Current Mailbag - Mailbag Archive Index - DCRTV Front Page - Support DCRTV DCRTV Mailbag - May 7 to May 15, 2009 Latest messages listed first..... \/ May 15 Messages \/ broadcasting diversity opinion article in today's Times... www.washingtontimes.com... SPIWAK: Broadcasting diversity... "America is the land of opportunity, and the strong and vibrant participation of women and minorities in the broadcast and digital media industries can have a powerful effect on public discourse and democracy. Through the years, the Federal Communications Commission - sometimes at the direction of Congress, other times on its own initiative - has tried to promote women and minority..." (5/15/09) More proof the Baltimore Sun is going down the drain thanks to this bad inaccurate story by Jill Rosen... www.baltimoresun.com... I took tons of liquor into the Daytona 500 just last year, even came and went and got MORE! For Jill Rosen to say that The Preakness ban on BYOB is in keeping with NASCAR rules and all other professional sports is just plain silly AND ABSURD AND COMPLETELY FALSE! Does this woman know ANYTHING about sports??? COMPLETE IDIOT! And you would think The Baltimore Sun would rat out the Maryland Jockey Club for lying about ticket sales, they've been doing it for decades, everyone knows that! The Maryland Jockey Club once claimed there were like 250,000 people at The Preakness yet it was later scientifically proven that that many people couldn't even physcially fit in the facility at the same time! LOL I will bet sales are down more than 25-50%! GEEZ! How stupid can this Baltimore Sun writer be? This year's Preakness is gonna be a BUST, NO-SHOW event for a variety of reasons, #1 the economy, #2 the bad old people music, #3 No BYOB, #4 Pimlico in bankruptcy, #5 People think the Preakness might leave Baltimore or has already LEFT! But one thing is certain... The Sun's Jill Rosen needs to re-investigate this story and get it right! RE-WRITE PLEASE FOR THE PURPOSES OF ACCURACY. Thanks Jill. PS: I checked the Daytona Speedway website just to verify, yep, still no alcohol ban. Work on it Jill. (5/15/09) To the Mailbagger who responded to my earlier post, calling it full of "howlers": Your post was pretty funny! Maybe you should audition for the "MOM" Show. I'm just trying to be a good sport. You're right: WJFK is a lousy station, and I often get the feeling that its band of cheerleaders inundates the Mailbag here. Based on the constant Mailbag feedback, pro and con, you'd think 85% of D.C. listens to WJFK. The PPMs have shown that not to be the case. I'm sure it's been a wake-up call for the DCRTV crowd. But I'm of the "light a candle rather than curse the darkness" school. I like O'Meara on occasion, and appreciate that his humor isn't as mean-spirited as that of his former co-host. It's focused below-the-belt too often for my tastes, but I've gotta admit that Mike and others on his show can be *very* funny sometimes. No harm in saying so. My point is that if WJFK wants to improve, I think Mike's show is something to build on, rather than something to cast off as a ratings loser. I get the sense that the person who responded to my post wants Don Geronimo back. That may be a good move for ratings, but I'd see it as a step in the wrong direction. Geronimo used to taunt his callers, mock them, and Mike would sometimes join in. Once Don left, I didn't hear Mike do that, at least not nearly as often. In short, he doesn't appear to have the contempt for his listeners that Don Geronimo had. It's pretty sad when a deejay berates the people who call into his show, and then has fans asking for him to return to the airwaves, where he can continue to heap abuse on people, all in the name of "comedy." Christian (5/15/09) Received an e-mail from the VP of Community Relations, Khalim Piankhi, at WUSA regarding changes in the morning news mess: "Thank you for your earlier message regarding our morning show rundown. We want you to know that we value your feedback and have made some changes. We hope you will take a moment to see if our latest effort provides the right balance between on-screen information and less clutter and then let us know what you think. Thank you again and have a great day." --- I will reserve judgment until I actually take a look. Has this happened yet? (5/15/09) Why is everyone so surprised by the crammed nature of the WUSA website? have you seen their 5Am newscast lately? the actual broadcast occupies maybe 40-50% of the screen. There is a line of text below it (room for another) and the right side of the screen is jammed with upcoming stories or the weather report---even when the forecast is on. What is the point in an HD broadcast that is so small we can't see what is going on. (5/15/09) "In other words, WMAL hates our men in women in uniform. " --- maybe they're just jealous, Cleetus. --ThePenIsMightier (5/15/09) Dave's response: "I Love A Man In Uniform." Gee, you never hear Gang Of Four on DC rock radio any more. So many cool bands for which there is no "room" for airplay from DC101/WBIG..... "I posted an offer a few months ago to my neighborhood e-mail list offering help with DTV, citing my amateur credentials and familiarity. I got no takers, but apparently did enough to convince one lady that it was a very elaborate ruse to get into people's homes. Sheesh. --CL in DC" -- perhaps it's your use of the word "sheesh" that tipped her off. "One never knows when a homosexual is about." And TMU, does it still stand for "Toot Me Up" i.e. "I belong to the frat that deals coke"? Everyone's very interested in your life. Did you crank it today? We want to know what's going on with you. --- ThePenIsMightier (5/15/09) Christian's got a couple of howlers re: the MOMS show and WJFK: (a) "the listeners haven't tuned in in droves". DROVES? They haven't tuned in in gaggles. Or mobs. Or prides. Or reasonably large groups. Heck, the loyal listeners of the MOMS couldn't field a first- and second-string for a soccer team. (b) "I'll say that the show is one of the best things on that station." ON WJFK? Is that like "You don't sweat much for a fat girl'? Talk about damning with faint praise. Yeah, it's better than the weekend programming, I guess. (5/15/09) Does anyone know why Channel 20 isn't carrying the Nats on Friday nights this season? Is it because wrestling does a better number in that timeslot? -Too Cheap For Cable In Montgomery County (5/15/09) Dave's response: 50 now carries the Nationals on weekends..... (How does it make sense for Metro Traffic to make a union shop a hub if they have to pay union wages to reporters doing reports for smaller non union markets they now service?). Union wages aren't all that high at Metro. As I recall hourly pay for a weekend on-air traffic reporter was something like $12. (5/15/09) Dave, far be it from me to re-direct anyone away from DCRTV for even one minute, but I've found a refreshing source of radio "information" that is unencumbered by the confines of accuracy! This is hard hitting stuff: All The Excess! at www.alltheexcess.com. Radio deserves it. (5/15/09) From the It-all-depends-on-how-you-look-at-things dept.: Dave thought Chris Wallace was "a cut above" while I've always found him to be one of the worst offenders. In fact, I almost posted about him in response to Dave's comment that Luke Russert needed to get away from dad's shadow. Chris got about as far away as he could, and I don't think he's the better for it. Howie (5/15/09) Why do I keep hearing about Military Appreciation Month on WMAL? They hate our troops. I mean, Sean Hannity reneged on his promise to be waterboarded for charity (in his words “ for the families of our troops”). Promising the families of our troops money, and then not giving them any money, is a slap in the face to our troops. I was going to donate to Sean’s waterboarding fund, but I will just send the charity money to the March of Dimes like usual. Also, WMAL has said nothing about making good on Sean’s promise. WMAL and Sean Hannity clearly have disdain for our troops, and that is a shame. (5/15/09) Is WJLA 7's Doug Hill morphing SuperDoppler 7 into modern art or is SuperDoppler 7 on crack? Inquiring minds wanna know! Funny, but me, I'm still waiting for the day the radar pic shows the face of the virgin Mary and people start selling it on ebay, hehe. :-) (5/15/09) Dave's response: Wow. Six bands of showers all emanating from 7's radar site near Bowie. Saint Doug, soon? After the big lay-off at The Baltimore Sun, Kevin Cowherd moves from Features Columnist back to Sports Columnist. Nice read in today's Sun. www.baltimoresun.com... I didn't realize he had been at the paper THAT long. Doug in Bel Air (5/15/09) Lookey here everyone! I’ve just invented the Fully Automated Sean Hannity Show-prep Generator! Just pick any phrase from List A, add one from List B, pick another from List C and end with one from List D. Try it for yourself: The concept of..... LIST A 1.) Obama’s health care plan; 2.) Curbing CO2 emissions; 3.) Gay marriage; 4.) Stem cell research; 5.) Immigration reform; 6.) Talking with our adversaries; 7.) Increasing the tax rate on the top one percent; 8.) Enacting tighter regulations on Wall Street; ….constitutes the biggest increase in…. LIST B: 1.) Taxes; 2.) Spending; 3.) Government; 4.) Socialist programs; …..in the history of our nation, and it will essentially... LIST C: 1.) Tear apart the very fabric of; 2.) Have a chilling effect on; 3.) Erode the very foundation of; 4.) Wreak incalculable havoc on; 5.) Lead us down a dark and dangerous path toward destroying; 6.) Bankrupt the; 7.) Break the back of; 8.) Have devastating consequences on; 9.) Forever doom; LIST D: 1.) Our great society; 2.) This great nation; 3.) The Nation our Founding Fathers created: 4.) Our national security; 5.) The traditional family structure; 6.) Our troops on the battlefield; 7.) Small businesses; 8.) Democracy as we know it; 9.) Our children!; 10.) The Judeo Christian values on which this country was founded; 11.) Everything we hold sacred. Stay tuned, kiddies! Tomorrow, I will introduce Hanni-Bingo! If you connect any line of phrases across the card during Sean’s radio show, you win either a Lobstergram or a Gift Certificate to Ruth’s Chris! (5/15/09) Everyone on WMAL has laughed at John Kerry’s Vietnamb service. Grandy and Andy replayed Cheney’s disparaging comment about Ret. General Powell this morning. Rush Limbaugh has call VoteVets a “closeted liberal group” for opposing the war. Mark Levin called the problems at Walter Reed “minimal.” Durring Military Appreciation Month, one must ask, “Why does WMAL hate our vetrans so much?” (5/15/09) It seems that the Caps did not beat the O's when you add the MASN and MASN2 together you get the O's winning by a nose... The rating provided to DCRTV about the Caps beating an O’s game in Baltimore is not accurate. The O’s game on MASN was bonus coverage (started after the Nats afternoon game ended). The regularly-scheduled channel for the O’s that night was MASN2. You only counted half the rating. On May 13, in Baltimore: the Caps had a 3.39 rating... the O’s on MASN2 had a 1.93 rating (the regularly-scheduled game channel)... the O’s on MASN had a 1.68 rating (bonus coverage after the Nats game)... Therefore the O’s had a 3.61 rating in Baltimore (5/15/09) If you love the oldies, check out the "Turning Back the Hands of Time" on 88.9 FM, Morgan University radion from 5-9 AM Saturday Mornings. Burt in Denton (5/15/09) Actually you do have a choice, WTMD 89.7. Is a great radio station for new indie music. They've got really creative programming like Altered Fridays and Mixtape Thursdays. They're doing a listener poll for the greatest 897 Artists of all time and an auction on line. It's a lot of fun to listen to. (5/15/09) To the poster who keeps bitching about WRNR with their supoosed voicetracking, and long commercial stop sets. WRNR is the only choice you have, so piss off (5/15/09) Dave's response: Hey, a new promo campaign for RNR - "WRNR. We're your only local place for adult alternative rock, so just put up with our sucky signal and other crap. Piss off." Ha ha ha..... (DCRTV wonders: The Nats' radio radio ratings have got to be even worse than last year's, with the team no longer on a signal (107.7 FM) that can easily be heard in Northern Virginia.....) Actually, nights and weekends on WFED are slightly higher than they were for 3WT last year so far in April. But that was Diary measurement on 3WT and PPM measurement on WFED this year, and Arbitron says you cannot directly compare the two. (That's their story) (5/15/09) Re: Howard Kurtz's quote about Google: "vacuums up content without paying a dime"...a quick look at a link on Google News shows it may not a vacuum, but less than a dustbuster. Just a headline, linked to WashingtonPost.com, with a byline and less than the entire first sentence of the article. Other WP links have no such "preview". Where's the "vacuuming"? Written like a true newspaper man, though much of the rest of the article is spot-on about how newspapers have never really gotten the whole Internet thing... (5/15/09) A word to the Mailbaggers who keep kicking the "MOM" show over its ratings: Is that all ya got? Arguing that the program isn't "good radio" because the listeners haven't tuned in in droves? That's one argument, I suppose. Ratings are important. But as an off-and-on listener of "MOM" and a frequent critic of WJFK, I'll say that the show is one of the best things on that station. Too juvenile and prurient too often for my tastes, but not nearly as juvenile and stupid as "The Don and Mike Show" was. I turned on "MOM" during last evening's drive home and listed to a segment called "The Audio File" that literally had me laughing so hard I was in tears. Maybe that constitutes a public-safety menace, but I was grateful for the comedy after a long day at the office. Christian (5/15/09) This guy is BRUTALLY honest insidemusicmedia.blogspot.com "Titanic Radio" (5/15/09) Dave's response: Amen! Tom Gauger, thanks for the insight into AFTRA. As I said, I haven't been involved with them, though I have had a lot of involvement with IBEW (and NEA, but that's another story). There are certainly benefits and protections...I don't deny or have a problem with that. Forced membership is a whole other matter, especially given the amount of money so many Unions (perhaps not AFTRA specifically) spend in politics and lobbying, often in areas that are irrelevant to the cause of the worker they purport to support. Unions certainly can be good and even constructive to the busiensses they support. The reality is that some are, and some aren't. Bob in Forest Hill (5/15/09) Dave, you must have been so flummoxed by Chris Wallace admitting that he's taking a rational, fact-based position on the Pelosi flap that you misread the Tank Bates article. Riggo did not "voice" the character. As the blog entry and article says: 'He didn't know this "tribute" was coming, didn't hear about it from any friends, and hadn't known it existed until Reader Jonathan sent me the link, and [the author] sent it to Riggo's people." On the Wallace thing, you seem to immediately assume Chris is admitted a political position, rather than a factual one. Regardless of your politics, Pelosi's statements on the matter have been a mess and her news conference was shockingly bad. The CIA's story (from inside and out) has been remarkably consistent. Wallace is and always has been a pretty straight shooter, so I doubt he has suddenly collapsed into political marksmanship. But I agree with your general point: journalists should be above it all. The reality is that most of them *think* they are and content that they are, but very obviously aren't. Bob in Forest Hill (5/15/09) Dave's response: Ha ha ha. The Riggo thingo is fixedo..... The MOMS show is "good radio"? Well, the ratings say otherwise . . . and as for Donny G.'s inability to do good radio, (a) right now, he can't because CBS won't let him; and (b) when Donny G. does return in 2010 (or sooner), if it's on terrestrial radio in this market, he will do better than MOMS in the ratings if they put him on at midnight on WTNT . . . and that's a VERY slight exaggeration. Very. Sincerely, TMU (5/15/09) (Re WTOP) They deserve to be proud of their programming & revenue generation, but shouldn't clutter up their product with something that exists solely to massage their own egos (end) I wouldn't call it clutter. The occasional mention is perfectly deserving of the effort put in by all involved. And like it or not, people love being in the company of "a winner", so there is probably a random quantity of the audience that likes "being number 1" even if only by association. Now if you truly want to hear when self-promotion runs amuck and falls headlong into clutter, listen to 700 AM after WDMV goes off the air (*snicker*), and hear how often and heavy-handedly WLW beats you over the head with their calls and slogan. -signed: NOT a WTOP employee, just a guy with an ear. (5/15/09) Dave, I wanted to comment on WTOP'S "Most Listened To Station" liner. IMHO, Jim Farley has forgotten the most basic of radio rules. "It's about the listener, stupid". Nobody, and I mean NOBODY in their cume could care less about that hype. He does it 'cause it gets a rise out of others in the marketplace. He, Joel and the rest of the suits on Idaho Avenue know this. They deserve to be proud of their programming & revenue generation, but shouldn't clutter up their product with something that exists solely to massage their own egos. Michael (5/15/09) I can recall clearly Andy Parks chastising a soldier for asking Donald Rumsfield a question about why we didn't have up-armored vehicles. Hannity also criticized the soldier for having a member of the press help him word the question. I can recall clearly Rush slamming soldiers who were filmed by ABC News complaining about not knowing what their mission was or why they were in Iraq. I can recall Andy Parks criticizing what turned out to be Air Force Band policy. All have dismissed the Walter Reed problems as "minimal." In other words, WMAL hates our men in women in uniform. (5/15/09) How does it make sense for Metro Traffic to make a union shop a hub if they have to pay union wages to reporters doing reports for smaller non union markets they now service? (5/15/09) I heard the afternoon jock at WRNR talking over the station legal ID today around 7PM. Obviously voice tracked in drive time. Ouch, what a shame. Are they out of money? Also, enough with that "Yeah Yeah Yeah's" song. They play it constantly and it's terrible! (5/15/09) Hey, c'mon, Mike O'Meara is a lot more talented than Mike Sorce ever was. Sorce used to keep O'Meara down and used him as a second fiddle. They were equals, dammit! I like how the show goes now instead of going into a rage every time "Don Geronimo" would break in and grandstand. I'd scream at the radio in my car: "Shut the f*** up you ignorant bastard!" Mike, Rob, 'Buzz' and Beth Ann are doing the right things. It's good radio and Mike Sorce hates it because he can't do good radio any more. (5/15/09) To “Bob in Forest Hill.” One of the problems that AFTRA has is that the public has little knowledge of the good this union has brought to working conditions in radio and TV stations. Employees are fairly well protected against capricious firings, schedule changes and overly long work tours. As owners get less interested in local radio (and that’s what makes a successful station) perhaps AFTRA and our sister unions SAG, NABET and IBEW will have less clout. However, from personal experience I can tell you that when I joined WMAL in 1968 I was against joining AFTRA. But, after meeting the legendary former AFTRA General Secretary Evelyn Freyman, and hearing what was going on in Washington Radio and TV stations, I was happy to pay up and join. 18 years later AFTRA grieved my overnight firing from WMAL and went to arbitration. The