Access Atlanta > Entertainment > Radio Talk > Archives > 2009 > January
January 2009
1/30: Elle Duncan takes over for Porsche Foxx on V-103
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Though some people thought Ramona Debreaux had an inside track to take over for Porsche Foxx on V-103’s mid-day slot, it’s Elle Duncan who got the job. She takes over Feb. 2.
“This is a good opportunity for me to branch out and do this thing on my own,” Duncan told me Friday.
Cameron has a history of nurturing talent, including current Hot 107.9’s Rashan Ali and 95.5/The Beat’s morning co-host C.J. Simpson. “Another birdie,” Duncan said, “has left the nest.”
From the press release:
In 2003, Elle was granted a great opportunity to intern for a year at 790 the Zone with the popular brother duo “The Two Live Stews”. She gained a wealth of radio broadcasting knowledge during her internship and in 2005, she joined V-103 as the Afternoon Drive “Traffic Girl”. Her energy, quick wit, comic delivery and great chemistry with Ryan Cameron cemented her a permanent position on The Ryan Cameron Show in 2006. Today at just 25 years old, Elle will provide a young, but mature, female perspective on a variety of topics during her show each day.
Duncan’s TV show “Kitchen Sink” on Gospel Music Channel is currently on “hiatus,” she said.
DeBreaux will continue to do traffic and weekends.
Foxx, who was let go under murky circumstances in November, recently told me she was not let go over drugs or alcohol, issues she has grappled with in the past. But she was not clear why management let her go and V-103 honchos won’t say why either. Foxx still had seven months to go on her two-year contract.
Permalink | Comments (257) | Post your comment |
1/30: Locally produced TV show “Drop Dead Diva” with Margaret Cho picked up as series
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Last year, Atlanta was used to shoot a pilot for a comedy called “Drop Dead Diva” starring Margaret Cho. It was just picked up by Lifetime as a full-blown series and I hear it will continue to be filmed here. (Thank those statewide tax incentives enacted last year!)
Here’s an excerpt from the press release:
Lifetime Television announced the pick up of Drop Dead Diva, a spirited new comedic drama series that puts a uniquely compelling twist on the age-old battle between brains and beauty. Drop Dead Diva tells the story of a shallow model-in-training who dies in a sudden accident only to find her soul resurfacing in the body of a brilliant, thoughtful and plus-size attorney. Drop Dead Diva is produced by Sony Pictures Television and is set to premiere on Lifetime Television in the Summer 2009.
And here’s the plotline. It sounds like it takes a bit from the “Heaven Can Wait” idea.
When beautiful-but-vapid model wannabe Deb has a fatal car accident, she suddenly finds herself in front of Heaven’s gatekeeper, Fred, who declares her a self-centered “zero.” Outraged, she attempts to persuade Fred to return her to her shallow existence but is accidentally relegated to the body of the recently deceased Jane Bingum (Brooke Elliott). A brilliant, thoughtful and plus-size attorney with a loyal assistant (Margaret Cho), Jane has always lived in the shadow of her more comely colleagues whereas Deb has always relied on her external beauty. Now, by a twist of fate and a bolt of divine intervention, both personalities must learn to coexist in Jane’s plus-size frame in the ultimate showdown between brains and beauty.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment |
1/29: What happened to Ike Newkirk? Scott Slade breaks a leg, “Trust Me” no’s relatively weak
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Veteran radio man Ike Newkirk has been doing a radio show in Atlanta for 30-plus years but he has been taken off the air on 790/The Zone. On Sunday, he’s been doing a broadbased radio show, covering all sorts of topics. His viewpoints were usually liberal, sometimes conservative, not always predictable.
Why was he taken off the air? The radio station folks who run the shop there won’t say. And I haven’t gotten any call backs or email responses from Ike.
He has been hosting “Open Line” since 1976. I hear he was given a generous early retirement buyout package that may have included a clause limiting his ability to say anything tangible to the press. That may be why he isn’t returning my inquiries.
-Scott Slade, the award-winning morning host on WSB-AM, broke his leg last night. Pete Spriggs, the general manager, said he was carrying a 100 pound bag of feed and a bucket to the barn, slipped and broke his right leg. He will be out of commission for at least a few days while getting surgery. Chris Camp, the news director, will be covering for him until he’s well enough to get back to the office.
