Current Mailbag - Mailbag Archive Index - DCRTV Front Page - Support DCRTV DCRTV Mailbag - March 27 to April 3, 2008 Latest messages listed first..... \/ April 3 Messages \/ Hey Dave, I noticed that the Don and Mike Podcasts and Website have been shut down. Seems to be quite a quick turn-around! Mac in Houston (a 15 year fan of D&M) (4/3/08) There may be some truth about Elliot in the Morning being off the air this morning in support of Don & Mike. On their website, or you can go you youtube and search for it, you can see a video of Elliot explaining that techincal difficulties kept them off this morning. The interesting part of it is that Flounder is clearly in the background waving a 106.7 Free FM poster promoting the Don & Mike show. I'm not really sure what to make of it. (4/3/08) Kinda sucks for the D&M fans in Baltimore if it's true, as you post, that WHFS is going with their new lineup starting April 8. They couldn't wait the extra week to let the faithful in Baltimore hear Don's final show? (4/3/08) Don already retired when the show failed in New York. If Mike continues the long vacations breaks after Don is gone, he will be joining Don in early retirement. This is a competitive industry you got to work to have listeners. Long two week vacations have people changing listening habits and finding other alternatives, only the very small percent die hard listener will always be back... (4/3/08) RE: Nationals affiliate list showing "Washington Post Radio" - That's OK, I still have a black POS WaPoRad windbreaker that looks like a retro Members Only jacket. I can't wait to go on eBay and add whatever 3WT POS jacket they issue just before it changes again. (4/3/08) Dave, you missed a dynamite headline. Air Amerika's Randi Rhodes is suspended indefinately because she called Hillary Clinton a "Big Fu#%$ng Whore." Now isn't that a slap in the face to free speech! JA (4/3/08) Dave's response: Well, Randi's right. Look, I'm a loyal Democrat and leftie. And I think Hillary and Bill have waged the most horrible and ugly campaign against Obama. Frankly, she comes across like a nutcase. If she's nominated by the Dems, I might just vote for Old Man McCain - if he doesn't pick a fundamentalist righty for VP. If he does, I may just sit this one out. Politics suck..... The anonymous poster in Harrisburg (Which used to be a *great* radio city! Remember WSBA and WNOW?) has brought up one thing positive that can be said about Citadel, "...Citadel is trying to run DC, like Harrisburg..." So, you've got medium and small market stations that sound just like Citadel's stations in the major markets! You'll note that I didn't comment on their quality! (Or, lack thereof...) Trouble is, with the economy about to go in the dumper nobody is going to take chances and do anything daring or innovative in radio. Or, anything else for that matter. I fear the era of daring entrepreneurship is dead. As Rush says, "Fasten Your Seatbelts", because we've jonly starting what I fear will be a long, steep, and painfully slow ride down. Unsigned Corporate Suit (4/3/08) Don and Mike: Thanks for the memories, will miss you guys. I've already mentioned how your show really brightened otherwise dull summers and how much enjoyment I got and your being one of the influences in my career. Mike: Best of luck in your new show, your a great talent! To the Don naysayers out there-its not easy to put on a show and if Don is burned out, he's burned out, until you've gone behind the mic you don't know how tough it can be. Howie: With all due respect, how is Brian Wilson a failed shock jock wannabe? The man has had tremendous success. You don't work for the station's he has and not be a good talent...I was hoping 105-7 would go all sports but looks like that won't happen. Now if they ever got the Ravens back I think that would be a no brainer. It is ashame Rouse is not still around CBS, he would be great to do a morning show on 105-7 and maybe they could have let him spin oldies during the show as a heritage thing. Here's hoping they put Rouse on 9am-Noon on WBAL. -Michael Popovec (4/3/08) It would be great if they flipped 105.7 and 102.7 again. Put a good FM talk station on a powerful signal like 102.7 and put the music oriented programming on 105.7. I wonder if the move to afternoon will make Ed's show more entertainment driven or will it remain in its same format? I hope it stays the same. I don't know why they don't get a new morning show and put Kirk and Mark on in the afternoon? Leave Ed to middays and move Troy Johnson somewhere else. (4/3/08) Brian Wilson in toldeo... I guess it is time for a change toldeotales.blogspot.com (4/3/08) I said it looked likee closed regarding the Lookaround Cafe! No sign on door saying what the new hours were. Perhaps O'meara's has changed into one of them gentleman's club's that require a membership? A bar opened only on weakends, huh? Website has been gone for probably 4 months now, and O'meara doesn't mention it tardly at all anymore and the myspace page infrequently updated. Will karl buy donnie's place? and speaking of donnie g. did you see joy philbin on regis this morn. she seemed very happy to see George clooney. Has she increased her breast size. Man you put Kelly Anorexia' head on Joy's body and you might just have something going on there (4/3/08) The Washington Post Radio brand will not die. Embarrassing that the graphic is still there: washington.nationals.mlb.com (4/3/08) Dave's response: "Fredrick"? "Loundon"? Why all the whining and moaning over the passing of the D&M program? It’s just entertainment, not a way of life – a way to fill drive time. They are, and were paid quite well, but something better always comes along. So don’t go throwing any nooses over the pipe just yet. Get along with your lives ! Just a thought. (4/3/08) WTF???!!! I would like to know what really happened behind the "early" retirement of Don Gerinomo. This all sounds a little suspect. (4/3/08) I think the moves for WHFS are a good step toward the right direction but I think now KMS would be the weak link. CBS should've kept Rouse & moved him to 105.7 and let him do his thing with his "company". Maynard is there, TD is on 1300. Then put KMS on 102.7. Since Jack seems to aim at 98 Rock for some reason that I've yet to figure since the music selection is so different. (4/3/08) I agree about the poor compression of the music on 105.9 . It's usually like a bad iPod recording, which makes me want to listen only infrequently. I assume it's because, as a poster said, it comes right out of Scott Shannon's basement (over a dial-up line? :^). However, last night I was listening at 6:50 PM in the car and the sound was so crystal clear, it was hard to believe the songs were recorded 40 years ago. They almost sounded like they were in surround sound, clear highs, deep lows, no muddiness at all! Did they improve the quality from the basement or is that during some period when the songs come from the local studios? There was no back-announcing or any announcing, actually. But the sound was incredible. If they had that sound all day long I'd listen all the time (except during the "Rush" hours, if you know what I mean). -- Carl in Olney (4/3/08) Hey Dave, How about a job for you at Arbitron..you can predict ratings without even seeing the numbers. Korny is turning into Hillary Clinton of radio. How can you (Dave) tell that TK is surging when the hourly numbers will not be out til late May? He does half a morning show. I'm putting my money on the front half 5 to 8am with Burd and Doyle. That's the half I listen to. Are the TK people blowing smoke up your A? If they're telling you this ask them how they know. Did Wilbon tell Tony he's surging? He's Tony's brain anyway. (4/3/08) I was listening to WHFS Live 105.7, Baltimore's only Don and Mike affiliate, and the mid-day DJ announced that there would be a line-up change which is as such... The Mid-Day DJ is taking over HFS's afternoon drive time slot. Their new daily lineup does not include Don and Mike. Therefore, Don and Mike's Baltimore affiliate is dropping them starting Wednesday April 8th. (4/3/08) Dave's response: We're hearing it'll be Brian Wilson at noon, with Ed Norris moving to 3 PM..... Why is Troy Johnson even on Baltimore radio? The show is a big liberal, racist one-sided rant for 3 hours. Now he moves into the mid-morning gig? Unreal.. The show is terrible. (4/3/08) Ron Chapman – the legendary morning man at KVIL / Dallas. He’s a great talent. (4/3/08) Who is this guy Ron Chapman Ron Chapman Ron Chapman Ron Chapman (he keeps telling us his name) that is the current fill-in for Paul Harvey? He is SO disgustingly patronizing and over-inflected in his delivery that I think ABC is using him to try to drive off the audience. (4/3/08) "Now channel 9 has caved in and joined the wimps at channel 4. On the noon news they interviewed several students at Parkdale where the student was murdered yesterday. They showed only the knees of the students that they interviewed. Hello? If a person, no matter if it is a teenager or not, agrees to be interviewed there is no legal requirement to show only their knees. Welcome to the politically correct way of reporting the news channel 9." Hey person that won't leave a name which makes you lose credability, if someone requests to not be on camera, they don't have to be. I suspect these teenagers did not want to be on camera. That is how journalisim works. Mike in Waldorf (4/3/08) Now channel 9 has caved in and joined the wimps at channel 4. On the noon news they interviewed several students at Parkdale where the student was murdered yesterday. They showed only the knees of the students that they interviewed. Hello? If a person, no matter if it is a teenager or not, agrees to be interviewed there is no legal requirement to show only their knees. Welcome to the politically correct way of reporting the news channel 9. (4/3/08) Hey Unsigned Corporate Suit: Thanks for echoing on my posting. I am within earshot of Citadel's Harrisburg stations--and while they sound decent--they would never make it in Baltimore or DC. And that is how Citadel is trying to run DC, like Harrisburg. They think that listeners don't care-they just want music. WELL--that is far from the truth! Luckily for me, I did not hear Scott on WPGC (too young). But, I do know radio and how it should be done. Its formats like this that rip the heart out of this business. There are rumblings of adding a syndicated show to nights on WRQX now. People over there are not happy. They know they are now stuck with a shit product and are trying to sell spots for $10 a pop! Hell, even bitty stations in Salisbury are selling spots for more than that. I'm just saying, you have one chance to make a first impression-and they did not do it with the flip from Jazz to Oldies. They are still not impressing me much (or anyone I talk to IN or OUT of the business). (4/3/08) What a turnabout. Instead of Baltimore area listeners missing just the last hour of Don Geronimo's farewell because of the Orioles, they'll now miss the whole bloody thing. Everett W. (4/3/08) (snippage) Norris will replace the new Mike O'Meara show (end snippage). Oh, the humiliation ... canceled before you even hit the air. (4/3/07) Dave's response: Well, O'Meara can now identify with the Junkies, who got bounced from that Baltimore radio outlet, too..... Beth Ann McBride? BETH ANN MCBRIDE?!?! What the F?!? Way to guarantee failure! (4/3/08) Dave's response: Will she bring her mirror when she moves back up here? You go Brian....glad you're back. I hate these self judging idiots that take the time to critique the "pros". The idiot that posted.."rush wannabee". Hey Howie, you support the BIRDS..now, that's a decison a loser would make. Brian has always done well and will in his new position. Howie. go suck an egg-WHUPPER! (4/3/08) Welcome back-Brian Wilson to Baltimore. Kudos to CBS!!! He's talented, witty and smart and I think its too bad WBAL did not get him. BTW, my understanding is BW will be Noon-3pm...Kudos to DC 101 for getting the Greaseman back, despite those who think its a bad move, its exactly what radio needs--PERSONALITY. Lets give DC 101s PD credit where credit is due. He realizes what is going in the industry and is getting it back to what it used to be, funny & entertaining. -Michael Popovec (4/3/08) Dave's response: With Brian Wilson doing middays at talker WHFS, why doesn't CBS put Wilson's old radio partner "Big Don" O'Brien on sister station Jack oldies WQSR in the same time slot. Let the "love" flow across the Charm City radio dial..... Good for Don! Best of luck in whatever he chooses to do I am sure we will hear his voice again someday, someplace. Hats Off! (4/3/08) Dave, Thanks for the kick ass site. Who do you sleep with to get all this inside information? You must have a black book of industry insiders like Eliot Spitzer had with call girls. (4/3/08) Just setting the record straight: 3/31 on dcrtv.com: "Tantum programmed San Francisco news talker KGO for ABC Radio." Greg Tantum shouldn't get programming credit for KGO, that's the handiwork of N/T/S format legend Jack Swanson who served as Program Director 1982-1990 & 1994-Present. Tantum served as News Director from 1999-2006. (4/3/08) "Er, speaking of "dumbass decisions"... didja see what Bonneville's DC group pulled down in 2007? Obviously not, and by the way: it's dumb ass. Two words, dumb ass" Hey you make a real good point there, you probably could have pulled down a LOT more if you hadn't squandered so much of what you once had on those dumb ass decisions, but you can spell correctly, and that must count for something too, right? Really (4/3/08) Has Elliot come on and explained why his show is all music today? I may be WAY overthinking this but it seems like his songs are a goodbye to Donnie G in a "don't let the door hit you in the ass" kind of way...Gimme 3 steps towards the door...now you're messin with a son of a bitch...etc. Is it me? (4/3/08) Dave's response: I tuned in at 9:45 AM and he was talking about penises..... (not DC-related, but it could be some day) NY Times reports: "Comcast plans to announce that it is beginning the rollout of a new broadband Internet technology in the Minneapolis-St. Paul region, starting this week. The technology, Docsis 3.0, is a bandwidth hog’s dream: Internet users can feast on download speeds of up to 50 megabits per second and upload speeds of 5 megabits per second. Comcast’s chief executive, Brian Roberts, demonstrated the technology at the Consumer Electronics Show earlier this year by downloading a high-definition copy of the movie “Batman Begins.” It took just four minutes." bits.blogs.nytimes.com (4/3/08) Brian Wilson??? Oh great, another failed shock jock turned Rush wannabe. Just the thing to solidify WHFS's spot in the marketplace. HFS will maintain its treasured place on my car radio's presets solely because of the Orioles now (with an occasional check on Kirk and Mark). Howie (4/2/08) What should the penalty be when 2 untalented and weak Washington Post gossip columnists steal information and don't credit its source??? It seems that 2 of Dave's news items are now making news in the big leagues: Don Geronimo is going off the air early