arbitrator ruled that I was “constructively discharged” and not entitled to separation pay guaranteed in the AFTRA contract. (“Constructive Discharge” is an interesting term for management thinking up a reason to cut people loose that did not meet the facts and avoid paying separation.) Over 23 years later, the new owner, Citadel, was recently in arbitration again for roughly the same issue at the sister FM station on Jenifer Street. They lost again. Tom Gauger. (5/15/09) For those of you who asked to stay in the loop and be informed. Join me tonight Friday May 15th from Midnight to 5am Saturday Morning as I sit in for Greg Hines on 96.3 WHUR. Come take a Night Flight in The Sunrise. I'll keep you posted as to when I'll be on the air again. Outside of DC, Listen worldwide on the air online at WHUR.com. Pass it on! Roses, JayLang (5/15/09) /\ May 15 Messages /\ \/ May 14 Messages \/ "To everyone's dismay, they aren't going to pink-slip Pollin or Czaban {even though their arrogance is through the roof} and pay-off their contracts. There's no one that has the courtesy to tell Sheehan he's not a drive-time talent and Doc Walker needs grammar lessons." I've been a WTEM listener for 10 years even though I work at another station. The four names mentioned above were the only ones worth keeping during WTEM's recent round of changes. Czaban and Sheehan are intelligent and provoking and probably should be by themselves or together rather than with the partners they have but they are the best and most knowledgeable of WTEM's show hosts. Pollin can be aggravating but he's a solid radio guy with knowledge of the Redskins, and Doc is better on the Redskins than any media person in town. Skins knowledge and clear spoken english seems to have been the priority with the recent firings of Mitchell, Koken etc. I've read all the criticism of sportstalk radio on this board and am just wondering what the solution is? What other sports person in town would be much better doing radio for 3 hours a day? Haber maybe? Who else other then Tony K? (5/14/09) Thanks for the explanation, TMU. I, too, was a 20 year listener of the Don & Mike Show (all the back to WAVA), and now I just can’t bear to listen to Mike. I agree with every point you’ve made about the new show, especially about sending Beth Ann back to NC, where her idea of good radio would be more accepted. Every now and again I’ll tune in, but I don’t think I’m as patient as you are and wind up turning it off within 10 minutes. I’ve yet to see the “flashes of glory” you reference, but I just can’t stomach more than a few minutes of Mike talking over answers in an interview with the guy who invented the spork, or some other dreck. Sad. Anyone remember the good old days of “Maurice Buttkiss” with the sports news? (5/14/09) Grandy, Andy, Hammity, Rush, Levin, and Silwa, all had vocalized vitrol for Dept of Homeland Security when the department was trying to acknoweledge a problem exists, finding ways to help, as well as provide police some guidance to avoid a possible tradgedy. Hell, the Republicans on the hill even grandstanded and tried to get resignations over the legitimate concern. Now that the concern is valid to everyone, where is WMAL in supporting the troops that need help the most? Rush and Sean are sending them newsletters. Levin is trying to send over 3000 books. Other than that, I will tell you, they are off in lala land, reading Frank Luntz’s talking points just like they were before we invaded Iraq for no legititmate reason. I support our troops, want them to come home safely, and get any physical or mental help they may need; I don’t yell “Rah-Rah,” give them some conservative crap to read, and ignore what we’ve put them through. Military Appreciation Month on WMAL should be labeled “Military Fanasy Month.” Let me ask you, Mr Cohen, where were Sean Rush, Andy, and Levin in supporting Specialist Lindy England, Pvt Jerremy Sivits, and the others who took the fall for the Vice President? Those Ass Hats were calling members of the military “Bad Apples.” Now, get your Freedom Concert tickets at hannity.com for like 130 bucks each (they are going fast), buy Mark Levin’s book, buy Oliver North’s book, buy the book about the fairness doctrine, buy gold, buy survival seeds, buy real estate, buy hair resoration, call a realtor, buy face cream, buy combat ready balm for our troops, buy pajama grams for your wife (and think of andy parks when you are doing it), get out of debt by getting the program, Thompson Creek is locally owned, Go to Charlestown Races and Slots, What is that Texas Road show thing? Don’t forget the survival seeds, Call Congress today and let them know you support sensible energy, Dave is a great American, this rant has been paid for by the American Petroleum Institute. (5/14/09) Why do I still listen -- if briefly, most of the time -- to the MOMS? Let me count the ways: (a) the Sports Reporters don't come on until 4; (b) there are days when it doesn't suck; (c) I listened to D&M since the late 80s, and I have fond memories of that show, and there are still, even now, flashes of the glory that was, and is no more . . . . when you strip it right now, the biggest problem with MOMS is that Mike O'Meara is not NEARLY as interesting as Donny G., and they'll never be able to fix that. My e-mails excoriating the show usually happen in the first half-hour, when Mike's self-pitying jabber can reach a fever pitch. But I hardly ever have to wait until 4 to switch it off . . . Sincerely, TMU (5/14/09) WTNT is a joke. Virtually every top of the hour ID is crowded with two or three promos running at the same time. The same Lou Dobbs headlines for his business report at 7:00 p.m. has aired for over a month "and signs the economy may be, yes maybe is recovering". It doesn't take a genius to run an automated station. In 2009, this performance is absolutely unforgivable. I guess it would mean a lot more if there were anyone listening, but it's still a sickening performance. (5/14/09) Why, o why, do your torture yourself, TMU? Really. I’m listening. I’m not saying that you’re wrong, but I think this whole MOMS-bashing is becoming an unhealthy obsession. Just turn it off, man! (5/14/09) Ain't nothin' better than listening to fat, lazy, Mike O'Meara lecturing the Caps about conditioning and effort. Sheesh. Sincerely, TMU (5/14/09) Chad Dukes’ blow-ups are some of the funniest shtick on DC radio in years. I think he knows he’s “making it all about him” and doesn’t really expect your sympathy, or even to be taken seriously. And what’s the point of having your own radio show if you can’t use it to be at least a little self serving, while still providing entertainment for the (m)asses? I’m not in the O&D demo (I’m well over 40 and have a job), but these guys are funny and informative, and often do very good interviews on topics I don’t care about (MMA, gaming, TV shows) and many that I do (the Wall Street Watchdog, new car technologies, local sports teams, space exploration, alternative fuel sources, breeding for fame and $$$, and several others). Keep up the good work, boys, and DRAB IS GAY!! (5/14/09) I posted an offer a few months ago to my neighborhood e-mail list offering help with DTV, citing my amateur credentials and familiarity. I got no takers, but apparently did enough to convince one lady that it was a very elaborate ruse to get into people's homes. Sheesh. --CL in DC (5/14/09) Dave, ESPN 980 is honoring John Thompson on June 4th with the “Lunch with a Legend Series”. Snyder is also honoring Brian Mitchell, by putting him in the Ring of Fame. Just a haunch, but ESPN 980 is doing a bunch of public relations for these two recently. Have you heard anything? Just a coincidence? Keep up the good work! (5/14/09) Dave's response: Will check into it..... Ok, if Chad has one more meltdown on the air and talks about how the whole world is against him, he might have a heart attack. He is starting to sound a lot like bitter old Don G in the last year of his career. Perhaps Dukes should just leave town and start over by himself elsewhere. (5/14/09) Dear Mr.????? Genghis, you are a trash mouth, foul spirited loose cannon yourself. Man, opinions are a dime a dozen and yours is 11 cents worth of bull. I truly dis-like the current crop of “LEADERS”??? BUT, to attack anyone for what they think, that’s STOOPID-wow (5/14/09) Big strong, nasty sounding spur on 840 yesterday and today from 780, being heard all over the DC area. Sounds like they are trying to drive their transmitter to 200% modulation! Tone on 1260 this morning instead of programming. Still no 700. What's that sound I hear? Oh, it's the AM band being flushed down the crapper. Larry in Springfield (5/14/09) Regarding Metro Traffic as an AFTRA shop, a commenter said "this is no bar to employment." No bar except that you HAVE to join the union and HAVE to pay the initiation and HAVE to pay the dues in order to be employed, regardless of whether you agree with or like the benefits, negotiating stance or political positions of the union. I don't have direct experience with AFTRA, but enough experience with others to know that for some people it's a bar to employement in my book. I'm not anti-union so please don't flame me. I am anti-forced membership in anything. Bob in Forest Hill (5/14/09) "With Metro Traffic in DC being an AFTRA shop, do reporters doing Baltimore and other non AFTRA markets now have to be in the union since they work from DC?" Yes, as another poster has pointed out but this is no bar to employment. You pay your inititan fee, you pay your dies and you are in AFTRA. It's not like one of those craft unions where is is hard to get it. Just pay and join. Usually you have 30 days to do it after starting and part-timers can usually pay their initiation over a long period of time. (5/14/09) RE: Question. With Metro Traffic in DC being an AFTRA shop, do reporters doing Baltimore and other non AFTRA markets now have to be in the union since they work from DC? Answer: Yes. Destination is not a factor. The programming originates in Washington, where Metro is an AFTRA shop. (5/14/09) How deep a bath could some station sellers be ready to take? Check the news on www.pdxradio.com about Paul Allen selling his AM/FM combo in Portland, Oregon. He bought KXL AM/FM in 2000 for $42 mil. He sold to Larry Wilson (the guy who founded Citadel but sold out long before the current nightmare) for $11 million. Oy… RJ (5/14/09) Re: Pre-Packaged Bankruptcy For Clear Channel... SELL SOME OF YOUR STATIONS, YOU ALPO-HEADS ! ! ! (5/14/09) Dave's response: The only thing worse than Clear Channel owning five FMers in DC is to have Dan Snyder get control of them. And, with the crappy state of DC radio, that's probably what would happen..... Dear "WTNT silent": you are lower than dog-shit. Using a soldier's tragic mental breakdown to support your worship of the Obamamessiah is pathetic, and Dave's printing it shows an extremely rare lapse in judgment. Even violently crazy that poor bastard deserves more respect than you'll ever get. Go fuck yourself and die (which you'll probably do in front of the boob tube while masturbating to Keith Olbermann). No humor this time, Genghis Cohen (5/14/09) Metro Traffic is hiring in their hub markets because they either cut too many people, or people wouldn't move to the hub market to keep a job. So, no real expansion. Question. With Metro Traffic in DC being an AFTRA shop, do reporters doing Baltimore and other non AFTRA markets now have to be in the union since they work from DC? (5/14/09) To Jeff in Bowie: I'm no Silvie fan but going after her child-rearing abilities is really low, even for you. A simple Google search will tell you that not only is Silvie a good mom, but a great one considering her circumstances. You made a really bad choice. (5/14/09) Jockeying for position so you can get the best AM signal to listen to some third-rate yakker like Michale (Wiener) Savage in your car while the kids are playing soccer? Hmmm....Wouldn't most good and supportive parents be giving their children their full and undivided attention and cheering them on in their pursuit of sports? Oh well...I guess that form of abandonment is nothing that several hundred hours of intense and expensive counseling can't correct for the child sometime in their adult years. Funny...but I never figured Silvie to be a car 'MAL listener..I always pictured her listening to the Chris Plante show while sitting on the Maytag Washer and repeatedly kicking the knob back into the "Spin" cycle. - Jeff in Bowie (5/14/09) "WTNT silent for a good stretch Wednesday night in the 6PM hour?" Were the Catholic soccer moms of Charles county rioting? BTW, now that a soldier went ballistic and killed several soldiers in a mental health facility, has Grandy apologized to the Homeland Security Secretary for his criticisms of her prescient call? During National Military Appreciation month, don't listen to WMAL; 630 WMAL clearly has no f&cking clue the problems our troops are facing in this war GWB lied us into. Mission Accomplished! Get your Freedom Concert tickets, they are going fast! (5/14/09) Hello Washington, this is why Baltimoreans hate you... Love, Baltimore (5/14/09) Dave's response: Looks like something you'd see here in Northern Virginia..... Reason; "but most moms, myself included, are listening to Michael Savage on their car radios..." Oh God! Memo to WMAL; you've lost Silvie and her "Chuck County" friends to WTNT! Schedule a programming meeting immediately. Bring Back Jane Norris, Austin Hill, Chris Plante, Michael Graham, Chris Core (keep him on a strict leash), Andrew Wilcow, and Mark Simone! It appears WTNT has attracted the angry White and Puerto Rican Moms down dere in Southern Maryland, and WMAL needs to take action!! (5/14/09) WTNT silent for a good stretch Wednesday night in the 6PM hour, and religious bootleg 101.7 may have taken the night off as well - no signal heard there either. Will try again tomorrow. BTW, isn't "Fangboner" just about the best radio name ev-vurr? (5/14/09) /\ May 14 Messages /\ \/ May 13 Messages \/ After last years bloodbath, are things lookin up for Metro Traffic/News? Three different markets have want ads on AllAccess today (DC, KC, and Detroit) - there were two earlier in the week (Houston and DFW) - and four more last week (Chi, SF, Atl, and Mia). Of course it could also be due to backlash from clients from a reduced level of service as well, but either way, at least they are expanding and not continuing to shrink their staff at the moment (even if most of the gigs are fill in/ future files)... ... coastraven (5/13/09) Dave, Thanks for the correction on Gurvir, very interesting when looking at this further. (Which I didn't know) Gurvir has married Tom Slater, Holly's ex-husband. eitmfans.blogspot.com (5/13/09) Dave's response: We reported all that, including that Tom now sells tractors in Warrenton..... You're probably right regarding the posting of low number license plates being published in the Washington Daily News or was it the Washington Star? ..Just know it was years and years ago. (5/13/09) So close and yet so far apart. (5/13/08) Yes, Vincent in Triangle, those low license plate numbers used to appear in the Washington Daily News, long, long ago. I used to love to see them also and check them out throughout the city. I loved the News (the afternoon tabloid) for many reasons, but mainly because they wrote about duckpin bowling...my mother was a top duckpin bowler in DC at that time. Those were the days, my friend, we thought they'd never end...but they did. -- Bobbie (5/13/09) Just saw on AOL Radio how they're advertising a "Fresh 40" format that you can listen to (5/13/09) "Years ago when I was a child, I used to look forward to the Washington Post's annual list of low number license plates and to whom they belonged." Didn't that originate with the old Washington Daily News? -- Vincent in Triangle (5/13/09) So do you, WOMAN POSTER, have any kids yourself? Do you wake up at the crack of dawn in order to go to your morning newscast job and look good & do good work in front of TV cameras for millions (or hundreds of thousands?) of viewers? Allison had one child every other year and took a nice maternity leave... Gurvir had twins and she came back pretty quick. Seriously, people, what is the deal with going off on Gurvir today? Is this the "'Pick On' of the week" or something? Dave? -Silvie- (5/13/09) Hi Dave - My morning routine (starts in the kitchen and ends at the office door) includes Mancow at the earliest hour (snappy, bright, goofy - I make the kiddie's lunches to this) then pop music (with some Reston bluegrass as far as the signal reaches) while driving the kids to Arlington. Then bear down from Arl to Bethesda with the Cow, Grandy&Andy, C-Span & the Crypt Keeper - all in about equal parts. Starting to tune in RADIO EARL 1520AM more frequently (too much Alabama but still some good nuggets). Looking forward to more of the Sid freak on Imus. Used to include that commie shit on 89.3 for variety in my mornings but with Obama now...m (5/13/09) True Story: There's a group of moms here in So. Md. who take their kids to CCD classes (Catholic prep for First Communion) once a week, from 6 to 8 pm during a span of 2 years (not including summer). This specific parish is quite far for some, so many parents decide to stay and wait for their kids for the entire 2 hours. Some exercise, others read the newspaper or a magazine - but most moms, myself included, are listening to Michael Savage on their car radios (when we're not on our cell phones calling our pharma in order to refill our psycho-erotica prescriptions, of course!) It's funny because we have to jockey for position in the parking lot in order to see who's gonna get the best WTNT signal! GO CAPS! -Silvie- (5/13/09) Years ago when I was a child, I used to look forward to the Washington Post's annual list of low number license plates and to whom they belonged. We would cut that out the list, keep it in the glove compartment of the car and whenever we'd see a car with one of those tags, we'd pull out the list to see who was driving by..I'm assuming it was stopped due to privacy issues. But as a child, it sure was a fun game.. (5/13/09) Regarding the comment about Gurvir, she was acting like that waaaaay before she had those twins..And this is from a woman..When if I'm correct, wasn't Allison working that early shift when she had her babies?..If so, she wasn't acting as nervous and twitchy like Gurvir.. (5/13/09) I do understand that FOX5 has to do promos for that tabloid show TMZ, but I find it quite amusing how when the anchors are talking to the host of that show during the promos, they act as though that's a real "news" show and that they're providing important, legitimate info. (5/13/09) With Silvie listening to the radio 24/7 and writing all these posts for the mailbag, I don't see how she finds the time to attend her daily sessions with her psychiatrist and meet Chris on the sly for lunch. Geez, isn't it amazing what medication and a little libido can do for a psycho. (5/13/09) Dave's response: If Silvie's a psycho, then Gordon Liddy's the Pope..... "(WTOP has the highest percentage listenership of any station in the nation 12+ in the 15 markets measured by PPM) That claim would have been more logical when WTOP was still on 1500 AM, and they really could be heard from Maine to Florida. Great site, thanks." This myth just won't die! That's NOT true. None of those listeners outside the Metro area would ever be picked up in Arbitron. And while 1500 has a long nightime footprint, it was narrow.....it didn't reach Dulles Airport or Rockville at night! And night or day, 1500 did not penetrate apartment or office buildings. 