. I was looking at a tv website from a station in Florida the other day and they had a sidebar filled with video links to their stories. They definitely know where a sizeable portion of their audience is migrating to. Dave Statter is fortunate in that his station’s general manager is one of those forward-looking people who is eager to try new methods of what the geeks call Information Delivery Systems. WUSA Channel 9 went out to Emmitsburg, set up shop and broadcast the Memorial program to the world…..in smooth, living color. Remember how, before broadband connections, internet video was all jerky and stop-action looking? What I see is most important with last weekend’s remote transmission is the fact that Ch. 9 wasn’t experimenting with new techniques. They were using existing technologies and just putting the pieces together in a different order. In this case there weren’t any commercials interspersed throughout the program. It was all done on Ch. 9’s dime, and I’m sure it cost them a bundle. But….they benefitted from it in a big way by actually going out and getting it done. Learning how to put all the links together so that the programming comes out the other end as they had hoped. It’s the same thing as running a ladder pipe drill on a Sunday afternoon. You go through all the procedures to set everything up and get water flowing, even though there’s no fire. And everybody gets better at it. Sure, you say, a lot of tv stations are already running live, raw coverage of breaking stories now. So what’s new? Well, what’s new is the final delivery point of the system….remote websites. In this case it was Firehouse.com as well as WUSA’s in-house blog site STATter911.com. It’s like putting a network together without all the buildings and FCC licenses needed to hook it up. Websites are already there. Once they go through a few more “ladder pipe drills” Channel 9 will be up and running with remote webcasting as a routine. They’ll already have a cadre of websites available and if something is favorable for distribution, they’ll have an instant network to run the article. Instead of just the station’s website that people might or might not go to, their show will be on a handful of websites that routinely cover that particular subject and people from all over the world will be exposed to it without having to go searching for it. That’s right…..networks of websites instead of television stations delivering live events. Is that far off in the future? No. It started last Sunday. Forwarded by Chris Hebert at Firehouse.com (10/11/07) Hi Dave, Your site is great. I miss being in radio, albeit college. I'm putting a presentation and commemoration of the Ambassador Theater Psychedelic Concert Hall, which was open at 18th and Columbia Rd in DC from July '67 to January '68. It's part of the DC Historical Studies Conference on Nov 3, and it's free - www.historydc.org . If anyone has anecdotes or info to share, I'd be grateful if you could pass along my email jeff@planetkrulik.com or jeffkrulik@yahoo.com I'm especially looking for photographs and images from the time. Thanks very much, Jeff Krulik.... The Ambassador Theater--DC Psychedelic Concert Hall 1967 40th Anniversary Panel Discussion Saturday 11/3/07 3PM DC Historical Studies Conference For six glorious months beginning in July 1967, the Summer of Love landed right in Adams Morgan when three entrepreneurs convinced a skeptical neighborhood to allow DC's very own Fillmore--The Ambassador Theater. Tony Finestra, Court Rodgers and Joel Mednick were selling fire extinguishers on college campuses when they heard the siren call of San Francisco, and after visiting the Fillmore and Avalon Ballroom, decided to pour all available resources into duplicating that psychedelic experience in an abandoned movie theater at 18th and Columbia Road. Within months, they had defied the odds and opened a psychedelic concert hall, hippie hangout and community center that also boasted The Psychedelic Power and Light Company, one of the most happening psychedelic light shows on the East Coast! Every name rock band on tour at the time passed through the Ambassador, including a five night stand by Jimi Hendrix in August '67 (with two 3PM matinee performances), as well as the Fugs, Moby Grape and many more. It was even one of the staging points for the March on the Pentagon, with Norman Mailer rallying the protesters from the stage days before the October 21, 1967 march. WAMAdc President Mike Schreibman was not only there, he helped run the place, and he'll be part of a panel discussion, with Richard Harrington of The Washington Post, and more guests to be announced. Promoters Court Rodgers and Joel Mednick have been invited, as well as Jerry Mermelstein who helped run The Psychedelic Power and Light Company light show. We've also located Bill Havu, drummer for the band Natty Bumppo, as well as Walter Hart who ran the head shop on the mezzanine of the theater. The presentation will include a slide show of concert posters, personal photos, and newspaper clippings from the mainstream, college and underground newspapers, and memories, anecdotes and recollections provided by members of the audience. It will be moderated and presented by Jeff Krulik, who was six years old at the time but wishes he could have been there for the Vanilla Fudge. Cultural historians Mark Opsasnick (www.capitolrock.com), Mara Cherkasky (www.culturaltourismdc.org) and Bob Embery (DC Monuments fanzine) will assist... (10/11/07) I worked at WISZ AM-FM from 1973-78 and they were five fun years for me. Anyone else out there recall those magic moments? Mark Clark (10/11/07) Newschannel 8…or is it Newschannel 9? A funny screen shot from this morning... Brian in Fairfax (10/11/07) Thank god that WUSA is FINALLY getting a traffic reporter. While I think Mike and Andrea are doing a great job doing the news (their REAL job), I think it is tacky they have to do traffic too. I think it is very unprofessional, esp. since other news stations on T.V have a dedicated person doing traffic. (10/11/07) Dave's response: I don't know why they couldn't have put Doug Buchanan in a brunette wig. Maybe something from the JC Hayward Collection. He'd be fine as 9's morning traffic "gal." His traffic reports would be far more meaningful, relevant, and humorous than his dad's commentaries on WTOP radio. Just joooooking. No hate mail, please..... Deniis Miller AND Hockey? Wow! Sounds like...Hell! Paul (10/11/07) Dave's response: Sounds like "H-E-Double Hockey Sticks"..... What's the deal with the legal ID at the end of the Junkies going into O&A on WJFK? For weeks on end it was "--FK FM Manasssas" or "-JFK FM Manssas", and sometimes, "...K FM Manassas". Then they added a bunch of noisy stuff indicating they were simulcasting on their first HD channel, so today it was "------FK FM HD1 Manassas". How heavy is that pot that the board op can't get it up? And how do they get away without doing a legal ID nearly every day at 10am so close to FCC headquarters? Have the rules changed to allow "HD1" to be said between the calls and COL? (10/11/07) Re: 9's Traffic Hire... It's good to learn about the new traffic hire on DCRTV instead of, oh I dunno, an e-mail from my employer, WUSA. I know, I know, the whole *communication* business. Rumor has it having anchors do traffic was never a permanent solution, just one until 9 could find a less horrific traffic reporter than Nicole O'Brien, and one older than teeny bopper Tracy Metro. (10/11/07) Murdoch wants to build out the DC office of the WSJ to support Fox Business News on television, internet, and radio. No wonder the newspaper writers don't get it -- they're stuck thinking "print" ! Years ago, Dow Jones tried television but gave up and instead partnered with CNBC. Watch that now change too. (10/11/07) I worked at the Bayou in the mid 70's. Whatever happened to Vince Santoro & Bobby Stevens of Sinbad? Bonnie C. (10/11/07) Ugh, Ed Schultz’s show is amazing in that he manages to say absolutely NOTHING between commercial breaks. It always sounds like he’s just about to get to the good stuff---maybe in the next hour!---but he never does. Bizarre. He’s just a big fat blowhard. Now me, I adore Lynn Samuels, formerly on NY terrestrial radio (WABC?) and now happily on Sirius Left (46) where she can speak her mind, swear like a sailor, and be absolutely fun and entertaining for her 2 hours a day (1 p.m. – 3 p.m.)---wish her show were longer! Big Ed’s follows her (on delay) and when I hear those opening notes of Sweet Child of Mine signaling the start of his show I know it’s time to change back to Howard (100), or maybe even to check in on D&M for old time’s sake. (10/11/07) (Where has Joe Krebs disappeared to? He has not bee on channel 4 for weeks. The substitute anchor always says: "Filling in for Joe Krebs." Is he on sabbatical; did he have another heart attack....Where has he gone? ... Dave's response: Recovering from rotator cuff surgery.....) He should be ready for Nationals Spring Training 2008 at which time Babs will take the rest of the year off. Get well soon. (10/10/07) I guess that the strategy of the anchors doing their own traffic reports at WUSA-TV9 is not working. I found the following in Newsblues. "NewsBlues Looker Angie Goff is leaving her reporting gig at Raycom Media's WIS-10-NBC in Columbia, SC (Market #81), to become morning traffic reporter for Gannett's WUSA-9-CBS in DC (Market #8)." (10/11/07) ("Lisa does not work for Bonneville. She's employed by Metro Traffic, which provides traffic info and newscasts for many radio and TV stations in town, including WTOP. WTOP does employ its own traffic reporter, Bob Marbourg, who does traffic reports for afternoon drive.....") So if WTOP airs an errant news report from a source that they do not pay for in house, then that absolves them as a news source for bad reporting??? (10/11/07) Does don juan Geronimo have Mad cow disease? Man he seems to be stammering and stuttering and unable to get his brain to work with his mouth a lot these days UUUUhhhhhh!. ye olde bodily fluid and noises jokes just ain't tripping the synapses like they use too! . make me laff, yes, indeediodo...does O'Meara have too find everything that don Juan says funny with that Ed McMahon laugh, geez those drop ins of donnie's are sometimes ponderously old or not funny and yet we get the big guffaws from o'meara everytime...........meanwhile over in Greaselyvannia the grease had good bit on death Tuesday morning, the grease is very concerned that in a 100 year's people will not remember him and he certainly believes in a higher power ,he said he's lined his bathroom in led cause there's something's he does in there that he doesn't want the omnipresent too see him a doing...doodad alert! hey grease puts more work into one show than geronimo et al probably put into a couple a weeks of shows and no i don't count time plopped in front of a tv and talking about it next day as real prep work just time filler..........next contest kevin sheehan versus larry michael...one might say both did not come up short on the end of the ugly stick..........wonder if the chickaboomer has considered a different picture, she sort of looks like she smelling something fowl..........is someone working on a tv that can block all the effing graphics and crawls and sideline reporters during ballgames? say wha' happened to jill arrington, hell even i have exceptions.....sage steele seems a bit low energy on the mike and mike show on espn? she happy at espn? another exception to my no broads covering men's sports rule because she actually knows sports....what exactly did sally jenkins mean in her last Saturday WaPo column about really liking marion jones? seems like ms. jones had many years of effing up that led her to her current state...she could probably get a job teaching track and basketball at some high school i bet, whoops....it really should have been wilbon that espn hired for MNF instead of kornholio, think of all the prep work they wouldn't have to do if wilbon was in the box and kept mike patrick for play by play....bring back Weasal with the box set, he played more long unheard stuff on those shows than the deadly dull current playlist of the Globe....and keep Lil' Stephen's Underground Garage show! (10/11/07) Is Ed Schultz the #1 Talker? Talkers Magazine says that Ed Schultz is the #1 liberal talk show host. They say he beats his closest competition - Randi Rhodes, Stephanie Miller, and Thom Hartmann by better than two to one. In a survey recently published by Talking Radio, Rhodes was designated as the top lib talker and Schultz placed third. Who's right? - Talkers Magazine, "The Bible of Talk Radio" or Talking Radio, a puny blog. You Decide www.talkingradio.blogspot.com (10/11/07) Where has Joe Krebs disappeared to? He has not bee on channel 4 for weeks. The substitute anchor always says: "Filling in for Joe Krebs." Is he on sabatical; did he have another heart attack....Where has he gone? (10/11/07) Dave's response: Recovering from rotator cuff surgery..... Dear Jazz Fan: Holiday time is just around the corner and that means people spending money. JAZZRADIODC.COM is a commercial radio program and is proud to work with sponsors. We do not operate on donations. We have an affluent and intelligent audience of consumers who have money to spend... Our featured artists segments this week include the music of and an interview with the sensational percussionist Bobby Sanabria, a look at Ella Fitzgerald's early years on the Decca label, the distinctive vocal virtuoso Bobby McFerrin and more of what you can