Current Mailbag - Mailbag Archive Index - DCRTV Front Page - Support DCRTV DCRTV Mailbag - March 8 to March 17, 2008 Latest messages listed first..... \/ March 17 Messages \/ Dave, Birach's winning streak continues. hamptonroads.com... Both listeners devastated. (3/17/08) Dave's response: We did do a Monday newsblurb on the Front Page. Two listeners? Probably an over-estimation..... Pulled up the NBC4 website to research a story they had broadcast earlier and saw that they had some pictures posted of Caron Butler's recent birthday party. So, I open the link and, who the heck submitted those pictures?. They were horrible!!. They had to be taken with a camera phone. A lot of the people had that "red eye", some weren't that clear. In one picture, it looked like whoever was taking them was trying to get someone in distance and in the forefront is some woman putting her lipstick on. I don't think she was supposed to be in the picture. There was also a picture posted of a woman who was supposedly Kim Kardasian, but you only saw the side of her face and her hand was covering the front of her face. The majority of the rest of the pictures were just of "people". I guess they will post anything people submit. (3/17/08) In regards to the "new reality" at Gannett's KUSA-TV (and surely to be repeated at all other Gannett stations): This numbskull move has yet again cemented my confidence in the decision I made to leave television news. Multi-task? A reporter, shooter, editor, producer all rolled into one? What are you smoking, Mr. Lougee?? Let's see, blinding snowstorm, chasing down an interview, lugging heavy equipment in high heels, and oh yes, looking like a freshly showered and coiffed sexpot walking down the red carpet at the same time, and never, ever flubbing a word. Yeah. Like that'll ever happen. The Gannett bozos will ultimately chase out every intelligent, well-educated and talented journalist who will figure out that it's just not worth the never-ending aggravation for the wages paid, and they will move into other more lucrative and less taxing careers. And tv news will be cranked out by the same type of people for whom it is made: the lowest common denominator. - former anchorbabe (3/17/08) As for your belief that TK didn't dispute the info from your "source" -- He said that he has never denied that he is under contract to continue to do MNF next year - and will fulfill his contract. He also said he directly asked the management at Bonneville whether there is any truth to your "rumor" that he will not be back on 3WT if he leaves to do MNF - and he was told management at 3400 Idaho has no problem with him leaving to do the football gig. So, what more do you want? And why should he answer to you anyway? (3/17/08) Dave's response: Well, if 3WT doesn't climb above 24th place soon, Tony may show up in January to find the station playing classic country..... I rarely get to listen to D&M anymore, but today I was off and thought I'd tune in only to hear The Best Of. I turned it on around 4pm, so didn't hear the reason why. Is this due to another suspension? (3/17/08) Dave's response: No. Just D&M's annual week or two off around Easter..... Quote: "question for fans of the grandy and andy morning show Dave, I think you listen. And, ha ha is 'fans' too strong of a term? anyway, I do enjoy listening to them, but Im just wondering about how many possible " a rule is a rule' stories do we really need??" Dude, you need to lay off the green beer. This sentence makes no sense whatsoever. (3/17/08) I had to laugh at the story about Scott Shannon and his ego project. "Mostly run from his basement" and "is on in many small markets" Except for DC, Atlanta and Chicago-cause Citadel has no idea on how to run large market radio. Who knows, soon they could be running network shit on WRQX. (3/17/08) (From DCRTV's Classified Ads:) Seeking INDEPENDENT RADIO SALES REPRESENTATIVES for a popular and syndicated life-style radio show. Must have radio sales experience and be a great self-starter. There is unlimited income potential with this generous commission-only opportunity. Frequent bonuses are also offered as part of the earning package. All submissions are confidential. Candidates must sign a confidentiality agreement. Email cover letter, resume and references to: radio@traveln-on.com for consideration. (3/17/08) So, did your “sources” tell you Andy was a guest on the show? I listened last week…Andy wasn’t a guest. Can I be a “source” now? (3/17/08) Dave -- Re: your newsblurb on Tony K, Andy Pollin... Andy Pollin visited Tony last week at 3WT studio. (3/17/08) Dave's response: So, Tony read my post of last week and invited Andy over to his 3WT show for some advice. Good move, if a bit desperate..... Dear DCRTV, Tony Kornheiser discussed your item about MNF and leaving 3WT on the air last Thursday. He said your source is wrong and said you have never tried to call him. Why don’t you call him? Thanks, Mark Buckley (3/17/08) Dave's response: Call him? I shouted as loud as I could. No response. By the way, if my source was wrong, did he tell you what's "right"? Nooooo..... Yo GE (Gary Esdall)....email me at wkhs@comcast.net I can get you in touch with at least one of those folks...maybe more. Steve 'K' (3/17/08) It's not "BODAM" it's "Boredom" (3/17/08) Dave, On March 13, you wrote the following sentence regarding Tony Kornheiser: "If Tony has a beef with me, he can easily contact me." Do you understand what an insane statement that is? You have a website where you, supposedly, report news. It's your job to check your facts. If that means calling the subject in question, it would seem like that's what a good news man would do. It is not the responsibility of the subject to contact you. Beside that point, this is not about a "beef." This is about you spouting rumor and innuendo, and then calling it "fact." David Kincannon, Denver, CO (3/17/08) Dave's response: Keeping Tony "angry" at me keeps him talking about me on his radio show, and causes my internet traffic to go up (theoretically). So, Tony is unwittingly being used to help boost DCRTV..... (Dave's response: I think the only "hope" for talk on 107.7/1500 is sports talk...it could be a winner for Bonneville...Get the Junks from JFK for a morning sports show, and pair Burd and Core for an afternoon sports show) Dave, you lose a little credibility with comments like "pairing Burd and Core for an afternoon "sports" show". you are kidding I hope!! first of all, have you ever listened to Burd? if you have, you must not be a sports fan because if you were, you would understand that he has NO knowledge of sports and you can tell every time he interviews someone...or hell, even when he is just talking about it. there were countless times he discussed the Redskins on Monday and had the score or other important facts about the game wrong. he has no credibility. and what would make you think that Core can do a sports show?? (3/17/08) Dave's response: A hacker must have gotten access to DCRTV and forged that "Dave's response." I don't recall writing it..... I know this has probably been said before, but Holly Morris is highly, HIGHLY annoying. What makes it 100x worse is she goes from the wacky, obnoxious, to super straight and serious when she sits at the news desk later in the morning. Get rid of Holly!!! (3/17/08) question for fans of the grandy and andy morning show Dave, I think you listen. And, ha ha is 'fans' too strong of a term? anyway, I do enjoy listening to them, but Im just wondering about how many possible " a rule is a rule' stories do we really need?? (3/17/08) Re-"new middle names for area radio"Middle names you missed.... Dave "Stroke the beard" Hughes , Don "Former Talent" Geronimo , Mike "fat ass" Omeara , Don "Nappy " Imus , Robbay "Spermless" Spewak , Joe "T-shirt" Ardinger aka Joe "dont know radio" Ardinger , Buzz "horn dog" Burbank , the list goes on...... SCORE IS STILL FREEBIRD -1 GERONIMO -0 (3/17/08) With Lee Abrams leaving XM ain't that a pretty fair indication that Big Daddy cufflinks is going to drop XM after the merger? Say like in year when he can say the money just ain't there for two satellite operations? Saw a big o' stack of them digital converters for the old tv's today at Walmart. Was looking for the old picture tube style tv with the digital tuner instead of the flat screen cause they seemed a bit cheaper with a bigger picture screen. only thing is can't seem to find tv's with the digital tuner and HD capability that ain't a flat screen no more. the retail world seems to have shifted totally over to the flat screen. man this old world is moving too fast for this old fart. and is there a warehouse somewhere that has thousands of old unwanted walkman's . I've got all these old cassette tapes that never came out on cd and i guess now on mp3 and would love to get a new walkman for the day my old one dies. hell i'm even going more retro and buying vhs tapes on the cheap. Recently bought a half dozen of the old PBS Jeremy Brett Sherlock Holmes series and currently in hog heaven with the late Ian Richardson's House of Cards series. oh yeah Verizon must spend all it's money on commercials and totally nothing on customer service. One must commend the weasals at the big V for creating a maze so cunning in it's complexity and never leads you anywhere if you have question regarding service. They got me, adios! (3/17/08) /\ March 17 Messages /\ \/ March 16 Messages \/ Re: "Linda West almost certainly did not drive to the Rotunda in Baltimore to do a weekend shift on WPOC." You'd only be right if she lives in Frederick, or even closer to Frederick than Baltimore, which is not the case. As someone else already noted, Linda was indeed live more often than not at WPOC. I imagine she quit there because she got tired of working 7 days a week (every weekday doing morning drive at WFRE, doing a remote broadcast appearance for a WFRE client on Saturday, and an air shift on WPOC on Sunday). I imagine also that after several years of weekend work there she probably got the idea that WPOC wasn't going to promote her to a full time gig. I imagine she probably weighed the money vs. the time commitment and decided it just wasn't worth it (which likely is also the reason for giving up voicetracking other small markets). You also wrote: "I can't believe that if true, CC just didn't correct the problem [of mold] in the building." Um, do you realize what you just said? When has CC ever corrected a problem? To paraphrase the late President Ronald Reagan (who was referring to government), "Clear Channel is not the solution to the problem. Clear Channel IS the problem!" The only thing management did was to hire a carpet cleaning crew to come into the building to wipe down the physical evidence of mold! The mold is in the air ducts, the carpeting, the soundproofing in the studios; it's in the air every employee is breathing! If you think that's bad, there is a whole laundry list of things which I could cite here (and Dave would wisely omit due to the potential legal ramifications) regarding the way that particular CC station is run. Eventually I think those things will see the light of day, but until then... (3/16/08) I was just shown this letter written by someone about WPOC's weekend shifts: The writer makes a mistake when he or she states that " From 8pm on Fridays, until the Laurie DeYoung begins on Monday mornings, the station is completely on auto-pilot." I am live on the weekends at WPOC every Sunday evening at 6:00PM. I have been working live on the weekends since I have been a part of WPOC. Carol Mason (3/16/08) Does anyone know what WTNT AM 570 was airing on their over the air signal at 3PM today (Sunday)? Normally I listen to Kim Komando via WTNT's internet stream from 1PM-4PM, which they cover up commercials with music, but today the music played straight though well into the 3PM hour when Kim Komando is normally supposed to be on after the top of the hour break. I was just wondering if WTNT was running something they couldn't stream or if it was a technical problem with their stream. (3/16/08) RE: Linda West......Linda did indeed do her Sunday shift live at WPOC. She resigned after doing it for years, and wanted her Sundays off. The last PD there, Ken Boesen, really did not like voicetracking, and only used it when the shift couldn't be tracked. In fact, he hired a part-time guy to do the weekend overnight shifts live. That's UNHEARD of these days at CC. Maybe that's one of the reasons that they blew him out to bring Meg Stevens in from CC Cleveland. Since she's been on board, she got rid of the LAST remaining live shift on the weekends at WPOC, Jeff & Terri. From 8pm on Fridays, until the Laurie DeYoung begins on Monday mornings, the station is completely on auto-pilot. (3/16/08) "I had some free time on my hands, so I imagined new middle names for area radio and TV personalities and how they'd effect their initials." Was there nothing else going on at Melwood? (3/16/08) I'm looking for any information as to how to contact a few people from my "93.5 the Beach" (WZBH) days. I've already got Mike Fillipelli's e-mail, but am seriously looking for contact info on Cepth Michaels, Bad Billy Warner (BBW), Big John Powell, and Josh Clendaniel. Thanks for any help! Gary "GE" Edsall (3/16/08) I had some free time on my hands, so I imagined new middle names for area radio and TV personalities and how they'd effect their initials. For example, what it Don Geronimo's middle name was "Oscar". His initials would be DOG. Likewise, if Mike O'Meara's middle name was "Osgood", his initials would be MOO (as in fat as a cow). Fred "Allen" Grandy - FAG. Don "Umberto" Imus - DUM. Gordon "Omar" Peterson - GOP. Steve "Otway" Doocy - SOD. (3/16/08) Dave, I know Smooth Jazz hasn't been doing so well lately in other markets, but it has a history here in the DC area. The Capital Jazz Fest is like the Woodstock of jazz and is usually brings in large crowds for the weekend event. Do you think we could see the format resurrect again, maybe on 94.7 WTGB? I checked their 12+ ratings and they aren't looking so hot. To me it would be a no brainer, but I guess in this industry brain and commen sense aren't use to much anymore. Jon (3/16/08) Dave's response: Well, considering that WJZW was usually in 10th or so place and WTGB is currently in 17th or so place, it might be a smart move for CBS Radio. Heck, it might even be a smart move for WJFK, which, by the way, uses the same tower as WJZW. If you recall, WJFK-FM did play smooth jazz to fill weekends and overnights when it first started its talk format..... The first hour of Don and Mike is the only thing worth listening to anymore. The fact that they are now "above" having cool guests on, and relying on the same bits is getting old. I love Don and Mike and never thought I'd tire of there show. Big O and Dukes are an excellent show that actually talks today's pop-culture and actually is about having cool guests on, they seem like they really enjoy there listeners and don't just put everyone