Current Mailbag - Mailbag Archive Index - DCRTV Front Page - Support DCRTV DCRTV Mailbag - January 1 to January 7, 2010 Latest messages listed first..... \/ January 7 Messages \/ So now that the washington Redskins have a new head coach, seems married MIKE SHANAHAN has the HOTS for nbc sports reporter LINDSAY CZARNIAK as seen in the youtube interview "Shanahan Czarniak" He seems to want to work just as hard off the field too! Although she is more in the age range of his son, KYLE, this new offensive coordinator. (1/7/10) From Perez Hilton perezhilton.com... "Sources tell us there are whispers that Sirius XM is going to let Artie Lange go, but they're waiting until he's in stable condition to break the news to him. We're also told that Sirius XM CEO Mel Karmazin has already informed host Howard Stern about the news. Not the greatest information for someone who just tried to take their own life, but our source also revealed that Artie asked to see Dr. Drew and they had a visit together. That's promising. Hopefully Artie gets the help he needs to get his life back on track!" (1/7/10) RE: [ " Dave's response: I noticed that Zurawik's blog got just a handful of reader posts on his coverage of the Baltimore mayor's resignation, but several hundred when he requested comments on Kate Gosselin's new hairdo..... " ]........... BINGO! (bells, whistles, balloons fall from the ceiling).......... DCRTV.com Dave Hughes, you just hit the nail on the head and obviously you nailed it because you've been running a website & blog for many years (probably longer than David Zurawik) and you know for a fact more than anybody that a controversial story will generate lots of comments, yet strangely, this David Zurawik Z on TV blog entry has generated so few comments. Amazing. Go figure. It's obvious The Baltimore Sun's David Zurawik ( aka Z on TV ) cherry-picked a few criticisms of his blog on this huge Baltimore mayor resigning story while dumping dozens if not lots and lots more comments, including mine, because they were all either debunking him factually and/or Marc Steiner or downright ridiculing 1 or both of them. There's no way I'll believe in a million years that there weren't dozens more comments on that www.baltimoresun.com blog that Zurawik dumped and censored out. And David Zurawik teaches "Media Ethics" at Goucher College? Does anyone at Goucher know if he teaches a "Media Censorship" class too??? HAHA!!!! Just Too Funny! -- Joe in Essex :-) (1/7/10) Oh look...PLB is asking a question about an incident that he created, then proceeds to answer his own question. The psychotic mind at work. Fascinating! (1/7/10) repurposed publicity! let me whine, i mean explain, please... DCRTVD: thanks for touting the same ol' gm story again! the business is so messed up now, with two city paper publications -- a blog online 24/7 and a ever-neglected weekly print version --- yet the print stuff goes online too. and the result is that even though the workload is absolutely life-crushing... we all look lazy. dave, i work so much, i barely have time to whine about work any more! but for you i took a special break! butt seriously: thanks for all your work, dcrtvd, and for providing such an awesome forum...be well...dm (1/7/10) What’s it matter: Media Matters! www.breitbart.tv (1/7/10) A Belated Happy New Year Dave!!! My I start with McKenna's gross misuse of a newspaper and also point-out he has NO clue about the business of television production. I've talked to a few of my TV friends and one who works at a sports network and there's nothing but praise and admiration for the late George Michael. In the past 20 years, there have been several sports programs who paid their guests and or athletes. Secondly, I'm told "a rights-holder" is the one who pays announcers not the team. Meaning, Patrick and Theismann were probably paid by Comcast rather by the Redskins. The bottom line, paying guests for their time isn't foreign to the TV/Radio industry and McKenna is no better than Andy Pollin... just looking for another reason to criticize the late George Michael. Finally, can someone tell Czaban to stop feeling sorry for himself and move-on about his recent firing. He brings nothing to the late afternoon show and now we're at a point where he steps all over Pollin. In fact, the entire afternoon is un-listenable. If Snyder wants to save some money, now's the time to clean house..first the Redskins and now radio? (1/7/10) Just to let Don know, that resignation stunt on WBIG with Davy Jones happened in 1994. I have to agree with you Don. Something that stays in someones mind after 16 years and still causes hate, must have been really interesting and taken very personally. DJC (1/7/10) WEAA is not the campus station for Morgan State. That would be WMUR. WEAA is an FCC authorized full service FM station licensced to the university, in the same way that WTMD is for Towson U. (which is only a few exits further along the north side of the B'more Beltway) or WAMU is for American U. The signal covers Baltimore well and a pretty good distance south of Baltimore. The station produces content for national distribution as well. (1/7/10) Dave's response: Down here in Reston, I can get either WEAA or West Virginia Public Radio on 88.9, depending on how I orient my antenna..... TMZ is reporting Leno at 10PM is toast after the Olympics. It's unclear whether the Tonight Show is moving later or whether Conan is getting the boot, but his ratings haven't been all that good either. This would have a huge impact locally on WRC 4 and WBAL 11, the later of which suffered severe news ratings losses from this failed idea. (1/7/10) Well, I was correct in my prediction... The Baltimore Sun's David Zurawik (aka Z on TV ) is taking great offense at the suggestion that both he and Marc Steiner were incorrect or not first in the Baltimore mayor's resignation story. Zurawik wrote a long rambling diatribe in response to some comments that disputed Steiner's incorrect announcement that the mayor had already resigned via a PR email stunt. He also refused to post my comments once again or the link to that website that claims that Jayne Miller and WBAL were in fact first with the details of Sheila Dixon's impending resignation. Parsing words, Zurawik says, "As to other bloggers, God bless them all. This is one tough business. Get your page views if you can. But I can tell you this: None of them reported this story as thoroughly as I did." and "You might want to look up the story online and get the facts right. I have taught media ethics for the last 15 years at Goucher College, and I know all about verification." What's arrogant David Zurawik going to do next, pout in the corner jumping up and down screaming endlessly, "I'm right, you're wrong, I'm right, you're WRONG!" over and over until he's blue in the face??? Zurawik teaches at Goucher College that getting the story FIRST and WRONG is the same as getting it FIRST and CORRECT? And this guy keeps a journalism teaching job on "Media Ethics"? Someone on Zurawick's blog pointed out that FOX News had multiple times reported Pope John Paul II's death and was incorrect and then claimed they were first to report his death when he ultimately died a day later and Zurawik's response was that the mayor did in fact resign as reported by other stations 80 minutes later than Marc Steiner's PR email. Ummm, the mayor has not yet resigned Mr. Zurawik. Steiner was wrong, he said she already resigned. David Zurawik has basically turned into Marc Steiner's PR stunt lackey. People like WBAL's Jayne Miller busted their asses to get this story first and correct while Marc Steiner heard a rumor from a Baptist minister and sent out an email blast with an incorrect story. If Zurawik had any credibility in reporting this story, why didn't he even mention Jayne Miller's coverage of the story or even the WJZ 13 story where an expert claimed they heard the news on WBAL to the horror of Denise Koch. Someone at The Sun needs to remind David Zurawik that his job is to cover the media, not be Marc Steiner's PR stunt advertising firm. The only final comment I have to say about this is that if David Zurawik & Marc Steiner don't have a room at the Super 8 yet (maybe with Jon & Kate + 8? hehe), they should get one because never have I seen a local media critic fawn over someone nobody listens to so shamelessly. Oh, and what's with David Zurawik banning my comments on his blog? I post on various other BaltimoreSun.com blogs and stories without incident. ONLY DAVID ZURAWIK TIGHTLY CENSORS his blog. No one else at BaltimoreSun.com seems to. Does Zurawik teach the wonders of CENSORSHIP to prove he's right at Goucher College too? -- Joe in Essex (1/7/10) Dave's response: I noticed that Zurawik's blog got just a handful of reader posts on his coverage of the Baltimore mayor's resignation, but several hundred when he requested comments on Kate Gosselin's new hairdo..... "Did anyone else throw up in their mouth a little after they saw Lindsay Cznariak's softball interview with Napeleon Bonaparte on the 6 pm sports. How about a little disclosure about Lindsay's close ties to the Red Zebra organization next time!" She is a paid hack for Snyder" I am quoting two different people here. Both are wrong. If she has "close ties to Red Zebra" and a "paid hack" how come she has been on Mike Wise's show at least three times that I know of (including today where they apparently taped her sports show). I have also heard Andy Pollin moaning that Lindsay won't come on his show. (1/7/10) Don Geronimo - Hey ass, [we] bust your balls often, and deservedly so but here's a tip from CES Vegas that may help you, O'Meara, Spewak,& Elston out. The Donny Osmond Show was developed by Mike McVay of McVay Media and is, I am told, the first national offering of McVay Syndication which will not only handle Adult Contemporary but Oldies & Rock. Let's see, your careers are in the pooper, he's just starting out; his 30 plus radio years experience combined with your 30 years experience - might be a fuckin' match in heaven. Time to go play with more gagets, look at babes with fake tits and grind against Marie Osmond. Oh by the way Sorce, Donny says "how does his Mormon Radio Ass taste now?" AHHHHH (1/7/10) Folks younger than age 50, kindly disregard this ad for "bargain tubes" (Be sure to carefully read the item description.) quadvideotapegroup.com (1/7/10) Re: "The motto here in the WTOP Newsroom is 'First get it RIGHT, then get it first.'" Actually, based on WTOP's broadcasts, the motto at the Ass Enclosed Nerd Center appears to be "First get the Washington Post, then read it on the air, then take credit for breaking the story." (1/7/10) Dave, about that Dave McKenna piece in the City Paper: Is this really as scandalous as you make it out to be? Maybe I'm misreading, but I picked up the new CP today, and that McKenna column is in the new paper. It's his weekly column. Maybe it started as a blog post, and he turned it into an article at the first opportunity for the print edition. This doesn't striike me as disreputable, especially given the significance of the local-media sports angle, which is McKenna's beat. Christian (1/7/10) Dave's response: I just report the news. The "scandalous" bit must be your imagination..... Funniest post of the day: "GREAT NEWS!!! Howard Stern is allowing the host of his bulletin board radio show..." Who knew Howard Stern was still doing a show? Last I heard he was going off to "revolutionize" satrad. I never met a soul who heard his voice on a radio again. Nice to know somebody still gets enjoyment out of the old man saying "Babba Booey" every three seconds...but the guy is ancient history. (1/7/10) it is now 4:05pm. would someone please tell CNN that "awaiting a press conference" is not breaking news!!! (1/7/10) GREAT NEWS!!! Howard Stern is allowing the host of his bulletin board radio show (which airs on Howard 101) to poll callers (and determine the final outcome) about a trial return of Jackie "The Jokeman" Martling. Here is the thread from The Stern Fan Network referring to the possibility of Jackie's return - www.sternfannetwork.com. Please all here who wish for the Stern Show to be listenable again call in or vote in the poll on the website to get Jackie back. This is the poll thread - www.sternfannetwork.com. And for those that refuse to navigate away from DCRTV here is some verbiage from the thread ----- "ALL SHOW LONG I'LL BE TAKING YOUR CALLS TO FIND OUT IF HOWARD SHOULD HAVE JACKIE BACK IN FOR A DAY OR TWO. I'VE GOT THE POWER!! - Howard has handed down the power & now it's up to the fans to decide, should Howard have Jackie sit in on the show for a day or two? Ralph, Fred, & Robin say neigh but what do you think. Voting starts at 7PM & runs till 8PM so call in - Will he be welcomed back w/ open arms? - Should anything be read into this? With Artie out for an unknown amount of time & Jackie yearning to do more radio, could this be an audition? - There were rumors that Brewer would be filling the Artie seat but Howard denies them. If someone come in, who the hell could fit the bit guys shoes?"----- Thanks for letting us get the word out Dave. (1/7/10) "Did anyone else throw up in their mouth a little after they saw Lindsay Cznariak's softball interview with Napeleon Bonaparte on the 6 pm sports. How about a little disclosure about Lindsay's close ties to the Red Zebra organization next time!" She is a paid hack for Snyder. (1/7/10) The Micheal Saunders hire Is Interesting at CBS radio D.C. he has a ton of urban radio knowledge WJLB(Detroit),Power1051(N.Y.)where he was wrongly accused in a pay for play scandal found not to be true. Also Power98(Charlotte) Dave I guess they are not ready to through the towel in yet on WPGC as an urban station. The problem is with the PPMS the station still has popular air talent who was very popular under the old ratings system Donnie Simpson,Michel Wright,Big Tigger,The home team all had great ratings under the dairies. Urban hip-hop radio MAYBE has run its course In the D.C. market as far as two stations(having the same format) go. If WPGC does go away watch WKYS jump big time in the ratings maybe top 5(on a consistent basis) look at Baltimore WERQ is all by itself and look at there ratings they are still a top rated urban station WKYS will benefit from PGC going away black D.C will lose but Radio One will win. Maybe now Reggie Rouse will stop getting blamed for the troubles at WPGC his station in Atlanta Is doing well like WERQ Is In Baltimore WVEE has not been affected by the PPMS like WPGC has its Atlanta`s top station by a wide margin and Atlanta is equal to the Washington market as far as radio goes. It Is just as POWERFUL if not even more powerful now #7 verses #9 so good luck to Micheal Saunders you might need to clean house If PGC will flip anyway everybody is subject to saying bye-bye including the mighty Donnie Simpson(put Big Tigger on in morning drive SORRY things there have to change if they want to save the format). (1/7/10) I'm surprised at the people who say Doc Walker shouldn't be on the air. I listen to him on a fairly regular basis. Partly it's because his show coincides with my lunch hour, but I also listen because it's funny. It's always funny when stupid people try to sound smart. For example, today Walker twice asked a guest "How often do NBA players get robbed of they bling?" C'mon, you can't write anything that funny! "Robbed of they bling"? That's unintentional comedy at its finest. (1/7/10) Don....please don't antagonize the bear.... (1/7/10) This is a post from your mailbag(I would like to know what Davey Jones did on WBIG that has caused someone to still be angrey?" ---Oh Christ, here we go again.) I would like know what happend. Inquiring minds need to know I guess you alredy know-Don (1/7/10) Any chance or rumors of Don Imus coming back to the airwaves here in the DC area? (1/7/10) It's also important to note that WEAA's Marc Steiner did not break the Mayor's resignation story live on-air either. He was sending out a promotional email for his show saying he'd be covering the mayor's resignation and that she'd already resigned, which of course, at that time, wasn't even true. Even though Steiner has a close connection to a good friend of Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon, Pastor Frank Reid, he still managed to get the story wrong and others ultimately reported the story correctly before him! Then Steiner and The Sun's David Zurawik high five each other and claim victory. How can you be first to break a story that you got wrong in the 1st place? What's wrong with this picture? I posted the following on The Sun's Z on TV blog ........ "Actually WBAL TV's Jayne Miller broke the story that a plea deal was in the works on the noon news and that it would involve the mayor resigning over an hour before Marc Steiner sent his email out. baltimorebrew.com... So no, sorry, Marc Steiner didn't beat anyone to the story, not to mention he was wrong too. Plus WEAA was #31 in the most recent PPM ratings. If a tree falls in the woods and nobody is there to hear it, does it make a sound? :-)" I will bet money that David Zurawik does NOT post that on BaltimoreSun.com. He is extremely thin skinned about criticism even when he is so often wrong and just promoting his crony media friends with shameless plugs. Zurawik was not long ago a media/political commentator on CNN and managed to make WMAL's Chris Plante look like a brain trust. That's not an easy job to do. :-) (1/7/10) "I would like to know what Davey Jones did on WBIG that has caused someone to still be angrey?" ---Oh Christ, here we go again. (1/7/10) Limbaugh opens with Rocky of Pray at the Pump wishing that Obambi showed props to Rush (BTW: Brian Lamb, God Bless Him, TRASHES The Slappy in Chief for breaking his video recorded promise of “transparency” on the so-called “Health Care” vote) while he occupied a hospital room: like I said before, what would Rush think were he to wake up looking at a What Me Worry Obambi (Rush says “I might have had a real heart attack): blogspot.com (1/7/10) These are the ratings (DMA HH) for local news on Wednesday, January 6, 2010. News4 is clearly the powerhouse! 5AM: FOX5 (2.4), NBC4 (1.9), CBS9 (1.1), ABC7 (.8)... 6AM: NBC4 (3.9), FOX5 (3.2), CBS9 (1.6), ABC7 (1.0)... 5PM: NBC4 (5.3), ABC7 (3.6), FOX5 & CBS9 (1.9)... 6PM: NBC4 (6.7), ABC7 (3.9), CBS9 (3.2), FOX5 (2.6)... 