103.5 is a much better signal for reaching the DC Metro area and the current line-up of 3 FM's gives Jim Farley a giant woody. (5/13/09) Many of Sivie’s “Mom friends” listen to WTNT? There is an expanding legion of Soccer moms that listen to Michael Savage while making cookies for the PTA bake sale down there in Southern Prince George’s and Calvert Counties? See what happens, WMAL, when you fire Chris Plante; the Silvies of the world get up, turn to your weaker competitor, and then multiply! And I can say with almost certainty it was Silvie this morning on the WMAL comment line. Sean Hannity Sucks. (5/13/09) Dave's response: Coming soon to Bravo - "Charles County Moms"..... Geronimo going to Caps game, O'Meara broadcasting live next to Verizon Center, Perhaps a chance for a drop in guest visit. (5/13/09) How DARE you put down my tin foil skull cap? How do you think I get clear reception to those wonderful RedZebra stations owned by Dan Synder. AND I'm a hit at parties too! Paul (5/13/09) Poster #1: Ed Shultz is also live on WTNT, you moron... now there's a bobblehead I'd make out with all night long. Poster #2: I don't listen to Hannity - read below wheere I stated that I listen to Monica Crowley from 3-6 pm. -Silvie- (5/13/09) For Scott Carpenter: Seth Warner has been working weekends at Mix 107.3 for the past year or two. (5/13/09) Aside from WJFK-FM, tonight's Capitals game will also be on WFED/1500 once afternoon Nationals coverage is complete. Hopefully, WFED will be allowed to skip out on the Nats post-game. Everett W. (5/13/09) Why am I not surprised that the Mailbag's resident psychopath uses her "imaginations" to formulate special arrangements of her radios in order to listen to Mancow, Laura Ingraham and Monica Crowley. Rumor has it that after dark she wraps her skull in tin foil and stands on the roof trying to pick up rebroadcasts of Neil Boortz while making out with a Michael Savage bobblehead. There's a reason all of these shows end up on rinky-dink AM stations and are usually broadcast at 2am...that's when all the braindead are scanning the airwaves for directives from other planets. Idea: get a job so Rush and Ann Coulter can stop including you in their "death to the unemployed" rants. (5/13/09) Re: "If DJs (or air talents as we like to be called) weren't necessary for a station to succeed, jockless, automated stations would be all that is on the air since the old days....DUH!" Dear DUH, Things change. When formats fragmented and Top-40 became 15 kinds of oldies, rock, adult, and urban - - that meant that the top 20 or so stations in DC could each have different formats. When there are two or more stations with the same format, signal, coverage, music, mode of broadcast being equal, the station with the best DJs won. When the owners/managers found out they were the only game in town, and cut some of the live segments, started playing bad music rotations, and the numbers stayed about the same; our life in Hell began. So if you are a Country station playing modern country, you don't have to worry about the Classic Country station with the 1.0 share. I do hope that the PPMs will generate more attention to the TSL and give us some personality back. I understand that CC, Citadel, and CBS can make money without jocks, but music flow won't work forever. I can get thousands of radio stations and music feeds on my computer. The variety is unbelievable. Radio can only continue to survive if personality is injected. It has to be good stuff, not stupid DJs with nothing to say. I love radio, shame it sucks. Ed Graham (5/13/09) (Dave's response: The way I understand it is WTOP has the highest percentage listenership of any station in the nation of a certain key demo within their local market.) That claim would have been more logical when WTOP was still on 1500 AM, and they really could be heard from Maine to Florida. Great site, thanks. (5/13/09) Can Jesse Ventura waterboard Sean Hannity after he waterboards Dick Cheney? As for the call at 8:45 AM on WMAL, that was “the comment line,” which is taped. So, the caller could have been Silvie from the seven or six AM hour. Silvie, you are a great American, but this Hannity clown has got to go. Mark Levin's sub has been on fire lately. Last night Andrew hung up immediately on two "liberal callers," not giving them tim to finish sentences, and then said, "I can take calls from liberals all day." Gotta call in and get me suvival seeds or freedom seeds or just the seeds. Does anyone know the webiste for that texas roadshow in DC? Is the Texas Road show an event, or just a website? (5/13/09) Yes, I suppose my demographic (woman, suburban mom) is now the kind of demographic that WTNT is targeting. Mancow has a lady side-kick now who is hilarious, and The Laura Ingraham Show follows his show. Then at 3 p.m., Monica Crowley goes live with her show for three straight hours. Many of my mom friends listen to the station as well, but the signal is very poor down here in Southern Maryland. We can pick it up okay in our car radios, or by using our imaginations in arranging our radios at home in a way that our antennas point towards Bethesda-Rockville. -Silvie- (5/13/09) Dave's response: Here in Reston, just two local AMers have perfect signals day AND night - righty talker WMAL and righty talker WTNT. A number of other local AMers cover Reston great by day, but go weak at night, a la WTEM and WFED..... Hey Dave, First you report that unfavorable email to WJLA and Newschannel 8 were running 100 to one against McKelway. That was bogus, because it was an orchestrated campaign by a well-organized interest group. And now, when AOL puts it to a poll -- in the general public -- not the gay blogosphere , you don't report that the numbers are running three to one in McKelways favor. What gives? (5/13/09) Dave's response: Just reportin' what I'm told. That "100-to-one" number was a quote from a source..... It wasn't me, Dave. I listen to Mancow starting at 8 a.m. now. -Silvie- (5/13/09) Dave's response: Oh, so you're the one tuned into to TNT at that hour..... Give Gurvir a break. The person posting this crap about her MUST be a man. She's taking care of a set of twins, for Chrissake, as well as a partner (I'm not exactly sure whether or not she's married to Tom) and she's up prior to the crack of dawn every week day in order to fulfill her duties at Fox 5 News. If I had to do what she and millions of men & women with small babies have to do on a daily basis in order to keep their profession, parenthood & their home life afloat, I'd be a wreck. Same goes to another hero of mine, WMAL's Bryan Nehman. The man is flawless on-air every single morning, and he's got two little babies at home (his wife works a lot, so Bryan is responsible for the kiddies during the daytime hours). Cut these people a break, man! -Silvie- (5/13/09) Dave's response: Someone called into WMAL's G&A at 8:45 this morning. Sounded an awful lot like Silvie. And I know what Silvie sounds like..... (" Dave's response: OK, I would also make the Junks the "signature talent" for the sports weekends at JFK. Hey, they could do weekend morning/afternoon shows on JFK, in addition to their sometimes pre-empted weekday evening slots. There are four Junks. They can be "spread around".....") ok, so now you suggest taking a (pretty) popular morning show and moving them to weekends. i'm SURE that is EXACTLY what the bosses are thinking. (Dan Mason: ok, lets pay these guys 250k a year, and have them hold down that saturday morning drive! Chris Kinard: Brilliant!) Dave, get a hold of yourself. The junks on weekend mornings is by far the worst scenario you have ever come up with. (5/13/09) Dave's response: OK, fire Big O and Dukes and put the Junks in middays, with Geronimo doing mornings and O'Meara afternoons. Then just plug into Fox Sports Radio at 7 PM. Or, better yet, fire the Junks and keep B&OD. They're soooo much cheaper. Look, I'm joking. I like the Junks. But I just think that JFK could "do better" in mornings with a return of the "Dark Lord." Oh, isn't that 250K a year EACH?..... Dave, or anyone else out there know if there is a national radio broadcast of tonights' Caps-Pens game. I may be on the road for awhile and can't always pick up WTOP. Burt/ Maryland eastern shore (5/13/09) Dave's response: The game is on WJFK, 106.7 FM..... so Im watching the Magic/Celtics game last night and they come out of a break and do this little skit in order to promote the stats guy. It's sort of a skit where they pretend to go to a timeout and Marv Albert and Reggie miller both ask him for some stats and he pretends to get upset and walks off. What is this? first off it just wasnt funny. Secondly, cant we just watch a game to watch the game. There is no reason in the world for all of these productions to keep trying to get so cutesy! It just doesnt work. You wanna do a mailbag segment w/ Reggie Miller, fine. You wanna have Dave Aldridge interview a coach coming out of a timeout, OK. But skits? come on. They just dont work. Dave, as usual, thanks for letting me rant. (5/13/09) Dave: I would like to take a phrase from Czaban's vocabulary, "People, people, let's calm down." Once the decision was made to make the talent changes at ESPN980, we all knew a train-wreck was coming. I spoke to a friend of mine who's a radio talent/agent and he had a great take on the latest change at 980. Things will only get worse because Bruce Gilbert has his politically correct hands are all tied-up when it comes to hiring new talent. To everyone's dismay, they aren't going to pink-slip Pollin or Czaban {even though their arrogance is through the roof} and pay-off their contracts. There's no one that has the courtesy to tell Sheehan he's not a drive-time talent and Doc Walker needs grammar lessons. I appreciate Tom Loverro's work at the Washington Times but he's not a radio personality. I guess we're at the point where no one will come-on the Sports Reporters unless they're getting paid high dollars. Just like a well run professional sports team, it starts at the top and nothing will change until Snyder takes the time to clean-house from the top to the bottom. (5/13/09) If DJs (or air talents as we like to be called) weren't necessary for a station to succeed, jockless, automated stations would be all that is on the air since the old days....DUH! (5/13/09) FOX's Gurvir.She wasn't like that when she was at channel 9..What haaappened?? Didn't she adopted twins w/o being married? (5/13/09) Dave's response: Tracey Neale adopted two infants from Ethiopia (or someplace like that). Gurvir gave birth to her own set of twins..... Does anyone know what happened to Seth warner from WMZQ? He was let go a couple of years ago in one of the Clear Channel house cleanings. He and I used to work together there years ago, and I lost track of him when he got canned. Thanks, Scott Carpenter (formally WMZQ, WPGC, WWRC and others) (5/13/09) Davy Jones KHZ/WYRE is at it again, today he decided to take a shot at O’meara…he said *quote “ I see Mike O’Mears will be starting an extra income job as a consultant for JENNIE CRAIG” Now, THAT’S funny!! Sure Mike won’t appreciate it. WOW (5/13/09) dave, you suggest putting the junkies on at night, and then you suggest getting caps and nats play by play. lets think about this: junks at night. nats and caps play at night. so i guess every time the caps and nats play at night, the junks get pre-empted? good move, PD Dave! (5/13/09) Dave's response: OK, I would also make the Junks the "signature talent" for the sports weekends at JFK. Hey, they could do weekend morning/afternoon shows on JFK, in addition to their sometimes pre-empted weekday evening slot. There are four Junks. They can be "spread around"..... Regarding the question about Andy and Steve and the end date on their contracts...we will all know the end on the day they are dismissed.They know it is coming...Danny knows it, and we know it! Same with Thompson and Walker. On a side note, the Caps success and the media coverage is killing Snyder. I hope they go all the way if for no other reason than to have danny squirm in pain. (5/13/09) Dave's response: "Andy And Steve" - sounds like a show on Logo..... I didn't know that JZW used to be Classic Rock until the other day. Do you remember that? (5/13/09) Dave's response: Sure, 105.9 was WCXR classic rock. It flipped from country WXRA in 1985-ish or so. Paul Harris did the morning show. A good format, with lots of deep tracks, unlike what 94.7 was in its later days..... (Dave's response: The way I understand it is WTOP has the highest percentage listenership of any station in the nation of a certain key demo within their local market.) Correct. Adults 12+ (5/13/09) What does this mean? From All Access: "1090 INVESTMENTS LLC has sold Religion WCAR-A (DETROIT CATHOLIC RADIO)/LIVONIA-DETROIT, MI and silent WOAP-A/OWASSO, MI to SIMA BIRACH's BIRACH BROADCASTING CORP. The price was $1.025 million cash." Isn't WDMV still off the air? Will it ever come back? (5/13/09) Hi Dave, I apologize if this has already been addressed on Mailbag (I searched and didn’t see it). The past few mornings I’ve heard WTOP tout itself as the “most listened-to radio station in the NATION, according to Arbitron.” I realize they are top-rated in the DC area, but I didn’t think Arbitron rated stations on a national basis. And even if they do, how could a station with a 9 share in the 8th-largest market be the nation’s most listened-to station? Any idea what gives? Thanks. – Mark in DC (5/13/09) Dave's response: The way I understand it is WTOP has the highest percentage listenership of any station in the nation of a certain key demo within their local market. That, they claim, gives them the right to call themselves the "most listened-to station in the nation." However, another station could have a lower percentage of listeners within that particular demo within a much bigger market (like NYC and LA) and have a significantly larger audience within that demo than WTOP. Whatever..... (Snip) Worldwide, the Caps-Pens series has been broadcast on every continent (except Antarctica) and in more than 125 countries. (end snip) I'm willing to bet Armed Forces Radio and Television figures out a way to get a signal (even if it's tape-delay) to the civilians and uniformed personnel station in Antarctia. Al McGilvray (5/13/09) I wonder if FOX's Gurvir has been diagnosed with some sort of neurological disorder that causes her to be so figgity on the set everyday..Her hands are flying all over the place to the point where I'm afraid she's going to hit Tony Perkins in the face when he does the weather..She just can't keep still in her seat..She wasn't like that when she was at channel 9..What haaappened?? (5/13/09) RE: CBS Radio............. Ok, I understand that The Globe was not working and some kind of change was needed, but didn't Bonneville try basically this FRESH format on 104.1 and it failed miserably? But, what drives me even more nuts about CBS Radio is WJFK 106.7 and WLZL 99.1. It just makes no freaking sense! EARTH TO CBS... NO LATINOS IN BALTIMORE! DUH! In fact, I think Baltimore has one of the lowest Latino populations of any top 25 market. Is WYRE 810 even playing Latino music anymore? Did they even move their transmitter? I think they gave up, it's been over 3 years! The FCC construction permit should have expired by now right? Anyway, the CBS handling of the WJFK and WLZL frequencies is far beyond insane. Imagine if CBS brought Don Geronimo back and made 99.1 WJFK Annapolis/Washington/Baltimore. Don & Mike got far better ratings on WJFK AM 1300 in Baltimore than 99.1 FM gets now there! It's just insane and a complete waste of a dual market frequency with the current situation, especially since the transmitter was moved. What people don't realize is that the 99.1 transmitter move not only improved DC reception of 99.1, but it ALSO improved reception to Baltimore too, but for no good reason! Ideally, I'd love WHFS back on 99.1, but I think CBS suits made it quite clear that ain't gonna happen even though CC will probably flip 104.3 to something else quite soon. 104.3 & 94.7 prove a point I think... both started off jockless and both are doomed to failure so I think the person who posted that DJs are no longer important might be a bit hasty. Think about it... DJs are the ONLY thing that radio has to differentiate itself from an iPOD or iPHONE or satellite radio or Comcast music on your TV. Anyway, what are they thinking at CBS Radio Dave? Somebody help me out, i just don't get it. (5/13/09) Dave's response: Read my 5/5 Rant..... i have fianally given up on the mike o'meara show. these god-awful guests he has SUCK, and the new way they do commercials now (with more breaks, but are 5-6 minutes long with shorter segments) is actually worse than the 10 minute breaks and longer segments, at least in my opinion. I also cant stand those constant "where we are, and where you should be" commercials that always air during EVERY EFFING BREAK! So now, i just mostly listen to WBIG, but the constant repeats they have there get on my nerves to. i am moving back home to michigan for college, which is in the detroit listening area, which is a MUCH BETTER radio market with even the AM dial being listenable. all i can say to DC area radio.....GODD RIDDANCE! (5/13/09) Dave's response: Still think CBS needs to get Don Geronimo back - for mornings. He can return JFK to a "top 10" position in a broad-based demo to better compete with Elliot, Loo, and Diamond. So, Geronimo (with Robb) 6 AM - 10 AM. Big O and Dukes 10 AM - 2 PM. O'Meara (with BA and Buzz) 2 PM - 6 PM. And the Sports Junkies from 6 PM - 10 PM. WJFK would have a duo-talk format. It would be "guy talk" from 6 AM to 6 PM weekdays, and sports talk and sports play-by-play from 6 PM to 6 AM weekdays and all weekend. Get Nats and Caps play-by-play next season..... Someone recently posted about the changes at WTEM (“Recent changes at ESPN980 - the whitening of the station... Have you noticed that all of the black people who were on ESPN 980 are now gone except Doc and Coach?). How about WUSA? Three layoffs from the anchor desk over last several months, and they’re all white: Todd McDermott, Mike Walter and Jennifer Ryan. And none of them have been replaced, which means that they only have one white anchor TOTAL in the form of Anita Brickman. Does anyone know if they will replace any of the departed anchors? I really don’t like the flow of the solo anchor format on the newscasts. Actually, I really don’t care if they’re replaced or not, because I switched to WJLA. -BG (5/13/09) Oh Great! Fuckin JOY!!! CBS is gonna let Fresh2's HD signal be called some kind of HFS!!! Yeah THATS how it's done! Broadcast only to those who bought an HD,which according to LOTS of people online ISN'T MANY. Let's not forget that even WITH and HD radio the signal does not reach much of northern Maryland. WLZL's numbers haven't budged a bit,along with the rest, yet there isn't so much as a HINT of any kind of change coming to El Zol....scared of being politically incorrect CBS? Well I'm NOT!! Aside from the fact that the target audience comes up ghost on the census....and the ratings apparently....HFS was stolen away in a sneaky,gutless way much like the Colts were and a side channel on a douche flavored radio station isn't worth much to some of us. There's a perfectly good signal spewing out a failing format....sooo...where ya at CBS? It isn't like you to miss a chance to shake things up so what's the deal? MS13 sending you threats? Or are they your best hookup? TGB,PGC,JFK....they all felt the heat so why not LZL? Too much like admitting a mistake to put HFS back on 99.1? Dont act like no one will advertise on HFS because they had the best commercials on the radio....catering to people who didn't fit into the 'box'. Maybe thats it....nonconformists don't deserve entertainment. Thats ok because everytime someone asks what's playing on my radio I tell them it's my MP3 full of what HFS used to play along with 21 flavors of Fuck CBS. Yes 5 years later. I have a long memory and I listened to 99.1 HFS for 22 years so we aren't nearly close