down. The Junkies and BO&D are a great 9 hours of radio. I really hope Mike O'Meara abandons Don's "too cool for school" attitude, and gets a grassroots show going on. Vaughn (3/16/08) I've got a suggestion to the unnamed mailer wo ordered other people to stop listening to Korhheiser, "turn your dial to the right." It's your Constitutional right. I like him; he amuses me. Is he a jerk? Probably! So what! Would I like to meet him. Probably not! I don't listen to much else on the radio. No station plays the music I like. All of the political talking heads are idiots. Used to listen to Core when he wasn't making me vomit. Now, there's no one who makes any sense any of the time except maybe for Grandy (but then you also have to listen to Parks and the other idiot). On the other hand, TK has some interesting guests, even Junior. So, I'll keep on listening and you can put on WMAL instead. SKIPPER (3/16/08) /\ March 16 Messages /\ \/ March 15 Messages \/ Can someone at WJLA please explain why Bill Lord keeps hiring reporters with little to no experience? First University of North Carolina grad Pamela Brown, and now University of Maryland grad Jackie Congedo. I know they're easy on the eyes, but what of the need for credibility in this market. What happened to learning things you need to know in small and medium markets? Have all these things been forgotten at WJLA? Or is it because you guys are making strides in ratings that you think it doesn't matter? As a news manager in a top 10 market Lord is setting a scary precedent. (3/15/08) Ideas for some of you Mailbag folks: STOP listening kornheiser. Waste of time. STOP listening to czaben. Waste of time. STOP listening to 105.9 FM. Waste of time. No creativity there. I was SICK of Ch. 5's crap tabloid news. I STOPPED watching. I watch NewsChannel 8 at 10 p.m. and get all the news, weather and sports I need. Thanks NewsChannel 8 for great work. Oh, same for Ch. 9. STOP watching Ch. 9 news. Waste of time. See, all your troubles are gone now. Sorry Dave...if people do the above there's no fodder for your mailbag. I guess we'll all have to start watching/listening again. A horrible thought. (3/15/08) Dave's response: My theory is that many people actually enjoy being angry at what they see on TV or hear on the radio..... The staff at my dentist's office is pissed off that Smooth Jazz 105.9 is off the air, and a friend of ours who listened to the station to calm down on his long commute after a hard day at work is upset as well. Any ideas if and when this format will return to our area on FM? -Jazzy Gal- (3/15/08) Dave's response: It looks like the format is gone from the "regular radio" dial in DC. However, If you're close enough to Baltimore, you can listen to their smooth jazz outlet on 104.3 FM. Or you could listen via satellite radio. Both XM and Sirius offer smooth jazz channels. Or, via cable TV, you could try MusicChoice (in the 400s on Comcast), which also offers a smooth jazz channel. Plus, both 105.9 and 97.1 in the DC area offer smooth jazz on their HD Radio digital subchannels..... Bow tie boy will get a job at Faux News channel won't he? I mean carlson not george will (3/15/08) "[Steve Czaban] just hung up on a guy twice whose sin was to call in [to WTEM] and try to talk about Alex Ovechkin, one of the top players in the NHL, and easily the biggest star in the Washington sports scene. Yet Czaban will go on and talk for an hour about some obscure Redskin player that no one cares about." To be fair, he and Andy Pollin had specifically asked for calls on American University's Patriot League title game against Colgate - so the guy must have gotten on Sports Reporters by lying to the call screener for the sole purpose of annoying the hosts. Inasmuch as AU basketball hardly ever gets any run in the local media, the caller was out of line. But in a larger sense, Pollin and Czaban have been asking for that type of thing for years considering the way they've mocked hockey and its fans and refused to discuss the Capitals at any length on the show. Mike, Fairfax (3/15/08) Dave, We know that Maryland will not be going to the NCAA Tournament - But.. The big Dance could be there for UMBC, Morgan State, Coppin State and they all get their first taste on the national spotlight in Baltimore college basketball biggest single college hoops day on TV. Three teams will be showcased nationally. www.examiner.com... Cheers, Jim (3/15/08) Hey, I’m sure if you own a GM product you’re aware of the current re-call. Last night I’m watching the 11:00 News on Channel 11, they start the story about the recall, they finally mention the Pontiac Grand Prix GBS??????????? I own a 1998 Pontiac Grand Prix GTS, supercharged V-6. I’m puzzled. This morning I go to the web and Google GMC Current Re-call. Ba-da-bing…Up comes the Pontiac Grand Prix GTS. There is no such animal as the GBS..atta go news researchers. PLB:0) (3/15/08) Lorin know radio and is a real pro. He's only playing what he's told to play. Don't shoot the messenger. Want to blame someone, blame Michael Hughes, who screwed up DC 101 and everything else he touches. Ken/Bethesda (3/15/08) Dave's response: I still haven't figured out what a program director does. If he plays only "what he's told to play," then why would you even need one? Hmmm. CBS needs to do "the big flip." Put El Zol on Northern Virginia's 106.7, which would better reach the DC area's Hispanic community. Put JFK on 94.7, which would better get U of MD sports to College Park, and the Junkies into PG, Howard, and Anne Arundel. And take 99.1 back to free-form progressive HFS (not the latter alt rocker) and make it again a DC and Baltimore market station. Make Weasel the PD. Keep Schelby, but move her to 1 AM to 4 AM Sundays..... Is BODAM pronounced BO-Damn, or bodd'm? (3/15/08) I filled out that survey for The Globe. I got to rate the songs that the Globe has already been playing over and over again. Lorrin Palagi has got to be the most clueless [expletive] in the radio biz,music programming wise. If he has no idea what to play and has no intention to get adventurous with the format then why doesn't he just get the fuck out and let someone else in with AAA experience, or better yet,with no Triple A experience but has more intuitive knowledge and ideals. (3/15/08) Dave's response: The Globe needs to be a heritage adult rocker with some AAA and retro New Wave elements that harken back to the good old days of WHFS. Instead, it's a muddled and unfocused mess. A year on, there's no clue as to the format. The best description I can fathom is that it's "rockish hot adult contemporary." The ratings continue to sag and nobody at CBS seems to be doing anything. That tells me that we're going to see a format flip soon..... Are Earl Weaver and Alice Sweet keeping company these days? The radio gods on vacation. o'meara practicing for that time in dec. '08 when he gets canned? Herr don geronimo has adopted cufflinks old line, "hey, what haven't i done for you lil' brains!" (3/15/08) Sorry for piling on but looks like a "favorite" of yours, John Gibson, has sort of been canned by Faux News Channel www.nytimes.com (3/15/08) Dave's response: Yeah! Now, if NASA would just put him on the next rocket to Mars so he can't come back to do fill-in work at Fox. And, heck, send Steve Doocy to Mars with him..... Dave, I would not be surprised to see Joel Oxley and Jim Farley add Johnny Holliday to their already solid roster of talent. A legend, a great Broadcaster and a heck of a nice guy. Heck Farley's station has the most solid staff in the market place, one more couldn't hurt. Shawn, Bethesda (3/15/08) Dave's response: I think the only "hope" for talk on 107.7/1500 is sports talk. Both TEM and Triple X produce sucky ratings and have sucky signals. So there is a "format hole." If properly done and featuring local programming (not canned shit from the satellite), it could be a winner for Bonneville - and the last chance to salvage 3WT. Get the Junks from JFK for a morning sports show, and pair Burd and Core for an afternoon sports show..... "Czaban must be the biggest a-hole in the world..." Oh, he is. And Tom DeSabla's the second biggest. (3/15/08) Well looks like the boring turds who run over the air radio are going to take over internet radio. Boston Globe article discusses matter. Content about CBS radio taking over AOL radio. tunyurl.com (3/15/08) Tom, I believe your 100% on the mark. Linda West almost certainly did not drive to the Rotunda in Baltimore to do a weekend shift on WPOC...Clear Channel's Prophet System allows you to voicetrack another station from anywhere. I can't believe that if true, CC just didn't correct the problem in the building...aren't they asking for possible multiple lawsuits if the building causes some sort of health isssues. Whatever, I tried stopping to figure out CC a long time ago. (3/15/08) /\ March 15 Messages /\ \/ March 14 Messages \/ the credibility of WUSA 9 News NOW has just gone down the shitter. Watching a promo for their much hyped March Madness, seeing anchors Todd McDermott and Brett Haber seeing red, acting like an alien, who thought of this stupid STUPID ad? YES i plan on watching March Madness, but as usual, i will get my news from a RELIABLE source, like Channel 7, absolutely NOT FROM 9 NEWS NOW....if i did, they may take me to their leader....i sure as hell don't want that! (3/14/08) Dave, I wated to let you know that you have Eliot Spitzer's name is has only one l in his name. Love your site! (3/14/08) Re: "Answer me this: How come when conservatives disagree with something in the media they call it 'lefty bias, but when something they admit is Right-tilted is aired, they call that a viewpoint'?" Easy answer: because the majority of the media presents itself as "The Truth" and wants you to believe they have no slant. The answer to the second half of your question should be self evident. (3/14/08) Hello everyone, my DSL was finally installed and I am back on line. However, it is so sad to read about the passing of my friend and fellow colleague, Joe Clingroth at WHFC. Joe was a sweetheart and a true gentleman in every sense of the word. His knowledge of big bands was to be respected. I was so amazed when he dropped by as a guest on my show during a salute to Elvis. Mr. Joe didn't miss a beat even with a rock and roll discussion. I am so proud of Joe and it was an honor to work with him. Damn, I am going to miss that sweet guy. Ouch! Now, what's this stuff about PLB and a heart scare. Paul, thank our good Lord you are okay. Coming from a family with a heavy history of heart disease, I know how precious every day is. Please don't leave us just yet. You need to make 100 years like Ed Graham and Jack Gale. I think Ed is already there. Blessings. "Sister" Joyce Conroy (WHFC) (3/14/08) Previous poster wrote: "Steve Czaban must be the biggest asshole in the world. He just hung up on a guy twice whose sin was to call in and try to talk about Alex Ovechkin, one of the top players in the NHL, and easily the biggest star in the Washington sports scene. Yet Czaban will go on and talk for an hour about some obscure Redskin player that no one cares about." (end quote) Simple solution. If you want to talk hockey & the Caps call the postgame show after a Caps game on 3WT. You'll get to talk to Jonathan Warner and some nights Steve Kolbe too. At the very least, they let you talk at length about what interests you & you have the benefit of conversing with people who know & love the game. Czaban is just scared to advertise he doesn't know shit outside of what he reads in media guides and press releases & repeats from the syndicated crap they air. Capitals to the playoffs baby! (3/14/08) D&M on "BODAM" for the next couple of weeks (according to Joe Tardinger)? It wouldn't SUCK so much if they actually played the "best of" instead of doing the usual replay of a single entire show. What a crock! (3/14/08) Steve Czaban must be the biggest asshole in the world. He just hung up on a guy twice whose sin was to call in and try to talk about Alex Ovechkin, one of the top players in the NHL, and easily the biggest star in the Washington sports scene. Yet Czaban will go on and talk for an hour about some obscure Redskin player that no one cares about. (3/14/08) Howie misses the point on NPR. "as though we don't hear from that side all the time anyway" -- the point of the story is that some NPR listeners don't want to hear from "that side" on NPR. WHEN they have a slant, the New York Times, Washington Post, and NPR all slant left. The listeners who complained DON'T WANT to hear from "that side". At all, ever, certainly not on NPR, which they expect never to air conservative views. Kudos to NPR. Why is Rush successful? Sure, because a lot of people enjoy being told what to think, including those NPR listeners, but also because he's got a good set of pipes and he is a master of the spoken word, and above all, a broadcast pro-fessional. Look it up in the book. Listen to his airchecks back when he was Jeff Christie spinning Top 40. He was no George Michael, but he was a BROADCASTER. I listened and listened to the abortion called Air America, but with the exception of Randi Rhodes, the air talent sucked. It wasn't their views that made them unlistenable -- Randi Rhodes was probably the most extreme left-winger -- it was the presentation. Air America aspired to be bad college radio and fell far short. NPR is a quality operation with good air talent and anyone who can't stomach hearing opposing viewpoints should just go out to the garage and fire up the Volvo. Caller X (3/14/08) I honestly don't know what's funnier, that Wilbon mistakenly thought Weaver was dead or that Kornheiser actually knew something factual about sports that Wilbon didn't know! DOH! I believe it was CSN that attempted to get an interview with Weaver last spring training and he told them where to stick it live on air. Some things never change. :-) (3/14/08) (Re: "*sniff sniff*. NPR listeners had to put up with about a half hour of opposing viewpoints over the span of a few days. imagine if this taxpayer subsidized network had to go 50/50. cry me a river.") Answer me this: How come when conservatives disagree with something in the media they call it " lefty bias," but when something they admit is Right-tilted is aired, they call that a "viewpoint"? And, while you've got your thinking caps on, let me know why conservatives used to argue that there should be NO bias in reporting, and now argue that there needs to be MORE of their "viewpoint" aired. Then, if you're not too worn out, look up "propaganda" in your favorite dictionary. All Hail Our Corporate Masters -- Dave In Sterling (3/14/08) Question - if Linda West left WFRE due to hazardous working conditions, why didn't she stay on her weekend shift at WPOC? Who's to say that her WPOC air shift wasn't voice tracked from 'FRE? Lord knows Bob Delmont is all over the CC country universe. In reality she has been off of 'POC for some time now since they rearranged the deck chairs --- oops the Sunday schedule --- to carry the Bob Kingsley countdown in the morning rather than at night. I doubt she could have worked Sunday nights and weekday a.m. drive Tom in Silver Spring (3/14/08) Regarding the rant about National PUBLIC Radio being a nest of commie pinko unpatriots who regularly ignore the right-wing view of things... NPR, and the other PUBLIC broadcasting entities that are partly supported by tax dollars, do not exist to promulgate one politcal point of view or another. PUBLIC broadcasting was organized by thoughtful people who engage their brains regularly. It is just that people who study things and draw conclusions from the facts that they establish are different from people who read the Bible (exclusively) to learn things and to form opinions about the behaviors of others. Independent thought and questioning of Authority are anthema to the Conservative brain. Conservatives aim to get into Heaven by obeying the Heavenly Father. What the Heavenly Father wants is your literal understanding His Word and your obedience to His orders. Hence: gay bashing, needless wars, violations of Constitutional provisions, deregulation, economic collapse, dropping dollar, rising oil prices, and deficit spending. In other words, Paradise for the Conservative. The End Times are near, and being pushed closer by those who find life unbearable and fellow humans a huge disappointment. (3/14/08) You guys complaining about Kornheiser's show are crazy. It's great. I know that no matter when I turn it on -- five minutes into today's show, 45 minutes into tomorrow's show, 90 minutes into next week's show, whatever -- he'll be saying the same thing. No matter what. The. Same. Damn. Thing. Mind-numbing repetition, boys and girls: That's what it's all about! (3/14/08) re: "What's with the out of context shot against Mr. Tony on your site today?" uhhh, what is wrong with it? He certainly deserves it! (3/14/08) Dave's response: I actually listened to Tony's show today. We again heard that Tony's favorite movie is "Sea Of Love" and that one of his kids goes to the (Ivy League) University Of Pennsylvania. Great radio! Korny desperately needs Andy Pollin back on his team to keep his "radio ship" from repeatedly running aground..... I think you misread the Frager column. He made _his_ picks of winners from among Sports Emmy nominees. He didn't make up the list. Jeff Barron (3/14/08) Dave, I heard the "brand new" Linkin Park song, Shadow of the Day on 947 the globe yesterday. Isn't it sad that this "new song" was added weeks after even mix 1073? Drew (3/14/08) Dave's response: It's a shame that the only Linkin Park that 94.7 will play is one that sounds like the band is impersonating U2. Man. I have given up on The Globe. All hope is lost. I expect Fresh 94.7 any day now..... What's with the out of context shot against Mr. Tony on your site today? There was no mention of him in that story that you linked to. I guess you really are a fat naked mole rat. (3/14/08) Dave's response: Tony, is that you? Did you ever know a molerat who could dial a telephone? ROTFLMAO!!!!!! Perfect! (3/14/08) (re: "Meanwhile, the right wing media hums along without any balance and continues to push its spin into the so-called liberal media. The result is always the same; the mainstream media ends up accepting the right's angle on a given story and presents the story that way and gives the right a big Mea Culpa by starting a show called "Conversations with Conservatives" as though we don't hear from that side all the time anyway.) Howie, put down that crack pipe and slowly move away. (Good Lord, no wonder they call it "dope") (3/14/08) Where in the world is Brian Williams? NBC is being remarkably silent, not even using that old saw that the missing news anchor is “on assignment.” Ann C really can’t carry this show. Tom Gauger. (3/14/08) I only watch the ABC overnight news when I can't sleep and lately it's been quite often. But I too have noticed that Christianne Klein is rarely on there. I thought when she was going to the overnight news, it was a permanent replacement for someone who was leaving. Since I usually don't see the beginning of the broadcast, I don't know if they still do this, but they used to begin the broadcast "already in progress". Also, the overnight broadcast never has a sign off prior to the local morning news coming on. They will cover a story, the show just ends and the local news comes on. (3/14/08) Note to Michael Wilbon: Earl Weaver is still alive. Put this in the "Dumb Things Said by Sportscasters" category. On their PTI show last night, Mike Wilbon and Tony Kornheiser were talking about Tommy Lasorda when Wilbon decided to bring up Earl Weaver. He compared Lasorda's managing style to Weaver's and said that Earl would have been "88 years old" if he were alive. There's one slight problem with that comment. Earl is very much alive and is only 77 years old. Kornheiser had to chime in: "I think he's still with us". Here's the clip: sports.aol.com (3/14/08) On 3-12-08 the FCC accepted for filing WOL's request for Program Test Authority. They have, I believe, been operating with only 250 watts. It would appear that are going to increase their power to 370 watts, the power that they requested. Arnie (3/14/08) RE: AOL buys Bebo....... These days anything AOL touches turns to dust, anything Microsoft touches removes a competitor, and anything Apple touches turns to gold. Anyone remember Netscape? BaBYE Bebo! If you didn't know who/what Bebo was before, you certainly won't ever now after AOL/TIME WITHERING gets their hands on them. Sorry Brits. AOL is a company that died years ago. The top corporate suits just haven't figured out how to sell it to sucker or bury it gracefully yet without any of them getting fired. So, instead, they just keep downsizing and firing valuable employees and one day hopefully before we all die, there will be no AOL and life will be better. DISCLAIMER: I still use AOL for some things, so if that's how I feel, just imagine what their REAL DETRACTORS think! (3/14/08) It's clear that the sun is setting on the once mighty Baltimore Sun, a newspaper that once had more international bureaus than even the Washington Post. Hard to imagine that was true these days. Sure, declining newspaper circulation is much to blame, but the pathetic Sun management and editorial staff have done practically everything possible over the past decade to destroy the paper's once great reputation. You can point out the embarrassing editorials that forced retractions and explanations from Sunpaper staff or the lawsuits The Sun lost against the former popular governor and the State of Maryland. Just one bad mistake after another, whether an endorsement or nasty racist non-endorsement or just poor journalism in general. How sad. :-( (3/14/08) "Conversations with Conservatives" is just another result of the right working the refs. "Waah! NPR is liberal! Waah! The networks are liberal! Waah! The NY Times is liberal!" All of those perceived liberal media outlets have always had conservative voices present along with a great deal of non-political content (unless you believe "Cartalk" is some sort of commie plot). The right seems to think that anything not in 100% agreement with them is liberal; of course, many of them think John McCain is liberal. Meanwhile, the right wing media hums along without any balance and continues to push its spin into the so-called liberal media. The result is always the same; the mainstream media ends up accepting the right's angle on a given story and presents the story that way and gives the right a big Mea Culpa by starting a show called "Conversations with Conservatives" as though we don't hear from that side all the time anyway. Howie (3/14/08) This just in gas is passing $4.00 a gallon which I long ago predicted but not many media topics on gas prices more fun to run a ministers old comments more than the traffic reports on WMAL 630Am. Where Americans go to hate! Meanwhile Funny Don Imus who got fired for being a racist has had ten minutes on the economy this morning and not one minute on Minister Wright. John Henneman (3/14/08) NPR, the last time I checked stands for National PUBLIC Radio. The last time I checked, people with a conservative viewpoint about government and society were part of the Public. If you liberals only want your side of the story, then stop stealing our tax money to pay for what you consider to be YOUR radio station. Or, how about you compete in the open market like the rest of radio stations have to do to get their views across! By the way, the same thing goes for PBS, the so-called "Public" Broadcasting System. G.K. in Timonium (3/14/08) Thanks for those photos from the event. I still have my reservations as to why nobody could even consider Miller Time do at least one live show from DC. How many hosts do remotes from cities they're making appearances at? It all boils down to whether 3WT is that cheap or Miller Time is that lazy. Here's the summary for this week: Monday: live show, but mostly devoted to crappy 70's songs. Tuesday: impromptu best-of show. I am sure there was a major number of curious listeners who were tuned in on Tuesday to hear Miller Time's lampooning of the Eliot Spitzer scandal, when they were treated to a rerun of the Larry Craig scandal. Wednesday and Thursday: the female version of Stan & Terry (formerly of Chicago's Free-FM), and Friday, who knows. Had Opie & Anthony still been on WJFK, they would have had a ratings semi-coup this week. (3/14/08) Is ChristiAnne Klein kind of low on the totem pole for filling in on ABC World News Now? Seem to have fill in anchors quite a bit on that progrum these days and rarely Ms. Klein. Also they seem to have downscaled that show quite a bit set wise. I Remember in it's earlier days they had quite an elaborate set but now almost 1970's in its cheapness except for the use of that purple lighting background that seems to have garnered favor quite a bit lately, see i.e. Craig Ferguson show. Long way from the days of Aaron Brown and Lisa McRee. Why does ABC continue with this programming? Seems to have lost most of its unique energy long ago. Hey I forgot Derek McGinty anchored WNN for a bit. Just let the locals go to all night infomercials. Ain't that what all nite cable tv is turning into thank you FCC... (3/14/08) (RE: "Morning Edition listeners - there are 13 million a week - were not especially pleased in the aftermath of the broadcast segments[Conservative Views Upset NPRers], which lasted about seven minutes each" ah yes the left, purveyors of tolerance, diversity, & open mindedness once again practicing what they preach. You gotta love it! AND: sniff sniff*. NPR listeners had to put up with about a half hour of opposing viewpoints over the span of a few days. imagine if this taxpayer subsidized network had to go 50/50. cry me a river.) There are radio stations and entire networks that program conservative talk 24/7. If you were to add up all the airtime the right gets and all the airtime the left gets, I'm absolutely certain it would be obvious the right side would have the majority of airtime. (Air America doesn't produce nearly as much programming as Premiere or Radio America) Yes, NPR is publicly funded, but considering the fact that there is so much right wing talk out there, it's a good thing they're to the left, just to offer some balance and make the radio dial a little more reflective of the diversity of this country. Without NPR, most of talk radio would sound like Rush and his echoes. (3/14/08) Re: Don and Mike show"The show used to be a fun adventure we could all join in. What a wonderful waste of four hours!" Amen brother, sadly has devolved into nothingness. They ain't even trying no more. Donnie baby ain't giving these last few days much effort. No triumphant good bye but instead ratcheting up the bitterness and all about me sh8t that I found tiresome for several years now, even before the passing of Miss Freda. He is Captain Dickhead. Put on the "Already Gone", already and be gone.....Hey why didn't someone tell me Verizon sucks! I have entered a hellish land after signing up for broadband. Can someone get me out of this shit! Verizon has no one locally to help with any problems, no local office just some, most likely, underpaid folks in South Asia who really are no help. I can't get a straight answer, hell can't even get an answer and yet being billed for nothing with no resolution in sight at this point. Isn't that sort of stealing? (3/14/08) From the "If I Ruled The World" folder, looking at the front page of DCRTV there are a number of exceptional talents suddenly available. And let's say Tony Kornheiser does take his annual mid-summer vacation. If I had my choice of anyone in the marketplace I'd line up 3WT as follows -- 5:30 - 8A David Burd & Jessica Doyle, 8A - 11A all 3 hours of Stephanie Miller, 11A - 1P Johnny Holliday, 1P - 4P Glenn Beck, 4P - 7P Chris Core into whatever baseball or sports are scheduled remembering Chris is a rabid Nats fans and the most knowledgeable DC host available. Non-game nights get Phil Wood & Craig Heist in from 7P - 10P right into Jim Bohannon from 10P - 1A and Phil Hendrie to wrap up the schedule. If you MUST clear Boortz, O'Reilly or Randi Rhoads put them in the overnight after Hendrie. Sell 820 AM to a local entity in Frederick. Left. Right. And localized programming that actually makes sense. Clear out the TK gang as soon as possible. Get rid of the horrendous British voices, both real & fake. And please, no more ugly bright green bus placards! - The Unsigned Armchair PD (3/14/08) Here's what I think. Mel Karmazin is the devil. He takes over Sirius, tanks it with 500 million to Howard, who is sucking the big one. Asks the FCC and the DOJ to approve the takeover of a company who's stock is MINUS 20 TIMES THE VALUE... and he's right. HELLO any stockholders! LET SIRUS DIE. What the F__k are you thinking?!!! MEL IS DEATH. Period, I Know. I worked for him. (3/14/08) /\ March 14 Messages /\ \/ March 13 Messages \/ Time was, 15 years ago in Harrisburg Pa., whatever happened on the Don & Mike Show on WJFK-AM would have been "adopted" for the Bruce Bond show on WNNK-FM the next day. Bruce even won a Marconi award, passing off their creativity as his own. He has been off the air for several years after effing up one time too many, and never really recovered from sitting out a non-compete. I wonder, if he still had a show, how he would survive with the disappearance of the D&M show. There really is no one left to copy. (3/13/08) So-let me ask this...what is the draw to the Scott Shannon True Oldies Channel. Is this a format with only ONE jock--Scott??? Why would I want to listen to a station that has all talk in the AM, an out of town show during the day, and the same jock all the time. At least they have a live PM drive. See, this is the problem with radio. Radio execs keep saying people are tuning out and going to IPODS....why the fuck not when you hear shit like this. I would expect this kind of programming in market 150 or