Current Mailbag - Mailbag Archive Index - DCRTV Front Page - Support DCRTV DCRTV Mailbag - December 12 to December 19, 2007 Latest messages listed first..... \/ December 19 Messages \/ So if they try just a little more less at channel 9 they could be the 4th highest rated channel in D.C. area and WaPo could make a play for it and return channel 9 back too it's glorious past? How about a DCRTV Broadcast Legends contest? Hardin n Weaver vs. Don n Mike? Gordon Barnes vs. Bob Ryan? John Miller vs Chuck Thompson? Gordon Peterson vs. Jerry Turner? (12/19/07) Here is the real scoop: Unknown to anyone (except the late wife of Andy), Opie was the secret love child of Howard Sprague. They say that Andy’s late wife (the niece of Sam Drucker and Granny Clampett from Petticoat Junction and Hooterville, respectively) was driven to suicide over the dark secret which is why it was never openly spoken of in Mayberry or thereabouts. As it turns out, Todd Castleberry is actually Emmit the “Fix It man’s” nephew which explains three things; why he got interested in radio equipment... how he got to be good friends with me over the years... how he got me to talk John Riggins into joining the Red Zebras (john was one of my biggest fans)... Floyd the Barber (12/19/07) In response to Jim Williams article in The Examiner: Each host has their own strengths. I do enjoy listening to Steve Davis (now that I am not going up against him) and at times Viviano although I am partial to Bob Haynie of course having worked at WNST. Bob has such a great knowledge of Baltimore sports history. I enjoy reading Drew's blogs more than anything...There is no question Rob Long is one of the best ones if not the best one out there. I think one of the things that makes him so good is he's been a spectator, a player and he has and still does coach. I think that is what helped me as well when I was at WNST, you see things through three different perspectives and can give the listener all three. Certainly each perspective is different from the stands to the sidelines to the playing field. Rob doesn't allow you to get away with the common fans "assumption" of something. He'll challenge you. There are many facets with football for example that the average fan does not know or does not consider. Having that knowledge and perspective helps a lot. Being from Baltimore does mean a lot to Baltimore listeners as I think it would in any town. Its nothing personal against Anita but its the way it is. I am thankful for the time I had doing sports radio in Charm City, it was a lot of fun and I hope the listeners enjoyed my show but more importantly learned something. -Michael Popovec (12/19/07) Paul Harvey continues to embarrass himself, his network, and the stations that air him. Today's bon mot, transcribed word-for-word: "More than 700 years ago, the Magna Carta was handed to the king of England on the end of a sword, asserting our own new nation's independence." That one stopped me dead in my tracks. Freakin' incredible. (12/19/07) VP Cheney was target practicing this morning. His popgun got real warm and started smoking. What a guy that VP. (12/19/07) What about the episode where Sheriff Taylor couldn't care for Opie anymore and he was adopted by the Cunninghams in Milwaukee? On another note didn't Opie's Mother died in childbirth? (12/19/07) I for a fact know that WMET is, or at least, was on the market…and am aware of some programming options that were presented. As far as I know, the original party looking at might have backed away. (12/19/07) Dave, Dave, Dave....you mean UNCLE Bea.....Now that's a story. (12/19/07) Dave's response: I love classic sci-fi films. And I love watching "Aunt Bea" in "The Day The Earth Stood Still." Lots of cool shots of DC in the 1950s..... In the first episode, Rose the housekeeper gets married and Andy asks his Aunt Bea to come live with him to help raise his son. Bea makes a reference that it would be like raising Andy all over again. Though not mentioned, the viewer is lead to believe Andy is a widower. In later episodes Andy doesn't marry the hot town pharmacist (ellie Walker), but pursues Helen Crump who looked like a man. We also learn from the first episode that Barney and Andy are cousins. If you ever catch the pilot, you will see Frances Bavier in a different role. Sam Jones who became the front man after Griffith's departure was also written as a widower with a son. Makes you wonder why the men's wives died so young and their husbands never talked about it? Could it be because one of the widowers was the town sheriff and the other was the town mayor, they got a pass on murder? Hmmmmmmm. (12/19/07) Dave, Shame on you..."transgendered" not used in that day and age. The fact is, Jim Nabors is Opey's mom and that was without a sex change! LOL-PLB (12/19/07) Dave's response: Maybe Aunt Bea was Opie's ma? I hear that John Gibson will have more on that in his "Big Story" today on Faux Nudes..... Re: Your 12/13 reference to WMET (?) possibly being up for sale...as of this morning, it's GONE from the Website (www.cmsstationbrokerage.com). Does that mean the station is SOLD? Or just off the market? (12/19/07) Dave's response: I do not know for sure whether it was WMET, just an educated guess. We'll probably be hearing Spanish on 1160 before too long..... For fans of the Andy Griffith show. Is anyone aware of an episode where it was explained how Andy became single and how Aunt Bee got into the picture? I bet I have watched 95% of the episodes and I have never heard mention, by either Andy, Opie, or Aunt Bee, about what happened to Opie's mother. (12/19/07) Dave's response: Didn't one episode reveal that Floyd the barber was Opie's mother before she/he got a sex change operation. "Transgendered" was a word not used in Mayberry back then..... Who would have guessed that Ernie from the 60s sitcom "My 3 Sons" would grow up to become Chairman of the FCC? (12/19/07) Two quick holiday questions: (1) Has anyone figured out a way to keep from throwing up during those Jared commercials? I can usually make it to the bathroom when the Shaws, Zales or Tiny Jewel Box spots come on, but have ruined two sofas and a half dozen outfits thanks to the instant vomiting attack induced by those idiotic "He went to Jared" ads. Everyone involved in their production should be shoved into a wood chipper, bejeweled hands first, ASAP. (2) Is there an FCC regulation or other law requiring all sports-related spots or spots read by marginally-well-known local sports radio jocks to end with "...and tell 'em [insert marginally-well-known local sports radio jock's name here] sent you!" If you stroll into Mattress Discounters and tell them "Kevin Sheehan sent me," their first question is going to be "Who the hell is Kevin Sheehan?" and their second question is going to be "Sent you for what?" Merry Christmas - and tell 'em Dave in Sterling sent you. Dave In Sterling (12/19/07) Mike in Fairfax is so right about the lack of coverage of Ovechkin and the Caps. Part of it, of course, is that the team hasn't been very good for the past few seasons and DC is portrayed as not being a hockey town (although the Caps did quite well at Capital Centre for a long stretch when the team was good, many years besting the Bullets in attendance). BUT Ovechkin is easily one of the two or three best players in his sport and is only going to get better given his relative youth. When was the last time Washington had such a dominant player in ANY sport? Probably, Sammy Baugh and Walter Johnson. (Jordan was hardly still a dominant player when he was here). You're talking half a friggin' century or more. Given that, combined with Ovechkin's outgoing and friendly personality, one would think that Ovechkin would be a local media darling. Yet, as Mike said, he's pretty much anonymous except to hard core hockey fans. It truly is Washington's loss if the community doesn't get more familiar with this guy and his talents during his years here. I'm a huge Redskins fan, but the media overhype of the Skins unfortunately prevents adequate coverage of other important sports stories. This is a primary example and the local media, print and electronic, should be faulted for that. (12/19/07) Dave: I would like to add the following to your rant this morning about DC radio. My wish for Washington radio would be to get rid of the people who have sat around and collected a check the last few years while watching DC radio slowly, but surely, decompose in front of our eyes, and ears. All of the GM’s or Market Managers from CBS, Clear Channel, Bonneville, and Citadel should cash next weeks check and resign gracefully. Enough of the lame excuses like “my corporate office is tying my hands”. All of you have played a major role in the demise of Washington radio. Today, there is nothing left to merge and purge. Most of the market managers cling to their one successful station, and make nothing but excuses about the multiple failings of their ill fated properties. Where are the new formats? Where are the new morning shows? Where is the new talent? Where are the new sales people? Have a Happy Holiday! (12/19/07) Reporters and anchors (with the exception of Dave Statter) have to be dumbest people in the world when it comes to reporting on fires. In the last five minutes three different know-nothings on CNN reported; 1. shock that firefighters were breaking windows, 2. surprise that a huge billow of smoke poured out the windows when there was ventilation, 3. that a fire truck was sitting down the street "doing nothing". Hello? It is a pumper and its job is to pump water from the hydrant. Maybe it is too much to ask but couldn't people, who are supposedly informed and giving us information, to attend a half hour class on fire fighting procedures? (12/19/07) Tracy Neale doesn't have too many "e's," they are simply arranged incorrectly. Clearly, if her name was spelled Tracy "Kneel" she would be still be gainfully employed. Thank you, I'll be here all week.//// The reason Sammy Baugh isn't on the greatest Redskins list is the same reason Benny Goodman and Glenn Miller CD's aren't flying off the store shelves. It's not a historical examination, these lists are always a snapshot of current popularity. Factor in the fading and uncaring memories of old timers and those who have long passed on; a highly transient area; and that for the most part since the Redskins moved from Boston until late 1960s the Redskins sucked. Baugh is probably the notable exeception from this forgotten era, and helped provide Redskins their only early glory, but that was a long time ago. Maybe there is some herky-jerky newsreel footage somewhere, but nothing to immortalize to the fan of today. Baugh maybe a local icon, but he is not a national Icon, ala Ruth, et al. These ranking lists are always going to be generational. Where do you think Rolling Stone's list of the 100 top LPs will rank Sgt. Pepper in 20 years? Sammy Baugh ?? Come on... you would probably be surprised today to find many people who know that George Allen was the Redskins coach during much of the 1970s, and not the guy who used the term Maccaca to his detriment. (12/19/07) Dave...REF.your Rant...Clear Channel sells WCAO AM 60 to CBS Radio who will then simulcast oldies with WQSR 102.7 FM...the 102.7 frequency was at one time WCAO-FM and featured classical music. (12/19/07) Dave's response: I moved to the area in 1972 and remember when 102.7 was classical. I was just a little kid at the time, but I've always been a radio freak..... Dave, Would have liked to have had a “ball” with Crystal’s sister Kara back in the day. m (12/19/07) Steve, went to your site…Very Nice, Very impressive. VERY OVERDONE.!!! (12/19/07) ("Worst – the Washington Post.... Paul, Waldorf, MD") Paul, what's stupid about the Post is they have different "editions" depending on where you live. However, you are incorrect about high school games finishing by 9 - try closer to 10, but that doesn't give the Post an excuse to not report scores. If you ask me, they should have one or two more printing plants, because this area is so wide. I didn't realize how big southern MD is until you start to live there, and this is partly why I rarely buy the paper down in Waldorf anymore. The closer you are to DC, the "later" edition you can get. What also cracks me up is the "extras". The Sunday one that some counties have don't report Saturday high school scores although those events take place during the day? Bear in mind, I have lived all over Washington for over 20 years, and when I was living in Arlington, 99% of the time the local 7-11 or CVS had the final edition of the Post, so all the scores were in there. USA Today can be just as bad, again, depending on where you get it, if you can find it. The Post does mention quite a bit a number for an atheltic director to call to report scores, so it could be their fault, but I doubt it. Mike in Waldorf (12/19/07) Dave, Rumor is Thunder 104.5 is flipping format from country to urban on January 1. Have you heard anything? (12/19/07) Dave's response: An urban outlet in Fredericksburg? Haven't heard anything about that..... What's the big deal about WTOP being relayed on 7.2? You can't listen to it, because the automation interrupts the audio every few seconds for a commercial. You can't even read the forecast in the scroll at the bottom of the screen because that is taken away when the commercial is on, too. (12/19/07) Dave, Dave, Dave... What ever happened to "can't we all just get along"? Or is it your regular practice to give pre-menstrual miscreants like "Jay" a place to vent when their Midol runs out? Honestly, you'd think it was the dead of summer here, instead of a time of charity, thoughtfulness, and good will to all. Its getting so radio or TV talent can't make a change around here without the cheap-shot artists coming out from their lairs in the supposed-expression of "opinion". I'm still shaking my head wondering what point you were trying to make with that RANT of yours. And boo to the FCC for relaxing the rules on broadcast-newspaper cross-ownership. So does this mean we might see the return of "The Evening Star Broadcasting Company" (formerly WMAL AM-FM-TV), or "...A Post-Newsweek Station" (WTOP AM-FM-TV)? (Gee, I hope not.) Maybe the Moonies will buy WTNT, and create "Right-Times Radio"... Well, if you'll excuse me, I have more Christmas gifts to wrap while my kids are fast asleep. Happy Holidays, everyone! {Drop-kicking "PMS Jay" over the rooftop, where hopefully he'll get run over by a reindeer, in Lucky Jeans and Steve Madden heels} - Just Call Me 'Legs', y'all!!! ;P (12/19/07) Re: "Tracey Neale had too many "e's" in her name to succeed at WUSA??? Come on, Mr. Hughes. There can never be too many e's. Everett W." Remember the ill-fated marriage of Kenny Chesney and Renee Zellweger? They were able to get by in their marriage with the greatest of E's. Oh, and has anyone noticed Carrie Underwood has all five vowels in her name, as does NY Giants' defensive player Osi Umenyiora - and sometimes Y! (12/19/07) No need to simulcast NOAA all hazards radio on the HD subchannel at WUSA. The new DC licensed and Ga. ave. transmitter of NOAA WX radio