11PM: NBC4 (7.1), CBS9 (4.0), FOX5 (3.5), ABC7 (3.0)... (1/7/10) "And while he was incorrect in saying that she had already resigned, when in fact a deal was still in the works, Steiner's e-mail was a remarkably clean scoop given all the media outlets competing on the story." What is remarkable about getting it WRONG? The motto here in the WTOP Newsroom is "First get it RIGHT, then get it first." (1/7/10) Jerry Lewis="aged funnyman", David Letterman="gap toothed funnyman", Jim Carrey="rubber faced funnyman"...now on DCRTV front page: Artie Lange="bloodied funnyman"...oooofah that's gonna be hard to forget - SR (1/7/10) From my days at PGC, and what I got to know about Scorpio when I was there with him, he had to be miserable!!! I’d bet he couldn’t take it anymore. (1/7/10) On broadcast news the Sheila Dixon story began to unfold on WBAL radio during their morning news program when they interviewed Sun Reporter Annie Linskey who had talked with the mayor on Tuesday night. You don't have to be a political genius to know that something was up. Why would the mayor suddenly start talking when she was supposed to be seeking a new trial? WBAL-TV began putting their collective heads together and sent reporters and crews to the courthouse AND to city hall. Jayne Miller mentions something is in the wind during the noon news. WJZ likewise had folks at the courthouse as did WMAR-TV. This included all the technical folks necessary to do remote TV. When the details finally broke, CHs 11,13,and 2 hit the air with extended coverage. It seemed to this writer that CH 11 had the best coverage and analysis, but WBAL radio's Mark Miller was very thorough in talking with Ron Smith about what was happening and yet to happen with the incoming mayor. He even recalled that it was in this very courthouse that Vice President Spiro Agnew had resigned. And up the hill on WJZ, Denise Koch asks their analyst Byron Warnken about details he had just mentioned but Denise had not heard. Where did he get that info asks Koch? Warnken replies "from BAL radio while I was driving here." The expression on Koch's face was priceless. But something is missing here? Where was CH 45? No immediate coverage only a summary much later in the afternoon. Then live coverage of the Mayor's statement, then back to Judge Judy. I must agree with a previous poster that blocking NBC news at 6:30 to rehash the Dixon story was a bit much and likewise I switched to ABC news. (1/7/10) I would like to know what Davey Jones did on WBIG that has caused someone to still be angrey? If you still even remember something from 7 years ago it must have been a pretty intresting event! I’m just curius. Don (1/7/10) I still can't decide what's funnier, David Zurawik's unnatural fetish-like obsession with Jon & Kate + 8 or Zurawik's unnatural fetish-like obsession with Marc Steiner. In case anyone doesn't know (and I'm sure that means most people), Steiner was a part-owner of Baltimore's NPR station, WYPR 88.1, then got fired by the station he used to co-own for poor ratings and ended up on an even lower rated radio station that few people have heard of. As a reward for getting fired, The Baltimore Sun's Z on TV David Zurawik named him one of Baltimore's Top 10 Media People for 2009, even though almost no one but Zurawik has listened to Steiner and many people in Baltimore haven't even heard of the man at all. It's as if The Sun's Zurawik lives in the Alice in Wonderland section of Baltimore! :-) (1/7/10) I'm not sure who "Jerry" is but his straightforward delivery on HFS made it feel alot like...well...hfs! The absence of gimmicky backgrounds and promos gave it that amatuer/college station feeling the earlier whfs had. No disrespect meant,I'm not trying to call Jerry an amatuer. This really needs to be on a main FM signal!!! Donnie (1/7/10) The big challenge for continuing WAMD will be towers relocation. (1/7/10) Hi, I’m not so sure the Sun got it right with Zurawik’s item that Marc Steiner had the first report about Dixon resigning. Take a look at this item from Baltimore Brew: baltimorebrew.com (1/7/10) I picked up a copy of the new Washington Times this week just to see what it looks like. Gone are sports, local news, entertainment, comics, etc. What’s left are two sections: a front section with foreign and national news; and a back section with about 4 pages of commentary and classifieds filling out the rest. It literally is half the paper for twice the price. I have no idea who is going to buy this on a regular basis. As a regular Post reader, I would occasionally pick up a copy for an alternate view of the news but not now. (1/7/10) Dave's response: Exactly. Half the old paper for twice the price. Crazy..... Did anyone else throw up in their mouth a little after they saw Lindsay Cznariak's softball interview with Napeleon Bonaparte on the 6 pm sports. How about a little disclosure about Lindsay's close ties to the Red Zebra organization next time! (1/7/10) Hey Majic102.3, could you sync your analog and digital feeds? Analog is about 5 seconds ahead. You seem to be the only station in this area that does this and has never fixed it. I'm sure I'm the only one listening to its HD--I occasionally stop there when I hear a song I like--but I don't want to have to mess with buttons to force the mode to analog-only when I'm driving. You got the HD equipment, at least try make it work like everyone else. (1/7/10) Branda in Bethesda- WTF MAN?!?!? Your opening statement jolted me like a bolt of lightning! I read it 5 times before daring to check whfs.com, luckily just as they did thier legals. I absolutely agree with you,I'm one of the few who still won't just shut the F up about it. But I hope they don't leave it at 94.7. I couldn't listen the first time they were in Bethesda! 99.1 is the perfect place to put hfs,spanning 2 cities like it used to. I've been streaming hfs again lately and the music is pretty damn good now they need the personality of its jocks and more interaction with fans than just a 'click' of the mouse. Bring the freaks home CBS. Give us back our banner station. This wasn't just any other alternative station it was the one in DC!!! El Zol can still cover DC but do it from 106.7. Admit you made a mistake,or your predecessors did...fix this the right way. Donnie (1/7/10) RE: "Blanchard and Morgan..they were so enthralled with Al Santos and his knowledge of their hits and misses....Such a walking trivia master! Mister D" Ha-Ha-Ha! Thanks for singling ME out! federAL SANTOS! (1/7/10) Never heard of WEAA. Had to look them up. Morgan State campus station. Okay, so a scoop that no one heard, and they had it wrong besides. (1/7/10) Borders makes it on Consumerist.com for stomping on workers' rights... consumerist.com (1/7/10) The upheaval at The Washington Times, which I prefer to refer to it as, is indicative of what is to come. Next up after some really good coverage of the Shanny hire by the Fan will be followed by a buy out by The Dark Emperor... but probably after the Super Big Game in February... It has been in the works for a very long time, just ask Sam Howard... (1/7/10) "WHFS-FM IS BACK!!!!" Heaven knows there's enough of the original talent closeby to make it happen.... and imagine---from a real broadcasting stick, atop a tower---direct to your genuine electrical radio set. Ya know, r-a-d-i-o, on-the-air, an actual real live radio broadcasting station transmitting a healthy S-I-G-N-A-L that can be heard!!!!! Maybe you should listen very carefully and check it out....huh..... Branda in Bethesda (1/7/10) What is it with The Baltimore Sun & Marc Steiner? As usual, The Sun's David Zurawik aka Z on TV is on crack again and completely wrong. But considering how often Z plugs Steiner (more often than the number of listeners Steiner has ever had), the only thing I'm shocked about is that Zurawik didn't manage to work Jon & Kate + 8 into the story! Wait, breaking news from Marc Steiner & David Zurawik... Zurawik says Steiner broke the story that the economy intends to get better immediately (he was just off on the date & year, but he broke the story! LOL). I'd post this criticism on The Z on TV blog, but Zurawik has banned much criticism of him or The Baltimore Sun. If you check his blog, you'll see it's mostly all people patting Zurawik and Steiner on the back and the same people all the time. Too funny how these 2 fools live in their own little media fairyland self promoting each other for personal gain. If I'm not mistaken Steiner is also one of Zurawik's Top 10 Baltimore media people, yet he doesn't even show up in the ratings! HAha! Finally, shame on you Dave Hughes & DCRTV for giving these 2 fools any self promotional credit that neither of them deserve. The DCRTV news blurb should just be yanked. It's just plain phony. The only story that Marc Steiner will ever be first to break will be if he breaks his leg while on the air, but there won't be anyone listening but David Zurawik! HAha! By the way, I have 5 Facebook friends and know 3 fortune tellers who also announced that Sheila Dixon resigned or is resigning. How come Zurawik didn't give them credit for their fortune telling skills? The incredible irony here is that DCRTV linking to a Baltimore Sun Z on TV blog/story hurts the news credibility of DCRTV.com! Isn't it supposed to be the other way around? Isn't DCRTV supposed to be a rumor site instead of The Sun? How ironic. (1/7/10) Don Geronimo - You know why there is a God? Because it is being reported here at CES in Vegas that Donnie Osmond has landed a national radio gig. At the same time, Mike Sorce peddles his old, tired CBS radio wares like a WalMart greeter on - call. AHHHHHH (1/7/10) Dave's response: Donny Osmond's new radio show is being syndicated by Citadel. I hope and pray that it won't end up on Citadel's 105.9 The Edge, but with the idiots programming that station, I wouldn't be surprised. Come on Kenny King! Play the alt classics - the Cure, Depeche Mode, New Order, Costello, the Pretenders, the Ramones, more Talking Heads, the Clash, U2, and the Police on 105.9 unless you want to be stuck in 21st place throughout 2010. Sheesh..... RE: "Man And The Machine: My Terrifying Semester With Bitter, Brilliant George Michael [In Memoriam] deadspin.com" - Yes, I participate on the evil cabal Deadspin. This guy was laughed off. Good luck getting a job now. (1/7/10) /\ January 7 Messages /\ \/ January 6 Messages \/ Man And The Machine: My Terrifying Semester With Bitter, Brilliant George Michael [In Memoriam] deadspin.com (1/6/10) Around 3:20pm today, WJZ TV is in its live coverage. In the newsroom, Don Scott is interviewing their legal analyst, Byron Warnken. He's telling them all the things he knows about the Dixon case that they haven't reported. At the anchor desk, Denise Koch asks for his source. He says he got all his information from WBAL Radio while in his car driving to WJZ! ... Ouch! (1/6/10) Had the priviledge of hanging with the happy duo of Blanchard and Morgan..they were so enthralled with Al Santos and his knowledge of their hits and misses....Such a walking trivia master! Mister D (1/6/10) Marc Steiner broke the Sheila Dixon story? Huh? That's like reporting someone died, and then having them die six weeks later. At noon, long before Steiner's report, WBAL TV's Jayne Miller and David Collins were reporting on the plea negotiations underway. They had FAR more context, referencing that her pending resignation was likely a move to preserve her $83,000 annual pension. WBAL's Rob Lang was reporting the same at 12:30pm. BAL TV and RADIO have owned this story at every step. Any idiot, after reading the Sun Wednesday morning knew that Dixon was going to cop a deal before the day was over. Great scoop -- hour long interview with Dixon by Annie Linskey. WBAL Radio was first to report all the specifics that matterer -- the February 4th resignation date (oops Marc Steiner,) donations to charities, community service, etc. Again, WBAL TV's David Collins was on moments afterward with those details and more. Yet the Baltimore Sun gives Steiner a "pass" for a huge journalistic blunder. Jayne Miller has always said, "get it first, but get it right" and today was an example of Marc Steiner's self-promotion getting in the way. The moment Sheila Dixon was first convicted EVERY media outlet could have reported "Mayor Dixon will resign...soon...we'll tell you WHEN." The WHEN was what mattered and Steiner got it WRONG. That's the problem when your sources are avowed Dixon cheerleaders who are already out there trying to spin the story for the best of the Mayor ("she did it for the city") when the truth was "she did it to protect her $83,000 pension." Will the Sun's love affair with Marc Steiner ever end ??? (1/6/10) My God man. What a tedious thing. After 30 minutes what else is there to cover about Shelia Dixon's resignation? WBAL preempted the NBC Evening News to essentially repeat the same reports over-and-over-and-over. I finally switched over to ABC evening news. WBAL is usually the best bet in Baltimore for news, but ENOUGH guys! Xarias (1/6/10) THOUGHTS: I agree with Paul, concerning Ivan's abilities (or lack thereof) on WoPo Live.....Sheila Dixon-- just another corrupt politician.....WAMD-- when I lived in Annapolis, occasionally I would get north of Baltimore and pick up the station in my car. Had to be one of the best oldies stations I've ever heard. It really took me back. It had a real '60s sound to it..... Chris Thomas-- In Nov., 2003, I moved to a town about an hour north of Tampa now. Apparently, Chris was a sports god down here. I always got a kick out of him on WBAL, and was thrilled to find him on the radio when I got here. I had planned on contacting him, but then he got sick. They have named the studio, at WDAE (where he worked) "The Chris Thomas Memorial Studio". They also have an annual charity golf tournament, that bears his name, down here. DJC (1/6/10) "........Sinking TWT To Leave NY Ave HQ....." Hey Dave, has anyone mentioned that the Washington Times has raised its price to $1.00? That is more than the Post. Does that make any sense? Who would pay a $1.00 for that? (1/6/10) Dave's response: Yeah, double the price for what is now half of the old paper. I did buy Monday's $1 edition of TWT, but it was as a favor for Northeast Radio Watch's Scott Fybush, who collects notable editions of newspapers from across the country. He had me driving all over creation for the last Sunday edition of the TWT on Sunday, when the last Sunday edition was on the previous Sunday..... I can't wait to read what everyone says about the TV and radio coverage of the resignation of Mayor Sheila Dixon. The best, and the worst and their was plenty of both. (1/6/10) Ivan Cater is the worst fucking host I've ever seen. I just saw him not be able to read a Wizards statement on a monitor. I won't even go into how he daily mutilates and stumbles over the english language. Comcast, if you want people to actually watch WoPo Live FIND a host that can carry a show instead of ruining it. Paul (1/6/10) To me, the definitive Jack Blanchard/Misty Morgan song, has always been "Legendary Chicken Fairy". I remember hearing it on WPIK/WXRA. It's available on iTunes and on www.lala.com (1/6/10) Jack & Misty fans: Lest we not forget... "Legendary chicken fairy, Big as life and twice as hairy." (1/6/10) Steve Czaben keeps moaning about the cancellation of his morning show. No other proof is needed if you listened to the first five minutes of the Sports Reporters today. The news had just broken that Arenas had been suspended by the NBA and Czaben kept interrupting Andy Pollin who was trying to give some insight into why the NBA waited until today. Pollin could not get a word in edge-wise until he raised his voice and showed Czaben the front page of today's Post which had a photo of Arenas in a mock shooting pose before last nights game. Czaben then said, "Oh My God", Oh My God". So we have a supposed top notch sports reporter who has gone the entire day without reading the only daily paper in the city, hearing about it, or checking online for the latest updates. No wonder he got canned from whatever morning show he was on. (1/6/10) My dearest Rusty Gibson, Jack Blanchard and Misty Morgan (70's "Tennessee Birdwalk") on the Wayside label, did in fact have another charting song.... it was, "Humphrey The Camel" which made it all the way to #78 in its 6 week stay on Billboard's Top 100. (According to the Joel Whitburn Top Pop Singles 1955 - 1996) and reported by yours truly, federAL SANTOS (1/6/10) According to Joel Whitburn's "Top Pop Singles", Jack Blanchard & Misty Morgan's "Tennessee Bird Walk" spent 13 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1970, peaking at Number 23. A follow-up, "Humphrey The Camel", lasted six weeks, rising only to Number 78. (1/6/10) Between 1969 and 1973, Jack Blanchard and Misty Morgan were responsible for charting "Tennessee Bird Walk", "Humphrey the Camel" and "The Cockroach Stomp." Curious mailbaggers can hear those songs performed on YouTube via this link: www.youtube.com (1/6/10) Dear Ed Norris, I can only imagine what it was that the suits had to say yesterday that got you so riled up (as you mentioned on the show this morning). Your ability to make Baltimore local current events so fascinating, and your unique perspective on national and world matters, are what made the show so great. It’s what brought the fantastic ratings. And it’s sorely missed. The caller who called during the shovel this morning took the words right out of my mouth. How far are they going to push back the show, and how much more content are they going to require be limited to sports, before you finally say FU to 105.7? It makes absolutely no sense to have your show dominated by “breakin’ down the Ravens’ schedule, and having Ken give us the same six sports blurbs eight times an hour? And now we’ve got the fabulous two hours of pointless “Monday Morning Quarterback” sucking the life out of two more hours. Now, that’s a novel and brilliant idea that can only be the brainless product of a corporate idiot. I just don’t get it. I just don’t. You see this time after time where they take a popular and highly rated show and muck it up with ego driven tinkering (they must know best—after all, they are the “Radio Guys”). Morons. Good luck Ed, and Maynard. Would love to hear lots more of you guys in the old format (and, no offense intended Ken, more extensive sports once an hour). More Janis, more Ditkoff, more of what’s important to people and the community besides the O’s and Ravens! JohnBoy (1/6/10) Hey Captain Jim...it was great to hear (well, read) from you in the mailbag. I echo you...it was happiness lane on Hiob Lane....well, except when we got enough rain to wash out the road (ha). I entered those doors a youngster, as Bob Mathers deemed me, Boy Wonder. Hell, I didn't even have my drivers license yet. When I was given the chance to be on the air, I was thrilled. After leaving WAMD upon graduation from high school, First Broadcasting called me, at your suggestion, to come and act as Ops Manager and take over the morning show. I did proudly. Those two years as the head at 'AMD was a learning experience. Everything from sales to engineering was an experience, and ones that will never be forgotten. Thanks for giving this youngin' a chance! And, I'll see you on Facebook! Best Wishes, Steve Mann. WAMD 1996-2001, 2004-2006. (1/6/10) Baltimore's 88.1 WYPR to be offering HD2 and HD3 subchannels soon. HD2 will be BBC World Service on January 15th, HD3 will be a music variety format coming later. www.wypr.org (1/6/10) Hey Paul (:Davy"), I remember very well the husband and wife team of Jack Blanchard and Misty Morgan doing 1970's "Tennessee Birdwalk" on the Wayside label. I don't think they ever did anything else that charted. Or did they? Perhaps other "Mailbaggers" know (such as Johnny Dark). Rusty Gibson, WEBR/RadioFairfax (1/6/10) You may be interested in this TV station pay cut story out of Gannett's NBC affiliate in Cleveland: gannettblog.blogspot.com (1/6/10) TV's are on and channels 4,5,8 and 9 are carrying new Redskins coah press conference live. Channel 7 is not carrying it, they are carrying One Life to Live. (1/6/10) Dave, I see the post about Laura Ingram being moved from WBAL, and then I take notice of the latest Baltimore Radio Ratings. I can’t help but wonder, has the righty-talker tide peaked in Baltimore? BAL and CBM’s ratings have continually trended down book-by-book. Even being the “Ravens flagship” hasn’t helped BAL (at least not like the Oriole radio rights did every summer). Can you dig a little deeper in the next book as to how Smith (he’s unlistenable IMHO), Rush and the other “righty titans” are doing in the ratings? Rob (1/6/10) To JJ "Hitman" Mckay: Hey Hitman! I was just making sure your bifocals were still working...lol. Thanks for the correction, sometimes my fingers type faster then they should. Hope your doing well. Corrected address: www.hermandrayce.com. Even gave you a plug on an article that was written last month about us acknowledging the help you gave me when I first started. Guess you were right, it gets in your blood......Herm (1/6/10) Dave, do you know if the George Michael memorial service will be open to the public, and/or will it be televised on channel 4? Aaron (1/6/10) Dave's response: I'm assuming it's open to the public since the announcement was in the WaPo this morning. No idea whether it'll be televised. But that would be a good idea for NBC4, or its website or via one of its digital subchannels..... "The Daily Show" Addresses Hume Remarks (1/6/10) The Daily Show With Jon Stewart Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c The Temple of Hume www.thedailyshow.com Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Health Care Crisis Congratulations to NBC 4 for taking the bold step of promoting Eun Yang to weekday morning news anchor. Barbra Harrison is full of class, but ended up being the obvious weak link. As FOX 5 continues to add viewers and gain morning dominance, ABC 7 needs to get in the game with a major morning show realignment. Doug McKelway is aloof and