even 100--but not market 9. It seems like Citadel knows how to run meduim market--but has NO IDEA how to run large market. (3/13/08) "Morning Edition listeners - there are 13 million a week - were not especially pleased in the aftermath of the broadcast segments[Conservative Views Upset NPRers], which lasted about seven minutes each" ah yes the left, purveyors of tolerance, diversity, & open mindedness once again practicing what they preach. You gotta love it! (3/13/08) My name mentioned TWICE on the D&M show since "let go" from my Smooth Jazz gig by Citadel's WJZW-FM. I was flattered when a listener (obviously, of both our shows) emailed me with the news plus mp3 clips for the Santos archives... I wonder what's gotten into Don's head lately? Al Santos (3/13/08) Jesus Tapdancing Christ! Can't NBC find anyone other than Ann Curry to sit in for Brian Williams?? Is there no one with any more gravitas or credibility than this doe-eyed, mawkish, goofy-assed Today Show goober? I'd rather have Merideth in that chair, ANYONE but Ann Curry. She looks like she wants us all just to have a good cry. (3/13/08) Thanks to whoever posted the funeral arrangements for Ivan Scott. -Brian (3/13/08) *sniff sniff*. NPR listeners had to put up with about a half hour of opposing viewpoints over the span of a few days. imagine if this taxpayer subsidized network had to go 50/50. cry me a river. (3/13/08) ("I thought maybe I'd enjoy a little pleasure. I've tried ... a prick. The sooner you're gone, the sooner I'll come back to WJFK and give Mike's show ... an absolute asshole.") Res ipsa loquitur. Caller X (3/13/08) Dave's response: A search on Google found - "Res ipsa loquitur is a legal term from the Latin meaning literally, 'the thing itself speaks' but is more often translated 'the thing speaks for itself'." Oh..... DCRTV Dave sex, "... if you resign from one you resign from them all..." regarding Citadel-lite. So I've been told. Undigened Corporate Suit (3/13/08) Love it or hate it, and many do both, the Don and Mike Show is (was) a unique phenomenon, sustained now by desperate fans hanging onto a memory. The show jumped the shark years ago. When Don Geronimom leaves, Mike will hang on for a little while, but the essential essence will no longer exist. The show, at its best, was greater than the sum of its component parts. No one or two members of the team could exist without the others. Each component of the show was (is) as important as the keystone in an arch. I'm sad for the loss and for how ugly it's all become in these, the waning days of what used to be a real powerhouse. Mike's talent has always been his ability and rhythm playing off Don and the others. Don's talent was as the dickhead captain of the ship. All the other players came and went as necessary, adding flavor to the stew. And what a delicious, spicy stew it was, back in the day, before the Gestapo-like tactics of the FCC, et. al. took the pepper shaker off the table. The show used to be a fun adventure we could all join in. What a wonderful waste of four hours! Mike can't exist on his own, as a front man, regardless of how many voices he can bring to bear. It won't be the same, you can't go home, and we'll all just sadly turn away. (3/13/08) "My sources at 3WT continue to insist otherwise, and strongly hint that Tony will be gone by June for another bout with "MNF"...." Have you ever called Tony to confirm or deny? (3/13/08) Dave's response: Did you ever know a molerat who could dial a telephone? Look, I'm easy to reach. My e-mail's at the top of this page. If Tony has a beef with me, he can easily contact me. He hasn't. He's trying to generate a "media feud" to "generate ratings." Been there, done that..... Knave of the Week: It's a group award, to the NPR listeners who complained about a seven minute segment devoted to interviewing conservatives. washingtontimes.com for perpetuating the image of liberals as tight-assed doooshes (yes, I know the proper spelling), Knave of the Week. Noble of the Week: Whoever it is that draws the Judge Parker comic strip, with its heaving bosoms and pot-farming story arc, in spite of the fact that it's ignored by supposed funnyman Gene Weingarten in his Tuesday roundup of comics on Washpost.com. Bonus Knave of the Week: Washpost "funnyman" Gene Weingarten, for a) detesting all Indian cuisine without exception b) his crazy beliefs that hotdogs are to be eaten completely without condiments (maybe he's thinking about something else, you know... hot dogs, condiments? Think about it.) and c) his abhorrence of chunky peanut butter. He probably even eats the kind with sugar in it. Caller X (3/13/08) Tony did shoot down the part of the story that said he would not be returning to 3WT. Next time you get a tip abou him, maybe you should call him. He would be the best sourse for Tony Kornheiser news. (3/13/08) Dave's response: My sources at 3WT continue to insist otherwise, and strongly hint that Tony will be gone by June for another bout with "MNF"..... Funeral Arrangements for Ivan L. Scott... A candle light funeral mass will be celebrated on Tuesday, March 18, 2008, at 6:30 p.m., at St. Stephens Martyr Catholic Church, 2436 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, 20037. Mrs. Scott will receive relatives and friends at the Church following the Mass. The Internment service with military honors will be held on Wednesday, March 19, 2008, at 10 a.m., at Quantico National Cemetery, 18424 Joplin Road, Triangle, Virginia. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in his name to St. Stephens Roman Catholic Church. Address for Mrs. Sarah L. Scott, 500 23rd Street, NW, Apt B-1101, Washington, DC 20037 (3/13/08) I thought maybe I'd enjoy listening to Don Geronimo's last few months with at least a little pleasure. However, that's not going to happen. I've tried tuning in just about every day, hoping beyond hope that they might not take calls at the start of the show from callers and talk about themselves or things that are going on. Instead, all I hear is Don berating caller after caller. Then yesterday, Mike let loose one of the worst Simon Cowall impersonations I've ever heard. I think I'm done. Don, I know you read the mailbag here so I'll tell you: You are a prick. You really are. The sooner you're gone, the sooner I'll come back to WJFK and give Mike's show a chance. But YOU, you're an absolute asshole. Paul (3/13/08) Does anyone know when Verizon FiOS will be installed in the eastern Prince William county area (Montclair/Dale City)? Is it worth it to switch from Comcast? Thanks All! Matt (3/13/08) Dave, Stephanie hosted an overflow crowd at the BlackFinn in Bethesda last night. In fact the restaurant said it’s the biggest Wednesday night they have ever had. 3WT fans were lined up all the way out the door before the event began and the crowd grew from there. We missed you. (3/13/08) Sources close to me tell me that Dave Hughes makes things up about local radio and TV personalities to try and rile them up for purposes of validating his visually confusing and poorly planned website. Sources close to Dave Hughes tell this mailbagger, that Dave secretly wanted to be a print journalist since he was 5 years old, and was even turned down by the Washington Times. Sources close to Don Geronimo say its the same thing, time after time, Hughes, making up stories using distorted and untrue facts, and failing to actually confirm anything. Sources close to Tony Kornheiser say if Hughes ever wants to be a reputible and competent "journalist," maybe he should get out of the basement, pick up the phone, and maybe try a little fact checking. A reliable source, close to DCRTV tells me, nothing will change, because Dave is lazy. Dan O'Connor, Malvern, PA (3/13/08) Dave's response: Damn! You got me right! Except that I've never applied to work at the Washington Times..... In addition to Winchester's WUSQ, CC also owns (in the same building out at Winchester Airport) 99.3 The Fox; SportsTalk 610; and Memories 1550, which is actually a Charles Town, WV-licensed AM station. Although none of the radio stations has a news department, CC does have a working agreement with Grey Communications' digital station - TV 3 Winchester - which maintains a news room on the campus of Shenandoah University. The agreement came in handy recently when Winchester's John Handley High School was in a lock-down when it was believed a student was on campus with two pellet guns. TV 3 Winchester reporters did live cut-ins on WUSQ (aka Shenandoah County Q102). Al McGilvray (3/13/08) Dave's response: CC also owns 98.3 Kiss-FM, which used to be a Charles Town station that got moved to the Winchester cluster..... ('Taylor On Radio-Info' reports) Happy 70th to “World News Roundup” on CBS Radio, a program that debuted on March 13, 1938 as a one-shot, to get reports from CBS correspondents about the pre-war conditions in Europe. Robert Trout anchored that 8pm primetime show and now the afternoon drive show remains one of the best (and best-produced) news shows on the air. It was inducted into the Chicago-based Radio Hall of Fame in 1995. Some of the giants associated with Roundup over the decades, along with some audio, can be found at www.museum.tv (3/13/08) Anyone notice this morning on 3WT after Tony, instead of Miller Time, it was "Frangelica" saying she was "on vacation"? Same thing yesterday. In fact, can anyone confirm if Miller Time even showed up at that gig at the Birdcage or whatever it's called that was scheduled for yesterday? If a tree falls in the woods... (3/13/08) Listening to Times' columnist Thom Loverro on WTEM's Sports Reporters yesterday, you got the impression he could talk about the Nationals for three hours straight and not run out of interesting insights and tidbits on the team. What a contrast to Steve Czaban, who two days earlier made it abundantly clear that he'd prefer root canal treatments to getting through a five minute segment of Nats talk wiith Jerry Coleman reporting from spring training. The lame explanation he offered was 'we're new to this baseball thing and need some time to get our feet wet.' I'm sorry - that excuse just won't fly anymore. The Nats are getting ready to open their fourth season in DC, so there's been ample time for anyone in the local sports media who hadn't previously paid much attention to baseball to get up to speed. At least Andy Pollin seems to understand that the first year in the new stadium will be a huge local story meriting significant attention on the show. Unfortunately, his topic selection for caller segments often leaves something to be desired. Yesterday, he opened the phones on 'sports sex scandals' (in the wake of the Elliot Spitzer matter) - must have stayed up all night coming up with that idea. I see that Red Zebra's carrying radio broadcasts of ACC basketball tournament games after they'd been heard on WTEM for a number of years. Mike, Fairfax (3/13/08) Re: ("Are there any radio stations (or any other services) that provide CONTINUOUS traffic information? Either on the radio, on a digital channel or any other platform?) Sirius has a constant traffic-weather channel for DC, Baltimore and a number of other metro areas. (3/13/08) Listening to tony? He was knocking you...that you need to check your sources, etc.... You got about 30 sec of press :) (3/13/08) Dave's response: So, did he shoot down the DCRTV report that he'll be going back to "MNF" this year, and that he'll be leaving 3WT in June? No! Why? Because my newsblurb of last week was right. By the way, the "Orange Man" didn't show up at the 3WT listener party earlier this week. Why not? "___________Do they even have a program director there?______" Yes they do. No one has figured out what he does though. (3/13/08) Dave- I may be alone on this, but I find it incomprehensible that Eugene Robinson of the Post's editorial page has hit paydirt in the world of television punditry. Mr. Robinson, in my view, has a face for radio and a voice for print. Although I don't personally lean as far left as Mr. Robinson, I do admire his erudite and often thoughtful prose. But all that falls away when he appears on Hardball, Countdown, or countless MSNBC panels. Quite simply, in my opinion, the poor man can't handle the quick, rapid-fire repartee necessary for talk televison. Or even talk radio. Clearly, he's is a gifted thinker and writer and has valuable insight on a variety of subjects when he has the luxury of time to think and to edit, and appears on the Post op-ed pages as an antidote to the George Wills and Robert Novaks. But he sounds like crap and he can't assimilate his big thoughts without a whole bunch of verbal place-savers like, 'umm' and 'uhhh' while his brain locks in. Now I hear he's joining David Gregory in the new MSNBC show that has mercifully taken Tucker Carlson off the night air. He's going to need some serious coaching before he becomes watchable. I just don't get it. (3/13/08) It's surprising someone like Tony Kornheiser would comment on something written on DCRTV. It is simply people's opinions and often times comments from people who have never been in the business or have "agendas" with certain people. The information or sources are mostly unreliable and it's shocking people like Kornheiser, Jim Farley and other big names put credence in what is written here and others worry what people say about them. Ken/Bethesda (3/13/08) Dave's response: People who are loud-mouth critics in the media often go bonkers when the tables are turned and the criticism is directed back at them..... Question - if Linda West left WFRE due to hazardous working conditions, why didn't she stay on her weekend shift at WPOC? (3/13/08) Dave's response: Both stations are owned by Clear Channel, so, I guess, if you resign from one you resign from them all. In fact, all the area country stations, except for Hagerstown's 104.7 and Fredericksburg's 93.3, are owned by Clear Channel - DC's WMZQ, Frederick's WFRE, Winchester's WUSQ, and Baltimore's WPOC..... Please tell me that this is just my imagination. I tuned in to WJZW. I heard Imus, Scott Shannon, Local DJ, then Scott Shannon again. I fell asleep before midnight. Was Scott Shannon on between Midnight and 6 am also? I heard only one local voice. Why do we need to hear Shannon twice? I bet he isn't even live. Do they even have a program director there? Do they even have anyone there? Maybe they just have a billing department inside one of the transmiiter towers. What a joke. (3/13/08) One quick correct to Jim Williams, this evening's Virginia-Georgia Tech game in the ACC tournament will be seen locally and nationally on ESPN2. That one game is not part of the Raycom syndicated package so it will not be on 20 & 54. FYI, for fans of Virginia high school basketball, all eight state title games will be televised on 50 this Friday and Saturday. Everett W. (3/13/08) To: PLB - - Paul, how could you tell, you've always been "clammy." Thanks for the advice, but will Dollar Store aspirin work? Ed Graham (3/13/08) Dave I just read on Comcast website that CSTV