to even. (5/13/09) nice to see Jerald N. Fritz will be actually working and not wondering through the newsroom in his double breasted suits looking like he should be hosting a game show instead of being a lawyer. (5/13/09) /\ May 13 Messages /\ \/ May 12 Messages \/ Regarding WTEM, I thought lil' wee danny was finally being a bit objective. Seemed to me that Czaban and Pollin had a pretty free hand to express their opinions about the Redskin's. The recent firings of Koken and of Mitchell seems to indicate that lil' danny et al were just waiting for contracts to end before jettison folks. When dothe contracts of Czaban and Pollin's come to an end? Hey Davey Jones I find O'Meara fairly boorish but I'd think his teaming up with Mr. Geronimo made him a good income for many years unfortunately it appears he didn't learn very much. It all sucks! (5/12/09) To the poster asking about Sarah Caldwell's marriage: You obviously know her so ask her yourself. Don't bring her personal life into the mailbag. It's a scumbag move and you ought to be ashamed. Enough said. (5/12/09) Looking forward to Cerphe (or anyone) at this point to keep track of what's being played on 94.7 HD2. There has got to be more out there than "Kids" by MGMT. Holy cow! I think I've heard that song every day on each leg of my commute for the last week or so. (5/12/09) I'll tell you the reason that the star street reporters did not ask the clueless woman about stopping on the railroad tracks. I worked with both television and radio reporters for over twenty years and I have never met one who understood anything about the railroad. They have no idea how trains work, what they do, what to call them, and the workings of the railroad. I remember handling a fatality in Gaithersburg years ago and a reporter asked me why the train did not stop in time. The day after Obama made his famous train trip to Washington a Post reporter reported that he had traveled in an "antique blue caboose" when in fact it was a passenger car. The Post has never printed a correction. On another note why in the world does Comcast Sports Net bother having a post-game show after hockey games? They constantly cut the coverage of the interviews with the coach after three questions only to switch to some idiotic chatter by one of their non-hockey persons. (5/12/09) When did WBALTV Traffic Reporter Sarah Caldwell end her marriage? No ring visible anymore. (5/12/09) Best/Worst Owners; Jerry Jones isn't on the Worst list. He's been just as much as an eff up as Danny has since Jimmy Johnson left. That's because SI is Peter King, King is on his knee's for the Cowboys. (5/12/09) Mike O'Meara:: Damnit Mike! Remember when [we] brought up the "P" word so long ago? In the United States, palimony is a court-ordered financial settlement between two former lovers that, though never married, cohabitated for a significant period of time. How long will it be until Carla "lawyers-up?" (5/12/09) To “Money Trumps Looks” easy to figure out you came out on the wrong end of the stick..LOL-WOW (5/12/09) 1) Doreen's pronounciation of "Benoit" is a non-issue.... I've heard worse.... Benoit is pronounced in different ways in Canada, the SE U.S. and France. 2) If I hear one more time on FOX 5 News that Adam Lambert will be the new American Idol, I am going to scream! 3) Dave, my two guys (hubby & son) both have a crush on FOX 5's Sara Simmons now - so I'm competing with her every morning! Hubby had the audacity to ask me the other day if I could dye my hair her color. 4) It was fun to watch David Shuster this morning on MSNBC, telling the audience how he was about to "vomit" due to the decision of Donald Trump vis-a-vis Miss California. Here's The Shuster freaking out: www.thehopeforamerica.com... -Silvie- (5/12/09) I've never understood the losers out there who love posting about the trials of Mike O'Meara's life, or Don Geronimo before him. I've never met them or worked for an affiliate, but they sure got me through some depressing years in the hinterlands of Wichita. It was either country, classic country, young country, tejano, Dr. Laura (that bitch) or Don and Mike. And just to even out the survey of radio folks who marry youngsters, my wife is a whopping three hours younger than me. I love those jailbait chicks. (5/12/09) Doreen Gentzler on the 4PM WRC newscast during a story on the conviction of the doctor who prescribed the drugs that drove WWE wrestler Chris Benoit to commit suicide kept calling him "Ben - owit" instead of "Ben - wah". Doesn't anybody over there check pronunciation guides...maybe take a step over to the sports department? Idiots. (5/12/09) Money trumps looks.= It's great when people that don't have, blames others for their shit of a life. (5/12/09) Today Kevin Sheehan felt the need to take calls on where tomorrow night's Pittsburgh-Capitals game seven ranks in terms of big local sporting events. In so doing, he made clear that he believed it ranked below big Redskins games, some college basketball games, etc. Now, why he felt the need to do this, I have no idea, unless Danny Boy is starting to get worried about the Caps and is having his henchmen start to belittle their accomplishments. But Sheehan was put in his place when Jim Williams of the Examiner called in and told him that tomorrow night's game would be seen by half a billion people in 125 countries worldwide. Sheehan was suitably flabbergasted. (5/12/09) How does Mike get to be so fat and get the cute girl? Easy. Fat guys with fat wallets and access to trendy places always get the cute girl because a) he can buy her and b) she longs for attention that she could not otherwise afford. So he gets her in the see and be seen places and gets rewarded handsomely for his efforts. Money trumps looks. (5/12/09) To the a-hole that posted the following----“It was so very sweet of PLBAM (Pretty Little Beth Ann McBride) to come to the defense of her boss: “I read the post referring to Mike O’Meara’s personal trials and tribulations. I am saddened and angered. His personal life, his failures, stuff does NOT belong on this site.” She’s right: they belong on this site” First of all PLB is not Beth Ann, secondly his personal life should be just that.PERSONAL-Leave the guy alone. I’m sure he’s in a lot of pain. Some people are just not compatible with anyone, and we don’t need to put his dirty laundry out there just to bust him. As for older jocks and younger women, my bride of 25 years is 15 years younger than I. The “romantics” keep on trying til they get it right..It’s that simple. PLB (5/12/09) Here is a look inside the demos for this week's PPM numbers. AM Drive 18-34: DC101, Hot 99.5, WBIG, El Zol, WTOP (Junkies 9th)... Big O And Dukes were 15th in middays and Mike O'Meara was 13th in PM drive... AM Drive 25-54: WTOP, WAMU, WHUR, Mix 107.3, DC101 (Junkies 11th)... Big O And Dukes were 11th in middays and Mike O'Meara was 11th in PM drive... (5/12/09) It has been suggested that those technicians among us, ham radio operators, union members, and big FCC ticket holders (you remember those), would be doing our industry a big favor if we were to volunteer our time and services to help our neighbors and friends if they're having difficulty getting their DTV converters hooked up. I've helped several of my friends and neighbors already. All things considered, it takes about 1/2 hour to 45 minutes including the pleasant small talk. As some know already, it isn't a big technical task, but it sure would be appreciated by those who are coaxially-challenged. Hands-on help would make broadcasting, ham radio, and unions look a lot better if we were personally involved in easing the transition to DTV. Just an idea. Moe the Union Guy (5/12/09) It was so very sweet of PLBAM (Pretty Little Beth Ann McBride) to come to the defense of her boss: “I read the post referring to Mike O’Meara’s personal trials and tribulations. I am saddened and angered. His personal life, his failures, stuff does NOT belong on this site.” She’s right: they belong on this site: www.wjfk.com (5/12/09) Any info on the ratings for the News Channel 8's show "Let's Talk Live"? (5/12/09) Jerald N. Fritz, Senior Vice President for Legal and Strategic Affairs and General Counsel, Allbritton Communications Company will be speaking at a panel event regarding the Fairness Doctrine... Date: Thursday, May 14th... Time: 12:30 PM – 2:00 PM... Location: The National Press Club’s First Amendment Lounge, 529 14th Street NW, Washington, DC 20045... The fairness doctrine, which was scrapped by the FCC as unconstitutional in 1987, required broadcasters to air both sides of controversial issues and to do so in a manner that was (in the Commission's view) honest, equitable and balanced. A stealth version of the doctrine may already be teed up at the FCC in the form of community advisory boards to help determine local programming. Efforts to re-impose the doctrine could stretch to cable, satellite, and even the Internet. (5/12/09) WTEM probably had little choice but to reassign Doc Walker to the John Thompson show after letting go of both Al Koken and Brian Mitchell - should be a seamless transition inasmuch as Walker spent a number of years co-hosting with Thompson prior to getting his own show about two years ago. While Scott Linn may have been a good pick as well, he already has a daily three hour gig co-hosting Steve Czaban's morning drive show on Fox Sports Radio (not carried on 980). Mitchell was hired by the station shortly after Tony Kornheiser left for Monday Night Football - he hosted his own show for a while before being moved over to Thompson's program. While providing candid critiques of the Redskins was clearly his strong suit, he seems to know a lot about basketball as well and deserves credit for putting some time into learning more about hockey. Speaking of the NHL, Andy Pollin and Steve Czaban are idiots for never asking John Feinstein about the Capitals during his weekly interviews on Sports Reporters - it's not as if golf's been a much bigger topic around here over the past few weeks. Watching Comcast SportsNet's Washington Post Live yesterday, it's clear that Feinstein follows hockey closely (not just the Caps but the entire league) and can provide meaningful insights into what's happening on the ice. On the Locker Room show yesterday, Kevin Sheehan seemed to hint that he'd be getting a new co-host (replacing Walker) before long. It's hard to imagine anyone being hired from the outside right now, so perhaps a current staffer such as morning update guy Al Galdi or Skins beat reporter Frank Hanrahan will get the gig. Of course Sheehan was a sidekick on Triple X's John Riggins show prior to Dan Snyder's purchase of WTEM, and now it appears that Riggins is no longer on the payroll (otherwise he'd surely have been part of the station's extensive coverage of the Redskins draft two weeks ago). Mike, Fairfax (5/12/09) (... but... "Monitor" (www.monitorbeacon.net) was on *NBC* Radio ...) I knew someone would correct me, and I do appreciate it. Maybe it was the fog of youth or the fog of age ;-) I'm not sure. But you're right, that was personality radio at its finest! Moe the Union Guy. (5/12/09) From Shapiro: "As for Mitchell, he has been one of Washington's fastest rising stars. He was solid on the radio..." Shapiro needs to get off the bottle. (5/12/09) Reading and hearing these stories about next month's DTV transition, well some of them makes me want to do a Stan Laurel..say scratching my head. All of this "concern" that some will lose TV. I was on Oklahoma City recently and I was watching one of their DTV ads saying "..we ain't gonna stop until EVERYONE is ready !!!" Ok Good Idea !! But what about those who for one reason or another simply refuse for get involved? Great example is actor Jason Lee from the NBC sitcom "My Name is Earl". A few months back some reporter had asked him if he "was ready". Jason's response? "....MAN..this whole digital TV shit is soooooo retarded !! No I don't own a set and I don't want too either..its all garbage" Somewhat kind of reminds me of and old classmate of mine when I had attended the Wakefield Country Day School in Huntly, VA back in the 70's. Even though his dad was this bigshot at then WTOP-TV ( and WTOP paid him quite well )..his dad still would not allow a TV set to enter his home as he felt "TV retards the brain". Come to think of it someone once told me many years ago that Jim Vance doesn't own a set..by choice. I wonder if that is true? Anyway going back to DTV and June 12th, while I am sure there are some who aren't ready but maybe its time that the broadcasters and government agencies really should take the "hey we have been telling you for a long time now..if you aren't ready by now well that is YOUR problem" attitude now. But the idea that some have like "not until everyone is ready"...they might as well forget it. They will never get "everyone". (5/12/09) I read the post referring to Mike O’Meara’s personal trials and tribulations. I am saddened and angered. You know, I too am not particularly impressed with his ways and yes his failures, but for God’s Sake leave the man’s personal life out of this. As a broadcaster he’s failed for the most part and that too is sad. At one time he was an exciting, interesting, inquisitive broadcaster with the world in front of him. His hook up with Mike Sorce was his downfall. He lost all confidence and he also lost his work ethic and energy. His younger conquests were quite impressive. Great Freelance VO Talent…great PD..and he lost all of that. His personal life, his failures, stuff does NOT belong on this site. PLB (5/12/09) I always found that pic of Mike O'Meara and his ex-girlfriend a little disturbing..Looks like a Dad and his daughter vs. a man and a grown woman..How did they hook up anyway? (5/12/09) Dave's response: There are an awful lot of guys in the radio biz who have wives/girlfriends who are half their age. Don't know why that is..... What is with the constant Mark Kaye plugs? He was annoying on the air and annoying to work with. Dave, I have never understood your infatuation with losers like him and D and M. Please the last thin we want is to see him come back here. Let's get some new blood in DC rather than recycling these old has beens. (5/12/09) Jeff in Bowie, Hammity is an ass. From his equivocations to his black and white thinking, his commentaries are illogical, by definition. Throw in his scheduled planted and scripted calls (52 past the hour-set your watch alarm), and you have what appears to be propaganda with an agenda. Does anyone out there believe college chicks sit around listening to Hammity and bitch about their "liberal professors?" Remember at the Republican Convention the four young blonde hotties walking around talking about how much they loved Hammity, and that he was "sexy?" I always wondered; if those weren't hired models, how did they get credentialed to get in the building if they were just typical 19 year old blondes? Hammity likes to deceive, I guess. Hammity's illogical commentaries and scripted call in show can be heard locally on WMAL. (5/12/09) How come you never see Howard Kurtz and Bob Saget in the same room? (5/12/09) Dave's response: How come you never see Count Gore De Vol (Dick Dyzsel) and Data (Brent Spiner) in the same room? (Probably got a 100 e-mails on this already. Carla and Mike O'Meara are no longer a couple but apparently remain friends. Mike O'Meara announced this on his show today.) Well, according to that fat old lard ass O’Meara on today’s show, the much younger, fertile, got her whole life ahead of her Carla dumped the washed up, has been, also ran Mike because he is most likely shooting blanks, impotent, or had a vasectomy and she wants to have children (God just imagine what a load another fatso O’Meara would have been). Failed marriages, failed shows, failed restaurant, hell, O’Meara can’t even grow a decent beard: thank God Carla came to her senses and is back in the dating game. Might just have to give her a call: Lord knows O’Meara’s would be easy shoes to more than fill. Loser. Love, Rob. (5/12/09) Dave's response: The young couple in happier times (right). A "Star Trek" convention followed by a Caps game..... “The NewsHour With Jim Lehrer,” public broadcasting’s nightly newscast, is getting a makeover, designed to bring it more fully into the digital era, give it a livelier look and nudge it, however slowly, toward the day when its longtime anchor decides to retire. Lehrer, who will turn 75 next Tuesday, isn’t stepping down. But in September the program will be retitled “PBS NewsHour” and return to a two-anchor format, which it had until 1995, when Robert MacNeil left. Here's the link to a NY Times article about it www.nytimes.com (5/12/09) Re: "Moe the Union Guy" and reminiscing...some good points, Moe, but... "Monitor" (www.monitorbeacon.net) was on *NBC* Radio for almost 20 years (1955-1975). "NBC Monitor" was very strong "Personality Radio!" Just look at some of the hosts (known as "Communicators"): Dave Garroway, Frank Blair, Hugh Downs, Frank Gallop, Walter Kiernan, John Cameron Swayze, Ben Grauer, David Brinkley, Art Buchwald, Leon Pearson, Red Barber, Johnny Andrews, Al "Jazzbo" Collins, Gene Rayburn, Bert Parks, Mel Allen, Hal March, Frank McGee, Monty Hall, Bob Haymes, Bill Hayes, Peter Hackes, James Daly, Ted Steele, Jim Backus, David Wayne, Ed McMahon, Barry Nelson, Tony Randall, Henry Morgan, Brad Crandall, Joe Garagiola, Durward Kirby, Garry Moore, Murray the K, Ted Brown, Jim Lowe, Bill Cullen, Dan Daniel, Cindy Adams, Art Fleming, Art Ford, Don Imus, Wolfman Jack, Robert W. Morgan, Tony Taylor, Bruce Bradley, Big Wilson and John Bartholomew Tucker! Not to mention reports anchored by big names such as Barbara Walters, Arlene Francis, Marlene Dietrich, Betty Furness, Chet Huntley, Morgan Beatty, Al Capp, Jean Shepherd, Skitch Henderson, Lindsey Nelson, Kyle Rote, Bill Mazer, Paul Christman, Curt Gowdy, Sandy Koufax, Jim Simpson, Chris Economaki, Len Dillon, Gene Shalit, Dr. Joyce Brothers, Jerry Baker (the Master Gardener), Graham Kerr (the Galloping Gourmet) and many others. And comedy from people like Bob and Ray, Nichols and May, Jonathan Winters, Phyllis Diller, Ernie Kovacs, Bob Hope, Bob Newhart, Stiller and Meara, Selma Diamond, Bill Cosby, Woody Allen and lots more! Is that enough personality for ya? Pretty expensive cast of characters, even then! "NBC Monitor" was ahead of its time! Lots of entertainment AND information. It paved the way for Talk Radio as we know it today! (And a lot of TV, too!) - - - Who knows? Maybe a modified version of "Monitor Radio" WOULD work in the 21st century! But for the fact that NBC Radio is now just an empty shell of its former self and the Web seems to all the bases covered. Still, it's fun to reminisce! --RB (5/12/09) /\ May 12 Messages /\ \/ May 11 Messages \/ "The excuse for canceling the John Thompson Show before the end of the year will be that the format is unsustainable. Just watch." No excuse is necessary to cancel that abortion of a show. It is unlistenable radio at it's worst. (5/11/09) I too wish one of the reporters had asked why that woman stopped her car ON the railroad tracks..One report said that she "accidently" got stuck on the tracks..No, you don't accidently get stuck on the track unless your car dies on you or somehow something gets caught up under the car..In this case, this woman STOPPED on the track..Guess no one wants her to feel worse than she already does as I'm sure by now she knows what she did was quite dumb. (5/11/09) (regarding a previous post) "Please ask your readers on the dcrtv website if they have or know how to get a copy of the FCC Radiotelephone Operators Handbook before 1987 that can be posted, especially the part about responsibility and control of content at the transmitter". I haven't seen one of those in years - but I still have my original FCC 3rd Class License. I took my first test for a Radio Telephone