is on the air. 162.45 should be offically commissioned by the end of December bringing the all talk-no commercial format to the entire DC area. No more rimshot from Independent Hill. Note to Ed in the Keys: On the Monday of the Michael Vick sentencing US 104 aired an ABC newscast at 3pm (give or take I was "sipping" rum and Cokes) mentioning the sentence would take place at 11am in Richmond. Guess it is easier to absorb the news if you know the outcome. I liked the hometown sound of the 9am swap show and the real compassion the on-air staff showed at the untimely death of the Monroe County Deputy Sheriff who lost her life in a traffic collision. Listened on-line to US104 during Hurricane Wilma (2 years ago) they did a great job. Ed will enjoy his tyime in the Fla. Keys. (12/19/07) So if they try just a little more less at channel 9 they could be the 4th highest rated channel in D.C. area and WaPo could make a play for it and return channel 9 back too it's glorious past? How about a DCRTV Broadcast Legends contest? Hardin n Weaver vs. Don n Mike? Gordon Barnes vs. Bob Ryan? John Miller vs Chuck Thompson? Gordon Peterson vs. Jerry Turner? (12/19/07) Here's another example of the competency going on over at WUSA: Putting WASH on the audio of their radar subchannel instead of KHB-36, the 162.55MHz NOAA "all hazards" station that serves the D.C. area. The only reason I'd excuse it is the possibility of too much RF in that part of town to allow reception. Then again, a decent BpBr (Bandpass- Band-reject) filter between the receiver and the antenna might allow reception. Then again, it's a bit of a haul from Bull Run Mountain to Tenleytown. However, has anyone tried hearing the STL for KHB-36? I understand it's somewhere in the 400MHz range in that chunk of spectrum taht's exclusively Government. Unsigned Corporate Suit (12/19/07) Dave's response: If more people started getting into the habit of listening to KHB-36 for their weather, they might not watch Topper Shutt's forecasts as much. Duh. You can find some of those NOAA weather stations now being relayed in the 1600-1700 part of the AM band..... Thanks for asking! Yep...I'm wastin' away in Margaritaville, programming Key West's #1 radio station, US-1, KW's top Country station, 98-7 Conch Country and Hot A/C 97-7 The Wave. I have several coconut trees in my front and back yards and we are all complaining that it's chilly tonight with lows around 68. I miss my friends and my house on the Chesapeake Bay, but I'm living about five houses from the Bow Channel that traverses the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean, on Sugarloaf Key. We actually see schools of tarpon and porpoises swimming by. KOF is right about the AM dial. We have three locals, but it's much more fun to listen to the propaganda and pop music on Havana's Radio Rebelde (530AM) and the news on Radio Reloj (570AM). I keep Rebelde on my clock radio. The cigars here are locally rolled, the rum is plentiful and so are the characters! If you're heading this way, I'll gladly bring you in for a tour of my 100,000 watt blowtorches and lunch at the the greatest tiki hut anywhere, a little place called, Boondocks, just up the road from my house. I've been enjoying the give and take from Triumph and the Unsigned Corporate Suit. Great observations! And, they obviously ruffled someone's feathers to stimulate the 2nd grade "penis" response. lol So far, my first houseguest has been former WASH-FM PD Scott Brady, who also drove my Penske truck down (what a mensch!). Props to Scott, "America's Most Wanted's" Bill Glasser and WorldSpace Superstar Scott Carpenter for their calls! You're all welcome to enjoy the sunshine, turquoise waters and political asylum refugees...as well as some mojitos...anytime! Now, I must get back work on this book about a boy named, Adano... Ed. Rodriguez (12/19/07) /\ December 19 Messages /\ \/ December 18 Messages \/ Been away for a while so if that was posted, apologies... What the hell is going on at 1260 AM? They still have Bill Press doing a bumper about the Stefanie Miller Show at 9am. Well, it has "The Lionel Show" instead for a few months (his show runs until Noon). Oh, and he is on at 9 pm and I heard him again at 5 am? Does he really fill in 9 hours on the station a day? If they let him do the vitamin ads and bowel movement enhancement products, he'd average 12 hours a day!!! -Audioops (12/18/07) Long time reader, first time responder. I was long time (30 plus years) viewer of Channel 9 WDVM then WUSA news. I felt great security watching Gordon Peterson and Maureen Bunyan and the like for many years even as a child. I loved Mike Buchanan on the Road and his lighter side of the news. I remember when sports had 15 minutes rather than 3 just because Glen Brenner was just so damn entertaining. I even liked Davey Marlon Jones. Then a few years ago Channel 9 dumped all their veterans for 'pretty people' like Tracey Neale and what's his name from NY. Then they started to advertise their experience. They dumped close to 100 years experience for some pretty faces that won local emmy's. I thought I'd read on DCRTV that for local news emmy's you nominated yourself. If you look at the history I'd bet (and I looked it up sometime ago) that Channel 9 never nominated themselves and Channel 5 nominated everyone for everything. I'm not knocking Tracey Neale, I don't watch her so I don't know her. I'm knocking Channel 9 for just not doing the right thing. I barely watch any news any more except for weather. You can't be to far off center and be any good at it. I guess you can't go back but the old 9 had something that I guess can't be duplicated with youth and big contracts. Jon from WV (12/18/07) "There is no excuse for leaving [Sammy] Baugh off the final list [for Channel 9's Redskins Legends]. That would be like compiling a list of the greatest players in New York Yankee history and in the final 10, omitting Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig and Joe Dimaggio." If a TV station in New York did a similar contest for greatest Yankee ever and based it solely on fan voting, Derek Jeter (the most popular player on the current team) would probably win by a landslide. Speaking of 9, there was a piece on one of their sportscasts yesterday about the Washington Wizards helping out some needy familes and it got me to thinking. It's entirely possible that the Capitals do just as much charitable work locally as the Wizards, but for whatever reason the TV stations never see fit to cover those efforts. Perhaps their PR department isn't as skilled as those of the Wizards or Redskins, but it's more likely a reflection of the media's longstanding reluctance to pay more than passing attention to anything Caps related. A vicious cycle seems to be in play here - the Capitals desperately need more visibiity in the DC area (they have arguably one of the top three players in hockey and he may be less recognizable around town than the Skins' backup punter), but it's that very lack of visibility which deters the media from according them opportunities to get more publicity. On another topic, you can hardly turn on WTEM for fifteen minutes this week without hearing the commercial for International Star Registry. I thought that was exposed as a fraudulent outfit years ago - the star ISR claims to be naming after your friend or relative isn't recognized by the astronomical establishment and may not even exist at all. Radio stations should stop doing business with these scam artists. Mike, Fairfax (12/18/07) Urgent bulletin to the W*USA Redskins Legend contest bashers: Wake up. Close to 90,000 FANS voted, that's users and viewers, not 9 staff. Don't blame Haber or 9, blame the fans if you don't like who won. And duh, it was an online contest, and there aren't many Sammy Baugh fans who are voting online. Jesus guys, wake up. Half the time I think some of you just like to hear yourselves slam people even if it's moronic. (12/18/07) "R.I.P. Dan, say hello to "The Leader of the Band" for me. G.K." G.K., Robbie Robertson hasn't crossed the Great Divide yet. ;) KOF (12/18/07) OK...here's a free holiday gift to all of you eternal W*USA naysayers about the Lesli/Tracey sitch, once and for all. I realize this heaping helping of reality may be coal in the stockings of you folks who continue to enjoy slamming W*USA at every turn, but as a gift to you all, and against my better judgement, I simply must present a delicious dose of the truth for under your naysaying tree. This move was honestly not all about money OR ratings OR age OR corporate stupidity or virtually anything else posted here and elsewhere for the last 24 hours. It was 99.9% about love of family, and about levels of commitment. Plain and simple. I know that's not as sexy and fun as bashing the station over and over, but it's true. Fact: Tracey is a single Mom with enormous new, exciting and daunting responsibilities and largely she simply wanted to honor this commitment more broadly, and that is very difficult to do with the tremendous responsibilities of a night anchor gig. Fact: Lesli Foster is a talented journalist who is adored by her colleagues and deserves any promotion she gets, and she didn't jump at the chance at the expense of her own dignity like some of you are implying. More reality for ye: Ratings trends at 9 in November were tremendously promising, momentum and general morale in most areas of the station is better than it's been in years, and one day, people will see that long ago past personnel moves and budget decisions made eons ago are just that...ancient HISTORY. And as an aside, please, let's stop annointing can-do-no-wrong WJLA with blind laurels (cute Nov t-shirts guys, can you say bad karma?) when they won the 11pm in Nov by .2 of a ratings point (or about a thousand homes), in fact, all four stations were within .4 of a ratings point at 11 (A25-54). The future will speak volumes on many fronts. Anyway, I know, the truth hurts, especially those who find glee in rampant and blind speculation. And this will undoubtedly cause more spewing of negative opinion. But that's OK. The truth is liberating. Some of you should try it sometime. Peace, ya'll. (12/18/07) Former NBC Nightly News anchor Tom Brokaw will take calls tonight on the Jim Bohannon Show, 10:06-11PM on 3WT Radio, 107.7-FM and 1500-AM. (12/18/07) Dave's response: Heard Tom interviewed by David Burd on 3WT the other morning. Burd couldn't go more than 15 or 20 seconds without again reminding us the name of the guy he was interviewing. Ugh..... Can we vote Jay off the island? Or at least out of the mailbag? What a nasty guy. (12/18/07) Have you ever seen someone who doesn't currently even have a full time job make so much of their meaningless 'accomplishments'? Then vist www.steveray.com today! (12/18/07) Dave's response: Jesus, what is it about the upcoming Christmas holiday that's put everyone in such a back-stabbing mood..... You know...it's the holiday season...and I've noticed a DCRTV Xmas mailbag regular mysteriously missing this year...Time for me to crank this baby up then...Mailbaggers....."The Christmas Shoes"....I need not say more...Discuss!!!!! (12/18/07) What idiot is running the board during "B.O.D.A.M."? Dead air going into the 2nd segment, then the repeat of the first couple of minutes of the 1st segment, before finally getting it right. I can get the "B.O.D.A.M" that I want to hear (except for Major Bill segments) on their website anyway. (12/18/07) Dave's response: Joe Ardinger? I agree with those who are trashing Haber's Redskins Legends contest. It is strictly generational. Personally, I would put Jurgensen first but there is no doubt that Baugh should be on the list. And having a defensive back as the ultimate "legend" is a joke, no matter how good he was. (12/18/07) ("Passed these out at the Christmas party. Have a great Christmas. Loved the rant on the snow crap on the lens!") Nice t-shirts, but do the fronts read "We toppled NBC-4 at 11pm and all we got was this T-Shirt" (12/18/07) Hey GRINCH...right on! You said it the way it should be said. I too can't understand these people (JAY) That take up space on the mailbag to just plain bash. This is a time of year when we should all be counting our blessings. I posted earlier to that JERK JAY, saying he is nowhere. If all he can do is post his personal observations about people and appearances and not be nice about it, just don't post. Jay, this is from the heart..cut your fingers off and stick them where the sun don't shine. (12/18/07) Todd Castleberry is the last of the original Red Zebras and hung in until the bitter end. He is talented and we will all miss his antics. I suspect that we may see him occasionally puffing expensive stogies with mentor BZ around town or at the club. Jimmy W. and Mark O’Brien can’t be far behind J... Floyd the Barber (Mayberry, NC) (12/18/07) The moment Tracey's feet hit the pavement as she walks out the door at 9, the WJLA 7 Express Car will be waiting to pick her up and carry her right over to sign a huge contract, just like the others, bypassing those 2 kids she ''wants to spend more time with''. I think Kim Martucci is DAMN SEXY! Jay, you're just a mean spirited buffon with 0 life of your own. Paul (12/18/07) Wow. It’s the holidays, yet people can still be so damn heartless. I guess the fact that on-air talent has to be able to take criticism gives people like our boy “Jay” license to post such mean-spirited, nasty things like the last post about Kim Martucci. Jay, this mailbag is full of nasty s—t, but that was really crappy. How would you feel if you read that about yourself from some moron like you on this site? Then again, you probably couldn’t care less. But I bet the farm you are one ugly little man; if not physically, then in your three-sizes-too-small heart. Better watch out, Santa’s still watching. Looks like you may be outta luck. Happy Holidays, Grinch. (12/18/07) Well I hope you're happy WLIF and WASH, you've played "Same Old Lang Syne" by Dan Fogelberg so many times over the last month of your All-Christmas Music format (even though it's NOT a Christmas song!) that you went and killed the man! R.I.P. Dan, say hello to "The Leader of the Band" for me. G.K. (12/18/07) Hey Jay, evidently you aren't an expert at either appearances or talent...Both of the ladies you've posted about are talents, both are pleasant looking and both of them are where you're NOT!!! (12/18/07) Do any of you people who keep posting about "how hot Kim the Weather Girl on Channel 9 AM news" actually know what an attractive woman looks like?? You must not, since in my opinion, Kim has the manliest face on TV. Her hair is always fucked up and she looks like a clown. Now, Angie Goff the new traffic reporter…..there's talent! Cheers, Jay (12/18/07) Here is a link to the CBS Sunday Morning show site. www.cbsnews.com... There is a really nice piece on Christmas by Ben Stein. I hope everyone sees and enjoys it. Merry Christmas everyone. Elkridge Steve (12/18/07) Thankfully, WASH seems to have limited play somewhat this year on "Christmas Eve in Washington", but nonetheless, there is was promptly at 11:30 this morning. Just in time to cause