and Chris Core is now going to XM Satellite radio. Is it coincidental that those 2 blurbs happen to appear today or is it more likely that the ineffective, tired and talent-less Post women lifted their info?? Call the FBI, there has been a hi-jacking!!!!! (4/3/08) Dave's response: Sounds like the evil Paul Farhi to me. There's sure to be a nice hot spot in Journalism Hell for him. And not only does he steal stuff from DCRTV and not credit the site, the dipshit Post "buries" the Geronimo and Core stories with a few graphs at the bottom of the "Reliable Souses" gossip column, while it puts its goddamn "American Idol" round-up on the front page of the Stale section. Ugh..... Obligatory Don and Mike content: Louis the Retard, radio's Craig Coleman, was the final caller on this morning's Coast to Coast. He told a story about losing his glasses in Australia. Biff from Burke (4/3/08) Someone at Bonneville always wants to defend questionable decisions by stating “how much money the DC group pulled down last year”. Yes, we all know how successful WTOP is, and how much money the station generates. What does that have to do with all of the poor decisions that have been made during the last few years? Washington Post Radio, WGMS, Z104 and the Tony Kornheiser hiring were all business failures, and ill fated concepts. The new 3WT looks like another one. That is too many failures to wear the success label. (4/3/08) The Orioles and Chip Franklin weren't dumped, although the latter certainly should have been long ago. One left for FM, the other for his "dream job". BTW, WBAL's "slide" has pretty much ended and it's still well ahead of Rush's current home. The loss of the Orioles and the dying off of the AM generation is most of WBAL's problems. Howie (4/3/08) While visiting DC several times in the late 80s to the mid 90s, I thought that Don & Mike were a fun and entertaining radio experience. In their own way, they struck me as a modern day version of 'The Joy Boys' - not the same, mind you - but there was the sense of that (to me, anyway) In all fairness, I haven't heard D&M in more recent years, though I understand the show became, in a number of ways, just a shadow of what it once was. When it comes to the demise of radio teams, it's interesting to note this snippet, from the 1999 Washington Post series 'The Washington Century', about when WRC-AM fired 'The Joy Boys': "In 1972, the station let Walker and Scott go -- a story so big that Channel 9's Max Robinson and Gordon Peterson devoted a stunning nine minutes of the evening news to a farewell to the Joy Boys." I somehow doubt that there will little (if any) media hoopla focused on the final days and the ultimate end of the Don & Mike Show. Here's the link to the DC Post itemed I mentioned www.washingtonpost.com (4/3/08) Just saw East Coast Bob posting over at the sycophants bulletin board declaring to be homeless and jobless and websiteless. Ain't East coast bob formerly an intern on the old Don and Mike show known as B.O. Bob? And had a very interesting website but could be ponderously difficult to get around on? Anway maybe that new Mike O'Meara show could use a new webmaster for it's web site? Who's next to return Jimmy the Intern, Scott the argumentative dwarf, Stimpy "that's b.s. don" the Board Op, Kristine Kerner? Hey the gang's all back 'cept for you know who, ain't it kinda of nice? Wonder what Larry King did have for breakfuss today? Love, Gladys Kravitiz Hey Grease how do you like them eggs? (4/3/07) To add insult to injury to WMUC, WYPR 88.1 has turned on the digital hash according to yesterday's FCC filings. (4/3/08) The Orioles Radio Network may have grown this year, but it did so without WFMD, which very quietly dumped its affiliation with the O's. They still have the Terps, the Ravens, some WW1 NFL games, and high school sports, at least for now, but could WFMD be moving toward dumping sports altogether? And where can Frederick County residents hear the O's now? (4/3/08) I guess this escaped everyone's memory. On Tuesday morning, Channel 9 had Joy Pons subbing for Angie Goff on traffic. Joy Pons once did air traffic at WQSR in Baltimore and once posed for Playboy in the summer of 1995. (4/03/08) The programming geniuses at Hearst have driven WIYY and WBAL into the ditch. WCBM and WWMX are now beating 98 Rock and WBAL continues the slide that began when some rocket scientist (probably a corporate suit in NY) who couldn't leave well enough alone got rid of Rush, Chip Franklin and the Orioles. Meanwhile, Franklin's new station KOGO is up as much as WBAL is down. What a damn shame. Two perfectly good radio stations down the tubes. (4/3/08) Er, speaking of "dumbass decisions"... didja see what Bonneville's DC group pulled down in 2007? Obviously not, and by the way: it's dumb ass. Two words, dumb ass. (4/3/08) So I'm watching Bob Ryan right now. Anybody else think he's hammered? Whoops. Doreen and Jim are laughing "with" him. The jig is up. Do your trees need a drink? Does Bob? (4/3/08) How much of that morning 6-10 gain at 3wt is from Kornheiser, cause his show is only on from 8? (4/3/08) An anonymous poster wrote, " The imaging is overdone and Scott is so fake sounding--typical puke radio. Yeah, he may have been someone back on the WPGC days-but chances are most listeners now don't know or give a shit who he is! WJZW is Citadel DC's version of JACK FM--low overhead and NOT THE SOLUTION TO WHAT IS WRONG WITH RADIO!" and "However, the ownership, Citadel, is not familiar with how to run large market radio. Until they purchased ABC/Disney-they only had thier hands in small market stations. Now-they are involved in large market radio-and quite frankly are messing it up." You have a serious gift of understatement, my brother or sister! Even in the small/medium markets that had previously been Citadel's niche, they were just as insulting to their listeners as they are now in the big leagues. And, no, Scott Shannon wasn't all that great on WPGC, either. Around 35 or so years ago, an LP called "Bootleg Top 40" was released. It contained airchecks of "America's Gr eatest DJ's". While it contained "greats" like "Shotgun" Tom Kelly, Charlie Tuna, Harv Moore, Christopher Hays, Ron Riley, and Sandy Beach, it also contained two guys I found positively obnoxious: Andy Barber and Scott Shannon. Shannon on WMAK Nashville sounded like something you'd hear at night on a micro-market Class IV running 250 watts. While both went on to trippin' in the Top 5 markets (Pirate Radio in New York for Shannon and KTNQ for Barber), it didn't mean that they were good, let alone talented. Yes, you can be a good jock without being particularly talented. What you needed to be is an entertaining creative communicator. Anybody can do time, temperature, and song titles. Indeed, today, even automation can do that! However, guys like Shannon took advantage of some lucky breaks, connections, and creative self-promotion and got the sweet gigs, no matter how un-entertaining or un-communicative they happen to be. You want to hear insulting radio? Listen to Shannon's bumpers on Sean Hannity's program. Yes, I'm sure it's a profitable "hobby" for Shannon. And, while automation cuts your overhead, and can get you in the Top 10 in your market, there are two factors to consider. First, what is your audience share? And, who is your competition and how are they doing in comparision to you? Sure, you may be #7 or even #10 wiyj your automation. But how many sets of ears are actually listening to your sponsors ads? That's the big thing that media buyers look at. Automated stations like "Jack", "True Oldies", etc., may have people hearing them. But, how many are listening? Hearing is passive while listening is active. Second, a well-programmed live station will always beat a similarly formatted automated station. A good case in point was the old KOMA-1520 in Oklahoma City. To save a few bucks, KOMA went automated Top-40. In just one book, it got "knocked on its ass" (As Larry Lujack put it in his classic book, Super Jock.) by a much smaller station. It happened every book that followed until the ownership realized that their 50KW signal that covered a good chunk of the continent at night wasn't doing much more than giving the earthworms in the ground field a thrill, and brought in competent management and talent. RKO General didn't learn its lesson with the "RKO-matic" disaster in Boston before they did the same thing with WOR-FM. Fortunately, one of America's great Top-40 FM's was born out of what happened to WOR-FM, namely "99X", WXLO. Sorry this ran a bit long. It's just nice to see someone else who smells the coffee in the biz. And, isn't drinking the Flavour-Ade. Unsigned Corporate Suit (4/3/08) Anyone know who's running this ad? washingtondc.craigslist.org... Should anyone now employed be worried about their jobs? (4/3/08) Did Chris Core cast a spell on Don Geronimo for all the bad things donnie g. said about him? Did Beth Ann get those breast implants and are there pictures on the new Mike O'Meara website? Is Tom Gavin the happiest guy in town that Miss Curodroy Pants 1989 is back? My perdiction Mr. Geronimo is gone for good. Mr. Sorce turns into radio consultant for few months then realizes he's irrelevant in today's radio whirled. Oh my, it just occurred too me that we'll never hear from donnie's eartdog brother Jimmy again! Mammeries like the corners of my mind, is that all there is, is that all there is, well then let's keep dancing and break out the booze, well I heard some people talking just the other day. Donnie realize he was just getting too bitter like old yeller teeth to make it to May 30th? And if a Gawd in heaven Donnie is taking that gotd9mn phone ringing sound from tv show "24" with him! I know that donnie g. can't call into show but can mike sorce or bart sorce or hey maybe jimmy sorce? Well it's time to head on over the bridge cause I got to piddle. I'm forever teen, Robert Shields BAM! And in the end the love you blah,blah, blah you fat bastardo! It's much too groovy a summer's day, To waste runnin' round in the city, But here on the sand I can dream away, Or look at the girls if they're pretty. But seriously, CBS suits El Jefe and J Dubs next fall in the afternoons and Ron and fingers crossed with Fezzie in the evenings! Hey the character of donnie geronimo is dead too me now. He's made too much fun of infirmed folks to have much sympathy for him. (4/3/08) Thanks to Don and Mike for lots of entertaining radio. I first started listening to Don doing PM drive on WAVA in the 80's. I remember him giving away "Jelly Shoes" as gag gifts during his show. I followed Don and then Don and Mike to morning drive on WAVA and, of course, over to WJFK for PM drive. As I got older my tastes changed and I didn't listen as much as I had when I was younger. Still, I have a great deal of respect for Don and Mike for changing with the times and putting on a good show for their listeners. Even in recent years, Don and Mike are still unique and good enough that they stand apart from the usual liner card reading, we play the same box of records music stations and the incessant complaining on talk radio. I look forward to Don's last show on April 11th. I wish Mike and Co. all the best in their new show. But, knowing Don and Mike I think we should all be prepared for something big or off-beat or "we got you" on Don's last (if it really is his last) show. Mike/Fairfax (4/3/08) Dave, Do you know if CBS intends to continue syndicating Mike's new show? Don and Mike didn't have a huge number of stations nor did they have many major market stations. One could conjecture that if Don really is retiring that the "Don and Mike Network" would end with his farewell show on April 11th. Mike/Fairfax (4/3/08) Dave's response: I am hearing rumblings that CBS/Baltimore is planning to move Ed Norris into the PM drive slot, formerly occupied by D&M, and soon just Mike. Unconfirmed..... "------WJZW is Citadel DC's version of JACK FM--low overhead -------" I would hardly call a part time announcer getting paid a bloated PD salary "low overhead". Something is going on here that doesn't make sense. No other Citadel, Entercom, Flynn, or even Cox radio station operates this way. Perhaps he bought into the station and is a part owner. That would justify the lack of work that appears to be going on. I guess one owner would not fire another owner. (4/3/08) Thank you poster, for the run down at WJZW. I agree with previous posters who wonder about the fiscal sense (or nonsense) of even having a full time program director there. Normally, Citadel makes decisions based on some kind of economics. It really makes no sense to have a live announcer at all, the way the station sounds now. Couldn't the program director at WMAL cover the administrative duties? There can't be that much to do. It's ironic that anything live or local sticks out like a sore thumb. At least when it's all automated, you can get used to it. Clearly some fiscal cuts need to be made before any hope of profit can be achieved. Why not start with programming? It will interesting to see how many company paid junkets with cronies will be made before the axe comes down like WBIG. (4/3/08) Dave, Why did they ever move the show to Rockville,Maryland in the first place? dcrtv fan (4/3/08) Dave's response: It was rumored that Don was feuding with the Junks and wanted to get as far away from them as possible. Plus, he always bitched about the poor technical facilities in Fairfax and wanted a studio that wasn't being shared by anyone else. So, Michael Hughes spruced up the old WARW facilities in Rockville for the show..... /\ April 3 Messages /\ \/ April 2 Messages \/ RE: "I think I finally figured out what the afternoon drive time host does to earn his salary on WJZW." Actually, the afternoon drive jock on WJZW is Steve Allan. He is also the PD (or Citadel pupet on a string). He is extremely talented. He is also the mind behind the old Big 100.3. Now, he is forced to run a satellite fed format. As for the laziness of WJZW--it is not that--they are not lazy people there, as I know. However, the ownership, Citadel, is not familiar with how to run large market radio. Until they purchased ABC/Disney-they only had thier hands in small market stations. Now-they are involved in large market radio-and quite frankly are messing it up. WJZW has opportunity as being the only Oldies in town-but they are not going to live up to thier potential with the current financial situation that Citadel is in. Furthermore, Citadel is in bed with the "basement pet project" of Scott Shannon. It is pretty much a hobby station. The audio quality is so compressed and lackluster that it distorts the music. The imaging is overdone and Scott is so fake sounding--typical puke radio. Yeah, he may have been someone back on the WPGC days-but chances are most listeners now don't know or give a shit who he is! WJZW is Citadel DC's version of JACK FM--low overhead and NOT THE SOLUTION TO WHAT IS WRONG WITH RADIO! (4/2/08) Dave, did you see that Marc Steiner won a Peabody? Here's the excerpt: "Just Words" (Center for Emerging Media) Marc Steiner’s 55 weekly radio reports, four minutes each, gave voice to marginalized people—low-wage