bias; Lisa Baden is one of the good things going for them. From anchors to reporters, the show is a sleeper. Your can't force chemistry because they have none. Channel 9 should probably do away with anchors altogether and run a scroll over bars. (1/6/10) Here's the deal, Paul. For months and months we've been sparring back and forth on this very forum. Did I send a request on Facebook to you? Sure did. I feel that our time spent on this site lobbing bombs back and forth have come and gone. The readers themselves plea for it to end. Hell, I'm sure Dave is sick of it. So, I attempt to contact you privately to iron out our issues...civily...And what do you do? Lob yet another false laden bomb my way. No problem, Paul. Want to publicly humiliate me and my show some more for your morbid pleasure? Have at it. I, for one, plan to do nothing more than sit back and give the mailbag readers what they want...an end to the public spectacle. -John Collings (1/6/10) It's impossible to take anybody seriously when they say things like "there has NEVER been any 'journalistic integrity.'" Give me a break. And get out of the business, if you've managed to weasel your way into it, because you don't have a clue. (1/6/10) Ow!! That's my own personal pelt you're snippin'! Bullwinkle J. Moose (1/6/10) Ed, I just picked it (Tennessee Birdwalk) The public bought it and I got a Gold Record for it….It’s somewhere in the attic collecting dust. LOL! PLB/Davy Jones (1/6/10) To all posters that live in the real world: I got this email this morning from “Facebook”. I acknowledge DJC’s observation OBSESSED This is SCARY! PLB/Davy Jones - Hi Paul, John Collings added you as a friend on Facebook. We need to confirm that you know John in order for you to be friends on Facebook. (1/6/10) PLB, if you are truly responsible for "Tennessee Birdwalk," our friendship is over. I find that I have understood the last few posts from "ThePenis." Must be the cold weather. Remember Dick Clark owns the company. Good to hear from Captain Jim - - always a great little station. There have been some really good posts lately from anonymous posters. Ed Graham (1/6/10) (wookin fa pelt) On a guess, I'll say that's "Buckwheat Talk" for seeking sex. Etymology is in Eddie Murphy's "Buckwheat" character from SNL circa 1982 -- he bastardized Johnny Lee's song "Lookin' For Love" by calling it "Wookin Pa Nub". If this is truly what PenIs had in mind, the spelling should have been "Wookin pa pelt". Or not... (1/6/10) Thanks to everybody for the input and insights into my question posed earlier. I had some thoughts of my own on the matter and it was good to hear from people who have had first hand experience with that over the years. Thanks again for the time you all took in answering me. Sincerely, James (1/6/10) For all the (justified) complaints about the impending demise of WAMD, I find it interesting that nobody finds ironic hypocrisy on the part of Salem in this. After all, didn’t Salem buy WAMD for the sole purpose of killing it, so as to improve the performance of WNYM? If that’s the case, then WAVA should be consistent and immediately and permanently cease airing programs against abortion. While I realize there’s a difference between human life and a radio station, I cannot help but see the parallels between what Salem is doing to WAMD and the deliberate taking of an innocent human life. If you cannot practice your faith, be careful about preaching it, as your actions will be what the world sees of your faith. Unsigned Corporate Suit (1/6/10) You may already know this, but the Post Obit page is announcing a service for George Michael; Thurs., Jan 21, National Cathedral. (1/6/10) “If Reagan didn't color his hair he had the most amazing hair ever.” Myth: I saw Ronaldo Maximus many times in person & close enough to see the ever so slight tints of gray in his incredible mane of brown hair. Reagan never, ever dyed his hair. Now I understand that Joe “Plugs” Biden’s implants get the regular blue-haired lady treatment all the time and that the Secret Service has a separate name for them: “Sgulp”, or “Plugs” backward. BTW Dave: HBO has BIG LOVE in their reruns rotation right now: it is a great show, fantastic cast, but not better than Madmen and Chole whatever her name is ain’t no match for January Jones. Va-va-va-vooom: now there’s a woman! buddytv.com (1/6/10) Okay, I'll bite The PenIsMightier's bait (second try): What means "wookin fa pelt?" -Chainsman (1/6/10) Watching the news the past two days, it was confirmed to me that all the talk about NBC4 getting preferential treatment when it comes to Redskins access was pretty much true..Yesterday morning while all of the other stations could not confirm Zorn's firing, NBC4 had a reporter at Redskins park saying that Lyndsay Czarniak received a personal phone call from someone in the Redskins organization with confirmation..Also, today on the news, as Shanahan was leaving the Palm Restaurant, Lyndsay was shown as being the first to approach him, introduce herself and ask a few questions..And curiously, once she was finished, Shanahan made the comment to Lyndsay "You're from channel 4, right?" (1/6/10) To: Nuff Said-Paul Bicknell/Davy Jones here: Your anger betrays your identity. To justify some of your evaluations I will only say, we all have regrets. Me, you, Kathy Whiteside no one is spared. I do regret the remarks made about Kathy and I would do anything to take them back. Pre-thinking my adrenaline and my mouth I would never have said anything. I have personally attempted on many occasions to express my regrets personally (even to you). With no response. To you, my friend, Mr. - - - - - -, I have also expressed my regrets. It's really a sad situation when forgiveness is not an option. I do my best, and have, to live the life, love the rewards, enjoy the friendships and endure the criticism of those who have made no mistakes. "Nuff Said, and I hope you're proud of yourself. God Bless. PLB./Davy Jones (1/6/10) Well here comes a voice from the past. I was indeed humbled by sister Joyce's eloquent narrative about WAMD. For me it was the love of a lifetime. Of all those folks she listed do you see how many of them "made it" to major market? The majority. I was the lucky one in 26 years as Manager of WAMD to work with all of you. I could not have made it with out the help of all my friends in broadcasting. From the late Galen Fromme, Dean Hunter & Ted Steele to my two fantastic partners, Bob Callahan (whom I did more than a dozen years with as Bob and Jim in the Morning) and Johnny Contino who continues with me to this day. The "Youngsters" with all their enthusiasm, ideas and courage to with stand "Local Radio". I must add Merrie Street to the list as she continues to stay next to the Captain in my latest role as "Politician". Some say they put the fox in charge of the chicken house but I love it and have cut taxes four times in 3 years!!!! Yes I am the lucky one. All of you made my life full of adventure and you helped me raise two kids in that station as well. It truly was the Happiness House on Hiob Lane. And the scoop is that there are some talks going on regarding WAMD. Where those talks lead, no one knows at this point. I must also thank the folks at WBAL Radio and TV who helped me from my Early days with Rhea, JP Rolf and BOB Shilling and Galen upstairs in Radio. You taught me well. Plus all the help you gave me over the years in engineering.WAMD. I am still waiting for a bill!!!! Well we can forget that. Thanks so much everyone. Capt'n Jim McMahan WAMD VP Gen Mgr 1978 to 2003 (1/6/10) Ref: We are two ex-radio jocks from the Eastern Shore and have branched out on our own to do an interactive web based audio/visual show ! Rayce and Herm when u guys invite folks to your party it would be nice if you gave them the correct address www.hermandrayce.com ... I'm here for ya fellas (couple of nuts I worked with at WCTG Chingoteague Island, Va.) LOL JJ "Hitman" McKay in OC, MD (1/6/10) Here's another installment of my favorite question: "Why Reporters Don't Ask Hard Questions". I was watching my favorite news program today, FOX5 at 5pm, and a segment came up of an update on the woman who cut open the womb of a pregnant woman in Suitland a few months ago, and stole her baby. The pregnant woman lived, as did the baby, and the perpetrator was apprehended and sent to jail. The pregnant woman had been living in a shelter for the duration of her pregnancy. So.... today the FATHER of the pregnant woman was interviewed by FOX5 (looking very dapper & healthy, btw), and he was saying all sorts of things like "My daughter is recovering", and "I'm concerned about my daughter and grandchild", etc., and all I kept screaming towards my TV (hoping that the reporter would ask) was: "She was living in a homeless shelter! Where the hell were you then? Crawling out now in front of the cameras to show your face? You should be embarrassed!" But, alas, the reporter didn't ask those questions. Ah, where do these people get their journalism degrees? -Silvie- (1/6/10) Several things, Fox 43 is in York, Pa, not Harrisburg. Wyatt Everhart did not do weather at Fox 43, he was the morning news anchor. After he showed up at WMAR, he was introduced as a meteorologist. The new man is filling in for Lynette Charles who left. JohnnyuinHanover,Pa. (1/6/10) Dave's response: Fox43 is in the overall Harrisburg TV market..... /\ January 6 Messages /\ \/ January 5 Messages \/ As someone who has taken great amounts of heat in the mailbag, allow me to put some perspective on this bitch fight. As "Davy Jones", Paul Bicknell earned a great amount of respect for his talent, sound and creativity. As a talent he is in the same category as all of those legends mentioned in previous postings. His voiceovers & production skills are as good as anyone in the market you can think of. But the credit bank of goodwill and respect started to erode about 7 years ago on DCRTV when he started to use multiple posting names, his on-air stunt when he departed WBIG and classless statements about Kathy Whiteside put into question his professionalism, the baseless pompous shots at younger talent in the mailbag, and his refusal to let anyone else have the last word here just smacked the good taste out of the mouth of some who had respect for him. I know the syndrome. As great as one's work product may be, the personal interaction you have with co-workers and again online in this digital age (where archives can come back to bite you in the ass), can kill a career/reputation/credibility in the blink of a mouse click and cause eternal regrets for having hit the "Send" button without some self-censoring. My suggestion to all parties in this bashfest is to exchange personal e-mails and take your ball to another playground. Nuff Said! (1/5/10) "DJC"...Appreciate the collective criticism. I'll be sure to invest in a spell check right away. Any recommendations as to what program I should look in to? In your response you mentioned the word "obsessed". One might think that you yourself is obsessed with Mr. Bicknell with your reciting of his resume earlier. That is unless you are Mr. Bicknell, but that would just be silly, now wouldn't it? As for your evidence in my referencing Mr. Bicknell, you are basing your statement on an assumption that I was referring to him? With skills like that, you could be a Los Angeles District Attorney. No reference means no evidence. Fail. You also mentioned having specific numbers on listenership of my radio show. This is an even weaker attempt at impressing the mailbag readers. The fact you refuse to divulge your source only destroys any credibility you may have. Well, that, and the fact that WEBR has no way of gauging listenership. Look it up, it's right there on their site. So, in short, if they can't...Then you, and your "source", can't. Epic Fail. And in response to your utter concern of my directing a question at Johnny Dark. Don't worry your mind, it was a legitimate question to a radio personality I actually do respect. Unlike someone else on here. Any other issues you'd like to resolve with me, "DJC"? And thanks again for listening. - John Collings - The Other Guys Show - WEBR (1/5/10) Attention Geezers, there will be a Friday Night Gathering at 11PM for the Boring Hour. It's called The Other MAN'S Show on WEBR. Bring a pint of toleration or "speed" to stay awake. ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!! (1/5/10) As someone who self-identifies as a conservative, here's this: Clark no, McGarry yes. Obama's begun to show the Presidential gray. If Reagan didn't color his hair he had the most amazing hair ever. And he took a vacation. Boo hoo, get over it, it's not like he was hiking the Appalachian Trail and wasn't reachable. Burt Hume, used to respect him, now I just think he's a believing in magic douche. Too bad. Jim Zorn and Jason Campbell, both standing tall, and both men you would want on your side in any endeavor. The only question is how will Daniel (imagine him clambering over his wife a couple times a year) Snyder eff it up this time around. Apparently there are still two rather large gun-toting gentlemen on the loose in downtown DC, often seen in and around the Verizon Center. Efforts by DC police, who only patrol the interior of restaurants in the area, to apprehend them have led nowhere. Chief Milf Lanier said in an interview "well, apart from their height, they look like any other ...[garbled] ...you see on the streets. They're just very very hard to find, unless they happen to enter a restaurant in the Verizon Center area. For instance, we consider the Gallery Place Chinatown Metro stop a free fire zone. Do what you want, no one's going to arrest you." I'm still waiting for those Mike O'Meara Show calls to C-Span's American Journal, people. ---ThePenIsMightier (1/5/10) To the person(s) inquiring about where to hear mp3's of The Other Guys Show, we suggest you just pop a couple Vivarin and listen live - 11pm every Friday night. -John Collings - The Other Guys Show - WEBR (1/5/10) A friend and I were discussing Washington DC childhood TV favorites, and I found this clip with an interview with two famous NBC news anchors. Robert, Arlington (1/5/10) Thank you, John, for the welcome, but I need to let you know, first off, that, I have neither the time nor the interest to get into any kind of on-line pissing match with you. I'm just tremendously amazed at your obsession with Paul Bicknell, and offended over your lack of reverence for a radio pioneer-- someone who helped pave the road for many of us and had made a name and reputation, for himself, probably before you were even sucking on your mama's titty. If you're inferring that I am Paul, writing under a pseudonym, your obsession has taken you way out there, hasn't it?. However, I am proud to say that Paul's been a huge influence on me. By the way, your comments that I "pocess (sic) the same writing style", and that Paul was in the "audio industry, not print media" made no sense and seemed to have no relevance. Then, you say that, "at no point have a (sic) made a single referrence (sic) to Mr. Bicknell in the time frame you stated." On 12/30 and 31, not only did you refer to him, but your comments were directed TO him. On 1/2, you did not mention him by name, but referred to him in a derogatory manner. I don't need to provide evidence. It's all there-- for all to see. Concerning your numbers, I do have sources. Unfortunately, it would not behoove me to disclose them. And you're just going to have to deal with that. I also noted that you addressed another radio legend. Johnny Dark, personally, asking his opinion of web radio. I sincerely hope that you're not trying to drag Johnny into this thing that you're having with Paul. To do that, would be disgraceful and distasteful. You couldn't carry Johnny's (or for that matter, Paul's, Mac's, Dick's, or any other media legend that you seem so intent on eradicating) headphones. I'm done with you. You can go now. DJC... PS: Learn to use Spell-Check, will ya? (1/5/10) This stupid Brit Hume "Buddhist -vs- Christian" conversation, obscures a larger, more important point: For thousands of years there has been a propaganda campaign that people are flawed, that we are the problem, and that religion is the solution. Pick your poison Judeo-Christian, Islam, Buddhism, and Hinduism - it makes no real difference - it's all about the dynamic of controlling humanity via fear and social engineering. These kinds of belief systems have helped bring about more havoc, division, death and destruction than they've ever prevented. Thankfully, they are gasping their collective last breaths. This is especially welcome news for America! From 2001 - 2009, much of our government was run a mob of religious, Armageddonist whack jobs - delusional, paranoid and psychotic people - whose every move was influenced their imagined invisible, angry old man in the sky. It's all just a bunch of superstitious bullshit! The sooner people realize the true destructive, manipulative nature of ALL religion, the better off we'll all be. (1/5/10) PAL BIKNILL YELL AT ME WON TIEM HE IS VRRY NO FRENDLEE. TOMGAVIN (1/5/10) Come on, you can do better than "it's OK if the other guy do it, too.". You are right, I can. My argument is not the above but that there has NEVER been any "journalistic integrity". There may be at times "journalists" who either don't have an opinion or don't want to get into the fray...but most often that is NOT the case. Journalistic integrity is a myth put forth by people in the press and journalism schools. It sounds like what they ought to be doing, hence its easy to believe. We have lived with opinion because of how people write their stories and deliver their "packages" since Murrow during World War II and well before that. Some give more of their opinion than others...You simply can NOT find any story on any network that is not written with some slant due to word choice, etc. And I am not being a English major here. Its not done harmlessly. Its done simply because of what the author is trying to say. What I love to do is have a news net on (any of them) but not watch the picture - just listen to the story...all are written with some slant...All the fuss over FOX, etc. in the past 10 years (FOX NEWS is celebrating 10 big ones) is because for the first time (outside of rags like the NY POST maybe) a fairly major news organization is taking the opposite side of what most journalists side with. Before this there was never a big outcry against the leftist NY Times or the WASH Post. This has been revealed time and time again in the lists that are out there of what parties news people contribute to and how they vote (when that info is released). People on the left (either moderates or far left) have really had sheep in their midst for decades...things change and now the left is not happy that some of their ideals are being challenged. Sometimes successfully - sometimes not. Whether you like Roger Ailes and his many chins or not, if it was totally his idea to build FOX the way he did - he captured lightning in a bottle for the past decade. What I find amazing is that it took MSNBC so long to blatantly and unabashedly head the other way...and funny enough so far to not the same success. Before you say it, yes cablers have relatively small numbers - but its a battle all the same and so far FOX is winning...with people like Hume. (1/5/10) Dave's response: You're right. Fox News may be winning the "cable news" battle, especially with the over age 60 crowd (the channel has the oldest audience among all the cable nets), but it's not being done with journalism..... A lot of us BUY THAT, we know PLB/Davy Jones ASS-HAT! (1/5/10) I too would like to hear a mp3 of the Other Guys Show on WEBR. Where can we find it? (1/5/10) RE" There's been a help wanted ad seeking a radio board op on-and-off Craigslist for several months now. Its back again today. Anyone know who's running the ad; and why, with so many qualified broadcasters on the beach, it hasn't been adequately filled yet? Is it a show nobody wants to work for? " This is the board op position for the Laura Ingraham Show. She has been through 4!! board ops in the past year and half. NO one wants to work for her. (1/5/10) "I SO RESPECT all three