expect on JAZZRADIODC.COM... Thanks, Carl David (10/11/07) Dear Dave: To the 56K rant guy: I invite you to reread my post and indicate to me exactly where I was critical of Dave Hughes and how fast his site loads onto my system. In fact, I invite you to go back through the DCRTV.com mail archives and all the posts I've made over the years and find any serious criticisms I've made about how Dave runs his site. All I was saying is that the major internet service providers have not been deploying service in all areas and that in areas where a monopoly exists (like my neighborhood in Ashburn) you will pay a hefty price as opposed to somebody who lives in an area where multiple providers exist. My decision in choosing not to subscribe to Comcast's high speed service (if you really want to call it a choice given the circumstances) is partly on economic grounds, partly on previous experience with them, and partly because I am a firm believer in competition leading to lower prices and better service. I made my decision and I can and will live with it. And even though I have made that decision, that does not preclude me from voicing my opinion and frustrations about the subject matter. The individual who made the original post was simply offering an observation in a very benign way to Dave, who offered some constructive solutions. It was you who decided to go on the personal attack with your rather juvenile response. It's really a shame that a person cannot speak up about various matters without having to put up with individuals who have to take it upon themselves to hold that person up to ridicule. Dave, this still is a great site! Keep up the good work! Sincerely, Joe Kasell (10/11/07) “ 'In mid-2001, after the Yankees had won three straight World Series, someone with the team put a taped call of John Sterling's inane "The Yannnnkeees winnn!" on the P.A. system after every home victory.' C’mon, that’s his trademark call. They haven’t done that in a while. They now play Sinatra’s “NY, NY” You can hear it inside the 6 train, it’s so loud." ... I should have clarified my statement; at the Stadium, they do the Sterling call, then segue into Sinatra's "New York, New York." Oopsie. -- Vincent in Triangle (10/11/07) interesting that Tirico can do a two hour radio show and Tony K can't. (10/11/07) WASH-FM Memories? "If you see Joe Schmoe, tell him to have a happy day" While just about all the Metromedia FM's in the country had the absolutely the coolest, anarchist free-form rock, this poor excuse of a radio station was playing chicken rock with standards throughout the late sixties and seventies. ALL DC had was crappy WMAL FM, and DC 101, which both mastered the art of sounding automated even with Live DJ's. WHFS was a low powered all over the map station that didn't play rock full time until, I believe, 1973. Metromedia in San Francisco had KMPX, then KSAN, New York had WNEW FM, and LA, KMET. The free form rock, and attitude could have REALLY shaken things up here! Instead, someone thought that the DC area was inhabited by lightweight preppies, and hicks. Even though they were right about the preppies and hicks, DC deserved much better than what they got with WASH-FM. By the way, The bad-rock -radio-in DC Beat goes on..... (10/11/07) /\ October 11 Messages /\ \/ October 10 Messages \/ Hey Sister Joyce; so nice to see you posting again! I've got several surprises on this Sunday's "MHT"! Rusty (10/10/07) Lisa Baden is the worst. First, I'm sure she's a nice lady and her momma loves her and I know it's not her fault that nearly half the the allotted time for the traffic "report" is taken up by commercial plugs. Every traffic reporter has to deal with that, but if you add up all the time she spends singing, whining, and making goofy sounds, you will quickly see that there could be much more time to actually report on traffic. Nobody tunes in to hear her "perform". Just read the traffic report like a professional and quit trying to be a "personality". Signed, DC area commuters. (10/10/07) Back in the days of nostalgic WWLG AM 1360/1370, Ken Jackson(once with WBAL Radio)did mid-days. He was forced out by (Mr.) Pettit because he wouldn't voice track and take a pay cut. I believe he does a weekend show on one of the public radio stations now. He's a guy who knows his music and listeners loved him. And of course, there's not a place for him on 1370, the station without local daytime programming, but they feature Mancow in the Morning with ABC News at the top of the hour. Yesterday evening, I heard a portion of the Clark Howard Financial Show at 5:35 P.M. when Mr. Howard announced that it was five minutes past the hour! (10/10/07) In response to the post on WISZ, it was a great sounding Country station. Jeff Michaels worked there and if I am not mistaken so did Brenda Bissett. Jeff relayed a funny story. I believe he used the airname "Jeff Alexander" on WISZ and "Jeff Michaels" on another station (it was probably WPOC). After working long hours on air, he would often call himself "Jeff Alexander Michaels". He's a good guy who was extremely supportive when I was student. According to the station website, both Brenda and Pete Michaels are at KFIS in Portland. Regarding the programming on WVIE, again we are re-visiting the definition of insanity. Enough said. Blessings. Joyce Conroy (WHFC) (10/10/07) Geez, "56K rant guy", calm down! And while you're at it, don't ever get a job as a proofreader. You misread many things the two repliers said. First off, for the record, I was replier #1. And neither Joe or myself said anything blaming or "bitching" about Dave & DCRTV; only the original poster even brought his problem up to Dave, and I'd hardly call it "bitching",or "giving Dave crap" as you put it. He was trying to help...even Dave appreciated it. I actually haven't noticed the problem he had; DCRTV for me loads just fine. Second, Joe in Fairfax Co. at least has Comcast from which to choose. I had said that NO land-based service yet runs out to my area, and I reject satellite online for practical purposes - my Dish Network TV goes pixel-city sometimes if the cloud cover is too thick, and almost always off with heavy rain. So getting on the net with reliability like that seems pointless. I tolerate dialup for now as well as I did 10 years ago (if I was a gamer, or heavy-uploader, maybe then I'd be going ape$*it) So since nobody was arguing with you OR Dave, what's with the hostility? At least let's agree on one thing: The big-time service providers certainly haven't gotten high-speed distributed as fast as they probably could have. (10/10/07) "There's no getting around it - local or syndicated - 3WT's programming is deadly dull." What's not dull about Bonneville is their dreadful reporting of traffic. This morning, Lisa Baden said in one report (6:18am) that the accident on the outer loop of the beltway near Rt. 123 had backed up traffic on the eastbound Dulles Toll Road well before the exit to 495. In the very next report ten minutes later, she said it was backed up before the main toll plaza. BIG difference to anyone commuting from Fairfax/Loudoun (that doesn't exit off the beltway) who listened to the misinformation and decided to take Route 7 thinking that the info would make anyone assume it was getting much worse very quickly. After committing to Route 7, in the very next report she stated that it was only backed up at the exit to 495. Upon crossing the toll road on Route 7, I saw that there was NO back up at all at the main toll plaza and that I would have saved myself 15 minutes if I had never listened to WTOP in the first place. That's the last time me, or anyone else who was affected by that can ever trust what they hear on WTOP again. Listen to the tapes WTOP, then go to the main toll plaza at 7am in the morning and see what a difference you could have made if you reported the information correctly, and consistently. How can we ever trust what you report again? Hello satellite radio! (10/10/07) Dave's response: Lisa does not work for Bonneville. She's employed by Metro Traffic, which provides traffic info and newscasts for many radio and TV stations in town, including WTOP. WTOP does employ its own traffic reporter, Bob Marbourg, who does traffic reports for afternoon drive..... Hey guys, Don't know if you heard about the jock in Frederick who is going to run 103 miles to raise money for Breast Cancer research. Sounds interesting, this is the same jock who just got back from an overseas deployment with the Army. (10/10/07) Want to know how to fix "The Globe"? I can tell you: There was a guy, an underwater guy who controlled the sea. He got killed by ten million pounds of sludge from New York and New Jersey. The creature in the sky got sucked in a hole--now there's a hole in the sky and the ground's not cold. And if the ground's not cold then everything is gonna burn. We'll all take turns. I'll get mine, too. If Man is five then the Devil is six, and if the Devil is six then God is seven...This monkey's gone to heaven. Dave in Sterling (10/10/07) Dave's response: I'd fire everyone but Cerphe and Weasel, stunt with David Bowie 24/7 for three weeks, and re-launch as "947HFS" on 11/1. Oh, just joking about that firing crack. I really do like Albie and Pat..... John Thompson let loose with a "bullshit" on air today on his WTEM show. (10/10/07) Dave's response: Looks like Dave Pugh's gonna have to fire John Thompson in addition to Elliot..... WPRZ Praise 1250 is now WKDL 1250 according to today's FCC info. Geez, it'll probably take the Post a decade to figure this one out! :-) (10/10/07) Dave's response: Remember that locally-based kids' formatted station in the early 1990s - WKDL 1050 Silver Spring, WKDV 1460 Manassas, and WKDB 1570 Towson..... How many remember radio stations WISZ AM and FM?? Country stations here in baltimore??? bk (10/10/07) (Regarding masturbation jokes heard on DC101 on Wednesday morning:) It would appear that the FCC has cooled it's jets visa vie language standards. Amazing that a DJ could mention masturbation and yet the world remains relatively intact...by the way, which is more annoying: people bitching about their slow internet connections, or techies bitching about people bitching about their slow internet connections? Grab a Jolt and get back to your Rocky Horror DVD, techie! (10/10/07) Dave's response: The only thing more asinine than the FCC's "indecency" policy is the inconsistent way it's applied..... “In mid-2001, after the Yankees had won three straight World Series, someone with the team put a taped call of John Sterling's inane "The Yannnnkeees winnn!" on the P.A. system after every home victory.” C’mon, that’s his trademark call. They haven’t done that in a while. They now play Sinatra’s “NY, NY” You can hear it inside the 6 train, it’s so loud. (10/10/07) Dave's response: For someone who was born in NYC, and spent his formative years in NJ, I can't stand the Yankees, Mets, Giants, and Jets. For better or worse, I'll always be a Redskins fan..... So, on Elliot's DC101 show today they all talked about how former Partridge Family kid and now radio DJ/shock jock Danny Bonaduce likes to allegedly masturbate around his home, while sitting on a couch, thereby staining/ruining the wood floor and raising his wife/girlfriend's wrath. Is this allowable according to the FCC's indecency rules? Is this in accord with Clear Channel's no tollerence to foul language on the radio policy? What was the joke Don keeps talking about that a listener made on WJFK's air the other day that aroused the FCC's interest? Carl in Rockville (10/10/07) To those of you object to my "56K modem" rant...get a life! You all have said that you have the option of getting high speed, but refuse to pay for it. You know what I have to say to that...quit your bitching that pages take to long to load on your current system, plain and simple. Don't give people like Dave a hard time because it takes a long time for the pages to load because the advertising banners are too big for your modem to handle...this site is mainly supported by the very same banners so you can see it for free. George Carlin says it perfectly as Al Sleet (the hippy-dippy weather man)..."if you don't like the weather...move!" (10/10/07) It seems like local radio just seems to go from bad to worse. There's no excuse for 100.3 to even exist. Those TV commercials they run are a joke. ''Nobody understand..so and so.'' Only thing to understand is that they play the same fucking song by the same fucking artists every single day. Why would anyone want HD radio for any station in this area? To hear the same dried up crap over and over? Don and Mike aren't even fun to listen to anymore because they spend endless hours yelling at every moron that calls. That gets real old after about 10 minutes. I used to love to listen to the first hour but that's become rather hard to do. It's a shame things have gotten so bad. There's no real variety anymore. No one wants to take a chance and do anything that's original. Paul (10/10/07) I think we can add a new "curse" to the Bambino (Red Sox), Comiskeys (White Sox), Rocky Colavito (Indians) and billy goat (Cubs) -- it's the curse of Sterling. In mid-2001, after the Yankees had won three straight World Series, someone with the team put a taped call of John Sterling's inane "The Yannnnkeees winnn!" on the P.A. system after every home victory. I don't think it's coincidental they haven't won a World Series since. -- Vincent in Triangle (10/10/07) Hey Tom Conroy: A country station with Clark West..yeah..I'd listen to it to get to hear