will become CBS College Sports on March16. Ron in Annapolis (3/13/08) Dave's response: Yeah, I heard that, too. Apparently, CBS bought the channel a while back..... Dave, Both CW54 in Baltimore and MY20 in Washington are looking to score big tonight as the University of Maryland start their must win quest at the ACC Tournament. Game time is at 9pm and both channels are expecting a huge audience.Also both stations will offer the game in HD and they are the exclusive home for all of the ACC Tournament meaning ESPN will be blacked out from Washington to Baltimore. So the only place to see the games will be CW54 and MY20. Also today Georgetown gets started in the Big East tournament at noon on ESPN. Radio wise it is a big day with Georgetown on WTEM-AM at noon and then tonight it is a CBS Radio night with Maryland on WJFK-FM in Washington and ESPN 1300AM and WHFS_FM in Baltimore doing the honors. www.examiner.com... Cheers, Jim (3/13/08) Dave- I haven't been paying attention. What happened to Opie & Anthony's late morning re-broadcast on WJFK? Seems I just looked around and they're gone. Rick (3/13/08) Dave's response: They got yanked a couple of months ago. They're still on XM..... I'm curious as to why the accused Ryan Pratzel's home address is being posted on this website? I have never seen anyone else's complete home address posted on this site before. I don't know this person but he is accused - not convicted of being a sex offender. What if there are other people, family members, roommates, living at that address? Don't they deserve to be protected and have privacy? Nobody else at that address has been publicly accused of a crime. On NBC4's website they post the following: Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Solvers by phone at 866-411-TIPS/8477 or e-mail at www.fairfaxcrimesolvers.org. Tipsters can also text "TIP187" plus a message to CRIMES/274637 or call Fairfax County police at 703-691-2131. Clearly that is why they post his address, to get info more info. DCRTV appears to be posting a blurb about a TV producer which of course is fine, but without the crime solver info it's not an aid to the police. I'm not defending this guy. I just find it unsettling that he is accused of something and now his home address is on your front page. What if that was you being accused and you had family living at your house? Wouldn't you be concerned for their safety? I don't like the precedent. (3/13/08) Dave's response: First, it was already on nbc4.com and therefore public. Second, it was released by the police and is public information. Third, news organizations publish the addresses of those arrested to protect themselves, by making sure the person arrested and charged can't be mistaken with someone else in the same community with the same name. Granted, I doubt anyone else in Arlington is named "Ryan Pratzel." But there could be. You never know. I have removed the street number from the newsblurb..... Dave, If Chickaboomer (Marty Davis) is in DC the next few days, where and when? I'd like to buy her dinner..... she does a GREAT job on her website! Waldorf Dave (3/13/08) Dave's response: I'm told that Marty's interview with Jim Bohannon earlier this week is on his website at jimbotalk.net. Check it out..... /\ March 13 Messages /\ \/ March 12 Messages \/ Oh no! Don't "flick my BIC"... Glad to hear that you're okay Paul... Al Santos (3/12/08) I happened to be up late last night and caught most of Marty Davis’ (Chickaboomer) interview with Jim Bohannon. She gave you, Dave, big props for DCRTV and the additional traffic generated by advertising on your site. Congrats!! (3/12/08) Dave's response: Awww schucks. Thanks Marty! Sincere thanks to all those that sent me personal get wells and concerns. I’m truly fine. The (hospital) was quick to diagnose and fix. There was absolutely no damage to my heart..I’ll be back at full load within a week. Thank God. To those that are not aware of the value of Aspirin. I had two events Monday morning, both subsided and I thought it would go away. At the end of the second event for some reason I went downstairs and took a 325 mg Bayer Aspirin. An hour later, another event, but this time I was clammy and had a headache. When I had arrived at the hospital I was fine again?? tThey took and EKG and it was NORMAL. Then a doctor entered the picture he started asking questions, and suddenly I was feeling the same symptoms. They did another EKG it abnormal and within 40 minutes I was in surgery. The next morning the doctor told me that if I had not taken the aspirin I would have died. KEEP ASPIRINS available at all time. Thanks again to my many personal friends. PLB (3/12/08) "I want to know what love is" was a crossover for AC and top 40 back in the day. Also, with the "gospel type" accompaniment it even had some R&B stations playing it if I recall the early 80's correctly. Those were the days when MTV started breaking new music before radio, and radio was complaining, but not breaking new music. "Jukebox Hero" was Foreigner's "signature song about a rock band" that everyone used to do (ala Turn the page by Bob Seager, Faithfully by Journey, and Rock and Roll Band by Boston). Not silly, overly commercial, yes, but they did the trick for a bad that had lost half their members before going into the studio. In 1982 there was concert at JFK Stadium with Foreigner and the Kinks. The promoter decided since Foreigner had sold more records than the Kinks, Foreigner would headline. So, Foreigner did what they needed to do. (3/12/08) I always knew that somehow, someday, there would be something that Ed Graham and I agree on. And today is the day. Ed, your comments about Mel are right on. Mel is to radio what Eliot Spitzer is to family values. -Brian (3/12/08) Dave's response: Lee Abrams' decision to leave XM is the first gust of wind before a massive storm that will completely gut XM once Mel takes over. Sirius is Mel's "baby." XM is completely expendable..... ("As DCRTV has previously reported, WTOP runs a non-stop loop of traffic and weather updated every ten minutes on 103.5 FM HD-3...") Are there any radio stations (or any other services) that provide CONTINUOUS traffic information? Either on the radio, on a digital channel or any other platform? Thanks. (3/12/08) Johnny Holliday …is also the host of Nats Xtra --- the MASN pregame and postgame show for every Washington Nationals game… (3/12/08) New name for Clear Channel - Assymilated Station Sterilization Radio or ASS Radio. Less Ismore (3/12/08) Dave, Johnny Holliday also does the pre- and post-game shows for the Nationals on MASN, with Ray Knight. -jason (3/12/08) Props to 7 for putting the very lovely and talented Julie Parker on the 5 PM anchor desk where she truly belongs. I can't understand why they have to have the Belle of Boring, Alison Starling on morning AND evening. Why not give someone like Ms. Parker a chance? She's fantastic. I'd watch every evening with her at the desk. Alison has 0 chemistry with both Doug and Leon. She seems like she'd rather be anywhere else. Julie Parker has great chemistry with Leon Harris AND she's gorgeous. Even makes bad news a little more tolerable. Paul (3/12/08) “Jukebox Heroes" and "I Want to Know What Love Is" by Foreigner were "silly" tunes." I believe the Junkies use “silly” as a term to describe items of exceptional quality. For instance, “That Maserati over there is SILLY”. At least, that’s what I’ve gleaned from the 10-15 minutes I’ve been able to stomach of the show… (3/12/08) Dave's response: Hey, what's up with DC101 and The Globe both playing Jack Johnson's "If I Had Eyes" at the same time this morning. And having both Schelby and Whitney express their audio lust for Mr. Johnson after the tune. Hmmm. Oh, I swear those 94.7 promos sound like they're saying: "World Class Rot"..... "Jukebox Heroes" and "I Want to Know What Love Is" by Foreigner were "silly" tunes." Not so much silly tunes, but just overplayed pieces of crap. (3/12/08) Speaking of WAVA, let me add to the list of memories galore! I just found this web site which features all sorts of jingles and clips www.genecowan.com... Here are two, related to WAVA News: News on WAVA www.genecowan.com and WAVA News www.genecowan.com... Also, in my senior year in high school, I was at Alexandria's T.C. Williams in the first year under the new desegregation plan ('71-'72). We were noted for a great football team that year, as depicted in the film 'Remember the Titans', but we also had a "mock radio station" called 'T.C. Radio'. Basically, we ran tunes (provided by Waxie Maxie Exciting Quality Music Stores) on two reel-to-reel decks. In addition to the typical deejay fair you might expect, we also ran actual PSAs of the era and did various school announcements. All of this was piped-in, throughout the day, via the school's P.A. system, into the cafeteria. I did the Morning Drive show, which was basically 1st Period of the school day and on the half-hour, I would pirate the Mutual Newscast from WAVA. Sometimes when I was just a little early hitting our 'network', Howard Dicus or Carl Kasell could be heard giving WAVA's Legal-ID. Scott Marinoff (Teen Idol in the '70s - Still Idle here in the '00s, and I think I still have that psychedelic necktie around here somewhere, but the hair & nerdy glasses are a long time gone!) (3/12/08) Dave, Tonight is the CSN and CSN+ broadcast of the OVECHKAM. I know you have also been writing about it. So tonight is the big night at 7pm on CSN. Also the Big East Tournament starts today on ESPN and DC based XM. Thursday's Georgetown game as well as all the Georgetown games in the tournament will be on WTEM 980AM and XM. www.examiner.com... Have a good day!! Cheers, Jim (3/12/08) Great move for Lee Abrams. Lee is the Anti-Mel. That would have never worked. Sirius can now gobble up XM - - combine the formats - - degrade the product - - and not know how to react when satellite radio becomes irrelevant. Don’t worry about how that will effect Mel. He will take a huge pay-off with him and move on to another project. Ed Graham (3/12/08) Dave, I know that some radio stations in Washington do traffic reports every ten minutes. Are there any radio stations (or any other services) that provide CONTINUOUS traffic information? Either on the radio, on a digital channel or any other platform? Thanks. - The Wolf (3/12/08) Dave's response: XM offers 24/7 traffic channels for all major metros, including DC. And WTOP offers non-stop traffic and weather on one of its HD Radio digital subchannels..... Who is the Manson family chick in the advertisement on your Home page? (3/12/08) Am I the only one who felt like WTOP might have been engaging in some WMAL style voice tricks this morning? The pauses between words(or lack thereof) in the reports of several folks (I first noticed it in Dave McConnell's report) seemed to be reduced somewhat. Are we getting 2 extra commercials per hour to pay for the new & improved GENC? Joe in SS (3/12/08) Even though it is an accurate statement to refer to Randy Michaels as a “former Clear Channel exec” it is an unfair label. Randy was one of the people who created great radio stations while he was running Jacor. When Jacor was purchased by Clear Channel, he stayed to collect his money and got the hell out. He is anything but a suit. At times, Randy resorts to boorish behavior, but broadcasting desperately needs him back. I do find it interesting that Lee Abrams is leaving satellite to return to terrestrial. Me thinks the “shine is off the satellite apple”. I never liked Randy Michaels, but I am damn glad he is back in the industry. Give Clear Channel and Citadel some more time to continue there self destructive business behavior, and the next Randy Michaels will be running those companies too. Radio has been on a death watch many times before, but somehow radio finds a way to survive and prosper. (3/12/08) Joe Kasell is totally correct. At one point DC had three competing all-newsers: WTOP, WRC and WAVA. (and back then WMAL had a killer news department led by Len Deibart). Former WTOPer and current Honolulu TV and radio star Howard Dicus often regaled the WTOP newsroom about his days with Joe's dad at WAVA. Howard recounted how some hours they ran it with just two staffers, Howard and Carl. One half hour Howard was the anchor "with Carl Kasell at the editor's desk." The next half hour Carl was the anchor "with Howard Dicus at the editor's desk." With no real radio comeption anymore, WTOP editors use two yardsticks to measure competition. Each weekday at 5pm and 6pm they watch all four local TV news shows to see if there are any stories WTOP didn't have. And at midnight, the morning editor reads The Post to see how she can advance or change stories before groggy folks pick it up from their doorstep. There's no meaningful local radio news competition, but there's an awful lot of competition out there for news and information. Jim (3/12/08) Every Wednesday is WGTB Day on www.wgay.fm. Airchecks from 1969 - 1979 are webcast. When you get to the site, click on "Listen WGAY Now". Feedback is always appreciated. Enjoy! -Barlow T. Shagnasty (3/12/08) On ESPN Radio's Mike & Mike show the other day, Greenberg was getting on Hoyas play-by-play man Rich Chvotkin a bit for 'overexuberance' in calling the final seconds of last Saturday's game against Louisville - 'this isn't tiny Winthrop College getting to the NCAA tournament for the first time ever. You're big, bad Georgetown - act like you've been there before.' Hello - that particular show brings on Dick Vitale every week and never, ever criticizes the longtime four-letter network color commentator for his on-air excesses. (3/12/08) Ok how about 'Clearly Capsized'...in all seriousness while they will never say it, the fact that CC is going private and selling off its below Market #100 stations shows they have failed at least to some extent with their business model. You cannot run radio the way the big corporations have, they bought in way too deep and their way of running things with the bare to the bones style has blown up. They turned out a bland, generic product or products that are not well thought out like CBS with pushing their Free FM Talk AFTER Howard Stern left instead pushing the format when he initially signed with them. allowed satellite radio, IPods, etc to take much more market share than what should have happened. They should have instead invested in much fewer stations, pouring in a concentration of resources and attention, turn out a great product and yes able to make money. (3/12/08) (A certain employee's departure is) bad news for DCRTV fans. The guy was deepthroat for 99% of the info you were receiving on 1801. Don't worry, the level of trust that the amazing management in that building have fostered means that we're only days away from a new leak. I feel sorry for the employees that have gone from Bad (BZ) to worse (Pugh) to no leadership in that building. There used to be some great stations in that radio group. (3/12/08) Dave's response: No, that's not true! I never