-Atlanta sports talk brother duo The 2 Live Stews (heard locally on 790/The Zone) are challenging radio personalities to join them to support Big Brothers Big Sisters in a program called Mentoring Brothers. They are especially pushing African American men to be mentors. As noted in a press release, “While more than a third of the Little Brothers served by the Big Brothers Big Sisters volunteer network are African American, only 15 percent of the nonprofit organization’s male mentors are black. And in many of Big Brothers Big Sisters’ nearly 400 agencies, African American boys disproportionately represent the children waiting for a mentor.”
-Atlanta-based TNT’s “Trust Me” about two ad execs starring Tom Cavanagh and Eric McCormack looked like a big risk on paper in the sense it wasn’t about cops, lawyers or doctors. It’s about two ad execs. Indeed, it opened at a relatively weak 3.4 million viewers, losing more than 46% of “The Closer” opening of 6.4 million. That’s very poor retention. (It is more than AMC’s “Mad Men” typically gets but AMC isn’t nearly as high profile as TNT.)
TNT’s “Leverage” opened at 5 million and “Raising the Bar” opened at 7.7 million. Both shows lost a lot of that audience. “Leverage” on January 20 only had 2.8 million viewers. “Raising the Bar” had dropped to the low 2 millions by the end (yet was renewed.) Whether “Trust Me” survives depends if it can stay, I’d say, above 2.5 million, with or without “The Closer” lead in. I doubt it but you never know.
Permalink | Comments (27) | Post your comment |
1/29: Tyler Perry’s “Meet the Browns” gets 80 more episodes
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Tyler Perry told executives at the National Association of Television Program Executives in Vegas that his TBS show “Meet the Browns” has received an 80-episode commitment, according to Broadcasting & Cable.
The sitcom, shot in his Southwest Atlanta studios, debuted earlier this month with a 10-episode “test” run, with two new episodes over five weeks. The show opened with 3.7 million average viewers January 7, slipped to 3.1 million January 14 and 3 million January 21. Although it debuted well short of “House of Payne” (5.5 million), its performance in its second and third weeks was virtually identical.
The show will come back this summer once the ten episodes are done as a companion to “House of Payne.”
I expect it will probably settle at about 3 million viewers a week, comparable to that of “House of Payne.” In other words, those Tyler Perry fans are very consistent and very loyal.
Atlanta-based TBS, according to the trade publication, has not confirmed this news.
Locally, the show ranked 27th last week with 182,000 viewers. The show last week was top 10 among African Americans, drawing more viewers than “American Idol.”
In 2006, Perry aired a test version of “House of Payne” in several cities and TBS was so impressed with the results, it gave him an unprecedented 100-episode commitment. The show debuted in 2007 and aired 100 episodes in about a year’s span, typically two a week, sometimes four a week. “Payne” is scheduled to return next month once “Meet the Browns” is finished.
Also, during the panel, Perry said he would never screen his films, saying it’s not worth the money:
“I staged Madea Goes to Jail at the Kodak Theater and hosted critics from the LA Times and Variety. Each saw the same play from virtually the same seat. The LA Times said it was the worst thing that had ever happened to the Kodak Theater, while Variety said it was the best thing he had ever seen. I realized that it’s all just a person’s opinion. Am I going to pay for someone to see one of my movies to tell me they don’t like it? No. I get millions of messages on my message boards from people all over the world. That’s who tells me what they want to see.”
Permalink | Comments (57) | Post your comment |
1/28: Magic 107.5 debuts, BET’s “Somebodies” not coming back, Don Sutton back
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Today, Magic 107.5 has taken over for Smooth Jazz 107.5. As noted here before, syndicated hosts Steve Harvey and Michael Baisden will move over there soon. For a time, 102.5 and 107.5 will simulcast and mid-day syndicated talk-show hosts Warren Ballentine and Al Sharpton will soon go away. (See more below)
The simulcasting has not started yet. (Also, it might actually be named Majic. Why change the spelling? Who knows! I’m still awaiting confirmation of the spelling.)
The station is now straight R&B, competing directly with Kiss 104.1, which was Atlanta’s top station in December.