of them…! PLB/Davy Jones" ---Who in their right mind is buying that? (1/5/10) Is the new hire at MASN bad news for Byron Kerr? Or is it simply a complementary piece to the website coverage? Howie (1/5/10) Dave- This comes from Inside Radio: "Westwood One buys traffic provider. Sigalert services eight markets in California and Arizona, offering consumers real-time traffic data via the web, mobile phones and PDAs. Westwood One buys the company from Jaytu Technologies with plans to expand its traffic products to 65 markets this year." Considering the sacrifices WW1 and Metro have forced on its employees, like salary cuts, forced days off without pay and office closings, the company has a lot of damn nerve. They shouldn't be buying pencils much less Sigalert. (1/5/10) Chiming in on the Mac McGarry/Dick Clark matter. I hope that both guys will still possess enough of a sound mind to call it quits long before someone has to tell them to. Often times “ like the elderly driver who continues to drive until they have a serious accident “ it takes someone who is unbiased and detached from the overall picture, to break the news to them that it's time to call it quits. And - sorry posters - but I'm not exactly sure that time is not fast approaching for both icons. (1/5/10) Dave's response: I hope Brit Hume is reading..... WBAL is not contemplating legal action against the FCC. The PDF attachment to the electronic application filed is on legal letterhead because that's who is acting on Hearst's behalf in filing and tracking the application. This request does not cite any additional technical material, so there's no consulting firm's work involved. Check the contact representative on virtually any electronic application to the FCC and you will find a lawyer's name. Regards, Dave Loudin (1/5/10) (Dave's response: Brit Hume is a perfect example of what's wrong with the news media today. Even when he was fulltime on Fox, you didn't quite know whether he was wearing his news anchor hat or his commentator hat. It's a shame to watch his downfall, after his great years as a stellar reporter at ABC. Time to retire, Brit, before you tarnish your journalistic reputation even more.) Sad.....O Cmon...that is the silliest thing I have ever read. Its only a breach of "journalistic reputation" when its something you don't agree with. The longtimers on CNN and the major nets bust this myth all the time and you don't say a word...what crap. (1/5/10) Dave's response: Come on, you can do better than "it's OK if the other guy do it, too." I am no fan of CNN, which is pretty awful. But, can you think of any CNNers, or even any other Fox Newsers, who've publicly said on-air that one religion is better than another? Hmmm..... (Snippet) Mac McGarry, Dick Clark, and Dick Engberg is just a little over the top. Whoever you are…. I totally agree with you! I SO RESPECT all three of them…! PLB/Davy Jones (1/5/10) James, Bob, Ed, Johnny and “tight is right” all pros had great answers to your question. I read your post about not trusting me, but, for what it’s worth, as a Music Director of three Major top 40 stations I always watched the pulse of the incoming “hits” the Record Promotion guys would always try their best to present music that fit the station, market and tastes of the audience. It was the job of the Music Director to be as right as could possibly be and always collaborate with the Program Director on what and what not to play. The maverick in the pack was WPGC, we always played only to our audience, and often played off the wall songs that became million sellers such as In the Summertime, Backfield in Motion”, “ Tennesse Birdwalk”, etc. We always pushed the envelope to some extent and it worked for us. As the top rocker we also let the jocks have some freedoms twice an hour during their shift, BUT, no repeats within a 7 day period. We also used to “tweak” the turntables (remember them) and speed them up a little so the songs would be a little shorter than the competition. It was a wonderful time for radio, for the jocks and for the audience. Nostalgia does reign with the “Geezer Jocks”. PLB/Davy Jones (1/5/10) Funny stuff, this WBAL having an "Encore" of the C4 Show now at nights. Looks like the once mighty 'BAL has stolen a page from the oft criticized WNST/Nestor. At least Nestor isn't beaming a signal up and down the East Coast. Why don't most of these 50,000 watt blow torches just cut back their power at nights? File something w/the FCC. Seems like a tremendous waste in today's economic climate. Go up and down the dial at night now, especially after midnight, and it's virtually all syndicated programs. How may 50,000 watters is Noory on that you can pick up in this area ? WBZ, WFAN, WGN, WSN, and that's about it as far as "live and local" programming after 9:00, once you factor out the live sports events and all news stations. VERY SAD. (1/5/10) I know, like, and respect Paul Bicknell but to put him in the same basket with Mac McGarry, Dick Clark, and Dick Endberg is just a little over the top. (1/5/10) Wow! WBAL on 11.2 sounds like a great idea. Wonder if they could replicate it in the Washington area, perhaps by putting WTOP behind Doug Hill’s Weather N... Oh wait, they had that. Wish they’d get it back. Charles in Winchester (where we get 11 but not 11.1 or 11.2) (1/5/09) I believe Cylatt is taking Wyatt Everhart`s place who is at WMAR. (1/5/10) There's been a help wanted ad seeking a radio board op on-and-off Craigslist for several months now. Its back again today. Anyone know who's running the ad; and why, with so many qualified broadcasters on the beach, it hasn't been adequately filled yet? Is it a show nobody wants to work for? (1/5/10) Hog jowled toothy speech Brit Hume ran his looney christianity on a 'news' program (opinion forum my sacreligious butt- most Sunday News opinion panels are composed of professional newspeople who have demonstrated career-wide abilities to keep their religious johnsons in their pants). Hume is a foggy corporate media whore who after having proselytized our country into multiple wars with devastating financial and military consequences is extending his wisdom as a christian evangelist on a news show which says more about the Fox Corporation than his own small minded pathetic drooping eyed logic. (1/5/10) I want to be first to welcome "DJC" to the mailbag! It is clear that Mr. Bicknell has impacted you as you pocess the same writing style as he, which is remarkable considering Mr. Bicknell worked in the audio industry, not print media. Nonetheless, allow me to correct you on just a couple minor mistakes you made in your post. First, at no point have a made a single referrence to Mr. Bicknell in the time frame you stated. If you feel that I have, by all means, please provide some evidence. And secondly, you said that my show has no numbers. Apparently you have found some rating system that tracks WEBR shows. I implore you to please call the management of WEBR and notify them of this development immediately! You've stumbled upon something that even our station management isn't aware of. Good job! Again, welcome to the site "DJC"! Be sure to check out our show Facebook page, and thanks for listening! -John Collings - The Other Guys Show - WEBR (1/5/10) “Dave's response: To have WMAL's Chris Plante today calling WaPo TV critic Tom Shales "a bigot" for his column critical of Hume's remarks is just about one of the dumbest things I've ever heard. Even for a dumbass talker like WMAL. Plante is mind-achingly stupid.....” Dave: you have stumbled upon the truth about Plante. He WAS a “dumbass” and should have referred to Shales as a “fat f*****” instead. Plante’s bad. (1/5/10) Dave's response: Shales may be fat and colorblind (remember his recent column on how the 1960s "Prisoner" was in B&W), but he's no bigot. I don't know anything about his sexual orientation..... Dave, Comcast is offering college football fans in the Washington, DC area exclusive access to the 2009 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award ceremony through its On Demand service. The award is presented annually to the nation's top senior college quarterback. A special production of the 2009 award ceremony will be available free of charge to Comcast Digital TV customers through June of 2010 for them to watch any time they choose, with the click of their remotes. The video features special guests including NFL Hall of Famers... Thanks, Alisha (1/5/10) If only Buddhist Tiger Woods was a good Christian like David Vitter, John Ensign, Mark Sanford, Mark Foley, Bill "falafel" O'Reilly, Newt Gingrich, Rush "oxycontin" Limbaugh, et al, then all would be right with the world. ACH (1/5/10) The new WBAL schedule is out www.wbal.com... John T. Henneman (1/5/10) Seriously, when was the last time somebody read one of these Unsigned Corporate Suit things all the way to the end? (1/5/10) Two things: Kornheiser said today that he thought stars revolve around planets. That's a theory that has been dead since the 16th century. Could he really be that stupid? Second, re: "The hysterical reaction to Hume's Tiger Woods comments, which are merely his opinion, shows just how anti-Christian the loony left is." How's that for logic? Hume's idiotic rant declaring Buddism null and void was "merely his opinion," but anybody who questioned it is "anti Christian" and "loony." Again...could anybody really be that stupid? (1/5/10) Dave's response: To have WMAL's Chris Plante today calling WaPo TV critic Tom Shales "a bigot" for his column critical of Hume's remarks is just about one of the dumbest things I've ever heard. Even for a dumbass talker like WMAL. Plante is mind-achingly stupid..... I really am shocked at the amount of irreverence shown, on this site, to legendary broadcasters like Dick Clark, Mac McGarry, Dick Enberg and Paul Bicknell. I grew up listening to all four—and all four definitely had an impact on me. I would be willing to bet that most of the posters, here, were equally influenced and inspired. So, let’s give them the respect that they deserve—instead of trashing them. Specifically, Paul said that his 12/28 post would be his last, concerning John Collings, yet it seems that John (and others) has continued to “bait” Paul. Since 12/28, I count seven anti-Bicknell posts, Paul has remained true to his word. He has taken the “high road” and has not responded negatively. I echo the 12/31 comments of Bob in Forest Hill. (Snippet: “PLB, it's not worth your time as you have nothing to prove; Collings, you're coming across as a sniveling, self-important wannabe who has way too much time to over-intellectualize and nit-pick.”.) And I understand that he may have only been responding to a request by Ed Graham but, by posting an MP-3 of his show, isn’t John violating the rules, concerning self-promotion, on this forum? And, not to steal any thunder from Gilbert Arenas, John, but, don’t you think that, if you’re going to get into a shoot-out, you ought to have some bullets? Again, Paul has had a long and distinguished career, and will soon be celebrating his 50th year in broadcasting.. In a business where one year, with the same station, might be considered successful, Paul has enjoyed multi-year stints with at least four major market stations, where he consistently built audiences, and has, subsequently, helped to build three other related operations. I took a look at your numbers, John—and you don’t have any. No one is listening. You have no ammunition. Instead of making an adversary of Paul, why don’t you try to move past this and see if Paul might be open to being a resource, or even a mentor? I’ll bet if you ask him, nicely, he would. DJC (1/5/10) (Show syndicator Talk Radio Network has told DCRTV that it will continue producing and distributing the show even if the troubled Washington Times pulls out of the venture.) I believe that. Mark Masters and Phil Boyce are smart guys. They can make a little money with 75 markets....... (1/5/10) James, good question. I never considered picking my own music as "freedom", because there was so much more to the overall performance than just the tunes, and I devoted much of my energies to everything else. The last time I had a concrete choice in what music to play in an hour was 1993 when I was doing full-service radio in Connecticut. Even then, we were tied to a rotating filecard music system, succeeded by Selector, so I was bound to a general music playlist. I had the option to modify it all if the moment suggested it -- opera singer Marion Anderson's death opened up the opportunity to close the show with a recording by her (she had Connecticut roots), and Neil Sedaka's hospitalization in our town, to suggest two occasions. But there was never a percentage of what songs I could pick myself in an hour. The way I looked at it, not having to sweat the music meant I could concentrate more on my content and delivery... "make the show my own", as ye consultants of olde once said. I look at automation kinda the same way - when treated as a live-assist system, it's a repository of music that I wrap around the entirety of the performance. As long as my material was paced to the music (Kasem was right: never talk about a dead dog out of an uptempo record), the show was a winner every time. -Alan Peterson, 31-year broadcast pro. (1/5/10) Herm....It's not a violation of anything. The "no plugging your own show" rule is nothing more than a bogus rule enacted by bitter individuals on this site. I believe the earlier post referring to your plug was intended to mock the fake "rule"....Plug away....- John Collings - The Other Guys Show - WEBR (1/5/10) HEARST's WBAL TV 11 in Baltimore Ponders Legal Action against the FCC?....... fcc.gov... I'll defer to DCRTV tech & FCC guru Dave Loudin as to whether this is that unusual, but generally when I read FCC engineering & technical filings for power increases, normally I see engineering firms for contact info & data. However, it looks like Hearst's WBAL is throwing some legal muscle behind their power increase request towards the FCC as this engineering request comes from a legal firm and specifically requests the FCC to respond to Hearst Broadcasting's legal firm regarding their STA status of higher power that interferes with 4 other DTV channels in the region. This seems a bit out of the ordinary to me. Is Hearst threatening the FCC with a lawsuit? This sure seems like some saber rattling to me at the very least. WBAL is one of the many VHF DTV stations in the country to have signal problems but probably the most adversely affected in the DC/Baltimore region due to their extremely low 5kw DTV power authorization. (1/5/10) Silly boys; everybody knows that LaVar Burton (aka Geordie LaForge) isn't on the radio anymore. He's the Governor of New York State... (1/5/10) Two points. The hysterical reaction to Hume's Tiger Woods comments, which are merely his opinion, shows just how anti-Christian the loony left is. Second, regarding local sportstalk radio, whether one likes a particular host or not is a matter of what one values in such shows. For example, I like Czaban, who often takes a battering on these boards. I also think Loverero is very good. However, I think Kornheiser and Walker are absolutely awful. But the thing most people can agree on I think is that local sportstalk radio just has too much Redskins talk at the expense of the other local sports. And I have to disagree with the poster who suggests that the public wants that. They wanted that during the Gibbs glory days perhaps, but the luster has long since dimmed. DC now has major league baseball, an elite hockey team and vibrant college sports. The media focus on the Redskins is a hangover from the Gibbs 1 era that is taking a long time to die off. (1/5/10) James you asked the wrong question. The other two posts about playlists covered it well, but the more important question is why do we say today's radio sucks? We do romanticize the past. A lot of 50s, 60s, and 70s radio also sucked, but there was an important difference. Radio was vastly different in the Top-40 days. There was little competition. The personality talked directly to you. It was live and local and you listened because you wanted to know what your radio friend had to tell you about. Maybe you tuned in to hear about your school, or who your friend was dating. Adult radio was much the same, intimate, in your ear, in your car, in your bedroom - - with your favorite radio personality talking directly to you. That was powerful, and important in your daily life. The really good DJs knew how to do this. Radio stations competed for your friendship and loyalty. Today it's very different. There are mp3s, satellite, Internet, phones that play music, and many new delivery systems on the way. (See; Apple Tablet, Google new phone, and others) Radio has gone from a Hot intimate medium, to a Cold impersonal medium. I'm not going to take the time to really get into this, but these are the reasons that radio sucks now. Music was always the easiest thing to program, and still is. For radio to become relevant again, it has to become relevant again. I like to over simplify, but radio can do it if. WAMD was always trying, and even with some air people (not the good ones mentioned on this site) who were not quite major market voices, they were always relevant to their listeners. Very few stations in DC or Baltimore are as good as they could be. Just reading the names of some of the personalities from the past makes you feel warm. In the early days of personality radio most people could tell the names and shift time of all the DJs in the city and which stations they represented. Now, most people have trouble telling you who is on their favorite station. Ed Graham (1/5/10) "Re: Funny, the youtube video posted today"....I work with/worked with each of those people at KOMO in Seattle. They are (l to r) Jim Castillo (Weather), Natasha Curry (News, since moved to CNN), Mike Durdis (News) and Jenni Hogan (Traffic). While that was very funny, some of truly hilarious doings take place in the station's newsroom. KOMO Radio & TV both work on the same floor at Fisher Plaza and the one-liners are always flying around the room. Now I need to ask around and see who produced that cacophonic piece. - Bob Mathers (1/5/10) Sorry Dave, appreciate cutting us some slack, didn't know I was in violation of a "prime directive"...lol. Putting an ad together this week to send. Herm (1/5/10) Ah, good stuff from Bill Worthington but I wouldn't expect anything less. Bill is a super professional and one of the nicest people I've ever worked with. Having said that, let me add a comment. In virtually every radio station, music program logs are generated by a computer program called Selector. Usually, a PD or Music Director will go over it to see if the "flow" is right. If it looks good, they print it out and it goes to the studio for whatever day is programmed. Many stations don't use a print-out, the music for each hour will come up on the computer screen in the on-air studio. Before computers (the early days of Top 40), the jocks actually put together their own shows but were limited in each hour to the number of songs from the top 10, the bottom 30, new material, and recurrents (songs that had been recent hits). Keep in mind that during that period, jocks were allowed to talk more, add more personality to the presentation....Let me add to that, as recently as the last months of WQSR-FM as an "oldies" station, I was allowed to program the last two hours of my show. The 10-11 hour was a tribute ("One Hit Wonders," "Missed It By That Much," etc.) and the 11-Midnight hour featured "Back Seat Ballads," the music that was playing in the front seat while you were in the back. My relationship with CBS Baltimore programming chief Dave Labrozzi was a good one and he knew I wouldn't abuse the privilege. That was something unheard of in today's radio and I will always thank him for that.....Johnny Dark (1/5/10) Ironic that Holier than Thou Hume left both of his wives for other women. (1/5/10) Dave's response: Brit Hume is a perfect example of what's wrong with the news media today. Even when he was fulltime on Fox, you didn't quite know whether he was wearing his news anchor hat or his commentator hat. It's a shame