heard anything from him. You got it wrong. Elliot Segal sends me secret messages during his show. Try it yourself. Go find a tape of Elliot's 2/29 show and play it backward at half-speed. At 101.1 minutes into the show you'll hear: "Pugh to Frisco" repeated numerous times. Do that with the 2/13 show and you'll hear: "I miss Bennett" over and over. So sad..... What a crazy world we live in.... Today's NY Times has Mars vs. Venus opinions on the Gov. Elliot Spitzer issue www.nytimes.com ......... Today's Washington Post examines whether the FBI previously watched Spitzer (obviously Repub witch hunt right?).......... And best of all, today's Baltimore Sun pays a lasting tribute to Spitzer www.baltimoresun.com and then The Sun examines how Spitzer can redeem himself. www.baltimoresun.com... And all of these so-called journalists wrote these stories with but a few known facts of truth about the scandal just yet. Sorta makes ya just can't wait for that lowly NEW Baltimore Daily NEWS edition huh hon ?! :-) (3/12/08) Nobody is asking you to care about anchors reading the Washington Post out of new studios. But, in this negative business, it's something very positive about Bonneville that cares to build a first class facility, have a first class event to open it and present a first class product out of it. If you can't care about that, go back to worrying about what to call Clear Channel or all the other negative stuff in this business. There is plenty to go around and plenty of "unsigned negative posters". Ken/Bethesda (3/12/08) Let me add my voice to those praising Camille Bohannon's illustrious career. I know, having co-anchored with her at 3 of those stations. She was always prepared and professional, and a delight with whom to work. Jim Bohannon (3/12/08) Let's see, this morning I heard Cakes of The Junkies say that The Ramones were an awful band but "Jukebox Heroes" and "I Want to Know What Love Is" by Foreigner were "silly" tunes. My God, I knew this poor man lived in a box, but before this insane comment this morning, I did not fully realize how small that box was. The question for tomorrow is this: will Cakes be wearing his Winger t-shirt or his Stryper t-shirt to the studio? (3/12/08) I am very sorry to hear about Ivan Scott's passing. I got to know him over the past few years and I add my voice to the chorus of people who say he was a fine person and great to work with. If I had a question about the military or the Pentagon, he was the person to go to. The last time I spoke with him a few months ago, he was back over at the Pentagon working in public affairs. Last month, I was in the Philadelphia area I came across a commercial (for Aetna I believe) that featured Ivan and even had him doing a little dance at the end. He will definitely be missed. Let me add that the new WTOP "glass enclosed nerve center" looks very nice. It really shows how much Bonneville cares about the station. It's also nice to know that Bob Marbourg also has a little room to move around. Don't mess it up too quickly now! Signed, a former WTOPer. (3/12/08) Where in the World is Cindy Maguire? I was out of town for a week or two and I come back and notice that Cindy Maguire is not on MIX1073FM’s schedule in the evenings. I loved listening to her during her producer days on the Jack Diamond Morning Show and recently for the past couple years or so in the evenings. Any idea what she is doing now? (3/12/08) /\ March 12 Messages /\ \/ March 11 Messages \/ Dear Dave: Well I'm glad that somebody at WTOP (Hank Silverberg) made a clarification of the statement posted yesterday asserting WTOP being "Washington's only all-news radio station since 1969." Certainly, all-news has been its format since 1969, but WTOP was not the only all-news station in the area, nor the first. I know for a fact that when my Dad began work at WAVA in 1967, it was all-news. Just adding more info here for accuracy. Great site Dave! Sincerely, Joe Kasell (3/11/08) What an up and down day. First we had all the excitement at WTOP with the ribbon cutting of the new "glass enclosed nerve center". For the skeptics among you, I can tell you it really is a first class newsroom. We haven't moved in yet. That will happen over the next week or so, but it will be a great place to work. And it does show the company's commitment to the product and the people who work there every day. Then there was the down part of the day. After that celebration I saw an email about the loss of my former colleague Ivan Scott. I first met Ivan 15 years ago when we both started working for Standard News. I was new to Washington and he couldn't have been more friendly and helpful to a new guy in town. The "Wing commander" as many of us playfully called him was noted for asking long winded questions at Pentagon news conferences, but he really knew what he was talking about and was very a good reporter. Ivan had a great voice and a gentle disposition. He will be missed. Finally, one correction. WTOP is the only station to be all news all the time since 1969. Yes, there were two other all news stations in town in the 1970's. WAVA and WRC were both all-news for a while. In 1977, my graduate school class at American University did a study of all three of them. Our conclusion is that only one would survive because of the growing cost of all news radio and the increasing impact of television. WTOP was the survivor. Hank Silverberg (3/11/08) New name for Cheap Channel - WRR (We Ruined Radio) - - - - - Larry in Luray (3/11/08) Hey Liberal bias boy.Do you know who broke the story,Nummy.The NEW YORK TIMES. CORY (3/11/08) "Legs", before the move to the "goalpost", 106.7 was out on Ox Road (Rt 123) in Fairfax Station, near to where the Fairfax County Parkway passes under it. Roughly the same site WPXW uses today. (There's also some point-to-point and 2-way stuff out there, as well) I don't know if they ever transmitted from the site south of Manassas where 1460 is. Regarding a post on WAVA and all-news, it stayed w/the format until the sale to Alex Sheftell closed in autumn 1977. I'm sure Howard Dicus can quote the date (I remember it being a Sunday night...) as his was the last voice in the string of farewells. The end truly came with just the teletype cart running by itself until "Plate Off" was punched. Finally, the family of Ivan Scott is in my prayers this evening. As another poster said, he was just the type you needed to have covering the Pentagon. His reports carried the presence and credibility so necessary in this too-cynical a town. But, more importantly, he earned the respect and trust of the military, something few in media are able to do. Ivan, we'll toast the good old days in a place where time has no meaning. And, pain does not exist. Peace. Unsigned Corporate Suit (3/11/08) What terrible news about the passing of WHFC's Joe Clingroth. He was a class act and knew so much about music. To watch him work on the air was a real joy as he seemed to love his audience and the music he played every week. His mind was encyclopedia of musical knowledge. When he had shifts around show that I did for a time at the station, he would show me a record and tell me a story about it. Always fascinating. RIP my friend. You will be missed by the many that listened every week, Ed Rothstein, formerly of WHFC's The Big Beat! (3/11/08) It is my sad duty to announce the death yesterday of WHFC host Joe Clingroth. Joe, who hosted the big band, jazz program "Studio J," recently celebrated his 24th anniversary on the air, and plans were in the works for a big band dance to mark his 25th anniversary, which would have been this coming September. He'd been a volunteer for the station since it signed on in 1983. About two years ago, Joe began hosting a second show on WHFC, "The Morning After," on Saturdays. His final program was just last Saturday, March 8. Joe's late wife, Joyce, had been a teacher at HCC. Viewing Thursday, 4-7pm, McComas Funeral Home, Rt. 7, Abingdon. Funeral Saturday, 12:30pm, Trinity Lutheran Church, Rt. 7. In his honor, WHFC will rebroadcast Joe's 24th anniversary show this Thursday in the "Studio J" time period, 7-10pm. Those outside the WHFC listening area may hear the program at www.whfc911.org. Gary Helton, Station Mgr., WHFC-FM, Bel Air (3/11/08) This week's pipe dreams and/or silly comments........... "But the engineers at Bonneville are working to boost 1050 (daytime only) right up there with 630." :::::: Nope, in the immortal words of Dana Carvey "Nah Gah Hahpen"............ "Poeple should be talking about the Fox News coverage of Gov. Spitzer's day." ::::: FYI: CNN said he will reportedly resign too.......... "There simply isn't enough local or national ad time to support more than one sports-radio station in D.C." :::::: Baltimore has practically 3 and significantly LESS sports teams as well! DUH! (3/11/08) And the reason I'm supposed to give a damn that WTOP anchors are reading the Washington Post and doing time checks out of a refurbished air studio is........? (3/11/08) At least Elliot Spitzer can still get it up. Something Rush Limbaugh long ago stopped being able to do. Just ask any of his previous wives. (3/11/08) Al thanks for the wonderful Brunch memory. We thought we would be getting an hour more of the great music; little did we know. Armando (3/11/08) I was also greatly saddened to hear of the passing of Ivan Scott. I was happy to call him a colleague, but even happier to call him a friend. Ivan always had a good story, a quick (usually self-deprecating) joke and a kind word. He’ll be missed. Fair winds and following seas, my friend. -Brian (3/11/08) Doug Hill will be doing his 5 and 6pm weather live on Channel 7 from the new WTOP glass-enclosed nerve center today. (3/11/08) New name for Clear Channel? How about Jacor? Or Capstar?? AM/FM??? Too soon? Charles in Winchester (3/11/08) Re: “USA Today Reporter Fined For Not Revealing Sources” - I’ve been a Toni Locy fan ever since "Funky Cold Medina" in 1989. BobbyD in Bmore (3/11/08) "WTOP has served the Washington region since 1926 and has been Washington's only all-news radio station since 1969." Not true. WAVA-AM/FM was all-news in 1970 (I recall listening to it in our hotel room when we visited that April) and retained that format through the mid-'70s. And let's not forget the short-lived News and Information Service (NIS) from NBC radio, which was installed in '75 and ended WRC's 2 1/2-year run as a Top 40 station. -- Vincent in Triangle (3/11/08) I was wondering if any more information was found on Linda West's departure from WFRE?? (3/11/08) Dave's response: Apparently, she left the station because an an adverse reaction to "toxic mold" at WFRE. Check out the Front Page newsblurb today..... I am so sorry to hear of the passing of Ivan Scott. What a neat guy. He came to the WTOP studios on a semi-regular basis (he was a contractor) and he always wanted to talk about my latest Sprawl and Crawl piece. He never mentioned his involvement with the Federal Transit Administration but that explains a lot. He always had a great story to tell and some interesting insight. Yeah, he was a bit rough around the edges but that's just what you want from a guy covering a rough and tumble beat like the Pentagon. Rest well, Ivan. Sprawl and Crawl Steve (3/11/08) New name for Clear Channel: Dead Air. (3/11/08) So sorry to hear of the passing of Ivan Scott. His passion was the military men and women he covered, and the inner workings of the Pentagon. I first met Ivan when he and I worked at the Standard News Network - he was the Pentagon correspondent and I was an anchor. He always had a smile and a warm greeting for those he knew - and for those he didn't know. The photo included with the news blurb on this site has a story behind it, as do most things having to do with Ivan. He was given the opportunity to fly with pilots out of a base in the Norfolk, VA, area. The morning before his flight, his dental bridge broke. He got some Super Glue and repaired it, but inadvertently got his thumb stuck in the glue. If you look closely at the photo, you will see a bandage on the thumb. His thumb's up sign was truly an indication he was ready to fly! I will miss our chats about the goings on at "the five sided building", and such things as our annual bets on the Army-Navy game. I am sorry he was not able to spend more his life in California where he had a home, but I know that his true loves were here. My thoughts are with you - God speed Wing Commander. Diane Kepley, AP Radio. (3/11/08) No one's suggested "Borg Broadcasting" yet, have they? (3/11/08) Re Clear Channel new name…”How about The Radio Company Formerly Known As Clear Channel” or “ Tyrants R US” or “ Drink The Kool Aid Broadcasting” (3/11/08) Saw that Camille Bohannon is retiring -- we were old friends in the 70s in DC but lost touch. How can I contact her? Sincerely, Margaret O'Connell, Pittsburgh, PA (3/11/08) Here's some suggested new names for Clear Channel: Bad Awful Radio Federation (BARF)... Awful Radio... Terrible Radio... Unclear Radio... Corporate Channel... Dehumanizing Radio... Unpopular Radio... End of Radio Radio... Corporate Slop... Over-programmed Radio... Billboards, Radio and Crap... Horrible Radio... Radio For People Who Hate Radio... Satellite-Like Non-Satellite Programmed Radio... Dumb Suits Radio... (3/11/08) Dave's response: Can I assume that you're not a big fan of Clear Channel? I don't know if you guys know this or not. But WASH-FM HD has flipped it's Love SongsHD to Smooth JazzHD. It's on their website. I love DCRTV go on it everyday. Thanks (3/11/08) Dave's response: Yes, we did report that BOTH (!) 