This past hour, Magic has played Jodeci, Mary J. Blige, Charlie Wilson, Barry White, Anita Baker, Betty Wright, D’Angelo, Rene & Angela, Raheem DeVaughn and Stephanie Miles. It appears to be skewing a smidge younger than Kiss. During the noon hour at Kiss, the station played the Whispers, Natalie Cole, Loose Ends, Minnie Riperton, Prince, Chaka Khan, Luther Vandross, Teddy Pendergrass and Lisa Fischer.
The expectation is Praise 97.5 will move to 102.5 at some point and Magic will simulcast on 107.5 (which skews Northeast) and 97.5 (which skews Southwest). Steve Harvey confirmed he will be on both stations with me earlier this week. I’m also sure Si-Man will move to middays between Harvey and Baisden.
The station head honcho Tim Davies provided an explanation for the end of Smooth Jazz at (www.1075wjzz.com](http://www.1075wjzz.com) noting the ratings were not high enough to justify its existence. (Interestingly, the smooth jazz format has played about half R&B anyway so the change is not incredibly jarring.)
Before 102.5 was Grown Folks Radio, it was Magic 102.5 so Radio One is reclaiming the old name under a new signal.
What do you think of these moves?
ABOVE: Hadjii checks out one the steadicams during the shoot in Athens of his show “Somebodies.”
-BET’s first scripted show “Somebodies” is not coming back.
Shot last summer in Athens and aired over the fall, the one-camera comedy was created by a UGA grad Hadjii. He confirmed the news to me today. Hadjii played a man unwilling to grow up. He was surrounded by wacky characters. It had a “Seinfeld”-ian quality to it, focused on people’s quirks and annoying behavior. Ratings were okay but not spectacular over its 10-episode run, averaging about 500,000 viewers. I thought the shows had potential, had their moments. It wasn’t slapstick; it wasn’t traditional in its approach.
“I’m not bitter,” he said. “We did our job. The marketing and PR, things out of our control, was not there.” He said the departure of the show’s ally and BET boss Reggie Hudlin last fall didn’t help matters.
“He wanted to change the reputation of BET,” Hadjii said. “We did our part. We were taking the network in the right direction. You can only do so much creatively and artistically.”
He’s shopping “Somebodies” elsewhere now and offering up other projects. He hopes to anything new he does will remain as a Georgia production. “We definitely want to stay here and follow the footsteps of Tyler Perry, turn this into our own little Hollywood.”
BET spokeswoman Michelle Clark said she does not have an official confirmation but I would tend to think if the creator says so, it’s true.
-Don Sutton is coming back as radio announcer for the Braves. (My colleague Dave O’Brien wrote the story.)[http://www.ajc.com/sports/content/sports/braves/stories/2009/01/27/braves_sutton.html]
-Fans of Warren Ballentine and Al Sharpton have a petition to get him back on the air in Atlanta. Here’s the press release:
Call To Action: Politically Motivated Radio Station to Dumb Down the Atlanta Market with the Removal of Warren Ballentine and Al Sharpton Based on Biased PPM Ratings The Peoples Attorney, Warren Ballentine, to be Removed from the Atlanta Station - 102.5 Grown Folks Radio.
Atlanta, GA, January 26, 2009: Information was received from a source that Radio One’s CEO will be phasing out Warren Ballentine and Al Sharpton’s radio slot on or about February 6, 2009. According to this source, Radio One is basing their decision off of the ratings, or lack thereof, of the Portable People Monitor (PPM). However, on January 7, 2009 Arbitron settled several PPM Lawsuits - the suits alleged that the rating company engaged in deceptive marketing in the deployment of its portable people meters. The New York suit also charged Arbitron with failing to disclose flaws in the New York PPM that resulted in the underrepresentation of African-American and Hispanic radio listeners, causing financial harm to minority broadcasters in the market, (http://www.mediaweek.com/mw/content_display/news/local-broadcast/e3i8e621449d41d95c1226913969aa0f808).