workers, recovering drug addicts, the homeless—who rarely get to speak for themselves in the mainstream media and, in doing so, made common social issues immediate and personal. (4/2/08) I'm very glad to hear McBride is coming back. When her and Mike did the shows after Freda died, they had great chemistry. I'm excited to hear this, those were the best shows when Don was gone. Vaughn, Modesto, CA (4/2/08) I think I finally figured out what the afternoon drive time host does to earn his salary on WJZW. He must be making sales calls during the day. I know that several Citadel stations reward their top sales people with a token air shift. I have never heard a station that puts absolutely no effort what so ever into their shows until now. The guy on tape frequently says "morning" in the evening, so I assume that WJZW uses each tape twice a day. Talk about lazy. (4/2/08) I’m sad to see Donnie go. Sad to see O’Meara’s go. My good memories outweigh bad in both instances. I came to DC area in 1988 at age 12, 20 years later I still looked forward to 3:00 and the start of the show. I’ll miss Don, flaws and all. That’s what made him interesting. Also, I held my son’s baptism party at O’Meara’s a few years ago. It was classy and well organized. I think if the restaurant had stuck to classy and strayed from trashy it would have done better. We don’t know the behind the scenes details so I’ll just wish Don good luck in retirement and Mike good luck on the new show. Can’t wait for live material. (4/2/08) Everybody is talking about the present situation with the Don & Mike show, I would like to talk about the future. Don only thinks he wants to retire. He will probably enjoy it for a few months this Spring and Summer. However, the fact that he has made himself irrelevant will slowly gnaw away at his innards. He won't be able to help himself and will find a way to get back behind the microphone by Thanksgiving. I am looking forward to Mike's show but I am sure he will be relieved to have Don take control again. Let's start a pool, for a five dollar entry fee each participant will predict when Don rejoins the show and the one closest to the actual date wins! (4/2/08) To me it should be no surprise Don is retiring now. Spending 5 minutes listening to a best of show, pointed Don as someone who didn't want to be there, but then again maybe that's the point of "Don Geronimo". I say that Mike O'Meara's show will only last a 6 months most without Don, and either then Don will come out of retirement to save the show or to come back to help raise the shows ratings from where ever they are now. I know 12+ truly means nothing, but could WSMJ be heading to a different format soon? Their ratings appear in steady decline, and Smooth Jazz stations are flipping formats in quite a few places over the past year or so. I know it's a Cheap Channel station so they'll probably just let 104.3 & the rest of their stations sink into oblivion with their buyout falling apart. Didn't Bob Phillips a few weeks ago shoot down the rumor that NYC suits were & are not happy with 105.7 too? Also Steve Dreppard made mention of any station in the top 10 making money. WJFK is 10th in the afternoons with their "Radio God's" out of top 10 in the morning & 12+, WHFS has been well outside of the top 10 in 12+ for what a year or two now so are they different because they're talk stations or what? (4/2/08) Jesus--enough with the questions about Cindy at MIX....she is GONE. She was the only on-air person that was let go last month. SHE IS GONE. SHE PHONED IN HER SHOW....SHE IS GONE.......maybe I should write this in brail! (4/2/08) I can't think of a better way to inaugurate a new radio program than to alienate its listener base by skipping out without so much as a "thank you". If Don's retiring, maybe Mike should follow and let some of the newer, younger and cheaper talent have a go at it. I give a O'mera-helmed show 6 months before its replaced by BO&D. (4/2/08) Dave's response: Don is doing a final farewell "thank you" show on Friday 4/11..... GAWD, after two years and hundreds of thousands of dollars (maybe millions?) pissed away on Tony K., Bonneville barely commands a little more than half the share it once did. One must wonder how many millions of dollars have been foregone as a result. Who is making these dumbass decisions over there? (4/2/08) I've been following the D&M drama and it's nothing all that surprising to me. I've been listening to D&M on a regular basis since their WAVA days so I'm quite familiar with the show, for that matter it was D&M that inspired me to get into radio in the first place. Fifteen years later I'm still in and doing well. So on that level I respect D&M. Here's the thing though that I don't think I've really seen stated about them. D&M had an excellent show for many years. In recent years however they've received a great deal of criticism. Some of it justified, some of it not. What really happened to D&M is that in my opinion they became the DJ's/Personalities that they themselves used to mock. Kinda ironic. As far as Geronimo not coming back? Well, that's a personal choice on his part and I can respect that. Much has changed in the industry and in his personal life. It's been well publicized. Like I said, I can respect his choice. What bothers me though is why not at least say goodbye and thank you to all the listeners who provided him with such great ratings over the years. Without them he certainly wouldn't have been pulling in large amount of cash he and Mike have been making all these years. A simple thank you and goodbye is well deserved to the loyal fanbase of the D&M show I feel. This is an extremely indignant way to leave if this is indeed all true. BTW, thank for providing us with such a great site Dave. -Magus (4/2/08) Dave, I too am shocked that we may have heard the last of Don and Mike. Were they funny every minute? No. But I got a lot of laughs from them over a lot of years. Their staying power, in a tough business, has to be acknowledged. Plus, Buzz's Bush-bashing was fabulous. He's a talented broadcaster. And Mike's voices were always entertaining. I hope they come back for one last show. Thanks for this opportunity to say "Thanks, guys." (4/2/08) Okay…I watched the Earl Weaver interview. But, it reminded me of something I consider funnier. Only it wasn’t meant to be funny. Does anybody remember a TV commercial for the Pimlico Hotel that ran during Orioles games in (I’m guessing) the mid-70s? Earl Weaver walked out to visit Jim Palmer on the mound. Palmer explained the reason for his poor pitching was he couldn’t get his mind off the great food at the Pimlico Hotel. The little drama ended with Weaver saying, “Okay, just throw your best crabcake…I mean pitch!” It was classic. Roddy Freeman (4/2/08) I’m a long time fan of D&M and sorely disappointed (but not surprised) in Don’s “disappearance”. Heck, I was going to leave work early for their last show so I could listen without my boss interrupting me with work. Amy (4/2/08) The only thing the DC Arbitrons continually prove to me is that ARBITRON is a mess. How is it possible that far away Virginia fringe stations that cannot be even heard in most of the DC market keep showing up in the ratings? And then factor in the fact that half of the Baltimore stations have local coverage in the district itself? A perfect example would be WFLS vs. Baltimore's WPOC. WPOC has local signal coverage in the district itself! What's wrong with this ratings picture? Something is clearly broken at Arbitron, or they are deliberately weeding out the Baltimore stations on purpose. What's next, a Richmond FM station hits the Top 10 ??? (4/2/08) Sorry to depart from the ongoing D&M discussion. Would any of you good folks who read this site know whether the "State of Play" filming will be back in Rosslyn tomorrow (Thursday)? Thanks. (4/2/08) Gee..you are starting a new show..what better way to get a buzz going than to create a controversy, isnt this what D&M have been doing for years ? Didnt they do it when they walked out at WAVA ? Dons professed premise has always been "serial" radio...and it looks like he didnt get out of the cockie-doody airplane...Well Don theres not going to be any controversy,we have had enough of you joking around with your friends and if you dont believe that..F*you and your family too..no lets talk about the show.. (4/2/08) I am thinking that Don was trying to beat Chris Core as the 1st one off the radio. We all know how competitive Don is with him. (4/2/08) Never imagined that Don Geronimo would go out like Rosie O'Donnell or Star Jones did from The View. At least Baltimore D&M fans can't complain about preemptions from the Orioles now. I'm beginning to believe that CBS may just drop the Mike O'Meara Show plan altogether and go with a next gen WJFK theme. Sometimes, breaks with the past need to be made clean and quick. Everett W. (4/2/08) I know I am not the brightest bulb on the Christmas tree. Please tell me , Who is Helen Mirren? JohnnyuinHanover,Pa. (4/2/08) Dave's response: The Ruskie space commander in "2010"..... Dave, is their something wrong in your posting of the latest Arbitron trends or am I misreading it? You have the listings 12+ for morning drive first then you have another set if rankings listed as 12+ morning drive but the station rankings are slightly different, followed by 12+ afternoon drive. I know I’m not the sharpest knife in the drawer (just ask my wife), but I’m a little confused. (4/2/08) Dave's response: Whoops. The first batch were for "full-day." It's fixed..... Comments to the Don & Mike page at WJFK come back as an error message, Hmmm........ the boys have been jettisoned? (4/2/08) I would like to second another poster’s “WOW” I’m floored by the Rumor/Story about Don retiring (early). I was one of the fans complaining about them taking extra vacation but I want to make sure to say that First, I’m a fan of the show. I have been since I started college at the University of Maryland in 1993. D&M have gotten me though a lot of afternoons and I want to make sure that I thank them for thousands of hours of entertainment. Yes the show has had its ups and downs but I still listen to it every day, at work and on the way home. If March 13th was his last show, Thanks Don, you’re the best and I wish you a good retirement. However, I would imagine that Don would want to come back for a final show to yell at us one more time and to give a final sign off. He’s a radio professional and CBS owes him that proper send-off. I understand that the radio business is cut throat and many personalities don’t get the luxury of a “last show” but this is very different. A true, original personality is stepping away from the mic and deserves more than just a kick in the ass our the door. It will be interesting to see how this plays out. (4/2/08) "F" Don and Mike! When you give a specific date as your last day on the air, your listeners expect you to follow through. Just one more way that Don Geronimo has screwed his audience, who, up until this point, have been defending him and listening faithfully, since day one. We were there and gave a huge outpouring of support and prayers when Freda untimely passed away. We were there when you're ratings sucked in DC and helped you bring your Arb's up by spreading the word of what a great show you guys did. We bought your merchandise from the website. And what do we get in return? A big "F-you, Joe Listener". Oh yeah...the last time I had a few Mikey Burgers I was on the crapper for several unsavory sessions...good riddance to O'Meara's as well. (4/2/08) Wow!! The collapse of the old Don 'n Mike Empire has happened faster than the time my grand-Uncles' old Rialto Deli at 46th and Broadway stripped Joe Franklin of sandwich-naming rights. Granted, the show (on the rare times when they'd actually bother to show up) had become increasingly depressing, like early morning Catholic masses where the old Italian and Puerto Rican women in the shapeless black dresses come to light candles for their 30 year dead husbands and their unwed grand-daughters who mysteriously went "Virgin Mother" plump in the night (and what they were screaming at the time sure as hell wasn't "Mira! Mira!") But even with the gratuitous sex and politically correct racism aside (because who doesn't really, really like anti-Papist rantings with an intermixture image of young Latina love?), jeez guys cut them some slack; these two and their cohorts have been entertaining a basically whitebread audience of bloodless bureaucrats with suicidal self-loathing for over two decades with really respectable numbers and revenue production. That kind of loyalty can't be ignored, even if it is from self-admitted mouthbreathers at the shallow end of the gene pool. So Don's not been up to his best lately? Let's see; guy straightens out his life, finally grows up, things go well and then he witnesses the love of his life turned ito strawberry jelly in front of him and his son in the middle of a family vacation. Comes back into work several weeks later, has an extremely painful public grieving process and then seems to pick up his life. "C'mon, Funny Man, dance like a monkey for your Homies!" Has anybody bothered to think that maybe it ain't all right and hasn't been for a long time? Having dealt with this crap before (both personally and as a friend and colleague), the words "delayed reaction" might not be irrelevant here. People don't react to loss and stress the same way; everybody's different. Just because Humpty's shell is glued back together doesn't mean the egg isn't addled. If he's tired of entertaining a bunch of overpromoted clerks and mooks, so be it. He's had a good run. Let him get on with his life. Genghis Cohen, far from the madding crowd in windy Prince William County…. (4/2/08) Dave's response: My take is this. Cash-starved CBS would rather pay small bucks to Big O and Dukes, who may or may not get good ratings in afternoons, than pay big bucks to Mike O'Meara, who may or may not get good ratings in afternoons. Because of this, there's a major snag to the signing of Mike's deal. And, therefore, Don has decided to take a hike in support of his radio partner and good friend. Just my wild guess..... Don and Mike - I must agree with Mike in Waldorf! The ever changing environment that all radio stations and jocks work in is very difficult. And for D&M to continue to put on a rather entertaining show was difficult enough, aside from the tragedies that Don has gone through. If it is truly over at this point, THANKS FOR THE MANY GREAT YEARS AND MEMORIES!. One question that I do have is….. What really happened to "Hanks Look Around Café"? No answer when called…… Matt in Montclair (4/2/08) So 3WT didn't even show up in afternoon drive? And now Tony's gone for good? No wonder they combined sales staffs. (4/2/08) What time does the Greaseman show start on Saturday? Helen Mirren is HOT! Dave, I share your ''ethusiasm'' about Helen Mirren. She...is....SEXY! Paul (4/2/08) Dave's response: I wouldn't call Helen Mirren "hot," but she's a damn good actor. If you want "hot," it's definitely Judi Dench. Ha ha ha..... If Don is in fact gone, don't you think he would owe CBS a ton of money because he