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November 2008
12/1: WGKA-AM’s Michael Medved visits Atlanta Monday
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Michael Medved, conservative talk show host heard locally on 920/WGKA-AM and former big-time movie critic, is coming to Atlanta Monday for two public events:
*December 1st Book Signing Event in Atlanta: Join Michael Medved as he tours the country promoting his new book, “The 10 Big Lies About America.” Michael will be signing copies of his new book at Barnes and Noble - Buckhead (2900 Peachtree Rd NE, Suite 310, Atlanta) from 11:30am to 1:30pm. Phone the store for more info, 404-261-7747.
December 1st Book Event in Atlanta: “Night of Intelligent Talk: The Changing Face of America” featuring Michael Medved on “The 10 Big Lies About America” nationwide book tour with special guests Congressman Tom Price, Ralph Reed, Ann Cramer and more. Monday, Dec 1st - Doors Open at 6:15pm at the Grand Hyatt Buckhead (3300 Peachtree Road Ne)
That dinner is $55 a pop. You can buy tix here.
I spoke with Medved for 40 minutes. He strikes me as truly a compassionate conservative, not pretending to be one. His biggest differentiator is the need to foster immigration and figure out a way to deal with the 12 million illegal immigrants (as opposed to simply demonize and deport them). Plus, he likes what Barack Obama has done so far and is leaving an open mind. Here are some highlights:
On why he wrote the book: I found the different between the way people felt about our country and the effectiveness in which they were able to defend it just called out to me as a subject worth addressing… Most people feel tremendously grateful to live in America, not just on Thanksgiving Day. Yet there seems to be an official culture that is trying to encourage guilt rather than gratitude. Americans hear this and it contradicts their emotions. But most people don’t know how to answer some of the most prevalent smears against the country. The whole purpose of the book is provide organized arguments and information.
On being accused of being a apologist for slavery. I never say slavery was okay. It’s a great stain on our history and involved unimaginable suffering for millions of people. But it’s very different to say this nation became prosperous because of slavery. That’s a ridiculous statement. At no time in American history was less than 80% of the country free labor. And of the 20 to 22 million people kidnapped from Africa, only 3 percent were bound for North America.
Doing a book like this gives me an excuse to read stuff I’ve always meant to read. There’s this wonderful book “Inhuman Bondae” by David Brion Davis. He begins the book with an unbelievable realization. The real story of slavery is not that it exited. It’s always existed… it’s how in less than 100 years, we went from thinking it was okay to it becoming a horror. The biggest single factor in getting rid of slavery was the American Revolution because it introduced the idea that human beings had rights from God.
Simplistic theory on why some young Americans hate America My wife is a political psychologist. A lot of it has to do with people who hate their parents. Or at least trying to tick their parents off. It’s insane. We live here. It’s an imperfect place. It’s always an imperfect place but an incredibly nice place. There are also conservatives who buy into the worst stereotypes of America. For instance, big lie number 10 is the idea we are in an irreversible moral decline.
Abortions are down 30 percent since 1990. People are having less irresponsible sex. Drug use is down Murder is down. Teenage pregnancy is down. I just don’t believe the country is doomed.
On Barack Obama: On my raadio show, I have been saying very good things about the president elect. He has surprised me the way he’s handled himself. I actually found him inspiring. I’m not kidding. I expected to be horrified by an Obama administration. Everything he has done has helped his announced purpose to bring the country together and get people more optimistic.
Reminders of Ronald Reagan? “Reagan amazed his opponents with his class and reasonableness, his centrism. I think Obama is trying to do the same thing. The appointment of General Robert Jones (as Secretary of Defense) is classy… I am not an angry conservative. I would love it if the president continues to surprise me the next four years.
What movies does he like? Bolt was a delight. Terrific! You can send everyone to it. I did not care for Quantum of Solace. I thought it was dour Bond. They took all the fun out o fit. My line on the movie is it suffered a devastating after effects of a fun-ectomy. The movie, he doesn’t say “Bond. James Bond.” He says, “Bourne. James Bourne.” There also weren’t high-tech gadgets… People go to Bond to escape realism.
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11/29: The Bull goes commercial free for a week
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Starting at noon Thanksgiving, 94.9/The Bull has been going 3,000 songs on a row commercial free. The boss Clay Hunnicutt said that this should take about a week, at 16 to 18 songs an hour.
The DJs get the week off, too. (The station got rid of Cledus T. Judd last week but everyone else is apparently still there.) Hunnicutt said this is a present to the listeners. In a sense, it’s a bit of a reboot for the country station which will include some new branding, too. The Bull has been trying to find its footing since its launch two years ago. It hasn’t been able to make a big dent against Kicks 101.5, even with the departure of Eagle 106.7 in February. It started with more oldies than Kicks and even a few Southern rock cuts, a hybrid of Eagle and Kicks. But now it sounds more like Kicks in its music mix.
He said advertisers who can’t advertise on the station for an entire week during the shopping season are being accommodated later.
Radio stations are undergoing some modest changes in the way they are measured for advertisers. Instead of relying on people’s recalls, measurement is now based on actual listening. The preliminary numbers were very poor for the Bull. Early evidence is also showing less talk on music stations and fewer ads help generate more listening. That isn’t a big surprise. The Bull appears to be trying to draw some listeners at this time of year by going commercial free even at the expense of revenue.
And the station is not going all Christmas, the first time 94.9 has skipped this format since 1999. (It was all Christmas from 2000 to most of the way through 2006 as Peach/Lite and did a country xmas a year ago). In fact, Atlanta will only have two Christmas stations (B98.5 and 104.7/The Fish) instead of three for the first time in several years.
Instead, Hunnicutt said they are airing three/four Christmas songs an hour.
Here was a typical hour today at 2 p.m.
Kenny Chesney “She Thinks My Tractor’s Sexy”
Jason Aldean “We Laughed Untl We Cried”
George Strait “River of Love”
Jose Feliciano “Feliz Navidad”
Sammy Kershaw “She Don’t Know She’s Beautiful”
Sugarland “Already Gone”
Toby Keith “Who’s Your Daddy”
Rodney Atkins “Cleaning This Gun”
Trace Adkins “Ladies Love Country Boys”
Martina McBride “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing”
Tim McGraw “Just To See You Smile”
Taylor Swift “Love Story”
Luke Bryan “Country Man”
Brad Paisley “Little Moments”
The Lost Trailers “Holler Back”
Brooks & Dunn “Rock My World”
Elvis Presley “Blue Christmas”
Kenny Chesney “Keg In the Closet”
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11/28: “Atlanta & Company” host Holly Firfer on “It’s Me Or The Dog” Saturday, Fox News host Mike Huckabee in town
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
“Atlanta & Company” host Holly Firfer (formerly of CNN Headline News and Dave FM-right) and her husband Shawn Arnold (a former member of local band Memory Dean) decided to open themselves to humiliation for the sake of their dog Kashmir.
Catch them this Saturday at 9 p.m. on the new Animal Planet TV show “It’s Me Or The Dog” led by fellow Atlantan and dog trainer Victoria Stillwell. (And don’t worry if you’re busy that night. The network will repeat it ad nauseum.)
“They call the episode ‘Monstrous Mutts’ ” Firfer said. “They’re not that bad!” The main problem was Kashmir, a pitbull mix, who chewed up the windowsills, the ottoman, the carpets, you name it. Arnold said the damage was about $10,000.
“Our house was so destroyed,” Firfer said, “I didn’t like people over.”
Stillwell said Kashmir needed more attention so Firfer now walks her two to three miles a day in the morning and then to the dog park in the afternoon.
Firfer loved Stillwell’s positive training techniques (vs. those of Cesar Millan) and is in awe how Stillwell (right) could calm her dog. “She’s really the dog whisperer,” she said. “Victoria would say, ‘Come here girl!’ and immediately, Kashmir would be mesmerized and melt.”
In fact, when they watched the debut episode of the show, when Stillwell started training the dog on TV and said “sit!”, Kashmir dropped his toy and sat. Since the taping ended in September, both Arnold and Firfer said Kashmir has seldom relapsed, only doing minor chewing.
Firfer has yet to see the episode and is a bit nervous: “I said to Shawn, ‘What state should we move to now?’ “
Shawn thinks he’ll be painted as lazy and Holly “look like a nag.” “Not like I care,” he added, bemusedly.
-If you are in Marietta at 8 p.m. Saturday and want to meet former Presidential candidate and Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee, check him out at the Borders in Marietta.
He will be signing “Do the Right Thing: Inside the Movement That’s Bringing Common Sense Back to America.” The event will be a signing only, no discussion. Only copies of “Do the Right Thing” will be autographed. This is a free event, but ticket is required. Stop by Saturday morning for a ticket. The first 500 people are guaranteed a spot in line and an autograph.
Here’s the address: Borders Books & Music-East Cobb, The Avenue East Cobb, 4475 Roswell Road, Marietta GA 30062
Huckabee will also be doing his weekly Fox News show in Atlanta, which will include two local guests: Ashley Smith, the gal who bonded with killer Brian Nichols, and Gov. Sonny Perdue.
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11/27: You’ve been Rick Rolled at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade!
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
During the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade Thursday, Atlanta-based Cartoon Network threw out the most random pop culture cameo.
On the float for its show “Foster’s Home For Imaginery Friends,” the characters started singing the theme song to “The Courtship of Eddie’s Father” called “Best Friend” but were suddenly interrupted by an appearance by 1980s pop singer Rick Astley, who began lip-syncing his biggest hit “Never Gonna Give You Up.” (All the singers lip-sync at the parade.)
After his brief performance, one of the characters Cheese shouted, “I love Rick Rolling!”
This YouTube video only captures part of it but it gives you a sense on what Astley looks like now, 20 years later:
Indeed, “Rick Rolling” over the past year has become a Web phenomenon: when someone thinks they’re going to a particular Web link, they get sent to the Astley music video instead.
“Our marketing group came up with it,” Cartoon Network spokesman Joe Swaney told me on Thanksgiving. “The Rick Astley song is about friendship, which fit with our characters. We asked if he was available. He liked the idea. We flew him in from England.”
Swaney admits that a good portion of the viewers probably had no idea why Astley was there, but “We figured, let’s let it play out. If anybody picks up on it, that’s great. Besides, there are always celebrities singing on floats. I think it’s hilarious.”
Here’s the Rick Astley video that started it all and now has 12 million-plus page views.
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11/26: Porsche Foxx gone from V-103 again
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Porsche Foxx is gone from V-103 — again. Her boss Reggie Rouse sent out an email this morning confirming her departure.
I have no details otherwise. She’s already been taken off parts of the V-103 Web site, such as this list of Veejays. Her name is still floating about though on some pages.
Foxx was on air several years in the afternoon slot until late 2004. She was arrested for a DUI with pot possession and no license. She eventually had some jail time, probation and rehab.
In 2007, V-103 gave her a second shot, this time at mid-days. She has been on for about 17 months. She’s had solid ratings, in line with the rest of the station, which is consistently No. 1.