to watch his downfall, after his great years as a stellar reporter at ABC. Time to retire, Brit, before you tarnish your journalistic reputation even more. Sad..... Awwww...is that someone plugging their web based radio show on the mailbag!?! That's a violation of DCRTV Mailbag prime directive number 1! Or so I've read. (1/5/10) Dave's response: I don't mind someone hyping their radio show here, just don't overdo it. Hey, I've got some great ad rates for 2010..... James, your question seems thoughtful and sincere, so I will take a shot at an answer. I have ALWAYS worked from a pre-defined playlist and I have worked in music radio since 1973. By music radio, I specifically mean Top 40, hit, pop, etc. Down the street, there were always Progressive, Free-Form, Album, etc, formatted stations that, as I recall, gave air talent much more flexibility to choose music—but this was always just my assumption since, even among such stations, no DJ really ever had the “freedom” to pull out, say, polka albums and play oompah bands for an hour. Just the same, someone who worked in such a format could answer that better than I. I never worked in Urban radio either, so there are others who would be better suited to answer your question about its playlists. Hit radio, by definition, plays the hits—over and over and over! For the music purist, it is maddening. For casual music “consumers” (and I hate to apply that term to music), the theory has always been there is comfort in familiarity and thus, you have repetitive radio with restrictive playlists (and typically large audiences). I am a music purist in the sense that I choose songs, artists, and genres that give me the greatest personal gratification, but I make those choices at home. No radio station and no jock with unlimited song choice freedom would ever be able to pick the music I want to hear better than I can for myself—and it would be absurd to think they could. In the meantime, radio hopes to just get “close enough” with its target audience to keep it coming back every day. Forgive me for going on and on and burying the answer to your question at the end of the paragraph, but I have no more and no less playlist freedom now than I ever have! Bill Worthington, WASH-FM. (1/5/10) In response to James. First, yes - old radio 'Dee Jays' do romantacize about the past. We were younger. Radio was more important. And, there is a certain feeling you get when you are part of an air team. And when you win. Watch the movie Pirate Radio or even FM to get a small taste of what that feels like. As far as "DJ's" picking the tunes - that is more fantasy than fact. In the early days of progressive and album rock radio - that was true. But the reason 'Top 40' radio got its name was that it played the same songs over and over. Over the years radio has researched itself to death and contnues to find a smaller and smaller amount of songs that appeal to the largest audience. Basically, they adhere to the dictum - tight is right. (1/5/10) I just posted a podcast for Tuesday where I interviewed Tommy Bateman, former producer for the Hideout. We talked about the show, behind the scenes WJFK, moving to Orlando, radio in general, etc. Pretty good stuff if people like hearing what really goes on. thedcam.com... - AM(1/5/10) Funny (1/5/10) Hey Dave, wanted to invite you and your readers to check out our new endeavor. We are two ex-radio jocks from the Eastern Shore and have branched out on our own to do an interactive web based audio/visual show that features only independent and unsigned artists from just about all musical genre's. It's in it's infancy but would appreciate any input (good or bad) that all of the more experienced folks on here could provide. Everyone can check out the show at any time at our web site at www.hermandracye.com. Thanks! (1/5/10) Last night on WBAL Radio, instead of "Sporting News Radio" around 9:45 & Laura Ingraham @ 10:00, they were airing an apparent replay of the "C4" Show. Permanent schedule change? No updates at this time on the wbal.com schedule page. (1/5/10) This morning's column by Tom Shales www.washingtonpost.com in which he rebukes Fox semi-retiree and Sunday morning grump, Brit Hume, is something I know more than a little about. First, Hume dissed a half-billion followers of Buddhism by suggesting that somehow Christianity was a better fit for Tiger Woods than his following the tenants of Buddha (the awakened one). But his "come to Jesus, Tiger" moment in fact may be riddled with guilt that originated in 1998 with the suicide of his son, Sandy. Over several years Hume prior to Sandy's death Brit browbeat his son and that led to an estrangement. They had recently reconciled when his son got a speeding ticket just after midnight on the way home to his Arlington apartment. Friends believe that the son feared another dressing down by the father and that is at least partially why, upon arriving home, he took out a firearm and shot himself, which resulted in his death. It was a few days later, at Gawler's funeral home that Hume had an epiphany and soon began to prosthelytize on behalf of his new-found religion. One can find a corollary with the teachings of the New Testament, not to mention heavy doses of hypocrisy here but I'll leave that to others. ACH (1/5/10) I just wanted to say that if CBS has any sense whatsoever then in one week WLZL should start stunting at midnight and at noon play Jeff Buckley's Last Goodbye followed by a loud cheesy "BROADCASTING FROM THE CAPITAL OF AMERICA THIS-IS-YOUR-RADIO- NINETY NINE ONE WHFS ANNAPOLIS".....i'm just sayin'......Evolve991 (1/5/10) (regarding a previous post) About that photo of Mac McGarry. Was it taken in the music library at WRC radio? I remember a room across the hall from the master control and Studio 1, that contained lots of records. There was also a small audition studio adjacent to it, where disc jockeys could preview music. (1/5/10) A question to the current and veteran DJs on this site. A professor of mine once said that we all romanticize the past. I'm as guilty as anyone of that. When it comes to radio, I hear (and read) DJs do the same thing by, in part, lamemting the present state of rock/pop radio. When it comes to such things as automation, I certainly agree. Another item that is brought up is restrictive playlists (Through my travels, the D.C. market seems to as guilty as any when it comes to such lack of variety). Granted, the freedom of a DJ to play things he/she wants depends on a number of factors (ownership, Program director, seniority of the DJ, etc.). However, in general terms, how much different is the freedom of the DJ now as opposed to the past? In watching items on the infancy of Rock and Roll, I hear DJs talk of playlists back in those days as well (In fact, I think I recall one DJ note that a song in heavy rotation might have gotten paid multiple times in one hour. Certainly made more possible in the days where singles were all under 4:00). Roughly, how many personal picks could a DJ make in an hour or shift compared to the current state of radio? I welcome anyone's and everyone's constructive input. Sincerely, James (1/5/10) Dave, There's a heated battle brewing between store-level employees of Borders Books and the corporate office. Borders, which operates several stores in the DC/Baltimore area, sent out a 33% off email coupon to all Borders Rewards members this morning. Coincidentally, this matches the employee discount. The timing is merely 24 hours after employees posted harassing emails from a Vice President of the company on a Live Journal message board. These emails berated employees for not forcing customers to purchase enough "Make Books". The term, "make book" refers to CEO, Ron Marshall's very controversial goal to force each bookseller to handsell a specific book to customers. By leveraging the 1,000 or so stores Borders currently has, this enables the company to force any title on to the NYT's Bestseller list. Sound familiar? Perhaps, just a little like Clear Channel and Payola? Below, I have posted the links to the emails posted on the message board and the YouTube videos mocking the "Make Book" strategy... livejournal.com www.youtube.com www.youtube.com www.youtube.com www.youtube.com (1/5/10) /\ January 5 Messages /\ \/ January 4 Messages \/ "I've gone back and forth between DC's two sports talkers for a while now, trying to decide which one is better, and I can't decide. Because they're both so horrible. I mean, is it really possible that the best available sports on-airs in the region include John Thompson, Brian Mitchell, Mike Wise and Rick Walker? Walker is particularly awful" - Very rough treatment of Doc Walker. He is a much more entertaining radio show host than the other three and he's much more knowledgeable on the Redskins than most in the format. As far as both stations being horrible, that is not entirely true. Mike and Mike, Wise, Arrington, Thompson might be horrible but the Junkies, Czaban, Dukes, Sheehan, and Walker are very good. I travel plenty and listen to lots of sports radio and that group would hold up well in most markets. Too much Redskins year round can get boring but that's what they are good at and that's what most people want to hear. (1/4/10) Nice to see a post by "Kris Marlow"! As we say it here in the 'Wide Open West'... "Where's Jay, Pardner?" (1/4/10) And speaking of celebrity voiceovers -- Actor Morgan Freeman is now doing the open for the CBS Evening News with Katie Couric, replacing the late Walter Cronkite. www.cbsnews.com (1/4/10) Hey Dave and friends on the Mailbag, let me take this opportunity to wish you a Happy and prosperous 2010. I too am deeply saddened by the demise of WAMD. I had the opportunity to work and learn from so many talented broadcasters like Johnny Contino, JB Brown, Bob Mathers, Steve Mann, Joe Evelius, Lee Dennis and the list goes on. Although I didn't have the pleasure of working with them at the time, Brenda Bissett, Libby Cole, Dave Hovell, Ed Rodriguez, Bob Callahan were just a few of the great veterans whose voices at one time graced the little station on Hiob Lane in Aberdeen. A dream came true when Bob Mathers told me that I would be working with the legendary Buddy Deane. I cherished those times. The experience and confidence that I gained at WAMD was invaluable. Thank you Captain Jim for hiring a scared 28 year old with very little experience. I owe you so much. I echo my friend and colleague Gary Helton's feelings about the loss of yet another outlet that provided so much service to the local community. For the most part, the conglomerates care very little about localism and sadly I knew when Salem Communications was the company that purchased the station, the demise was inevitable. I also agree with the Unsigned Corporate Suit that the FCC is part of the blame. I understand about the economy and that many difficult decisions have to be made, but it seems that serving the local community is no longer the main focus. Enough said on a painful discussion. Hey Rusty Gibson. Nice to see you here. Blessings to all. "Sister" Joyce Conroy (WHFC) (1/4/10) Mark McGarry: Well said! Thought you'd like to see an ad he had in the 1963 AFTRA directory. Please tell your dad I said "hi". -skip mccloskey (www.98wrc.com) (1/4/10) I wanna be a fly on wall for dinner between WMAL Jack Kauffman, ESPN 980 Al Goldi and Kevin Sheehan and WTOP Neal Augenstein and throw Patricia Guadalupe for good measure. Was watching channel 66.1 Ion over the air and saw this commercial starring Megan Mullally(?) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Bo5DhUxtTw&feature=related Who says there ain't no creativity in advertising no more. Yuck! And eff blackberry for using the Beatles song in there commercial. And eff the remaining beatles for that circuit de sloleil thing in vegas baby (1/4/09) try to watch a movie on amc commerical break every ten minutes Want to kill your football coaching legacy? coach the redskins Joe Gibbs Steve Spurrior ect ect (1/4/09) Dave's response: There are some cable channels, a la Universal HD, that actually run mini-infomercials during some of their commercial breaks. There are 10 to 15 minute ad programs for one product. It's like an ad that just keeps going and going. When I discover one, I make it a point to adandon the program/movie I'm watching and make it another point not to come back to that network for a long time. Are you listening, Universal HD? On the pending demise of WAMD, someone suggested it was acceptable--the equivalent of "thinning the herd." With all due respect, I disagree. The very expression suggests something unnatural. In business, you thin the herd through competition. And with regard to the AM interference issue, one would think that as radio begins its tenth decade, there would be a technological answer for that. AM's best days may be in the past, but that doesn't mean it has no place or role. It is not obsolete. To suggest otherwise is analagous to proposing elimination of the Post Office since most people today use email. One final note, I wasn't given the exact reason why WAMD is going dark this coming weekend; however, it seems reasonable to suggest it's due to a sale of the transmitter property or the rumored upgrade of Salem's 970 in NJ. In either case, the rich get richer, and the community gets poorer. Kind of makes you wonder why we continue to churn out all these Mass Comm majors for an imploding industry. Gary Helton, WHFC-FM, Bel Air. (1/4/10) From what sources are saying, Fox “blinked” (and “compromised in the public interest”) when presented with the “potential outcomes”, had it gone ahead and pulled its broadcast and related cable signals (But not Fox News.) from the Time-Warner cable systems on 1/1. Apparently the executive at Fox who was responsible for the “$1.00 per month/per customer” demand as being necessary because “good programming is expensive” was presented with a set of “probable legislative and regulatory consequences” as Congress would likely have taken a “highly unsympathetic view” of Fox pulling the "free on public airwaves" broadcast signals “especially at this time” (football playoffs, bowl games, etc.), and that a “largely hostile” (to Fox) Congress would take steps to “punish” Fox both directly and indirectly. Among the actions Congress was apparently considering: An immediate ban on multi-channel or “tying” contracts, especially where carriage of a broadcast channel is involved. This is usually where in order to carry cable networks “A”, “C”, and “L”, the owner of these networks can require a CATV system or Satellite company to carry co-owned network “E” as a part of the compensation. And, if the owner of these cable networks also owns a broadcast TV station in that CATV’s or Satcaster’s service area, current law allows contracted carriage of co-owned cable networks to be “lawful compensation” for contracted carriage of the broadcast signal; A ban on the cross-subsidization of cable networks by an owner, with the FCC having oversight of the books to ensure compliance; A requirement of per-channel “a la carte” imposed on CATV and satellite where programmers would charge the CATV’s and Satcasters for each channel, with the CATV and Satellite customers having to tell their providers which channels they wanted and were willing to pay for. The interesting part here was the debate over whether viewers could add or drop channels as they wished, had “contracts” locking-in the channels for a given time (perhaps with discounts/perhaps without discounts) with the ability to add, but not drop channels during the life of the contract, or what (if anything) the CATV or Satcaster could charge for adding or dropping channels during the contract; A ban on the cross-ownership of cable networks by a broadcaster. This would’ve been the “silver bullet” aimed at the “heart and soul” of the Newscorp empire in the U.S., Fox News. However, it would’ve also broken-up Disney/ABC, Viacom, and would’ve probably brought an immediate end to the pending Comcast/NBCU deal; A ban on any compensation of a broadcaster by a CATV or satellite operator for carriage within that broadcaster’s SMSA, ADI, etc. In other words, these were designed to punish (if not perhaps mortally wound) Fox directly and to ostracize them by both the broadcast and cable industries. –Unsigned Corporate Suit (1/4/10) Dave - Question. Did I miss any news or information on services (public or private) for George Michael? Thanks. (1/4/10) Dave's response: We received no notice, so I assume that his family wanted the services private..... Dave, maybe it's just me but I think that 105.9 The Dunce(it really is not "The Edge") reminds me of how The Arrow was just before they signed off to be The Globe. Only thing missing is the Areosmith songs from the late 90's which were called "classic rock" back circa 2005 or so on what was WARW. Given that Citadel is in bankruptcy filing status......The Dunce might be off the air soon or headed for a major revamp at least in my view. Especially with no morning drive show. As for the sports radio debate......neither station is superior to the other. Tony does a great job late mornings.....other than that, Danny Boy really needs real help at his station. CBS Radio doesn't have a clue what they are doing with what was the great WJFK(Back when Stern ruled mornings and Don and Mike actually were at their peak). All it is really is shots at the Redskins(Who should not be taken seriously until further notice) and their lousy network of stations that can't be heard after night falls unless you are in the direct pattern of a signal. Both stations frankly suck worse than the nutcases on all versions of talk radio(both right and left wing). Dan (1/4/10) Why did WJFK have to rebroadcast the feed from the Bruce Allen press conference from channel 5? They had Chris Russell (who is horrid BTW) there. Is Snyder so Hitlerian that heonly alloows his own radio station to broadcast press conference? Any repercussions to channel 5 for letting WJFK have their feed? (1/4/10) 980 AM is such a joke! You would think that this radio stationed OWNED by Dan 'boy' Snyder would have had a staffer out at Redskins Park overnight and into the morning drive segment this morning. NOT! You would think such a station would report that "Zorn has been fired" instead of "it's reported" that Zorn is fired. Apparently Ch. 4 had it on and that's what 980 AM was reporting, a report of the firing. Why wasn't 980 AM on scene and report on its own? Why? Because 980 AM is a child's station. No creativity. No challenging decisions are made. Seems that NO decisions are made. A radio signal that could inform and educate is a terrible thing to waste. And as for Dick Clark, anyone who cannot see what he is doing should open their eyes. He is showing that people with problems can still work, succeed, and be useful. You don't just throw someone to the scrap yard because YOU think they aren't useful. Dick Clark should be applauded and awarded for his tremendous efforts to keep doing what he does best. Rock On, Dick Clark! (1/4/10) Don't know if it's true of all of the "Clear Channel" stations in the area..but seems like some of them aren't doing a good job with their audio streams! I've tried to listen to Froggy 99 (WWFG)'s stream..and it is much..much too loud! Sure..you can "turn the audio down (and this isn't the easiest thing to do for someone who relies on a screen reader to let you know what's on that screen)..but it's so loud that the audio is distorted! Wish I knew who to complain to about this? Dave..thanks for letting me vent about it here! Tom in Denton, MD. (1/4/10) Johnny Dark, first allow me to say that I enjoyed your work for so many years during your time at WBIG. I actually spoke to you briefly a couple of times during your request shows. It was pretty uplifting for me to speak to a great DC radio voice, and you are one of the few who inspired me to get into the industry. Question for you...What is your personal feeling in regards to cable access type radio stations and stations who primarily broadcast to an audience of Internet listeners? Thanks again! -John Collings - The Other Guys Show - WEBR (1/4/10) I've gone back and forth between DC's two sports talkers for a while now, trying to decide which