did not fulfill his contract? I can't image as much as he and Mike have done for the DC area for over 20 years that he would simply walk off in that fashion. However, I do recall him saying when the original announcement was made that he didn't want much fanfare when he leaves. Regarding the show itself, to the people that are too lazy to leave their first name, they couldn't be anymore wrong. The show from WAVA all the way to present time has been entertaining. There are very few times I actually changed the station because a bit wasn't working. Personally, I always like "Make Me Laugh" because 1/4 of the people had no clue they were on the air. They did what they could do with the current FCC rules. Their ratings have been through the roof the entire time, and other than Donnie Simpson, no one in the DC area has left such a mark in radio. Mike in Waldorf (4/2/08) This one's appropriate for the start of the new baseball season. Someone recently sent me this classic "interview" between Earl Weaver and Tom Marr (which I've actually heard before). I discovered that there are 2 versions of this floating around the Internet. One version is cut short (starts in the middle of the interview) and doesn't include Earl's memorable intro (funny as hell). But here's the whole interview from start to finish. If you haven't heard it before, you're in for a treat. And if you haven't heard it in a while, it never gets old. Take a listen and enjoy: www.youtube.com (4/2/08) Marc Fisher's latest Q&A at www.washingtonpost.com: Woodbridge, Va.: Marc -- Since you follow the Washington radio scene I was wondering if you have any info on the status of WJFK's Don and Mike. They are currently in the third week of their Easter vacation and rumors are circulating that they are finished and aren't coming back. Geronimo was supposed to quit in May...... Marc Fisher: The rumor mill is hard at work with talk that Don Geronimo has indeed left the building and that he will not return from vacation as scheduled next week. I don't know if that is the case, but it would make sense, as he has more or less checked out. Not yet clear is exactly what form Mike O'Meara's new show will take on WJFK. In other radio news, the Greaseman is back, sort of. He will do a Saturday-only version of his classic show on DC101 starting this Saturday morning. Grease recently shut down his low-powered AM radio show to spend more time on his boat. It's good to have him back on a station that the entire market can hear. (4/2/08) (From DCRTV's Classified Ads:) Producer, Maryland Morning, Baltimore Maryland, WYPR FM - WYPR seeks a full-time Producer. Responsibilities include developing ideas and booking guests for interviews; conducting background research on a wide range of topics and providing hosts with support for interviews; and recording and editing for broadcast. Position requires at least 1 year experience in radio production, ability to multitask and work cooperatively with others and to write quickly and accurately for broadcast. Interest in science and medical news a plus. Candidates should submit cover letter, resume, 2 references and 2 samples of produced interviews to Business Manager, WYPR, 2216 N. Charles St., Balto., MD. 21218, or to jobs@wypr.org. Close date is 4/23/08. EOE. (4/2/08) Did the slump by WMAL in the ratings have anything to do with the departure of Chris Core? And is that the reason also for the Kornheiser gains? (4/2/08) Here’s what I don’t understand about WJFK. If Don doesn’t want to work, fine. Don’t work. But tell the rest of the group to get their butts back in the building and do a show. Is there something in the contract which says unless Don says it’s ok, they can’t do a live show? Or… put Big O and Dukes on live to WJFK in PM drive and feed the damn “Best Of” to the rest of the stations. Then again, I still can’t figure out how they WJFK managed to approve “Best Of” weeks for both AM and PM drive the same week. Do they want us to go looking for alternatives? Put the midday guys SOMEWHERE live if Junkies AND D&M are off the same week. Just common sense. Sign me… just your average drive time listener… (4/2/08) I just listened to the Podcast with Jim Nantz from 03-13-2008. Nantz refers to wanting to be the last guest on Don's last show and then Don says in a very joking manner, "Well today is my last day" and then laughs. Listen to it on their web site. If it really was Don's last show and he knew it, he would have thrown more out at the end of the show. Now if he didn't know it and CBS is pulling the plug, then who knows. (4/2/08) Let me join in the applause for the addition of Phil Wood to the Nats Xtra team. I've been emailing MASN asking them to add a Nat-centric show similar to Tom Davis' to the network and Phil would be perfect for that. This is the next best thing. Howie (4/2/08) Where is Cindy Maguire, last known as the 7-midnighter on MIX 107.3. Any ideas on where she went, and why? (4/2/08) Dave's response: Mike O'Meara has converted the basement of his old Manassas restaurant into a dungeon and is holding her prisoner there..... RE:" Whine all you want about the vacation lengths, but never have Don and Mike taken more than their allotted vacation time without something holding them off the air (suspension, contract, etc.)"...hahahahaha, I have to wipe away the tears of laughter after reading this one. Yeah November and December of 2006 they were gone because??? Don is a whack job and they are all better off with him in their rearview mirror. The show was fantastic for many years but, like many people with an ego, Don should have left after he lost interest in the show instead of going out on such a bad note. I would bet $500 that Don will either never come back, or he will come back for one final show and whine about how he can't do this anymore. (4/2/08) To add to the poster who mentioned his visit to O'Meara's pub and it appearing to be closed...His website is now also gone....And judging by the lack of ad spot's on WJFK...In addition to the sub par reviews his place got...all added up, this pretty much equals that O'Meara's restaurant venture has flatlined....Not confirmed...but sure sounds like it. (4/2/08) Look forward to seeing Phil Wood fill in for Ray Knight on MASN. Phil working with Johnny Holliday should be a piece of cake. Two LOCAL broadcast veterans and super nice guys! Good move by MASN! Shawn, Bethesda (4/2/08) Dave, let me pick up the gauntlet thrown down by one of your readers, who asked why anyone would want to work in the broadcasting business today. (I sometimes get asked that question when I talk to journalism students.) For one thing, many of us broadcasters are kinda dim and talking into a microphone is about the only thing we know how to do! (I'm taking a home-study course on how to be a heart surgeon, but it isn't going very well). But I think the main reason we're in the business is that most of us still love what we do, despite the painful changes the industry has been going through. It's true there's almost no job security, the hours can be horrible and for most people in the business the pay isn't all that good (but it's still better than for most jobs and we should be grateful), but every once in a while, we broadcasters can be helpful (for example, we can use a newscast to tell people something important) or interesting (in doing "Sound Sessions from Smithsonian Folkways", I get to rummage through 100 years of recorded sound in the Folkways archive! How cool is that?!) or just plain fun (I sat ten feet away from B.B. King as he played his guitar "Lucille" during an interview I was conducting. How many people will ever get to do that at THEIR jobs?). So that's why some of us keep doing this. Maybe we're like the members of the orchestra on the Titanic, I don't know. But, on a good day, this can still be a very cool gig. Thanks for raising the topic. It got me thinking, which is no bad thing (it's HARD for me, but no bad thing!). Best, Sam Litzinger www.samlitzinger.com (4/2/08) Thanks to the poster for the heads up on the movie shoot in Rosslyn. I just looked out my window, and sure enough there is equipment set up in the old parking lot of the Orleans House. It turns out the movie is State of Play starring Ben Affleck, Rachel McAdams, Helen Mirren, Russell Crowe, Robin Wright Penn, Jason Bateman, etc. (4/2/08) Dave's response: Helen Mirren's in town? Wow! There are movie vehicles, a large portable generator et al parked out between Rosslyn Metro and the old Orleans House restaurant in Arlington. What movie is being shot in that corner of town presently? (4/2/08) "D&M drama is so OLD" Yes it is. They've moved on long ago so it's time for the rest of you to do the same. As someone else said, find another program, read a book, but let it go! (4/2/08) It wasn't "Good Friday" that was D&M's last broadcast, it was THURSDAY, March 13th which was 8 days before Good Friday. In typical D&M fashion, we don't even get the respect of a brief, pre-recorded explanation to let us know what's going on. If Mike plans on treating his listeners like Don has...it will be a very short run for "The Mike O'Meara Show." G.K. in Timonium (4/2/08) Dave's response: Right. D&M started their "vacation" on Thursday 3/13, a full week before Good Friday..... Re: "explain to me why ANYONE would want to work in the broadcasting or news business today? It doesn't pay anything, people aren't respected and companies show absolutely zero loyalty to their employees." And that's different from any other business because... ??? We don't live in your father's (or grandfather's) world anymore. If you're not signing the checks, you're working at a temp job--you're a "resource", a number on a spreadsheet. The sooner you realize this, the better off you'll be. (4/2/08) Well drove out to Manassas yesterday and after enjoying a Double R burger at Roy Roger's decided to swing by O'Meara's and have a beer and see if could get some poop on the show. But lo and behold O'Meara's bar appears to be no more. Place was closed and interior looked all cleared out. Nothing on front door saying they moved or even thanks for the years of patronage, etc. So looking more and more like Good Friday might have been good riddance to Don and Mike. What a pathetic way to end it all after all these year's. And yes Dave from Sterling I'll admit to the glory year's of dons and mikes in the ratings but that was what 5-6 years ago now. donnie going to sit on the sand and watch the surf come in and mike will be selling cars salute and adios to the radio gods. (4/2/08) re:" I haven't heard anything about cuts at JZ. If anyone has some inside info, please send it along. Confidentially assured....." I have heard through a mutual ex-employee friend that at least one engineering manager, Pete Mentch, was let go without warning last week. Don't know if any others have been struck. (4/2/08) Nice move by MASN to give Phil Wood a shot at TV as Ray Knight's backup. Working with Johnny Holliday will be a piece of cake and the combination of the Two should make for some very enjoyable shows. Johnny and Phil are Two of Washington's most treasured broadcasters. The Washington Nationals should be some kind of pleased!! Shawn, Bethesda (4/2/08) Hey Dave: I had a thought after reading your post on the possibility of 3/13 being the unannounced last D&M show: If you listen to the 3/13 Podcast, Segment 5 (Jim Nantz Phoner), at the 24:30 mark (approx) Jim tells Don that he wants to be "the last guest before Don Geronimo takes off the headset...slotted really late in the day." Don says, "Congratulations because today's my last day Jim." It was said jokingly, but then again Nantz was able to fake surprise at Tom Brady's "Fake Statue of Liberty" play during a live broadcast (see 20071207 Segment 3 or 5) so maybe he was in the know after all. Also, whenever they go on vacation they usually mention it in the run up, but this time the first I heard about it was in the closing segment of the 3/13 podcast (listening to podcasts from Dallas so I am always a couple of days behind). Probably nothing, but I can't resist a conspiracy theory. Thanks, Brian (4/2/08) Dave's response: Hmmm, very interesting..... Marc, congratulations to you and your brother on the weekday 6-8pm gig on WNST. You have a great lead in, in Rob Long which is a nice thing to have in any entertainment/media field as you well know. You guys have a unique show which helps make it standout from the competition. I know I had some great evening listeners during my stint at WNST and I know you'll have the same. Wow, its was a year ago Monday that I began my seven month journey hosting that time slot. It seems so long ago. Congrats and best of luck.- Michael Popovec (4/2/08) /\ April 2 Messages /\ \/ April 1 Messages \/ Congrats to Phil Wood on getting a backup "Nats Xtra" job on MASN. No one knows more about Washington baseball than Phil, and I expect him to have a great rapport with Johnny Holliday. -- Vincent in Triangle (4/1/08) Dear Dave – can you explain to me why ANYONE would want to work in the broadcasting or news business today? It doesn’t pay anything, people aren’t respected and companies show absolutely zero loyalty to their employees. Look around: few people over the age of 35 or 40 remain in the business today; those that do are probably desperate to get out - unless they salivate at the prospect of eating cat food in their 60s and 70s. Prove me wrong, DCRTV readers... (4/1/08) Glad to see Chris Core is now going to get the national exposure he so richly deserves. More than his knowledge, he'll bring his personality to POTUS. My prayer is that five years from now, as he's in his corner office discussing his next show with his production staff, Chris will look back at what happened that horrid Friday on Jennifer Street as the best thing that ever happened to his career because it got him off a sinking garbage scow and onto a trifoil!. He is indeed a rare treasure and talent in a town so bereft of it otherwise. Once he goes national, he'll never be "local" again. However, I also know that Chris will never stop caring about this community. He'll still be active in helping those in need. Congrats on the new gig, Chris! (4/1/08) D&M drama is so OLD. They are the most lazy men in radio. I use to love D&M, but all they do is talk about Regis, and bash the listeners. YAWN. Go Junkes, go Oscar & Dukes. (4/1/08) Hi, Not sure if this is the best way to contact you guys but wanted to let you know that Marc and Andrew Unger will now be heard 6 days a week on AM1570 WNST. Monday-Friday 6-8pm and Saturday mornings 8-11am We look forward to expanding to weekdays and hope to continue the funny, edgy look at the world of sports, both locally and nationally, with a relaxed, conversational style that we've been doing on Saturdays for a year now. That's what we aim for anyone. How far we miss by is up to others to decide. Let me know if you'd like a more formalized press release. Thanks. Marc Unger (4/1/08) Yes, yes, yes---you've all got it so right! D&M hate their audience and nobody ever listens to them! Imagine that -- decades on the air and nobody has ever liked them. Wonder how those GMs and PDs who kept them on the air all those years kept