Is this a good move? Did you like her the second time around as much as the first?
Here is the video from the original announcement of her coming back to V-103 in 2007. She held a short press conference at the time but could never get a one-on-one interview with her. At first, she would do it only if I did so on the radio, according to her publicist Cherry Banez. Then Banez quit and the interview never happened. I heard for an Atlanta magazine piece, she was quite difficult, demanding a cover story and not showing up for photo shoots.
11/26: First to go Christmas music is B98.5
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Just a note to y’all who are hungering for a little early eggnog and “Winter Wonderland”: B98.5 has already begun playing all Christmas music starting at noon today.
The first few songs were Brenda Lee’s “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree,” Aaron Neville’s “Let It Snow,” Wham!’s “Last Christmas” Nat King Cole’s “Joy to the World,” Ray Conniff’s “Ring Christmas Bells,” The Carpenters’ “Home For the Holidays,” Andy Williams’ “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” and “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch.”
The other two stations most likely to go Christmas soon are 104.7/The Fish, which has been doing so for several years, and 94.9/The Bull, which was the first station to do all Christmas back in 2000 when it was 94.9/Peach. The Fish mixes secular and more religious tunes. (Expect them to start at 6 p.m. on Thanksgiving). B98.5 tends to stick with more secular, generic stuff until closer to Christmas. Last year, the Bull played some obvious classics by the likes of Bing Crosby and Burl Ives with cuts from Martina McBride, Faith Hill and other country artists.
If the Bull chooses to go a more traditional Christmas route minus the country music, that would signal a change of signal. But given that the Bull boss Clay Hunnicutt runs all country programming at Clear Channel, don’t count on it.
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11/26: Real Housewives of Atlanta reunion recap
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Meow! It’s “The Real Catfights of Atlanta!”
The hour-long special, taped two weeks ago at the Biltmore, was packed with delightfully tasty battles among NeNe Leakes, Kim Zolciak and a surprisingly verbal Lisa Wu Hartwell. (DeShawn and Sheree were nonfactors.)
Before the first commercial break, NeNe went after Kim. Here are bits and pieces:
Kim on her singing: “I’m excited where I’m going. I’m so proud of my album.”
NeNe on Kim’s singing: “I heard her sing and I don’t think she can sing.”
Kim on Big Papa: “It’s on again, off again. He’s going through a divorce. He’s legally married.”
NeNe said: “Close your legs to married men. You’re the one lying on everybody. Let me know about something. You said you’d like to beat my ass. I’d like to see that happen!”
Kim: “Grow up! Back your ass up and sit down!” Then: “F* you! Get your finger out of my face!”
“Trashy hooker!” NeNe says of Kim.
“He [Big Papa] is not getting a divorce!” NeNe added.
Fun stuff!
Later, Kim claims at first to have had cancer after losing weight and having her hair fall out. That’s why she wears a wig, she says. But then she backtracks and says she never had cancer. She declined to say what it was but she’s fine now.
“I didn’t know you were sick,” NeNe said, not terribly convinced. “Had I known that, things might have been different. I thought that you wore the hair piece for style.”
Soon after, Lisa, out of seemingly nowhere, calls Kim “a habitual liar. You need medication for it!” (Lisa in an interview posted here on the blog had heard through second-hand sources that Kim was trash talking Lisa and claiming she lost custody of her children to Keith Sweat over drugs. Lisa denied taking drugs. Kim denied ever saying such a thing. None of this context is included in the reunion)
And here’s the Springer quote from Lisa to Kim: “You are pathetic. You have no talent. I feel sorry for you. Screw you! I have nothing to say to you. I’ll flip you over the couch. For real!”
Too bad there wasn’t any actual flipping over of Kim by Lisa. That would have been quite a sight!
Most of the questions were already answered here in the blog by the ladies themselves. But there were some good quotes, especially from Kim and NeNe, of course.
Kim’s age, that she looked older than 29: “I have to agree in some of the footage. ‘Hell! I look 39 with all that makeup caked on my face.”
On Kim misspelling cat: “I messed up. Whatever. I’m human.”
NeNe on representing the “black community”: “I thought we were going to do a show and I didn’t realize it would be so much drama.”
“Kim was playing both sides of the fence,” NeNe said about Sheree and Kim being buds.
On Anderson Cooper loving NeNe: “Anderson. I love you! And call me!”
NeNe has not been in touch with her dad Curtis, who isn’t actually her genetic dad. “I need to heal,” he said. “Curtis should reach out to me.”
NeNe on stripping—she sidesteps it with a joke: “I still strip most nights for Gregg. He loves it. I am a stripper for my husband.”
NeNe on her rack: “I don’t think my boobs sag. I like my boobs a lot!”
DeShawn on how much she spends on her staff: “I don’t know.”
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11/25: Radio promotion at B98.5 & thanks to you, the readers
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I wanted to thank whoever was nice enough to vote for me in the Atlanta magazine’s “Best of Atlanta” magazine. I was named “best newspaper columnist.” While I don’t consider myself a columnist and much of my stuff is only here online, I greatly appreciate the sentiment and I will work hard in 2009 to earn your votes again. (And no, I did not solicit a single vote!)
Anyway, B98.5 decided to name its latest Christmas promotion after me: Called “Operation Ho Ho Hope,” Steve & Vikki are collecting holiday cards for Georgia troops stations in Iraq. You can log on at b985.com/steveandvikki/operationhohohope.html to pick a name of a soldier to write a note to.
Cards should be sent to B98.5 FM’s studio (1601 W. Peachtree Street, Atlanta, GA 30309).
- Former Conyers resident Jack McBrayer ponders why “30 Rock” isn’t a bigger hit from The Daily Beast:
Why the hell does no one watch your show?
Ahhh! I don’t know! Maybe it’s an acquired taste? Only people in big cities like it? The media elite? When I went home to Georgia recently, I can tell you that not a lot of people were watching it.
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11/25: People are watching more TV than ever, got more “Housewives of Atlanta” info
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
With so many new distractions this decade, especially stemming from the Internet, people are reading fewer books, reading fewer magazines and newspapers and watching fewer movies in theaters.
But TV? It’s more popular than ever. Some reasons why: there are more choices on TV (including on-demand and more cable networks) and the growth of “time shifting” DVRs.
The average U.S. household watched 8 hours and 18 minutes a day of TV, according to Nielsen from September 2007 to September 2008, the most since Nielsen began measurements in the 1950s.
The average person watches four hours and 45 minutes of TV a day. That’s more than anything except sleep and work. In 1998-99, the average person watched 4 hours a day. So viewing is up nearly 19 percent in less than a decade. And just think: that means millions watch more than four hours and 45 minutes a day.
DVRs only represent 4.5 percent of total viewing but that’s up from 3 percent a year ago.
- More flotsam from the Web and TV on “Real Housewives of Atlanta,” which has its reunion show tonight at 9 p.m.:
Jimmy Baron (formerly of 99X) subbed in for Tommy Sullivan on “Atlanta & Company” Monday and while interviewing Rosie O’Donnell, discovered she’s a fan of “Real Housewives of Atlanta” and had met NeNe. “She’s going to be a star,” she said. “She’s got something about her!”
After Baron called the women “abhorrent,” she didn’t quite agree but did say she didn’t relate to these women at all: “It’s like I’m watching people from Neptune.”
Plus, please check out my colleague Richard Eldredge’s hilarious piece interviewing businesses featured on the show here.
A sampling: Jan Smith, the vocal coach who told Kim Zolciak she really can’t sing well, commented to Richard:
“I’ve been featured on MTV, VH1 and BET. But I’ve never gotten the level of reaction that I’ve gotten with this silly show. I did this as a favor to [producer and friend] Dallas [Austin]. The good thing is, the people who saw it, saw me being honest with her. They saw me doing what I actually do at work. Someone had to tell her. To me, the show is despicable. Total buffoonery.”
E! Online interviewed breakout star NeNe. Here’s a scary note:
Anderson Cooper really can’t stop talking about you. He was talking about you the other night with Jay Leno. Jay even showed a picture of you.
He showed a huge photo of me. I screamed in my bedroom. I was like, Whoa! I really need to get on Leno now!
- Bonnie Hunt and comic Niecy Nash [mock Kim and NeNe in this clip from the “Bonnie Hunt Show” Monday. It’s pretty darn funny.:
-And look! More dirt on Kim Zolciak!
The New York Post cited a Hartford Courant piece noting that she had a high-profile affair with a police chief named John MacDougald when she was 16 or 17 the romance began and allegedly a witness in a criminal investigation at the time.
McDougald, a 25-year veteran of the police department, copped to the affair-but insisted that the relationship started after the case was closed.
The scandal helped touch off an internal investigation in the Windsor Locks [Ct.] police department-where allegations of secret tapings, sexual-assault charges and cover-ups flew.
It names the real-estate investor who is Big Papa (though since we don’t have direct proof here, I’m told not to reveal his name.)
And the newspaper found records of Sheree being arrested for theft in 1989 at age 19.
The paper also gripe that they aren’t technically in Atlanta, which is true, but they’re close enough. And according to the Post, Zolciak purchased her home in Myers Park, a townhome community in Duluth, for $486,000 in 2006. From a New York standpoint, that’s cheap. In Atlanta, that’s not half bad.
And it noted that Gregg Leakes, NeNe’s hubby, was recently evicted from a rental home in Sugarloaf. The home is owned by Shenaz Ali Kajani.
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11/24: “Real Housewives of Atlanta” Kim Zolciak and Lisa Wu Hartwell interviews
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
My shameless flogging of “The Real Housewives of Atlanta” continues unabated
The reunion show Tuesday at 9 promises even more fireworks. Bravo has been teasing to run-ins between NeNe Leakes and Kim Zolciak and the seemingly inflappable Lisa Wu Hartell and (again) Zolciak.
Wu Hartwell said late last week that she was upset when she heard through friends that Zolciak was bad-mouthing her, saying she had to relinquish custody of her two children from her first marriage to Keith Sweat because of drug problems. (Although Wu Hartwell admits losing custody in a very bitter divorce case, she says she still sees her two older children “all the time.”)
“I just lost it,” Wu Hartwell says. “A lot happened off camera. I’ve never done drugs. You can’t go around saying things like that.”
Zolciak denies spreading such rumors and was surprised by Wu Hartwell’s angry voicemails to her as well as her outburst in tonight’s reunion show, taped two weeks ago. “It was bizarre,” Zolciak says. “I was mortified. Her children are her business. I’m a mother, too. I never said that.”
And despite Leakes’ mockery of Zolciak’s singing in that infamous drunken limo scene, Zolciak insists things are okay between her and Leakes.
“She made a public statement with People apologizing,” Zolciak says. And she heard through mutual friends how bad Leakes felt. (Oddly, she says Leakes has never given her a direct apology.)
Still, Zolciak admits that watching the actual video of NeNe making fun of her “reopened some wounds.” At the same time, she thought “it was pretty funny. My [oldest] daughter had a hard time with it, though.”