that voice again! Problem is: if it were on 1370, it'd be kind of hard to hear down here on the eastern shore as 1370's signal just doesn't get down here that well! As for Froggy (in Salisbury)..I like Froggy (not necessarily for the music)..but they have some (in my opinion) good air personalities there; I enjoy Mike Thomas and April Brilliant in the morning; Mike and April (also Brian Cleary) have Emceed a country show over in Georgetown, Delaware that the band I work in has been a part of for several years! Froggy does play the "country classics" on it's "Froggy Flash-back" show, heard on Sundays from 9 A.m. until 2 P.M.; problem is, they always seem to play the same songs every weekend! I've always said that it would be nice if we had a station that mixed in the "old" and the "new"..aw..but apparently, the powers that be in radio don't see things as us listeners do! WAAI sort of tries to do it; the problem I have with them (and it's nothing particular against any "satellite service)..but I miss getting to hear a "local" station all day and all night! But guess those days are gone forever! Tom in Denton, MD (10/10/07) Great news everybody! The "virus" isn't much malignant. Opie and Anthony have been cancelled in two more markets (Detroit and Pittsburgh). I can't wait for the merger to go through and Mel slip a pink slip into O&A's mailboxes. It's over boyz. (10/10/07) "What's up with Dan Patrick being on Sportstalk 980 last evening at 7pm?". It's a tape delayed broadcast of a morning drive program produced by KLAC in Los Angeles and syndicated to various (mostly Clear Channel) stations by the Content Factory. Apparently Dave Pugh (who runs the local CC stations) is helping to relaunch the radio career of his brother who recently left ESPN after many years there. If this is a permanent change to WTEM's schedule, the Fox Sports Radio show hosted by Andrew Siciliano will no longer be heard on the station in the 7-10 PM timeslot. Over on the Triple X stations, ESPN Radio's new Stephen A. Smith program (airing in the 3 PM hour) provides an interesting window into New York sports talk radio for the national audience. Nearly all the callers seem to be come from the Big Apple and baseball's by far the dominant topic of conversation on the show right now. Even on the day after a Jets-Giants game, all anyone wanted to talk about was the Yankees and the discussions were heated and animated. How the host manages to maintain his ramped up style of delivery (often bordering on hysterical) for an entire program is beyond me, but I guess that's why they call him "Screamin' A". Mike, Fairfax (10/10/07) Dave, The problem is 1370 is asking way too much for that signal. People are interested but not at that crazy price, the multiple is ridiculous from what I understand. (10/10/07) Dave's response: Regarding my jest that WVIE, 1370, gets sold to WNST owner Nestor Aparacio as a better signal for his sports talker, now on 1570. OK, maybe Nestor could do a lease deal with them or something. It seems that sports talk would be a more viable format for 1370 - and would give Nestor a better platform to battle WJFK-AM, ESPN Radio 1300..... “Anyone who thinks that simply because it's a huge market that it gets the best people has no clue about the business.” Granted, there are days when I’m not the sharpest tool in the toolbox, but yes, I do believe the best people wind up in the biggest markets – that’s where the money and exposure are. If anyone was really good, do you think they’d languish in Topeka, Cleveland, or, sorry, Baltimore? And if anyone was really bad, just how far up the ladder do you think they’d climb? Sidebar: since there are only 30 MLB teams, all of the announcers are pretty good, in fact. I do concede that Sterling is a bit pompous at times, but he does know baseball and listening to him is a pretty informative experience. But the commercials do drive me nuts. “This call to the bullpen sponsored by Geico, where a 15-minute call can save you $$$.” Enough! I’m glad the Yanks are out for that reason alone. - Paul (10/10/07) I keep hearing about this so-called “McDonald’s Mobile Unit” featured on WTNT traffic. Does it rush hot coffee and Egg McMuffins to stranded motorists? They could’ve helped this morning on the beltway…(10/10/07) Dave's response: Yeah, artery-clogging fast food for motorists on traffic-clogged highways. A winning combination..... I was listening to ESPN 1300 at 1PM when the Mike Tirico Show started. How does he do it? Why isn't David Burd subbing for him until February? I thought working on Monday Night Football took a commitment of every fiber of your being, your soul, your essence for at least the entire season plus two months before and two months after. He must not be committed to those weekly broadcasts like someone else we know. Howie (10/10/07) How to improve WWWT - we need a DCRTV on WWWT radio show live from Wild West Fairfax (he has a voice for the internet)... This post sponsored by FRANK TV - starting November 20th on TBS. (10/10/07) Dave's response: Ha ha ha. As I've said before, if I'm nominated I will not serve. I have no desire to be on the radio..... Dear Dave: A poster writes: "That's very presumptive of you. Does it occur to you that not everybody still with 56K is doing it by choice??" Amen to that! As many times as I have posted on this board over the past 10 years, it's been done on a 56K modem. Comcast is the only high-speed provider in my neighborhood out here West of Wild Western Fairfax County, and the price I'm looking at is approximately $65-$70 per month with fees, modem rental, and taxes. Sorry, I'm not paying that price to support a monopoly, especially after being an unhappy Comcast subscriber back when I was living in Reston (their less-than-impressive cable TV customer service and return of value for their product offering left a bad taste in my mouth and drove me to DirecTV, which I have been very happy with since). As for Verizon, DSL is not available where I'm at, and Lord knows when FIOS will be deployed (recent e-mails to officials with Verizon and the Loudoun County government have so far gone unanswered). I'm like many others in saying that I'd jump at the chance for high speed...just not at any cost. Be nice to see some competition out here in service and pricing. Until then, I will stick with my principles as long as I can and just limp along on 56K. Again, Dave, a great site! Sincerely, Joe Kasell (10/10/07) The FCC is well aware of what WAMU is doing with announcing HD- One. The law requires it. (10/10/07) Also Red Shipley was actively involved with the Prince William County Fair for many years booking acts and providing publicity. I remember him always wearing a towel around his neck during those hot days at the fair. He also made a cameo on "Hee Haw" back in the "Hit It Darlin'" days of his career. - Bert in Manassas (10/10/07) TO Tom Conroy: I alwasys thought you had a point with the Country Memories format. I think of it as the Adult Hits format. But, how many managers will throw on an "oldies" format. It would work out, but many aren't willing to take that chance. I think 1370, 1590 or even 860 could do a decent run with a Country Memories format. But, it's like this---how many stations are flipping to Oldies? I know, it's a shame. (10/10/07) How long does "The Globe" plan on calling itself "new"? Beyond the fact that they've been on air for quite a few months, the station just sounds old and tired. Dull format, dull-as-dishwater jocks (please GOD! cut Kelly Knight loose and let Weasel be Weasel) and Schelby (She Who Must Be Smug) have brought the once-promising 94.7FM to a creaking standstill. At the very least, STOP whoring the station out as a P.R. unit for that other aging mediocrity, Government Mule. (10/10/07) "The Globe desperately needs to find an edgy morning show..." IMUS? --RB (10/10/07) Dave's response: How about Mike O'Meara on speed..... NYTimes.com: An Error-Plagued Game, but From the Broadcast Booth (10/10/07) What's up with Dan Patrick being on Sportstalk 980 last evening at 7pm? Peter (10/10/07) Why did TVLand move I Love Lucy from the 8 -9pm slot to 6pm? (10/10/07) Dave's response: I guess Lucy wants to get to bed earlier..... re: "I have always advocated a Country Memories format, not older Classic Country for AM's that are having problems." Gawd, I'd LOVE to see that kind of format in this area. Here on Delmarva, the so-called "Country" stations are totally unlistenable, with the POSSIBLE exception of WAAI-100.9. Local WDSD in Dover is a farce, as is the "Froggy" station down in Salisbury. Good luck hearing Johnny Cash, Hank Snow, Barbara Mandrell, George Jones, et al, on any cookie-cutter "country" station that infests the FM dial. A true classic country station would be more popular than the corporate suits and bean-counters (who know ZERO about radio) think. It's odd, too, that when I go to Maine (of all places), I can hear more real country music on both AM and FM than I can in Maryland or Delaware. I'd love to see it on 1370 with its 50kw signal, especially since its current talk format reminds me of something that swirls in the toilet. John, Smyrna DE (10/10/07) If you think the Yankees radio broadcasts are laden with commercial interruptions try listening to the Redskin games. These games are overloaded with bad advertising. How about the “Nuttiest Play of the game brought to you by Blue Diamond Almonds” or the “Player of the Game” not to be confused with the “Defensive Player of the Game” or the “Offensive Player of the Game”. My favorites are the dreadful Washington Post live spots read by Sonny, which always interfere with the play by play. Don’t blame the programmers or the sales people. Blame the knuckle heads who pay those exorbitant rights fees which put the pressure on the sales and programming staff to sell anything and everything. Even Dan” I am misunderstood but sadly, still short” Snyder charges 4.5 million to Red Zebra for the broadcast rights per year, and he owns both companies. (10/10/07) (From DCRTV's Classified Ads:) News reporter/producer, MarketWatch News, Washington, DC. News reporter/producer needed to produce audio content for the MarketWatch Radio Network and Web site, as well as MarketWatch Podcasts. S/he will deliver network and custom newscasts when covering for other employees. Candidate must be proficient with PC's and broadcast equipment including a microphone, ISDN unit, minidisk recorder, audio editing software, mixers and a telephone recording system. Requirements: * Bachelor's college degree required, * 3 plus years at a national broadcast network or major market radio station required, * Must have on-air delivery acceptable to affiliates, * Must be able to work a flexible schedule, * Must be able to write clearly, accurately and under the pressure of several deadlines each hour, * Must be facile with the use of the Internet as a news gathering resource and be able to scan many Web sites and news sources each hour. How to Apply: Please apply directly online at careers.propleclick.com. (10/10/07) Vincent in Triangle has it absolutely right. The Yankees have the absolute worst radio broadcasts in MLB. Anyone who thinks that simply because it's a huge market that it gets the best people has no clue about the business. Sterling is a hack and always has been, dating back to his days as a talk show host in Baltimore in the 1960's. Waldman is there purely because she's female - she shows no insight to the game whatsoever. Phil Mushnick blistered this tandem earlier this season in the NY Post, and I can't recall ever seeing a favorable print media review. If they worked in this area I'm sure Jim Williams would praise them to the rooftops - his endorsement of Chip Caray in the Examiner is a joke, by the way, with Caray's Division series performance a total embarrassment - but the NY press figured Sterling out a long time ago when he was doing the NJ Nets' games. (10/10/07) “The awful Yankee broadcaster John Sterling?” I suppose John made it to the #1 market because he stinks, huh? The fact that WCBS loads up his broadcasts with commercials is hardly his fault. Sterling really knows baseball and while he’s no Vin Scully or perhaps not even a Jon Miller, he is an absolutely terrific broadcaster. Paul Brandus, New York, NY (where Georgie-Boy is about to fire Torre) (10/10/07) Dave, I guess to the DC Times a station is new if THEY weren't aware of it. WJLA has been carrying LocalPOINT TV on its channel 7-3 digital since last winter or early spring. Howie (10/10/07) Dave's response: Yeah, but Comcast just started carrying it. If the Washington Post didn't report it, it's not news. And if Comcast doesn't carry it, it's not being broadcast. Blah blah blah..... RE: from yesterday: "WTF? 56k modem? Join the modern age for Christ's sake....are you running that off of a Commodore 64? Don't give Dave a bunch of crap because you're not up to snuff with technology!!!" -- That's very presumptive of you. Does it occur to you that not everybody still with 56K is doing it by choice?? There are swaths of areas all over the country that are not yet set up for broadband, and also beyond wireless reach. Case in point, where I am right here in Maryland. Rural areas where many homes are separated by tracts of farmland apparently don't interest Verizon and the like. They were telling me almost 4 years ago when I moved here that DSL was "months" away. Still hasn't happened. As I understand it, there's some guideline that says there has to be so many homes per mile in order for the companies to fork out the cost