some lost lunches. But I digress--you can learn more about Maura Sullivan , the culprit, er, creator of the song by this old Washington Post profile: www.washingtonpost.com. Maura, it seems was once a folk singer. This may explain why the song sounds like it came straight off the "Mighty Wind" soundtrack, and yet it is presented to us every year with a straight face. Interestingly, the city of San Francisco has a very similar love-loathe relationship with it's own holiday anthem, "Christmas in San Francisco", a 1968 schmaltz piece by Vic Damone. This one may just leave even Maura's chestnut in the dust. Here's a video remake of it, complete with lyrics: ashley.yichi.org. Yes, this song actually has a line about "lychee nuts and barbecued pork". The Damone original was classic cheese at its worst. (12/18/07) Todd Castleberry to Twin Star, eh? And Twin Star is yet another company chaired by the Birach dynasty? I'll give him eight months tops before he's working as a circuit board assembler in Manassas. People move through that corporation the way milk moves through a baby, and usually with a similar end result. (12/18/07) This had nothing to do with babies... this was all about $$$$. Gannett was not going to give the lazy, prima donna the dough she demanded. And don't be surprised to see Neale let the Nanny watch those babies while she anchors the 5pm news at WJLA (in the Washington Post "My preference is to be home at night with my children.") That's why the Channel 7 anchor job has been open for a year. They've been waiting for Tracey's contract to run out. Sorry Alison, thanks for playin'. (12/18/07) The spin coming out of 9 with Tracy Neale relinquishing the 6 and 11 sounds great. But the bottom line is, Neale didn't deliver ratings. With all of the cutbacks at 9, it's hard to blame her. For the past 10 years, channel 9's management and Gannett have made a mockery of a once great station in their never ending pursuit of profit margins, downsizing and technical gadgets that make little difference whether someone will actually watch a "newscast." Add to the list a series of bungling moves that put news leaders like Peterson, Buchanan, Bunyan, Hill, Herzog and a host of others out on the streets replaced by mostly cheap, young, attractive, no-talent hacks. Maybe the news should be called "The Price is Right." You wonder how 9's management and Gannett's upper management keep their jobs. The fact is, it's almost impossible - and a little sad - to watch 9 these days. (12/18/07) "could someone please post whatever the Randi Rhoades hate speech was that another poster referred to." The link is here: www.freerepublic.com (12/18/07) So you got a thing about how names are spelled, huh? Take this one for size: The lead female anchor for WSMV NBC 4's (Nashville) evening newscasts is Demetria Kalodimos. Try typing and saying that five times fast. Heck, I had to look on their website just to make sure I got the spelling right the first time. Allen Seth Dunn (12/18/07) My problem with the W*USA 's Redskins' poll is that it's mixing apples with oranges. Darrell Green is great just like Art Monk as well as anybody else on their list and anybody that left off the list. It would have been better to compare players at the same position. It's a shame that they got rid of Charles Mann and then later hire the atrocious Levan Reid. (12/18/07) Channel 9 appears to be cheapening the main anchor position. Todd can't be a big salary given his baggage and Lesli probably jumped at the show before asking for a raise. Morning weekend anchor to top job!? Gotta be about the dough savings. Watching her on the top shows with others on the set, looks like they drag her through the show. Doesn't have much to offer. Hmmm, appears the suits don't really care. They are so busy selling ads to tag to every news story and lottery commercials. Bruce Johnson and Jennifer Ryan would have made a great transition to the 6&11. Too expensive, given they are both very capable reporters too. They screwed J. Ryan by 'selling' her Health beat to Neale and now giving it to Anita Brickman...not back to Ryan. Placating to the new girl I suppose. Ryan would have been THE 5&7 pick, deserves it and is great on the set, but Mike Ward needed to have a shot at acting like a N.D., rather than a just a puppet for the GM. The suits niches... DVM Moms, Consumer, Health have blown up in their faces. They suck and Momma Gannett sits back and allows them to ruin a very good local station, but going down fast. Seems being 5th is not embarrassing to them. Don't be shocked to see Neale at noon and JC faded out. (12/18/07) Dave's response: I don't think it's a secret that JC is retiring in May..... Channel 7 WTOP feed - I wonder how long this lasts. The reason more TV stations have added and then dropped using local radio for their weather radars is the rights to the content. Does CBS radio allow their content to be heard over an ABC TV station without compensation ? How about Metro Networks ? Associated Press ? There are performance rights and AFTRA fees that have to be paid when the feed goes to additional locations. Merry Christmas All !!! (12/18/07) Max...PLB here, thanks for the information! I just spoke with Ed, he's tired but really excited. Running three stations is a demanding job for sure. He loves the climate, location and folks he's working with. I'm planning a trip to the Keys in February and we are definitely going to "hook up", We're only there for 5 days but it will be great seeing him...Thanks again for your information. PLB (12/18/07) So, I know that WJLA prefers to spend more money on talent than on technology, and while that's commendable, can they at the least change that ugly-ass logo? The friggin square behind a classic circle 7 logo is disgusting! Sure, it fits into their current graphics set, but on its own?! It's horrid! Perhaps they should try to take something like the WABC, KABC, or WLS logos. All they need to do is delete that square behind it.... (12/18/07) Tracey Neale had too many "e's" in her name to succeed at WUSA??? Come on, Mr. Hughes. There can never be too many e's. Everett W. (12/18/07) I've read about all these budget cuts at NBC (and locally at WRC-TV) over the last few months. My question is this - is NBC really hurting that bad? I know that ad revenue is down, but is it down across the board? If this indeed the case what about ABC, CBS, Fox, etc.? Why haven't we seen them having major problems? Is GE about ready to throw in the towel on NBC? And finally, why or how does this affect the local O&O affiliates? Aren't they funded by local ad revenue? Just some questions I had this morning. Dave in Fredericksburg (12/18/07) 97.1 The Eagle returns to rock Dallas - Now if only 99.1 'HFS would return to DC or XL 102 would return to Richmond. (12/18/07) Dave's response: I'll say it again. In 2008 CBS should kill off The Globe 94.7 and restore 99.1 to real progressive rock "HFS" music. Then put El Zol, with a Spanglish hit format, on 106.7 (better reaches Hispanic NOVA), and move JFK's guy sports talk to 94.7 (better reaches suburban Maryland and the U of MD)..... How can I apply for the job of copy editor / audio editor for Paul Harvey? When the man can't even "get" a freakin' FAMILY CIRCUS comic strip (www.arcamax.com) and then does an extended bit on his appreciation of what his brain told him it was about, it's just plain embarrassing for everybody involved. His mis-speaking has long suggested he doesn't understand what he's saying, and I keep wondering why nobody edits the recording before it goes out. (12/18/07) That 12/4 Classified Ad for a board op just turned up on Craigslist DC yesterday. Anyone know who this is? Is it a local show or a syndi gig? (12/4/07) Dave's response: I know, but I'm sworn to secrecy..... could someone please post whatever the Randi Rhoades hate speech was that another poster referred to. Or post a link where one can read and/or listen to it. Thanks. Merry Christmas. (12/18/07) Hey Dave, According to TVSpy, Chris Naille (meteorologist at Fort Myers station WBBH) has taken a job at WJLA. Before going to WBBH, Naille was the morning meteorologist at Hagerstown's WHAG-TV. This begs the question....who's out at 7? www.tvspy.com... www.news-press.com Take Care, Tybois Uphold (12/18/07) Dave's response: We ran a Front Page newsblurb last week on Naille's move..... If you have an HD Radio, check out WTOP Traffic & Weather Plus on 103.5 HD-3. It's the latest traffic & weather report updated every ten minutes. We'll start to promote it next year. If you have an HDTV, check out Channel 7's Weather Channel side channel. It now runs the audio of WTOP instead of canned music. (12/18/07) Adding to PLB's post about Mac Richmond, I was running WKKO in Cocoa, Florida and doing mornings when Mac called. He had heard me and offered me the morning show (FENWAY) on WMEX in Boston. He said "I'll fly you up and we can talk...get a ticket and I'll pay for it." I still remember, the round trip ticket from Orlando to Boston was $120. I flew to Boston and Mac hired me to be FENWAY, replacing Ed Heider. When I gave him my ticket receipt, he gave me a check for $60. I told him it was not $60, but $120. He replied..."Dad..I said I'd fly you UP,..how you get BACK is your problem". Many more Mac Richmond stories in my book. Jack Gale (12/18/07) Regarding Kim Martucci, Howard Bernstein said that she'll be back tomorrow (12/19). (12/18/07) Dave's response: DCRTV hears that she was at the Tall Gals Convention in Vegas. Just kidding. We love you, Kim..... Of course Channel 9's "Greatest Redskins players" poll is a joke. Sammy Baugh is a legend, but his highlights have never been on ESPN. Fans these days feel like anything that didn't happen on their watch - and in color - never happened. We've got at least two generations out there who have no clue at all about US History, and further, don't care. They'll believe whatever Limbaugh, Coulter or Hannity - or worse, O'Reilly - tells them, and never bother to look anything up. It's the reason right wing talk radio can prosper - those listeners would rather not be confused by facts, and will accept whatever revisionist history they hear. (12/18/07) WMAL ain't for sale is it? insidemusicmedia.blogspot.com (12/18/07) Early TV Anchors - maybe some folks might be interested in this www.poynter.org (12/18/07) Never cared for the demeanor Ms. Neale took on when she moved over from channel 5. Surely, some consultant or such told her this should be the way you now present yourself on air. But still right before Xmas! Why not wait till the first week of January or a little later? Too much drama queen behavior for the suits at channel 9? Leslie Foster was quite adequate while Ms. Neale went to pick up the kids. Actually the present day Ms. Neale seems more ideal for the way they present "news " on Faux channel 5. Meanwhile, surfed the local news at 11 pm last night. Channel 9 had a story about Dominion Power . It was about Dominion Power trying for more green power, thing is it dealt with Dominion's efforts in southern Virginia and North Carolina. Huh? Come on we got some product placement going on here? Over at the hard hitting Faux edge channel 5 they had a bit about the top 5 MILF's of 2007 and they lingered on the collective shot of the lovely ladies for some time. Wait, wait don't go to break yet my pants aren't down around my ankles yet. And over at channel 4, my gosh have budget cuts been so drastic that they don't have a hair person for czarniak. If her purpose is too serve as eye candy then at least let's not let her on air with such ratty looking hair! You czarniak fans should chip in and get her a gift certificate for the J.C. Penny beauty salon for Christmas. or Mr. Ray. Tuned in to a bit of Cerphe on The Globe this afternoon. I was surprised he was on air. Doesn't he get as much vacation time as Don and Mike after all these year's? When Mr. Cerphe plugs all them dvd's and cd's on his show does he get paid for that? And isn't "amazing" one of the most overused words of the early 21st Century? Over at CHWO 740 am they got a week of Christmas music going on. Not the SOS as WASH but obscure stuff from yesteryear. I miss them days. Sentimental hogwash . Did John Riggins really say on George Michaels Redskin's Report that former Falcon Bobby Petrino puts new meaning in the term 'head coach"? (12/18/07) As well-intentioned as Channel 9's contest on the greatest players in Redskins history, it ultimately comes away flawed. The fans seem to think Redskins history is only 25 years long as opposed to 75 years. The selection of Darrell Green is a wonderful one because he was a great player and he is an even better human being. Everybody loves Darrell. But he should have been picked the second greatest of all time. To the shame of the fans, the all-time greatest player in Redskins history somehow didn't even make the final 10. The greatest Redskins player of all-time is, of course, Sammy Baugh. There is no excuse for leaving Baugh off the final list. That would be like compiling a list of the greatest players in New York Yankee history and in the final 10, omitting Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig and Joe Dimaggio. Just because Sammy hasn't played in 55 years, there is no reason why he should be overlooked. Afterall, he is the man who put the Redskins franchise on the map. Baugh won two NFL titles. He also led the NFL in passing six times, led the league in punting four times and once led the NFL in interceptions as a safety. He is also listed as the third greatest NFL player of the 20th century by the Associated Press and the 64th greatest athlete of the 20th century by ESPN. Baugh was also selected this year by the NFL Network as the most versatile player of all time. As good as Darrell Green, Art Monk and John Riggins were, they couldn't begin to rival Baugh's accomplishments. Plus, Baugh's number 33 is the only team number ever retired by the Redskins. And one more thing, Sammy Baugh is alive and kicking at age 93. (12/18/07) Wash Times branding... When four consultants just aren't enough: www.editorandpublisher.com (12/18/07) I figured quite a while ago that Tracey Neale wouldn’t be anchoring the 6pm and (especially) 11pm newscasts for much longer. I’m sure her life is very hectic as a new mom, and the late work schedule was probably quite a burden. I hope she stays at 9. Isn’t JC Hayward retiring soon? Perhaps Tracey could anchor the Noon news and then do some other assignments as well. The person I really feel sorry for at Broadcast House is Jennifer Ryan. She’s a very solid weekend anchor and health reporter and she has proven that over the last several years. Most recently, she’s been also co-anchoring the 5pm and 7pm newscasts, but she’ll be out of that role pretty soon. She already lost her health reporting gig when Tracey Neale recently took it over, and now Anita Brikman will assume those duties as well as the 5pm and 7pm shows. Speaking of 5pm news, while I think WJLA is a great operation, what is taking them so long to name Kathleen Matthews’ replacement? Just get it over with already! They’ve got enough talent in-house (Allison Starling, Julie