But why didn’t Zolciak meet with Leakes to discuss it? “I didn’t confront her because I was hurt,” she said. “I didn’t want to entertain the negative energy. In hindsight, I should have called her but I don’t know if she would have been completely honest. I shut her out and moved on.”
She also said she didn’t fight back against NeNe during the finale episode’s Pacific Kitchen dinner because her kids were in earshot. “I wanted to say so much,” she said. “I couldn’t.”
For the sake of a likely second season, she can’t really move on. “We’ll sit down and talk when things calm down,” Zolciak said.
Then there’s “Big Papa,” the mysterious boyfriend. Zolciak acknowledges the end of their relationship of three years — not seven months as noted on the TV program. She also says they were engaged for a time and that she recently broke it off.
“I need to focus on Kim,” she says. “I have to focus on my kids.”
She also fended off rumors of his identity, saying he is not Quincy Jones or Dallas Austin. When the name of a local real estate developer was posed, she said, “Nice try.” She admits that Big Papa is a married man but says he had been estranged from his wife for years. Dating him for so long, “is that morally correct?” Zolciak muses. “I don’t have that answer.”
So how will she pay for her lifestyle without Big Papa? (She says she’s currently not dating.) “I’m a smart girl with my money. I will continue to provide for myself,” she says, adding that she’s in talks with Playboy to be a cover model. “It’s a very classy magazine,” she said.
And what is Zolciak’s take on her own singing ability? “I never claimed to be the best singer,” she says. “Is there work to be done? Absolutely. But my single will speak for itself.”
She referred to the reunion show when asked about her hair (which includes some level of fakery to it). See video below of her breaking down and claiming cancer to boot.
She also defended her 8 and 11 year old daughters sleeping in her bed at night. “It’s my girl and me at night,” she said. “We laugh and joke and talk about our day. It’s my favorite part of the day.”
And she didn’t believe anybody was booing her at that Hawks game I attended November 1. I heard it it loud and clear. She didn’t.
Getting back to Lisa, here are some highlights from that interview:
On NeNe: “None of them are like any of my friends who hang out with me. I do speak with NeNe. She’s a character. She’s funny. With NeNe, what you see is what you get. You can appreciate that.”
On Kim and Sheree skipping DeShawn’s party without even saying why: “To my face, they gave me different stories. When I saw it on tape, I found out they lied. I was just, wow!”
On her outburst on the reunion show: “I’ve apologized to my fans. I tell them you really don’t know what happened behind the scenes. I let her get under my skin. My kids are very dear to me.”
On her current relationship to Keith Sweat, who refused to let him or his kids on the show. “We have never been on good terms. It was an unfortunate situation when we parted. Hopefully we can be friends in the future and raise our children.*
On Ed’s football career: “People ask me why I’m not supportive of his career. He’s been injured. I don’t want to see him hurt. I want him to be able to walk when he’s 50 years old. The money’s not everything.” [He was signed to the Raiders in May, let go in August because, Lisa said, the team was concerned about a bad knee.]
Did producer Jazzy Phe buy that house?: No. “He was actually sold on the house. But it was too far from Atlanta, at least one hour and 15 minutes away. If I could have picked up the house and moved it to where he wanted, he would have taken it.”
How’s her real estate business going? “It’s been okay. I have 12 or 13 agents. The athletes and entertainers on the high end aren’t as affected yet. I have cut some of my fees. I’m going to show a house that was originally $4 million. Now the owner is asking for $3 million. You see a lot of major builders shutting down. It’s crazy!”
On her movie career “I’m putting a film together here in Atlanta called ‘Root of All Evil.’ I’m looking for talent right now.”
On Tyler Perry: Lisa said she was friends with Tyler Perry back in the 1990s, before he broke it big. She hasn’t been able to get in touch with him in ages but wouldn’t mind doing so.
On doing a second season: “The second season would be totally different. I’ve learned who they are. I believe there’s good in everybody. Sometimes they’re not. Sometimes people have ill intentions. I never thought people were like that. They’d conjure up plans to take you down. People like that are insecure.”
On TV
“Real Housewives Atlanta” reunion show airs Tuesday at 9 on Bravo TV.
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11/24: Cledus T. Judd ousted from 94.9/the Bull
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
When morning hosts get fired, they typically disappear off the airwaves as if they never existed.
That may just be the case with Cledus T. Judd, the host for 94.9/The Bull who grew up in Cartersville and now lives in that area. He was not on the air this morning and his image has been pulled from the site. In other words, he’s a goner. (I left a message with Cledus. Cledus’ wife Amy Cameron said he’s in Nashville today and in meetings. “He’s doing great,” she said but didn’t provide any details of his emotional state.
Judd released this statement
I appreciate the opportunity to have gotten to come home to my hometown and broadcast in the greatest city in the greatest State in America, Georgia. I will always be indebted to Clay Hunnicutt for giving me the opportunity to broadcast in my hometown. There are wonderful people in the Clear Channel building and there’s a part of me that feels like I let them down, but it was not from a lack of giving it all I had. I wish those people at 94.9 The Bull nothing but the best in the future, and again, am sincerely grateful to have gotten to come home and be with my friends and family. I will continue on my journey to whatever opportunities lie ahead. Right now, I’m just going to concentrate on time with my family, focus on my songwriting, prepare myself for whatever the future holds and enjoy the holidays.
As expected, Cledus’ former boss Clay Hunnicutt was mum on why he let Cledus go. “He’s going to write some music, that kind of stuff,” Hunnicutt said. “The rest of it is kind of personal.” son.
The Bull really tried to pump Cledus up with billboards and TV ads in the spring. But ratings never picked up. He ranked an abysmal 20th in the summer and early fall numbers under the new (presumably more accurate) people meter system were no better. I doubt it was anything more than that.
Kristen Gates, who joined the show a couple of months ago from Kicks 101.5, remains at the Bull. (He had already gone through Jamie Massey, Slam Duncan and Paul Koffey.)
“I’m pleased with how our station has done,” said rival general manager for Kicks Paul O’Malley. “Our morning show ratings are up. I couldn’t be happier with the PPMs over here. [That’s the new ratings system instituted in September.] I have empathy for anybody losing their jobs in this economy. But Clear Channel management made a business decision.”
Do you think he deserved the plug after less than a year with the Bull? (He started on air at the station in January.) Do you think this is a precursor to the entire country format being dumped by Clear Channel, which owns 94.9? 94.9 will probably go Christmas on Wednesday so we may not know a new format until after the holidays.
The Bull boss Hunnicutt said he’s seeking a replacement to Cledus, is committed to the country format and won’t say what the station will do for the Christmas sea
Clear Channel launched the Bull before Christmas in late 2006, alienating a lot of people by doing so before Santa’s sleigh dropped. The station has played second fiddle to Kicks ever since.
This move comes just a couple of weeks after another newbie Zakk Tyler was ousted from Dave FM after eight months on the air. Interpretation: radio companies are less and less patient in developing new talent. If numbers don’t pop immediately, a show is gone. The problem: most current big shows did not get huge numbers out of the gate. It took both the Regular Guys and the Bert Show two years to really draw a following. These firings often come before the budgetary year starts—thus, right before Thanksgiving or Christmas.
And whither the Morning Mess?
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11/21: Frank & Wanda celebrate 10 years on air
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
ABOVE: Afternoon host Ryan Cameron makes a cameo on the Frank & Wanda 10th anniversary show Friday at Justin’s in Buckhead.
Past anniversaries have been big soirees, often with major music acts such as L.L. Cool J. For the 10th, Frank Ski and Wanda Smith went for a relatively modest affair at Diddy’s restaurant Justin’s this morning.
They also took a cue from Oprah and gave 10 lucky listeners 10 of their “favorite things.” The 10 gifts included a $100 Kroger gift certificate, a Verizon Blackberry, a Ralph Lauren/Polo goosedown comfortable and trips to both Las Vegas and New York City (to see “Wicked”).
“They inspire me so much,” said one of the winners, Dewanda Owens, a 38-year-old unemployed former postal worker from Atlanta who has been listening all 10 years. “They do so much for the community. You can be crying on your way to work and they make your day better.”
The only big name I saw come by was Young Jeezy, though Ryan Cameron and their boss Rick Caffey bestowed high-quality wine to them as well.
Ski said they chose to minimize the celebrity quotient to focus on thanking the listeners. “This time, it was because we wanted to give back,” he said.
Going back 10 years, he said it didn’t take long for him to be comfortable in Atlanta, that within two years, he felt like this was truly home. And he was impressed with the intellectual level of the market, enabling him to balance entertainment, inspiration and information. And he appreciates Wanda for being able to take any issue and run with it, be it silly or serious.
As for the gifts, Ski wished he could allow the winners to take a spouse or friend or other family member, but they couldn’t get that many freebies from the sponsors (which included Treasure Island in Vegas and Airtran Airlines.) So those 10 people better like each other because they’ll spending quite a bit of time together.
Frank & Wanda are also holding a big Kaya reunion party at the Velvet Room tonight. (Frank used to spin at the now-defuncct Kaya many years ago.)
-My colleague Pierre Ruhe heard that Wanda Yang Temko’s “Afternoon Classics” show on WABE-FM from noon to 3 is no longer. John Lemley will take over and provide more chatter and interviews. Temko has been at the station for three years.
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11/20: “Real Housewives of Atlanta” finale hits 2.21 million viewers
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
“The Real Housewives of Atlanta” is the biggest debut series on the Bravo network since “Queer Eye For the Straight Guy” many years ago. It was also the biggest series in the franchise except for the third season of “The Real Housewives of Orange County.”
The finale brought in 2.21 million, 1.68 million of them in the coveted 18 to 49 year old demographic. That’s the most of any “Real Housewives” episode ever. The series over seven episodes averaged 1.31 million viewers.
Though Bravo hasn’t said it, it’s fair to say season two is coming whether you want it to or not.
-Atlanta actor/rapper Ludacris is performing on “Saturday Night Live” this Saturday. Tim McGraw (who had a crossover hit with Nelly a few years back “Over and Over”) is the host. He is set to perform “Chopped & Skrewed” (with T-Pain) and “One More Drink.” The first performance will come on after midnight.
-If you heard 790/The Zone’s Chris Dimino Wednesday saying he was going to WGST-AM, he was just joking.
-Star 94 has a new program director J.R. Ammons, who happens to be the station’s former music director, according to Radio and Records.. He takes over Dec. 15 for Dan Bowen, who left in August soon after his boss Mark Kanov retired.
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11/19: Real Housewives of Atlanta recap, season finale
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
This is the episode where NeNe and Kim supposedly bury the hatchet.
Lisa and DeShawn created a gathering at a restaurant to reconcile the pair. NeNe had made fun of Kim’s country aspiration in a drunken limo ride. Lisa told Sheree, who told Kim. Kim, without talking to NeNe, sent her a nasty text message telling her she was never going to talk to her. Sheree became close buds with Kim, which NeNe didn’t like either.