of wiring an area. That ain't going to happen in some places for years, so in those cases, you're SOL. Only other option would be satellite, and last time I checked, none of the plans have dropped below the $50/month threshold. Anyone with ties to Verizon or other parties who'd care to address this, the mike is yours.... (10/10/07) You think the promotion blitz for "Frank TV" is bad now... Wait till TBS starts throwing moving avatars of Frankie on the screen (with sound) during regular programming. It will happen! (10/10/07) I couldn't quite tell from the news on the DCRTV.com Front Page. When his gig begins at female-oriented talk WVIE, does Mancow intend to shave his beard and wear that blonde wig ALL of the time? No truth to the rumor he now prefers "Womancow"? (10/10/07) The only stations I find more entertaining and enlightening than WCSP are WAVA and KFA-942 (on 1640 AM). I don't find C-SPAN(iel) to be at all informative or educational, let alone entertaining. I'd much rather have WGTB or WDCU back on that frequency. At home, I have C-SPAN(iel) blocked as I do not want my child exposed to the likes of some of the pompous, two-faced, self-aggrandizing "stars" that it has. If you've ever watched a Representative or Senator giving a speech in an otherwise empty chamber, you know what I mean! In addition, when it comes to "role models" for my child to follow, I'll pick most any TV star (legitimate TV that is, not C-SPAN(iel)), movie star, or sports personality ahead of almost any politician! Why? How often do you hear a TV or movie star, or a sports figure publ! icly question the "family values" of the public, the Congress, or even their own peers? Yet, we have a Congress with members who've over the years preached (and voted) for divisive, intolerant, and dictatorial "family values" policies that more than a few do not practice in their own private lives. The televised arrogant and egotistical hypocrisy that is the bulk of the C-SPAN(iel) schedule is why, if "ala carte" channel selection ever comes to DirecTV, Dish, and Cable, the C-SPAN(iel) channels will be the first to go from my lineup Oh yes, if you're wondering about my politics, I'm a white male, in my early fifties and more liberal than many "Republicans" and more conservative than many "Democrats" and I block Fox News Channel. I also vote. And, I'm angry. (10/10/07) insidemusicmedia.blogspot.com/usc-student-consults-troubled-radio.html (10/10/07) "Speaking of commercials on playoff games did anyone happen to listen to the Yankees broadcast on WCBS in New York? "Jeter leads off first, the pitch, ball one. Have you been in an accident and need an attorney? Make sure you call Silverstein and Greenburg at 212-xxx-xxxx. Posada lifts an easy fly to center, one out. In the market for a used car? Go to Freddythecardealer.com or visit Freddy on Staten Island". This went on during the play by play during the entire game." Well, remember, you're putting up with John Sterling, whose awful play-by-play blends Ted Baxter (the pompous newsman on "The Mary Tyler Moore Show") with Kenny Bania (the hack comic on "Seinfeld"). In the Bizarro world, Sterling is their Harry Kalas/Vin Scully/Ernie Harwell. -- Vincent in Triangle (10/10/07) I have always advocated a Country Memories format, not older Classic Country for AM's that are having problems. Baltimore is a town that has had country formats on a number of stations since at least the 60's. WPOC does today's Country very well, and it has since it's inception. Imagine a format with country from the 70's-80's, and 60's and 70's cross over hits, many of which WCAO aired during their Top 40 days. A format different from that of WPOC. Target 35-64, keep the music generally upbeat, with strong local personalities. I would bet that veteran WBMD Baltimore broadcaster Clark West would jump at such a chance if given some latitude. Something like this could probably bring in listeners, at very little loss to legendary WPOC. 1370 tried oldies, but without promotions, and a commitment to have all the elements in place, we all know what happened. What an opportunity lost! I still believe AM can survive on more than talk. Programmers can educate the consumer about the handful of quality AM radios that are still sold. If you provide something different, which AM should so to attract listeners, you can gain a supportive audience. Again, it takes commitment across all elements to build a format, on AM or FM. 1370 would need to take the bull by the horns and spend money to make money. Certainly the market for oldies is also hot in Baltimore, and I know of quite a few professionals who would love to come in and do it right. No doubt it will be real interesting over the next year at 1370. Respectfully, Tom Conroy (10/10/07) /\ October 10 Messages /\ \/ October 9 Messages \/ Just heard some of the new dan patrick show on TEM. is this a FOX sports production? (10/9/07) In today’s mail, Comcast raising cable rates in the Shenandoah Valley by $3.75 to $54.70 a month for “Classic Cable” as of Nov. 7. I wonder if we’ll get MASN out of this rate increase, since we didn’t when rates jumped $2 last year. Charles in Winchester (10/9/07) Dave's response: If you were going to "get MASN out of this rate increase," Comcast would have informed you in the notice. Doesn't look like it..... Wouldn't it be better for Crazy Nick to return 1370 back to oldies? It is needed in the market. (10/9/07) Dave's response: Maybe Crazy Nick could sell 1370 to Nutty Nestor? A much better signal than 1570..... I miss Leslie Foster and 6 and 11. Maybe Channel 7 should think about her at 5? Also, the HD signal for Channel four has been offline for hours. (10/9/07) Speaking of commercials on playoff games did anyone happen to listen to the Yankees broadcast on WCBS in New York? "Jeter leads off first, the pitch, ball one. Have you been in an accident and need an attorney? Make sure you call Silverstein and Greenburg at 212-xxx-xxxx. Posada lifts an easy fly to center, one out. In the market for a used car? Go to Freddythecardealer.com or visit Freddy on Staten Island". This went on during the play by play during the entire game. (10/9/07) In response to the news blurb about WVIE: I remember hearing that there is now a "computer show" on that station that airs on Saturday mornings at 9 A.M. Trouble is, for a 50 thousand-watter, it sure doesn't pack much of a punch here on the eastern shore! As for the baseball game last night..that was sort of obvious to me..they wanted the Yankees to win; when that Cleveland batter was hit by a pitch, both of the guys were saying "I think it was a fowl tip!" Yeah..right; they wanted it to be a "fowl tip!" Tom in Denton, MD (10/9/07) Here are my national media power rankings, the best in media when it comes to TV, radio and online: 1. Whenever you see pictures or videos of the wonderful adventures of Britney Spears on Access Hollywood or Entertainment Tonight or even CNN, you always find out that the video comes from not TMZ or AOL or Myspace or Youtube, but from www.Hollywood.tv. They have beaten out TMZ and all the other media tabloid newspapers to get the exclusive on Britney. So, number on on the countdown is www.hollywood.tv. 2. This weekend the Stanford Cardinal football team beat the mighty superpower of USC and Versus TV was there, they broadcasted the game in primetime and got an exclusive interview with the quarterback from the Stanford Cardinal, they stole the game from TBS, ESPN and FSN. Earlier this year FSN was selling the sublicensecing rights to Big 12 and Pac-10 football games, after TBS gave up the rights for playoff baseball, Versus outbid ESPN for the rights and now will be broadcasting Pac-10, Big 12 and Mountain West Football games all season long. Number 2 is the Versus Network owned by Comcast. 3. After the Big 10 Network broadcast Appalachain State's upset over Michigan, they were able to get carriage deals from more cable system in Big 10 Midwest country, they recently signed a new deal with Insight Communications in Michigan. #3 is the Big Ten Network. 4. The New York Islanders decided to give press credentials to hockey bloggers since the number of newspaper and TV reporters going to report about hockey have become less and less. #4 is a win-win situation for the NHL and unaffiliated NHL bloggers 5. There are some rumors that Imus might be returning to radio and ABC Radio to be specific, this could be great for all the people that formerly worked for Imus as well as Citadel Broadcasting, owners of ABC Radio, Imus 4 ABC Radio= profits, which is why he might be coming back. Imus is at #5. 6. Cal Ripken Jr. has been superb for TBS and has probably added to his marketing potential, I think he is pretty close to succeedinghis goal of being baseball's Charles Barkley. Frank Thomas on the other hand...... Ripken is at #6. 7. The Fox Business Net which is expected to launch next week has been getting alot of praise from conservatives, liberals, businessmen and women. I say women because some women teamed up together to form a fan site about FBN according to TVNewser, does'nt CNBC wish they had that? Ailes, Murdoch and Business TV at Number 7. 8. Who would have ever thought that a sports play-by-play announcer who is'nt funny would be considered to host a late-night talk show? Fox does. They are considering letting Joe Buck have his own late-night TV similar to Tavis Smiley's show on PBS, just with more laughs. He would be competing with the likes of Jimmy Kimmel, Jay Leno and Dave Letterman. Personally, I think this is going to be a train wreck but it could be good for Buck train wreck or not, because it raises his stock, the respect he has from other network executives and it makes it more likely that he would replace Ryan Seacrest (who replaced James Brown) as the face of the FOX network since they have no news anchor, and if Seacrest and FOX ever come to a disagreement he would probably succeed Seacrest as the host of "American Idol" LOL!!! Joe Buck is number 8. 9. Number 9 goes to Erin Burnett for embarrasing herself and Willie Geist, check this out, here is a script from today's Morning Joe courtesy of TVNewser after Erin Burnett asked "you know what anniversary you give wood on?": Mika Brzezinski of MSNBC: Um — Wow. I think we should just let you answer that, Erin. Erin Burnett of CNBC: Look at Willie's face. Willie, I know you what you're thinking. Fifth anniversary. Willie Giest of "Tucker" on MSNBC: I'm thinking how do I get out of here? Where's the nearest exit? Burnett: Today is the fifth anniversary of this bull market. Joe Scarborough: Willie is giving you a little wood. Is that what you said? Burnett: Joe, Joe, this is not skinamax. This is Morning Joe. Scarborough: By the way, that banner, my mother watches this show, for God's sake. 10. Oprah and Paul Allen sold their women-targeted network Oxygen for over$1 billion to NBC Universal... This is all from my blog at journals.aol.com/jmkcool2002/SportsMediaandMore. -JMK from B'More (10/9/07) To Chickaboomer - Dontcha jus' love it! R. Monda (10/9/07) "I'm pleasantly surprised and happy I'm strumming responsive chords - discordant or harmonious. Thanks! Marty Chickaboomer" Yes and Cavemen had 15 million viewers for the first episode. It sucks and who will be watching? Paul (10/9/07) Doug Buchanan is a real reporter in a crowded field of plastic, generic, blow-dried clones. He enterprises his own stories, he's a good story-teller and the photogs love and respect his work. The last two news directors appreciated his unique talent and skill. Doug is on the beach now because he was not 'slick,' polished and superficial enough for the new management at W*USA. (10/9/07) Re: Steinberg - the point isn't so much who the two parties were. The point is that it is BS to bring the issue up at all without revealing their identities. And as was posted before, why IS Steinberg covering this up? If two Redskins had been in the altercation, it would be front page news. Another (albeit small) example of why the media is hated in this country. (10/9/07) People may make fun of C-SPAN radio but really you need it on your dial. There are plenty of times when I’m driving to work and WTOP – which seems like it plays 30 minutes total of commercials an hour – is playing commercials, WJFK is in the middle of one of their 12-minute commercial breaks, WMAL is playing commercials, and that robot nerd man on NPR is reading ads (whoops, I mean “underwriting messages”…). Sometimes the content on C-SPAN can be, … niche, but at least its content and not ads. (10/9/07) Please permit me to express my deep gratitude for the comments - positive and negative - about my website. I'm pleasantly surprised and happy I'm strumming responsive chords - discordant or harmonious. Thanks! Marty Chickaboomer (10/9/07) In addition to the Frank TV spots in literally EVERY break of the baseball series, TBS felt the need to have the play-by-play guys read spots during innings and coming in and out of breaks, AND have "Frank TV" splashed on the backstop behind batters for three solid hours. Best part: the guy isn't even vaguely funny. (10/9/07) Does anyone know when FRANK TV starts on TBS? They really haven’t done much to promote this new show, hope people find out about it. HOLY SHIT is that annoying. Is there a such thing as over advertising? All those promos (and by all those I mean EVERY COMMERCIAL BREAK) make me not want to watch the damn thing, which doesn’t even start until late November, are you kidding me TBS? STOP !!! (10/9/07) Jesus--Mancow on WVIE. What the FUCK is Pettit doing? Hey BOBBO---Mancow