Parker, Leslie Cook), so it shouldn’t be too hard. And over on Nebraska Avenue (my, how the mighty have fallen), is Jim Handly officially the co-anchor at 5pm? He got thrust into that role when they fired Susan Kidd, but I don’t know how official that is. I guess given the amount of time that’s past, and how cheap the suits there are, they aren’t going to be bringing any new talent aboard anytime in the foreseeable future. (12/18/07) "What happened to Kim Martucci channel 9 weather "girl"? She is no longer in the morning show promos." Dude, the promos for the next day's show are done by whoever's there the day before. Maybe she had today off, or perhaps she's out for the week -- it's the holidays, after all. Chill (12/18/07) Regarding the personnel change at Nine, I don't think, as mgmt apparently does, that the ratings problems originate in viewer dissatisfaction with certain personalities. I think it stems from the decision to replace an older, but quality staff and a quality newscast with a young, happenin' crowd, a young, happenin' HD set, and a lousy newscast. Not every newscast must be a rip-off of The Today Show, complete with forced camaraderie. Of course, they gotta fill all that profitable air time with something. A news show is like a pair of comfortable shoes. At Nine, the faces are new and the chemistry is absent. Washington, D.C., is not Podunk. What works reliably in Podunk doesn’t work in Washington. (12/18/07) Dave... In answer to PLB re: Ed Rodriguez: He's landed as Operations Manager for US-1 Radio (WWUS/104.1); 987 Conch Country (WCNK); and 97-7 The Wave (WAVK) In Big Pine Key FL. Been there for a little over a month now. And to Frank in Arlington: you're entitled to your opinion, but Route 27/I-395 hasn't been the 'Mixing Bowl' for a long time now, not since 395 was last rebuilt. The "Mixing Bowl" is now the nickname for the Beltway/I-95/I-395 interchange in Springfield. That's what most of the traffic reporters and commuters who deal with it daily know it as. - Max in Mild West Arlington (12/18/07) /\ December 18 Messages /\ \/ December 17 Messages \/ Memo to Channel 7: Re-sign Alison Starling at all cost. AT ALL COST. Do I even have to list the reasons why? Nope, didn't think so. You guys are smart. You get it. On another topic, here's an interesting blog entry about 3WT's Randi Rhodes. Whether you agree with what RR said or not, the author raises an interesting point: can you imagine if Rush, Hannity, O'Reilly or Beck had made comments like that? It would have made the Imus Affair seem like a fart in a hurricane. There are some truly amazing double standards applied to the Right and Ms. Rhodes just proved it. -Archie Goodwin (12/17/07) What happened to Kim Martucci channel 9 weather "girl"? She is no longer in the morning show promos. (12/17/07) It’s not that I’d want to pile on (I actually watched much of the Dolphins-Ravens so I could see the in-game highlights from the places with nasty weather and also see the Fish manage to win a game). But to a more specific point, just because Channel 9’s signal gets close enough on one end that it is considered part of a secondary Baltimore market should not punish the ever-growing number of us whose only crime is to live on the southwest edge of the DC market. First off, the whole rule is backward thinking: Channel 9 and Channel 21 have to show Ravens ROAD games; if Baltimore is at home, they can actually opt out, which is a good thing late in the season. While 21 quickly accepts the option so it can show more Steelers games, 9 will stick with the Ravens early in the season because they are closer geographically. I understand that. But now that the Ravens are out of the hunt, the NFL should allow 9 the option to show a game that affects the playoff race. The part of the DC market that would want to see the Ravens on a regular basis is probably close enough to get 13 with an antenna. Same with the folks on the north end, around York. It’s not the fault of the people in the Shenandoah Valley that cable systems closer to DC got rid of the Baltimore channels some years ago. By the way, a disclaimer, we still get 11 and 13 out here (for a few more months, anyway) so my main objection is that we keep getting the same games on 9 and 13 most of the time. The folks in Front Royal also get WTVR from Richmond, so they were able to see Pittsburgh and Jacksonville on Sunday. In fact, Comcast, give me WTVR as an option and I’ll shut up about this issue. Charles in Winchester (12/17/07) I'm glad my mention of Mac Richmond brought forth to the board perhaps previously unshared memories. Now, if only someone will talk about Richard or Pierre Eaton! And, for Frank, I am a guy... fast approaching retirement! However, I'm no fan of Arthur Godfrey! And, as for "brief shining moments", I wish "Triumph" had added WCXR and "B-106" (WBMW) as they both made serious impacts during their all too brief lifespans. Oh yes, I thought about Fort Reno, but the guide of the tour I was on at the National Cathedral s couple of years ago said the site was chosen because "it was the highest in Washington". Oh well... And, the "Mixing Bowl" in Arlington is remembered. But not fondly. Where 495/395/95 come together in Springfield should be called "The Spaghetti Bowl" because of what an aerial view of that mess looks like! Unsigned Corporate Suit (12/17/07) Will Tracey end up at Channel 7 sitting in the 5PM anchor chair? Or a cake four hour shift in the mornings? Time will tell. All the best. (12/17/07) Hello. At what website, if any, could I find local and/or national ratings for cable networks? Not the most-watched shows but overall cable network ratings. Thanks. Regards Biff (12/17/07) Passed these out at the Christmas party. Have a great Christmas. Loved the rant on the snow crap on the lens! (12/17/07) From this point henceforth, any mind numbing post over 1500 words in length, which contains the name Arthur Godfrey gets deposited into my Triumph the Insult Penis kill file. (12/17/07) Key West might as well be part of Cuba as far as AM reception from there. 95% of it in the daytime is from Castroland (many of them like Radio Rebelde and Reloj come in like locals), and at least 80% consists of the heterodyned jumble from below the US at night. I've been there twice. KOF (12/17/07) Dave, Merry and Happy. I enjoy the postings of the Unsigned Corporate Suit, but I can't let this one pass. Washington Cathedral at 328 feet above sea level, Fort Reno Park at 406 feet above sea level. Perhaps (s)he meant to say 'highest point overlooking downtown D.C' rather than "highest point in D.C.". P.S. While we're on the subject, The Mixing Bowl is the intersection of VA Route 27 and Interstate 395 in Arlington VA. Just had to get that out there, too. Thanks, Frank in Arlington (12/17/07) "Anybody else cancel their plans on the town this past Saturday afternoon-evening based on the bogus weather forecast for rain-sleet from the crack WTOP/News 7 Doug Hill team? " If you did, you sure didn't listen carefully. Doug went to great lengths to say he did not know just exactly where this storm would hit. And by this morning, nearly 100,000 people around here were without power because of the severe winds. We dodged some (snow, ice) but not all of it. (12/17/07) I was working WBZ Boston back in 1965 and got a call from Max Richmond of WMEX. He invited me to join him for lunch and talk about my “Future”. We met in Boston on the docks for a GREAT seafood lunch. He pitched me about working for him, he knew at that time I was a summer replacement working overnights. The pitch included personal appearance fees….help with housing etc..we talked and ate. At the end of lunch the bill came and he said (quote) “thanks for lunch, we’ll talk again soon”. That’s the last I heard of him until Charlie Scheu, then programming WPGC in DC called and invited me to Washington to meet with Bob Howard GM of the station, I said (quote) “I don’t think so, aren’t the Richmond brothers owners”? Charlie quickly responded, “yeah, but we NEVER see either of them”. To make a long story short. I was hired…and it was the truth…..neither of the Richmond’s ever set foot in that station. I would love to have TAKEN Max to lunch one more tim!!!! PLB (12/17/07) Regarding all the hubbub about Michael (Weiner) Savage: The more I listen to the right-wing talk hosts - and the few left-wing hosts that there are on radio and TV, the more I have to wonder if we're just living out a souped-up replay of earlier times. Back in the mid/late 70s, there were hearings by House and Senate committees about nefarious goings-on, here and abroad, by various U.S. intelligence operatives. It was revealed that quite a few journalists, writers and reporters in both print and electronic media, were actually paid lackeys of the CIA, etc. Basically, the game then was "disinformation". Now, in the 21st Century, the "palette" and "canvas" are more expansive and varied - what with dozens of radio or TV talk outlets, and God only know how many "news" web sites. Somewhere amidst all the noise, there's gotta be some actual truth - but I'll be damned if I know where it is! Or, maybe there isn't any truth to be found. Perhaps it's all kinda like those "Walk-Don't Walk" buttons at all the major intersections. The button doesn't actually DO anything - except maybe give the pedestrian the false sense that he/she is having a real effect on how soon he/she gets to cross the street. All the talkers and their media outlets are like Baskin-Robbins. Sure, you get 31-flavors -- but it's all still ice cream. (12/17/07) Best sentence ever typed on the CNN.com website - Fox News is in the basement and continued broadcasting without interruption. (12/17/07) Hey, where has Ed Rodriguez gone? Sent an email to him and got no response???? PLB (12/17/07) Dave's response: Key West, Cuba? Somewhere down there..... Dave, rumors that Bill O'Reilly had two been burritos for his mid-morning snack have not been confirmed: www.cnn.com. (12/17/07) The mention of Max Richmond’s name prompted me to recall something from Jack Gale’s book, “Same Time…Same Station.” Max Richmond offered to fly Jack up for his interview at WMEX in Boston. But when Richmond wrote the check to reimburse Jack, it was for half the amount. Richmond explained to Jack, “I said I’d fly you up. How you get back is your problem.” Roddy Freeman (12/17/07) God, has it come to this? Tying to get some information about local radio and instead we get to read comments from some douche bag named "Insult Dog." Hey insult Dog! Get your head away from your asshole and get back under the porch where you belong. I agree with the poster who asked: "are you 97 years old?" This act is as tired as the people you comment about. Try something new, like "insult penis." After all, you are kind of a dick. (12/17/07) Doug Buchanan’s departure from 9 was due to several factors, budget was not the only one or the primary one. (12/17/07) Regarding Doug Buchanan freelancing at Fox 5, any idea what led to Doug's departure from 9? David in Hyattsville (11/17/07) Dave's response: My guess is that Doug's departure was primarily a budget decision. They need to find the money for new anchor Anita Brikman somewhere..... In the early 1950's Raytheon planned to enter the tv industry with their own network. They applied for WRTB-TV in Boston Massachusetts, but the station never went on the air. Perhaps that Falls Church station would have been their Washington, DC affiliate. Al McGilvray (12/17/07) Being a born & bred Baltimoron living in DC, I'm glad channel 9 is showing Ravens games. Yeah, the team is 4-10 and painful to watch, but they are the team I cheer for and I'm not the only Ravens fan in DC. Should Fox have not shown the Skins in Baltimore during their less than stellar seasons? With internet & Directv, fans can follow any team from anywhere. If it's another excuse to bash Baltimore, let me help you. Ravens/O's suck, STD's, Marty Bass, crabs, weird accent, bad crime. Now feel free to pile on. (12/17/07) Anybody else cancel their plans on the town this past Saturday afternoon-evening based on the bogus weather forecast for rain-sleet from the crack WTOP/News 7 Doug Hill team? Likely going to be another long embarrassing winter for them. Beware. (12/17/07) Well, according to the discussion at avsforum.com (in the high def. programming forum) regarding last nights Redskins game, the NBC broadcast was in hd. (12/17/07) Dave's response: To me, the overall looking-down-on-the-field shots looked in HD clarity, but not the shots from cameras down on the field. I noticed a background pixilation and lack of sharpness in shots from those cams. Looked like "Kinda HD" to me. Whatever..... Unbelievable. NBC! Yes, NBC. The 'Skins-giants game last night WAS NOT aired in HD! Are they kidding me? I bet Warner Wolf would give 'em the Boo of the Week. And heck, the week just started! (12/17/07) Dave's response: You know, I was wondering about that. While it was widescreen, it was not as sharp as it should have been. I was gonna blame it on Comcast..... Anyone hear WMAL's newscast meltdown at 9 this morning? A stilted Jamie Whitten (spelling?) introducing a sounder from Tom Davis to explain changes in drivers license requirements and we got Joe Gibbs talking about the Redskins victory. Funny! (12/17/07) “Somebody out there PLEASE explain how diaries have lasted this long in the Information Age.” Because Arbitron’s clients haven’t demanded anything better. And why should they? The methodology may be laughably flawed, but radio stations know how to play this game. You know the old saying about the devil you know… (12/17/07) /\ December 17 Messages /\ \/ December 16 Messages \/ Did this become WMZQ's site? (12/16/07) Dave's response: I don't think so. The current MZQ site is in Fairfax County, not Falls Church city (formerly a town). Even though it has a Falls Church address..... "Triumph" made a good start. I agree with 98% of the comments. I’d like to add a bit. As for WPGC, Dean Griffith passed away a few years ago. And, I’d add "Columbus" (Bill Price), Jim Collins, and Dan Steele to the greatness that emanated from the Parkway Building. What "Triumph" should’ve also included were owners that, while (in) famous in their own right, possessed the acumen to make the best of a bad property, were able to nurture budding talent, or had the foresight to make what were daring decisions back "in the day" but we take for granted now. Of course, I’m speaking here of RKO General which kept WGMS classical (and profitable) until the FCC-enforced shotgun sale. OK, so it wasn’t quite as bad as what happened to WNAC-TV becoming WNEV-TV. But, especially under the reign of "himsel! f", WGMS was not only well sold to advertisers, its format of "Classical Music with an MoR Delivery" helped bring classical music to those unfamiliar with it. What was allowed to happen to RKO General back then is as much a crime against creative full-service broadcasting as the progressive killing-off of streaming of broadcast and Internet-only stations by onerous copyright fees is doing today. Another under appreciated owner was "Richmond Brothers". Especially Mac Richmond. As