“NeNe’s a drag queen,” Kim said to Sheree. “You’re beautiful.”
“NeNe’s fun,” Lisa said.
“At everyone else’s expense,” Sheree said.
But they agree to go to the dinner though Kim says, “NeNe better than to me,” Kim says. “She’ll get her ass beat first.” NeNe to the cameras: “I don’t plan on apologizing… and we will never be friends.” Smack! At the Pacific Kitchen restaurant, the Arctic chill lingers. NeNe finally asks the question why Kim didn’t come to NeNe to clear the air.
“How small of you! You’ve known me for years. If you had a problem with me, you should have come to me,” NeNe said. “To me, you look ridiculous!”
After many closeup looks of intensity from the folks at the table (with dramatic music to boot), Gregg, NeNe’s husband, plays Jimmy Carter and tells them to move on, that life is too short to be so hateful. “This is not worth it,” he said. “If certain individuals can take the time away from everything to really sit down and have meaningful dialogue, you will see 99% of this stuff you were fed didn’t emanate from the source… Take this stumbling block and turn it into a stepping stone.”
Kim admits to the camera that she should have called NeNe but does not say so directly to NeNe.
NeNe and Kim agree to have coffee. Everyone hugs and the end of the episode is a “happy” ending. (In the “afterward,” it’s noted the pair never have coffee though NeNe told me she did apologize and they did clear the air.)
Earlier in the episode, in a phone call, Dallas Austin told Kim the hard truth about her country dreams. He said she really had to work hard, focus and stop smoking. “What the hell is that?” Kim said afterwards. “Music is my passion,” she said. “My voice- it’s a God given talent and I’m destroying it.” Yup. It’s her smoking that is why her singing is so poor! Though she goes into a “country music boot camp,” her attempts to stop smoking eventually fail. (Strange parenting 101: her gals, who are 8 and 11, still sleep in her bed with her. Really???)
In other storylines, Lisa expresses worries about Ed Hartwell joining the Oakland Raiders. (After a 30th birthday party at Luda’s restaurant Straits, he ultimately gets dropped before the season starts.) Sheree meets with Michael Knight from “Project Runway” to give her advice on her fashion and critiques what she had done wrong. (She actually took the advice well.) DeShawn attempts to cook while her hubby talks about retiring due to injury. And NeNe doesn’t pursue who her real daddy is and she gets a tricked out F150 for her son as a high school graduation gift.
Next week’s reunion features a surprise showdown between Kim and Lisa. Here’s a tease. Lisa is peeved!
And here’s a bit of NeNe getting in Kim’s face, too:
So what did you think? Is this worth a second season?
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11/18: “Family Guy” parodies WAGA-TV grape lady fall from the mid-1990s
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
“America’s Funniest Home Videos” lives on in the Web as YouTube. There, you can find pratfalls and shots to the groin galore. And no matter how much of a sophisticate you are, it’s funny. Former WAGA-TV reporter Doug Richards at his Live Apartment Fire blog recently posted a classic 1990s-era video someone posted from his former station. It shows reporter Melissa Sander at Chateau Elan crushing grapes Lucille Ball style. Then she oddly slips off the platform and starts screaming in pain. Check it out here:
What’s even more extraordinary is “Family Guy” this past Sunday parodied it almost to a tee, immortalizing her pain forever. Compare and contrast (and giggle, too if you must):
I just spoke with Gus Valdes, the photographer who shot the video back in the fall of 1998. He said Sander wasn’t seriously hurt. She ended up with some bruised ribs and “a bruised ego” but nothing worse. She was back on the air soon after. He only momentarily panned down to Sander after she fell, he said, because he didn’t feel it would be respectful to keep the camera on her. Instead, he keeps her out of view while she writhes in agony. But that ultimately made the video even more amusing. “It’s funny,” he said, “Tragically funny.”
He said he was at home and his wife had just put away the baby when he ran across the “Family Guy” this past Sunday. He started screaming, which freaked out his wife until she found out why he was screaming.
Apparently, “Saturday Night Live” mocked it two years ago as well in this Scarlett Johansson clip, where Johansson plays Sander:
If anybody knows what Melissa Sander is up to nowadays, please email me at rho@ajc.com. She worked as a weekend meteorologist at an Albany, N.Y. TV station at one point. Last Valdes heard, he said he thinks she’s working in North Carolina. The last time he had contact with her was five years ago when the clip appeared on the Web and Howard Stern mocked it. He said he emailed her and she blamed him for leaking it. He said he had no access to the video. In fact, he said by the time he got back to the studio from Chateau Elan, the bosses had erased the video from the archives. Obviously, some enterprising editor at WAGA-TV at the time did save a copy.
He noted that the video, which has been seen millions of times on YouTube, has been parodied as well by others. “There’s a cult from this grape lady thing,” he noted.
Bud McEntee, the WAGA-TV news director, has been at the station for 26 years. This was not an incident that really stuck in his brain at the time. He just recalls he was glad Sander was not seriously injured. He hasn’t seen the parodies either. As for the cult-like nature of the grape-stomping fall, he had no comment.
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11/18: Star 94 raises $825K for Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta; unhappy people watch more TV
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
This is probably the toughest period in decades to raise money (much less make money). Star 94 pulled in $825,284 in pledges over the weekend for Chlidren’s Healthcare.
That’s down about 30 percent from a year ago, when the station drew $1,212,437. In 2006, the figure was $1,215,834. In 2005, it was $1.2 million. In 2004, 1.167 million. The station has raised $6.6 million in total so far.
Cynics might say the absence of Steve & Vikki and subsequent lower ratings for the pair’s replacement the Morning Mess may have contributed to the dropoff but it probably is more the economy than anything else.
Shawnessy Rennegar, Star’s marketing gal, said Ne-Yo (below) stopped by on Friday, passed out some stuffed animals, sang to a young girl with Leukemia, and donated $5,000. Plus, more than 340 people volunteered to answer phones and help out.
-Obama’s appearance on “60 Minutes” Sunday drew almost 25 million viewers, the most for the venerable CBS show in almost a decade.
-Here’s good fodder for Leno jokes: happier people watch less TV (and socialize and read more) while unhappy people spend more time in front of the boob tube. Here’s the study.
“TV doesn’t really seem to satisfy people over the long haul the way that social involvement or reading a newspaper does,” says University of Maryland sociologist John P. Robinson, the study co-author and a pioneer in time use studies. “It’s more passive and may provide escape - especially when the news is as depressing as the economy itself. The data suggest to us that the TV habit may offer short-run pleasure at the expense of long-term malaise.”
What do you think? Does this make sense?
-As a radio market, we are now ranked #7, based on Arbitron population estimates, overtaking Philadelphia. Over the past decade, fast-growing Atlanta has swept past Boston, D.C. and Detroit. We are now only behind New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco, Dallas and Houston. As a radio revenue market, Atlanta has been top 5 for awhile, exceeding its population size.
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11/17: Real Housewives interviews with DeShawn, NeNe and Sheree
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
A charity event that goes awry. A party invite that conveniently disappears. A fashion show with no fashion show. Over-the-top spending. Underhanded comments. Nasty text messages. Fake boobs. Real boobs. And some mysterious dude who goes by the name “Big Poppa.”
Even as the nation has been riveted by a presidential election and horrified by woeful economic news, fans and foes of “The Real Housewives of Atlanta” have found a diversion from true reality. Old school Atlanta socialites reacted with disdain. Loyalists have reveled in the excesses of the women’s statements and spending habits from a pure entertainment standpoint.
One of the women, NeNe Leakes, has already been highlighted in Entertainment Weekly’s year-end top entertainers of the year.
For Bravo, a hit is a hit. Ratings are stronger than first season numbers for earlier versions in Orange County and New York. During the week of November 3, Bravo aired the different episodes of the show a whopping 25 times, seen by a collective 9.3 million viewers. Those numbers virtually guarantees a second season in 2009 though the network has yet to publicly commit.
And alas, the finale is already upon us tonight after just seven episodes. And check out an already taped reunion episode next Tuesday in which seemingly grounded Lisa Wu Hartwell unexpectedly clashes with the blonde, Botox-loving Kim Zolciak. Bravo made three of the women available for phone interviews last Friday.
Unfortunately, Lisa and Kim were not in town to tell the AJC why they came to blows on said reunion show and who the heck “Big Poppa” is (though rumored are all over the Web.)
DeShawn Snow
On the charity event that didn’t raise 1 million dollars: “On the show, it made it seem like I lost money but we actually broke even in the end. I could have planned more. I could have charged at the door. The auction was awful.
That’s all they showed. But the party went great. More than 400 people learned about the foundation.”
On her foundation to help raise teen girls’ self esteem: “My goal to go national will be realized faster. A lot of people have been donating money. I’ve done summer camps for three years. We had 180 girls the first year, 250 the second and a little more than 300 this past summer. I want to do four camps in metro Atlanta next year.”
On Kim and Sheree bagging on her barbecue, the one she hoped would help reconcile Kim and NeNe: “I’m not mad about them not coming. I don’t care. I was just surprised. I was trying to help.”
On NeNe: “NeNe and I were very close during and after the taping. They didn’t show much of that. I respect her. She’ll say what she thinks to your face, not behind your back. I don’t hang out much with the other girls [except for the show.]”
On NeNe’s mockery of Kim in the limo that led to Kim cutting ties with NeNe: “She wasn’t trying to hurt Kim’s feelings. I was cracking up. There was no harm. It wasn’t something she hadn’t said to Kim’s face. [Then again,] it should not have left the limo.”
On the rough treatment in blogland to the show and to her: “Eric [her husband and captain of the Cleveland Cavaliers] warned me that people would have opinions. I said, ‘Okay, okay, I’ll be fine.’ But my skin wasn’t thick enough. It bothered me. People who know me know I’m a great person. At the end of the day, all that matters to me is Eric and the boys. I can’t control what people say. The show is just a snapshot of who I am.”
On rumors she is in a rented house: “If these people knew the battles I’ve gone through with the builders, they know I wouldn’t do this with a rented house. You can’t believe what you hear.”
On the newfound fame: “I eat it up. I love the glitz and glamour and people recognizing me. It’s all exciting.”
Taking advantage of said fame: “I’m going to be selling online hats and T-shirts, plus crystal cell phone cases. The shirts will have things I said people have run with such as “She didn’t even Google me!” and what Eric called me: ‘Boss lady.’A portion of the proceeds goes to my girls. [meaning, her foundation.]”
Sheree Whitfield
On how she comes across on TV: “I’ve always been strong and confident. It comes across as a little cold.”
On whether her confidence masks insecurity: “Are you kidding me? I am the most secure person on Earth. Anyone who knows me knows I’m comfortable in my own skin.”
On her divorce with Bob Whitfield and whether that desired seven-figure settlement is forthcoming: “I can’t go into that because of my attorneys… we’re at the tail end [of the divorce proceedings.]”