can't get male listeners, yet alone female....so-I guess it's a perfect fir to this waste of 50,000 watts. Here is the new marketing campaign...."No Plan, No Direction. I just collect a big paycheck. Listen if you dare to V1370....hahaha the V stands for Vagina" (10/9/07) RE: [ "Dave's response: ... It's just simply more difficult to make money by attracting advertisers to a stream of videos when they could be buying time in traditional programs, which are easier to measure the audience of " ]......... One word, YOUTUBE! Isn't what you just said Dave just a really good example of the overall failure of the Nielson & Arbitron ratings systems in general as well as the marketing & advertising people, and in fact NOT the programming itself? I think you're onto something Dave. (10/9/07) Hello DCRTV: Sportstalk980 has recently begun airing “The New Dan Patrick Show” at 7:00 pm. This spot was originally used for Doc Walker’s Proview broadcast. I wanted to know if this is a permanent change or not. Thanks, Eric (10/9/07) Dave: Just a reminder as you’re mentioning this past weekend’s Fallen Firefighters Memorial coverage, that STATter 911 (Dave Statter’s blog/microsite on wusa9.com) had the first live webstream of this event in history. See release: STATter 911 TO STREAM LIVE COVERAGE OF FALLEN FIREFIGHTERS MEMORIAL SERVICE AND CANDLELIGHT VIGIL..... WASHINGTON, D.C. – Sept 28th, 2007 – STATter 911, a web blog on wusa9.com created by W*USA 9 NEWS NOW reporter Dave Statter, will provide the first-ever, live streaming web coverage of the annual Candelight Service and Memorial Service held at the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial in Emmitsburg, Maryland, it was announced today. This is the first time in the event’s twenty-six year history that it will be streamed live on the web. The streaming, which can be seen on STATter911.com and Firehouse.com/memorial2007 and also accessed through wusa9.com, will begin with the candlelight service at the National Shrine of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton on Saturday evening October 6th from 6pm to 9pm. It will be hosted by Dave Statter, who oversees the STATter 911 blog on wusa9.com, which can also be accessed at STATter911.com. Statter is a reporter for W*USA-TV’s 9 News Now news team, and a former volunteer firefighter and EMT. The web streaming continues on Sunday October 7th from 10am to 1:30pm at the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service, held at the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial, the official national monument to all fallen firefighters. This coverage will also be hosted by Statter, along with Hillary Howard of WTOP Radio. This year’s events will honor eighty-seven firefighters who died in the line of duty in 2006, and four who died in previous years. Details on the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation and the memorial weekend in Emmitsburg can be found at: firehero.org. STATter 911 has garnered much recent acclaim around the USA and in Canada because of it’s dedication to coverage of firefighting and EMS. STATter 911 is providing the live web coverage in partnership with firehouse.com, the leading Web site for the national fire service community. Firehouse.com, along with Firehouse Magazine, is part of the public safety group of Cygnus Business Media. (10/9/07) Dave: I know that WAMU is running two 500 watt HD-Radio(tm) sideband transmitters and calling them HD-2 and HD-3. But what's this with WAMU calling the main 50,000 watt FM signal "HD-One"? Did our FM radios go Hybrid-Digital when we weren't looking? Does the FCC know about this? Mike (10/9/07) I guess nobody noticed, probably because nobody listens, but WVIE, V1370 A.M. is now the new home of MANCOW in the morning drive slot. What a bizarre station with no plan...they do not and never will show in the Baltimore Ratings Book, with many D.C. stations beating them. They may make money, as I'm told, but they are an embarrassment. (10/9/07) Re: Steinberg - Classless is hardly the word to be using. If you really want to know who it was, find out for your dam self! (10/9/07) We've had about 15 late cancellations for tomorrow's Q&A with political commentator HOWARD FINEMAN of Newsweek, who will be freshly back from tonight's GOP debate, and Fred Thompson's debate debut, in Michigan. So, c'mon guys, please help us out and have an interesting lunch, too. Grab a friend and book seats for tomorrow's Q&A Cafe. Jon Moss is standing by at 202.338.2000. The fee is $35, all inclusive. The doors open at noon. The program begins at 12:30. With appreciation, Carol (10/9/07) Dave, you make a great point. If MTV is & was in the past such a success, then WHY is there not a successful video music channel on cable TV? MTV doesn't play music anymore really. Even MTV's music download service URGE failed. Wherever I travel, there is usually no music video channel on the cable TV and I've noticed that lots of hotel chains are dropping MTV altogether, especially down south. And I seriously doubt that the TV ratings are accounting for all of the less viewers of these channels. All of this makes no sense. Maybe Apple should create the iPOD-TV Network or something. Apple seems to be the only music company that can just "get it right". MTV on the otherhand should rename itself TeenAngstTV or something and VH1 should just go away & save us all the pain of watching that 24/7 train wreck anymore. Why would anyone in their right mind waste their time watching Vanilla Ice on VH1 when you can just as easily stop by his trailer park and say hi? (10/9/07) Dave's response: Here's my dream. MusicChoice with videos. What if all those four dozen-ish MusicChoice audio channels (in the 400s on Comcast) all ran video clips. I realize it would take a major revision of the service, and a bit more bandwidth, but it would be cool. My guess is that the video music cable TV network is an unworkable concept because advertisers are so used to the "programming model" when buying time. It's just simply more difficult to make money by attracting advertisers to a stream of videos when they could be buying time in traditional programs, which are easier to measure the audience of, including demos, via ratings services. That's why MTV, VH1, and BET have lost their video music heritage and are looking more and more like traditional TV networks. And a major reason why The Tube went under..... Re; Mr. Shipley's Obit in today's TWP, not many may remember this he handled the play by play for high school football on the old WEEL (1310 in Fairfax) in the '70's. Sadly there was no mention of that fact He was a very nice guy that I only had the pleasure of meeting a few times. Rusty Gibson (10/9/07) Regarding your post about Steinberg's blog, isn't it pretty bush league to be covering up the identities of the media types who were involved in the fracas? You can be damn sure that if two Redskins got involved in a similar altercation, the media hounds would have it all over the electronic and print media and the sportstalkers would be going crazy. Not to mention that bringing the matter up and, in effect, taunting the readers is pretty classless on Steinberg's part. (10/9/07) Fox Business Network is expected to announce this afternoon that Carly Fiorina will join the network. The businesswoman is best known as former CEO and Chairman of the Board of Hewlett-Packard. bigheaddc.com (10/9/07) Dave's response: Is it just me, or are there others like me who couldn't give a rat's ass that Rupert Murdoch is launching another cable business channel. I mean, heck, I rarely watch Bloomberg or CNBC. Do we really need a third biz channel? How about a really cool video music channel? How about a classic British programming channel? How about an outer space channel? How about a film noir movie channel? How about a bondage channel? Heck, I'd rather get The Bea Arthur Channel than the Fox Business Network..... Re the Manassas woman and Comcast: Ironically, this woman will likely end up giving even more money to Comcast in the form of payment for the damage she caused, although her experience definitely sounds infuriating. (10/9/07) Dave's response: I don't know who handles Comcast's ad campaign, but they've got some wonderful TV ads. Perhaps Comcast should give the Manassas woman a few years of free service for her frustrations and have her star in ads for Comcast's phone service. Could be very funny and a brilliant strategic move..... I'm sorry, but I too just felt that the TBS broadcasters were practically rooting for a Yankee comeback and I'm not a Cleveland Indians fan either! I fear the TV sports broadcasts are starting to be the battle of the big markets vs. the small markets as well and you know who's going to lose that media spin battle. And it won't be New York ever in that contest. Only a few choice teams in other big cities can compete with that type of media spin. Plus, I would bet the Cleveland TV ratings are pretty poor this year since their attendance wasn't so good either. I'm sure TBS had a projected audience for the game in mind knowing it would be majority-Yankees. But what they failed to realize is that despite the great numbers of Yankees fans out there vs. Indians fans, the number of outright Yankee-haters in MANY other cities is enormous because the New York Yankees represent the epitomy of all that is wrong with baseball, MONEY. So, yes TBS, we noticed. (10/9/07) Happy tenth anniversary C-SPAN radio! www.extrememortman.com ----------------- Howard Mortman (10/9/07) Dave's response: I miss jazz WDCU and progressive rock WGTB, both of which predated WCSP on 90.1..... Re:"is Discovery Communications under any kind of legal obligation to stay in Silver Spring?" Didn't Monkey County grant Discovery some extraordinary tax incentives to consolidate their operations in depressed Silver Spring? (Of course, any past incidents of corporate welfare aren't likely to keep Discovery from moving wherever they bloody well please.) (10/9/07) Where is Joe Krebs? He has not been on the NBC4 morning show for quite awhile. I'm worried that he's having heart problems again. Thanks, Lisa (10/9/07) Dave's response: Rotator cuff surgery, whatever that is. Not heart-related..... ("Enjoy your bitter loss Yankee fans, you deserve it.") Thru endless shills for Frank TV, TBS' announcers did mention the excellent pitching effort by Paul Byrd and the Cleveland bullpen. And Damon did make a great catch, sorry. Now go please beat the Red Sox, please - love Joe "unemployment line" Torre (10/9/07) Did anyone catch Suze Orman on Larry "frogman" King show last week. Dang that girlfriend. When asked if $10 million was enough too live on comfortably these days she responded by saying why at 5% interest you only get $500,000 a year. hardly enough too live on gurlfriend. I think ole Suze has been using way way too much of that teeth whitener cause it's gone to her brain. You know how all the black hair coloring went to Elvis's brain....obligatory don and mike mention, even though that old shoe of a show should be put out to pasture or sent a packing to the glue factory but you know what, radio is so bad these days that a truly mediokra show like don and mike serves as HIGH entertainment yuck and phooey (10/9/07) Did you hear Leslie Foster report on 9 News Now after Topper's weather at 11:20pm tonight (Monday) that Tracy Neale and her child had been in the newsroom Monday? Leslie reported Tracy is coming back (which we knew of course) and I think she said Tracy would be on the air Monday. (10/9/07) Greetings All, Hope things are blessed in your world! Be sure to mark your calendar, set reminders in your PDAs, and call your friends to meet you this Friday, Oct 12th at MAYORGA - 8040 Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring, Maryland. This is the 'gathering' before the HUGE CVR anniversary party planned for November 10. Speaking of HUGE, our 3rd Anniversary party will be the talk of the year! We are fortunate to have the very talented and sexy Da'Ville LIVE and DIRECT in the place at the Mayorga Lounge. This is a great way to celebrate with you our special listeners, whether you've listened for 3 years or 3 days! Limited VIP tickets available to include open bar 11pm-12midnight, gift bags and entry to CVR's plush, private suite. There will be PRIZE giveaways all night long, LIVE band, 4 DJs, dancers, models and some of the sexiest and sophisticated Caribbean music lovers in the area. Tickets can be ordered online at: www.brownpapertickets.com... Info Line 1.866.ONE.VIBE MySpace.com/CaribbeanVibesRadio... (10/9/07) This is not local but I'm sure lots of local baseball fans were watching and noticed this...... (I'm not even an Indians fan) but it was hard not to notice that if you watched the TBS MLB coverage, you would barely have known the Cleveland Indians were winning or had won the game or much of anything about the team. It was nothing but Torre's gonna get fired if they don't come back, end of a Yankees era, Steinbrenner's public statement, blah blah blah. When a Yankee made a simple running catch, it was an "AMAZING CATCH!", just sickening Yankee-sweet. And earth to TBS broadcasters... Jacob's Field is NOT on the shores of Lake Erie (the Browns stadium is). What a pathetic broadcast. Enjoy your bitter loss Yankee fans, you deserve it. (10/9/07) Is the Travel channel morphing into Food Channel B.....is VH1 becoming BET lite? Say that "I luv's New York" show(ruff, ruff) the woman who plays her mama, that's a guy ain't it?...network tv sucks these days but i sure think most cable