with Harry Averill (see later), hardly anybody who worked for them mourned when they died. However, they did have the foresight (beginning in the mid-1960’s) to exploit FM by extending the broadcast day on 95.5 until by the early 1970’s, it never went off the air. OK, so they were so conservative as to keep the FM mono until 1972! The Thoms family. When WEAM GM Harry Averill holed-up in a Boston hotel room and airchecked WRKO for about a week, his copying of the Drake format (without paying a di! me in fees) was successful in keeping RKO from doing the logical thing with WGMS: Taking either the FM or the AM Top-40. Actually, it would’ve been more logical then for RKO to have rocked the FM which would’ve given WPGC fits and minimized the well-documented political heat when WGMS tried going rock in the early 1970’s. If RKO had kept its mouth shut and just done it, WGMS would’ve died a lot earlier. Sure, there would’ve been political heat. But, as they say "when the folders from H.R. go out: Sorry, but it’s a business decision." Another oft-reviled owner is United Broadcasting. OK, so it was the combined persona of Richard Eaton and Pierre Eaton. I’d love to see a biography of the Eatons published sometime. Why? Who pioneered commercial UHF-TV in D.C. and Baltimore? They did. Who had the first all-Spanish FM on the air in D.C.? The Eaton’s did. OK, so the last WOOK-AM rig was an RCA/Calectro/ScienceFair hybrid by the time the Eatons lost control. (Oh yes, the transmission line was RG-8 coax proudly stamped "Tandy Wire And ! Cable",,,!) But, El Zol wasn’t the first all Spanish FM in the market. And, on TV, WOOK-TV became WFAN-TV to reflect the Eaton’s shift to selling more ethnically oriented programming before anybody else here even thought about trying it, let alone doing it! Regarding WHFS, as one who well remembers KMET-FM (Hard to believe that it was a Metromedia station! As was KSAN-FM…), I’d add it to the list of Alternative stations that were "worthy". WHFS was good in its own way. But, the closest we’ve had around here that was "worthy" was WGTB-FM. Although the argument could be made that it was only nominally under the control of the Jesuit fathers running Georgetown University, WGTB-FM reflected what a non-commercial was supposed to be, but sadly isn’t today –at least for the most part. Broadcasters talk up "diversity" these days. WGTB-FM had it big time. Their schedule ran the gamut from "Sophie’s Parlor" to Alan Lee’s oldies. Yes, "Triumph" was right about so man! y things in that post. However, one final item I’ll add is why the D .C. area has so many technically inferior facilities. It’s simple: Until WWII, D.C. was basically a Fall-Spring town. As those of us who’ve experienced a few Washington summers, think about what those summers would be like without air conditioning anywhere but movie theaters! Thus, much of Washington moved out for the summer, if they could afford to. Otherwise, you went for a day to the P Street Beach or perhaps the pool at Glen Echo Park. Combine that transient population with a comparatively low (yet compact) population count and you see why D.C. was "gifted" with only one 50KW "blowtorch, albeit an emasculated one at that. Yes, 1500 does a good job in the suburbs that were built first. However, the fact that there was more developable land to the west than to the east sent the population into the nulls of most of the D.C. AM’s. And, as for FM (and TV for that matter), the highest point in D.C. was taken before broadcasting was invented. The National Cathedral is on ! that site. The next most attractive sites were either taken by the Federal Government (Mount Alto in D.C. (Originally the site of a Veterans Administration hospital, now site of the Russian Embassy) and Tysons Corner (Site of an Army STRATCOM tower for ages), or were crimped by flight patterns of the then-National Airport and Bolling Air Force Base. Oh yes, we need to remember D.C.’s restrictive building codes and the NIMBY’s that shut down tower construction in Arlington and Falls Church in the 1940’s. All in all, I think "Triumph" hit a lot of nails on the head about why we’re dealing with what we’ve got. Unsigned Corporate Suit (12/16/07) Does anyone watch NBC4's Reporters Notebook that comes on around 6am on Sundays?..Well, I've only seen it a couple of times and want to know, who's this Jerry Phillips guy who's always on there?..As soon as Joe Krebs asks a question, he jumps in and is the know all of everything going on in Washington. He hardly lets anyone else get a word in. I saw it this morning and felt so sorry for the other reporter who was trying to speak. (12/16/07) The Harrisburg area football fandom has complained about the 'secondary market' NFL television rules to the point of even getting the Pennsylvania legislature on record. It hasn't done any good, Ravens road games still get forced onto the Harrisburg and Washington, D.C. airwaves. As long as the National Football League believes that it can own and control your loyalties, don't expect anything to change for the better. Everett W. (12/16/07) Regarding the Chickaboomer ad with Rupert Murdoch's picture... isn't that sort of, you know, illegal to use someone's likeness to promote a product without their permission? Oh well, he probably doesn't have the legal resources to take anyone to task over that sort of thing. (12/16/07) "Almost all of us would rather see ANYTHING but Baltimore/Miami," Naw - watching Miami get their first win of the season over Baltimore - PRICELESS! (12/16/07) As for Doug Buchannan being a new Fox5 hire or just freelancing, we can't depend on FOX5 to let us in on that. I've constantly wondered what the status of people who just show up and just as soon disappear. I think FOX5 is one of those stations that if you just want to freelance, they're more than happy to let you come on board since they know that it's more than likely a temporary gig. (12/16/07) Once again.....because the NFL has designated Washington is a secondary market for the Ravens, WUSA has no option but to carry the Ravens today - those are league broadcast rules. (I'm sure my bud Charles in Winchester will correct me if I'm wrong LOL) Almost all of us would rather see ANYTHING but Baltimore/Miami, but Nine has no choice in the matter. My guess is that Steeler fans in central PA are bitching too, since the league also designated Harrisburg as a secondary market for the Ravens and the CBS outlet up there (Ch. 21) is required to carry Ravens/Dolphins as well, instead of the much more meaningful Pittsburgh/Jacksonville game. Your complaints are best directed to the NFL (like they're gonna listen). Happy holidays - - - - - Larry in Luray (12/16/07) The decision may not have come from the CBS Network. (Ravens & Dolphins game) It came from the NFL. They have the say so on the games. (12/16/07) Dave, I think you need an FAQ section on the site for these constant complaints about Channel 9 and football. WUSA has no control over this situation. You think they and WHP in Harrisburg WANT to show this game? The NFL demands that they show the game because the Ravens are on the road, so the thought is that all 5 Ravens fans who would go to M&T today can see their team play when its not in Charm City. Address your concerns to the league, not Channel 9. I'd rather be watching one of those crazy weather games myself, not going to happen today. Charles in Winchester (12/16/07) RE: Ravens-Dolphins: It’s been stated on here many times before…WUSA has no say in which games are televised. The decision is made at the network level. Yeah, it’s a crappy game, but don’t blame WUSA. (12/16/07) "So is Triumph the Comic Insult Dog like about 97 years old? Good grief! Curious George" --- Only in dog years, boychik, only in dog years! Oi, is that Krusty the Clown has to put up with, too? T-Dog (12/16/07) One can only guess that the conversation in the WUSA programming department went something like this..."Hey, I know...Lets find the biggest dog shit football game in the last 30 years to broadcast on Sunday!"..."Yeah...that sounds like a plan!"....I mean seriously...Ravens/Dolphins??!!! I'd rather watch the test pattern than either of those sorry piece of shit teams!! WB Centreville, VA (12/16/07) So is Triumph the Comic Insult Dog like about 97 years old? Good grief! Curious George (12/16/07) I really enjoy Triumph, the Insult Dog's critique of Washington, D.C. radio. He is so right on every point. JOHN IN STAFFORD (12/16/07) How ridiculous. Howard Bernstein being sent to Frederick County, standing above I70, and having to look around in the grass for any sign of ice. (12/16/07) DOUG BUCHANAN SIGHTING. Fox5 News aired a produced package report by Doug Buchanan Friday 12/14 on the News at Ten. It was complete with a standup sign off. I'm surprised no one on this site mentioned seeing the ex-WUSAer. Maybe I really am 5's only viewer at that time. (12/16/07) You stated Anita was a longtime anchor in Philly. In fact, she is a longtime reporter and sub anchor. Please look at WPVI website as well as your own link to Laura Nachman who correctly states reporter. where did your info come from? The Channel 9 suits!!? Don't oversell the new "talent". Sincerely, Mike (12/16/07) I remember when The Blade consisted of several 8-1/2 x 11 mimeographed sheets, folded in half and stapled together. This would have been 1973, or so. It has certainly changed since then! Here is a link to "The Cutting Edge: A History of the Washington Blade, Metropolitan Washington DC’s GLBT Newspaper of Record" which may be of interest to some. www.rainbowhistory.org (12/16/07) I hate these Arbi-Trends, almost as much as I hate the ratings system overall. Handing out paper pamphlets, asking people to write down what they listen to? Counting blacks as TWO people?? Are you kidding me? How many hundreds of holes are there in this method!? Yet it persists. I'm not sure the PPMs will be much better. Somebody out there PLEASE explain how diaries have lasted this long in the Information Age. (12/16/07) Im just kind of curious to see what people think about Steve Buckhantz on the Wizards games. I gotta say, I dont mind hearing him talk about basketball, the wizards, or other sports when he's on the Sports Reporters, but when he does the games, I find him sort of grating. I think he's a bit cliche and he seems to repeat himself often. I think Phil Chenier is pretty good, though. (12/16/07) Okay, this is NOT for the faint-of-heart. We are about to bust a few of Washington's sacred radio cows here, starting with David Burd. I have heard the man's show since he was on WASH in the 80's. My opinion has not changed. He is simply not very good. He's not funny AT ALL. He is not particularly smart. And, this whole Nigel thing makes me think he should be doing his show with a puppet on his knee! Or, is he a puppet? He has that Doug Llllllewelllyn quality about his mouth and jaw. Charlie McCarthy had that, too! Tony Kornheiser should have received a swirlie in the 5th grade and left the rest of us alone. Oh, wait. Look at that hair. He DID receive a swirlie! Go home, Tony! Harden and Weaver COULD be funny, but never measured up to Walker and Scott OR NYC's Bob and Ray. In fact, if Eddie and Willard had done mornings on WMAL instead of the severely mismanaged WRC, I conject that they would STILL be on the air with ginormous shares! "The Greaseman" act got old around 1987. Move on, dot org, Doug! In fact, to boil it all down, MOST of Washington radio has been a cheap and feeble imitation of high quality, major market radio for years. The occasional standouts have been Arthur Godfrey, Gene Klavan at WWDC, Tom Gauger on WMAL, Paul Anthony on any microphone in town, Harv Moore, Dean Griffith and the late Marv Brooks on WPGC, WOL from 1965-72, WEAM from 1968-72, WASH from 1968-83, WRC from 1972-75, WGAY for it's entire Beautiful Music reign, WGMS until Bonneville started chopping away with budget scissors, and one very brief shining moment or two at Q-107 and WAVA, each. WHFS, for those of you who remember a "great" radio station, was a mere shadow of SF's KSAN, NYC's WNEW and Philly's WMMR. The ONLY times that WHFS "rocked" were when their ONLY decent morning man, Thom Grooms, was on and when Cerf was on in the afternoon and evening. Otherwise, they were playing a bunch of disjointed Taj Mahal soundalikes that you couldn't dance to! And finally, for the temple of WTOP and St. Jim of Assisi, it's OVER! The "great ride" ended with all the silly, pointless frequency shuffling. As soon as the audience realizes you're gone, you're toast! For crying out loud, WMAL still has old people calling to ask what time Harden and Weaver are on! Oh look, boo-hoo, I got some urine on your cornflakes. You deserve it, Washington radio. Wait! I kid, I kid! But, I STILL poop on you! Triumph, the Insult Comic Dog (12/16/07) /\ December 16 Messages /\ \/ December 15 Messages \/ I've listened to David Burd since he was on WMAL. I now hear him on the 5:30 a.m. show and the Kornheiser show on podcast. Did he get a divorce? He never EVER mentions his wife. Lois (12/15/07) According to every TV station in town, between tonight and tomorrow will dawn the new Ice Age. Is it just me or has the ''hype'' about a storm that's not even going to really affect the area gotten worse. Why are these moron reporters standing out by trucks and piles and piles of sand when their own weather people aren't forecasting any major snow or ice. It's beyond moronic. Paul (12/15/07) Dave's response: It's simple. Storm scare = higher ratings = more ad revenue for the station..... Sorry Dave, don't agree with you on David Burd being a better weekend guy than a regular guy. Granted, he was great on the weekends, but he is even better with Jessica Doyle doing mornings on 3wt. And to tell you the truth I was a big Tony fan, but after Burd took over the show I find myself listening to both broadcasts in the mornings and the replay. I hope they give Burd his own 2hour show with his posse. I know you don't like Burd on the weekdays, but then again that's your problem not mine. I am not alone with this observation either. Tony never talked to Nigel like Burd does, it's really funny. Enjoy your site even when you get it wrong. Steve Wassen (12/15/07) Dave's response: That wasn't me. That was an posting from someone else via our Best/Worst list. Although, I would tend to agree with the poster..... While Ive never listened to Stash of 98 rock I just want to wish him luck in healing . I myself have had the same injury 2 months ago in a vehicle accident and I can understand the problems he is going through.Gods speed my friend!! Id also like to pass along a big thanks to those two silly bastards over at 96 rock (Whiskey & JJ ) for stopping by the rehab with some girly calenders although the picture of the male intern in the bikini wasnt my favorite. Muttley (12/15/07) Good grief! Tony Snow is TERRIBLE as a Paul Harvey fill-in. His delivery is so flat that it's a chore to listen to him. And as I type this he's stealing stories word-for-word from the previous fill-in earlier this week. "Welcome to 'The Briefing Room'"? *gag* (12/15/07) Besides Pat Collins and Gary Reals, couldn't you also include Mike Buchanan? Before Buck did features and commentary, he was a crime reporter. (12/15/07) Kim Martucci? Why, she's my Crimson Haired Amazonian Vixen!