On her finances: “Financially, I’m fine. When I start asking people for money, then you can say, ‘What’s going on with Sheree?’ Of course with the economy, everyone include me is limiting some of my spending. If I don’t truly love it, I’m not making the purchase.”
On what hasn’t been shown on TV: “I’m a great mom. I’m very active in my kids’ lives. I am that soccer mom, that football mom that is not shown.”
On how people think the five of them represent (or misrepresent) housewives of Atlanta: “It’s very comical. We can’t represent a lot of Atlanta. I can only do Sheree well. We’re five strong women with five strong personalities. Someone can relate to any one of us.”
On her clothing line She by Sheree: “I’m looking to have it ready for fall of 2009. I’ll have samples ready for trade shows in February.”
On why she got her clothing samples so late before her fashion line intro party: “I had different seamstresses fall through. It’s hard to find good people. The clothing was supposed to be ready two weeks earlier. She didn’t finish in time. I put so much time and money into that viewing. It was never a fashion show. It was a viewing. I showed fabrics and sketches.”
On her boutique Bella Azul, which closed two years ago: “It was open at Howell Mill and 8th for about four years. I was a pioneer going into that area. The owner kept promising new businesses. It wasn’t hapepning. It’s booming now.”
On blogs where people slag her: “I don’t want to hear that. I don’t read it although I blog myself. And it’s weird because in person, people are so loving and positive.”
On NeNe: “We weren’t friends going in. I didn’t have a lot of interaction with her on camera.”
On NeNe’s mockery of Kim: “It was very mean. To someone I consider a friend, I would have never sung that song. We’re adults. You’re responsible for what you say, whether you’re drunk, high or sober.”
NeNe Leakes
On the newfound fame: “I can’t leave the house without people knowing who I am. I love it. I have great fans!”
On drunkenly mocking Kim’s country singing aspirations: “I didn’t want to hurt Kim’s feelings. I didn’t mean to hurt Kim’s feelings. It was blown out of proportion. That was really a turning point in our relationship. She stopped talking to me. Since then, we’ve had a chance to talk a bit. I apologized.”
But really, how is Kim’s singing? “I had never heard her sing. When she had me listen to her music. I thought, ‘Wow! The music is horrible!’ And I didn’t think Kim could sing. I didn’t mean to say it harsh. I guess I’m really a Simon Cowell!”
On her domestic violence foundation Twisted Hearts: “Porsche Foxx [of V-103] called me and wants to be part of it. Frank Ski has offered to help. Wendy Williams reached out to me. I’ve reached out to Jennifer Hudson because we share the same hairstylist. I have Chili from TLC on board. Keyshia Cole is interested.”.
On who her real daddy is: “It isn’t addressed this season but we may do something assuming there’s a second season. I may have a celebrity sister. That’s my tease!”
On creating drama: “I like to separate from people who bring drama to my life. Every new year, I go through my cell phone and look at my contacts. I delete everybody’s names who bring stress to my life. I do like having girlfriends. I don’t want to have drama with girlfriends.”
On being wealthy [thanks to her hubby Gregg.]: “I live this great fabulous life. I’m blessed. But I’m not going to brag about it. I never talk about designers. I don’t need to die in Dior. I just want to be comfortable.”
On her breasts: “I’m surprised that everyone is talking about my boobs. I don’t think I’m going to put them totally away, just do it a different way.”
On renting or owning her home and other rumors: “Whether you’re renting or purchasing, either way, it’s money coming out of your own pocket. What’s the big deal? It’s nobody’s business if I filed bankruptcy 10 or 20 years ago. What difference does it make? Will it change Bravo’s opinion about me? Absolutely not. I’m a real housewife of Atlanta. That’s the way it’s going to stay.”
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11/15: Savannah gal Ruby starts at 477 pounds on Style and it’s all downhill from here..
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Ruby Gettinger is a sweet, rambunctious Savannah gal with a big support system of friends and family.
Not long ago, she was also tipping the scales at 477 pounds.
The Style Network decided to train cameras on Gettinger this year and chronicle her personal “Biggest Loser”-style journey.
“I want to fix the problem; I want to find a cure,” Gettinger said earlier this week over lunch at McCormick & Schmick’s at CNN Center where she nibbled at a low-carb meal of sockeye salmon with mixed vegetables and a mixed green salad. “Is it mental, physical or emotional? Or is it all three? I’m learning eating for me is like an addiction, like alcoholism.”
Last Sunday’s first episode of “Ruby” introduced the world to Gettinger and her efforts to change her life as she begins work with a dietician, a fitness trainer and a psychiatrist. The show drew 565,000 viewers, the biggest debut for an original series in Style Network’s nine-year history.
“I was shocked how big I was,” Gettinger said after watching herself on TV. “I look in the mirror and see myself as big but not that big. I didn’t know when I walk, I wobble. What is that?”
“Ruby” is a departure from the network’s more standard fare such as “Clean House” and “Kimora: Life in the Fab Lane.”
But Sarah Weidman, executive producer of development at Style, said “Ruby” fits the network’s theme of “transformation.”
“It’s a big makeover show,” she said. “Instead of doing it in one show, this is a much deeper experience over multiple episodes.” (The first season has nine episodes.)
And unlike documentaries Weidman has seen about super-obese folks, “Ruby” features a woman who projects light, not darkness. She’s social, she’s faithful and she’s uplifting, Weidman notes.
“I consider her a motivator,” she said. “Many women lose and gain weight in 10-pound increments. She does it in hundreds. She’s an extreme situation, but she’s very relatable.”
A military brat who eventually settled in Savannah, Gettinger said she began gaining weight at age 10. “I never ate meals,” she said. “I ate snacks. Pop Tarts for breakfast. Sweet rolls. Milky Ways. Love Milky Ways!”
Gettinger, who won’t reveal her age, said that as an adult, her weight fluctuated over the years between 350 and 716 pounds. Whenever she dropped to about 350, she said, she’d “sabotage” and spiral upwards again.
In the mid-1990s, she met a fitness trainer and fell in love. They moved to Los Angeles. She lost 150 pounds. But that wasn’t enough. She’d feel self-conscious when people would say, “How in the world did you get him? He’s got to be your brother!”
In the end, he ultimately couldn’t marry her, she said, because of her weight. About that time, she saw an “Oprah” episode on fat women and decided to do a documentary about herself. “I told my friends to follow me around with a videocamera,” she said. The idea never quite congealed.
She moved back to Savannah around 2001. Over the years, she worked as a pharmacy technician and helped burn victims with stocking fittings. But a couple of years ago she had heart issues and had to go on disability.
At the time, Gettinger still had this idea of documenting her life in some way. She used a connection: her friend Brittany Daniel, an actress on the UPN show “The Game.” Daniel hooked Gettinger up with a producer friend, who sold the concept to Style Network. Thus, the show was born.
Gettinger said she now wants to lose weight for herself, not just for others. She wants to be able to sit on someone’s lap. She wants to be able to take a bubble bath. She wants to fit in chairs with arms.
Seven months after that initial episode, she said she’s down to 364 pounds. She’s learning to break bad habits such as skipping breakfast and only eating when she’s truly hungry. Now she’s eating on a schedule, whether her stomach is growling or not. The biggest downside? “I miss spaghetti like crazy.”
And since the show aired Sunday, the Style Network message boards have been flooded by an outpouring of support. Overnight. Gettinger said she’s being recognized on the streets. Though Style has yet to commit, a second season is a virtual guarantee after solid first-episode ratings.
“My goal is to reach a healthy weight in two years,” Gettinger said, though she’s not sure exactly what that might be. As for “Ruby,” the TV series, “I don’t see it as a show. This is my life, a life I’m trying to fix. And I hope I can help others, too.”
TV SUNDAY
“Ruby,” 9 p.m. Style Network
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11/13; Frank & Wanda to celebrate 10 years at V-103 next week; “MadTV,” “My Own Worst Enemy,” “Lipstick Jungle” cancelled
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
-Frank Ski and Wanda Smith announced their own version of Oprah’s “Favorite Things,” a live party on November 21 featuring their own favorite things. Those 10 items, yet to be announced, will also be awarded to 10 lucky V-103 fans who sign up online. The live party from 6 to 10 a.m. will be at Justin’s.
-Falcons player Jonathan Babineaux will be a weekly correspondent on the Murph Dawg & CJ morning show on 95.5/The Beat.
According to the press release: In his segment titled “In the Know with Babineaux,” Jonathan will give sports analysis, share his thoughts on current events and give his views on what’s hot in music and entertainment news with Murph and CJ on Monday mornings at 7:55AM.
-NBC, which is having a horrendous TV season outside of “Saturday Night Live,” has nixed two relatively new shows, the Brooke Shield vehicle “Lipstick Jungle” and Christian Slater’s spy caper “My Own Worst Enemy.” Both were struggling to draw 5 million viewers a night.
Fox has also decided to retire “MAD tv” after 14 seasons and being overshadowed by “SNL.” But the sketch show is being shopped to cable networks. The show will finish out its run in May, 2009. It averages 2.6 million viewers, less than half that of “SNL.”
The show features an Atlanta gal Erica Ash:
Meanwhile, ABC’s “Pushing Daisies” has struggled in the ratings and is currently straddling the fence in terms of survival.
-And when the “Real Housewives of Atlanta” reunion airs November 25, Lisa Wu Hartwell almost comes to blows with Kim Zolciak. That is unexpected given how diplomatic Lisa was on the show.
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11/12: “Real Housewives of Atlanta” episode #6 recap
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
ABOVE: Sheree Whitfield poses with her ex-husband Bob Whitfield at her fashion show intro party.
Let’s call this episode “The One Where the Fashion Show Had No Fashion.”
While poor DeShawn Snow a couple episodes of ago had the Charity Event That Lost Money, this time Sheree Whitfield found herself introducing a fashion line where the fashion samples were so bad, she couldn’t actually hold the fashion show.
Sheree wants to be her own woman by creating her own fashion line She by Sheree. But the money clearly is coming from her ex husband and NFL player Bob Whitfield, something along the lines of $100,000. She has designs made and we see her talking with her “lifestyle consultant” or something like that. How do you get a job like that? She also hires a “body paint” specialist and picks a couple of hottie guys to be at her party where her “She by Sheree” name is emblazoned on them. Poor guys!
The day before the party, she finds fashion samples in plastic on her door. (Good question; why is she only getting her samples the day before?) She is upset by the clothing in plastic instead of garment bags. She is upset that the designer didn’t wait for Sheree and left it at her door. She is then upset by the quality of the designs that don’t look quite like what she had expected. She is upset that the designer doesn’t immediately answer the phone. She finally gets the designer on the phone and lectures her sternly about the crap she got. She decides not to show the samples at the party the next day.
So she has to tell guests she didn’t have the fashion line ready for the party itself. While we see nobody mocking her at the party, NeNe’s gay friend Dwight does so after the fact while getting a pedicure. “What’s a fashion show without fashion?” he says snidely. At least Bob shows up to be supportive (though his comments about her “finally” doing something was faint praise at best). In fact, this is the first time we really see Bob (besides the back of his head in the first episode.)