tv is just as bad!........ more of why public tv sucks, the weekend days have turned into cooking shows all effing day long, what happened to the fix it shows, i miss Woodwright Shop, and they use to show the occasional British drama or comedy series, ponderous!.......is Discovery Communications under any kind of legal obligation to stay in Silver Spring? Could they move everything to Hollywoodland and leave say a shadow of Discovery to get around it? yeah everything pretty much sucks these days...watch it! (10/9/07) /\ October 9 Messages /\ \/ October 8 Messages \/ I really don't see Citadel putting Imus on WRQX-FM. They have a high billing, long standing morning show. Yeah, he may not have the best numbers and makes tons of money--but, he also bills great. Imus could find a place on Smooth Jazz or one of the HD side channels, since RQX is not running anything on those right now. (10/8/07) So what the hell is Marty Davis subverting? She is just another blogger trying to get a cable show or be a guest on some cable show. Who is she blasting? The same number of people care about her blog as they do my email. Paul (10/8/07) "So, where else could a live morning show from Imus land on the DC radio dial?" Maybe on WMAL-HD or WRQX-HD or WJZW-HD orrrrrrr.....on either WRQX-FM or WJZW-FM main channel...and build a new talk or talk-in-the-morning/music-the-rest-of-the time format around him...Citadel would want to get Imus on in the DC market on one of their own stations...so they could put the money right back in their pockets...but if they can't find room or make room for him on one of their own stations...they would gladly put him on 3WT or WTEM or any other station with a big enough signal...who knows, they might even put him on WJFK...or back on WTNT...bottom line, it's the bottom line that does all the talkin'...money talks, and the only way to get the money (in syndication) is to get the show on the air in as many of the top markets as possible...regardless of who owns what station! --RB (10/8/07) Dave's response: Imus and O'Meara? Oh, nevermind..... Ok Barb-shave your mullet and let us "men who beat women and take pills to get it up..." get back to this radio board---ABOUT RADIO. (10/8/07) RE: ‘Manassas Woman Takes Hammer To Comcast’. Where the hell do I post bail for the old gal? I got a few end users at work I’d like to ‘introduce’ her to. Eric In Alabamstan (“I’m tech support. I straighten shit out.”) (10/8/07) The most mixer you'll ever want for $2,500: cgi.ebay.com (10/8/07) Count Gore in this week's Washington Post...! Sunday Source section - promoting his appearance at this week's SPOOKY MOVIE FILM FESTIVAL opening night. www.washingtonpost.com (10/8/07) Media Columnist Launches ComcastMustDie.com... www.multichannel.com (10/8/07) Cox Agrees to Add TBS in HD, CNN HD www.multichannel.com (10/8/07) I've obviously been under a rock when it comes to knowing that Rupert Murdoch was married to a woman 30 years his junior. Just saw a picture of him and her on the USA Today website. Oh well.. (10/8/07) Dave's response: I thought she, a Chinese babe, was 60 years his junior. He's 95 and she's 35. Oh, nevermind..... Comcast Corp. is moving part of its Versus sports channel operations out of Stamford, Conn., and giving comedian Dennis Miller another chance to chat about sports. www.newsday.com (10/8/07) About Premier and being "stand alone." I could be wrong but doesn't Cheap Channel own Premier? If so that makes Premier a subsidiary of Cheap Channel. Rush is a money maker to CC and so CC isn't going to get rid of Rush. Rush shall leave on his own terms when he's good and ready. As for Imus, WE are good and ready to have him back. That would throw crap right back to alleged Revs Al and Jesse. Those two need to go away. Imus deserves to be back on the radio if he wants to be back on the radio. As for NY and DC and where the I-man will end up, does it matter? Just so he's back for ALL of us to enjoy and laugh and learn from his excellent interviews with some of the most influential people on the planet. (10/8/07) WTF? 56k modem? Join the modern age for Christ's sake....are you running that off of a Commodore 64? Don't give Dave a bunch of crap because you're not up to snuff with technology!!!! (10/8/07) Dave, Ever since the second banner advertisement appeared at the top of DCRTV's main page about a week ago there has been a major technical problem for those of us with slow 56k connections. It now ALWAYS takes several minutes for the page to render on my screen. It takes so long it makes the site unusable for all practical purposes on my equipment. I'm not objecting to the presence of ads on your site but two banner ads seems too much data for my technology to process. Everything worked fine when there was just one banner ad at the top of the main page. It's only become a major problem since the second ad appeared. I wanted to bring this technical issue to your attention since it is unfortunately shutting some of us out from accessing your site. Wouldn't want you losing audience! Thanks for the great service! (10/8/07) Dave's response: The problem is most likely with Microsoft's crummy browser and not with the ads at the top of the page. Often, if a remote, third-party ad module loads slowly (Google, BlogAds, Amazon, etc.) on the right side of the page, Microsoft's browser will "wait" for that to completely load before loading "local" content from the remainder of the page. Often, this will create a page loading delay of a few seconds. In extreme cases, it can be upwards of a minute or more. For some reason, other browsers - like Firefox - load the page more progressively, and don't exhibit this delay as badly as Microsoft does. I notice this problem sometimes even with broadband connections and on numerous other websites. DCRTV is ever more dependent on ad revenue and it's simply not feasible for us to pull all those "remote" ads in order to simplify the page and make it easier to load via slower connections and bad browsers. You could also try clearing your browser's "cache." Sometimes they get "stuck" on a particular graphic or "cookie," causing page loading problems..... BOBB: I couldnt "agree" mor with what your statement of yers said there maybe next WE SHOULD TRY to "get evryun to spake AMERICA!S offishul langwidg which AS YOU are already "SEcreTLY" think and (knowing) is enGLIUSH! (10/8/07) From Amy Morris's blog at www.federalnewsradio.com: The nation is in a tizzy: Did Rush Limbaugh call troops who do not support the war "phony soldiers" or not? I'm not sure it matters... From what the transcript indicates, and from listening to the show, it appears that the caller started the "phony soldiers" line of reasoning, and the host just went along with it. Honestly, it doesn't matter who said it. It remains an insult to all men and women who wear the uniform.... (10/8/07) I've been a "mailbagger for a long long time, and I wonder why some people try their dam'ndest to turn the site into a racial battleground? The most recent being the "hotties" poster that suggested that Dave (Hughes) Pits blacks against blacks and whites against whites? Then we wonder why this racial bull***t continues. The color mongers...Sharpeton, Jackson...et al..they continue to set up the fires, yet never apologize to anyone when they are found to be WRONG, never have we ever heard an "I'm sorry" they are just that...RACE MONGERS, face it, both have lived off of the "Race Card" for decades, without ever saying "I'm sorry to anyone. Can't we all just get along? BOBB (10/8/07) I was doing research for my show on Randy Newman and it brought back lots of radio memories of course. Wasn't WPGC the station that had something to do with the "Short People Party" where the participants had to be a certain height (not sure if it was 5'3" or under) and eggs were thrown at Randy's poster. Then in retaliation, there was a "Tall People Party" where the participants paid homage to Randy. Maybe it was a certain venue and WPGC advertised it. See, this is what happens when your memory starts to fail. I know that the song raised a big ruckus in Maryland. Would love to hear more from fellow mailbaggers on this especially WPGC alumns from the 70's. Blessings and thanks. "Sister" Joyce Conroy or maybe it should be "Grandma" (WHFC) (10/8/07) I have to compliment the fans of Red Shipley and bluegrass for not making the accusation that his death was caused by WAMU shunting all bluegrass programming to HD2. I was afraid that when I went to the Mailbag page, I was going to get that sort of unjustified accusation that angry fans of a fringe genre make when that fringe genre gets hit with bad news. After all, when you’ve been in radio as long as Red was, you get used to the fact that your job may disappear. RIP, Red. And if you was you, Dave, not posting those messages, thank you for your discretion. It’s not something that happens a lot on the Internet, especially on some of the wilder message boards and blogs. Thanks. Mark Jeffries (10/8/07) Keith got song writing credit for Sweet Neocon along with Mick, as with all Stones songs written by either, but it is pretty well known that Mick wrote that one by himself. In fact, Keith was a bit critical of Mick for going out of his way to pontificate on politics. That's never been the Stones' agenda. As they wrote in "Street Fighting Man", "Well now what can a poor boy do, Except to sing for a rock & roll band? Cause in sleepy London Town there's just no place for a street fighting man,". Comparing Keith to John Lennon's situation, come on. Lennon made clear he was out to change the world, for better or worse. Keith just wants to rock and roll and that's all he ever wanted. He's no threat to anyone, except himself maybe. (10/8/07) Oh No-the plug is being pulled on Sharpton's show. Who is he going to blame? Imus, you better run! (10/8/07) Last Friday (October 5th) found a huge room full of ex-unipressers (UPI types) gathered at the Capitol Club in Washington to toast Helen Thomas. Organizer Alan Papkin remarked that there was enough talent in the room, including five award-winning photographers, to start a new wire service. Many are still working, most are retired. From UPI Radio myself, Craig Smith (now AP Radio) , Tom Foty (now CBS Radio), Doug Levy, Camille Bohannon and others. Plus Don Fulsom, Bob Fuss, Roger Norum and Denis Gulino. Quite an evening! Tom Gauger (10/8/07) The new book by Howard Kurtz makes one point about the Iraq war painfully obvious: The major media in the U.S. went from cheerleader to Monday morning quarterback. P.S. Dave, keep up the good work!! (10/8/07) Money Honey Gets Mad At Matthews bigheaddc.com (10/8/07) I've added a Red Shipley Tribute Page to the WJMA web site www.wjma.radiohistory.net... Ross Hunter, Orange, VA (10/8/07) (Reality Show - Inside The Last Great Television News War" is media columnist Howard Kurtz's new book. About coverage of the Iraq war. And he excerpts it in a top-of-the-front-page Style article in Monday's DC Post.....) Is that ethical?????? (10/8/07) Dave's response: Ethical smethical! The Post uses its "news hole" to hype the journalistic works of its reporters and columnists (which pad their pockets) all the time. Two words - "Bob" and "Woodward"..... I think you guys could be wrong when you say Imus won't land on WMAL. The local management of WABC likes Curtis and Kuby yet they aren't going to have much say if Imus lands there, so why wouldn't that be the same in DC? Citadel is paying Imus to be on in the big markets, and for the type of show that Imus does DC is one of the top 2. I guess we will just wait and see. (10/8/07) Re: But they aren't on the air today yelling about how current soldiers who voice disagreement about the war in Iraq are somehow "phoney." Dave: Rush did not do that, STOP LYING. They guy he was talking about was a LIAR and you rubes ran with it. (10/8/07) In case you've been living in cave for the past 12 days you probably have heard about the flap created when Rush Limbaugh responded to a callers complaint about soldiers that don't support the war in Iraq by referring to them as "phony soldiers." Limbaugh says that the comment, which was posted on the Media Matters website was taken out of context. Subsequently, the conservative talk show host has called Congressman Jack Murtha (D-PA) -- a decorated Vietnam veteran -- another "phony soldier," has compared wounded Iraq war veteran Brian McGough, of votevets.org to a suicide bomber, and is now working with Republican Party to use the "phony soldiers" flap as a fund raising vehicle. Talking Radio has all the details of the 'phony soldiers" flap along with commentary on how the radio trade press is covering the issue. www.talkingradio.blogspot.com (10/8/07) ReddingNewsReview.com, a leading up-to-the-minute black news Web portal, has officially launched a campaign aimed specifically at media professionals. The importance of media ownership remains a major part of Redding News Review's platform, but this latest effort seeks to own its place on the bookmark lists and trusted sources amongst all media outlets researching news within the black community for their newscasts, radio and television talk shows, newspaper articles and internet blogs. The Web site is also targeting domestically based African and Caribbean-American media. Redding News Review aims to direct its readers to more African and Caribbean-American owned media outlets. MORE..... (10/8/07) /\ October 8 Messages /\ \/ October 7 Messages \/ To " Brian Squeaky Wheel" It is just for fun dude! Take it easy Get a life. - Doug (10/7/07) Why