one is better, and I can't decide. Because they're both so horrible. I mean, is it really possible that the best available sports on-airs in the region include John Thompson, Brian Mitchell, Mike Wise and Rick Walker? Walker is particularly awful: if he's on the air before noon it is invariably by telephone and he sounds groggy and half asleep; during the afternoon he talks with his mouth full. C'mon, ya fat tub, put that sandwich down for a few minutes and try to sound intelligent. How can anybody eat into a mic for so many hours a day?!? I was glad to see 106.7FM come along to give 94.3FM a run for their money, but the newer station seems to have run out of ideas. Every time I turn WJFK on, they're doing nothing but talking about WWXX. And since neither one of them have displayed any knowledge of anything other than the lousy Redskins, why should I bother to listen to either one again until September? Last thing: as long as the Redskins are claiming to clean house, is there any hope that Larry Michaels will be shown the door? I'm sure there are a few used car lots looking for men of his caliber. (1/4/10) So the Washington Post revamped its Sunday magazine recently to feature lighter, more upbeat stories. So what was the issue of 1/3/10 about? Death. How uplifting. mizburd (1/4/10) Dave, NBC has announced that a couple of former Redskins greats will be part of their broadcast team for next Saturday's Jets-Bengals telecast. Former coach Joe Gibbs and QB Joe Theismann will be in the booth with Tom Hammonds calling the game. More details --- washingtonexaminer.com. Cheers, Jim (1/4/10) Hey, Unsigned Corporate Suit….I see they are now coming after you. Such evil people. Nothing to do but post their “bitchiness”, SERIOUSLY DUDE)-LOL!!! Mark McGarry, you are one great son. God Bless you! Your dad was one of my mentors. When we worked together on PBS fund raisers I think we laughed more than worked. He’s an absolute gentleman. Let’s all hope for a better 2010 for the industry. Johnny D, I totally agree with you. PLB (1/4/10) Absolutely loving Eun Yang on the morning news with Joe Krebs. The energy level and pace have improved substantially, and they actually have good rapport and chemistry. First good recent move by WRC to take Barbara off the anchor desk. Now, what do we need to do to get Craig Melvin off? (1/4/10) (“Dave's response: The channel just keeps getting worser and worser. And to make matters worse, my Comcast system carries it THREE times - analog SD, digital SD, and digital HD. What a waste of bandwidth. I tried and tried, but I just never liked "Mad Men".....”) Worser the first time makes my spell check go nuts: the second usage makes it melt down. Madmen is an acquired taste indeed. If you (Dave, it’s NOT you) lived anywhere near the 60’s, then you GET Madmen. If not, it’s like a cheap BRAVO show. Madmen works because they adhered to stick to 60’s mentality. The other reason to watch Madmen is January Jones (eat a mile of her shit to find out where it came): but Dave would not appreciate her, either given his proclivity. www.gq.com (1/4/10) Dave's response: "Hamm" is pretty tasty meat. Look, I love the 1960s as much as anyone, but "Mad Men" is slow paced and the acting is soooo wooden. I watched last season's finale. It was OK. Looking forward to the premiere of "Big Love" on Sunday. Now, that's a fucking cool show. Plus, no AMC ad/promo clutter..... Hey Dave, I saw your wish list about WPGC "CBS needs to turn it into urban hit oriented Amp 95.5 and go head-to-head with Clear Channel's top-rated Hot 99.5." I was on their site this morning and they have an AD up from 97.1 AMP radio in Cali about Commerical Free Mondays. Does this mean they are considering changing their format a little bit? Plus I usually listen to Donnie Simpson and he hasn't been on in awhile he is always "off" or "on vacation". Looks like your wish might come true sometime this year... Happy New Year! TS (1/4/10) (Limbaugh says that the docs found nothing wrong with him.) Hmmm - maybe they should have gotten a consult with a shrink... (1/4/10) I pay for limited basic cable service, but pick up lots of stations - some which appear to be HD- through the QAM tuner in my new set. (I'm not really sure what a QAM tuner is, but it gets me all these stations.) Does anyone know if there is a way to record any of the stations with their strange decimal numbers that I can now pick up? My old VCR won't do it. Thanks in advance. (1/4/10) Like the latest unsigned poster, I too lament the loss of WAMD and my name is not on the long list of professionals who spent time there. Recently, Steve Dreppard commented on WTTR in Westminster and its founding as a "community station." Steve laid the groundwork and the late Dwight Dingle did a masterful job at keeping it just that. Local news. Local sports. Community involvement. Forget the ratings, the station had a lot of loyal listeners. Just stop by any event at the AG Center and ask the locals where they heard about it. Until this latest storm, they knew where to turn to get their postponements and cancellations. A number of times, I almost called Dwight to ask him if I could be involved in what he was doing in Carroll County. With today's economic situation, I never made the call. Actually, I could have just walked down the street as he was a neighbor of mine. Those of us that have loved this industry are saddened by what it has become. When WAMD goes dark, another AM voice will be silenced. How sad!.....Johnny Dark (1/4/10) Before its demise, Tower Records did a straa-aange cross-promotion with John Kricfalusi - the creator of Ren & Stimpy. See George Liquor do his thing here: www.youtube.com (1/4/10) Maybe Brit Hume would be happy if Tiger Woods would follow the example of that Buddhist monk in Vietnam, back in 1963. (1/4/10) Dave's response: Sorry, but I ain't running that infamous pic of that gasoline covered monk burning himself to death..... Another complaint about AMC - American Movies Classics now runs infomercials 6AM-9AM. amctv.com (1/4/09) Dave's response: The channel just keeps getting worser and worser. And to make matters worse, my Comcast system carries it THREE times - analog SD, digital SD, and digital HD. What a waste of bandwidth. I tried and tried, but I just never liked "Mad Men"..... (RE the local radio wishlist at the Rant page:) "Likewise, Winchester's WINC-FM, 92.5, covers all of Northern Virginia great, including the DC suburbs. How about a "Northern Virginia Talk" format on the signal..." Now that's a good one. They could also carry Nats and Caps games........... (1/4/10) I wish I thought of grabbing a screen-cap early this morning of Channel 4's in-the-field coverage of Jim Zorn's firing. The electric sign over the door at Redskin's HQ was partially blown out, leaving only the "H" of "Washington" visible, along with the word "Redskins". Perfect ironic statement summed up in one image: all that money rolling around behind the scenes, and nobody is taking care of the basics. (1/4/10) Dave's response: That's why I love having a DVR. If you see something on "live" TV you can always rewind, pause, and "snap" it. I often now find myself wanting to rewind live TV when I'm watching on the bedroom TV, which just has a plain old digital cable box with no rewind function..... I want to thank DAVE of DCRTV for the extremely smooth, reasonably priced and professionally executed advertising experience on DCRTV. In less than 30 minutes Dave and I scheduled my ad, placed it on the site, designed the ad and transacted the purchase. If all media were that easy to deal with, advertisers would be more apt to spend dollars. Thanks Dave, and all who visit www.TommyGriffiths.com. BTW- if you notice any glitches, typos, techical issues or PORN on my site, let me know about the porn. Tommy Griffiths, Available Morning Radio Host (1/4/10) Re: NBC25's 40th anniversary. Folks who can't get NBC25 don't know what they are missing. News Director Mark Kraham runs an amazing shop, considering the size of the market. Former NBC25'ers like Amber Rupinta have jumped from tiny H'town straight to major markets like Philadelphia. Congraulations to Mark and all the folks at NBC 25 on your 40th anniversary! Al McGilvray (1/4/10) Dave's response: Verizon's FIOS carries Channel 25/WHAG in Fairfax County, but not Comcast or Cox..... While I was watching the Kennedy Center Honors on CBS last week, I just couldn't put a name to the voice of the announcer for the show, Carl Kasell. This also happens sometimes when I'm watching a commercial on TV. I know that I know the voice, but I just can't place it. Here's a link to a short video featuring 10 commercials with celebrity voiceovers. How many can you name? (I got four out of ten) brightcove.com (1/4/10) Are two well known upstanding citizens still walking around free today? It's only a misdemeanor in the District, but someone with a bizzadge should grow a pizzair, make a fizzist, and introduce those fine gentlemen to the system. Where is the Mizzayor? Basketball freaks running around town, messin' with ma property values. There's a great chance this will affect the flow of suburban pelt into the city. I know there are a large number of police officers assigned to hang out in threesomes and foursomes _inside_ restaurants near the Verizon Center. Apparently it's fine with DC Police Chief Cathy (milf) Lanier if a couple of fine gentlemen go buck wild on each other _inside_ the Verizon Center, a very safe venue, right --- ThePenIsMightier (1/4/10) /\ January 4 Messages /\ \/ January 3 Messages \/ Today on "Fox News Sunday," FNC's Brit Hume said he didn't think Tiger Woods' Buddhist faith offered "the kind of forgiveness and redemption that is offered by the Christian faith," and suggested Woods convert to Christianity. (1/3/10) Deleted clip of "Captain 20" going to Disney World on Auto Train (from 1976), includes rare footage - from EVERY OTHER DAY IS HALLOWEEN - the documentary on the career and impact of Dick Dyszel ("Bozo," "Count Gore De Vol" and "Captain 20") - www.facebook.com (1/3/09) Worst - Unsigned Corporate Suit who's vocabulary does not contain the word brevity or ponderous. Seriously dude. (1/3/10) “Who is running things at MSNBC? Anyone? For two consecutive nights they have played the same reruns of "Lockup". Not just reruns. But the SAME reruns. And they consider themselves a legitimate news channel?” Well, it has seemed for the longest time (at least since Olberman’s return) that the inmates are running the asylum at PMSNBC:. Maybe Matthews, Olberman, Sgt. Shultz and his brother Maddow are finally where they belong: in “Lockup” at St. E’s. (1/3/10) Dave - I've been away for a while but remember a few weeks ago you wondering about Buddy Rizer's AM 1520 in Brunswick. According to today's (1/3/10) Frederick Post, looks like WTHU AM 1450 will be broadcasting on AM 1520 too. Quoting the article, "The Thurmont station has acquired another signal out of Brunswick that will allow broadcasting into the Washington/Baltimore areas..." This may be old news but, like I said, I've been away a while. Tom in Frederick (1/3/10) Dave's response: We did report that last week. WTHU is flipping from Christian talk to news talk..... Dave, hope this doesn't get you in trouble with the NFL lawyers but I was trying to find the Dallas game radio broadcast online and found this site: www.freefootballradio.com. Even though I can't watch the Cowboys game, I can listen to it. :) (1/3/10) Today was last day of Eun Yang anchoring the morning weekend news..I thought I heard Chuck Bell say she'd be starting the weekday a.m. shift tomorrow. (1/3/10) Dave's response: Yeah, we had a Front Page blurb up a few days ago saying that she'll be replacing Babs Harrison in the 5 AM to 7 AM news block on Comcast4, er, is it still called NBC4?..... RE: Mark, don't waste your time engaging the brainless blog/message board idiots. Your dad is a legend and has done more for this area than those yodeling morons will ever do. Tell your dad Happy New Year and we look forward to seeing him on again soon! (1/3/10) The latest article I saw on TMZ regarding Artie Lange was that he was admitted to a hospital for undisclosed reasons..No mention of suicide.. (1/3/10) Hey Bob Mathers....I remember that remote at Mars Supermarket---I was on the air at the time and I was the one that did the dirty deed of switching to Night pattern at 1pm! I remember when I was the Ops at WAMD, we were "stuck" in night pattern. For an entire week, we received countless calls from Baltimore and as far south as Waldorf...people that were enjoying the "New oldies station." As for the person blasting the little ams.....PEOPLE DID listen to WAMD. As I recall, the station got a little nod in the Baltimore arbs...for the first time in DECADES. They stopped listening when First Broadcasting and Salem took over and eliminated all local aspects. Stations that are local and are marketed as local do get people to listen. Whoa, what a concept. But, stations that just relay a dish signal get no one to tune in. It's stations like WAMD that are the true spirit of our industry. Corporations have taken the life out of it! Loads of people got their start there, including myself. I spent countless hours while in high school spinning songs that were hits 30 years before I was born. Also, plenty of pros got to play and be creative at WAMD, including Joyce Conroy, JB Brown, Bob Mathers, Joe Evelius, Buddy Dean and countless others. WAMD going dark is like loosing an old friend from high school. I still have those jingles embedded in my mind "Here's another golden memory...AM 97 WAMD." (1/3/10) Is Fox 45 in Baltimore airing the S.D./Wash late NFL game instead of the Dall/Phil game by choice? Or is there some NFL rule that dictates them to do so? If it's the former, it's a very bad choice... (1/3/10) Well said, Mark McGarry.....looking forward to seeing ole Mac back for #50!!!!!!!!!! (1/3/10) TMZ is reporting that Stern sidekick, Artie Lange, is in the hospital after attempting suicide. Paul (1/3/10) (So far I know that It has only been a couple of months but the ratings seem to be not much better now than when It was classic rock.) Do you think that ratings just "appear" overnight?? Geez. (1/3/10) To Mark McGarry....your father obviously knows how to raise a good son too. I don't know you,but I'm proud of the way you stick up for your dad.... KJ, Laurel MD (1/3/10) 40 Years Ago On This Date: January 3rd, 1970: WHAG-TV (NBC 25) begins broadcasting. Here's a link to the station's history: yourtstate.com (1/3/10) Just saw a commercial with Channel 9 WUSA’s Anita Brinkman about eating healthy. That should also include keeping the food in your stomach after eating! She must be 95 pounds. Please bring back the beautiful and healthy Jennifer Ryan, being last in ratings sure can’t be “healthy”! (1/3/10) budget cuts at wtop... see photo. i'm joking about the budget cuts by the way. all new hires must have opposable thumbs. otherwise they run too loose a board. (1/3/10) where are the voice track DJ`s for Z1043 in Baltimore? So far I know that It has only been a couple of months but the ratings seem to be not much better now than when It was classic rock. They should have kept It as Charm1043 or went urban hip-hop. WKYS hope`s that CBS flips WPGC to urban/pop it would be a good move for them and for WPGC. (1/3/10) RE: IT'S ACADEMIC To the poster who feels that my father is "too long in the tooth" I'm flattered to see him compared to a national legend such as Dick Clark.He would be flattered to. I agree that it's tough to see Dick Clark after all of his health issue's take the stage even if it's only briefly to continue on in his Iconic role. My Father continues to do IT'S ACADEMIC for a number of reasons. Mainly to stay mentally sharp and keep going and doing what he loves to do. My Father survived a bout with Colon Cancer and some of the best advice he got was from doctors who told him to keep working. It takes a bold man to stare into the face of any major health scare and come out swinging. That’s how I see my father. To T.V. viewers he's the host of a local quiz show for the past 49 years.. He's also in the Guiness book of world records because of his job. To me he's like anyone elses father and any son except maybe you would be proud of their father no matter what his job title. I'm proud to be his son and defend him here in the mailbag if that’s what it takes. To the unsigned poster I don't give a shit what you think about my father. If you're in this industry you have the right to express your views/opinions certainly here in the mailbag. So when the time comes in your professional career in whatever job it is that you do remember there will come a day when someone like yourself thinks you are no longer qualified to continue doing whatever it is you do.. MARK McGARRY/Bethesda (1/3/10) James, you make excellent points about McGarry and Clark. Your explaination actually makes me think of someone a poster referenced here a week or so ago, Dick Enberg. He makes several mistakes during NFL games. Do you feel he should bow out at this point? Or should CBS step in and use him in a role much like FOX uses Pat Summerall, another legendary sportscaster who is no longer at the top of his game? - John Collings - The Other Guys Show - WEBR (1/3/10) For the record, I trust Mr. Bicknell's words about as far as I can throw The Washington Times sports section. Sincerely, James (1/3/10) James, in hope of not getting into any type of disagreement with you. I have posted nothing referring to anyone but Dick Clark and Mac McGarry and Rusty. Watch on, there will be no comments on anything else but broadcasting, programming, and the media in general. I hope you will reconsider your accusations. You may be confusing others that don't sign of being me. I'm not bitter, I'm certainly not paranoid and I do love this industry. PLB (1/3/10) Dave, what's with the "you are the 10,000th visitor" message that I keep getting when I open your home page?..Is that a new advertiser or has my PC been hacked?..Must admit that I'm not the most computer literate when it comes to things like that. (1/3/10) Dave's response: It ain't me, babe. You might want to run a virus/spam scan on your system. We don't do pop-ups/overs/unders here..... WORST - Unsigned Corporate Suit for obviously not listening to most of the stations that he has called "best" or "worst". (1/3/10) Worst: Unsigned Corporate Suit for his long, rambling editorializing BW post (1/3/10) My New Years resolution is to ignore all DCRTV posts with the words "PLB", "Collings", or "WEBBER" in them since I have no clue who or what any of them are, nor do I give a rats ass and I assume they will all ultimately disappear from this earth in complete obscurity despite all the humorless annoying cock wagging that everyone suffered through in 2009. Here's hoping my resolution catches on and these people take their arguments to the assisted living facility lounge in '10. Happy 2010 everyone! :-) (1/3/10) Who is running things at MSNBC? Anyone? For two consecutive nights they have played the same reruns of "Lockup". Not just reruns. But the SAME reruns. And they consider themselves a legitimate news channel? (1/3/10) “don't wish death on Rush either, but I do wish him an epiphany. Maybe a close brush with death will make him realize that there's nothing wrong with helping people and spending taxpayer money to do so is not evil” Very magnanimous of you to be so generous with everyone else’s money. (1/3/10) Kim Martucci, Jennifer Ryan, Sarah Lee, Alisa Parenti and Andrea McCarren: Thank you very much for your service over the past several years. I miss all of you and wish you luck in the future. HLD in Fairfax (1/3/10) Okay, I'll bite the penis's bait: What means "wookin fa pelt?" -Chainsman (1/3/10) - LISTENING TO THE FAN 106.7 LAST NIGHT AND TONIGHT - A SYNDICATED SHOW CAUGHT MY EAR - THE LEAD GUY IS JACOBS??? A NEW YORK JETS FAN - VERY ENTERTAINING/ FUNNY/ AND SARCASTIC-- HE SOUNDS LIKE A FAN.... - WE NEED SOMEONE LIKE THAT IN THIS AREA - --- - HE WAS TALKING ABOUT GILBERT ARENAS - THE SHOW STARTED CALLING THE WIZARDS BY THEIR OLD NAME... - THE BULLETS......... NOW THAT’S FUNNY - -- - YES STROKE IS BAD-- YES ITS COURAGEOUS --AND YES IT BRINGS IN THE