Third Class Operator Permit (with Broadcast Endorsement), way back in the summer of 1972 over at 1919 M Street NW. On the back are some distinct PROHIBITIONS. (see photo) I'm not sure how stations can get away with broadcasting "false or deceptive signals or communications" that fill the airwaves today, but you can't turn on a radio without being bombarded with it. Rush, Glenn Beck, Hannity, and the rest. (5/11/09) Turned on NBC4 and saw Dan Hele with his arm in a sling, but only heard the end of him saying something about a skiing accident..Is this guy accident prone or what??!!!..He got hit in the eye while playing basketball and I thought I had heard that he had injured his shoulder awhile back while skiing..Uh Dan, maybe you're not meant to participate in sports.. (5/11/09) Dave's response: Dan had the skiing accident last winter. Maybe he just had surgery for it, thus the sling..... Dave, Please ask your readers on the dcrtv web sight if they have or know how to get a copy of the FCC Radiotelephone Operators Handbook before 1987 that can be posted, especially the part about responsibility and control of content at the transmitter for the operator signed on to the station operations log? This might explain why there is Censorship of the Peoples Airwaves and a lot of Automation of radio stations in America and why this has put a lot of talented people is out of work. I'M sure once it's read there is going to be an understanding of what took place under Ronald Reagan's, watch and folks might want to mobilize to take back control of the Peoples Airwaves. Billy Ray (5/11/09) It's good to hear Randi Rhodes again. In addition to getting her on a local station, Premiere Radio Networks needs to make some alternative live streaming links available, like for iTunes or mp3 player. The crappy streaming set-up that Clear Channel station websites utilize is beyond horrible! Somebody mentioned today that she's on XM-Sirius, so that's good for those folks. (5/11/09) Typical move for NBC. Inside joke in the NY HQ is that the calls stand for "Nephews, Brothers and Cousins", a nod to the degree of real-life nepotism that goes on there. (5/11/09) I can't believe that Sean Hannity is still harping on Obama for having the audacity to order a cheeseburger with "Grey Poupon" on it (Actually, the President didn't ask for "Grey Poupon", he asked for a "spicy mustard, like a dijon" on his cheeseburger). Unfortunately, once again, Sean appears to have put his foot in his mouth by failing to do his homework before launching such a piddily attack. Grey Poupon mustard isn't a foreign product, or even "elitist". Grey Poupon is manufactured in the good old U.S.A. from New York State wine and Canadian mustard seed. Also, unfortunately for Hannity, Grey Poupon happens to be a product of Kraft Foods - a company that is a prime-time commercial sponsor of the FoxNews Channel... yourblackworld.com, including a little show FoxNews airs in the evening called "Hannity". Oops. - Jeff in (you just can't make this s#!t up!) Bowie (5/11/09) As for Luke Russert my wife and I saw him do a piece on NBC Nightly News about two weeks ago; maybe three. He's green and he'll learn. But he should bring down his ego and work at a small market station for awhile. NBC was no doubt wrong to do what they did. (5/11/09) Dave's response: I'm sure that Luke's a very talented guy. But he needs to develop his career away from his legendary dad's "shadow" at NBC. He'll understand what I'm saying when he turns 40 or so..... Re: "Long live FORWARD MOTION, HIGH ENERGY CREATIVE RADIO. There are still a few stations that have the balls to be DIFFERENT, THANK GOD!" Great post! Just want to remind folks that there is a great music show on WPFW www.wpfw.org Saturday mornings. House Party with Capt'n Fly. This guy knows how to talk into the beginning of a song and work the tune's volume slider as he brings it up. I'm sorry, I'm not a radio pro and don't know the trade terms. But this cat builds excitement into a song, and it reminds me of the way music stations and their "personalities" and jocks worked the entertainment on DC radio in the 60's and 70's. The show is on 8-11AM with old school soul and r&b. Starts kind of mellow at 8 but he's cookin' by 9. They may be doing fundraising this week, but check them out. Great way to start the weekend. BTW the rest of the Saturday morning programming is pretty damn good too ;) Robert in Arlington (5/11/09) Can any of our very talented local news reporters ask Mrs. Valencia (the pregnant woman who survived the Mont.Co. railroad crossing incident) why it is that she & her car were right in the middle of the railroad tracks during rush hour? I mean, the lights were not flashing and the barriers were not coming down when she was stuck there, but eventually a MARC train was barreling down, and the barriers and signals did start alerting. Isn't it common sense not to stop in the middle of the tracks, with our without traffic? Also, has anyone asked her if she was utilizing her cell phone prior to the horrific accident? Mrs. Valencia stated today that she wants to improve railroad safety, and that starts with common sense. I'm happy that she and her baby survived the accident, but lady, your 15 minutes are up. -Silvie- (5/11/09) Bob Beckel, you really are a moronic asshole. I just heard you on Sean Insannity's show slamming Wanda Sykes and her digs at Rush, saying that she has no idea of the pain and suffering addicts go through. Uh, Beckel, the issue with Rush and his oxy addiction is about his HYPOCRISY when it comes to addicts and what should be done with them. Perhaps you need to subscribe to that awful dittohead service that Rush offers so you can dig back into the archives for his comments on drug addicts. You really are a goddam disgrace... sucking up to Limbaugh along with all the other testicularly-challenged idiots. Oh, and shame to you Bob Schieffer for trashing Souter the way you did on your pukefest. I used to enjoy watching you on Sundays, now no more. Both of you guys can go Cheney yourselves. Mike in Manassas (5/11/09) Probably got a 100 e-mails on this already. Carla and Mike O'Meara are no longer a couple but apparently remain friends. Mike O'Meara announced this on his show today. (5/11/09) (From DCRTV's Classified Ads:) Radio Anchor - Freelancer. POSITION DESCRIPTION: MarketWatch Radio Network is looking for a freelancer anchor for work starting May 18 and lasting through the end of 2009. Must have network and/or major market experience. Must know how to handle tight deadlines, work independently on copy, and file multiple newscasts an hour. Flexibility with scheduling key. POSITION REQUIREMENTS: Responsibilities: Will work independently without an editor and is responsible for presenting interesting reports which are accurate, up-to-the-minute, precise and unbiased. Will initiate and conduct telephone interviews with stock market commentators, industry and company brokerage analysts, newsmakers and correspondents, depending on the news flow for the day. Segments may be incorporated into newscasts, podcasts or weekend reports and produced for the Web. Requirements: Bachelor's college degree required 3 plus years at a national broadcast network or major market radio station required Must have on-air delivery acceptable to affiliates. Must be able to work a flexible schedule. Must know how to handle tight deadlines, write own copy, file multiple newscasts an hour and gather tape on breaking news. Must be facile with the use of the Internet as a news gathering resource and be able to scan many Web sites and news sources each hour. Candidate must be proficient with PC's and broadcast equipment including a microphone, ISDN unit, minidisk recorder, audio editing software, mixers and a telephone recording system. Please send your resume to: alan.karamehmedovic@dowjones.com. (5/11/09) New documentary coming out on "Count Gore" / "Captain 20" and that whole era of local television! (5/11/09) (Moe the Union Guy says:) "Drake-Chenault lost and Schafer automation won." Automation - or at least a unified system of audio management/playback in one format on one default media - was inevitable. You cannot blame the machine for radio now cruising the galaxy at Suck Factor 9. That honor still goes to mindless unimaginative programmers and dumb-as-brick corporations who view the medium merely as a commodity. (5/11/09) Dave (in Sterling) True some people do have a romantic view of jocks, radio and entertainment. The days of high energy radio were a total blast for both the jock and the listener. That’s why there is so much conversation about it on this site. Those that lived either as a satisfied listener or a happy broadcaster still love the forward motion of a high energy format with a jock that is capable of adding “color” to the song…keep it interesting and topical. Those that post that think differently are probably of the Drake/Chenault Melt-down. Which severely damaged the “FUN” radio of times gone by. To be quite honest, I’d rather listen a jock, young or older that is trying to be entertaining. The young have no mentors any longer and the older, at least most of them have given up on the industry. Shortened play lists are one of the areas that has euthanized the industry. When listening to the formatic radio in both DC and Baltimore..the music just plain sucks. Redundant….no surprises musically or jock wise. There is nothing like playing an oldie that hasn’t been played recently like “Are You a Boy or Are you a Girl-Barbarians, or The Snake Big Al Wilson, or Cannibal and the Headhunters and “Land of 1000 Dances..all local hits in these markets and having a Jock that knows the details of the artists and the songs andcan actually tell you something you didn’t know, or don’t remember. Long live FORWARD MOTION, HIGH ENERGY CREATIVE RADIO. There are still a few stations that have the balls to be DIFFERENT, THANK GOD! (5/11/09) Recent changes at ESPN980 - the whitening of the station... Have you noticed that all of the black people who were on ESPN 980 are now gone except Doc and Coach? And that they put two people who travel a great deal and will be out of the "office" quite a bit? The excuse for canceling the John Thompson Show before the end of the year will be that the format is unsustainable. Just watch. (5/11/09) Dave's response: Al Koken's a white guy, last time I checked..... Re: "In my opinion some folks have a pretty romantic view of the importance of the radio deejay moving forward. Couldn't Ed Sullivan have been a million people? Isn't what people tune in for the entertainment acts ? Does anyone remember the ringmaster above the high wire act, the featured clown, or the little Mexican guys driving those motorcycles in the cage ? Is anyone tuning in for Tom Bergeron if "Stars" aren't dancing ?" Sorry, but the comparison makes no sense. Look, this is simple: every station has access to the same, identical records, and within a very small margin, every Oldies station plays the same identical playlist, every Alt station plays the same identical playlist, etc etc etc. The only unique thing about any station's on-air product is their talent. To just declare all talent identical makes no sense. If "anybody" can do it, why doesn't everybody do it and do it successfully? This gets back to a point I've tried to make for some time, but Very Smart Radio Executives Who Are Watching Their Revenues Implode still think they know best: in the age of digital music obtainable from a multitude of sources (most of them not radio), the answer is NOT to insist that you have the best record collection -- particularly if you share a market with several other same-format stations. The answer is to have memorable on-air talent, because it is THE thing that makes your station UNIQUE. It is the reason talk radio is popular and music radio is dying. And, no, Ed Sullivan could NOT "have been a million people." Here's how you can tell: nobody did it before him or after him and achieved 1/100th the success. And "AFV"'s ratings fell into the dumper when they went to two MTV-inspired hosts prior to Bergeron; when he came to the rescue they jumped back into the top five syndicated programming. Dave in Sterling (5/11/09) News Of The Future, 2047: The Annual Washington Radio Broadcasters Convention was held this past weekend at the Hilton in Tyson's Corners, reuniting radio personalities from the past four decades. Present to greet their public were three Scott Studios computers, six Prophet Systems, a small handful of OMT MediaTouch boxes, a Rivendell and a couple of AudioVaults. Representing the Washington Old-Time Announcers Guild (voices who have not been heard since 2021) were AC talent Mark McCabe, Oldies guru The Fantastic Stee-Vee-Tee, Rap master Kool Mo, Country jock Rusty Owens, newscaster Lee Windsor and Traffic legend Bart "The Imaginary Brake" Bateman. The sole announcer who actually voicetracked all these well-remembered and cherished characters over the years - Jeff Payne - sat in a corner of the room with a warm six-pack of Ensure, warning visitors not to trip over the power cords of the computers that sixty-something Gen-Y'ers had come to see. (5/11/09) (From DCRTV's Classified Ads:) Jerome Hruska is available for your station! This former PD, Prod Dir, Imaging Dir, Engineer and Air Talent has worked in DC, Fredericksburg and nationwide on XM. Over 10 years of broadcasting with the last 6 in management, most recently at Telemedia in Fred'burg. Profficiency in all automation systems and audio editors, as well as Powergold and Selector scheduling software. Contact: Jerome Hruska, 571-334-4667, jerome.hruska2@gmail.com (5/11/09) All this reminiscing about DJs makes it plain that the only place where Milt Grant or Felix Grant could get a job today is on public radio, maybe. Is that a good thing for radio or could you have personalities that can make money for the station and keep an audience without putting them to sleep today? Or maybe you would like the return of beautiful "Music Until Dawn" or the CBS "Monitor Beacon"? I love radio and I'm just as nostalgic too, but we have to recognize that it's just not the same as 30 or 40 years ago. Unfortunately, Drake-Chenault lost and Schaffer automation won. Moe the Union Guy (5/11/09) I currently have Comcast and am quite dissatisfied with them constantly deleting channels, but constantly increasing the price. So, I find the FIOS commercials where they portray of the cable guy pretty much as a nitwit quite funny. Showing him as spending his day following the FIOS guy around to HIS customers' house and the one where the cable guy is going through a customer's refrigerator just crack me up..Maybe that's why it takes Comcast all day to show up at your house when you request a service call!!!.. (5/11/09) Dave, Mr. prognosticator, can you look into your crystal ball and tell us when is True Oldies 1059 going to flip? What are they like 19th in the ratings for the 17th consecutive week? Their minuscule, aging listener base cannot cut it forever. - Drew in Fairfax (5/11/09) Dave's response: Flip to what? I think it would be smart of Citadel to put talker WMAL also on FM, via 105.9. Will Citadel do something that intelligent? Probably not..... lots of photos from Tammy Haddad's brunch... Right here! Val Kilmer, Christian Slater, Chace Crawford and more: www.washingtonian.com... More to come of WHCA events throughout the day on Washingtonian.com. (5/11/09) Dave's response: Gawd. The Washington news biz is so fucked. Something we folks "outside the Beltway" (yes, Reston is outside the Beltway) folks are becoming all too aware of..... Randi Rhodes starts broadcasting today from DC, yeah. Anyone know what local station she'll be broadcasting from? Or is that underwraps? PW (5/11/09) Current and former staff of WJMA in Orange are planning a reunion on Saturday June 20 2-6pm Cedar Hill Farm between Orange Gordonsville (off US Route 15) We're planning on a catered BBQ meal around 5. The cost will be $12-$15 per person for the BBQ. A rough edit of the WJMA documentary will be available for viewing sometime during the afternoon. To date 30 have said they will attend. Questions, comments, reserve your space? Contact Ross Hunter: ross@dmrmail.com (5/11/09) Re: "I don't expect some guy or gal spinning tunes to entertain me in the few seconds between worn-out songs and commercials"... It's interesting to see how the 'radio is just a business' corporate know-nothings have changed the very perception of radio. Ideally, a DJ is not merely an entertainer. He is someone who knows the music he is playing and is allowed to choose the music he plays. There would be no worn out songs because he wouldn't want to hear worn out songs. He is not an entertainer as such, but he becomes entertaining because of his enthusiasm for the music. But in the world we live in, radio has made itself superfluous because the iPod-like format didn't start with Jack, it actually started over a generation ago, with national-office-dictated playlists. That's what made DJs superfluous, and the lusted-after youth market now doesn't know radio can be anything better. The songs are worn out because the people dictating the playlists aren't listening. After all, a song is a song is just a song, and a business is a business is just a business. The MBA's ideal business is a self-running cash machine; unfortunately for radio, on paper--to the folks who own it but don't know it, don't care about it, and don't listen to it--it looks like it's perfect for that sort of setup. They forgot about human nature, though, and they've programmed their audience to not care, either. I just wish there were some pirate stations around where I live. At least those people have some enthusiasm. ~~CA in BC (5/11/09) Dave, here's an article from the UK Telegraph that provides a bit more thinking form the right on Wanda's diatribe against Limbaugh, and Obama's reaction to it. See: blogs.telegraph.co.uk... I think the author is both wrong and right. He's wrong that her comments aren't funny; they are. Wanda is hilarious. He's right that she was trying to be pointed (mean, perhaps) and that President Obama chuckling it up was a bit inappropriate. He's also right that the pointedness of her comments has not been accurately reflected in the mainstream (always liberal) press. Kudos to you for providing the links (via a mailbagger) to see it for ourselves. As a cringe humor fan and longtime O&A listener (after years of Stern from DC101 through about 2002 when he stopped being funny), I couldn't care less how far a comedian takes a joke...that's what they're supposed to do. The line in comedy should be at the comedian's discretion, as Lil' Jimmy Norton often says. But the listener can react as they wish and as they feel comfortable, and walk out or change the channel if they feel uncomfortable. Obviously this says something about Obama's sense of humor, which - frankly - I'm fine with. But other less cringe-oriented people on both sides may not be. As for mailbagger Everett W. who wants to see how conservatives react regarding Wanda and her deal with Fox. here's the thing: I think you'll find that a whole lotta conservatives "get" that News Corp (and all big media) are huge congolmerates with lots of interests. The Fox TV network has NEVER been a conservative voice. Think Married with Children, Family Guy and - my short-lived favorite - Action, with Jay Mohr. Wanda At Large was pretty funny and I expect her Saturday night show will be funny, too. I'll certainly give it a chance. Contrary to Dave's distortions, Rupert does not force all his properites into what Dave perceives his political leaning to be. Conservatives would argue (as I do) that even Fox News is more centerist most of the time than conservative, and it's only by contrast that it appears righty. When 90% of media is liberal, even centerist voices will appear stark and stick out like a sore thumb. Bob in Forest Hill (5/11/09) Dave's response: I love Wanda Sykes. I love her in "Curb Your Enthusiasm." Especially the "big ass" episode. As for Rupert, he will allow lefty stuff if it makes money and gets ratings. Look at "The Simpsons" - extremely sublime lefty political slant..... If soulless, heartless, jockless music radio truly was workable and desirable by all, wouldn't Clear Channel be floating in a hot tub full of Black Ink right now, surrounded by naked groupies? (5/11/09) Quote without comment: www.dumbestgeneration.com (5/11/09) So what does it take to keep radio from sucking, folks? We're listening. (5/11/09) Dave's response: Stop programming for advertisers first, and listeners second. Get the listeners coming first, and the advertisers will follow. Yeah, it may take a bit longer, but you'll be building a solid station, not something like "arrowglobefresh"..... More on the Entertainers and Entertainment jag: Interesting, as you seem to be in favor of the very things that cause the modern day listener to say "radio sucks today". To elaborate: (quote)"When it comes to music, I would much prefer not having an 'entertainer' (your words, not mine). I would much prefer to have the music, and maybe someone to announce the name of the song and artist."