PPM ratings are based on audience estimates and are the opinion of Arbitron and should not be relied on for precise accuracy or precise representativeness of a demographic or radio market. Upon research of the December PPM Client Update, 1,946 people carried this monitor in the Atlanta market. Of the 1,946 persons selected, 623 were Black, 158 were Hispanic and 1,165 were an unspecified “other”, (http://www. arbitron. com/downloads/monthlyppmclientupdate12_31_08. pdf). The number of Black residents that did carry the PPM in the Atlanta market was not a concise enough consensus to base a decision to remove Warren Ballentine and Al Sharpton from the airwaves. Further, there is no way to definitively determine that the participants who carried the PPM were reflective of the demographic in which either show targets.
With regard to the aforementioned data Radio One’s decision is strictly based on presumptuous advertising dollars that was forecast according to listenership during the primary and presidential-election season. Bottom line the expectation and demand for quality programming, is assumed, no longer required in the Atlanta market now that President Obama is in office. It is totally incomprehensible to the vast majority of both host’s audiences that Radio One would take this stand being these two individuals have such a huge following. Listeners are disappointed with this decision and demand that Warren Ballentine and Al Sharpton remain on the air. Their shows educate and empower people to stand up and take action for themselves and in turn give back to their communities. Everything will be done to prevent the removal of these two moguls.The people will be heard!
A petition is being circulated to stop the removal of Warren Ballentine and Al Sharpton - http://www.PetitionOnline.com/truth241/petition.htm
Call, write, fax; Grown Folks Radio 102.5, 101 Marietta St. 12th Floor, Atlanta, GA 30303, Office General Info: 404-765-9750 ask for Derek Harper, Office General Fax: 404-688-7686, General Manager: Tim Davies
Call, write, fax: 102.5 Corporate, Corporate: Radio One, Inc., 5900 Princess Garden Parkway, 7th FL, Lanham, MD 20706, 301.306.1111 main number, President, Alfred C. Liggins, III, emai: info@radio-one.com,email:IR@radio-one.com
Permalink | Comments (58) | Post your comment |
1/27: “America’s Got Talent” coming back to Atlanta Feb. 7-8
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Last year, NBC’s “America’s Got Talent” not only did auditions here, but also filmed the semifinalists on location at Cobb Energy Centre. Former Atlantan and judge David Hasselhoff was thrilled to be back and even visited his childhood home.
Unfortunately, nobody from the area made it to the top 20.
The most popular summer show is coming back here again this year. The early rounds (before the Hoff & Co. show up) are being held Feb. 7 and 8 at AmericasMart, 2 West 235 Williams St., NW in downtown Atlanta. I’m trying to find out if they are coming back to Cobb Energy for the judges’ round. If so, I’ll definitely cover it.
You can also upload video submissions here.
Permalink | Comments (11) | Post your comment |
1/26: New TNT show tonight “Trust Me.” Interviews with Tom Cavanagh, Eric McCormack
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I interviewed both Tom Cavanagh (“Ed”) and Eric McCormack (“Will & Grace”), the leads of a new TNT show debuting tonight called “Trust Me” (after “The Closer”). I had originally intended for some print story but I ended up doing a comparison between “Trust Me’ and the new Fox show “Lie To Me.” instead.
“Trust Me” stars Cavanagh as the mildly irresponsible, creatively brilliant ad man Conner and his more responsible bud Mason (McCormack). Their boss keels over so Mason becomes the boss, causing tensions between the two.
Here’s Q&A from the two of them. First, Cavanagh:
Q: Is it a pure coincidence both you and Eric are from Canada?
Cavanagh: I only want to work with Canadians. No. It was completely coincidental. The show is so heavy on story, so heavy on the both of us. We wanted to make sure who we are playing off each other. I was really excited to here I’d be working with Eric.
Q: So you signed on together?
A: We were both sent scripts and asked which roles we’d be interested in. We both went for roles we liked for us. We ended up being a good match.
Q: It’s fair to say your character isn’t all that mature?
A: He’s not the most mature cat in the world. He’s a womanizer and a drinker. Yet he’s really good at his job.
Q: What happened to [short-lived CBS drama] “Love Monkey”?
A: That was a project we really liked but it was on the wrong network. We go seduced. It was our fault. This is a network that leans on police procedurals. This was a drama that is not life or death. Nobody is swabbing blood and semen. We should have been wary going there.
Q: I hear “Eli Stone” [in which Cavanagh played the lead character’s drunk dad] isn’t going to be renewed. Surprised?