NeNe had quite an eventful hour, too. First off, her first Twisted Hearts Foundation to help victims of domestic abuse went off without a hitch, a luncheon where women wore big hats. She raised $19,200 and told an emotional story about her own problems with an abusive man.
At the end, we find out her paternity test. Is Curtis her daddy? Sadly, no, he is not. She is emotionally wrought, understandably so.
And Lisa finally had a real storyline or two. She and DeShawn tried to reconcile NeNe and Kim with a sunset barbecue at DeShawn’s place. Naturally, Kim and Sheree bag on the event without even calling. Kim’s excuse: she didn’t feel like going. Sheree’s excuse? Too busy. Kind of rude to not bother telling them in advance and making DeShawn, Lisa and NeNe sit around for a couple of hours waiting in vain. Naturally, NeNe isn’t surprised and says you “reap what you sow.”
In early May, Lisa also finds out her hubby Ed Hartwell gets a job with the Oakland Raiders. She wants him to retire and isn’t pleased to see him have to work so far away from Atlanta. (He ended up getting released in August, never getting to actually play a game.)
Next week in what is already the final episode of season one (and believe me, season two is coming thanks to good ratings): in what is still considered a network crossover promotion, Atlanta “Project Runway” alum Mykael Knight pops by and Kim and NeNe confront each other over past issues.
By the way, ratings for “Real Housewives” last Tuesday during the middle of the presidential election results took a hit. The show just broke 1 million viewers, down from 1.27 million the week before. But considering how many folks were watching CNN and ABC (the most popular networks of the night), that is surprisingly good. But the repeat lost far more viewers at 11 p.m. when Barack Obama’s victory was announced. “Real Housewives” at 11 p.m. drew 388K compared to 667K a week earlier.
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11/11: Steve Barnes in David Duchovny, Demi Moore film, more “Real Housewives” stuff
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Steve Barnes, former 99X morning host, got a speaking role in the current big-budget film shooting in Atlanta, “The Jones.”
On Friday, he had a speaking role with David Duchovny, whose character tries to sell him electronics. Demi Moore and Gary Cole were in the scene as well.
“I spent about eight hours knee to knee with him on the couch, and every woman I know is fighting for details,” Barnes wrote in an e-mail to me. “He was very ‘loose,’ which made it easy to work with him. No attitude and very professional.”
Barnes also hit it off with Moore, who he says looks about 30 although she turns 46 today. “She is the type of ‘A list’ star that you would think would be jaded,” he wrote. “She is NOT.”
The ubiquitous Sheree Whitfield and Kim Zolciak from “The Real Housewives of Atlanta” were also on set that day. Zolciak, in an e-mail, wrote, “I am in 2 parts of the film, Demi was incredible she was so sweet and David was great. Demi and I talked outside for quite sometime she loves the Real Housewives.”
Sheree, in an email, noted, “I was on the set of the movie and did get in a few scenes. It was a lot of fun, met some wonderful contacts and Demi Moore was awesome! She was so down to earth, had a great personality and was very sweet. We even talked about our show and how she has been watching it and likes it. How incredible!”
Barnes noted, “they had a man servant in tow that constantly changed out their shoes [heels to flats] like a NASCAR pit crew tire changer!”
While in town, Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher were over scene at the Falcons-Saints game Sunday at the Georgia Dome.
Tonight’s episode will feature Sheree and her clothing line, plus NeNe finds out about who her daddy is.
Essence.com posted part of an interview they did with Lisa Wu-Hartwell. Here are excerpts sent to me by email:
On Co-Star Kim: Let’s just say, Kim [Zolciak] pushed the wrong and the last button, which takes me there. Normally, I conduct myself professionally and I prefer to turn the other cheek, but you can’t allow people to continue to play with you because they’ll think they can do that all day, every day. So I’d say that people will be surprised because I was surprised and somewhat embarrassed myself, but I’m human and you have to let people know that they can’t just say whatever they want to you.
On Relationship with Keith Sweat: I’ll just say it was a very tumultuous relationship. I was very young and impressionable-20-when I married him. So it was a difficult marriage but it made me stronger and wiser. When you’re young and impressionable, you have to know who you are and love yourself, so you don’t accept anything less than love and respect. I don’t believe that I didn’t love myself, but I lacked confidence.
On Losing Custody of her Children: Until this day I still can’t believe I lost custody because they were convinced that because I was an aspiring actress and Keith [Sweat] was more stable and settled in his career than I was. So because I’m a working mother that means I’m a bad parent? I still don’t get it. It was an unfortunate ruling that was handed to me. It was devastating and if it can happen to me it can happen to Mary Poppins, because there was no [behavioral] misconduct on my part. I’ve never done drugs, I don’t party and I helped raise his kids. How do you take my kids when I’m raising yours?
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11/10: Newnan’s “Bachelorette” DeAnna Pappas breaks off engagement
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
DeAnna Pappas, the adorable “Bachelorette” from Newnan, is a bachelorette again.
Over the summer on the ABC reality show, Pappas picked goofy snowboarder Jesse Csincsak over sweet but kind of dull divorcee Jason Mesnick (who will be the next “Bachelor”). The wedding was set for May, 2009. But she has broken it off, according to a video [below] Csincsak posted last week:
He looks a bit humbled, very subdued, clearly pained. Here’s what he says:
“All of you guys have been amazing and followed us and supported us. I kind of feel like it’s our responsibility to tell you we’re not together anymore. DeAnna broke up with me two days ago. I just wanted to come on here face to face I’m sorry. I did everything in my power to make this work. She’s a great person but she wasn’t willing to try. She wanted something different, I guess. The answer I got, ‘I love you. I’m not in love with you.’ That’s a lot to swallow no matter who you are when you’re in love and put yourself out there. It’s a lot, a lot to take in.
I’m going to try to get a hold of Pappas today. I haven’t seen a response from her yet.
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11/7: Shocker- Emory Med grad Marcus Lehman booted from “Survivor”
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Emory Med School grad Marcus Lehman is not going to win “Survivor” like another former Atlantan Parvati Shallow. Instead, he was shockingly booted in a classic “Survivor” blindside, aided by a change in teams, bad luck and poor maneuvering tactics.
Lehman was a threat from the get go given his physical strength. He also seemed like a nice guy. But for him to survive, he needed to have an airtight alliance. Early on, with Charlie as his primary ally (and Corinne and Bob backing him up), things seemed okay for him. He didn’t make any apparent waves and helped win key challenges for Kota. (No sign of that arrogance Jeff Probst claimed before the show aired. He’s confident but not Ace-like arrogant or even Randy-like jerkish.)
During this episode, there’s a feast for all 10 remaining “Survivor” members. Ken sees a clue for the immunity idol but he is not secretive about it. So everyone nows. Randy finds it. Marcus has an idea to burn it. It’s a tempting target, the apple in the Garden of Eden. They dump it instead. “I have 10 people to throw an immunity idol into the ocean,” Marcus said, quite satisfied with himself. He feels safe because he’s part of the Koda 6 vs. the Fang 4.
Then there’s a twist. The ten members are changed into two new random tribes as opposed to a merged tribe, which was the presumption. Marcus loses his two biggest allies, Charlie and Corinne. He’s automatically vulnerable though he feels safe. “No immunity idol gets me to the finals,” Marcus thinks. Susie is the loose cannon here. Marcus is at least aware that she could turn on him and she admits she is not loyal to him because she feels she is on the bottom of the Koda tribe pecking order.
Crystal and Marcus bond over the fact one of Marcus’s best friends in Atlanta is Crystal’s cousin. Marcus is now torn over getting rid of Crystal and tells her he won’t. Crystal claims she won’t write his name down if they go to tribal but she tells cameras she is just playing the game.
This connection hurts Marcus. He promises Susie a top 3 spot, but she doesn’t really trust him and vice versa. So he takes a big risk by offering Crystal a spot in the Kota six instead of Susie. But they’d have to vote off Ken first, he says. (Marcus should have gotten rid of Susie first. Bad move.) Crystal feels too loyal to Ken so she tells Susie about Marcus’ shenanigans. “Marcus is playing the nice guy but he’s a schemer,” Crystal said. “I’m playing nice girl: liar and schemer!”
As a result, Marcus is screwed in tribal council. “I forgive but I won’t forget,” says a disappointed but not outwardly angry Marcus in the post-interview.
At least he will be on the jury. Susie was the turncoat but credit Crystal for the blindside. Outwit, outlast indeed!
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11/7: Adult Swim adds “King of the Hill,” 10 p.m start time; No Tom Joyner Sky Show this year
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Over the past seven years Atlanta-based Adult Swim has been gradually eroding away Cartoon Network’s turf with an onslaught of repeats from Fox (especially “The Family Guy”) and quirky originals (“Robot Chicken,” “Venture Brothers”).
Now the network, which shares airtime with Cartoon Network, has snared repeat rights of another Fox animated series “King of the Hill,” which is ending its original run on Fox in 2009 after 13 seasons.
This pickup will anchor the new 10 p.m. hour for Adult Swim, taking an hour a night away from Cartoon Network, which is more geared to pre-teens than the young adults who flock to Adult Swim.
Currently Adult Swim starts at 11 p.m. except Sundays, when it opens at 10 p.m. By entering primetime territory, Adult Swim now takes up one-third of the network’s hours.
“This is the next natural step,” said Mike Lazzo, senior vice president of programming for Adult Swim. “There are a finite number of shows with enough episodes and are broad enough to play in primetime. ‘King of the Hill’ is one of them.”
Lazzo said he hopes the 10 p.m. will generate more revenue and allow the network to create pricier original programming on the level of “King of the Hill.” “We’re renting some content and we’d like to do more owning,” he said.
Brad Adgate, senior vice president of research for New York-based marketing firm Horizon Media, said he’s surprised it took Adult Swim this long to move to 10 p.m. “They’ve proven they can compete with a target audience marketers crave and have become a very successful brand,” Adgate said. “And what else is on at 10? Local news and dramas. So this makes sense.”
Lazzo said at this juncture, the network can’t afford to fund fresh episodes of “King of the Hill,” which will continue to air repeats on FX until December. (Variety reports that ABC has expressed interest in creating more original episodes.)
Adult Swim’s strongest show for years has been repeats of the indefatigable “Family Guy,” averaging 2.3 million viewers last week during the 11 p.m. hour. But its own shows such as “Robot Chicken,” “Moral Orel” and “Aqua Teen Hunger Force” are also big draws.
More original production is being done outside of Atlanta because the writers and CGI specialists are in Los Angeles and New York. But Lazzo said all the editing and packaging is done locally, as well as some shows such as “Aqua Teen.”
Adult Swim has been the top cable network among men 18 to 34 year olds 12 of the past 14 quarters, according to Arbitron research. The network began in the fall of 2001 with just three hours of weekly programming. Starting in 2009, that number will rise to 56 hours.
