Access Atlanta > Entertainment > Radio Talk > Archives > 2007 > February > 26 > Entry
2/26: Randy & Spiff debut on GST
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Randy & Spiff, formerly of Fox/Cool/Lite, have begun their new life as news/talk morning hosts from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m.. No to the Supremes. No to Elton John. No to Rod Stewart. Except for a few seconds of bumper music after a commercial break, they are no longer playing music.
But yes to Phil Gingrey (R-Ga), their first interview at about 7:15 a.m. who bashed Democrats for their nonbinding resolution against the troop increase. And yes to a Libertarian think tank Cato Institute climatologist Patrick Michaels who questioned global warming and Al Gore’s film “An Inconvenient Truth,” which won an Oscar last night. And yes to frequent breaks for Wall Street Journal business reports, sports, news, weather and traffic.
“So I was in the middle of ‘Here Comes Santa Claus,’ then I got interrupted,” joked Randy Cook at 6:07 a.m. “Then I got interrupted. I didn’t know what happened. I was home for three months.”
They were actualy only off the air for a few days past two months. Their last show was in mid December right before soft-rock Lite 94.9 (playing all Christmas) abruptly switched to country station 94.9/The Bull. Actually, Randy & Spiff knew it was coming for months. But they were still under contract with Clear Channel Radio so the Powers That Be found the two men a new home. The pair have been spending the past three weeks prepping, getting used to the new rhythms of news/talk, which features longer segments than when they were on Fox (1989-2003), Cool (2003-05) and Lite (2005-06).
“We’re a saga,” Randy said. “We’re somewhere between an epic tale and legend. I’m settling on saga.”
They noted that the interminable Oscars seemed to take even longer than usual and that host Ellen DeGeneres did okay but wasn’t as good as Billy Crystal. (Who ever is?) They played one of her funnier moments when she had Steven Spielberg take a picture of Ellen with Clint Eastwood “for MySpace.”
“We had to pace ourselves. Now we can talk about things more in depth than on the other stations,” Spiff said after the show.
Comments
Commenting is now closed for this entry.
By Goners
February 26, 2007 9:26 AM | Link to this
Judging from the response from this article this will be a short lived tenure for these guys. Where is the love fest like we usually see when someone is at a new station? And whatever happened to Jennifer Reed?
By Stargazer
February 26, 2007 9:32 AM | Link to this
Great, positive start. Light years from that grumpy old guy they used to have snarling for three hours. I didn’t even miss the Beach Boys.
By Georgia
February 26, 2007 9:38 AM | Link to this
Too bad they went to 640. Most of us outside the perimeter can’t get them. I love Randy & Spiff and wish they were on FM.
I wish them well, but wish they were on FM somewhere.
Radio sucks. Especially the Atlanta market.
By Al
February 26, 2007 9:53 AM | Link to this
It’s apparent that Chuck Deskins was in a drunken stupor as he forgot to buy out the contracts of Randy & Spiff as he did with The Kimmer, The King, and Denny Schaffer.
Note to Randy Bloomquist - These guys aren’t Grandy & Andy on WMAL/Washington, of which you had NOTHING to do with that morning show, because it’s a good show and you’re a MORON.
By Stargazer
February 26, 2007 10:09 AM | Link to this
Speaking of drunken stupor… I was wondering when one of the louts with nothing to contribute would roll out of bed. Did you actually listen to the show, Al, or did you write that crap last night?
By Misser of Jennifer Reed
February 26, 2007 11:23 AM | Link to this
Yes, Rodney, whatever did happen to Jennifer Reed ??????
I was ALMOST considering turning off my satellite radio for a few minutes to listen to her show. What a gorgeous lady!
However, I was enjoying my NON-ClearChannel listening experience so much that I forgot.
I absolutely LOVE reading your blog, Rodney.
Could you please give us continual updates on other GREAT local radio talent displaced by the neverending buffoonery of the completely incompetent pair of “Deskins & Bloomquist” who have ruined AM AND FM radio in Atlanta ??