--Alyx (12/15/07) "Back in the day he and Gary Reals were the only reporters that I would talk to." You forgot the leader in Public Safety reporting, the late great Larry Krebs. Marvin in Sterling" Larry Krebs was not really an investigative reporter. He did roam the city and was a true friend to police officers and firefighters but his job was to be first on the scene, report the story, and then be gone to the next crime scene. As I said before Collins and Reals were the ones I could trust with information about cases. (12/15/07) I'm out of range, is WTMD still relayed on 105.5 FM? (12/15/07) Dave's response: It was off the air midday Friday, but was back on Saturday morning..... Speaking of Kim Martucci in one of the earlier postings. I was surprised how many people in the Best/Worst of 2007 did not care for her. She is one the better weather people out there. Knows her weather, perky, (even though I am a girl) better looking people on TV. She has more personality than Topper Shutt (granted he knows his weather stuff too). (12/15/07) Dave, all I can say is that my fasting and praying is being heard by the Lord for Stash at 98 Rock. I have fasted and prayed all week but mostly I have asked God to save my friend. Stash was one of the few friendly ones when I wondered into 98 Rock's studios across from our newsroom at WBAL Radio that always joked and said hi to me.He is truly a rock DJ legend and I admire him. We all take one or two steps wrong on the steps sometimes when rushing but fractured skull and bleeding? I was so scared. Stash if you are reading this, this is your baby Kemi Editor, Producer and Intern in the newsroom in 2003. I miss you and will never forget how nice you, Kirk, Mark and my darling Lopez in heaven were to me. Also my sister Sarah F and Micky my man! Get well soon darling. We are all praying for you here in Toronto, Canada. Kemi Joshua Publicist, Canadian Assoc of Black Journalist, Toronto, Cdn. (12/15/07) Had John Riggins been dipping in the magic waters during the 5 o'clock hour of his Red Zebra radio show Friday when he asked Sue Palka what she thought of master thespian Ron "the hedgehog" Jeremy? She'd called in to declare end of world with coming weekend weather and no, did not offer her thumb up in case she was wrong. Sam 'short end of stick' Huff and Sonny Jurgenson noble in light of the firing of Frank Herzog? Come on, shirley, Huff and Jurgenson are worth $million's at this point, would it not been nobler for them to say to lil' danny you fire Frank and we leave? Does larry michael rake the leaves over at lil' danny's house? What else explains such a mediocre talent being the Dreadskin's play by play announcer. Did I hear just the wisp of "Already Gone" at the end of the getaway show for Don and Mike . From what I heard, lot's of show prep for their last xmas show ever, Donnie pulled the old box of Christmas bits Past out from back of storage closet and went through the motions with just a smooch of the eggnog of bitterness. Did such characters as Bart, Dennis Murphy, Homo Joe, Scott the argumentative dwarf , Roberts the angry mailman, Tom Gavin, Beth Ann, Clint Howard get eliminated or severely scaled back due to massive budget cuts enforced on the Don and Mike show by cbs suits? Reports are that immediately after show Don and Mike climbed into separate limo's taking them to separate private jets at the College Park airport and snowbirded down to FLA. And O'Meara could be heard to exclaim,"But What The Eff Do I Do Now! Oh my God!" (12/15/07) Thank you so much Ed Jones for your support. I really appreciate it so much. You mentioned some great tunes by the Four Tops in your post. I can remember working overnights at WQSR. Overnighters were never easy; however, I began to realize the importance of being there for the listeners and how certain songs meant so much. A Vietnam vet called one night and requested "Ask the Lonely" for his support group. Memories of that night always stay with me and working overnights took on a new meaning. Would like to hear from fellow DCRTV posters about special phone calls received on air. Also, so glad to hear the news that Stash is doing better. Blessings. Joyce Conroy (WHFC) (12/15/07) Re: "Down here in SW Va, three formats will be changing frequencies in one day, starting December 17th, all Clear Channel. What's even more challenging is that between these 3 formats, there are a total of 5 frequencies involved." That's because in the case of the "Sunny" AC format and the top 40 outlet WJJS, the company is using one frequency in Roanoke, and one frequency in Lynchburg. In this move, 'JJS is moving to two stronger frequencies, swiping them from country "Bull" (104.9/Roanoke) and from Sunny (102.7 in the Lynchburg area). That drops 106.1/Vinton-Roanoke to become "Bull's" new home, and 101.7 to serving as the Lynchburg area's simulcast for Sunny. The two stations not changed, WYYD/107.9 Amherst(/Lynchburg/Roanoke) and WROV/96.3 Martinsville(/Roanoke/Lynchburg), have the strongest signals in that cluster, and generally don't need simulcasters. All of the commercial class C stations in the R/L market are owned by competitor Mel Wheeler, Inc., and public WVTF/89.1 also has a class C outlet. VARTV speculates, likely correctly, that CC there wants to park the lesser formats on the lesser signals in case it has to spin them off... (12/15/07) I am curious as to why WJFK has survived as an all-talk FM station for CBS, when they have been dropping that format in other cities where they have stations similar to WJFK. JOHN IN STAFFORD (12/15/07) Dave's response: It probably has to do with the fact that 106.7's afternoon team of Don and Mike has been such a money-making engine for CBS Radio. Even with the station's sagging ratings of late, the ad revenue for D&M, and the Junks in the morning, comes pouring in. Both shows "clean up" with male demos that many advertisers, like car dealers, crave..... /\ December 15 Messages /\ \/ December 14 Messages \/ sounds like Big Fan was beat up a lot as a kid and to this day leads a pretty miserable existence...one where he gets off on predicting the failure of other radio stations. Internally, programmers are always going to spin a good trend...at any station. And there is good reason for that. not sure what your reason is for such an unsolicited attack. maybe you see them as a threat? from an outsiders viewpoint, I don't know that you can really predict anything there just yet...maybe you should wait until TK and Beck start. TK's numbers really jumped up when he was there...and the rest of the line-up is certainly more compelling than WaPo Radio was. JC (12/14/07) We all remember the changes in frequencies over the years in both the Baltimore and Washington area. Down here in SW Va, three formats will be changing frequencies in one day, starting December 17th, all Clear Channel. What's even more challenging is that between these 3 formats, there are a total of 5 frequencies involved. That's got to be a major project when you consider new jingles, new positioning, bumper stickers, vehicle lettering, stationary, promotional material etc, not to mention all the jocks having to get used to the new liners... That should keep the listeners scratching their heads, and wondering if it's April 1st! Tom Conroy (12/14/07) Dave's response: Here's what I'd like to see on a single day in January - CBS putting real classic WHFS free-form/AAA/progressive rock on 99.1 (good signal to both DC and Baltimore) with Cerphe and Weasel, moving El Zol to 106.7 (which better covers the heavily Hispanic neighborhoods of NOVA) with an MTV Tres Spanish AND English hit music format, and making 94.7 WJFK's guy talk/sports (better signal to suburban Maryland) as "Just For Kicks" with the Sports Junkies in mornings. If CBS doesn't do that, Michael Hughes will be managing a McDonalds by Memorial Day '08..... "Back in the day he and Gary Reals were the only reporters that I would talk to." You forgot the leader in Public Safety reporting, the late great Larry Krebs. Marvin in Sterling (12/14/07) If "Industry Observer" had not been so quick to report "traction" and "exploding numbers" based on the first month of ratings, then "Big Fan" would not have commented on the second month. You reap what you sow. But for the record "Big Fan" will suggest that when the Nats baseball audience rolls off the ratings (September) and the December 3WT programming is judged, the results wont be pretty. Perhaps Bonneville should switch to music on their three frequencies: Classical, Country, Polka, Hymns and Whatever We Want". Or perhaps buy up three other signals to put 3WT on 6 frequencies to see if they can draw a one share. The station is a disaster. Spin away, Bonneville, see you in January. B.F. (12/14/07) Dave's response: "Oldies with sports" on 107.7/1500 in early 2008? Sounds increasingly likely to me..... I agree with Paul, Kim Martucci looks pretty hot to me. Never seen her in person, but I’d like to. Since the beautiful Nicole O’Brien left, Kim is one of the few reasons to watch Channel 9 in the AM. (12/14/07) The bad news: If Don is retiring in the spring of 2008 this will be the last D&M Christmas show we'll ever hear. The good news: If Don is retiring in the spring of 2008 this will be the last D&M Christmas show we'll ever hear. (12/14/07) As an industry observer it's always humorous to see notes from people like "Big Fan". When you report a station, in this case 3WT has a big month in afternoon drive, it's spin and not real. But when the number takes a statistical fall, which they do in monthlies, it's real to him or her. Gee, wonder if "Big Fan" is working spin for his or her own station. If you were taking book on this, I'd wait until the third phase is in before placing any bets. (12/14/07) In Re: Planting the "seeds" of "quality journalism", under the Clinton White House that would have had a double entendre meaning (a possibly a lot of pregnant female journalists). Just a joke, not a sermon. -- Carl in Olney (12/14/07) Dave: Our digital channel with radar that’s airing WASH music is 9.2, not 9.1. Thanks. (12/14/07) Hey, Dave, wonder if your 3WT source will be doing an update on their EXPLOSIVE ratings again? Could you ask them to comment on the fact that in 25-54 for the month of November (that is the latest rated month) their morning drive number was .6 and their afternoon drive number was an amazing .0 !!! Did they say the numbers were imploding or exploding? In 12+ their trend puts them at number 21 out of the 23 stations rated...below even WFRE in Frederick. And their November share trends DOWNWARDS from that. Oh, and these "exploding" ratings are garnered from THREE signals. Dave..if they are going to spin you, make them keep it real. Do you think they will wait 18 months to pull the plug on this stink bomb of a radio station? Big Fan (12/14/07) Re: What's "Christmas music" and what ain't. It's a bit ridiculous to get too specific. "Sleigh Ride," "Winter Wonderland" and "Frosty the Snowman" aren't "Christmas" songs either, but they've been a staple on American radio for 60 or 70 years. They are, however, "Winter" songs and they are acceptable as such. I heard someone play "Sleigh Ride" one time after a February blizzard, and it just sounded out of place, like a bad joke. Always thought "Same Old Lang Syne" by Dan "Leader of the Bland" Fogelberg was an awful song to be playing. It's nothing but a poorly-constructed, depressing dirge. "Celebrate Me Home?" Please! Booooooring! Out of place. I've often wondered why the classic singers (Crosby, Cole, Sinatra, Bennett etc.) could do a song in 2 1/2 or 3 minutes but it takes Gloria Estefan and her ilk about 5 minutes, most of which is meandering improvisation. And why do we have to listen to the supremely untalented Amy Grant every year? I can sing as well as she can. One day I heard three versions of "My Grown-Up Christmas List," a truly crapola song no matter who screeches it. And I'm no Scrooge either. I enjoy hearing seasonal music that's good. At least that treakly song about the footwear (I won't mention it by name) is somewhat uplifting, being about the little boy's faith. But don't even mention the reprehensible "Dear Mr. Jesus." Anyone who wants to hear that at Christmas is out of their mind! (12/14/07) Anything more specific about the PM drive extraps? I'm glad to see Baisden continues to do well. Enjoy listening to him on the way home. (12/14/07) Re: "What's the "D" is DCRTV stand for - 'Damned?'"-- I just gotta admire all the love that pours forth from the Jesus cult! I'd think their god could stand up to a question or three, but apparently I'm wrong. (12/14/07) On the subject of NOT Christmas songs, I would agree with the earlier poster's list with the exception of "The Peanuts Theme". If by "The Peanuts Theme" he/she meant "Linus and Lucy", that song was first heard by most people on the Charlie Brown Christmas program and would indeed qualify as a Christmas song if only through common usage. Howie (12/14/07) Looking at the monthly (extraps) 25-54, Jack Diamond had a good month and so did Michael Baisden. 7p-mid on Wash popped, jumping to a 10.9! BIG got a little pop in weekend numbers (Redskins cume, no doubt). Don & Mike's monthly was a 6.4....a bit higher than they have seen for a while. Most encouraging number on 3WT is middays 10-3p..... (12/14/07) Pat Collins has the best law enforcement sources in town. You can count on his reports to be accurate and sometimes the info is right from the source. He gets ordinary people to talk where the pretty-faces don't dare approach the typical street dude. Back in the day he and Gary Reals were the only reporters that I would talk to. (12/14/07) According the Weekend section in the Post, Channel 4's Eun Yang enjoys art. I wonder if she'd like to come over and see my etchings! I know. Shameful. Damn she's hot though! Paul (12/14/07) Okay, I have to say this "Celebrate Me Home" by Kenny Loggins...not a Christmas song. "Same Old Lang Syne" from Dan Fogelberg...not a Christmas song (yes it mentions "Christmas Eve", but it's NOT a Christmas song). "My Favoirte Things" is from the Sound of Music...NOT a Christmas song! "Baby It's Cold Outside", "I've Got Your Love To Keep Me Warm", and "The Peanuts Theme" are NOT Christmas songs! (12/14/07) To all those folks who do not like Pat Collins (NBC 4 News) reporting “style”, I would say to “each his own” but I personally think his style is great and he puts a lot of drama into it which really whets my appetite. This has been his style for years and he’s not going to change. Everybody is different and unique in his/her own way. The News Media offers us the best they can and so we really need to stop being so “critical” of people. We must learn to like/love each other more and look for the best in each other!! Joan (12/14/07) MONSTER MADHOUSE LIVE RETURNS TONIGHT At 8:00 p.m. for a special DECEMBER DOUBLE FEATURE, on Falls Church, Virginia based FCCTV! Returning to help host "The Last Man on Earth" (the first film adaptation of "I Am Legend") is none-other than COUNT GORE DE VOL, who in January will celebrate his 35th anniversary of the debut of "Creature Feature." Many more surprises and special appearances are planned for 10pm as we end the year the same way we began - with the ultimate holiday movie, "The Giant Gila Monster." Only a self-loathing 16 year old Internet elitist would object to such an evening! This is a rare opportunity to catch live, LOCAL television again - grown men and women in make-up babbling about monster movies! FCCTV can be seen in Fairfax County and Falls Church on Cox Channel 12 on Starpower Channel 2, all of Northern Virginia on Verizon's Fios service Channel 35, and even if you do not live in Northern Virginia, you can catch it all live during our streaming webcast at www.monstermadhouselive. (12/14/07) I can see it now...."Welcome to the Grease & Mike Show!".."Ehhh waddle doo dum!"