(end) Then the radio indeed becomes nothing more than an iPod, YouTube, MySpace. It is devoid of life. Radio is not *exclusively* about THE MUSIC, and there is a great deal more to on-air content than the latest sample wrapped around Button #5 on the Drum Machine, or who's playing it. (Quote) "The FM radio in my car supports RDS and handles that function fairly well without the help of an announcement."(end) May God have mercy on the souls in the oncoming lane when you divert your eyes from the road to view the feeble little scrolling RDS display on your dashboard. I've bitched about that since the damn thing rolled out here in the '90s. (Quote) "Has the 'DJ' or 'radio talent' when it comes to playing music, been replaced and people for the most part don't care?"(end) Yes, they do care ... every time they say "radio sucks". They care when they call in for a contest and compete with 75 markets for the same concert tickets. They care when they dial away in disgust from a station that, on paper, looked like it'd work but crashes into the Hudson in failure once put on-air. They just don't care enough to want to affect a change. (Quote) "With Internet radio, iPods, YouTube, MySpace, etc. - does it really matter these days to have a live person?"(end) With those choices, one may well ask, 'Is radio itself relevant anymore?' Radio should not try to emulate the New Media, which itself is just now outgrowing it's crystal radio phase and beginning to mature. Radio has its own inherent strengths and IMO made a big mistake by attempting to be an iPod a la the Jack format. (Quote) "Does the twentysomething really think that the person behind the microphone is that important?"(end) In a sacrosanct sense, no. The DJ is not the Pope. But would the same 20-something think the "Jackass" TV show was just as funny if it wasn't anchored by one Johnny Knoxville? Would "Punk'd" be just as entertaining if it were Stanley Steinmetz stepping out of the shadows rather than Ashton Kutcher? Think "Enterprise": think "Kirk". Period. Those weekend countdown shows on radio -- why continue to let Seacrest and his lot host them? If the songs just tracked one into the other, like an iPod, the show would be an hour shorter, but it would suck. Again, applied to radio, it's not only about announcing the music, its about being the skipper of an entertaining and thematic mix of elements. (Final Quote) "I'm wondering that a by-product of this recession and the disappearing radio staff - that radio will never rebuild to the point it once was."(end) I hope to God radio NEVER goes back to any incarnation of itself from a prior time. You may as well beg for the return of cart machines. But radio cannot forget what has given it strength since forever: good talent. Same as what makes a Broadway stage show different from community theater in Vermont. If DJs piss you off, its because the DJs suck. If the DJs suck, its because they were told to suck by myopic programmers: Title, Artist, Calls, Concert Info approved by HQ. Anything else gets you fired. Radio doesn't have to suck. Put on compelling people who GET IT, not cookie-cutter DJs. It's the conformity and the formulaic nature of the presentation that sucks, not the talent. --I'm done. (5/11/09) ("Rush Limbaugh is a bigger comedian than Wanda Sykes." Fred Grandy this morning on WMAL.) Yes, Fred, approximately 250 lbs bigger. (5/11/09) In my opinion some folks have a pretty romantic view of the importance of the radio deejay moving forward. Couldn't Ed Sullivan have been a million people? Isn't what people tune in for the entertainment acts ? Does anyone remember the ringmaster above the high wire act, the featured clown, or the little Mexican guys driving those motorcycles in the cage ? Is anyone tuning in for Tom Bergeron if "Stars" aren't dancing ? Sure, it's different if the deejay is hosting an all talk format, but who really cares about the few blurbs a deejay is allowed to say between songs in a music format ? Yes, I used to, but If I have a question about the music, a group, or anything associated with music I go straight to the Internet. At most, a deejay may pique my interest. On satellite radio where the deejays have more freedom to actually tell a story of interest sometimes you learn something. Deejays on terrestrial music stations have to be on the lowest rung of the entertainment ladder. Who would even aspire to be a deejay today, if you had true talent to entertain people en masse ? Maybe as a starting point. Sure, it used to be different, but moving forward does anyone really expect a cosmic influx of superior entertainers to change the current state of radio? And who would be listening ? Commonsense indicates otherwise. The remembrances and sentimental stories of how things used to be by other mailbaggers are interesting, but have very little to do with the future. The poster pining about entertainers on radio gives us many examples, yet none of them are about *entertainers* in radio. Dated examples such as Ed Sullivan, have very little to do with current reality. I don't expect some guy or gal spinning tunes to entertain me in the few seconds between worn-out songs and commercials, because technology allows me in a second to go 5 million other places where I can almost guarantee the entertainment is going to be better, funnier, more interesting, and of my choice. I don't even take note of the nameless, faceless deejays when I happen to tune into a music station on terrestrial radio, and I can't think of a scenario where I start caring about what some deejay is going to say in 30 seconds between a set of songs. I think the days of young people, or anyone else huddling around the radio waiting for the entertaining utterances from deejays are by and large a thing of the past. Technology and choice keep chipping away at the importance of radio as it once was, and despite the romantic notions associated with the past, radio will be making up an ever smaller slice of how people spend their time. (5/11/09) ("Rush Limbaugh is a bigger comedian than Wanda Sykes." Fred Grandy this morning on WMAL. "He uses his comedy to make people think".....) No Fred, Boss Limbaugh makes people HATE. (5/11/09) Dave: Great, WTEM demostrates that they're watching costs by not renewing Brian Mitchell. Ok, say what you want about his grammar etc., however, Brian is a sharp football analyst who's under-utilized by Comcast and 980. The DC market now has to suffer with Kevin Sheehan and put-up with Doc Walker's over-inflated ego while trying to impress Coach Thompson, WHAT A MESS!!! At this point, 980 should just run "The Heard" and take Van Pelt's show until the Sports Reporters. Listeners get ready for nails on the chalkboard!!!! (5/11/09) Dear Dave: Wanted to pass along something that happened today. I was listening to the Nats/Diamondbacks game on WAGE while running errands in my car in Ashburn. Just as the Nats were retired to end the top of the 7th inning (they were behind by a score of 9-7), WAGE cut away to syndicated fare from Fox Sports and did not return to the game...even though the Nats still had two innings to catch up. It was a long game. First pitch was just after 4:00 and the game ran four hours. The cut-away occurred around 7:20. Now either the weekend engineer (if there was one) simply flipped a switch without considering at what point they were in the game, or whatever automation there is at the station that flips from one program feed to another did so, probably on the premise that most MLB games last three hours. Reminds me of an incident several years ago when WTEM switched away from the overtime of a University of Maryland/NC State football game for the start of a very early season Wizards game. Is this something that's contagious in this area? Great site Dave! Sincerely, Joe Kasell (5/11/09) Clear Channel Music Scheduling www.radioandrecords.com (5/11/09) This is for all that don’t recall the golden days of DJ’S, Jocks, Air Personalities. In the golden age of rock jocks…people listened to the radio for “ENTERTAINMENT”. They were looking for laughs, information..ENTERTAINMENT. The thing that has changed is the ability to LISTEN. Our universal audience has been dummied down..music, music, music. It is not tolerated any longer for the listener to be involved in thinking, listening, enjoying the “small talk of the rock jock”..nowadays the average listener only needs the songs. They are for the most part bored with life, happiness, the ability to laugh. All they want is the music. The really good jock of days gone by was an architect, he or she built an image, a thought, a moment that the listener used to look forward to. Now, the listener cares about nothing. The don’t want to think, don’t want to be entertained..Thus the death rattle…PLB (5/11/09) /\ May 11 Messages /\ \/ May 10 Messages \/ WaPo and the USPS Postage Increase....did the WaPo cover this story? As of 8:30pm Sunday night, couldn't find the story. I gather the celebs/pols attending the WHCD and VF/Bloomberg Party don't really care. (5/10/09) Re: "People desire *entertainment* and *entertainers* and that's where people care." You're comparing apples to oranges in your post. Maybe 10, 20 or 30 years ago people expected to be "entertained" by listening to the radio (except for news or talk radio), but when it comes to music, I would much prefer not having an "entertainer" (your words, not mine). I would much prefer to have the music, and maybe someone to announce the name of the song and artist. The FM radio in my car supports RDS and handles that function fairly well without the help of an announcement (like or recorded). Has the "DJ" or "radio talent" when it comes to playing music, been replaced and people for the most part don't care? Do they care if the person they hear (if there is one) live or voice tracked? (Heck, do they even know the difference?) Again, with Internet radio, iPods, YouTube, MySpace, etc. - does it really matter these days to have a live person? Does the twentysomething really think that the person behind the microphone is that important? I'm old-fashioned in a number of respects, but I'm wondering that a by-product of this recession and the dissapearing radio staff - that radio will never rebuild to the point it once was? Not that it's completely outmoded by new technology (e.g. your dead tree newspaper), but radio as we know it is changing, for better or for worse. Just my 2 cents. (5/10/09) I'll be more than curious to see the conservatives' reaction when they discover that Wanda Sykes is actually in the Fox family. She has a Saturday late night show in the works for Fox broadcast this fall. Everett W. (5/10/09) Dave's response: Indeed. Hmmm..... WCTN's studios are in Potomac - same location since 1975, high atop the Cabin John Shopping Center on Tuckerman Lane. The More Better Man continues every Saturday at noon... (5/10/09) Dave, thought you'd like a few pictures from last night's WHCA dinner. Donatella Versace, Sting, Tyra Banks, Colin Powell, Donald Graham. A White House aide told me Obama hired somen of Jay Leno's jokewriters and it showed - he was really funny. (5/10/09) (quote) I wonder how many people really care about DJs? (end) Perhaps "care about DJs" isn't the proper turn of the phrase we are after here. People desire *entertainment* and *entertainers* and that's where people care. Take away the entertainer and yes, radio becomes the same as iPods, YouTube and MySpace. Radio minus the "DJ" (to use your term) then becomes the Conan O'Brien show minus Conan - celebrities come out to a sofa, blather about their current activities then leave. Radio minus the "DJ" becomes the Ringling Circus without the ringmaster calling and linking the acts and interacting with the clown troupe (much like the morning team joking along with the guy with the top billing). Would the Ed Sullivan Show have made TV history if Ed wasn't there, and guests just strolled out when they damn well pleased, did their little dance and walked off? None would last long without the "star" figure that the other acts need to orbit around. And it has been this way for hundreds of years: variety shows, music hall and vaudeville, circuses, minstrel shows, TV variety shows -- can anyone truly read "Garfield Minus Garfield" more than five times before feeling like something significant really IS missing? Good God, even "Hee Haw" needed high-profile anchors to work. Someone recently noted that the modern day "radio talent" does little more than rip-n-read celebrity birthdays and talk about concert info related to artists heard on those stations; in which case yes, the "DJ" is lousy and talentless, and is superfluous in such a particular music delivery model. But radio is not solely a music delivery model and has always been about more than delivering a song. Good upbeat talent driving the entire day (not just the morning) makes a great station and ENTERTAINS THE PEOPLE. -my 2 cents, AP. (5/10/09) RE "Don Geronimo did 58 Tweets on Saturday" .. It screams I'M LONELY (5/10/09) In case you want to post to DCRTV.com... Here's President Obama's classic open: Wanda Sykes' abstinence joke re: Sarah Palin: And of course, the big one, Wanda letting loose on Rush "20th Hijacker" Limbaugh and Sean "Let Keith Olbermann Waterboard Her" Hannity: (5/10/09) ("Hell, they could have kept Albie Dee on from the old classic rock format. From what I hear, he's an incredible sexual magnet to young-ish women, 94.7's new target audience.....") Dave...are you f"ing insane? Nothing is a sexual magnet to a young female like a late 40 some year old fat Italian guy... (5/10/09) People are complaining that FRESH doesn't have any DJs yet (or a morning show). I wonder how many people really care about DJs? With iPods and the like, do DJs matter as much as they once did? At one time the DJ was an important part of promoting the product, but these days there are so many other ways to promote music (MySpace, YouTube, etc.) that the DJ is now probably not that big of a deal. So maybe CBS is not too worried about getting jocks yet? Or it may be a cost saving deal (or both). (5/10/09) 2nd Week in row great real R& B from 50's on WCTN. There were mishaps this week but the song selections were great Why can't one Radio One station play 50's music? Got to give it to WCTN .AM 950 is sure filling voids in the DC market music. John T. Henneman (5/10/09) Dave, You're usually pretty good about this, but you had two errors in your May 9 item about Goldman Sachs taking control of Nassau. WWEG is licensed to Myersville, not Hagerstown, and WAFY is licensed to Middletown, not Frederick. Bob (5/10/09) Dave's response: Picky, picky, picky..... Don Geronimo did 58 Tweets on Saturday and each one was magnificent, even a batch during a Gary Puckett concert. Put this guy back on the radio and now! Mary L (5/10/09) /\ May 10 Messages /\ \/ May 9 Messages \/ i just dont see this "Fresh" idea at 94.7 working out. it sucks, it's horrible, and i see it changing formats yet again within the next year. plus, I agree with you dave that CBS probably blew the opportunity with not having one single jock on it yet. 94.7 has gotta be the most lifeless station in the DC area now. maaannn...how i miss WARW! At least 100.3 has started sounding a little better now that 94.7 turned into shit..Travis in VA (5/9/09) Dave's response: I can't figure out why 94.7 Fresh FM launched without even a live morning show. Hell, they could have kept Albie Dee on from the old classic rock format. From what I hear, he's an incredible sexual magnet to young-ish women, 94.7's new target audience..... I'm aware that NBC's DC bureau and WRC-TV (NBC 4) have been housed at the current Nebraska Avenue facility for a little over 50 years now. Of the other DC stations... WJLA (ABC 7) moved to its Roslyn location in 2002, if I'm not mistaken. I'm not exactly sure how long WTTG (FOX 5) and FOX's DC bureau have been located at their current broadcast facility. WUSA 9 has been located at its current Wisconsin Avenue location since 1992. I don't know about you... I would really like to see NBC build and open a newer state-of-the-art broadcast facility, and move WRC-TV and NBC/MSNBC's DC bureau out of that aging Nebraska Avenue facility. I could picture the Nebraska Avenue facility being renovated from top to bottom, and converted into a charter school... a move similar to that of WPLG-TV (Miami, FL). I assume NBC would likely have to wait until the economy gets better. (5/9/09) Dave's response: I believe WTTG's been at 5151 Wisconsin since the mid-1960s..... "put Walker and Sheehan with Thompson and run it from 1-4?" Might as well run dead air. (5/9/09) (quote) The More Better Man is back this afternoon at 950 WCTN (end). Where does WCTN maintain a studio? Are they in the Randolph Road facility where 1390 AM also holds sway? (5/9/09) Wow. The More Better Man is back this afternoon at 950 WCTN, spinning old R&B. I hear Joe Haertel in the studio with him. What a throwback to their glory days during the 90's at 1450 WOL. Gotta love it! (5/9/09) I'd like to chime in on the heartless CC honchos. I met Tom Schurr at a regional meeting a couple of years ago. During cocktails he seemed like a really nice guy, but then when he made a speech before dinner, it was clear that he didn't think any of us were worthy - despite how much revenue we were bringing in at the time to contribute to his bonus and salary. He criticized everything we were doing at our stations, then he went on with a "Believe or Leave" theme. Not to mention he made 40 very hungry people who had been travelling all day to get to this meeting wait over an hour for our dinner while he went on and on about how we all sucked and were all going to have to change and adapt. Now the company is barely holding on. 2500 people are without jobs while this guy and others who mismanaged the company into this situation are still drawing their generous salaries and still treating the remaining employees like crap. (5/9/09) Sorry to hear about Bill Ashley, passing away. He was a cheerful guy who loved radio broadcasting. I last talked with him after learning he had a couple of boxes of Ampex open-reel recording tape kicking around that had been moved from Bradley's Rockville (or Gaithersburg?) location on the way to Frederick. After reminiscing about the demise of good old open reel, cart machines, turntables, and portable cassette recorders, he gave me some kind of unadvertised special price on what was left and said "here, to a good home!" I still have all 20 pancakes of it, avoiding all splicing except for leader tape when I put the hubs on aluminum 10's. (5/9/09) Some months back I remember the Zeeb putting