How is KIMMER??
How is Tom Hughes??
How is Wayne Kitchens??
Thanks, Rodney.
By CNNguy
February 26, 2007 1:42 PM | Link to this
As a committed radio news/talk addict, I am struggling to endure Bill Bennett. But I still miss the WGST lineup, especially the King. Putting Randy & Spiff in that slot is akin to giving Katie Couric the anchor desk at CBS.
By rail
February 26, 2007 1:50 PM | Link to this
the randy and spiff program: reborn as a light conservative talk show. sheesh.
By zest
February 26, 2007 1:54 PM | Link to this
More update on Larry Wachs. He bets radio man in the world. He so shy too. I think I love him. HUG from kentucky.
By Bob
February 26, 2007 3:39 PM | Link to this
I miss Randy and Spiff… will not be able to get them here in Dalton. the ORIGINAL Fox 97, owned by Roy Disney’s Shamrock Broadcasting before Cox bought them, was the best because it had a lot more variety in the music. The other FM stations they have been on are better than anything we have now. Good luck guys.
By Mark
February 26, 2007 3:43 PM | Link to this
Good Lord, someone please put these guys out to pasture!
Who cares about Randy and Spiff? There is a reason they keep losing their jobs-they represent the worst of Atlanta’s consistently corporate radio landscape: they’re nondescript, not funny, bland, middle of the road and boring as hell. Good luck guys, I’ll be ENJOYING my radio on Sirius as you count down to your next firing.
By Jen Reed=Vomit
February 26, 2007 3:50 PM | Link to this
jen reed gorgeous? you have got to be kidding me guys
By Iris
February 26, 2007 4:28 PM | Link to this
I found the show to be very informative and entertaining. I streamed the station all morning while getting ready for work.
I have a comment for you Rodney. You really need to get your facts straight, there are two flaws with this article that jump right out at me. First, Randy made the comment about being in the middle of Santa Claus is Coming to town and finding himself two months later at WGST. Secondly, are you sure that they were under contract?
These may seem like very trivial questions for you; however, I’m an avid listener of Atlanta radio and reader of your blog. I’m also close to this industry and your facts are continually incorrect. I just wonder how much we’re reading in this blog is fact or just merely more propoganda written by the media only to gain your own readers regardless of truth.
RODNEY’S ANSWER: I’m sorry if I make mistakes sometimes. I never said I was perfect. I try to get the facts right. I don’t try to dispense propaganda. I fixed the Randy & Spiff switch. And yes, they were under a different contract at the time. What other specific mistakes have I made?
By Former GST Listener
February 26, 2007 4:50 PM | Link to this
Can somebody please tell me how Randy Bloomquist keeps his job? With all the talent and tenured GST listeners he flushed down the drain, I thought he’d be selling used cars or mobile homes by now. Kimmer, Wayne No-Offense, Leslie Dove, Snake Davis, the King, Jim Gossett—good Lord man! How could just one ignorant moron in GST management be so distructive? I listen to WDUN 550 to get Rush—Bloomquist and GST can kiss my grits!
By FM people should be on FM
February 26, 2007 5:24 PM | Link to this
Hope they got a good dental plan with their new job.
By mshield
February 27, 2007 8:30 AM | Link to this
I cannot get a signal in my condo, but the minute I get into my car and drive about a mile I can get a clear signal and then I change channels. I like these 2 guys, hope they stay in Atlanta!
By Best Wishes
February 27, 2007 11:04 AM | Link to this
May Randall Bloomquist & Chuck Deskins each one day be violated by a broken broomhandle in prison!
By Just a listener
February 27, 2007 5:57 PM | Link to this
What’s a G-S-T? There once was a radio station in Atlanta with those letters, but it disappeared last November. Seems a couple of morons ditched the programming and a few on-air personalities that had a pretty good audience. I’m going to miss listening to Braves on radio, too.