...."Hey Grease!"...."Hey Charlie!"...."Haaa....hhaaaaa"...."I'm Charlie Stuangstabalack!"....So would the lib news reader be odd man out? I can see Robb on that show..but not Birdbank. WB Centreville, VA (12/14/07) Dave's response: The Greaseman comes home to his old WARW Rockville studio (where D&M currently do their show). Wow..... Once again it is time to circulate this picture of Mike from 2002, drunk outside a restaurant in Manassas (12/14/07) Dave's response: Way too thin to be O'Meara..... Hey Dave in Sterling. Sorry, but I still refute your rebuttal to my comments on Chip’s post. Guess it’s idiotic to go on about this, and yeah, B/W is largely opinion, but I just didn’t like his take, so I slammed him on it. His “opinions” remain wholly asinine. And if you’re referring to Haber writing his stuff, believe me, he does. Plus…I’ve never had a hate-filled Xmas, please save that for the people being hateful in the Best/Worst. I was just correcting Chip on some things, and yes, there were some factual errors. Guess I went a bit overboard with the “egg nog” and stuff, but I guess I just naturally defend injustice. Oh well. Have a happy, Dave from Sterling. Sorry to offend. Love, Santa. (12/14/07) "Kim Martucci on Channel 9 scares the hell out of me... That unnatural reddish colored hair. That heee-uuuuge face that looks more geometrical than it should. Seriously. Her head is like twice as big as anyone else's when they sit at the desk." Actually in person, she is quite attractive. I have seen her a few times in Frederick and she looks much better. She is tall so that scares some people into thinking she is some monster but those are just the small insecure guys. Paul (12/14/07) DCRTV Dave: You godless, tree-hugging Clinton-worshiping liberal. Lose the "JesusWho" banner, at least until after the holidays. What's the "D" is DCRTV stand for - "Damned?" Al McGilvray (12/14/07) Dave's response: Go blame Google. DCRTV has no direct control over the ads they "feed" us. Technically, I was raised and confirmed as a Presbyterian. Haven't been to church in about a decade. I now worship Physics, which is the closest glipse we mere humans can have of "God"..... Dave, I saw your link to lauranachman.net, she was an intern of mine at WCAU in Philly in 1986! Holy Crap! You don’t have to print this one. Cheers. DAVID (12/14/07) Hello, Fellow DCRTV Posters. It's been a while since I've posted. I just checked the mailbag, and saw a posting mentioning Still Water (Love) by the Four Tops. That is a great tune. When it was out, it received a lot of airplay. The flip side also got some airplay. The title is Still Water (Peace). It was the same tune as the latter. A couple of other Four Tops tunes that received considerable airplay was Just Seven Numbers, and It's All in the Game. A couple more great tunes that oldies stations just don't play anymore. Even the R&B oldies stations don't play these classic gems. The only place to hear these songs are on XM, Cirrius, or Joyce Conroy's show. And Joyce, I've listened to your show a couple of weeks ago, and it was fantastic. Keep the great forgotten oldies coming. Ed Jones, Bel Air MD (12/14/07) Kim Martucci on Channel 9 scares the hell out of me... That unnatural reddish colored hair. That heee-uuuuge face that looks more geometrical than it should. Seriously. Her head is like twice as big as anyone else's when they sit at the desk. Do I see an Adam's apple? I swear to God I would have nightmares involving run away parade balloons if she did the late night weather. Her sing-song Kristie King-like presentation does not give me confidence in anything she says about the weather. Hi, my name is Deuce Big...GEST LADY IN THE WORLD. The new traffic chick seems to have some idea what she's talking about although I'm not sure she was worth the three or four month wait while she was trained. Her voice is more like that of a sophomore cheerleader. Tucker Echols (the vendor business guy) certainly wouldn't be there if they actually had to pay for him. The only reason I continue to spend anytime at all there is the wonderful Andrea Rhone. Brad (12/14/07) I recognize the dude in the still from the Tracy Metro infomercial... Are you sure that's not the one and only Dr. Chip Bandwidth? (12/14/07) Hey Michael: "Still Water (Love)" by the Four Tops is a beautiful song. It has always been my philosophy that oldies stations need to feature songs like this to evoke that "Oh Wow" feeling. In my opinion, when oldies stations continue to play the same songs (only those in the Top 10) over and over again, it is disrespect to the artist and to the listener. "I'm in a Different World" is another great Four Tops song that was featured on stations like WCAO, but you rarely hear it being played nowadays. Blessings. Joyce Conroy (WHFC) (12/14/07) Is Count Gore going to be hosting a New Year's Eve show on channel 20 this year? If so, I cast my vote for creature featuring showing of "Christine", with local actor Robert Prosky, and "Wolfen". Does anyone know if the Britt family has sold out it's interest in Ted Britt Ford? Those infomercials currently running on the CW channel with the Dawg, the power of three, Rick "The Nature Boy" Flair and some hot babes, seems very out of character for Ted Britt Ford after all these years. Did LBJ loan Texas Ted Britt the money to start up the auto dealership in toothless fairfax all those years ago? In addition, to root boy's local xmas song classic "Crismus at kmart" didn't Travesty Ltd. also have a Xmas song? Is Washington City Paper just turning into an advertising circular? I hear Kevin Blackistone is associated with AOL Sport's, I thought the bell is tolling on AOL, and didn't AOL Sport's just have that poll on the worst sport's announcer in which WaPo Kornholio won. So I guess we won't be seeing Mr. Blackistone working at WaPo? Did former CBS news reporter Fred Graham have an ownership stake in Court TV? So he made out okay with the sale of Court TV and it's forthcoming change to It All Sucks TV? What happens to Star Jones? (12/14/07) /\ December 14 Messages /\ \/ December 13 Messages \/ Paul wrote: "I saw Shannon Bream on Fox too. I didn't see her ''666'' tattoo though. I thought that was a requirement when you joined. Paul" - But, hey mahn... did you notice? 'Dat Shannon Bream gots a BIG BOTTOM! Thank goodness, oh my my! Your Mangrove Mama's Mangrove Papa (12/13/07) Did anyone say something about having a game of high stakes poker? If you got the cash, I got the time. Signed, Doyle Brunson (12/13/07) I have been critical of Pat Collins of NBC4 for his overly dramatic, even "cutesy" way of reporting serious stories, but I have to give him credit for his reporting on tonight's news. He reported on a body that was found in Loudoun County, and he reported in a straightforward, serious manner, as such a story should be reported...he didn't show his dimples once. He did a good job and I have to commend him instead of criticize him...hope he keeps up the good work. -- Bobbie (12/13/07) From Inside Radio today at 4:30pm: Citadel joins the ranks of radio groups trimming the size of its portfolio. CEO Farid Suleman has hired financial advisors Credit Suisse Securities and Deutsche Bank Securities to help Citadel sort through its portfolio and the offers that come in. No station count is being offered, but Citadel projects the sales could bring in between $75 to $175 million over the next two years. (12/13/07) Dave's response: I would imagine Citadel to spin off some of its smaller market stations and not major market "cash cows" like WMAL, WJZW, and WRQX..... No, unsigned poster, you didn't refute anything factual Chip said. He stated Best of/Worst of OPINIONS, and because you disagree with him you took it upon yourself to attack him as a "clueless jackass...a brain dead bohunk...an ass" and "a true dolt" who you said should "have another egg nog, and choke on a Christmas cookie out there in the sticks where you belong." Having a hate filled Christmas this year, are we? By the way, at least one of the people you claimed is a great writer doesn't actually do any writing. Nice try. Dave in Sterling (12/13/07) HD Radio Wins an Award!! www.orbitcast.com (12/13/07) The post ripping Chip in Harrisonburg wasn’t as “nasty” as his inaccurate ramblings. So it’s OK for him to be mean and also wrong, but calling him out on it is “nasty”? There’s nothing worse than people who aren’t accurate with their criticisms, regardless if it is their opinion or not. And no it wasn’t from Haber, he and probably most of the on-air talent that’s hacked up here could care less what people say if they’re pros. Sorry I offended ya , but it just needs to pointed out sometimes that if you’re gonna slam someone, you’d better be accurate or you’re gonna get slammed back. ‘Nuff said. Happy Holidays, and peace on earth, even to good ol’ Chipper. (12/13/07) I saw Shannon Bream on Fox too. I didn't see her ''666'' tattoo though. I thought that was a requirement when you joined. Paul (12/13/07) Dave's response: You probably saw it upside down as "999"..... Sorry to say that the original poster is correct. Here is the simple but effective email Jim Farley sent: [ Subject:Vote Early and Vote Often..... - "From: Jim Farley To: DC_Staff ....for your favorite Bonneville station and personality. www.dcrtv.com/bw2007.html Sent: Tue 12/11/2007 8:46 AM ]" - Jim may or may not have a slew of bogus email addresses, but this is proof beyond a doubt that he tainted the Best/Worst list. (12/13/07) Dave's response: Oh my God! You mean someone is trying to stack the deck! Ha ha ha! You gotta expect that. I mean, I'll get a batch of "hottie" votes and 20 in a row will come from the same station..... (Paraphrased from the DC Craigslist-dot-com) Broadcasters: The next time you have an "I Hate My Station" day at work, do this: On your way home, stop at CVS and purchase a rectal thermometer made by Johnson & Johnson. Be absolutely sure you get this brand. Once home, open the package and carefully remove the thermometer. Take the literature out of the box and read it very carefully. You will notice the following in small print: "Every Rectal Thermometer made by Johnson & Johnson is personally tested, and then sanitized." Did you get that? PERSONALLY TESTED??? Close your eyes and repeat out loud, "I am SO glad I do not have a job in the thermometer quality control department at Johnson & Johnson." See you at work tomorrow, then. (12/13/07) 'And now they're talking about a "Christmas Shoes" movie', he grumbled to himself, as he sweat uncontrollably and shakingly slammed home another cartridge. "They've gone too far this time, this time they're gonna pay, they're gonna pay real good, I don't care if there is a writer's strike going on in Hollywood, this is too much" he silently ranted….as he reached for the rag to once again polish his precious only friend, his mind feverishly racing over the plans for a last dance with the Fat Man in the dirty red jacket with the big black leather belt that held so many nightmarish memories for him, the long tobacco stained dirty streaked beard hiding the rotting teeth of the fiend Don and Mike called "Sinterklaas" and his giggling accomplice, the mishapen malignant dwarf they called "Black Peter"…. He fought through the mental haze and the never ending, unanswered EAS signal to force himself to remember that next he had to take care of the bastards who kept pushing "Christmas Eve in Washington" on him, and the money that the man from the Naval Observatory talked about (was it really Dick Cheney? It could have been the Vice President, it seemed so long ago and so distant he wasn't really sure, just the shiny aviator glasses and the snarl in the voice as the man held the bulging envelope with the cash, half now and half when the job was done and a promise of a new life on the FCC and in Wisconsin, God all the Cheese...)…this is for you Grease, they shouldn't have treated you that way, it wasn't right at all, Michael Vick didn't treat his dogs that way, and for all of those that didn't make it out of GMS, this is for you too, TOP O'THE WORLD MA, TOP O'THE WORLD, HA,HA,HA,HA………..Genghis Cohen and a Christmas radio tale with a twist designed to incorporate as many topics we raised as possible during 2007, about to go on vacation for the remainder of the year, see you in 2008! (12/13/07) To my Oldies friends out there-Joyce, Ken, Johnny Dark, etc-I was driving back home from Salisbury to OC after looking at Christmas lights last night and I heard a song on the oldies station down here I had never heard before so I pulled over and looked up the song in my Top 40 Billboard Book and found that it was the Four Tops-Still Water (Love) from 1970. You know I don't think I ever rememeber hearing that song on any of the oldies stations I've listened to over the years. Yet it made it up to #11. Nto sure why it never got major air play. Its nice to hear a song once in a while I have never heard beforem, definitely and oh wow for me. -Michael Popovec (12/13/07) Hey PLB: “Jim Farley doesn’t seem like the type to create phony email names to make his station look better” Just what type of person is that? Farley has an ego the size of the Washington Monument. He is one part news hound, and three parts Barnum and Bailey. I don’t know if he still has all of those phony email names today, but he had them for years. I saw them, and he boasted about them on a regular basis. Are you that naïve to think that he wouldn’t create those bogus names? If you answer yes, are you available for a high stakes game of poker this evening? (12/13/07) So, Rush gets all upset at libs who make fat comments about him. Then, today, he makes comments about how ugly the female moderator of yesterday's Iowa GOP debate was. Man, Rush, you richly deserve all the verbal shit you get. Eat it up! (12/13/07) Dave, Baseball will change forever as the Steroid Era becomes official today when Former Speaker of the House George Mitchell announces his findings at 1pm. Comcast Sports Net will have all the local names covered and ESPN all will have wall to wall coverage. www.examiner.com... Cheers, Jim (12/13/07) PLB here, I have a question for the person that claims Jim (Farley) has numerous email addresses, just so he can email DCRTV. Either you HATE the guy or you know something no one else does. Personally, I think you're crazy. I've met Jim, I don't know him well, but he just doesn't seem to be the type of person that would have to go to the extremes you present for a successful radio station. Granted they make mistakes, so do all of us. But, if so many people HATE the station why do the same, very same people post the same negatives? Just curious. PLB:0) (12/13/07) Does anyone know if you are able to receive the HD Radio signals from the DC and Baltimore stations on the Eastern Shore, particularly in Easton? (12/13/07) Dave's response: If you're more than about 15 or 20 miles from a station's transmission site, you can pretty much forget about receiving its digital HD Radio channels. Unless you have a really really really good antenna, like maybe a rooftop model. Here in Northern Virginia, I'm about 50 miles from Baltimore and have had no luck receiving any of the HD sigs from its major FMers..... (From DCRTV's Classified Ads:) Message from DC Area's Amina Vohra: Men dance because women love to dance, and women love men that can dance because they are easier to train. Yes . . . women do equate a man's dancing skills to his skills in -- you know what. . . If you feel nervous or stupid dancing at parties or clubs make it your New Years resolution to resolve it! At Amina's Dance School (as seen on Fox 5 News, DailyCandy.com, DCStyleMag, and Image-in-Asian TV) there are only 12 students per class and optional nightclub outing(s) so you're sure to learn a lot. We teach moves you can actually USE at a clubs, NOT leaps across the floor! The next 6 week Co-ed Adult Beginners Class starts the second week of January NEAR WASHINGTON DC! $150 for 6 weeks, 6 classes total, 9 hours total. Choose Hip Hop for Nightclub Dancing Class, Fusion Dance Class (fusion of Hip Hop, Latin, Indian, and Glow Sticks), or Ballet & Hip Hop Fusion! 