their jobs....pretty weird how all these piles of ratings books have been so wrong over the years, too....and the bidding war that went on when D&M left WAVA was kind of odd...still, you guys know best! Dave in Sterling (4/1/08) (From DCRTV's Classified Ads:) NEWSPAPER SENIOR SALES ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE - Patuxent Publishing Company, publisher of award winning, community newspapers has an immediate opening for a Senior Account Executive in our Columbia Retail Advertising Department. This position is responsible for large retail accounts as well as large local institutional accounts that are an essential component to our local community newspapers and our readers. This position also is responsible for sales and service to retail accounts within a defined geographic territory in the Columbia market. Demonstrated ability to research, prepare, present, sell and service to large accounts is essential. Excellence with strong, consistent customer service and client partnering is a critical component to this position. Position will include ongoing and future opportunities for new business development with large local targeted advertising accounts as assigned by management. Position will be responsible for selling into all PPC products assigned to retail advertising including, ROP, preprints, DPD's, mobile billboards, special sections, marketing sections, internet, vendor tabs, etc. Pre-employment drug test and background check required. We offer a comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, 401K, paid vacations, holidays and discounted gym membership. E.O.E. Qualified applicants, please send resume with cover letter and salary requirements to dlampel@patuxent.com. (4/1/08) With those obsessed with the D&M Dramas….get a life dammit. Who cares what they do, where they are, or what they’re going to do? They’re two washed up hacks beating the s**t out of a bunch of morons. Read a book,even a comic book, for something to do. Geezus you’re all wackos. Good riddance D&M. Unappreciative legends in their own minds. No talent creeps=non educated listeners. WHULP! (4/1/08) To the mailbagger automatically assuming that Don and Mike are taking an extra week vacation, are you really that dense? Without using the slightest bit of thought, it's pretty clear that CBS and Mike are hammering out the final contractual details for his new show. Whine all you want about the vacation lengths, but never have Don and Mike taken more than their allotted vacation time without something holding them off the air (suspension, contract, etc.) (4/1/08) Dear Mr. Hughes, I wanted to thank you for taking the lead and publicizing the coming out of two brave gay men. We in the gay community usually do not encounter someone of your integrity and tolerance. Hopefully the listeners of these wonderful men will understand and support them for their decision. M. Bombala (4/1/08) Lil Donny G. does not care about his audience. He's proving it right now. The ones I feel bad for are the people who've loved and supported the show all these years. THIS is the payback. I have a feeling that IF Dismal Donny comes back next Monday, we'll hear some long, sad story about how he ''contemplated'' leaving or some other stupid shit. As far as Mike goes, he should just call his new show ''Where's Don?'' If he's keeping all the regular ''gang'', it's not going to work at all. Rob, Buzz, Joe played off Don, not Mike. Mikey, invest your money in a strip club. By Christmas I have a feeling that the sad experiment of the ''Mike O' Meara Show'' will be a distant memory. Paul (4/1/08) Thank you MR.. Jack Edwards..for sort of filling in the blurred parts of my early memories of WCAO! So there really was a guy named Ray Moffit? And was he on during the evening hours..maybe 7 P.M. until midnight? And Dick Covington; I think he may have been on during the late afternoons..am I close? As I stated in an earlier post, I was only a toddler then, so my memories of that era are sort of "blurred!" I do remember Jack Edwards being on overnights at "the Big 60"..I have memories of my brother's clock radio coming on at around five in the morning and, of course, he would have WCAO on! And didn't Frank Luber actually do an airshift on WCAO in the very early 60s? Bob Bartel: I remember hearing him often on my way back to school on Sunday evenings (this would mostly happen during the winter, when we couldn't hear country music as WBMD would had signed off for the night)..okay; hope you all didn't mind my "trip down "Memory Lane"..and thanks for all who may want to "fill in the blank spaces!" Tom in Denton, MD (4/1/08) Is something up with D&M? Of COURSE there is! Don is probably throwing a temper tantrum about something minor. Dave, you should take votes on whether or not we hear that selfish ass' voice on the air again. He doesn't want to do the show anymore, whaaaa - he doesn't care about his friends who are on the show with him, that much is obvious. (4/1/08) Part of me actually wishes Don and Mike never come back after all the BS over the years. I might miss them for a minute but I can listen to O & A replays on XM and even Stern if and when the merger ever goes through. (4/1/08) Re: "'The Nationals are 2-0 and are off to their best start since the team moved here. So what are they talking about on WTEM? The dress code in the NBA!' - This proves that Washington is not a sports town." No, it proves -- once again -- that WTEM is a lousy sports station. Like the local programming on XXX FM (or whatever the hell it's called), WTEM has been handed over to a bunch of amateurish hacks who think yabbering about only what they're into will be interesting to listeners. It's not. I just got back from a few days each in Philly, NYC and Boston, three cities which have better music, sports and news stations then Washington. In fact, in my travels to major cities east of the Mississippi over the past few years, I have yet to find one with a worse selection of stations than DC. That wasn't true a decade or so ago. As for "the greaseman" getting on the air...I find it hard to believe that anyone above the age of 13 gives a damn. I'll admit he's better than anything DC101 has had on the air lately, but that's not saying much. (4/1/08) So, D&M find it prudent to take an extra week of vacation, making it almost a month off the air? The show is about to make an enormous evolution…or de-evolution depending on how you feel about the “new” cast. Don is going to retire in less than two months and he feels the need to take an extra week of vacation. What an absurd business move! These guys should be putting their all into building as large of an audience as possible before Don leaves. They should be out doing appearances, contests, etc, not just lounging around on the couch or on a cruise ship somewhere. As a big fan of the show their slacking really bums me out. Should we just assume that the new “Mike O’Meara show” is going to be on another station or something? I’m sure that the sales people @ WJFK are loving the absence of their two biggest names. Maybe they will be back live today and this is just a little “April Fools” joke on us…. (4/1/08) Dave's response: Definitely another rerun on Tuesday. Expect one on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, too..... There were huge cuts yesterday at WBBM-TV in Chicago, CBS's owned and operated station. Eighteen people lost their jobs including the lead news anchor and the lead sports anchor. Could this mean cuts are coming to WJZ-TV in Baltimore as they are also owned by CBS? (4/1/08) Dave's response: I haven't heard anything about cuts at JZ. If anyone has some inside info, please send it along. Confidentially assured..... Thanks, Roddy, for sending me that link; actually, what I was looking to find is the "line-up" that WCAO had in the late 50s/early 60s. It turns out that I have this link saved in my "favorites" list; just haven't taken the time to look through it all..I have seen some of it..and it does give a fairly good overview of who worked where at different points. If I'm not mistaken, there are some airchecks there too..although the quality may not be that good; still..is good to know that they do exist! Thanks again, Roddy, for taking the time to send me the link! Tom in Denton, MD (4/1/08) I too like C-4 in the afternoon. He demonstrates that you can have an intelligent conversation and disagree, but not resort to name calling, yelling or hanging up, which is what Smith does and Franklin used to do. Shari E. is growing on me, but way too much American Idol and fluff. Rose McGowan brings an incredible knowledge and passion for classic cinema to The Essentials, particularly for one so young. I think she was a good choice. Brian in MD (4/1/08) Just a note for Tom in Denton concerning WCAO. Plough Broadcasting went on the air with their top 40 format May of 1956 and needless to state, the rest is history. Thanks to ole friend Ed Graham and after only three short years in the biz (two at WWIN and one at WBAL-TV), I was hired in May of 1959 at the ripe old age of 21 by PD/jock Vance Randolph. I did news during the week and played records on the weekend until the overnight shift was up for grabs and that shift lasted me 9 years out of the 15 I was employed there. I collected the weekly top 40 charts and managed to get copies of the weeks and years before I started there. Some of the guys that were on the air at WCAO during 1958 were: Lee Parker, Bob Dalgren, Dick Covington, Alan Drake (good peopleeese), Vance Randolph, Ray Moffitt and Charles Purcell (left over from the CBS radio net days) who later became news director and public service director.Of course there were tons of on air changes over the years with the arrival of Baltimore radio greats like Johnny Dark, Kirby Scott, Frank Luber, Bob Bartel, Ted Jaffee. Alan Field, Paul Rodgers, Les Alexander to name a few and there were a few not so great, but we won't go there) And to do it all over again at WCBM (the greatest hits of all time) during the 70's with Ken Merson, Lee Case, Joe Knight...a dj's dream. Just a short sad note in today's Sun paper. The guy that hired me at WBAL-TV when their studios were near 25th and Charles street in 1958 passed away last week. John Frankenfield was one great guy that totally loved his work and employees. And yes, I still listen to my Supremes while in my van or on the treadmill and I like it LOUD...Motown Musical Magic. Thanks, Jack Edwards (4/1/08) "Oh please wise one, do enlighten us to why Bonneville should purchase a 100kW shortwave station. This should be good." - I'm sure they'd never do it, but "This is 3WT, broadcasting on the 31-Meter Band" does have a certain ring to it, don'tcha think? Mike in Frederick and the Dashboard DX Society. (4/1/08) VOA stuff... you were right before the update in every way. Someone fed you false info for your update. Please re-run your original tip - it was hugely correct. (4/1/08) Hi. I am the manager of the Breezeway Motel in Fairfax and I'd like to proclaim Room 203 to be "The Don And Mike Suite". I'm marking the occasion with a brass plaque on the door and a oil painting of the JFK "love duo" above the waterbed. - Omar P. Turkemann (4/1/08) Dave wrote: "Tony's show would work if he'd properly commit to doing it. He'd need to do three hours of morning drive, from 6 AM to 9 AM, and he'd need to do it for a full year." I enjoy Kornheiser's show and am made aware of how good he is anytime he has a substitute host, but I prefer his non-sports-related discussions. I know you've criticized the "American Idol" discussions on his show, but I'll take those any day over another four sports writers talking about their March Madness brackets. Does it never end? Christian (4/1/08) "The Nationals are 2-0 and are off to their best start since the team moved here. So what are they talking about on WTEM? The dress code in the NBA!" - This proves that Washington is not a sports town. The clowns at WTEM couldn't tell you a single starter on the Nationals staff in all likelihood. (4/1/08) Is it just me or am I hearing lots of new voices calling in to WBAL? Count me among the converts to WBAL during the middays. At first, I wasn't sure about the Shari Elliker show, but the more I listen, the more I find her interesting. She's bright, articulate, energetic, and her voice brings a new and fresh perspective to what had become a tired, old time slot on 1090. She sounds younger, hipper, and she entertains me some days, and makes me think on others. I like that! I had stopped listening previously because the old host just never sounded like he knew what he was talking about and his humor wasn't that funny to me. I listened to Shari last week talk about Hillary Clinton under "sniper fire" and that is the program that made me a convert. I like the way she deals with her listeners and I like all the sound clips she uses in her program. And this C-4 in the early afternoon has become a favorite too. He sounds like a very likable guy. From his days in the legislature he clearly knows his stuff, and he's not afraid to say when the boys down in Annapolis are blowing smoke and shoveling manure. I don't always agree with what he says, but he sounds like the kind of person you could have a serious discussion with, even disagree, and still walk away as friends. These two have heightened the level of discourse on that station, and they really compliment what was already a solid news product and the two best people on Baltimore radio (Dave Durian and Ron Smith.) Tom in Cockeysville (4/1/08) Thanks Dave. You had me crapping my pants in disbelief while reading the "D&M are Gay" post until you reminded me of the fact that it's April Fool's Day. Oh yeah, Joe Tardinger is a true radio talent that deserves more airtime...April Fool's! (4/1/08) YO DAVE, been out of town for a week and I come back to find that THE DOODADDDADDY is coming back to D.C101. Thank god for some relief. That station blows right now. Nothing like it used to be in the good ole' days. At least saturday Morning's will once again be worth waking up to. Are you sure it's not a "publicity stunt" of some kind???? Keepin' my fingers crosssed!!! AMF from DELMARVA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (4/1/08) Don and Mike - Awesome April fools gag!!!!!! (4/1/08) The Nationals are 2-0 and are off to their best start since the team moved here. So what are they talking about on WTEM? The dress code in the NBA! I guarantee you if it was possible to tune to the sports stations in New York, Philly, Chicago, or any other legitimate sports station they would be talking about baseball and the switchboards would be jammed. (4/1/08) I am probably the only person on earth that is concerned about this but this was just received from WAGE, " "We are carrying the Nationals but due to some unforeseen problems, we are not able to start the coverage until Wednesday 4-2. We apologize for the problem" (4/1/08) Dear Dave and friends, I can't thank you enough for the heartfelt messages and most of all for your kindness. They are a true source of healing during this difficult time. I shared during my dad's eulogy yesterday that the most important thing that he taught me was to forge