out feelers for two engineers to join the Chief in refining and maintaining the operation of all stations - one for studios and one for RF. Since I haven't seen any mentions of new hires, I can only assume the same budget crunch has killed any chance of expanding the engineering staff. Anyone know? (5/9/09) Well, WTEM finally canned Mitchell who can barely speak a sentence of discernable English. Now we are down to one host who obviously failed elementary school grammar. Scott Linn would be a great replacement, given the fact we need at least one host who can communicate with the English speaking population. (5/9/09) How about if WTEM were to run Cowherd an extra hour to 1:00, put Walker and Sheehan with Thompson and run it from 1-4? Steve in Lanham (5/9/09) On this date in 1961, FCC chairman Newton N. Minow condemned TV programming as a "vast wasteland" in a speech to the National Association of Broadcasters. I think the description still applies - and even more broadly - what with hundreds of channels to pick from. Radio today, is even worse. Here is an excerpt from Chairman Minow's speech: "When television is good, nothing — not the theater, not the magazines or newspapers — nothing is better. But when television is bad, nothing is worse. I invite you to sit down in front of your television set when your station goes on the air and stay there, for a day, without a book, without a magazine, without a newspaper, without a profit and loss sheet or a rating book to distract you. Keep your eyes glued to that set until the station signs off. I can assure you that what you will observe is a vast wasteland. You will see a procession of game shows, formula comedies about totally unbelievable families, blood and thunder, mayhem, violence, sadism, murder, western bad men, western good men, private eyes, gangsters, more violence, and cartoons. And endlessly commercials — many screaming, cajoling, and offending. And most of all, boredom. True, you'll see a few things you will enjoy. But they will be very, very few. And if you think I exaggerate, I only ask you to try it." Here's a link to read and listen to the whole speech. www.americanthetoric.com (5/9/09) Are you going to have the video of George Michael's on air announcement of Glenn Brenner's death in your DCRTV Flashback section. I would get a membership just to see that again. Wow, what a moment. (5/9/09) Dave's response: I've never seen that. Anybody got a copy? /\ May 9 Messages /\ \/ May 8 Messages \/ Before today, I really didn't like Doug McKelway as a reporter. But after seeing the news blub on DCRTV today, I'm a fan and support you. If a particular person doesn't want the world to know about their orientation, it's none of anyone else's business. If they want to let the public know, that's up to them and no one else. Kudos for McElway. (5/8/09) Wouldn't surprise me to see Scott Linn get the gig with Thompson. I'm sure he's cheaper than Koken and Mitchell and he's solid. Plus, he has the hockey knowledge that the remainder of the hosts on the station sorely lack. I'd like to be charitable, but, honestly, Brian Mitchell is no loss. (5/8/09) Syndication One News-Talk Network's talk show host Rev. Al Sharpton (mic stand) along with (l to r) Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, and former Speaker of the House Newt Ginrich at a White House Press Conference Thursday following a meeting on education with President Barack Obama. Sharpton will lead the "Close the Gap on Education" March and Rally at the White House Elipse on Saturday May 16th at 10am. Kirk Tanter (5/8/09) OK, the rant page is hard to look at with the WUSA website that looks like online vomit. Eesh, get rid of it! (5/8/09) DCRTV Dave, First, I can't believe you printed my lobotomy comment. You are awesome, Dave. I just sent a $39 donation your way. That cracked me up. Now, let's talk about this absurd "drama" about some wannabe reporter bugging Doug McKelway. The reporter's accusation was rude, crude, and unacceptable in civil society. It's like asking if someone stopped beating their wife. It serve no purpose other than to manufacture controversy in some vain attempt to increase viewers (and ad views) at the reporter's blog site. Doug has too much class. I would have knocked that reporter on his ass for making such an accusation. The reporter wants a written apology? Are you kidding me? Talk about delusions of grandeur. He's a nobody on the Internet and expects a written apology? He's lucky he didn't get his jaw broken. Unreal, Dave. Thank you for your hard work, --Chris in DC (5/8/09) Dave's response: Thank you! With Koken gone and now Mitchell out the door what are they going to do at 2pm? Thompson can't possibly do a one man show. He is not capable of it and he would probably admit it. Do they bring in Scott Linn to work with him? I would not be surprised to see Thompson quit. He doesn't need these dysfunctional management types on Rockville Pike. He has his television job and clinics all over the country. (5/8/09) EARTH TO NINA......... Do you know a single person under age 30 who knows what BLACK & WHITE TV or B&W internet content is? EVEN PRINT NEWSPAPERS ARE IN COLOR NOW! DUH! The new AMAZON.com KINDLE, while well intentioned, is off the charts expensive @$500 for a $2 newspaper AND ITS ONLY IN BLACK AND WHITE??? Somebody please explain to me how a $500 device is going to save a $2 newspaper industry that currently CAN'T SELL NEWSPAPERS, PLEASE! If you think this device is the solution to The Washington Post & Boston Globe & Baltimore Sun's troubles, geez, forget about it, you're nuts, they should just close up shop NOW if that's the solution! I swear to god, no one in the newspaper industry gets it at all! GRRRRRRRR What an idiot! This device will flop completely, trust me, even the tech industry is laughing at it, consumers are next, but ooops, they'll not even NOTICE THIS DEVICE! LOL (5/8/09) John Thompson and Brian Mitchell just announced that today [Friday] was indeed Mitchell's last day, and that his contract actually expired last Thursday but he wanted to help Thompson out while he was sick. (5/8/09) Dear Dave, You reported that as of today there were 100 emails sent opposing Doug McKelway and only 2 in support. The 100 emails that were sent in opposing were clearly an orchestrated campaign to make more of the interview than what it was and to mischaracterize what the interview was actually about. I find it interesting that almost all of the emails came in at once and most used the phrase, "McKelway doth protest too much". Kind of odd that 100 Washingtonians were all quoting Shakespeare at once at 10:00 am in the morning. Rumor is flying through the newsroom that Albritton is in full support of McKelway. This was a manufactured controversy by the extreme element of the gay activist community and nothing else. (5/8/09) What a bunch of assholes attacking Don for the way he feels after losing his wife. Isn't great to live your life knowing how someone should feel after the death of a wife or mom or someone very close. AGAIN ASSHOLES!!!! (5/8/09) Well, Karla went and dumped that fat, old, washed up load Mike O’Meara: is it any wonder? His show sucks, his career is in the toilet, he farts, snores, and dribbles – that’s just at the dinner table – and she’s one third his age. Time to drag out that “Star Trek” photo of grandpa with his young vixen…maybe she’s taken up with a real “Star Trek” figure: www.impawards.com (5/8/09) (regarding the comment about NC8's Doug McKelway & "outing") "Let's see, if we just changed the word to 'abortion' and it were a woman against abortion who had an abortion, would the media OUT her and publicly humiliate a woman? I don't think so. That's considered private." That's not a good example. It could only be valid if the woman who was being "outed" is a woman who'd had an abortion who is also a legislator or a judge, who was creating law or ruling on a law, outlawing abortion. People who are secretly gay, and who support antigay legislation, SHOULD be outed. Everybody has a right to privacy, but they should NOT expect an inherent right to be a hypocrite. It's as simple as that and a film like this www.washblade.com is long overdue! (5/8/09) A mailbagger below asks "can there possibly be any more evil and heartless souls in the world than the upper echelon of Clear Channel? Perhaps some of the recently "layed-off" employees of The Baltimore Sun might like to chime in on that one. (5/8/09) The best part of the clip is natasha barrett telling her arrogant co-host how journalism is really done!! Include that on your site. You're just showing half of the story here dave. (5/8/09) Dave's response: I did link to the show's website, which has that clip..... Certainly not DC related, but I thought that this made for interesting reading ...... www.independent.co.uk... I particularly liked the quote from the expert who said "the moment you left your home you were cut off from radio". Maybe there's an opportunity for those new-fangled car radios. (5/8/09) Doug McKelway and Michael Rogers should settle their disagreement by wrestling nude in a baby pool filled with oatmeal. Yummy. Pass me a spoon. Paul (5/8/09) John Thompson, on his show, responded to a caller who asked about Smoken Al Koken disappearance by angrilly stating that Brian Mitchell may not be there after today [Friday]. (5/8/09) So, at 1:45 this afternoon I turn on so-called News Channel 8, and instead of news I am greeted by Mr. T and a bunch of bimbos hawking a convection oven. Do these people have any idea what "news" means? (5/8/09) Dave you are correct about WBIGFM's call - the FM is needed because there is another station that's just WBIG. The next post up in the mailbag is not correct, however. There are a number of non-AM (non-standard!) stations licensed to DC that have just four letter calls: FMs: WAMU, WPFW, WETA (yes, I checked), WKYS, WASH, WIHT, WWDC, and WRQX, TVs: WTTG, WUSA, WDCA, and WDCW. Note that when a station changes a three- or four-letter call, any other stations that have that call+suffix DO NOT automatically drop that suffix. WRC-TV, WJLA-TV, WHUT-TV, WCSP-FM, WHUR-FM, and WMZQ-FM are examples. Regards, Dave Loudin (5/8/09) Someone call the JT show on 980 and asked when Al was coming back. After and awkward pause, JT said to ask mgmt, he then said, “After today you will be asking the same thing about B(Mitchell). So that is shoe number two………I guess the big guy is next. (5/8/09) Dave, You would be correct, the only time a station has to mention which band its on with its call letters is if there is the same set of calls on the other band ala WBIG-FM, WBIG-AM...My question is with the stations that have HD stations and the requirements on the legal. I have heard Jack-FM's legal as WQSR and WQSR HD-1 Baltimore. But then I have heard 98 Rock's just say WIYY HD-1 Baltimore. Not sure if you have to mention analog and digital or if the FCC is fine with you combining the two. (5/8/09) Dave- The launch of the new Kindle has the media and technology industries wondering if the improved hardware marks the next technological chapter for traditional newspapers. It could. But some new startups are showing that the "flat" news experience has had its day - online or offline - and that new formats, like Apture's layered media windows, will not only change and enhance the consumer experience, but pay off for major publishers looking to keep eyeballs on their pages. Apture allows content sites - from small blogs to major international news outlets - to keep traffic on their site by embedding maps, videos, charts, photos, documents and more right into the site instead of hyperlinking to other web addresses... Nina (5/8/09) I believe according to international agreement the call sign WBIG-FM is six letters in length and disregards the hyphen. Formally, the call sign is WBIGFM. So, should you leave off the FM, you'd not be giving out the legal id. (5/8/09) Chris in DC, the answer is simple: despite being a joke of a news provider, WTOP is number one in the market. The reason is straightforward enough: they're the only all-news station on the FM dial. They make a boatload of money. There are a lot of people who write into the Mailbag who think if you make a lot of money, that means you're a good journalist. Go figure. (5/8/09) I walked away from my computer just shaking my head over the comments allegedly made by Tom Schurr at the CC complex in Rockville. Deflecting legitimate questions about the company's future, telling DEDICATED and LOYAL employees to look for work elsewhere -- can there possibly be any more evil and heartless souls in the world than the upper echelon of Clear Channel? (5/8/09) RE: [ NC8's Doug McKelway and "outing" ]......... Let's see, if we just changed the word to "abortion" and it were a woman against abortion who had an abortion, would the media OUT her and publicly humiliate a woman? I don't think so. That's considered private. So what if I were a very straight acting gay man who just happens to live in a straight world and is not involved in "the gay scene"? Hmmm. Thanks once again for playing "The Hypocrisy Game." Oh, and "working against the gay community" is such a subjective and curious term in the first place. I know plenty of gay people who are not the least bit interested in nor are they in favor of gay marriage. I'm one of them. Oh, and I've also been accused of working against the gay community too. Surprise, surprise. Sure, I want equal rights and not to be discriminated against, but the term marriage to me and to many gay people is a meaningless one tied to religions that largely will never sanction the piece of paper anyway, so why bother? It's the LEGAL RIGHTS that are more important. This is another hot button issue where extremists are hurting their own cause. It would be very easy to get CIVIL UNION legislation through many state legislatures and give equal rights to gay people, but largely the activist groups are hung up on "THE MARRIAGE WORD." Sure, I know someone is going to post about Civil Rights and the history of separate but equal tactics used on African Americans. Well, that's true, but those rights were NOT EQUAL, only the phrase was in reality. Stubbornly hung up on the word "marriage" in my opinion is a mistake when the EXACT SAME RIGHTS can be had without the use of that printed word and so much more quickly and easily. And I know I'm gonna get slammed by this comment, but I am gay and that's how I feel about this issue and I know plenty of gay people who feel the same way. Unfortunately, most of them are NOT OUT and would not in a million YEARS send an email to NC8 about this issue. Imagine that. Do you know who "outing" serves best? Yes, the person seeking fame and fortune by just screaming "GAY" in a crowded theater. Some of these so-called activists are nothing but self-serving pricks (no pun intended). Go figure. (5/8/09) WUSA 9 site: ("Gawd. Is this the most ugly and awful-looking website produced by a local TVer? It's cluttered, jam-packed with crap, and slow to load even with a broadband connection. Channel 9's cool news video of a gas explosion at a Maryland shopping center is teeny-tiny, dwarfed by a mish-mash of ads. Congrats to Channel 9/WUSA for winning DCRTV's first-ever "Worst Local TVer Website" award. Any more nominations, radio or TV-wise?") Truly awful, Dave. They treat the site like it's a Recycle Bin. Just put trash anywhere, they don't care. Too bad they have no clue what to do at that God foresaken place. Empty message boards, ads they try to plaster everywhere, plenty of content that never gets touched, and horrible photographs are truly indicative of just how far these losers have fallen. But since they treat staff like cattle, this is definitely something their...'management' should definitely be embarrassed about!! (5/8/09) "Then he drags in his second wife's untimely passing as the reason he left radio; because he couldn't cope with it 2 years later. Yet, although he mourns, he latches on with another woman and begins a relationship with her while still bemoaning the loss of Frida and uses her passing as an excuse. Wow, what a hypocrit! Damn!" This site loses any and all credibility when you allow these types of posts, Dave. Rack Me. I'm Out. (5/8/09) Mike Sorce is, was and always will be a “cry-baby”. He thinks he’s the hottest thing since sliced bread, but his time is over. He really is no better than a lot of other great jocks that have fought the wars..Harve Moore, Johnny Holliday, Johnny Dark, Bob Duckman, Davy Jones, Jack Gale, they are still on their game and fun to listen to. Sorce is not even fun to listen to. He’s a bully and a bore. I’d have anyone of the above on air against him in any format and they’d blow him away because they still have their humility…WOW (5/8/09) "DCRTV hears that, as of Friday morning, NC8 had received more than 100 e-mails against McKelway's position, with only two in support." NC8 has 102 viewers? Wow, I would have lost that bet. (5/8/09) Nice to see the compassion displayed by the Clear Channel Executives. People used to think that Clear Channel ruined radio years ago, not so. People are begging for the old philosophies of Clear Channel to return...You know, when the worst thing was an out of market voice-tracker. Now with this Premium Choice BS CC is making their stations pick up, it's now syndicated voice-trackers....They never mention the station or anything! They think this is good radio? And the DJ's that are part of this package aren't even that good... So this is the future of radio? How can they think this will work? Or does it matter anymore? Is CC that bankrupt that they have to do this? It's only inevitable until they will have to start selling stations..Hopefully that will happen before they ruin some really good stations... (5/8/09) WAMU’s Diane Rehm will be honored along with 4 other women at the 2009 Women of Distinction Awards Ceremony on Thursday, June 4, 2009 during the National Conference for College Women Student Leaders (NCCWSL). The event will be held at the University of Maryland. Here is a link for more information: www.aauw.org (5/8/09) "They [MSNBC] keep this clown and get rid of Tucker Carlson?" Tweety, as those on the left derisively call Chris Matthews, gets acceptable ratings for MSNBC. Tucker did not. In fact, Tucker has never drawn flies anywhere he's worked. I personally can't figure out MSNBC's love for Scarborough myself-his entire schtick is whining brooder- but I guess they like his numbers, too. It is how the business works. Howie (5/8/09) The legal ID for WBIG-FM is WBIG-FM at all times. It does not matter if there is a WBIG standard, DT, TV etc. otherwise. An FM, TV, DT, LP must use the suffix. (5/8/09) Nothing ominous in WRNR-FM. The legal calls for a standard broadcast station (aka AM) are just the call letters. An FM, TV, DT, LP that have the same calls must use the suffix. WRNR-FM cannot call itself WRNR. It's legal ID is WRNR-FM. The AM Legal ID is WRNR. To do otherwise would invite monetary forfeiture. (5/8/09) Dave's response: So, the legal ID for WBIG would be "WBIG-FM" because there is a WBIG-AM somewhere else. Right? Can anyone tell me why WRC TV 4 replaced James Adams with Craig Melvin....you can see Melvin's Ego coming. Poor decision. (5/8/09) at least include when doug's co -anchor gave it to him on today's show!! it's at letstalklive.tv Natasha Barrett told him he was wrong. Good for her! (5/8/09) (Dave's Rant: Gawd. Is this the most ugly and awful-looking website produced by a local TVer? It's cluttered, jam-packed with crap) It's as god-awful as that mess they call the morning news - same extremely cluttered look and jam packed with crap. Somewhere under there are Kim, Andrea, and Angie. (5/8/09) /\ May 8 Messages /\ \/ May 7 Messages \/ Has anyone noticed WRNR now ID'ing as WRNR-FM lately? Wondering if its just a clarification because of WRNR-AM or something more ominous. I