97.1 and 105.9 now have smooth jazz on their HD2 signals. Yet, now that 97.1 has flipped, there is no place on the DC HD Radio dial for older oldies and classic adult contemporary that 97.1 used to play. Brilliant, huh..... All the predictions about 3WP post Kornheiser……all overlook the obvious. Chris Core is available and is the perfect fit, whether you like him or not. It's going to go to him. Or he and Byrd will flip shows. Bob from College Park (3/11/08) So they let Sandoval go? That must suck for you Dave! As far as a new name for Clear Channel...how about Snyder Communications? (3/11/08) Dave's response: Now, the fine print. I have never knowingly been contacted by Sandoval. Granted, DCRTV does get a lot of anonymous tips every day via e-mail. I have no idea who's sending them. So there..... "unless I'm mistaken, 630 has the only solid 'round the Beltway night coverage of any D.C. area AM." 1500 does just fine inside the Beltway. At night, you lose it once you you get to Dulles and points west and south. That's why they pair it with 107.7FM. 630 is the best AM signal, followed by 1500 and then 980. But the engineers at Bonneville are working to boost 1050 (daytime only) right up there with 630. (3/11/08) I was sad to see that Ivan Scott has passed away. He was a real good guy and I send my condolences to his family. Frank (3/11/08) Clear Channel ---"The Evil Empire" a video near you "Good People --Gone Bad", followed up by "Assimilate or Be Destroyed" (3/11/08) New name for Clear Channel... Voice Track Inc (3/11/08) did anyone else notice yesterday on the Glenn Beck show that the 4pm hour and 6pm hour were the same? my guess was just op. error and they hit the wrong button at some point. (3/11/08) Dave's response: That's what happens when you have Elliot Spitzer, er, Elliot Segal running the board at WTNT, now that the chief engineer has been canned..... New name for Clear Channel: The We Say-So Company . . . Skynet. . . .The Power of One (Employee) Charlie / Springfield (3/11/08) To Unsigned Corporate Suit & "Legs": For the love of the GODS would you learn to edit yourselves? You both are definitive examples of "bloviators". (From wikipedia.org: To bloviate means "to speak pompously and excessively." A colloquial verb coined in the United States, it is commonly used with contempt to describe the behavior of politicians, academics, pundits, or media "experts," sometimes called bloviators, who hold forth on subjects in an arrogant, tiresome way.) Happy Day --djmr (3/11/08) If what you are reporting is true, that Kornheiser is done for good at 3WT later this year, then it can only mean one thing: That Bonneville likely committed to that third hour of Stephy, which means that 9 a.m. hour will be locked up for some time. -- Geno Steak (3/11/08) Dave's response: Yeah, 3WT would likely expand the Burd/Doyle morning show to 9 AM and the start Miller at 9. I'm tellin' ya, with Tucker Carlson free, 3WT should sign him for afternoon drive. He's good on the radio - and you don't have to look at his silly bow tie, either..... Note to anonymous axe-grinding poster : No respectable news organization would ever lead a story with "Democratic Party hero Eliot Spitzer resigned today..." . It's both biased and untrue. He DIDN'T resign yesterday (and I know zero Dems who consider him particularly heroic). Now if this were FOX and Spitzer a Republican, they WOULD have IDd him as a Dem at once; just like they did Mark Foley and Larry Craig. BTW, Abrams at MSNBC did about 30 solid minutes of Spitzer stuff last night. KO was too busy bashing Hillary to do more than about 10 minutes. Howie (3/11/08) Quote: "Has Matthew Lesko ever been on the Maury Povich show?" Not unless he was a disgruntled 'Baby Daddy' wanting to get some assurances via a paternity DNA test. -Silvie- (3/11/08) How about Don Geronimo taking over the D.C. CC radio cluster! Then he'll show what a radio genius he really is there ,boy. Hey Kornholio how about this, somehow send Arenas to Miami and get Dwayne Wade in D.C. Wade and C. Butler sounds like a good combo too me. (3/11/08) Has Matthew Lesko ever been on the Maury Povich show? I remember Lesko was on Panorama quite a bit back in the day. The O'Meara's Look around Cafe website has been gone for over 4 months. Is it one of them deals were O'Meara let's them use his name for a fee but has no ownership stake? Who was the dreamy looking guy on Q&A Ms. Joynt's show as seen Newschannel 8 Sunday night? (3/11/08) For any DCRTV members who may be having Sunday Brunch withdrawals, I was passing time this evening putting together a presentation "tape" and here's what I came up with... media.putfile.com... At first it started out to be like a Top40 audition tape with jingles and bits and things of THAT nature but,that wouldn't be a true representation of the "brunch" so what I've put together starts with about 3:00 or so of "bits" (if you wanna call them that) and then settles into me and the music, 'cuz, THAT was what the brunch was about! The total length is around 25 minutes. Kind of weird listening to that particular "brunch" from February 24 when I had planned on taking the following Sunday off to attend opening day at Capitol Raceway to run my '89 Tercel hot rod down the 1/4 mile... I kept saying, "I won't be here next Sunday"... little did I know! Al (DCRTV hottie) Santos! (3/11/08) Dave's response: Oh, I was having my weekly crispy chicken Thai salad at Reston's Silver Diner yesterday and was seated in a booth next to some rather loud-talking men who were talking about radio. I kept hearing the words "Clear Channel" and "bankruptcy." After they left, I saw one drive away in a blue car with Maryland plates. And he didn't look anywhere as "hot" as you, Al..... To my friend, the 'Unsigned Corporate Suit': I stand corrected, good sir, I had been laboring under the presumption that 103.5 FM was a 5 kilowatt FM, instead of the 44.5 kw stick that it is. And looking at their coverage map, its truly hard to find fault that the station does not now do a better job of covering the market's core audience than it did with 1500/107.7. As for 106.7: It might just be the way I remember it, but that station, as WEZR/beautiful music, and WBMW/CHR-top 40 had a gangbusters signal covering most of Northern Virginia when the stick was in Manassas, its city of licence. Its my opinion that the station's signal degraded significantly in its move to the present day tower in Falls Church/Merrifield, right by the Beltway and Route 29. Not to mention all the years that it screwed up the signal of 107.3 until they were forced to retune... Back to the Redskins and radio: I agree with 'suit' that Snyder could do worse than to get 630, and it would turn that station to its best, and truest destiny, to be a sports-talk radio station (or at least a Redskins station, who knows, perhaps in the off-season he could flip it to Serbo-Croatian fart-dancing music, it wouldn't be much different than what is on the nearly-non-existent Red Zebra flametrowels right now). Its second-best destiny would be to become an outlet for Radio Disney. Now that Chris Core has been sacked, I really have nothing good to say about WMALin its present form. Ideally, the present format should be on a 250-watt daytimer somewhere, just not in D.C. To the person who, the other day, made the point that a well-run locally programmed sports talk station could succeed in this market, I say, yes, I agree, as long as that station sounded like WFAN in NY, and as long as it was only one of one or two sports talkers in this market. Before you all go misrepresenting what I have to say, let me say it again for you: There is no good reason for 3WT to go sports UNLESS AND UNTIL both WTEM and/or Red Zebra go out of business, and to my mind, its likely best that they both go away, IMHO. There simply isn't enough local or national ad time to support more than one sports-radio station in D.C. To the poster who writes: "The premise of a 5Kw FM being better for an all-news outlet is wrong." That's just your opinion, sonny, backed up by air. As I said, I stand corrected that WTOP is a 44kw station, and its still better than 1500 ever was, that's my opinion. I know lots of people who head west out to Reston who used to bemoan the disappearance of WTOP in the evening as they still drove home when the station's antenna had to be electrically reaimed northeast-southwest. You're probably not one of those people, so why would you care? And finally, to the great Tom Gauger, who cites the 'legacy' of news on 1500, you are likely right, good sir, except that for a growing number of people, that 'legacy' is pretty much faded away, and most people know that WTOP is on FM these days. Besides, as long as 3WT and WTOP are in the same hands (Bonneville), switching 1500 to a temporary emergency simulcast of WTOP is as simple as a quick flick of a switcher at any of their stations, just as it was when Z104 simulcast WTOP during 9/11. Still miss Al Santos and Smooth Jazz 105.9! {Gingerly stepping off the DCRTV soapbox in Rod Langway autographed Caps jersey (we hockey fans call 'em 'sweater'), size 6 Lucky Jeans, and pink suede Timberland hiking boots}, - Just Call Me 'Legs' (3/11/08) Dave's response: When I was at JMU in the late 1970s, I remember hearing WEZR's easy listening music played in many of the stores in Harrisonburg. Back then, 106.7's signal came in loud and clear 100-ish miles southwest of DC..... /\ March 11 Messages /\ \/ March 10 Messages \/ In mid-May, the man who largely created the WMAL sound that was to make this station the most successful operation in Washington for 20 years will be in town on a visit. It’s my pleasure to arrange a luncheon at the Holiday Inn in Rosslyn for Hal Green on Wednesday May 14th. An opportunity for all of us to get together again. This will be a Dutch Treat event and I can tell you the buffet is excellent at about $15.50 per person and the view from the 17th floor is spectacular. (The ABC gang meets there every two months) If you are a part of the WMAL family please let me know that you will be there! RSVP at wmal@frontiernet.net. Tom Gauger (3/10/08) Maybe MSNBC tilts a little to the left and Fox News Channel tilts a bit to the right, but one news network is an undeniable straight shooter: www.youtube.com (3/10/08) Ah Camille! Say it ain’t so! Retiring? What a pro she is. Camille and I never worked in the same place but have been friends for years along with her ex, Jim Bohannon. Camille is one of the best; a great reporter, anchor and conversationalist, especially when we’ve found ourselves bored into a coma at some event we were both attending. Camille! You’re the best! Tom Gauger (3/10/08) Poeple should be talking about the Fox News coverage of Gov. Spitzer's day. I tuned to Fox News on satellite radio and was richly rewarded by FOX announcing that Spitzer would resign (he didn't) and that he would be indited (he wasn't) Then to top if off, they missed the live broadcast of the statement. If we keep postings here to the topic of broadcasting and not politics..Fox was in never never land. (3/10/08) To follow-up on my previous comment to "Legs" (Sorry for the earlier typo!), I still think Snyder would love to get his clutches on 630 as opposed to the stuff Citadel-lite is peddling. Because, unless I'm mistaken, 630 has the only solid 'round the Beltway night coverage of any D.C. area AM. As for the Redskins, I see the point of the anonymous poster. However, don't you think he could squeeze even more bucks out of the fans and merchandizing deals if they were a winner? Especially a consistent winner? It would be interesting to look at the Redskins record since they left the old WMAL. First, they went to WTEM-570, then a mix of WTEM-570 and WGMS-103.5 when "Classical Acquizitions" discovered 570's night coverage was only slightly better than an unmodified CB radio. After that, they wen't to WJFK, whose signal has been so marginalized since its days as WPRW-FM, it's ridiculous. Which, speaking of ridiculous, there's Red Zebra. Now, getting back to Dan Snyder, has he ever had a business where he's said, "enough is enough" and sold it? I know the man has an ego which makes the Challenger Depth look like morning dew. But, every business owner I've known has had a breaking point. Or, is his ego so big that he's scared that someone will buy something of his that was a loser and turn it around into a success? Unsigned Corporate Suit (3/10/08) No liberal bias in the media? We can put that to the test today with the coverage of Eliot Spitzer's solicitation of prostitution. It took MSNBC, I counted them, TEN PARAGRAPHS before they mentioned Spitzer's party affiliation. And then, we got only this "Were Spitzer to step down, Lt. Gov. David A. Paterson, a fellow Democrat, would become governor. " The bias is so pervasive, that they would not even directly state his affiliation, but allude to it. How about those five "W's" of Journalism. I guess MSNBC forgot about that with all their focus on another "W". Had this been a Republican governor, you can bet the relationship between party and Govenor would have been made directly. In the first paragraph. The relationship would have been shown so directly, that Republican would have been the first word. Nice job MSNBC of showing us where the real corruption is, in your news room and in the Democratic party. I hope the Republicans make headlines holding Spitzer accountable. The first paragraph should be "Democratic Party hero Eliot Spitzer resigned today..." Yeah, there is a bias, and there is proof of the bias, the agenda and the corruption. (3/10/08) Dave's response: Or how about Brit Hume's Fox News coverage this evening of Dennis Hastert's usually solid Republican seat going to a Democrat. Just a matter-of-fact blandish read. If it had been the other way around, they'd have done a video report with GOP bragging, topped off with Carl Cameron doing cartwheels..... With two Director's of Engineering at Clear Channel gone in under two years the new floor plans include an EXIT sign above the Engineering Department. Hey shoot if you won't pony up the money to properly fix things, why accept responsibilty, blame it on Engineering. (3/10/08) True Oldies 105.9 is running a commercial for Trader Joe's, which is featuring a lamb special this week. I have to admit, the copy made me laugh -- the lamb is allowed to "age naturally" for tenderness before being sold. Last time I looked, a lamb that was allowed to age naturally was called a ... "sheep". (3/10/08) (clip) Al Peterson's Air Check: Curtain Rises Tomorrow On WTOP News Room (end clip) That's the *other* Al Peterson, y'all... --- Al Peterson, Ass't C.E./Production Dir., Radio America Network, Ballston Va. (3/10/08) nice plug for TOP (notice he knocks Radio One and NPR)... Al Peterson's Air Check: Curtain Rises Tomorrow On WTOP News Room: At a time when many stations are cutting back on their local news operations, Bonneville all-Newser WTOP/Washington takes the wraps off their brand-spanking-new, 7200-square-foot "glass-enclosed news nerve center" on Tuesday (3/11). A ribbon-cutting to officially open the $2.5 million facility will be presided over by DC Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton. "Our company has built us the biggest and most modern local radio newsroom in the country," said Bonneville VP/Programming Jim Farley. "We plan to put these new resources to work for our more than one million listeners to serve them even better than we do now." Coincidentally, both Radio One and National Public Radio announced moves to new facilities in the District in recent weeks, but both moves include significant taxpayer subsidies. That fact is not lost on the folks at Bonneville, who proudly note their new facility has been built with no help from DC's taxpayers. (3/10/08) Caught some of The Hideout this weekend in between bouncing around Arlington on Saturday night and heard that Jefe is getting a full-time gig as a news-talker, and Dubs is helping him out. Listen WJFK are you really going to risk losing them again? It's crazy, the opportunity to have four local, live, and once Don leaves, more than likely shows that get along all at one station is a dream. I'd be reluctant to completely criticize considering all the other right moves the station has been making lately, but if you miss out on The Hideout again it'd be a total tragedy. 