- Tom Joyner, the syndicated talk show host heard on Kiss 104.1, won’t be coming to Atlanta this month for his Sky Show because he stopped touring this year for the first time in years.
His Sky Show, which usually came to the Atlanta Civic Center in November, was a free show featuring acts such as Cameo, Al Green, Jeffrey Osborne and the Gap Band. Joyner would rely on sponsors such as Southwest Airlines to pay for the cost of doing the show. And he’d get corporations to donate monies for scholarships. There’d be comics such as Sinbad, too, and an old-school dance contest. Thousands show up every year, many who stay overnight to get good seats when the show starts at 6 a.m.
I’ve gone several times and it’s a lot of fun. I left a message with someone at Joyner’s Reach Media today to get an explanation why it was cut off this year. I suspect it may have been a loss of sponsors and a cost issue.
-Marietta’s Alan Ball should be encouraged that ratings for his HBO drama “True Blood” has improved over time, from 1.4 million opening week to more than 2.4 million this past week. More than 6 million viewers catch it on demand or in repeats in a given week. That’s a far cry from “Sopranos” numbers but for HBO, this probably means a likely second season renewal.
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11/6: Dancing With the Stars tour January 25 at Gwinnett Arena
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Four of the “Dancing with the Stars” stars with extra time on their hands are on tour and coming to Gwinnett Arena Sunday, January 25 at 7:30 p.m: Lance Bass, part-time Atlantan Toni Braxton, Maurice Greene and Marlee Martlin.
Among the professional dancers include Mark Hough, Kym Johnson, Alec Mazo, Lacey Schwimmer and Edyta Sliwinska.
What do you think of this lineup? Who would you want to see who’s not coming?
Pre-sale begins Friday Nov.7 at 10 a.m. with the passwords STARS. Regular tix go on sale Monday at 10 a.m.. Ticket prices range from $52.50 to $225 for special tables.
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11/6: NASCAR leaving 106.7, seeks new home
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
My colleague Rick Minter, who covers NASCAR, has filed the following:
Atlanta area race fans will have to move the radio dial next year to hear broadcasts of NASCAR races and possibly Georgia Tech football. Doug Rice, president and general manager of the Performance Racing Network, said his company and Motor Racing Network, which also broadcasts NASCAR races nationwide, are looking for a new Atlanta affiliate after True Oldies 106.7 informed them that it would not carry the races next year.
Rice said he’s talking to several local stations and is confident a new affiliate can be signed. He said the Atlanta market is a key one for both PRN and MRN.
Mark Richards, operations manager for True Oldies, said that with station’s switch from country music to oldies in February, NASCAR wasn’t the fit for its audience that it once was. He said the station is in negotiations to become the flagship station for Georgia Tech football, which is currently on 790/The Zone.
Where do you think NASCAR should go on the radio?
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11/6: CNN hologram mocked, explained
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Arguably the strangest gizmo of the night was on CNN: the “hologram.” It didn’t really add anything to the proceedings except a bizarre flashback to Princess Leia and R2D2 in “Star Wars.”
Jon Stewart had a field day mocking it Wednesday night, as did bloggers online since the technology was “unveiled.” Take Don Reisinger of the The Digital Home on Cnet:
Allow me to explain something to those who probably also get excited about buying a new hammer or watching a new Starbucks open up in their neighborhood: the “hologram” technique made the show look shoddy and stupid, and made Ms. [Jessica] Yellin look like a well-designed video game character.
Here’s engadget’s thoughts:
If you’ve been keeping your eyes fixed on CNN as this election unfolds, then by now you’ve seen Wolf Blitzer doing a “hologram” interview with Jessica Yellin. Not only does this technology seem completely creepy, but it’s without a doubt one of the most useless and unnecessary pieces of phantasmagoric TV ever enacted.
Gizmodo explains the technology:
-35 HD cameras pointed at the subject in a ring
-Different cameras shoot at different angles (like the matrix), to transmit the entire body image
-The cameras are hooked up to the cameras in home base in NY, synchronizing the angles so perspective is right
-Correspondents see a 37-inch plasma where the return feed of the combined images are fed back to them.
-Twenty “computers” are crunching this data in order to make it usable
Washington bureau chief David Bohrman attempted to justify the technology to Wolf Blitzer:
Well, I think it was an ornament on the tree. The heart of our coverage yesterday was calling the races, projecting the presidency and covering those amazing moments last night but television evolves and how we do things evolves and maybe at some point five years or 10 years or 20 years down the road, I think there is going to be a way that television does interviews like this, because it allows for more intimate possibility for a remote interview.
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11/5: New radio ratings — big stations remain big
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Arbitron changed ratings systems, which made a lot of stations nervous.
But a quick glance at the first month’s numbers out today (covering mid-September through mid October) indicate that the top stations such as WSB-AM, V-103 and Kiss 104.1 remain the top stations. (I don’t have morning show or demographic breakdowns yet. If I can get some, I’ll update this.)
V-103’s overall numbers fell a bit, allowing 750/WSB-AM to prevail among older demographics while Kiss 104.1’s numbers were stronger.
Arbitron is now using people meters, electronic devices that measure actual listening, instead of weekly paper diaries, which is based on people’s recall. This is supposed to be more accurate. These ratings are used by many advertisers as a basis to pay for ads.
Under meters, people apparently listen to more stations than they would report under the old system. But they don’t listen as long either. As a result, “cume,” or the number of individuals who listen to any station in a given week, is far higher for almost all stations. But time spent listening fell off. That’s pretty normal based on other markets, though the dropoff in time spent listening wasn’t as sharp here as it was in Houston or Philadelphia, the first two markets that began using meters.
What does this mean for you and me as listeners? Too soon to say but any worries that Hispanic or black stations would be inadvertently hurt were unwarranted, based on first month’s numbers.
The folks at Q100 were happy. Q100’s “cume” number increased more than any other station, more than doubling from 427K to 860K. The station was also surprised that far more men listened than reported under the old system. (As Gary Lewis joked, kind of a warped version of the “Bradley” effect. Guys perhaps didn’t want to admit listening to the Bert Show, though it may have been because they were in the car with their wife/girlfriend.)
The two Hispanic stations appeared to do better under the new system. Praise held up well.
Overall, the top 20 stations aren’t really all that different from what you would have seen under the old system:
1- WSB-AM, 2- V-103, 3- Kiss 104.1, 4-Kicks 101.5 5- (tie) B98.5 5- Praise 7-River 8-Q100 9-95.5/The Beat 10- Hot 107.9
11- Star 94 12- El Patron 13- Grown Folks 14- Project 15- WABE-FM (yes, now we can have noncommercial stations numbers, too) 15-(tie) Viva 17- 104.7/The Fish 18- Smooth Jazz 107.5 19-Dave 92.9 20- True Oldies 106.7
21- 94.9/The Bull 21 (tie) -680/The Fan 23- WGST-AM 24- Rock 100.5 25- 790/The Zone 26- Legends 96.7 27- La Raza 102.3 28- J93.3 28 (tie) 920/WGKA-AM 30- WAOK-AM
In terms of “cume” or total listeners, the top 10 are:
1-B98.5 (1.2 million vs. 551K over the summer)
2- V-103 (1.12 million vs. 847K)
3- 750/WSB-AM (1.1 million vs. 733K)
4- 95.5/The Beat (930K vs. 603K)
5- 97.1/The River (900K vs. 567K)
6- Q100 (860K vs. 427K—the biggest increase of all stations on percentage terms)
7- Star 94 (850K vs. 500K)
8- Kiss 104.1 (850K vs. 559K)
9- Hot 107.9 (780K vs. 478K)
10-Kicks 101.5 (730K vs. 431K)
A few stations actually lost cume including 90.1/WABE-FM, Viva 105.7 and 91.9/WCLK-FM.
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11/5: Radio personalities react to the Obama election
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Atlantan and Grown Folks 102.5 syndicated morning host Steve Harvey said last night was one of the most momentous occasions of his entire life.
“It was an eye opener for me personally,” he said, calling from the set of BET’s “106 & Park.” “It restored a lot of faith I needed to have in this country. There were enough people who were not African American who saw beyond the man’s color, that judged him on his content and character. That’s what this country is all about.”
An African-American president, he said, was never even on his radar screen before Obama came along. “It was a complete makeover of my mental processes yesterday,” he said. “This country is a bit more open to change than I thought. People are just sick and tired of being sick and tired, as my mama used to say.”
Harvey feels Obama can reach across the aisle and heal rifts domestically and internationally. He said he spoke to Obama five times on his show, including just a couple of days ago, just minutes after he found out his grandmother had passed. “I had no idea that had happened,” he said. “I just thought he sounded tired… I cannot have done that. I don’t know anybody else who could have held up the way he did under all those accusations and false accusations. I would have blown it. I would have said, ‘You can all just kiss my *!’ We’d have gone from there!”
Syndicated talk show host Clark Howard, an Atlanta native heard on WSB-AM: “At 11 p.m., when it flashed across the networks that Obama had been elected, I completely chocked up and started crying. I had no idea I’d react that way. I think it’s based on growing up at the tail end of the most bitter time of the Civil Rights era… Economically, I agree with Obama on nothing. He’s going to raise my taxes and I don’t think he has the same feeling about the free market as I do. But I don’t care now. I’ll care when I do my taxes in April of 2010.”
Larry Wachs of Rock 100.5, who is not an Obama fan, said we are now entering a period of major uncertainty. As for folks who voted for Obama, “I’m not sure they know who they voted for. It was a short-term feel good thing, a desire for change after eight years. That was the message. People bought it.” As for his own radio show, he feels they’ve had some great shows recently. “We’re coming from a real place. It forces us to cut through the clutter and keep it simple.”
Bert Weiss of the Bert Show on Q100 said he was heartened to see the racial diversity at the Grant Park celebration in Chicago for Obama. “That says everything about Obama. I hope he can really bridge the racial gap between people.”
Larry Tinsley, who hosts the gospel show on V-103, said he felt a true “sense of jubilation” last night. “I just felt pride watching this historic event,” he said. “It was a beautiful sight to see.”
Cledus T. Judd at 94.9/The Bull isn’t stating his political viewpoints though it’s fair to guess he wasn’t an Obama supporter. “I don’t care if you’re a Democrat, a Republican, an independent. It doesn’t matter to me. Just fix it. Both [candidates] said they said they could Show us the way. As long as you can get my interest rate down from my mortgage, make sure my children get a good education, get gas prices down to 95 cents a gallon. It can only go up. We cannot be in any worse shape. The guy’s an amazing speaker. If he can follow up with specifics and lead us in the right direction, I’m fine with it.”
Frank Ski spent election night debating with Rock 100.5’s Eric Von Haessler and Q100’s Bert Weiss on WATL-TV. “Barack winning has taken away every excuse black people have of being too poor, of growing up with a single mom. He came from a single grandmother, went to Harvard. And he shows that you can’t be a real leader without having worked in the neighborhoods, in dilapidated bulidings, helping Chicago rally for causes. That’s true leadership… I regret I wasn’t there last night at 11 to wake up my boys to watch this.”