caught Bob Waugh for a few hours this evening,have to say it made working late more bearable.....kinda sounded alot like another station that ID'd as Grasonville/Annapolis...sigh...... (5/7/09) Mike (Don Geronimo) Sorce bitches because CBS won't let him get back into radio this year. Yet, he, as an adult and a professional broadcaster who boasts about all his years in the business, wants to get out of a legal agreement he made freely with the network. Hey Mike, they've got more lawyers than you! Then he drags in his second wife's untimely passing as the reason he left radio; because he couldn't cope with it 2 years later. Yet, although he mourns, he latches on with another woman and begins a relationship with her while still bemoaning the loss of Frida and uses her passing as an excuse. Wow, what a hypocrit! Damn! What stones! This guy hasn't grown up. Sorry. The public will accept his private life but as far as the radio business is concerned -- he should honor his contract. Everybody else has to. (5/7/09) DC Anchor Doug McKelway to outing blogger: I would like to 'give you a punch across the face.' rawstory.com (5/7/09) In the world we live in today, anyone who admits to being "mechanically challenged" (Mark Plotkin) has to be somewhat mentally challenged as well. Let's see: he doesn't type, doesn't e-mail and doesn't fax. This guy is a dinosaur. Hope he doesn't lose the TOP gig. McDonald's might be appropriate but then again, he probably can't even work a cash register. And would be unable to learn how. What a dunce. (5/7/09) Dave, You need an updated picture of Mark Plotkin. The one you have has way too much hair on his head. (5/7/09) Dave's response: How about this of Plotkin (right)?..... Well, 24 is on local Fox affiliate WTTG, so maybe this is Oky Doky for DCRTV’s mailbag: there is a great AP story about Jack Bauer, or Keifer Sutherland or whatever or whomever he thinks he is being “ticketed” for his head-butting (as Letterman would say, “And we all know how painful that can be”)charge and it has a good photo of him looking very dapper, very sober, leaving the court with his security detail (aka lawyers). Here’s the story link: www.washingtonpost.com (5/7/09) Can someone please explain to me what is that Chris Matthews does on MSNBC that deserves an annual salary of $5 million? The guy is a blowhard who rarely lets his interviewees complete their answers to his questions before he jumps in and either gives HIS opinion or moves on to another question. This is not just poor journalism but bad television. His Billy Mays style of speaking is like having lye poured into your ears and rubbed with sandpaper. He's just an over-opinionated, self-centered asshole and I say that as someone who considers himself well left of center politically. Also, why would the network reward this guy with such a big contract after all of the calls from women's groups that said he was mysoginistic and unfair to them? Isn't that in opposition to what the Democratics stand for? They keep this clown and get rid of Tucker Carlson? Unbelievable. (5/7/09) Dave's response: You could knock Chris down to a "mere" $500,000 a year. Certainly enough to live on rather comfortably in the DC area. That would free-up the remainder of his $4.5 million salary for 45 (!) jobs each paying $100,000 a year. Think about it. The very fact that Chris and his ilk get paid that much, and much more, is exactly what's wrong with the TV "news" biz..... Wow, just heard on WTEM that a poster on the Pissburgh Penguins message board threatened to kill Ovechkin no matter what and he didn't care if he had to go to jail. Caps and NHL security reported him and he's been arrested by the Pissburgh cops. Right thing to do, even if only a 1% chance the threat was real. (5/7/09) Very sorry to read this afternoon of the passing of Bill Ashley. He was quite an engineer. Indeed, one of the best I've yet to have the pleasure to work with. His family is in my prayers at this difficult time. -John Pinckney (WAVA, Summer 1977...) (5/7/09) (regarding a previous post) And wasn't that Rush Limbaugh in a Speedo, dancing on top of it, as eager Dittoheads stuffed dollar bills down the front? - OH, No that was Chris Dodd who I guess from a distance he might look a little like Rush. Maybe you should get your eyes checked. (5/7/09) From a source close to The Sun: Many of the people attending today's confusing "Employee Meeting" at The Sun walked away questioning the competence of their Publisher, Tim Ryan. The three running today's meeting, Publisher Tim Ryan, Editor, Monty Cook and Advertising VP, Linda Hastings were clearly speaking in half truths, misrepresentations, miscalculations and in some cases absolute lies. The meeting started oddly enough with Tim Ryan telling employees that today's gathering was moved up from June to today, in part to address the many recent firings. This struck most people as odd because it was Tim Ryan's decision to let these people go, and it was his decision to literally have them thrown out of the building by security personnel. I can't figure out which is worse, getting thrown out of the building by Security or finding out that you're fired via e-mail or phone call. In either case, Mr. Ryan calls his treatment of his fellow employees "regrettable". As regrettable as it may be, his decisions and the manner in which these firings were carried out clearly displays the Publisher's lack of judgment. It was painfully evident to all that The Sun is moving it's focus and content to online. When asked by an employee, "Where is the news content going to come from?", Tim Ryan was baffled. Many found it a relief that much of the Sun's news content will now come from aggregated news sources such as social networks and through user generated content. However, it appears that 'b' will now become soon become Baltimore's most valuable news source. The million dollar question really should be: When the ax comes to fall again (and it will), shouldn't it fall on the heads of the people at the top? It appeared today that the people running the show, were in way over their heads. (5/7/09) Star Trek is a pretty cool movie. Front page story at www.baltimoresun.com (5/7/09) Dave's response: I plan to see it this weekend..... An anonymous poster with an aversion to research (the sort of thing SMART, SUCCESSFUL people do), wrote: "Rush was a batboy for the Kansas City Royals, then a scoreboard video dork or something like that, wonderful credentials there. O'Reilly is obviously & practically admittedly dumb as a rock..." -- In the early 1970's Rush was a successful and actually good top-40 dj on KQV in Pittsburgh, under the name "Jeff Christie". In 1979 he took a break from radio and accepted a position as Director of Promotions with the Kansas City Royals. O'Reilly earned a Master of Public Administration degree (on top of his BA in History and MA in Broadcast Journalism from Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government. What KFC did you say you worked at, Beavis? --- ThePenIsMightier (5/7/09) Dave's response: Jeff CHRISTie? A little too "JC"? Hmmm..... (regarding a previous post) "I thought I saw Keith Olbermann today at his real job...Playing the piano at Nordstrom." Yeah, you did. And wasn't that Rush Limbaugh in a Speedo, dancing on top of it, as eager Dittoheads stuffed dollar bills down the front? (5/7/09) "Which WTOP anchor are you? You don't refute the points. You don't offer reasons. But hey, weather and traffic on the 1s!" On the 1's?!? You don't know what you're are talking about. Another guy who doesn't like the franchise that wins year after year. (5/7/09) SO! the "propaganda" begins... with one Komisar/Czar as 'exuctive producer' at MSNBC-NBC"News"-etc. (5/7/09) I thought I saw Keith Olbermann today at his real job...Playing the piano at Nordstrom. (5/7/09) "Chris in DC you seem to spend a lot of time listening to WTOP." Oh look, a worthless post devoid of content. Which WTOP anchor are you? You don't refute the points. You don't offer reasons. But hey, weather and traffic on the 1s! *snort* Hey DCRTV Dave, let's start a news station. I'll get the lobotomy and be the on-air talent. You can be my producer. What do you say? We can run those clowns at WTOP out in less than a year. (5/7/09) Scarborough vs. Limbaugh? YAWN! Scarborough's show sucks. I don't watch his cable show and I tried his radio show. It's horrid. The old D&M vs. O&A feuds were great but they were tied into the same station. I doubt it's worth Rush's time to even acknowledge Joe's existence. Is Joe what Mark Levin so lovingly refers to as a "back bencher"? (5/7/09) Rush used to be a funny clown like 10 years ago and often insightful too. Now he's just a bitter old recovering drug addict with more clout than he deserves and hating life for the tiny bit of clout he did lose. I hate to say it, but I almost half-wish he was back on drugs again. At least he was funny back then! LOL Of course many talk radio/TV pundits have excuses: Rush was a batboy for the Kansas City Royals, then a scoreboard video dork or something like that, wonderful credentials there. O'Reilly is obviously & practically admittedly dumb as a rock & stuck in 1950s era TV culture like he has no clue it's 2009. He probably watches Bonanza every day on the PleaseEUTHANIZEmeNow Network. Lou Dobbs is basically the answer to the question, "What if Warren Buffet had his own TV show after the Alzheimer's kicks in good and finds that his illegal alien caregiver has been stealing the liquor?" And Chris Matthews is a total prick who prides himself on being an asshole to his guests for sport, often just for bravado to make himself feel important and for no actual news value. BUT THE BIGGEST QUESTION OF ALL IS: What the hell are Keith Olbermann and Glen Beck on? One a failed ESPN sports & MSNBC show host who couldn't take "the pressure", the other a failed Baltimore radio station morning DJ? All I have to say is gimme some a THAT mood changin happy crazy gotcha faux news pills MAN! Sometimes, I wonder if both of them secretly did acid together back in college and just happen to see completely politically different acid flashbacks today. LOL Seriously though, if you form your opinions about the news solely from JUST ONE of these people, you really should be committed and I'm dead serious. Your voters card should be revoked in fact. If you listen/watch them all just from time to time for a laugh intermittently, you might just keep your sanity and occasionally learn maybe something here and there of importance, but probably not, so at least enjoy the laughs. :-) (5/7/09) Chris in DC you seem to spend a lot of time listening to WTOP. (5/7/09) Dave's response: It's an undeniable truth. The people who complain the loudest about a certain station are always its most loyal listeners. We don't complain about things that we don't "care about"..... I have a question for everyone here on DCRTV. If CBS Radio President Dan Mason came from personality radio of the 70's and early 80's and remembers when radio was fun and magical, why doesn't he, with all that power, use his knowledge, memory and talent to make radio work like it did so well before the CBS, Clear Channel and yes even the Radio Ones of the world messed up a good thing? I would love to hear some of the thoughts from our brain trust here on this site. And we all know Dan Mason reads this site at least a few times a week, if not daily. Dan perhaps you can answer this. And please everyone, don't say it's because it's the way business is done now or because radio has become so corporate. If a mom an pop could have a frequency today and let things flow naturally locally, it would work! This could, even today, also be done in the corporate world, if they would just let a well experienced professional programmer listen to the market place in a city and go with his gut. In my opinion, someone will get smart and do this someday and guess what? It will work because it will be the station on air in a given market that's fresh (nothing to do with that stupid handle their using) and not recycling the same 100 songs in rotation that some genius thinks needs to be regurgitated in a different order throughout the day with two pages of liners. That's what I think. What do you think? (5/7/09) Dave's response: There are rumors-a-plenty that Mason will be leaving CBS soon. Perhaps the whole corporate radio scene there is just so royally fucked up. I read the same shit about CBS Radio in other markets. Take Philly and heritage rocker WYSP, which has been allowed to deteriorate into a ratings-slumping mess. There are some good programmers at CBS, in markets like NYC and Chicago, where CBS still has some fairly cool stations. But in markets like DC, its just soooooo bad. I think Michael Hughes really wanted to put a resurrected WHFS on 94.7 when he launched the Globe in 2007, but the CBS suits above him just said no. Go figure..... Here's a perfect example of why WMAR ABC2 News is often in last place in Baltimore TV News ratings and how dysfuntional the station is.......... I was on a website for one of my favorite Baltimore area pizza places, Pizza Johns, to see what's new on their menu lately, and saw a link to a restaurant review by ABC2 News. I thought, wow, let me check that out, clicked on the link, obviously the review is no longer there on ABC2 News.com. Not surprising, you can only keep so much video on your website and for so long, but here's the funny part... I did see another ABC2 News review that interested me. Let's face it, its almost impossible to get anything close to a Pat's or Geno's authentic Philly cheese steak around the DC/Baltimore area, so I clicked on an ABC 2 News restaurant review that said great things about this place called MaGerks in south Baltimore run by ACTUAL Philadelphians. So at the end of the review, the ABC 2 News staff writer writes "So take a look at the video and enjoy!" I clicked on the video and up came a horrific story on DIRTY DINING, places with rats and rodent infestations! HAha! If I were MaGerks, I think I'd hire a lawyer. By the way, 4 OTHER restaurants' ABC 2 News reveiews ALSO had the same DIRTY DINING video attached to them instead of the ABC2 News video that was supposed to be there, so it's not like this was a 1 web page glitch either. So if ABC 2 News comes knocking at your restaurant's door, my advice would be to slam the door in their face and close early that day! LOL (5/7/09) That creepy photo of Rush -- funny how he looks like the serial "killer clown" John Wayne Gacy. (5/7/09) Oy, Plotkin . . . the one-trickiest of one-trick ponies, a trumpet with one note. If the black plague wiped out the population of California, Plotkin's only question would be, "Well, how does that impact D.C. voting rights?" What's he worked up about with Obama? A LICENSE PLATE! Plotkin's a monument to sound and fury, signifying nothing at all. Memo to Plotkin: you know, the country actually has some problems right now. You might have heard about them on WTOP. Sheesh. Sincerely, TMU. (5/7/09) Let me see if I understand today's news... Somebody in Congress doesn't like to think about erectile dysfunction, so he proposes a ban on such ads on broadcast TV ONLY. To protect the CHEEELDREN (see also "Elderly Man River" by Stan Freberg), of course--that's how you get any idiotic bill passed. But now we're told that nearly all the cheeeldren are watching cable. So... remind me why it was so necessary to screw up the broadcast TV transition to digital, if everybody's watching cable anyway? And could a broadcast station arrange to insert one of the eeevil ads in their cable feed while keeping their broadcast signal pure and virgin? ... Meanwhile, at the Bawlmer Sin--I mean, Sun, reporters are publishing their stories as generic "staff writers" instead of using their names. Who exactly is hurt by this "protest"? Isn't it instead doing exactly what management would want: no more names, everyone is just generic and so can be replaced by someone cheaper? I don't get it. ~~CA in BC (5/7/09) DCRTV Dave, Enlighten me, please. How can WTOP be the top-ranked radio station in the area? Are we talking about the same WTOP? The one at 103.5FM? Surely there is another WTOP on another frequency? The WTOP on 103.5 sounds like something run by a high school AV club. From the campy announcers to their incessant need to segue from one topic to another to their traffic spots which are shorter than the damned "sponsored by" plugs, the WTOP at 103.5 cannot be the top-ranked station in the area. I once listened to an interview by a WTOP host. He spent more time inserting his opinion into the piece than he did allowing for the guest to respond! (Do we care what nameless host thinks about situation in Pakistan?) Instead of reporting on the actual news, the host reported on his opinion about the news. Throw in the frequent entertainment fillers (does anybody listening to a news station give a damn who got booted off American Idol?), the frequent complaining about the weather (oh noes, more snow. oh noes, more heat) and I seriously question if WTOP can even spell "hard news". If we are talking about the same WTOP, I shudder to think what that means for about the majority of the Washington DC/Virginia/Maryland population. If they drink from the polluted pool of WTOP, what does that make them? Idiocracy, anyone? --Chris in DC (5/7/09) FOX5 used to have a sports guy named Dave Bentz (think that was his name) who used to do the sports during the first couple hours of the news. However, he has since left the station. So does FOX5 even do sports in the morning anymore?.. (5/7/09) Dave's response: Benz went to Comcast SportsNet/Bay Area (SF) last year..... Dave, I know you enjoy getting classic photo's...this was sent to me by a woman in San Francisco...seems as if yours truly pictured on the right, during my days at KYA..and my friend Sly Stone, in the center, and at that time a terrific DJ at KSOL in SF.... were at her high school for some special event... Best, Johnny Holliday (5/7/09) Dresser not honoring Sun byline strike?? www.baltimoresun.com (5/7/09) I've always suspected that Rush Limbaugh is just a clown. (5/7/09) Dave's response: I hear that Rush has been signed to be the villain in the next "Batman" movie. He goes crazy and starts kidnapping and torturing "mainstream media" journalists in a dungeon below his Palm Beach mansion..... John Hogan and Tom Schurr are in town today visiting local offices. Employees have received several emails on what to ask or what not to ask of these honchos when they run into them in the hallways. #1 No-No? They are not to mention the recent layoffs or those that took place in January. (5/7/09) I don't know if Don Geronimo reads this mailbag or not. On the scale of the worst things that happen to humans, losing a loved one is at the top and I can imagine losing a spouse is #1. Les (not for long) in Adelphi. Vamoos out mi casa.:( (5/7/09) Well dave, never ever cared for Don gerkronimo when he was on the air and couldn't stand the constant attention he got in this ole mailbag during his heyday but for once after reading your latest item on him I finally see that deep down although I think he's a blowhard and assclown he has the right to work in the field or profession that has been his lifelong dream. It's the same old story with these big radio companies that have completely ruined the medium. Fuck over the talent and then pay the dickhead station managers and GM's to make the decisions that have recently put a lot of talented, hard working people out of work to tow the bottom line. Still wouldn't listen to him if he returned but I "get it" as far as his beef with CBS. (5/7/09) Congratulations to WTOP for being the nation's ratings king. And for making money hand over fist. I'm sure the people you kicked to the curb in recent months "for economic reasons" are thrilled for you. 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