5000 - Jason (3/10/08) Dave's response: Is Jefe gonna be a Rush-wannabe? Ha ha ha..... “Keith Olbermann's popular ‘Countdown’ program will rerun every night at 10” When you say “Popular”, you mean that 2 people actually watch that, instead of MSNBC’s usual 1? (3/10/08) Dave's response: The word "popular" was straight from the AP article we linked to. I have removed it. Although, Olbermann does get about "almost O'Reilly" ratings..... There are no words to describe being associated in a small way with the great talents of Camille Bohannon. This lady is one of the most dedicated broadcasters in the industry. Even tho I only worked by her side (our desks were a few yards apart) for a short two years at WRC, you could not ask for a better, caring and hard working co-worker. Camille got at her desk to prepare a newscast and you could'nt say anything to her until she had finished that newcast. Brilliant on and off the air. Camille, you are THE REAL THING, A FIRST CLASS PRO. Girl, you will be missed. Camille tried so hard to teach me how to read the stock market report on the air and I never did get it right but Camille never knew The Supremes first 5 number 1 hits. So were even. Camille, enjoy every second of your retirement. Thanks, Jack Edwards (3/10/08) After more than eight months of construction, Washington’s News, Traffic and Weather Station, WTOP Radio (103.5 and 103.9 FM), will unveil its newly renovated newsroom and studios tomorrow. D.C. Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton will do the honors, cutting the ribbon on the new state-of-the-art, 2.5 million dollar, 7200 square foot facility. Bonneville Vice President of Programming Jim Farley says, “Our company, Bonneville, has built us the biggest and most modern local radio newsroom in the country. We hope to put these new resources to work for our more than one million listeners to serve them even better than we do now.” The event will take place at the WTOP Studios at 3400 Idaho Avenue in NW DC from 11:30 a.m. -1:30 p.m. The actual ribbon-cutting will occur at 12:30 pm, accompanied by a champagne toast. Representatives from WTOP, the architects (Burt Hill), and the general contractor (K3 Construction Group) will be on hand. WTOP has served the Washington region since 1926 and has been Washington's only all-news radio station since 1969. WTOP is the most widely listened to radio station in the nation's Capital. WTOP is one of three stations in Washington, D.C. owned by Bonneville International. Its sister stations are Talk Radio 3WT (1500 AM, 107.7 FM, 820 AM) and Federal News Radio AM 1050. (3/10/08) There's a "CyberStorm" on the horizon www.federalnewsradio.com (3/10/08) Unsigned Suit- one correction. Snyder could give a rat's ass about a championship. He's making money hand over fist and, while he says he'd like a winner, if he had a choice between a .500 team that was sucking in money or a Super Bowl winner and the franchise was only breaking even, he'd take .500 every time. The team is one of his many interests and, while he did show some compassion and class during the Sean Taylor tragedy, it's not his sole focus. As a Cowboys fan, I'm quite happy that Snyder will keep the Skins wallowing in mediocrity for years to come. Go Dannnnnnny Boy! (3/10/08) way to whitewash CAIR, dave. they're more than an "Islamic lobbying group". they are a front for islamic terrorist groups (go ask one of their leaders to denounce Hamas and watch them squirm and change the subject) and an unindicted co-conspirator in the Holy Land trial in Dallas. maybe you should work for the post or new york times. tell us about how "jihad" is an internal struggle. (3/10/08) Dave's response: Agree or disagree with CAIR, Savage's suit was completely meritless..... Camile was one of the first news anchors I said hello to when I interviewed for a job at Mutual/NBC Radio (Westwood One) back in 1989. Well, fortunately, I got hired and had a chance to work as a news editor with Camile and some of the best voiced on radio, the late Fred Lowrey and Paul Henderson and the still alive and kickings, Barbara Box, John Stempin, Sean Hall. But, back to Camile. When I was still a relative "newby" to the network news game I was in Los Angles, in 1990 with my then boyfriend, (he's my husband..hence my last name) Chuck Rich, who was a guest on a Saturday night (locally produced) talk show on KFI...Bill Moran's show. Before Chuck's portion of the program was to start the station went to the top of the hour news and I thought, oh wow! How Cool! That's Camile--I work with her, and now I'm across the county in control room, and here she is! When Moran's show as over the next show as Saturday Night's Jim Bohannon Show. So, it was Bohannon and Bohannon on the overnights in Los Angeles. Camile--I hope that retirement is the best time of your life. Rita (3/10/08) Sorry to hear about ABC Sports Radio possibly bidding adieu. I did freelance work for them back in the 80’s while in NC. Now that I look at the media landscape and all of the specialty channels on TV and diversification in radio it’s not surprising that ABC is cutting back. Also how many stations are actually picking up the net sports feeds on weekends. Frank (3/10/08) 3WT website dead air - All links to their site are dead at the moment. www.3wtradio.com (3/10/08) Dave's response: Yeah, Tony Kornheiser pulled out the plug on 3WT's web server, I'm told. He also put sugar in all of Greg Tantum's salt shakers. Something's up..... We have a great guest this Thursday, March 13, but few reservations. Dr. Michael Jacobson, head of the Center for Science in The Public Interest, is one of the most interesting people in Washington, and a guest I've been trying to book for 4 years. Please try to join us. Jon Moss will be taking reservations at 202.338.2000 between 10 and 5. It means a lot to me and you won't regret the time given. Thank you, Carol (3/10/08) /\ March 10 Messages /\ \/ March 9 Messages \/ "Lefs", TNX for the compliment. As I read your comments between my own business trips, allow me to comment here. First, unless thngs have changed dramatically, 103.5 runs an ERP of 44.3KW, directional (protecting a station in PA, IIRC) as its original site became townhouses a number of years ago. Also, D.C. became an "FM market" in the early -not late- 1970's. As for Red Zebra and WTEM, the neglect and disinterest are there. Both are on economic life-support, for now at least. Best shot Red Zebra has is to buy Citadel-lite's AM's, keep 980 and sell 1260 and 570 to either commercial religion and/or political wackos who "want to own a radio station". It surprises me that RZ hasn't tried to LMA yet on one (or more) of the CC AM's... yet! However, the credit crunch is putting more than a few deals on hold. And, it might kill others. Along that line, what Dan Snyder really lusts for (besides buying a Championship) is 630. Face it, of all the DC AM's, 630 has the best merchantable coverage. Even better than 1500. However, I agree with you that Bonneville worn't do sports here as long as anyone else is doing it. It would go against their owner's "core values". The LDS church does not believe in euthanasia in any form. No doubt even economic. Unsigned Corporate Suit (3/9/08) (regarding the question about Broadcast Architecture) This is from their website: " 'Our primary mission is to connect with our client station’s listeners to find out what they really want to hear,' says Allen Kepler, president of Broadcast Architecture. 'We want listeners to feel the music was hand-picked just for them.' A native of Kansas City, Kansas, Allen studied radio, television and film at the University of Kansas. His first professional stint in radio came in 1985 with San Diego’s Smooth Jazz pioneer, KIFM. Two years later Kepler moved from sunny Southern California to Chicago’s WNUA, where he worked on air, in programming, and served as Marketing Director before moving to Princeton to join Broadcast Architecture in the winter of 1990." I Googled around, but didn't find anything about B.A. currently consulting KSON-FM or KIFM-FM in San Diego, but (as their website indicates) there was a some connection in the past, between B.A.'s president and KIFM. Google is a simple and wonderous thing! (3/9/08) Has anyone seen the ad with former Newschannel 8 anchor Nathan Roberts? It is ad that airs as a local insert on cable stations. In the ad Roberts is pretending to be an anchor delivering an important news story. He is actually selling a lapel pin that has the letters TTM (talk to me). The ad has a corresponding toll-free number. Poor Nate... (3/9/08) Anyone know if BA (Broadcast Architecture) consults, either, KSON-FM and/or KIFM-FM? Just curious! (3/9/08) Received from WAGE - "Yes – We will be carrying Nationals baseball as well as select Orioles games again this year" (3/9/08) "The HD Alliance does not speak for Ibiquity, does not include all HD broadcasters and has no regulatory authority. There is NO requirement for the HD 2/3 channels to be commercial free, period." You are correct, there is no regulatory requirement. However, if a broadcast group signed the agreement to be part of the HD Alliance - as Bonneville did - then they are also "bound", contractually and therefore ethically, to adhere to that agreement which enjoins Alliance members from putting commercial content on an HD side channel. A poster noted correctly below that those rules are beginning to be relaxed, in that limited sponsorships can now be sold for HD side channels. However, my original point still stands: as an Alliance member (as part of Bonneville), WFED can't be broadcast on one of WTOP's HD side channels, at least with commercials. (3/9/08) And the poster said Washington is the "Only place in the U.S. where people constantly complain that they can't get traffic or news information inside their office buildings." No they don't. That's coming from only one or two self-proclaimed experts on here, who are insecure about the flea power of an FM that has understandably not boosted ratings for an all-news outlet in DC. (3/9/08) Dave: Marc Fisher does host a web-only radio show on washingtonpost.com at least once a week, at noon: You can download the podcast here: www.washingtonpost.com... But yes -- some idiot at the print side printed the wrong masthead to go with his promo. (3/9/08) Fans of DC's Petey Greene have serious reason to rejoice. Here's the evidence: www.youtube.com... A new one-hour documentary, virtually jammed with high-quality video clips from Petey's WDCA-TV/BET show, (including the infamous Watermelon sermon and Howard Stern's appearance in black-face), has premiered at Sundance. More at: peteygreene.com. Not to be confused with last year's Hollywood dramedy entitled "Talk To Me," this new production, "Adjust Your Color: The Truth of Petey Greene", showcases actual performances by Petey and "most of all, no signifyin'". (3/9/08) The HD Alliance does not speak for Ibiquity, does not include all HD broadcasters and has no regulatory authority. There is NO requirement for the HD 2/3 channels to be commercial free, period. You can even charge for the content (conditional access) if you want to. (3/9/08) Dear Mr Hughes, Thanks for your coverage of the Listener column today and through the weeks. Today's item about the error in the Post's headline about the late Washington Post Radio was a good poke at a dumb mistake, but unfortunately your item also included an error: I did not do guest shots on Washington Post Radio, but rather, through almost the station's entire run I had a daily commentary program each afternoon as well as a weekly longer talk show. The radio show referred to in the promo today is one that appears on washingtonpost.com and on iTunes. Thanks for your reporting on local broadcasting. Best, Marc Fisher, The Washington Post (3/9/08) Dave's response: OK, you did a daily commentary segment on WaPo Radio, but not a daily show..... To the poster who wrote about Gwen Tolbart talking about the clocks I'm not sure where YOU were watching TV at on Friday night or even what channel you saw. Could it be you need to stay off the sauce because she was not on the news Friday. I saw Gary McGredy and Sue Palka. I watched all the Fox5 news shows on Friday and no Gwen. You must have a vivid imagination if you saw her Friday. I also watched Fox5 news Saturday and yes I heard her say in the 5pm news "turn back the clocks" but I also heard her correct it, emphasizing "turn the clocks ahead" at the end of the news. Will Thomas who was there and commented about her correcting it when she did. You seem so precise about the exact time on Saturday you'd think you'd be someone who would get things straight but I guess not. Did you also hear Bob Ryan stammer a bit at 5:18? Get your facts right before you bash someone if that's all you plan to do on this board. Robert P. (3/9/09) (There are a lot of federal workers who live in places like Loudoun, Fairfax, and Prince William who can't hear 1050.....) Dave have you listened to 1050Am lately? Since they boosted their daytime power, you should be able to hear it clearly (daytime only) in Wild West Fairfax. (3/9/08) (regarding Smooth Jazz) I've never really cared for the format. While the music is 'smooth', it's not what I'd call 'jazz'. I refer to it as "elevator music - for people who take the stairs". Personally, I favor lumpy, chunky, funky - more "straight ahead" jazz. Still, while the format has been dropped in some markets, it still flourishes in others. Here in San Diego, Lincoln Financial (formerly Jefferson-Pilot) leads in the most recent rating period, with the two top stations in town, 12+. KSON-FM had a 5.2 in the Fall '07 book with Country, while KIFM-FM pulled a 5.0 in the Fall '07 book, with Smooth Jazz. Quite respectable numbers, I'd say! (3/9/08) QUIRKIEST THINGS ABOUT THE WASHINGTON, DC MEDIA MARKET (a topic long overdue)........ 1)... Only large market in the country where everyone appears to be of the opinion that AM Radio, Talk Radio, and News Talk on AM radio is completely dead. Even the DC-based FCC doesn't care about AM radio anymore as they routinely let stations without transmitting facilities squat on frequencies transmitting nothing to nobody for 10 YEARS or MORE!!......... 2)... Only place that thinks FM will follow in AM radio's footsteps soon (true if you trust the opinions of all the Satrad w/ super-sized McMansion DC snobs in this mailbag)............ 3)... Only place that thinks Tony Kornheiser is an NFL "expert" or "qualified NFL analyst". The rest of the country thinks he's a 2nd string Dennis Miller minus the humor or a jackass, take your pick, it's a toss-up......... 4)... Only place that cares that half of Don & Mike is retiring. Even Baltimore is yawning. Even if it does happen, isn't it just like "Threat to Quit # 265"? You can only cry wolf (or take an unplanned vacation that pisses off your listeners) so many times before you end up actually quitting and no one is left in the woods to hear the tree fall! (rest of country yawns, DCRTV mailbag is riveted! LOL) 5) Only place in the U.S. where people constantly complain that they can'