I heard a bit of Neal Boortz this morning and he said he wasn’t going to “drop any dookie on this parade,” choosing to let supporters bask in the glow of the Obama victory.
I didn’t interview Oprah but I’m watching her show, which is live. “The election is over and I’m unleashed!” Oprah said. She had kept her mouth shut for months even though we all knew she was all for Barack. “He will unify and bring this country together,” she said. She brought on local civic rights legend and Rep. John Lewis as a guest. “I had an out of body experience,” Lewis said, at Ebenezer Church. “I was overcome. It reminded me of all the struggle, all the pain. To see this day come, it was too much, too much.”
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11/5: “Real Housewives of Atlanta” episode No. 5 recap. Do you know how to spell cat?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
After spending the night before watching election results, I feel beyond silly having to recap “The Real Housewives of Atlanta.” But this is my job. Thank goodness for the DVR because I did not watch this when it aired last night three times in a row on Bravo.
ABOVE: Kim Zolciak dines with Dallas Austin at Rosa Mexicana.
This is yet another episode focused around Kim, both her efforts to become a country singer and her burgeoning feud with former BFF NeNe. At Barnsley Gardens, minus Kim and Sheree, DeShawn and Lisa watch NeNe get drunk and mock Kim’s country singing aspirations, her looks and the assertion Dallas Austin is helping Kim’s musical desires because he’s friends with Big Poppa. (As usual, NeNe is pretty darn funny. Funniest singing line: “I’m 29 but I’m really 89!)”)
This routine gets back to Kim via Sheree, who heard about it second hand from an unknown source. Kim is deeply offended. She blows off NeNe during a shopping trip. When DeShawn (while dining with NeNe at Chima) calls Kim to see if they can clear the air, Kim hangs up on her. Kim and Sheree bond over how awful NeNe is. “She’s a wannabe. She’s a hater,” Sheree said. Kim decides to text NeNe to tell her off — which is so, like, “Gossip Girl.” Why not say it to her in person?
Here’s the text: “I can’t believed [sic] the ** you talked about me! You have no class you are so evil! Don’t ever call me again. You are a low budget bitch!”
(NeNe, inspired by DeShawn, wants to start her own foundation Twisted Hearts to helps battered women, having been there herself. She comes across as sincere and realistic, wanting to raise $20K in her first brunch fundraiser as opposed to DeShawn’s $1 million.)
We also finally get to see Kim sing. Or at least try to sing. She is awful. She even admits (somewhat) that she needs work. A LOT of work.
Super vocal coach Jan Smith (who has worked with the likes of Usher, Sugarland, Mariah Carey, et. al) tells Kim to her face that she is like a prettily constructed house with a major crack in the foundation and that she doesn’t know what she’s doing as a singer. This results in a comment from the annals of deluded, arrogant “American Idol” tryout singers: “Jan is nitpicking me. She says I don’t know the ABC’s of music. I don’t need to. I’m a singer.”
My favorite moment is when Kim recounts her meeting with Jan at Rosa Mexicana before Dallas Austin:
“She goes, ‘Okay, you have a beautiful house, beautiful furniture, beautiful chandeliers, but there’s a crack in the foundation.’ I said, ‘What do you mean?’ ‘You’re not knowledgeable on music.’ ‘Is that hard to learn?’ ‘No.’ She’s like, ‘When you were born, what’s two plus two Kim?’ I said, ‘Four.’ ‘How do you spell cat’ I said, ‘K-A-T.’ She’s like, ‘Did you know that when you were two?’ “
Let’s just leave this recap at that. Kim, though, might call this a R-E-K-A-P.
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11/4: Eric Von Haessler, Frank Ski, Bert Weiss offering pundistry on WATL-TV tonight
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
WATL-TV tonight will have an unusual trio of pundits: three radio hosts — Rock 100.5’s Eric Von Haessler, V-103’s Frank Ski and Q100’s Bert Weiss. The station is dubbing it “Election Blogic.” Eric has a Libertarian bent. Frank is obviously a Democrat. Bert tries to keep it Switzerland so it’ll be interesting to se how he interacts between Eric and Frank.
While other networks will be focused nationally, WATL will run from 8 to 11 p.m. as the only station talking about local races.
“Election Blogic” will be streamed live beginning at 7 p.m. on 11Alive.com and be featured all night on myATLtv.
Our Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist Mike Luckovich will be in the studio as well.
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11/4: Frank Ski Foundation “Local Legends” luncheon with Judge Penny, T-Boz
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
ABOVE: Judge Penny Brown Reynolds, Tanya Ski and Tionne “T-Boz” Watkins at Ski’s home Sunday during the first annual “Local Legends” luncheon. CREDIT: Rodney Ho/rho@ajc.com
Over filet mignon and creme brulee, TLC star Tionne “T-Boz” Watkins and Judge Penny Brown Reynolds (from “Family Court With Judge Penny”) gave six Clayton County high school students pearls of wisdom and a brush with fame at Frank and Tanya Ski’s Atlanta home Sunday.
The Ski’s, through their foundation, wanted to inspire the best and brightest seniors from the beleaguered Clayton County school system, which lost its accreditation earlier this year. They presented $1,000 scholarships to each teen as well.
Meaghan Jackson, a senior and student government president at Morrow High School, said she will always remember a line Judge Penny told her: “God will call into existence those things which do not exist if you only believe.”
Judge Penny hugged Jackson goodbye and told her, “As the first person in your family to go to college and finish high school, that’s a big weight and responsibility. But just be the best you can be. Don’t worry about carrying the legacy.”
ABOVE: Clayton County students Songsarae Harley and Tyler Jones pose with V-103 host Frank Ski and their oversized $1,000 checks. Jones was tickled pink by the oversized check, plans to hang it on her bedroom wall and pass it on to her kids.
Tyler Jones, a Mt. Zion High School senior who wants to go to Georgia Tech, said she’s heard people denigrate her school system, saying anybody going there might as well give up dreams of college and work at the Pink Pony. “I’m really insulted by that,” she said. “We have good teachers, good test scores. It’s our school board that can’t get its act together.”
Jones said her dad told her not to be starstruck but she couldn’t help it. “Oh my God! I’m sitting next to T-Boz! She touched my arm!” she thought to herself at lunch. “I had to pinch myself under the table to make sure this wasn’t a dream!”
ABOVE: (l-r) Maritza Morales, Songsarae Harley, Meaghan Jackson, Tionne “T-Boz” Watkins, Judge Penny Brown Reynolds, Kelita Almost, Tyler Jones, Jamesha Foote.
T-Boz, who is on the upcoming “Celebrity Apprentice,” is hoping to be well enough from sickle cell anemia, to be able to do a couple of dates next spring in Japan, where TLC remain very popular. She said she and Chilli will sing songs with the late Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes on the big screens behind her. I mentioned I met her when UPN had that “R U the Girl for T-Boz and Chill” show, which she readily admitted was merely a paycheck and was never intended to seek a replacement for Lopes. The contract stated the winner would perform once with TLC and that wa sit.
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11/3: Matt Chernoff reunites with Chuck Oliver on the Fan starting Tuesday
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Former Zone hosts Matt Chernoff and Chuck Oliver are reuniting as a team on rival 680/The Fan starting tomorrow from 1 to 3 p.m.
The pair will focus on college football during the season. Chernoff has been part of the morning show the past few months while Oliver signed on with the Fan last week, as announced on this blog.
A minor complication: the Jim Donnan Show, which airs Monday and Thursday, will continue through January so Matt and Chuck will only be on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Chernoff will do mornings on Mondays and Thursdays. Oliver said it will be five days a week starting in January, no holds barred.
Prior to this change, the Fan had been airing Tirico and Van Pelt, an ESPN syndicated show, from 1 to 3 p.m.
Oliver said the pair had done three prior mid-day stints on the Zone totaling about three years. “We’re like an old married couple,” he said.
Originally, the Fan had plans to build a solo show around him but he was cool with the idea of working with Chernoff again. “This is not a consolation prize,” he said.
This is rare instance where a radio station is expanding local talent while other stations (see Hot 107.9, the River, ) are cutting staff in midst of a major revenue downturn, Dickey said the Fan is actually seeing double-digit revenue increases this year, a consequence of stronger ratings the past couple of years.
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11/3: Whatever happened to… Carol Blackmon and Mike Roberts
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
ABOVE: A recent headshot of Carol Blackmon.
ABOVE: Mike Roberts (left) at a going-away party for outgoing Radio One GM Wayne Brown over the summer. That’s Derek Harper, who runs Praise and Grown Folks, on the right.
Here’s a story I wrote for the print edition Monday about the morning show that dominated Atlanta in the 1990s: Mike Roberts and Carol Blackmon from V-103:
Before Frank Ski and Wanda Smith, V-103’s big morning show was Mike Roberts and Carol Blackmon.
From 1990 to 1998, the pair connected with fans via daily call-in polls, interactive games such as “Battle of the Sexes” and gobs of community support. “We stuck to a simple premise: educate, entertain and inform,” Roberts said.
But growing competition from other R&B and hip-hop stations took a toll on ratings. In September 1998, Blackmon quit the station, saying she wasn’t treated fairly by management.
Roberts voluntarily ended his run at V-103 a month later, to accolades and respect from listeners and peers.
“I could have stayed on and reinvented the morning show,” he said recently. “But my head wasn’t there at the time. And I didn’t want to become one of those 50-year-old guys trying to sound hip.”
Since then, the pair has gone separate ways. Roberts, now 51, has focused on running and owning radio stations in Macon. Blackmon, 50, has been doing a variety of different jobs, including voiceover work such as ads for Publix and BMW, artist development, media training and TV host for the Georgia Lottery.
Neither has been back on air as radio hosts in Atlanta. For Roberts, it’s by choice. For Blackmon, the right deal has never come along.
The lottery work, Blackmon said, “keeps my chops up, keeps my face out there and keeps me in the industry.”
She also is a stage mom and manager, helping her 12-year-old son, Sterling, get work doing print ad modeling for Macy’s, TV commercials and film. He played Queen Latifah’s son in the recent film “Mad Money.”
Roberts, in the meantime, spent years building four Macon radio stations: one hip-hop, one R&B oldies and two gospel ones. By 2001, he said he was starting to break even, but a rival hip-hop station came into town with a stronger radio signal and lower ad rates.
He tried to hang on, paring staff and cutting costs but sold three of the four stations in 2006. He now owns a single R&B oldies station Majic 100, splitting his time between Macon and Atlanta.
“I sold them for more than I paid for,” he said, “but I invested so much into them that it’s hard to say I actually recouped my money.”
Why R&B oldies? “It’s the music I grew up with,” Roberts said. “I have a lot of passion for it.”
Blackmon and Roberts don’t see each other often, but they have warm memories.
“I still have very fond thoughts for Carol,” Roberts said. “It’s unfortunate our schedules are so crazy we don’t talk more. But when we do, it’s always a good conversation.”