connections with people whether it was the checker in the grocery store or the convenience store clerk. Dad always gave them that lovable, loud "hello" or just a wave to know that they mattered. I intend to continue his legacy and teaching in my work at WHFC as a broadcaster and most of all just to do my best as a person. My friends, so something nice for yourself today whether it is treating yourself to that cup of coffee or just taking five minutes of relaxation. Sorry to get heavy, but all of you are special and have something to say with or without a microphone. Blessings. Joyce Conroy (WHFC) (4/1/08) To “Peace Brother” Just what was 35 years ago????? Peace backatcha:0)PLB (4/1/08) As of this writing, WTNT 570 has been putting up dead air nearly half the morning (I joined at 6:50am and dropped in periodically until 7:40). The only time any audio appeared was for news, local station breaks and "magic calls". Otherwise, Bill Bennett has pretty much been completely mute since the start of the show. I could let it go there and just say nyah-nyah-you-suck, but honestly, has PD Bill Hess completely lost any and all interest in keeping the CC AM'ers running competently, if no longer competitively? I worked with him some time back, when he'd be all up in your grill instantly if 2 secs of dead air from a jammed cart went by. Now a program line can be dead-potted all morning and his response essentially is "f*** it". Bill, do you truly not care anymore? Do you realize there are ways to control both your automation system and studio levels remotely via the Web should something like this happen? You also realize the same automation systems can play back an archived recording if dead air is sensed? If I were host Bill Bennett - doing my show from just up the road in complete earshot - I'd be calling the studio panic line, screaming to pull out of WTNT by COB today if someone didn't take ownership and action RIGHT NOW! No wonder the investor group wants to back out; someone woke up early and actually listened to the stations they were lined up to buy. They're better off wiping their asses with the money than throwing it at Clear Channel. (4/1/08) For the record, yesterday's Orioles game WAS in HD on Channel 13 (WJZ). It's good to know that even though Dish Network won't carry the HD feed, at least whenever the games are on WJZ on an HD day, I'll be able to watch them then. Also, any answer to my question yesterday about if DirecTV carried the HD feed of the game? Greg in Reisterstown (4/1/08) I am still trying to figure out why Bonneville hired Tony Kornheiser in the first place. He makes more money than anyone else at the station, and even if his show did generate ratings, the sales staff can’t sell them, because by the time they are released, he is gone. Can’t Bonneville find another self absorbed New Yorker for less money who will work full time? There are plenty to go around! (4/1/08) Dave's response: Tony's show would work if he'd properly commit to doing it. He'd need to do three hours of morning drive, from 6 AM to 9 AM, and he'd need to do it for a full year. Doing an 8 AM to 10 AM show from January to June simply doesn't cut it. It's an extra paycheck for Tony. That's all..... Hey PLB thanks for the response. Better get those bifocals checked, it was 35 years. But what's a year among friends. Peace brother. BTW for those Schering Plough historians, they owned stations in Atlanta and Memphis as well. In fact they owned the limit of 8 at the time. They're 1985 company report listed the 24 million income from the radio group as miscellaneous income. They also owned DAP products at the time. Anyone want to speculate why companies like Nationwide and Schering ever bought radio stations in the first place. (4/1/08) Regarding Don and Mike it's all part of an April Fool's joke. Don walked away for good Good Friday and O'Meara was recovering from a 2 week bender and he forgot to show up. Meanwhile, I enjoyed the El Jefe Hideout show on Saturday night. That stuff about sending autistic's to a field in Montana to roam freely was hilarious and then the discussion of stalking all the gals back in junior high, funny funny stuff. The ability to ad lib like that is something sadly don and Mike lost long ago. burn out! That El Jefe and Dubs are a pair of crazy frijoles. But might one dare to ask ,Smooth Jazz coming to WJFK? Back to WBMW? I still think Rose McGowan is a sh8tty choice on TCM. How about Roger Corman or Jane Russell or Randy Newman or Elizabeth McGovern... (4/1/08) Any word on why D&M didn't return (Monday)? (4/1/08) A few things... It's great that the Greaseman is back. The guy has more talent in his unfortunate thinning hairline than 99% of jocks presently on the radio. He can be obnoxious but he is always damn funny. He's clever, well-read, and talented. Despite his few...yes few...problems on the radio, he is one of the classiest, good-hearted guys in the business. I look forward to his new show! I'll relax and knock down a "bone dry" for the good times. Ira Melman...I listened to Ira when I was a teenager back in Philadelphia when he worked for WFIL and did the news for ex-WRC TV sports anchor George Michael when George was a Top 40 jock in the '60s and '70s. He's another great talent. Perfect recognizable voice and another nice guy on and off the air. Ira needs to be back on the radio and soon. "The Globe" (94.7) and their "Under the Covers" Weekend...great special event! Could not change the dial. Don't know if it was an original idea but it was definitely a good one. (4/1/08) Have you seen the newly redesigned Comcast SportsNet Web site yet? I don't like it. (4/1/08) Hey Dave, You complain about the Post so much you need to be better with the typos. This is from today's listing: "...VOA sources have old us...". I don't think that is what you were meaning... -- Stephen Blackburn, Reston (4/1/08) Lifelock spends a TON on ads. They might want to spend some on legal fees.... www.scmagazinesus.com... www.foxbusiness.com (4/1/08) WJFK the sinking ship? I doubt it. I think WJFK & WHFS could be even worse cellar dwellers and CBS would stick with the FM Talk format. All the proof you need that WJFK will never change is that it's Don & Mikes base and they're planning to continue on with Mike O'Meara after Don leaves. The only other option would be O'Meara on 94.7 doubt that would happen but it would maybe help 94.7's ratings possibly. The better bet is that 94.7 is Fresh 94.7 waiting to happen. But other than D&M, and maybe BO&D what else does WJFK have? Nothing, their moring show The Junkies will never even be in the same league as Elliot. Also WHFS has 2 things going for it 1. Ed Norris 2. Orioles even though the O's stink as bad as the station they're on. What other CBS-Baltimore station would be able to take them on their format? Let's not forget the two morning has-beens on 105.7 either. Last I checked 98 Rock had no issue letting them walk, and has 98 Rock failed without them? I don't think so. Gosh would it ever be great to see the key-demo Baltimore numbers somewhere. Afterall 12+ is meaningless. It'll also be good to see PPM's with the more realistic numbers come out in Baltimore & D.C. (4/1/08) Great zinger about Tony Kornheiser... Don and Mike's Best Of? My money's on another pet death, probably Joe Ardinger's parrot. But listening to today's Best Of I finally made a connection: Dave Hughes IS Super Dave. That explains the inside JFK information. Biff in Burke (4/1/08) To Joyce, My most sincere condolences to you, Mr. Tom and your family. I will never forget how you, Tom and Gregory opened your home to me, Steve, Dan and all the others. I miss talking radio with you and Mr. Tom. I hope I will run into the both of you when you return to the area. Once again, My prayers and love to you and your family. - Tom Pendleton-Baltimore (4/1/08) Dave: Yep..that would explain it; in other words, to my screenreader, the WCAO chart is a picture; therefore, it won't read any text on it! After reading the thing on Abe Plough, I understand now why it was I heard so many "Saint Joseph Aspirin For Children" spots on WCAO in the early-mid 60s! Tom in Denton, MD (4/1/08) "Ya, I second the poster wondering who sent in that email on the bloodbath." Probably the same "group" that touts BBG being the worst place in the government to work then turns right around and asks the Board of Governors for assurance their jobs won't be eliminated as part of restructuring. I'm sure that irony went right over their heads. (4/1/08) /\ April 1 Messages /\ \/ March 31 Messages \/ Tom from Denton: Try using this link: members.aol.com. It will help you find out radio personalities on the major Baltimore stations from the late 50s through the 60s and beyond. Roddy Freeman (3/31/08) Was watching Nats pre-game on MASN last night. They showed the introductions of the visiting Atlanta Braves team. Showed the Troops unfurling the American Flag. Showed part of the introductions of the Nationals and had to leave do to "contract restraints " Way to go you can't even show the intro of your own home team. Maybe you should cut out some of the pre-game B.S. that everyone has heard over and over. Also WJZ pre game your news team is horrible. The on the air lovey dovey act is sickening. Signed a real baseball fan. (3/31/08) Don't forget April Fools Day! How about: Bonneville abandons "all-news" and flips WTOP to "TOP Retro-Rock". Mike and Bruce continue in AM Drive! Jim Farley goes pn to receive industry awards for successfully reviving "Personality-Driven Community Service Music Radio. In fact, "TOP Retro-Rock" goes on to win a Peabody award for its local community service!..... Clear Channel finds religion and gives1260 to Jimmy Swaggart. Dan Snyder experiences a "miracle" conversion and donates "Triple X" to Swaggart as well..... Citadel follows CC's lead on AM and sells 630 to Dan Snyder 630 goes sports talk with Elliot AM drive M-F and Greaseman weekends..... CBS buys 980 and trades it and cash to Salem for 105.1 105.1 becomes "Newsradio 105" with CBS News on the hour..... With Elliot on 630, Clear Channel sells 101.1 Bonneville outbids Dan Snyder and flps 101.1 to Country.... CBS flips "El Zol" to 106.7, WHFS to 99.1, and 94.7 to "Smokin' Oldies from the 50's - 70's. jIn Baltimore, "Jack" drops the bumpers except in/out of stop-sets. Drops "Jack" for "Your music the way we want it" Changes call to WIPD for We're (your) IPoD!..... Washington area Council of Governments files petitions to deny license renewals with the FCC for all stations carrying traffic reports. CoG claims "economic harm" inflicted because relocating companies hear about the horrendous traffic and change plans to relocate away from D.C. or its suburbs. (3/31/08) Ira was let go from Clear Channel because Clear Channel is run by a bunch of idiots. He was let go from TOP for reasons that had absolutely nothing to do with him personally. And I’m told that he has NOT been let go from VOA. (3/31/08) Well..since I once again am able to access "DCRTV Plus"..I took that opportunity to see if I could see the chart listing for WCAO (1958)_)..much to my chagrin, I cannot! Since I am visually impaired (I do have limited vision)..but mostly rely on a screenreader, it just won't pick it up (I saw the "WCAO" heading..but there's no way that the software will actually read it! However it did get my "memory lane" juices flowing..and I'm prompted to ask if anybody remembers the DJ roster for WCAO during that time frame? I used to hear that station quite often during the day, but was only four or five years old at the time! Gee..but would be great if there are any airchecks on line floating around the internet from WCAO during the mid-late 50s/early 60s! Tom from Denton, MD (3/31/08) Dave's response: Well, the WCAO chart is a JPG image. I don't know if your screen reader can decode that..... So it's "best of day" at WJFK, huh? Could it be an excuse for an impending format change? JOHN IN STAFFORD (3/31/08) For a whole lot of reasons, I'd be very surprised if Bonneville relays WTOP (in LA) for more than a day... week at most! Radio is still very market-specific. And, what directly works in L.A. may not work here. And, vice-cersa. That's why it takes me a few hours of listening to get used to KNX, KFI, or even Tom Leykis on KLSX. The last time I recall a direct relay here was back in '89 when WMAL relayed KGO after the S.F. quake. Fantastic radio and great radio. That is, if you weren't too busy... (3/31/08) Imagine our thrill last night to see beloved WJLA anchor Leon Harris hosting NewsChannel 8’s pre-game broadcast of the Washington Nationals inaugural game at Nationals Park. What was it like to be there on such an historic baseball night? We asked Leon that very question. Here’s his answer: www.extrememortman.com (3/31/08) WJFK Sunk? last week Chad Dukes said there was No one in the office except for those who were running his show. He also said they were on a "sinking ship". Now when Don and Mike are supposed to be back from vacation we have best of's all day for all shows on WJFK. I called the offices and everyone says "all we know is its best of today .. i dont know any more than you do"...any Idea whats up? ..If not find out please and clue us in... Thanks - Joe (3/31/08) Dave's response: A top JFKer insists that nothing's wrong and they'll be back live tomorrow..... "Sounds like D&M are on vacation, still, so that's two full weeks PLUS . . . Dave's response: Two weeks and two days, by my count....." That's Right. They were off Good friday. Forgot about that. (3/31/08) Dave's response: I'll never forget the Monday after Easter 2006. That's the day when Don went into his most infamous rant about DCRTV. So, there have been years when the Radio Gods didn't take the week (plus) after Easter off..... ira was not fired. he's staying. (3/31/08) Greaseman is back at DC101? What next - Uncle Johnny returns to 107.3? Yeesh. (3/31/08) Dave's response: Hell, why not have YDB and Buddy Rizer return to DC101, too? Gee I'd settle for 1 day off, much less 2 weeks and 1 day. Guess Don's just getting US used to the idea of being without him. And if ol' Mike has the same vacation schedule with his 1/3 as good show, then Big O & Dukes should already be licking their chops for afternoon drive.... Been listening to those guys since I was a pup, but like a wife who doesn't show up till around 6am.... I still love 'er but it's time for her butt to get out....... (3/31/08) RE: [ Is Greaseman's schtick relevant today? ]......... Well, I for one haven't been able to listen to him (due to the crappy signals he's been on) since he was last on DC101! So, I can't answer that question, but I WILL be listening to see what he sounds like in 2008! Can't wait! :-) (3/31/08) Dave's response: I think you'll find that the Grease hasn't changed much in all these years. At least regarding his radio persona..... Usually when it's a planned day off, BODAM is run by Joe Tardinger who can't keep his mouth shut. But not even a peep from the idiot today...something amiss perhaps? (3/31/08) Dave's response: Yeah, Joe could have said before the "best of" that D&M will be back tomorrow. But he didn't. Inquiring minds want to know why..... Sounds like D&M are on