12 spots per class, 3 classes to choose from total. Sign up, videos, Details at www.AminaArtist.com. Also available are Cultural Fusion Solo Dance Performances by Amina Vohra. To book a solo Fusion Dance performance by Amina for a family party or corporate event visit www.aminaartist.com/AboutAmina.htm. (12/13/07) One of the "best" in the best and worst has Charlie Gibson doing the ABC Radio "Flair Reports." He never did that, he was still at Princeton at the time. Charlie did work at WMAL-AM and -TV, before making his way to the network, but that was in the early 70s, by the time Flair had flared out. (Charles Osgood and Ted Koppel were ABC Radio "Flair Reporters," however, starting in 1963.) (12/13/07) In response to Post (12/12) regarding the “situation” of the Capitol Pages being expelled for a sex act. What difference does it really makes if it was ON the elevator or IN the elevator? We know what’s going on. Stop being so picky with words and find something more “interesting” to do with your time. (12/13/07) Just saw Shannon Bream reporting live from D.C. on a political issue on Fox News Channel's "America's Newsroom" with Megyn Kelly and Bill Hemmer. What gives? Has she left NBC4? I've seen Jane Watchel do the same thing in the past, yet I do believe she's still at NBC. (12/13/07) Dave's response: Yes, we reported a while back that Shannon has made the leap to Rupert Murdoch's evil Fox "news" empire..... That nasty post ripping Chip in Harrisonburg has got to go, the "dude" is entitled to his opinions, but the post was plain nasty. Perhaps it was Bret Haber himself. (12/13/07) It should be noted that WUSA is only partially in HD. Correct me if I am wrong, but it is my understanding they still do no not have HD field cameras. Considering the fact that a majority of a newscast is field shots and b-roll, you would have to say Channel 9 news being HD is a "stretch".... (12/13/07) Man I can’t help responding to this clueless jackass Chip in Harrisonburg on his BEST/WORST…where do I start? First, on WUSA, Nicole O’Brian wasn’t “dumped” for Tracy Metro, the traffic services were changed (Metro Traffic to traffic.com) thus facilitating a mandatory change in talent. Tracy Metro was only a temp choice (and yes, not a good one), and now with Angie Goff all is very well thank you…Brett Haber was the number one guy for the most part at WTTG and not the backup, and he’s the best writer bar none in sports in this town…Lindsay and Dan on 4, good? Man, you are a brain dead bohunk, dude. They have nothing to offer and it shows in the declining numbers and on their reputations as know-nothings…the latest bimbo Washingtonian cover, good? Jeez, I guess giggling with wine glasses helps cement already questionable journalistic talent, figures you’d like that one…George and Sonny, good? Man, you are an ass Chippie, they phone it in, and have no depth of coverage. They rest on laurels and do nothing exciting. Mike Walter’s toupee? He doesn’t wear one, jerk, and he’s one of the best writers and reporters let alone anchors in this market, plus a damn nice guy to boot who does great work with the Capital Area Food Bank and other causes. I hope Santa drops in his sleigh on your head this Christmas, Chipper. You are a true dolt. Have another egg nog, and choke on a Christmas cookie out there in the sticks where you belong. (12/13/07) Hey PLB: You are right about Jim Farley not asking the WTOP staff to email DCRTV. Jim always had at least ten different email addresses’ that he uses to mail this site with his propaganda. It is funny that Jim feels the need to defend any criticism against his precious radio station. WTOP is a nice product that makes a lot of money. WTOP does make mistakes like everyone else in the media business. People don’t like WTOP because they will never admit that they are wrong. In addition, a little humility wouldn’t hurt every now and then! (12/13/07) For those that keep asking, That's Tracy Metro on the right. I saw an infomercial for the Skil X Bench on TLC or Discovery (one of those) at 6:30 this morning, and Tracy was sawing a piece of wood and reminding me to wear my safety goggles. She seems to have survived just fine..... (12/13/07) Two companies involved in the radio business - Clear Channel Communications and Air America Radio - have been in the process of downsizing in the final months of 2007. Now we all know that Clear Channel is the largest company in the radio business. It started the year with over 1,200 radio stations with access to 40% of radio listeners. It is also involved in the outdoor advertising and music concert businesses. AAR, on the other hand, is one of the radio industry's smallest companies. It is now in the process of reorganizing after a painful bankruptcy just over a year ago and the loss of about 20% of its coverage. Find out why Christmas will not be a happy time for many Clear Channel and some AAR employees in the current edition of Talking Radio www.talkingradio.blogspot.com (12/13/07) Anyone familiar with the history of African Americans in journalism knows the words, "We wish to plead our own cause. Too long have others spoken for us." They come from the inaugural issue of Freedom's Journal, published on March 16, 1827, establishing it as the first African American newspaper. Included below are five other books that in 2007 examined the subject of journalism from an African American perspective. Other nonfiction books by and about black journalists will be covered in the coming days. . . . in today's "Journal-isms" www.maynardije.org (12/13/07) Check out this website media.myfoxdc.com/myvoice/gray.html (12/13/07) I just ran across this...look at the 8th one down www.cmsstationbrokerage.com Any ideas? (12/13/07) Dave's response: WMET? We only could wish that WTOP would sound as KYW sounds in Philadelphia. It's true. KYW is the news, traffic, weather, sports, business, around the clock radio station. WTOP could get all the news that's fit to broadcast if Moss in the morning would just stop thinking he's funny. He is not funny! And he should stop being a cheerleader for everything. Maybe he should just STOP talking. Mr. Farley, please have your folks just give us the information and stop trying to be funny. Thank you. (12/13/07) I'm sorry - the WTOP anchors were talking about eating Ghelt? Oh, and the Capital elevator was going down. Like a good girl. (12/13/07) Good to hear from the lovely Estell talking about her Grease We all knew that the Grease mocked you with a bit of tongue in cheek. Did Mr. Geronimo say something about the lousy graphics on the Greasemun's website? Now that's funny Geronimoe! Is Geronimo thinking of a Greaseman and O'Meara team since it looks like Robbay will be ghostwriting DG's memoirs. How does Geronimo feel about all the ads voicedover by some Sport Chunkie on the DnM show? And let me understand this, it ain't racist when Donnie mocks say an Asian gentleman cause Don says it ain't racist, is that the theory? Ah so! Hey but I kid, I do it with love, now excuse me while I drop my pants and fire off a rocket. When and why did Newschannel 8 stop showing Mark Plotkin's Politics Hour show? I really dislike WTOP! Time checks on the minute, 2 minutes of 15 second news bites and then 2 minutes of commercials and of course the constant traffic and weather. White noise for folks who can't focus on anything for more than a minute. What? It was most definitely quite different when she was 67 or 57. There does seem to be a difference in music played in evenings on The Glob, weht albie dee, they play a lot more recent stuff and mix it with the classic rock stuff from 70's and early 80's. Me I wanted new wave and psuedo punk and stuff like that but alas I guess it shall not be. Back to JACK for me. And that's a fact... (12/13/07) "Christmas Shoes Alert!" It played last night (Tuesday) on WASH-FM and Lite 97.5 (Martinsburg) during Delilah's syndicated show. Al McGilvray (12/13/07) On what station is Imus in the Morning broadcast in the Washington, D.C. area?. I've been searching the Internet for several days to find this info, with absolutely no success. Tried to find a list of the SCHEDULES of local radio stations, also with no success. I didn't want to go to the web site of each and every station in the DC area and see if Imus is listed. I get RFD-TV but I'd like to listen to Imus in the car. So glad he's back. There was a huge void without him. There was absolutely no one else to listen to for some fun in the morning. Anyway, can you help me find him in D.C.? Rosemary (12/13/07) Dave's response: Try NYC's 770 AM before sunrise. Or Hagerstown's 1490 AM, the Eastern Shore's 101.1 FM, or Tidewater's 790 AM. Imus is not here..... Before we all get too "weepy over the corpse," let's all keep in mind that Aaron Rehkopf certainly has his demons. When he first arrived in Bawl'mer, he spent an inordinate amount of time and breath trashing his predecessors at WPOC in some pretty open and public forums. In some cases, he apologized and ate a little humble pie, but he will never overcome the initial image of a small town hack to MANY of us who have passed on chances to hire him after that. Edward R Murrose and Fred Unfriendly (12/13/07) /\ December 13 Messages /\ \/ December 12 Messages \/ most people have it wrong about grease. he has had it all and done it all. he has the independence, the self-confidence and the funds to tell all of you go F--- yourself ! he is a wonderful, loving, intelligent man. I can only hope my touching his life with my experiences and perspective was a part of his decision to enjoy his life and smell the roses. I sent almost 40 years dealing with situations that would make any healthy person sick and know that Doug is a happier man knowing he is worth much more than the broadcasting business can ever offer a true talent these days. (12/12/07) Two things: First, I guess Tony the K understands it's "Monday Night," but he seems to have overlooked the "Football" part of the title. He talks non-stop for three hours every Monday Night but can't seem to think of anything to say about Football. Jessica Simpson? Yes. American Idol? Yes. Himself? Yes. But football? No chance. And the two-minute pretend argument with Wilbon at halftime is pathetic. Second, what fantasy land do 'Greaseman' fans send their emails from? Example: ""in hopes of 'resurrecting' the Grease's radio career" You got it backwards Dave, Grease would resurrect Don's radio career with a visit." Let's see, one of them is closing out a multi-decade career in which he has almost always been at or near the top of the ratings that count, and the other one is unemployed after several years trying in vain to revive his career after a humiliating "adios" from...what was it now, it's been so long--DC101? Anyway, I think it was stated correctly the first time: Geronimo was being charitable to a guy who committed career suicide a long, long time ago. Dave in Sterling (12/12/07) Im I the only one who seems to think that D&M show has gone from great to shitty? Doesnt seem like the same really funny show it was. It also doesnt help that Don is turned into a total dick. Love asshat (12/12/07) "in hopes of "resurrecting" the Grease's radio career" You got it backwards Dave, Grease would resurrect Don's radio career with a visit. (12/12/07) The poster is right about the BBC WNA quality being so poor due to all the conversions, but according to the BBC folks in the UK our feed to them looks pretty good, it's everything after that. So the other thing that will change when the HD conversion goes on the air is all program content from the US will go directly out and only the UK material in 625, converted to 1080, will come from the UK. Charlie Wilson, BBC America (12/12/07) Sorry to see Aaron Rehkopf go. He's a good man and an excellent newscaster. But good for him as he gets to go back home to the 'Burgh. Go Stillers. Tom in Montgomery County MD (12/12/07) (regarding a previous post) "Saw the post on dcrtv that XM is offering select broadcasts as podcasts. No luck finding needed information on their website, so I called their customer service department to ask if a program from last week is available via podcast for subscribers or non-subscribers." You will be better off looking in iTunes for the XM Podcasts, and thousands of other podcasts offered by others. iTunes is a free download from Apple, with versions for PCs and, of course, Macs. www.apple.com (12/12/07) I'm surprised no one here has mentioned it yet, although maybe it's because hardly anyone was watching, but My24 WUTB stopped simulcasting FOX5's Morning News a week ago Monday (12/3). They now run dreaded informercials from overnight through 8am, followed by a second running of Tyra Banks at 8. However, they still simulcast FOX5's News at 10PM as My24 News at 10PM every night of the week. -Greg in Perry Hall (12/12/07) In reference to the reply from someone linked to BBC America/Discovery... The biggest reason I think the quality sucks on the 10pm news is the double conversion. It starts in the DC office as 525 NTSC, gets converted to 625 PAL, probably in the UK, gets mixed in with the remainder of the BBCWorld stuff, then gets converted back to 525 NTSC for distribution in the US markets. Whether th