VIEWERS-- - REALLY WHO WANTS TO WATCH RYAN S. TRYING TO ACT STRAIGHT WHILE STANDING NEXT TO MARIA... - WITH ALL THE JOBS HE HAS HE MIGHT HAVE A STOKE HIMSELF -- - I CAN STILL REMEMBER THE 1ST TIME A SAW DICKS POST STROKE COUNT DOWN - “10,9,8,7, OCTOBER, 3, , 1 .....” NOW THAT’S FUNNY AND PRETTY ACCURATE TOO -GET THE TAPE- - --- - REMEMBER WE ALL WATCHED WHEN GRANDMA WALTON CAME BACK - WE ALL WATCHED WHEN FLOYD THE BARBER CAME BACK - AMERICA LOVES THE FREAK SHOW - G-FORCE OUT..... (1/3/10) Weighing in on the Dick Clark and Mac McGarry issue, I have to say that so long as these icons can still do their job, the job remains their's. The only reason I watch ABC when it comes to New Year's is the tradition of seeing Dick Clark. True, it is difficult to watch him struggle with the effects of his stroke, but you can see that his brain is still working fine. His wit is betrayed by his body. He was able to get some good cuts in on Ryan Seacrest. He even laughed at himself when he screwed up on the countdown. If his brain also started to betray him, THEN maybe it's time to step down. Years ago, I was on a show similiar to It's Academic in the the Richmond area called The Battle of the Brains. The host was a local legend called Frank Soden. By then, though, he was horrible. He would make numerous mistakes during a taping which is difficult to tolerate when you are talking about a quiz show on academics. If Mr. McGarry can still execute his job, his age is no issue. Off subject, I've noticed that in the past, Mr. Bicknell has accused Mr. Collings of being "obsessed" and "PARANOID" with Mr. Bicknell. Yet, Mr. Bicknell has routinely accused others on his Mailbag of being Mr. Collings when they have dared to criticize him when they weren't Mr. Collings. Several people in Mr. Bicknell's Mailbag had hoped that the New Year would bring the end of the bickering between the two combatants. I haven't seen a single post in 2010 from Mr. Collings, yet Mr. Bicknell has made two allusions to him in this short year. Yes, Mr. Collings, it is you who are obsessed and paranoid. And, sorry loyal Mailbaggers, your wishes for this year have been denied by Mr. Bicknell. Instead, just in time for Eastern Orthodox Christmas the almighty overlord of this Mailbag shares with us a stocking full of bitterness. Savor it people. It is sent with love. You have to wonder if Mr. Bicknell's ego sleeps next to him or if it has a separate room. Perhaps we will be treated to what Mr. Bicknell had for Sunday Brunch. Sincerely, James (1/3/10) (regarding a previous post) "Look what mess Medicare/Medicaid & Social Security are. ... This is not about helping people. It’s about control and making voters even more dependent on one political party." As someone who is disabled and who receives Social Security benefits to live and Medicare/Medicaid for my healthcare needs, I must take exception to this person's post. When I became disabled, a Republican was president. In the years since, there have been both Democrat and Republican presidents, and the majorities in the House and Senate, have shifted back and forth between political parties. So, the poster is obviously full of shit, regarding the claim that these programs make voters dependent on a particular political party. As for the assertion that these programs are not about "helping people," again, I must call bullshit. I worked (sometimes, two and three jobs at a time) - and paid into the Social Security system - from age 18, until I became disabled, at age 37. I did so, with the understanding that at retirement age, there would be an additional source of income for me that, in combination with any other pension or IRA/401K plan I had, could be relied upon to live in my "golden years". Or, if I became disabled before retirement age, I would have a basic income and healthcare. Based on my personal experience with Social Security and Medicare/Medicaid for the past 18 years, I can assure you that they do work and are a blessing to seniors and disabled people. People like the poster and his hero, Limbaugh, are hateful fear mongers, whose false notions should challenged. Thank you, Dave, for giving me the space to do so. (1/3/10) /\ January 3 Messages /\ \/ January 2 Messages \/ "Dave's response: I heard that Rush had some sort of heart artery spasm that caused the pain." What's your source on that, and why wasn't it reported on the main page? "You know, like maybe realizing that Democrats are human beings, too, and deserving of his love and admiration even though he disagrees with them. Hmmm....." Would that include racists like E.J. Dionne and Courtland Milloy? Would it include Strom Thurmond, a Dem on the wrong side in the era of the Civil Rights Acts, or Blago, or Robert "Sheets" Byrd who told an interviewer in 1997 "Be sure you avoid the Ku Klux Klan. Don't get that albatross around your neck. Once you've made that mistake, you inhibit your operations in the political arena." The challenge at this point would be to name an equivalent number of living Repubs for whom you have love and admiration. On the bright side, Patrice Sikora of Wall Street Journal Radio just has the most pleasant voice and the nicest wit when she checks in to the Grandy and Andy Morning Show at 50 minutes past the hour that it's almost a pleasure to wake up after an evening of wookin fa pelt. C-Span radio also continues to rock. On Washington Journal (the call-in show) it's always easy to tell the dumbasses. They're the ones who start out by saying "don't cut me off." It's really easy to get through but don't waste my time by talking about Ron Paul. I like him but that's been done to death. I am calling for a two week barrage of mentions or questions about Mike O'Meara's taint. They don't have a delay, but be nice and don't use profanities or racial slurs. You don't have to work blue. --- ThePenIsMightier (1/2/10) “there's nothing wrong with helping people and spending taxpayer money to do so is not evil” Who could possibly be against helping people? Seesh! It’s just not the government’s role to provide for everyone! Evil is government shoving something down the throats of its citizens that a majority do not want. It’s the tentacles of government expanding further and having even greater control over the daily lives of a free society. You guys have no idea what is going to be unleashed on us if government run health care sees the light of day. Look what mess Medicare/Medicaid & Social Security are. Look at all the false promises made when those programs were being sold. This is not about helping people. It’s about control and making voters even more dependent on one political party. Rush is right to articulate the argument against a federal government out of control. Thank God he'll be around to carry on the fight. (1/2/10) Regarding “Mac” McGarry and “It’s Academic”… I’ll echo my younger contemporary Paul, and have to say that as long as “Mac” is able to do the show, he should be allowed to do it as long as there’s a sponsor for it. “Mac” is enough of a pro to know when it’s “time to hang it up”. As for Dick Clark, again, if he wants to do New Years Eve, and ABC wants him, let him do it. For all we know, he might be doing therapy for the rest of the year for just those few minutes. As my grandfather was finally able to say after he recovered from the stroke he had five years before his death, “A stroke is the jailer who imprisons your intellect inside your body, and has melted-down the keys. Don’t let the bastard win.” -Unsigned Corporate Suit (1/2/10) From a previous post ".....And as far as Dick Clark is concerned, KUDOS again. It takes a tremendous amount of strength and integrity to place yourself in front of millions when you've been damaged by a stroke. His network should also be applauded...", I agree and also by still doing New Years Rockin' Eve, Dick Clark is also erasing the negative image he was getting in the years prior to his stroke some of which of course is indirectly to the man himself but it did involve his name. Between some of his employees speaking out against the low wages they were getting at Dick Clark Productions, the questionable decision making behind Dick Clark's American Bandstand Grill such as turning down DC and Baltimore for a location in favor of such "more popular " places as Salt Lake City and Indianapolis. Then there was Dick Clark's appearance in Michael Moore's Bowling For Columbine which upset many, then there were some of the old dancers from American Bandstand going on various radio shows like Mike Walker and the late Tom Synder's program by claiming that Clark treated them like garbage and the claims by many who got busted by uploading American Bandstand clips on You Tube only to get a personal private nasty message from Dick Clark Productions saying such things as "..we want money from you now since you have stolen from us or else we will SUE !!', the latter Dick Clark Productions has since denied sending out such emails and of course you still have those who will always link Dick Clark to the payola scandals of the 50's, how he got a slap on the wrist while others like Alan Freed saw their lives not too mention careers ruined however by continuing to do Rockin' Eve after his stroke, even Clark's long time foes are now showing respect for the man and thats a good thing. (1/2/10) The guy who just posted a Best/Worst is obviously such a douche his mindless rants barely merit a reply. But the Washington Post op-ed page features a wide array of opinions, including arch conservatives George Will and Charles Krauthammer (both of whom are syndicated BY the Washington Post, something your poster is too much of an ignoramus to realize) in addition to the late Bob Novak, Michael Gerson and Henry Kissinger, for heaven's sake. In addition, the paper has endorsed many Republicans over the years, including Tom Davis, Connie Morella, Carol Schwartz, Frank Wolf, Howard Denis and countless others. Tell Mr. Hate he needs to come out of the closet. Life will go on. (1/2/10) Stephen, ignore the ass-hole. Move on. From all true WEBBERS, not "webbers", All of us! (1/2/10) Every time someone puts up old clips from local TV stations, the first thing that comes to my mind is, why has no one ever put up a clip from former WBAL TV sportscaster, the late Chris Thomas? WBAL must have dozens of hysterically funny clips of him, like the time he thought he won LOTTO and walked off the set only to have to be dragged back to the set to do a completely joke-filled sportscast like he didn't have a care in the world (he didn't actually win, but he thought he won). Or the times he dragged the BIG BOB doll around town bar hopping and drinking to excess & puking in the harbor, or the bowling segment. Chris Thomas was as funny and maybe even crazier than the late Glenn Brenner, yet I've never seen any clips of him on Youtube or any other place. I know WBAL TV did a farewell tribute to him when he went to Tampa and I believe re-ran part of it on his passing. Does anybody know of any clips available online? (1/2/10) I don't wish death on Rush either, but I do wish him an epiphany. Maybe a close brush with death will make him realize that there's nothing wrong with helping people and spending taxpayer money to do so is not evil, that bigotry is bad, that torture is always wrong. Happy New Year, Mr. Limbaugh, and I hope you find Zuzu's petals! (1/2/10) (As reported by Skip McCloskey from Anita Winters.) While we're reflecting on the last year, here's a passing that may have been missed... Bob Porter, better known to DC boomers as WRC-TV 4's "Cousin Cupcake", died peacefully, on August 24, 2009 after a battle with cancer. He lived with his daughter in Durham, NC for four months while in the care of The Duke University Medical Center. Born March 2, 1929, he was the only son of Mary Irene Weeks and Robert Gilliam Porter, Sr. of Hyattsville, MD. He was married to the late Jean Monroe Porter of Ashburn, VA for 40 years until her death in 1988. He resided in Cocoa, Florida for 18 years. In addition to being a director and producer for NBC in Washington, DC for 15 years, his "Cousin Cupcake" character graced the DC airwaves from 1960 until 1966. More at DCMemories.com (1/2/10) (From DCRTV DAVE)Rush ... maybe had a "near death" experience while in the hospital and will be a "changed man" when he gets back on the radio ... maybe realizing that Democrats are human beings, too, and deserving of his love and admiration even though he disagrees with them (END) Suuuure. Right after bacon is declared kosher, the sun rises in the north, and Sarah Palin is elected Emperor of the Planet Zoodad. (1/2/10) "Since you're so fucking perfect. Do your feet get wet when you walk on water?" -Apparently, the truth hurts. *Stephen in Reston (1/2/10) I've known Mac McGarry since the fundraisers on PBS started. To say he should stop doing what he loves is insulting. He's a dedicated pro, with the greatest sense of humor of anyone I've ever had the pleasure of working with. He love the young intelligent kids that compete, he loves his peers and he loves the craft. Every pro in this area should be posting about this insulting attitude! And as far as Dick Clark is concerned, KUDOS again. It takes a tremendous amount of strength and integrity to place yourself in front of millions when you've been damaged by a stroke. His network should also be applauded. It's a shame there are so many negative broadcasters posting these days, if you're not a broadcaster, it's even sadder. Mac, as always....PLB (1/2/10) Stephen in Reston: Since you're so fucking perfect. Do your feet get wet when you walk on water? You probably scream out your own name if and when you have sex (though probably those instances are an individual experience. Yup, The "Webber" you love to hate....Have a nice day. (1/2/10) The recent posts about Dick Clark participating in hosting the New Year's eve event brings to mind Mac McGarry and It's Academic. Both Clark and McGarry, while being icons and legends in their own time and place, have long passed their prime. McGarry especially now looks so out of place hosting a show involving all teenagers. It's almost embarrassing. Like Bob Barker, it's time for Mac to pass the baton to someone who's not quite as long in the tooth as he is. (1/2/10) I have to agree with a previous post about WAMD. While I miss the "local" things about small town AM stations, it's hard to argue for stations like WAMD to survive in today's real world due to such limited coverage and interference at just 300-500 watts. The FCC really needs to just get rid off all these weak links for the AM band to survive. On the other hand, I think New York City has enough 50kw AM stations and doesn't really deserve to be allowed to ramp up another one, but that's a whole other issue and I don't like the way the FCC allowed this one to happen while ironically allowing so many other AM stations to stay on the air that shouldn't be on the air like those Delaware AMrs. If the FCC were to get tougher on technical specs and their STA policies, easily 1000 AM stations would disappear tomorrow and there would be less interference on the band, but they won't. Washington, DC is completely under-served on the AM band, and this is why few AM stations can get any ratings traction, way too much interference, especially at night. Although I imagine WAMD 970 going dark might help WTEM 980 to some extent. In fact, couldn't they now expand their daytime signal to be less directional now towards Baltimore? Notice the null towards WAMD here www/radio-locator.com... and the nulls for WAMD here www.radio-locator.com... And ESPN 980 will lose this nighttime interference here www.radio-locator.com... Clearly WTEM has to protect WAMD 970 quite a bit. Looks like Danny Snyder got a late Christmas present from Salem. :-) (1/2/10) Dave's response: One of the rumors I've been running is that Salem might trade 105.1 WAVA for some of Snyder's AMers, including 980. So, Salem may be doing itself a "double favor" by yanking Aberdeen's 970. Hmmm..... Rush was reported today to be ... well, not a heart attack, after two days of testing backed up by a fairly large (like Milton Berle, he only takes out enough to win the contest, as Tom Jones once found out) checkbook. I wish nothing but butterflies and strawberries for those who wished him ill or took delight. I just want to go on the record as saying I love dreads, and have no problem with _previous_ support of the Afghan economy (Nothing But The Blues), and I remember the origin of the name "Girl"... too many Katies.. In sports news, how did the change of the team name from "Bullets" work out? Why are those gentlemen not in the custody of the appropriate authorites? Too many guns out there killing our children. I guess the assumption is that the NBA doesn't care about children except as items in their pipeline. --- ThePenIsMightier (1/2/10) Dave's response: I heard that Rush had some sort of heart artery spasm that caused the pain. Not a heart attack, per se. But still not a good thing. Maybe he had a "near death" experience while in the hospital and will be a "changed man" when he gets back on the radio. You know, like maybe realizing that Democrats are human beings, too, and deserving of his love and admiration even though he disagrees with them. Hmmm..... --dick Clark and the how I would fix radio---- (Or d/c an dc radio is struggling) Part 1 Even though I admire Dick Clark for going on the air and showing the world what a stroke can do. I don’t think for a second that A B C is letting him on the air as a sign of respect. They want us to see him struggle Heck I bet it was dicks own idea---- (We could watch a possible car wreck on ESPN or actually see one on ABC.) ---- Also loving the rock block on 105.9 tonight some deep Hendricks BUT DO THEY ONLY PLAY THE SAME 5 FLOYD SONGS --- Part 2 Just one more though........ Why cant we get a station that plays “everything” Her is my set list if I was in charge... 