vacation, still, so that's two full weeks PLUS . . . you know, I still think that show's funny, but there's no mistaking the indifference -- bordering on contempt -- that they have for the audience. Now, I know that the response would doubtless be some variation on (a) our contract gives us the vacation; and (b) we don't hate the listeners, we hate management. I don't doubt that they DO hate management, but why hate the listeners? We like the show, and it's disappointed to tune in on Return Day, and hear another freakin' "Best Of". Sincerely, TMU (3/31/08) Dave's response: Two weeks and two days, by my count..... Hey Dave, is there anything going on with D&M? why aren’t they back live today? Dave in Towson, MD (3/31/08) Dave's response: I'm told that it's yet another day of vacation and that D&M will be back live tomorrow. But, it sure does seem that Don wants to spend as much time - before he retires from JFK and the show in late May - away from the mic. Doesn't it? By the way, with the O's playing their afternoon opener today, there's no D&M on Baltimore's 105.7 anyway. And, with WHFS expanding its O's pregame show to an hour, there'll be a bit less D&M (soon just M) on 105.7 in the future..... This is NOT a slight or insult or sarcastic comment, but if Ira Mellman was fired by VOA in the last two weeks, that would mark the third time that he's been fired in the D.C. area in about the last five or six years. In fact, that's meant as an insult to the local radio industry. Interestinly, people say that he's a nice guy, a hard worker and that listeners like him. So why was he fired at WBIG, WTOP and now VOA? What do programmers have against Ira Mellman? I'm taking Ira's side and just thinking that idiot programmers don't know what they have with him. Or is it just coincidence? No matter what, the guy should not have been fired from any of the stations. If anything, he's probably one of the more grounded, experienced and down-to-earth radio news reporters in the D.C. area. (3/31/08) Dave's response: From what I'm hearing, Ira was freelancing for VOA. So, if they no longer need your services, you're not really fired. You never really worked for them in the first place. Look, with only a handful of DC radio stations - a la WTOP, WMAL, and WAMU - having anything like a full-fledged news department, there's really nowhere for Melman to go..... Glad to see you've updated the item on "VOA Cuts Freelance Writers and Newscasters" to clarify that there was no "bloodbath" at VOA. To set the record straight, three freelancers were released. This was a minor adjustment to avoid redundancies between full-time and contract staff. There were no cuts of any kind to full-time staff. On the subject of English broadcasts, VOA is committed to broadcasting in English on radio, TV and the Internet. VOA's pending budget request contains a proposal for continued English broadcasts taking full advantage of the multimedia talent here in house. I can assure you there is confidence in VOA and a strong belief in its mission. Recent increased broadcasts in Persian to Iran, Swahili to Kenya, Somali to Somalia, Tibetan to Tibet, and Burmese to Burma often under tight timeframes and in times of crisis and/or increased tensions are clear manifestations of VOA's ongoing importance. In terms of payments to contractors, we did experience an administrative problem in making timely payments related to surge programming to Pakistan. We sincerely regret the delay, but can assure you that all payments have been made.... Sincerely, Letitia King, Acting Director, Office of Public Affairs, Washington, DC (3/31/08) I know a lot of people don’t care for the Junkies but I like the show and this morning Cakes not knowing what constitutes dusk and dawn was classic. Also, any segment with EB’s mom is always gold. (3/31/08) Didn't Tantum just get here??? If he is leaving, who is taking his place? Does this mean that 3WT is in trouble and may not survive? Say it ain't so....I like being one of the 25 people who listens to Tony Kornheiser....Every month! (3/31/08) Dave's response: Tantum was lured to the East Coast by Bonneville to work on the prestigous Washington Post Radio experiment. Now that that's dead, and 3WT is little more than a canned talk outlet in an overcrowded radio talk market, my guess is that Tantum wants more of a challenge. A station with a future..... I agree with Cruze that the Greaseman on Saturday mornings will be a great addition to DC101. The Greaseman is one of the few real entertainers on radio these days and one of the greatest talents ever. I realize a debate is raging about whether his act is still relevant; I personally think it is. The Greaseman’s punishment for making a mistake in my opinion has been far out of proportion to the mistake itself. I’m glad he’s back on a legitimate DC station after all these years. Roddy Freeman (3/31/08) Dave please tell me this was tongue in cheek: "and James Carville were among the beautiful media icons"... Stevie Wonder even sees the humor in that line (3/31/08) Dave's response: Carville is a cute odd ball. Look, if you're "beautiful," male or female, and a media star, the Post will bend over backward to give you coverage. The one and only exception is Tony Kornheiser. Even though he's hideous-looking, he gets coverage because he has nasty sex pics of top Post suits. By the way, nice to hear Tony on his 3WT morning show today tell us that he finally "gets" what we "bloggers" are up to. And how what we do to local media types is exactly what he does to sports celebs. Now, he admits that he is one of us. Duh..... I got a big chuckle out of "Dave, As you know Orioles Opening Day is like a national holiday in Charm City...." I've lived in Charm City most of my life, and this may have been true 10 years ago, but it is hardly true now. Do you hear any real buzz about the team? After so many consecutive losing seasons, people are tired of hearing the false hype. I couldn't give away my tickets to opening day. So much for a "national holiday in Charm City..." Is Jim on "Peter the Great's" payroll? I heard from friends who went to the Nats game that during the anthem, at the appropriate time, you could hear the "O!" There's an alternative down the road, and it seems some are going in that direction. (3/31/08) Ya, I second the poster wondering who sent in that email on the bloodbath. And please remove Melissa's name from your page: She is a full time payroll person and has been for nearly 20 years. She was not let go and will not be. As for those not getting paid, many can't seem to fill out and submit a simple purchase order. Also, the feds can take up to 30 days past the month you worked in to pay you. Sucks, ya, but you know it going in. If you are too broke to wait, get another gig. And 13 newscasts a shift? No idea who is feeding you this crap, but let's do the math. First, the 5 minute newscast is only at the top of the hour, there is a 1:15 and a 2 minute half hour headline maybe TWICE in one 8-hour day. Mostly in the border crossings music show. No, the VOA is not a good place to be, but let's get the facts straight. And the writers? Well, Syreeta and Chris are writers from the (God awful) wire, jusy picking up air shifts. They were not let go. Others were for bad writing and not showing up for work. Pete McCloud was hired .. WEEKS AGO ... on the assignment desk. (3/31/08) Greg in Reisterstown : MASN's website indicates that Directv in carrying the HD games. And you're right, DISH won't have them for a while if ever. Howie (3/31/08) Greg in Reisterstown, DirecTV does carry MASN and MASN2's HD signals. That's the easy answer. If your in-laws don't have an HD receiver and the right dish, the HD channels won't even show up in their guide. If they bought an HD receiver back when DirecTV offered just a handful of HD channels, you will only see that handful of channels in the guide because that's all you can receive with that box. (MASN wasn't one of those handful.) Anyone who has the 5 LNB dish and purchased an HD receiver after DirecTV expanded their HD lineup will see two channel 626s listed (MASN and MASN-HD) and two channel 671s listed (MASN2 and MASN2-HD). However, often what MASN carries on their HD channels is just a rebroadcast of the non-HD version of a program. It's clearer because they're broadcasting in 1080i or 720p (I don't remember which MASN uses), but the program itself isn't in widescreen and isn't being shot using HD cameras, so you don't get the full benefit of HD and you have to put up with those black boxes on either side of the picture. This is often true of other channels too. Whether a game is truly broadcast in HD isn't up to DirecTV; it's up to MASN. DirecTV just sends along whatever MASN is broadcasting and doesn't change the resolution on a per program basis. Also, ignore the little "HD" that shows up in the guide next to the program name. Sometimes it shows up on an HD channel for a show that's not in HD and sometimes it doesn't show up when a show is in fact in HD. (3/31/08) VOA Correspondent sitting with me here in (unspecified foreign location) just called colleages, and was told your piece is not right. Three freelancers let go, but that’s all. (3/31/08) Dave, As you know Orioles Opening Day is like a national holiday in Charm City. WJZ started at 5a.m. with the their pre game and they have special at 2p.m. along with another competing show on MASN at the same time. The game is at 3p.m.on MASN ON WJZ and marks the first telecast MASN has produced in HD and that BROADAST CAN BE SEEN ON COMCAST CHANNEL 226. Both WHFS-FM 105.7 and ESPN 1300AM will have pre game shows from Camden Yards all the way up to the 3p.m. starting time. www.examiner.com... Cheers, Jim (3/31/08) Hey guys; Just a quick line - whoever dropped you that note about VOA "bloodbath" is completely wrong. I suspect your tipster had another agenda cooking. There may have been some cuts, or reductions in hours. Also: VOA has a habit of cutting POV's and hiring them back quickly. Just a heads-up. (3/31/08) Dave's response: You will notice that much of the newsblurb is in quotes, including the word "bloodbath"..... Later today, would someone please let me know if DirecTV actually does broadcast the Orioles game in High-Def? I have Dish Network, which isn't going to carry the MASN HD signal anytime soon. My In-Laws have DirecTV and over the weekend, I looked at their system and noticed that in the program guide for DirecTV, it doesn't say (HD) next to the Orioles game on MASN. I'm looking to switch to DirecTV, but if they don't carry an HD signal of MASN, I might as well stay where I am. Thanks to any who can help. Greg in Reisterstown, MD (3/31/08) Sorry to see what was once KUSW go away. I don't see Bonneville buying it for a variety of reasons. Among them: Except to get around some restrictive national ISP's, you don't need to deal with tempermental shortwave to broadcast internationally. You can do it over the Internet. And, a whole lot better! Just do it from outside the U.S.A. to get around the eight cent per play recorded music tax; Bonneville lost a ton of $ on WNYW. They have a long corporate memory. As another poster said recently, "They may be Mormons. But, they're not morons." IIRC, they bought WNYW from the former "World Radio University of the Air", from which part of its call was derived (WRUL -The "L" was for "Listeners"!). The only LDS programming WNYW had, as i recall was "Music and The Spoken Word", which is to Bonneville stations what --La Hora Nacional-- is to Mexican ones; Finally, Bonneville seems to be in a "strengthening" phase where they're bulking-up in a depressed economy, preparing for a boom to follow. (Yes, I said "depressed", folks. The "recession" is history. We're in a Depression.) They're taking advantage of opportunities to improve existing products at comparatively good prices and being on the lookout for opportunities to acquire new ones. ("Product" is the current term in media for what was once called a lowly "station"....) Unsigned Corporate Suit (3/31/08) The AFTRA-SAG marriage has been rocky and most of the issues have come from the SAG side. I never thought it would work out and always believed that the relationship wasn’t good for AFTRA members. Tom Gauger (3/31/08) Aside from being an affiliate of the Washington Nationals, WAGE/1200 is also an affiliate of the Washington Wizards. Maybe the station aired the Wizards game later last night instead. Everett W. (3/31/08) Hey Don Geronimo remember, "All Glory is Fleeting" (3/31/08) Why don't the local news outlets find and interview former DC Mayor Anthony Williams? He was the one who championed and worked tirelessly for the new Nats stadium. Fenty and Cropp were both opposed to it from the start and would always try to stop the plans. Ah, how quickly we forget... (3/31/08) I'm not greatly concerned about Rose McGowan now being the co-host for "The Essentials" on TCM. Since Bogdanovich left, they seem to pair someone new with Robert Osborne every year. Molly Haskell, Carrie Fisher, Rose McGowan...being a great actress has never been a requirement. Haskell's a critic, Fisher's a celebrity, McGowan a working actress of fair ability. All that's required is that they have seen the film being screened and can speak relatively intelligently with Osborne about it. Howie (3/31/08) RE: post about biographical information surrounding the founder of Plough Inc. Great read! As I was reading each line, I anticipated a deliberately-slow-sign-off of..."Now you know the rest of the story, Paul Harvey... ... ...Good day! Thanks for the piece! Now, about this "Schering"-person...what's up with that? (3/31/08) So I take my two sons to the Orioles "fan-fest" and it was great except for a couple of things, We met Craig Heist who used to work in sports on the eastern shore and we met Anita Marks who was dressed for a costume contest or something she looked worse than she sounds on MASN, She asked everyone to excuse her for looking like she did because she had just came from a softball game or something. Now I know why my husband only watches MASN when she is on vacation or sick or something. I almost ran off the road on the way back to the ocean when my two teenage boys asked again who was this Anita chick? I told them she does a radio sports talk show and is also broadcast on TV via MASN, One of the boys said she looked like a streetwalker from the TV show the Wire. Out of the mouth of babes, huh? Thanks Orioles for the great promotion, good luck with all of the new kids on the team - we love the O's downy ocean hon ! Maureen in Ocean Pines, Md. (3/31/08) Oh please wise one, do enlighten us to why Bonneville should purchase a 100kW shortwave station. This should be good. (3/31/08) Dave's response: Well, maybe a few shortwave frequencies would help patch up 3WT coverage holes in the DC area - not reached by 107.7, 1500, 104.3, and 820. Oh, nevermind..... /\ March 31 Messages /\ \/ March 30 Messages \/ Dave, I'm surprised you haven't posted anything about a rumored divorce of AFTRA-SAG. It's been all over KNX this afternoon. Seems to be a jurisdictional dispute involving "Bold & Beautiful" on CBS-TV. Anything in your news sources? (3/30/08) Dave's response: I found this from the Hollywood Reporter..... Despite WAGE's assurance that they were going to carry the Nats games this year tonight they are carrying ESPN radio. The same crap happened last year and its almost like they have to be reminded. And if anyone from the Nationals ownership group reads this site are you ever going to realize that the reception on your three big stations, 820 and 1500 AM and 107.7 FM, cannot be heard in upper Montgomery County? (3/30/08) (regarding the WCAO item in the DCRTV Flashback) Here's some biographical information about the founder of Plough Inc., that once owned Baltimore's WCAO. "Abe Plough, founder of Plough, Inc., began his career in marketing in 1908. He borrowed $125 from his father to create a concoction of linseed oil, carbolic acid, and camphor and sold the potion door-to-door from a horse-drawn buggy as a cure for "any ill of man or beast." Plough's inventory expanded to include a mysteriously named C-2223. This relief for rheumatics became an immediate success; after four years Plough had sold 150,000 packages. What he later claimed to be his shrewdest purchase occurred in 1915: Plough paid $900 for the inventory of a bankrupt drug company. He netted a profit of $34,000 peddling the stock in the back woods where there was still a large demand for oxidine chill tonic. In 1920 he bought the St. Joseph Company of Chattanooga, Tennessee, and began manufacturing children's aspirin. By the 1950s Plough realized that the huge sales figures for the popular aspirin was partially due to children taking overdoses of the product. To prevent this from reoccurring Plough ordered childproof caps added to the aspirin at a time when safety regulations were almost nonexistent. He went on to purchase 27 other companies during the course of his lifetime. In addition to being talented at making important acquisitions, he was also very adept at marketing: 25 percent of all income from sales was routinely spent on advertising. The success of radio advertising, in particular, convinced Plough to buy five AM and FM stations. Plough was best known in his own community for his philanthropic contributions. Upon his death in 1984 at age 92, flags throughout Memphis were lowered to half-mast." www.referenceforbusiness.com... Plough Inc. also owned WMPS Memphis, WCOP Boston, WJJD Chicago, and WPLO Atlanta. (3/30/08) FYI ... Trinity Broadcasting is shutting down their 100 kilowatt shortwave station in Salt Lake City on the 31st of March. This is after a 20-year run; before that it was "KUSW" , and independent shortwave station carrying rock-n-roll. For years it has been playing TBN's soundtrack. Bonneville should buy this station and carry KSL and Mormon-related broadcasts. (Actually , Bonneville once owned WNYW shortwave with studios in NYC and transmitters in Scituate, Mass.) (3/30/08) (Regarding today's Flashback on DCRTV Plus:) Agrrrrggghhhh! I like the WCAO chart from fifty years ago over on DCRTV+. However, does anyone on this board besides yours truly remember "He's Got the Whole World in His Hands" by Laurie London? If it's not the most dreadful #1 in Top-40 history, it's a real contender. Makes a great segue' into "Jingle Bells" by The Singing Dogs, but not much else. How about other nominees for "most wretched" #1? Unsigned Corparate Suit (3/30/08) Two of the best, on the air together... Lee Shepherd and Bill Mayhugh! Unfortunately, my two coconuts and a thin wire here on Sugarloaf Key are only picking up Havana's Radio Progreso and some guy ranting about an old man who wants to go fishing! So, I'll watch youtube version of the interview. That is sad news about Scott Burton. His middle initial was O and he wanted to promote his arrival at WWDC in 1971 or 72 as, "a real SOB coming to WWDC!" No doubt, my late cousin, Charlie Schrider, is running the board for Scott up there this afternoon at the "Old Stone House" in the sky. (And, no... Brookeville Road will NEVER be heaven!) Enjoy the cherry blossoms that I dearly miss. But, then, I also miss Fanne Foxe and Rita Jenrette! Many, many thanks to the recent visits from Paul Bicknell, Bob Mathers and Jeff Loughridge, who all came here to get baked... and sunburned, too! - Ed. Rodriguez, Key West and the Fabulous Florida Keys (3/30/08) www.mediabistro.com/tvnewser - Following yesterday's announcement of a reorganization of the operations and finance areas of ABC News, TVNewser has learned as many as 21 jobs have been eliminated. However, insiders tell us a number of new jobs have already been posted, and that those who were cut are being encouraged to apply for the added positions. In the end, the insider figures around 11 jobs will be lost. In his note yesterday, ABC News president David Westin wrote, "...we will reduce the level of operations management and the number of operations positions overall." (3/30/08) More signs of Turner Classic Movies yute movement. Rose McGowan, I mean Rose McGowan is now the new co-host of The Essentials, not only a mediocre actress but what, maybe been in 5 major studio movies. Come on what the hell is she going to bring to the showing of classic movies. Yeah, I know, still sucks hey maybe, nevermind. And the guest programmer for this month Evander Hollyfield and one of his picks is The Terminator, which they just showed on TCM. On the other hand, American Movie Classics is re-running the Godfather again , The Stairway to Heaven of cable tv. Geez, so many good movies made in early to mid 70's can't they show something different, Chinatown, The Conversation, etc.... cable tv sucks! btws Verizon still sucks! (3/30/08) whats the chance of the omeara and greeseman show ? Don was the one who pushed hard about 3 months ago for someone to give him a chance agian (3/30/08) Hello, I visit this site a lot. Very well done. There was a photo of a Marc Sterne on the front of the Sunday Washington Post's Metro section identifying him as the first ticket visitor to the new Nats stadium at Saturday's game (right). Is he the one you mention a lot on your postings? I just wanted to point it out to you as a tip in case you hadn't seen it already. Again, keep up the great work. == Charles (3/30/08) Did anyone see Georgetown's Marc Sterne's picture in today's WashPost Metro section. He was the 1st ticketed fan to enter Nationals Park for the game Saturday. Should I assume he got his ticket from Nigel? Apparently the Post staff is/was clueless. (3/30/08) From 04/2008 Baltimore Magazine: Page 80: In February, popular local media tracker DCRTV.com reported..." (3/30/08) Dave's response: Reported what? I gave a listen WASH FM's Sunday Jazz Brunch. What a disappointment as compared to Al Santos and the original Brunch. Nothing special about the music and no DJ who really loved and appreciated the music. Al you are truly missed. Armando (3/30/08) After a promo for a "Motown and Soul" weekend Friday night on 105.9 they played "Back in Love Again" by LTD. The next song fit in as perfectly as Condi Rice did while wearing $2,000.00 sunglasses (with the largest Chanel logo ever to grace eyewear) talking to the poor and disadvantaged children of Tanzania. The follow up was (can you believe this?) Raindrops Keep Falling on my Head! Keep playing 'em like this guys, and I will keep tuned in with the radio blaring! (3/30/08) dcrtv, how come no mention of what happened to Cindy Mcguire at mix 107.3? David (3/30/08) Dave's response: We did mention that she's gone. If we hear more we'll report it..... It was July 31, 1962. My father, a typewriter mechanic, had been to the 2000 "P" Street, NW, studios of WOL-AM 1450 and had arranged to take my brother and me to watch 'em broadcast. Bill Mayhugh was interviewing Roger Williams (Louis Weertz). As the three from my family stood in the control room with engineer Dodge, Bill Mayhugh asked our names, which we tried to shout through the soundproof glass. It was a moment I'll never forget. The spots were on platters played on ET-size turntables with green felt and a heavy weight to prevent slippage. The advertiser was Banning and Son auto dealership. Best regards, Mark Rockman (3/30/08) /\ March 30 Messages /\ \/ March 29 Messages \/ A Mayhugh tribute and wouldn't you know it--I'm out of town that evening! Anyway, I'll add my wishes to Bill right here: You are the best sir. The best at selecting and presenting the most listenable sounds available. The best at doing so in a way that didn't shout or scream, but merely chatted with us, like a friend or neighbor. The best at relating and enlightening and informing and entertaining. And you remain the best at being a real gentleman. Couldn't this industry use a few more of those? I consider you a friend and mentor. All my love to beautiful Shirley as well. Jim Bohannon, Westwood One Radio (3/29/08) WJFK would be one step closer to having the perfect line-up to create an audience for the future if they got the Hideout full time at nights...the last few days have been good. I've been very entertained listening in the morning/early afternoon to O&D and Hideout at night...next step would be getting rid of Don and Mike or whatever the show will be called when Don retires, they're washed up...I know you're reading this Don, I hate your crappy show. (3/29/08) I, for one, am glad to hear that the Greaseman is returning to the DC airwaves, even if it is only part-time. Regardless of what people may think, the Greseman is, and always will be, a part of DC radio history. It's got to be better than listening to the same old whiney diatribes of the local radio hosts (except for Elliott and a few others), and I'll take Grease part-time over D&M taking vacations every other week and playing their alleged "Best Of" any day. I'd also like to give a hefty two thumbs up to the Globe for doing their "Under the Covers" weekend. At least they do great radio and something unique, even if it is a few and far between. And as they say back in ooooold Mexico City...AMF! (3/29/08) Dave Scott worked with me at WHK in Cleveland , then again here at WWDC in the early 70's. He was one of the best air personality's I've ever been associated with , not to mention just a wonderful family man and dear friend. Johnny..... A note from Scott Burton's family..... "Hello Dear Friends: Many of you may have already heard from Johnny Holliday, but we wanted to reach out to you personally as well. Scott Burton passed away on March 26, 2008 after a year-long courageous battle with cancer. We're sure this information comes as a shock to you, but he simply did not want anyone to bear the burden of his illness. Please know, dear friends, that he loved and cherished each of you very much, and wanted us to contact you after he passed. Scott fought very bravely, maintained a positive and upbeat attitude throughout his treatment, and still was able to enjoy his life and his family. He did have some difficult times at the very end, but his struggle is now over, and we're all grateful for that. One message he shared is that he wanted us to remember him with smiles and not tears. He was adamant about it! We have planned a memorial celebration of his life on April 5, 2008. Please visit www.azcentral.com tomorrow, Sunday, March 30, 2008, where his obituary and guest book will be available online. We would love for you to share your memories of Scott with us there. If you would like to contact the family, you are welcome to call Nan Burton, Scott's daughter-in-law (married to son Marc) at 623.203.3662, or nanburton@gmail.com. Remember how much he loved all of you. Fondly, The Burton Family" (3/29/08) Has WMAL completely jumped the shark? Flipping buttons in the car at 10:50 a.m. on 3-28-08 and found their new fringe right loony discussing whether Hillary Clinton should answer questions about her menopause situation and how many hot flashes she has. Really--no kidding. Quickly turned stations to seek out the good taste -- comparatively -- offered by Kornheiser which is at the other end of the dial. Will this fair and balanced kook offer to host a discussion on John McCain's prostate and how many times a night he gets up to pee and whether or not this will sometimes get him to wake up grumpy because he didn't get enough sleep--somehow I doubt it. ACH (3/29/08) The Globe is trying something new this weekend... "Under the Covers Weekend".. it appears to be a whole weekend of cover songs... it's kinda good. But the big news is without a doubt the return of the Grease. Waddle doodle! Ngah ngah ngah? Faaaaysssssh!!! Toe Monster vs. Joe Ardinger in a weekend smackdown. Ah yes, Warren Zevon doing Raspberry Beret... thanks, the Globe. He's the best dead man ever. I've got a creeper. Caller X (3/29/08) Dave's response: Nothing new about a covers weekend on the Globe. They've done it before. Mainly bad covers of world class rot..... Normally I don't listen to 106.7 very often at nights, but I was going to the Big O and Dukes party in Clarendon so decided to tune in. I had heard Jim Rome was out sick and The Hideout show was really great, a lot of great one-liners and really good chemistry with the two hosts. It's been a while since I was a die-hard all day long listener to that station, probably not since The Junkies were on at nights, but The Hideout really fit in and could see myself tuning in all day long. Liked the show!!! (3/29/08) Speaking of Bill Mayhugh... if you have 27 minutes to spare (and a high-speed 'net connection), be sure to watch his "local broadcast legend" interview by Lee Shephard on "Out of the Past" at: www.veoh.com (3/29/08) Dear all - For almost 17 years, Leonard Downie has been the guiding editorial force at The Washington Post, and there are rumors he will take a buy-out and step down. If it's true, it will be the end of an era. Learn more and meet Downie, when he is interviewed at The Q&A Cafe on Thursday, April 10. Here's a comment by Harry Jaffe at washingtonian.com this week: "By many measures, he has been a strong leader, and the Graham family owes him a debt for loyalty and dedication. Downie guided the Post through almost two decades of change and turmoil in daily newspapering. To meet the demand of the suburban readership, he launched the “Extras” zoned editions. He encouraged investigative reporting and projects. Some years the Post won scores of prizes, some years it didn’t do well in the big contests. But Downie’s tenure has been dogged by declining circulation, falling revenues, and a series of buyouts that have drained the newsroom of talent and experience." Clearly, lots for us to talk about. We look forward to the occasion. Make your reservation with Jon Moss at 202.338.2000. As always, the doors open at noon, the program begins at 12:30 and the fee is $35, all inclusive. Read more at www.nathansgeorgetown.com. Have a lovely weekend, Carol (3/29/08) Tracht, give it up. The Greaseman thing is way past, gone, old, kaput, fineeshed, done, and no one cares any more. It was great in Jacksonville, OK in DC and now it's part of history. Go away and as Bob "hey it's great to be here" Hope would say, "thanks for the memories." (3/29/08) Regarding the poll at "Citadel's True Oldies 105.9, 67 percent of the 1,278 voters as of early Friday were not happy to have Don Imus back on the air...28 percent said they wa