do you have it set up so that only African Americans 'compete' with other African Americans? I am surely shocked that a proud liberal such as yourself would hold seperate but equal contests. Interesting. Brian, The Squeaky Wheel (10/7/07) Dave's response: Open your eyes, Bri! We had Wendy Rieger (white) battling Shawn Yancy (black) in round six, and Derek McGinty (black) up against Brian Bolter (white) in round seven..... Not to get too far off topic, but you don't get to be an American citizen by marrying an American (despite what generations of lazy sitcom writers think) or by living in the States for several years. You have to apply for citizenship and it has to be granted. Keith Richard has done neither. He first moved out of England in the late 1960s for tax reasons, but he remains a subject of the British Crown, as it were. His past drug use and legal problems made it pretty hard for Keith to even get into the States for the Stones "Some Girls" tour, so it's a good bet that he would have a tough time getting U.S. citizenship even if he wanted it. The current American administration, which bares a startling relationship to the Nixon regime that tried to keep John Lennon out of the country, might not be too thrilled with the co-writer of "Swett NeoCon" getting his papers either. (10/7/07) You know, when people ask my age I often don't remember. I know it's 45, or is it 46? You see for many, after a point...time seems to fly bye, and birthday's come and go without a lot of fuss. Often I need to actually do the mental calculation to remember my own age. It seems relatively unimportant in the grand scheme, that it's easy to forget except for when the magic day rolls around each year. So Keith Olbermann was off by a year, I don't think that lumps him into the same boat as Bill O'Reilly, or makes him a pathological liar. Seems like pretty lame grist for Chickaboomer to note in the Mailbag. Hopefully this isn't representative of the quality of gossip or insight on her website? I don't know which is more shocking, the revelation that Keith Olbermann has a younger girlfriend or that he misrepresented his age by a whopping one year. I guess the Chickaboomer banner over the DCRTV homepage isn't enough, that the need exists to fill the mailbag with yet more self-promotion...errr...shocking revelations. Simply more evidence that everyone wants to achieve some measure of fame and get their 15 minutes, and that scraping the bottom of the barrel is all some folks have. Another site with limited original content and desperate to find an angle that someone cares about. Dime a dozen. (10/7/07) ("But they aren't on the air today yelling about how current soldiers who voice disagreement about the war in Iraq are somehow "phoney." I wonder how Rush would judge many of the guys who went to Vietnam - and fought and died - obeying orders, even though they politically opposed the war.....") Not to get off the subject of what your website is for, but I think the difference is that at least these people did serve (besides the fact there is no draft, but that is a different story, but the point is heard). (10/7/07) Dave's response: This website is "for" the discussion of media-related topics, a la Rush Limbaugh's comments about those "phoney soldiers," who, like their Vietnam soldier predecessors, are loyally serving their country, regardless of their personal opinions..... If getting a student deferment like Bill Clinton did is draft-dodging, then I plead guilty to the same crime - along with everyone else who got a 2-S draft classification. (10/7/07) Dave's response: A lot of guys did all they could to get out of the draft surrounding the highly unpopular Vietnam War. But they aren't on the air today yelling about how current soldiers who voice disagreement about the war in Iraq are somehow "phoney." I wonder how Rush would judge many of the guys who went to Vietnam - and fought and died - obeying orders, even though they politically opposed the war..... Oldies radio? Here's a guy that gets it! www.littlewalter.com (10/7/07) Dave, I just as I was heading out the door to visit Red Shipley when I heard that he died last night. I see that you already have the information on DCRTV. I'm impressed you got it so quickly at the same time I'm sad to see it posted. I was going to ask Red this morning if it would be OK to send in word of his condition. I guess that's a moot point now. Ross Hunter, Orange, VA (10/7/07) Dave's response: Thanks to WAMU's Kay Summers, who got us the sad news so fast..... Dave- Thank you for relaying the sad news of Red Shipley's passing. Red was something that this radio business sorely lacks today...a real character! He certainly added a lot of color to the airwaves and hallways when he joined us on the WPIK staff in the summer of 1972. Some of the topics we discussed off the air would make the most hardened among us do a double take, if not blush. While a few (very few) of the older guys tried to make us "kids" feel out of place, Red admired our youth. His nudges in the "right" direction never came across as pedantic or condescending, but as heartfelt "tips" from a buddy. And, he made that drive from Orange to Alexandria every day. One more time, "Rise, shine, feelin' fine and hit it, Darlin!" Rest well, Red. You're already missed! - Ed. Rodriguez (10/7/07) Sorry to learn of the passing of Red Shipley! I heard him a lot on WPIK in the early 70s! He sure didn't get to live to enjoy his retirement, did he! May he rest in peace! Tom in Denton, MD (10/7/07) Dave, How typical of the hair brained Gannettiods to let go a top notch, classy reporter like Doug Buchanan. Sorry to see that a change of faces in the front offices made little or no difference in the games that are played over there at 9. I hope Doug will rebound, sign on with WJLA, and then he can kick WUSA's tail along with his Dad. Go Buch's!!! Bob (10/7/07) (RE Mike Buchanan: "He is the son of veteran DC TV reporter Mike Buchanan, who worked at 9 for some three decades, before jumping to Channel 7/WJLA.") The Buch Stops Here is a daily feature on WTOP! He's only on 7 one or two days week! (10/7/07) Dave's response: Yesterday's newsblurb was about Doug, not Mike. Therefore, I don't feel the need to provide a complete broadcasting resume for the latter, apart from the casual reference carried in the news item on the Front Page..... ("If CBS, which is aligned with Westwood One, airs O'Reilly on a Bonneville station, and Clear Channel's Premiere lets Rush air on a Citadel station, then why wouldn't Citadel let Imus air on a Bonneville station? For years, ABC has syndicated Tom Joyner but he's never aired on an ABC (now Citadel) radio station in DC!") The answer to your first question is CBS has no news/talk format in DC that would be suitable for O'Reilly. He did not fit on hot talk WJFK. The answer to your third question is even easier: ABC does not have an urban startion in DC. And the answer to your second question is this: Premiere is a stand-alone business trying to put syndicated talent wherever they will get the biggest audience. Citadel is company that owns radio stations, not a syndication company. I am sure they made that deal with their own stations in mind. My humble two cents. Jim (10/7/07) Dave's response: ABC (now Citadel) does have smooth jazz WJZW which could easily be format tweaked to allow Tom Joyner to do mornings. Heck, maybe Citadel will become a syndication company..... I spoke too soon. Actually, my DX-100 (which I had in storage from 1982 until two years ago), which was purchased in the late 1970's, is not American or Japanese made but Taiwanese made. How soon we forget that before China emerged as an economic powerhouse, that Taiwan (Aka: Formosa or the Republic of China) , where Chaing Kai-Shek fled after the Communists took over, was a mini-economic power itself, far exceeding " Red" China's GDP with its own a seat on the U.N. Security Council until the early 1970's. I'm sure that the radio was primarily assembled in Taiwan of American and Japanese parts. I have never had the back panel off, but given its size, it is clear that is is full of late seventies "transistors" in lieu of todays micro-chip technology. Doug in Stephens City (10/7/07) Dave's response: Back in the 1960s, "Made In Japan" was often seen as the mark of something cheap or shoddy. Today, "Made In Japan" is a symbol of high quality, a la Sony or Acura. Now, if something is "Made In China," you have to wonder if it's covered in toxic paint that will leach into your pores..... Re: all the feigned outrage over Limbaugh and the supposed draft dodging wanderings Did'nt your god Bill Clinton dodge the draft or was that me remembering life in an alternate timeline. (10/7/07) Anyone who suggests that a pilonidal cyst is inoperable is an idiot. I developed one in 1965. It was operated on in July of that year. I failed a draft physical in August or September of that year because I was stil recovering from the surgery. However, one year later, I passed the physical and entered the Army later that year. In 1968, I was sent to Vietnam. I guess that make Fatboy a liar and a coward, along with several members of the current administration. Skipper (10/7/07) Dave's response: In the past, local advertisers like Giant Food and Chevy Chase Bank have sponsored Limbaugh's show on WMAL. With the recent "phoney soldiers" controversy - whether the criticism is valid or a smear - I can't imagine major clients wanting to associate themselves with Rush. They're taking a big risk potentially alienating customers..... To Doug in Stephens City... Check the labeling on your vintage DX-100. Chances are it was made in Japan. Radio Shack imported most of their electronics from there back in the "good old days"... (10/7/07) I switched on TBS last night on Dish Network expecting to see the same low-definition signal that I've always had for TBS. Imagine my surprise to find out that Dish Network has joined DirecTV and Comcast and is now carrying an HD version of TBS at channel 139! Thanks Dish, you've just made the playoffs more interesting and enjoyable by actually giving your customers what they want! Greg in Reisterstown (10/7/07) /\ October 7 Messages /\ \/ October 6 Messages \/ It's not "schtick" as a concept, it's the kind of schtick. What didn't work is that ponderous, obscure, wandering sort of delivery from a poorly-written script. Doomed to failure. If he stays in TV news, watch for a complete makeover so that he can compete with reporters viewers can take. Plus, his old man won't be there to shuffle the legacy to him. Paul Harvey's kid found out the same thing. Like re-using a tea bag. (10/6/07) Dave, Yeah, I guess my old Realistic DX-100 General Coverage (short-wave) Receiver is finally starting to fail . I am able to get WTFX (Sports Talk 610) on my cheap Chinese made bedside clock radio, but not my American made DX-100 American which I used to have hooked up to a forty foot long wire antenna, when I first got it twenty-eight years ago in College to monitor Radio Moscow. I guess the Cold War is now over, and its now time to get a new radio. Well, there goes another piece of my youth. Doug in Stephens City (10/6/07) Dave's response: It's so sad when an old radio "friend" goes bad. I just had to replace my Sony ICF2002 AM/FM/SW receiver - it's been my trusty companion on three trips to Europe, not to mention numerous jaunts to LA, SF, Vegas, Dallas, Philly, Atlanta, and NYC over the years - with a new Sony ICF-SW7600GR receiver..... Imus will be on a DC signal, but not a Citadel signal. (10/6/07) Dave's response: I agree. He'll either continue to get low ratings on Clear Channel's poor-signaled WTNT or have hope for better ratings on Bonneville's 3WT..... From the Washington Business Journal (print edition): An Apple Store is coming to Georgetown. Princeton Investment Corp. sold 1229 Wisconsin Ave. NW to Apple Inc. on Sept. 27, according to a source close to the deal. The French Connection clothing store now occupies the space. Princeton, a European investment group, has owned the property since 1995. The company and Apple had been negotiating for several months, sources say. The Georgetown store will join other Apple locations in Tysons Corner, Pentagon City and Bethesda. The computer giant has had its eye on D.C. for years, but rumors about where it would land recently reached an all-time high. Much of the buzz centered on Nathans restaurant at 3150 M St. NW — a prime corner in the upscale shopping district. Carol Joynt, the owner of Nathans, denied rumors that her building was bought by Apple. [Gillian Gaynair] (10/6/07) " trying a schtick that does not work in today's television news" what are you some kind of moronic blinder wearing yokel! virtually 90% of local tv "reporters" lays on the schtick these days as if trying for a spot on hollywood access or some other gossip sh8t show like that... (10/6/07) Dave, Does anyone know what happened to WTFX, Sportstalk 610 out of Winchester? It doe not seem to be on the air since last week. The station used to carry the Fox Sports Radio shows (Steve Czaban, Andrew Siciliano (sic) Out of Bounds with James Washington and Craig Sheeman (sic), Jim Rome, Chris Meyers and J.T. Lebrick among others) It was always broadcast on a very weak frequency, but now it appears to be totally off the air. It is strange because all the high school football games of this area (Handley, James Wood, Sherando, Millbrook and Wannen County) used to be broadcast on Sportstalk 610. Is this silence intentional, or do I just have a bad radio? (10/6/07) Dave's