1- Dean martin/Sinatra (any crooner) 2- backstreet boys (any boy band) 3- zeppelin 4- Madonna 5- men at work 6- the cure/ 7- Hank Williams JR (or any county song on drinking) 8- a sprinkle of the latest r&b (jay-z) 9- followed by Ella Fitzgerald 10- Food fighters 11- carpenters 12- bee-gees (but just once a week) late at night 13- green day and so on ..... ---- I wish the program directors will understand my demo (18-50) has heard every rock-roll song from the 50’s-to now-- and enjoy them all But is getting bored with (-barracuda/ followed by Saturday nights alright for fighting/ then a journey song.) ---- I can get as deep as dazed and confused as happy as the Jonas brothers as sad as “Christmas Shoes” as funky as George Clinton as angry as Metallica/ Eminem/ as nostalgic as Glen Miller as rocked as you shock me all night long as black as Johnny Cash - I can get my butt to best buy and buy an I pod - Not a sermon just a thought-- I’m done and not a moment to soon.... Thanks g-force (1/2/10) Didn't catch his name but.....the guy doing sports on TOP this morning kept calling VT's football team the "Hunkies." Hilarious...... KJ, Laurel MD (1/2/10) am at the present 74 years young...and if memory serves me right I first heard Dick Clark hosting American Bandstand in 1957 or 1958....I enjoyed him then and I admire him now. then it was for the enjoyment he brought to all and to day it is for the courage he gives to all ....age causes our bodies to change but our minds dance on.....May he have many more New Years......M J Anderson (1/2/10) I have to ask a couple of questions of everyone who laments the death of WAMD. When was the last time you listened to the station? When was the last time you listened to the AM band? This station and about 3,000 of the 5,300 AM stations need to go away. The clear channels can be heard reasonably well, the regional stations are barely OK but those local channels are useless more than a mile from the transmitter. Other than about 50 stations in the band, the rest loose money. They are financially sick. Think of it as thinning of the herd. It needs to be done and it needs to be done as quickly as possible to make the band listenable again. The band's last best hope: FCC death squads. John (1/2/09) /\ January 2 Messages /\ \/ January 1 Messages \/ "hey Rusty...you are without a doubt the number one WEBBER." -You know, everytime you post this same ass kissing comment, you really do sound more and more like a pandering ass. And save yourself a reply, I'm not the Collings jerk you keep attempting (and failing) to piss off. *Stephen in Reston (1/1/10) DCRTV hears that two Washington Wizards are under investigation for pulling guns in the locker room in a dispute over a gambling debt. Q. What do they have in common? A. They both had guns. What were YOU thinking? Shame on you. In other news, Girl (Mrs. Mightier's little boy loves hippie pelt, I'm just sayin') has rejoined the Mike O'Meara show, which is rocketing up the iTunes charts and they do talk about the numbers on the show. --- ThePenIsMightier (1/1/10) With Eun Yang taking over Babs' seat, looks like NBC4 is doing a total revamping of anchors for their weekend newscast..Steve Villanueva left, Keith Garven left and now Eun Yang's being moved into Babs' spot..Wonder if Chuck Bell is going to be replaced as well.. (1/1/10) Steve Mann first told me about WAMD's impending demise and now Joe Evelius has alerted me to Gary Helton's recent post on the topic in the Mailbag. As a former employee there, it's sad to see 970 go away from Harford County because the station entertained and informed many people for decades. Gary's passion for history is evident and much appreciated and it matches his love of radio, both the way it used to be...and still can be today. A group of us sought to buy the station from Captain Jim in the Spring of 1999. We had a contract to buy both the land and the license and worked for the better part of that year to make it happen. Unfortunately, we were not able to bring negotiations to a successful conclusion. A lot of talented people started out at WAMD and went on to carve out long careers in broadcasting. I spent four years there and it was one of the most satisfying times I ever spent in radio. I've written on this site in times past about the accomplishments there that we were blessed to be a part of. Perhaps the greatest legacy left by WAMD was its collective resilience, creativity, and dogged persistence to serve the folks in Harford County who for many years came to adopt 'The Little AM That Could' as its very own. Gary mentioned Buddy Deane. If old Winston Joe were here today, he'd share how thrilled he was to be a part of the station in 1998-99 and his involvement in record hops at Havre De Grace, Bel Air and Level along with appearances at the Big M Drive-In where people came out to remember him. Buddy did a two hour live show every Saturday and was the highest paid jock on the staff because local sponsors supported his gig. We did remotes at parks, the Farm Fair, and created events that were just a blast. And the characters that came through that place. I'd like to share a couple of stories. One time JB Brown got off his mid-day shift and before heading over to the Farm Fair to provide a couple of hours of on-air cut-ins asked if we had any snacks at the broadcast site. We told him no and if he wanted some he might want to stop and pick up something on the way. About an hour later he showed up on a golf cart with 'some' food. After leaving the station JB went into the KFC in Aberdeen and sweet talked the young cherubs behind the counter into trading on the spot about 75 dollars worth of chicken and the fixins' in exchange for mentions that afternoon. Captain Jim called me in for a conference on that transaction the following day. Then, there was the time we did a double remote at Mars Supermarkets. We were an Orioles affiliate that year and the immortal Sidney Ponson was hired to do autograph sessions at Mars outlets in Aberdeen and Edgewood. JB handled the first one in Aberdeen and Dennis Hill anchored the second one which began 30 minutes after the first one ended. When Dennis set up and tried to air monitor, we couldn't get a signal out of south Edgewood because of our bow tie pattern on 500 watts produced a null in that spot. So after weighing the options, it was decided we'd flip the day pattern to night directional (south toward Baltimore) for two hours in the middle of the afternoon to accommodate the broadcast. The plan worked and the client was happy. So were the people who called into the studio for the next couple of hours from all over Baltimore, waxing ecstatic about this 'new' Oldies station they'd just found and requesting songs that big 50,000 watt WQSR 'wouldn't' play. It was quite a cameo appearance. I know there are many reading this who lament the way radio has transitioned from a business that connected with the community to a corporate effort that offers in many cases passionless voice tracking which produces sadly an increasing irrelevance to the average person. You're not alone. That's why the greatest thrill to us dinosaurs these days is telling stories and listening to old airchecks. Thanks Gary for your passion and appreciation of WAMD. Those of us who were there share your sentiments. - Bob Mathers (1/1/10) What a total PIECE OF CRAP that Dick Clark should "hang it up." The man is an icon and while he is not the person he used to be, he has made great strides towards being able to do, even minimally, something that has become associated with him and him alone. To his credit, Ryan Seacrest, is willing to take a back seat as long as Dick wants to be an active part of the show. A lot is said, negatively, about Seacrest but he has more than gone out of his way to show respect and deference to a living legend in the twilight of his life. To those who think Clark should go away because he's had a stroke and that's bad tv, go to hell and don't collect $200. before doing so. May your kind of rotten bastard never find yourself in the same situation where all you have left is the dignity that comes from contributing for 15 minutes, once a year on a evening of happiness and celebration. (1/1/10) Hi Dave: Sorry to see your note about Stanley Lebar passing, the man who designed the camera that sent back video of Neil Armstrong's first steps on the moon. Lebar was part of the news conference this July during which NASA released enhanced video from that day, July 20, 1969. He's seen in this video I produced: nationalgeographic.com Jeff Hertrick (1/1/10) (snip) Yes, WTRI's contour claims are exaggerated (end) Oh hell, you wanna see a total fabrication in a coverage claim? dcradio700.com. Besides the obvious fact that the station has been off the air for ten months, the map shows primary contour to a good 60 miles south of DC. Whatta load of bollocks. (1/1/10) Pulling the plug on WAMD to improve a NY stations signal? Fuck YOU Salem and you sellout morons at the FCC too!!!!!! Someone should castrate those Salem execs to better improve chances of conception by the real men thier wives are sleeping with. Improvement by sacrifice my ass. Try actually using engineering methods you suit wearing sloths. (1/1/10) Thanks Paul & Rusty. Re-reading my post, I need to clarify two points. Jim McMahan could have donated WAMD's building and tower site to Harford Community College, but that alone would not have saved WAMD. Before I phoned him, I discussed donation of the license to HCC with John Meadows. John is a former WHFC staffer who was overseeing the WAMD operation a couple years ago. John thought corporate (in Dallas I think) might consider it and gave me some names/numbers to call. But without the tower site, it was pointless to propose it, so I called McMahan first. When he refused to consider it, the idea died right then and there. It was a long shot at best. Second, I have absolutely no problem with anyone in business making money, and McMahan deserves to profit from the sale of his land. So I don't want to portray him as the villain here. But the community doesn't deserve to lose its station. Come January 11, Harford County will have just three radio stations, with ours being the only one locally owned. Very sad. Gary Helton, WHFC, Bel Air. (1/1/10) Yes, WTRI's contour claims are exaggerated. As are the contours for many AM stations. What is amazing is the inability of the FCC to realize this and then rather than take action, the feds penalize another station, such as WTOP, for allegedly causing interference to WTRI in an overlap where they are not entitled to any protection. Let's hope Senator Snowe's bill passes to require trained technical talent in a supervisory capacity at the FCC. Anyone working with the FCC will tell you there are real world physics and then there are FCC 'political' physics. And for the poster who was cheering the poor health of a fat man with an agenda, you best be careful, some of us thought at first you meant Al Sharpton. Now there is a fat man full of racial hatred. (1/1/10) I always thought the Wash Times best opportunity to truly compete with the Post - as a real newspaper - was to turn themselves on their side and become a tabloid ala the Boston Herald or NY Post. That said, their sports section was truly great. They consistently out wrote and out covered their foes at the Post. While the Post may have had the edge in columnists at one point the Times beat them on the beats. I guess you could say they were the 'little engine that could'. I will truly miss their post Redskins game coverage. Competition makes all participants better. With the sad and unnecessary demise of the Times' Sports section the Post will continue its downward spiral into being an even more mediocre sports section. This is a true loss for all local sports fans. While the smart play would be for the Post to scoop up some of the free agent Times staff and truly expand the Post's sports depth of coverage - the bean counters will never allow that to happen. Radio, newspapers - and the record industry - are plying their slow Bataan death march to obscurity by doing the exact opposite of what they should be doing. You do not cut your way to success. You expand and deliver. Give people more of what they want and expect and you will win. Unfortunately, this will not happen and DC has lost another strong voice with the demise of the Times sports section. As a long time reader - thank you for the great content. Good luck. (1/1/10) There was a time on this board when people used to complain about D.C. having so few “decent” AM signals, compared with other east coast cities like New York or Philadelphia. Now, we see yet another station being sacrificed to benefit a New Yorker. First, WOWO was emasculated to benefit WLIB, both on 1190, and now WAMD must die to benefit WNYM, both on 970. (Sorry guys and gals, 970 in Hackensack will always be WJRZ to me –WWDJ was simply an aberrant abomination of an abortion!) Seems to me that there’s something terribly wrong with the FCC for not only allowing –but for even encouraging- this to happen. (Anyone know what happened to WAMD’s old Gates BC-250 rig?) In doing something like this, Salem is enthusiastically plunging into the pit of sin and greed which so much of its stations’ programming decries. -Unsigned Corporate Suit (1/1/10) What a new years eve!!!! We celebrated with close friends and watched Mr. Clark in awe. He is one courageous individual, and through his struggles he's once again proven that he is truly the icon that will prevail. God Bless all, hey Rusty...you are without a doubt the number one WEBBER. Gary Helton, you my friend are a class act. Have a wonderful 2010. You too are an icon. As always...PLB/Davy Jones (1/1/10) It has been just over four months since Nick Charles, the play-by-play announcer for Shobox: The New Generation, was diagnosed with stage IV bladder cancer and forced to take a medical hiatus from the monthly show that has aired since 2001. www.thesweetscience.com (1/1/10) Hey Gary Helton: Nice to see you posting again and please send my love to "Sister Joyce"! Rusty Gibson (1/1/10) I received the following email last evening: "It is with a very sad heart that I have to inform you that WAMD 970 will go off the air effective 1/10/10. Carol Powell, Office Manager." And so it continues. Finger pointers can blame corporate radio, egos, stupid decisions and decision makers, greed, The Telecommunications Act of 1996, community apathy, satellite radio, a lackluster economy, fiscal irresponsibility, the Menendez brothers, etc. Truth be known, it's probably a little of all of those things (except the Menendez brothers of course) and more. Regardless, another local broadcasting outlet is disappearing, and the implosion of radio continues, with no end in site. Over the years, voices like Bob Callahan (The Balding Eagle), Chuck Jackson, Steve Mann, Bob Mathers, Dennis Hill, Johnny Contino, J.B. Brown, Dave Hovell, Joyce Conroy, Libby Cole, and the immortal Buddy Deane have graced the airwaves of AM 970. WAMD gave me my first shot in commercial radio in 1988, after a dozen years out of the business. WAMD was a real community-based station when I was there. We did local news, high school sports, church services, appeared at community events and more. Little known locals with limited experience--like me--were employed. The station had value in a number of ways. When "The Captain," Jim McMahon, sold it to out-of-town interests for $125,000 a few years back, many of us held our breath. The license was sold, but McMahon held on to the property, including the 16-acre tower site. A CP was granted to move the sticks to the Eastern Shore, but no action was ever taken. Last year, corporate giant Salem acquired WAMD's license for $3 million (a tidy profit). Many of us feared Salem bought it just to shut it down, so they could power up their NJ-based AM on the same frequency. That scenario has now played out, and another local station bites the dust. About two years ago, I called Jim McMahon and asked him flat out to donate the station building and tower site to Harford Community College--to give our students and community volunteers another place to learn and develop. Otherwise, I argued, the station will go dark when he sells the land. His exact words were "Let it go dark!" So there you have it. The politically-connected (he's on the Harford County Council) McMahon will get his millions for the property, Salem will boost the power of their AM 970 in Jersey, and the community gets screwed. When I began in 1972, we were taught that the airwaves belonged to the public. Does the pending demise of WAMD and the circumstances leading up to it enrage and appal anyone besides me? Gary Helton, Station Mgr., WHFC-FM. (1/1/10) "Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak out for me…" I guess it's sort of ironic, the fact I didn't care for her at first, yet she grew on me over time and became one of my all time favorite female meteorologists, with her bright, vibrant if not boisterous personality and slightly fluff but never condescending or gratuitous forecast style, all in all a great mix, very unlike Mr. Pollock-up-the-map-with-oversized-icons-to-excess (nice guy; sure it works for some; just in venting range). Yes, somehow it was Kim Martucci, or now the lack thereof that is the straw that broke the camel's back and finally pushed me to say channel 9 is dead to me (as of 1/2). I'm really shocked they'd be dumb enough to do this, especially after all the idiotic firings, as with Reals, Armstrong, Ryan, Reid, Herzog, Walter (replaced by graphics), Fox, Pann, color masters Buchanan and Buchanan, and I'll stop before filling the page. Just had to get those in if Kim's turns out to be 'mutual', which it won't. Even with 2 and 4's newsroom downsizings, this station has to be in Guinness for the most firings by a single TV news entity spanning a decade. Compared to 9, WWJ looks like a local news exemplar, and they essentially have no local news. I know there are ridiculous community restrictions in some places on antennas and the like, but I would hope everyone could find a real CBS affiliate like 6, 13, 19, or BOC OTA, because 9 sucks and antennas are cool, plus then Time Warner and Comcast ordeals: totally averted. If the two other holdouts do that and 'this is 9 News Now' is replaced by 'it's time to play the Feud', dear bozos in management, well I can't say don't be surprised, because that's obviously what you want. Good luck getting props on wall-to-wall storm coverage then. Unless you want to rehire all of the castaways. No? Figured as much. Not even Bill Kamal? Second chances. No? Okay… I look forward to seeing Haber's unique brand of komedy on Comcast (if they have/can kiss and make up), and to seeing Derek and Topper being Derek and Topper somewhere, and Bruce and Andrea on 7 of course. Yep, maybe one of them will go out by going all Riggins on Gannett and 9 management. Going out's just a matter of time, right Todd, Tracey? A hearty good luck Big Red, don't doubt yourself, with all the mockers and naysayers, and may someone preserve 9's stock footage for when it's not run by chimpanzees. Those things can be ruthless with videotape. Just stick it all in Bruce’s basement. (1/1/10) Dan Daly has a lovely piece on the end of the Washington Times Sports Section. "Whenever a story was processed - edited, fit with a headline, set in column format, etc. - it took a 500-mile round trip to the Big Apple. Often, the story that came back bore only a passing resemblance to the original. Chunks of text would be missing. Scores of random punctuation marks would be sprinkled throughout the copy. It was enough to drive an editor to drink. Not that Doug and Dave ever called it that. They never said, 'We're going out for a couple of pops,' after the system went down 'indefinitely' or the dastardly computer in New York undid their painstaking labor in Washington. Instead, they spoke in code. 'You wanna go down to the Holiday Inn?' Dave would say. And in the hotel bar they would decompress, return with rolled-up sleeves and renewed purpose and miraculously pull together another sports section." Christian washingtontimes.com (1/1/10) I'm sorry, but it's time for Dick Clark to bow out from the New Years Eve TV scene. Nobody would blame him. He's had a great run, but it really is time to just hang it up. (1/1/10) The only connection to DC media is the fact that AMC is seen on cable or satellite in the area, but I've got to rant about this. For New Years, they've been running a marathon of the newly digitally remastered Three Stooges shorts. They look just great and are as funny as they ever were, but AMC insists on inserting commercial and show promo breaks every four or five minutes -- and the shorts are typically only 18 or 19 minutes long to begin with. Other than "Mad Men" and "Breaking Bad," AMC has got to be the shittiest channel on television! (1/1/10) Dave's response: AMC is the movie butcher. The only time I can watch it is to DVR something and then fast-forward through all the clutter. If you see a two hour movie talking up a four hour time slot on AMC that tells you that you'll be seeing a lot of non-movie crap..... As a stroke survivor myself, I found it extremely painful to watch and listen to Dick Clark's obvious difficulties attempts to express himself in the "Rockin' Eve" show tonight. I don't think there was anyone else in the world rooting for him any harder than I to somehow become the Dick Clark we all remember. My thumbs up go to ABC for their courage in standing behind the legend that is the man by electing to put him on the air. Believe me, I can personally identify with each and every one of his injuries. The man is truly lucky to be alive (as I am). Things like that make you really count your blessings and further appreciate what's really important versus the silly feuds that have been going on around here lately. Rusty Gibson, WEBR/RadioFairfax and DAMN PROUD to be a "WEBBER" (1/1/10) (regarding a previous post) "If Rush Limbaugh succumbs to heart disease, he'll get exactly as good as he gave." Wow, so Rush Limbaugh deserves DEATH for his opinion and efforts to entertain his audience?" Hmmmm. I guess the schools in the Forest Hill area don't teach Reading Comprehension. I didn't wish for Limbaugh to die. I simply said -- If Rush Limbaugh succumbs to heart disease, he'll get exactly as good as he gave. -- It was about what many people will say about him WHEN he dies. (1/1/10) /\ January 1 Messages /\ Jump to the Mailbag Archive Index.....