response: Just checked at 6:15 PM on Saturday and I'm getting sports talk on 610. I presume its WTFX. It's too early for WIP out of Philly..... I don't like to see anyone lose their job but it's no great loss to viewers that Doug Buchanan is gone from Ch. 9. He and his old man both were trying a schtick that does not work in today's television news. Oddball, eccentric delivery distracts from the information. I imagine the station found fewer and fewer stories that "fit" the limited range both these guys have in putting across their reports. (10/6/07) To the post about Keith Olbermann, What is wrong with that. Go for Keith! Way to go big guy! (10/6/07) Dave's response: It's required that radio big mouths, particularly zoomeisters and shock jocks, and TV talk show hosts be dating or married to women - at most - half their age. We're taking about a crowd of unbelievably insecure people, on a personal level. They need lovers/spouses who are blindly supportive of their fragile egos. Something that's very difficult to find with a lover/spouse one's own age..... Keith Richards has lived stateside for years, maybe decades. There was a feature on him in Esquire Magazine several years ago that showed his estate in Connecticut. So, it's a pretty good guess that he's obtained US citizenship somewhere along the line. (10/6/07) Has anyone noticed that WQSR showed up in the latest trend here in DC? I think that's the first time that's happened. I do hear a lot of people calling in from Alexandria, Rockville and even Fredericksburg! I am in Fairfax and find myself listening a lot. - Joe (10/6/07) Let's see, 1st it was Imus is going to WMAL, then it's he's going to TNT, now he's going to 3WT. Where do you get this shit from Dave? You're making this stuff up as you go. ABC wouldn't let IMUS go to 3WT and compete against Fred and Andy. Now I get it, you haven't mentioned 3WT in almost two days so, just make something up and put it on the front page and call it news. TK and Burd aren't going anywhere. Wait, I hear Imus is going to Oldies 100...put that on the front page and say it came from a reliable source. You're going through Washington Post Radio withdrawl. You need to put some more ventilation in that basement of yours your getting punchy. Is it April fool's day already? No, wait, Imus is going to WINX. (10/6/07) Dave's response: It's a Rant. The "shit" came from my own brilliant mind. If CBS, which is aligned with Westwood One, airs O'Reilly on a Bonneville station, and Clear Channel's Premiere lets Rush air on a Citadel station, then why wouldn't Citadel let Imus air on a Bonneville station? For years, ABC has syndicated Tom Joyner but he's never aired on an ABC (now Citadel) radio station in DC! With Imus on 3WT, Citadel could have "irons" in several DC radio morning talk "pots." More money and influence for Citadel, I'd think..... Regret to inform you that the "UltimateOldiesRadio.com" Website is not yet working: "The web site you are accessing has experienced an unexpected error. Please contact the website administrator..." However, the streaming is working fine. I'm listening to it right now (Sammy Johns - Chevy Van - 1975; Four Tops - I Can't Help Myself - 1965), in glorious stereo! Cheers! --RB (10/6/07) When I watch the weekend weather guy on Channel 4, I feel as if he doesn't give a crap that he even has a job. His personality and accent are harsh; he comes across as very snippy on-air. The jokes he shares with the anchors are all usually inside jobs, leaving the viewer wondering what the hell he is talking about. He is a nice looking fellow, but that is where it ends. Unwatchable. Unbearable. (10/6/07) Dear Dave: MSNBC's Keith Olbermann pounds Fox News' Bill O'Reilly for his clearly pathological lying and repeated bizarre behavior. But Keith's doing a little personal revisionism himself. He's lying about his age. On his show Thursday night he claimed he was "47." Last week a guest on his show used that same figure. A simple check indicates Keith was born January 27, 1959. That makes him 48. Perhaps he's freaking out as he approaches 50, unmarried, and with a girlfriend young enough at 23 or 24 to be his daughter. Keith, you're entitled to your mid-life crisis, but age prevarication simply lumps you into Bill O'Reilly's lying league. I'm ten years older than you. Marty Chickaboomer: The Mask (10/6/07) Our transition to a new web hosting company is now complete, and www.ultimateoldiesradio.com is again on line for anyone to access shows and nostalgia from the golden years of Top 40 radio. Have a great weekend. - Bob Mathers (10/6/07) Re: "At this rate, if the Yankees, Cubs, Red Sox and Phillies get eliminated, and this year's World Series ends up being Cleveland vs. Colorado, what are the chances that FOX might push the World Series off to TBS?" Zero, despite the wishes of the network executives, and those who think only markets above a certain size matter. FOX will carry the World Series no matter who plays, even if they bellyache about two mid-market teams in the game. Deal with it! If the powers that be think so little of Colorado, Cleveland or other non-"big market" teams, then close 'em all down and make the Yankees play the Red Sox 162 times a year. Or maybe 81 times a year, with the other 81 being against the network anointed major market teams. The Indians, for one, have a MUCH LARGER fan base than a certain National League team from DC that failed to make the playoffs...and no slight to the Nationals (I'd like to see 'em be successful and make it into the WS), but there's a world beyond Yankees/Red Sox/Cubs/Dodgers...and most of us are sick of seeing the network TV obsession with those franchises. For network TV purposes, you folks in DC (and Baltimore, even) are in the same boat as Cleveland and Colorado...you're not one of those four teams, so you may as well not bother showing up. (10/6/07) /\ October 6 Messages /\ \/ October 5 Messages \/ Elizabeth Edwards slams Rush Limbaugh: "My classmates went to Vietnam, he did not. He was 4F. He had a medical disability, the same medical disability [pilonidal cyst] that probably should have stopped him from spending a lifetime in a radio announcer’s chair; but it is true, isn’t it? If he has an inoperable condition that allows him not to serve, presumably it should not allow him to sit for long periods of time the way he does." (10/5/07) "...the end of Grandy and Andy?" Give me a fuckin' break! That happened back when Marconi was still sailing the world on the --Elettra--, didn't it? If WMAL had a scintilla of intelligence, they'd put Chris Core on in AM drive and team him up with Bill Thompson and hire Ira Melman to do real news. Now, that would be Jim Farley's worst nightmare! Combine the personality and intelligence of all three in AM drive and WMAL could be unbeatable and unstoppable! As for Imus, I agree with the poster about Citadel's need to clear live carriage in at least the Top-10 markets. Will he get it? I doubt it. Imus is still "damaged goods" that nobody will want to handle for quite awhile. What I'm waiting for is a watchdog group to go after another talker. Someone higher up the food chain tha! n Imus was. (10/5/07) Yes, Keith is an American citizen. His wife is American. And he's lived here for a long time (Connecticut). (10/5/07) Inside Radio reports that the Imus Citadel syndication deal is official. I don't think he'd replace G&A on WMAL. There would be nothing stopping CC from getting him back on WTNT, or even putting him on WTEM. (10/5/07) Re: "Does anyone know the status of the Troi Torain lawsuit against Clear Channel in Southern district Court New York?" The lawyers are making their money and the case is moving along at a snail's pace. The discovery portion closed at the end of July, Clear Channel had until last week to file a motion for summary judgment and Torain has until Nov. 2 to file opposition papers. If it ever gets to court (no trial date has been set) "Star" will get to tell his tale of woe before a jury. Reading through the case is good for some yuks--Torain's attorney has a hard time explaining what his client did for a living and quoting the scatological gibberish that got him in trouble while staying within the rhetorical boundaries of a good barrister. Dave in Sterling (10/5/07) (Regarding Imus replacing Grandy and Andy on WMAL:) As an outsider who knows the economics of network and syndicated radio, what I do know is that if they do this deal, it is vital for Citadel to clear the show (and lots commericlas) in every top ten market including DC. Somewhere with a decent signal. So yah, a LOT of people in town are now wondering about this. (10/5/07) Media Hottie Video Alert community.myfoxdc.com (10/5/07) A few Dashboard DX highlights from around midnight last night, heard in Frederick, most from the Tidewater area: 93.7, Bob-FM (WPYA), Norfolk; Star 94.1 (WXEZ), Virginia Beach; 94.9, The Point (WPTE), Virginia Beach; 100.5 Max-FM (WXMM), Hampton Roads; Mix 103.7 (WMXB), Richmond); 105.5 Sam-FM (WOJL), Louisa, VA; and 106.3, The Heat (WCEM), Cambridge, MD; also, 93.7 WSTW, Wilmington, DE, heard this morning. Please send them in to DCRTV if you hear 'em. Mike from Frederick and the crew. (10/5/07) View the Vance video at NBC-4's website. Killsometime wants to put malware on your PC. (10/5/07) CNN reported that Keith Richards, of the Rolling Stones, is an American citizen. Is that true? (10/5/07) Does anyone know the status of the Troi Torain lawsuit against Clear Channel in Southern district Court New York? (10/5/07) Those were the days: youtube.com... Dave in Sterling (10/5/07) The following was forwarded to DCRTV by a Fox5er..... Alright fans...I learned of a little contest that we need to turn the tides on. It appears Mr. McGinty at Ch. 9 is talking up some smack on his blog about our Brian Bolter. If you didn't know...there is a little battle in town that ends tomorrow (FRIDAY) at noon. It's Bolter vs. McGinty and right now ...our Edge Master needs your vote. Go here...vote :) www.dcrtv.com/hotties.html..... Or...simply email DCRTV@HOTMAIL.COM and put "Bolter" in the subject line. And if you need another reason to vote...check this out: www.wusa9.com... Just looking out for our team... (10/5/07) It was an example (look it up). I don't get anything from WTOP, so I don't listen to it. You, on the other hand, say you don't like Burd or Kornheiser, yet you continue to tune in. What's the point of that? It's like Homer Simpson getting zapped by the toaster but continuing to stick his fingers into it. Why torture yourself like that? Call me Einstein (10/5/07) "Re: " If I hear David Burd telling that story...." Ever considered not listening? One way to avoid radio that sucks is to listen to something else. There are about a billion stations in this area. I found WTOP to be mindless junk." Hey, Einstein! David Burd is not on WTOP. He's on 3WT. (10/5/07) Thank all "you people" for letting me talk more about my favorite topic - me! Dittos, Rush Limbaugh (10/5/07) Hey Dave: Is there some dark, deep-seated reason that drives you to misspell "Marriot"...? :-) --RB (10/5/07) Dave's response: Gotta remember, two r's and two t's..... Re: " If I hear David Burd telling that story...." Ever considered not listening? One way to avoid radio that sucks is to listen to something else. There are about a billion stations in this area. I found WTOP to be mindless junk. Cure: I don't listen to it. Call me Einstein. (10/5/07) G.K. writes "If the Yankees, Red Sox and Phillies DO get eliminated, I'll be watching every single game of the World Series on FOX!!! I'm sick and tired of these same teams (except the Phillies) making the post season and their whining fans moaning how no one will watch if their teams don't make it. Get your heads out of your asses and look around a little bit. Real baseball fans love BASEBALL, not one team that makes it every single year!" BRAVO, G.K.!!! I'm a Phillies fan, thrilled with the fact that my boys made it back to the post-season after 14 years. I'm also thrilled with the fact that I got to hear the afternoon games on both XM and AM-730 (after years of WTEM shutting the day games out). And I'm rooting for Cleveland and the Angels to save us from our misery of watching any more Red Sox or Yankees games. Dave in loco LoCo. (10/5/07) Many of you already know this, but here's a reminder that the Q&A Cafe appearance of Newsweek columnist and TV commentator HOWARD FINEMAN was moved from Thursday October ll to Wednesday October 10. He will be at Nathans this coming Wednesday. Seems pointless to say there will be loads to talk about with this smart and informed journalist, but there will be loads to talk about - from the presidential race, to other stuff, and more presidential race. Plus, he will be fresh off the Tuesday GOP debate in Detroit. If you have a reservation, please confirm. If you don't, make one today. Also, today we begin taking reservations for the appearance of BET co-founder and Washington Mystics owner SHEILA JOHNSON, who will be the interview on Thursday, November 8. And we still have seats open for ROBERT FRANK, the "wealth" columnist for The Wall Street Journal, who's beat is the "Big Dog" billionaires. There seems to be a new one almost daily in this era of gobs of money. Some could buy whole countries, if they chose to, while others are using their dough to influence the shape and path of our political system. Thanks to his fascinating book, "Richistan," Robert can take us behind the scenes - both stunning and ugly - of the billionaire lifestyle. With all the above, please call JON MOS