A: I don’t know. Surprised? Saddened, certainly. I think the people who run that show and the show itself are first rate. There’s room for a show that is a little more esoteric and harder to grasp than any police drama.
Now McCormack:
Q: How come you took time off after “Will & Grace”?
A; I think if I had jumped right into something else, that would have been a big mistake. I needed to decompress. The fact is ‘Will & Grace” has not gone away. It’s in reruns. You need to give people time a chance to allow you to be somebody else.
Q: Are you tired of being though of as Will after all those years?
A: I always laugh. Will was a seminal role. Look—I’m a student of television. The greatest performances are always hard to follow up. I don’t look back and think that Carroll O’Connor’s role in “In the Heat of the Night” was as important as Archie Bunker. You’re damned if you do, damned if you don’t. After two years break, doing some movies and theater, I missed the day to day interaction of having a character I could have fun with week in and week out. I do like television for that. I like the ongoing mystery of building that character’s life.
Q: “Trust Me” is not quite a comedy, not quite a drama. It’s that dramedy thing that’s quite popular now.
A: I was really happy to find something in between. Sitcoms are an endangered species anyway. All the networks are talking hours anyway. I’m glad to have found this project. I like the writing. It’s smart and funny. I’m not a doctor or lawyer or cop. I’m in advertising. It’s a new area to play in. The one thing Will has in common with Mason is he’s the dad. He’s the one who naturally wants to control and organize.
Q: What’s Tom like on set?
A: He’s constantly making the crew laugh. He’s fantastically wired. I’m probably more of the Jack Benny droll comment in the corner guy. I’m also an organizer so the character’s qualities are based on me.
Q: Debra Messing got back into TV just like you but she also went basic cable. Is there a difference between cable and broadcast?
A: There certainly is. The tables have turned. When “Will & Grace” strated, networks wer eon top and battling for No. 1. The place to go for drama and comedy was broadcast. Now the balance has shifted. NBC is now airing Leno in spots where dramas used to be… TNT has been amazingly supportive. I have billboards all over town. I never had a billboard of “Will & Grace” in Los Angeles. There’s a level of support and comfort. And we know no matter what, we have 13 episodes.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment |
1/26: John Rocker responds to Steak Shapiro fight on Regular Guys
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
On the Regular Guys show this morning on Rock 100.5, former Braves player John Rocker responded for the first time about the verbal altercation he had with 790/The Zone’s Steak Shapiro at the W Hotel Buckhead opening party last week.
Rocker’s account is not quite the same as Shapiro’s.
Shapiro said Rocker was eyeballing him all evening. :”How does he know if I’m eyeballing him unless he’s eyeballing me,” Rocker mused. Shapiro came up to him, and said he told him to let it go, to let bygones be bygones.
Rocker said it was actually a “thorned olive branch” because he said Shapiro added, “Maybe you can grow up and act like an adult.”
“That rubbed me the wrong way,” Rocker said. He said no. Shapiro, he said, “Figures. Redneck.”
Rocker then went off on him verbally. He didn’t deny hurling a few Jewish-related epithets at Shapiro. “I may have,” he said. But he said it was just Shapiro. “You can’t condemn a whole race of people. I don’t know why Jew is a bad word.”
“It depends what you’re saying,” said Regular Guys host Larry Wachs, who is Jewish. But he said, “he deserved it. It’s just words.”
Rocker denied he was escorted out, which is what the hotel spokeswoman said. He said he left on his own accord 15 minutes after the verbal fisticuffs.
Permalink | Comments (246) | Post your comment |
1/24: DeAnna Pappas gabs about “Get Married” and USO tour, not so much about Jesse Csincsak
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Former “Bachelorette” DeAnna Pappas is aware of the irony that she is co-hosting a show called “Get Married,” shot locally and seen on Lifetime every day at 7:30 a.m.
She agreed to do “Get Married” while planning to get hitched to snowboarder Jesse Csincsak — but then she broke up with him in November. Doesn’t this negate the rationale of having her on the show?
“That’s everybody’s No. 1 question,” Pappas told me last week. “I don’t think it makes any difference. I love weddings. I love the fashion, the food, the parties.”
She declined to comment about her breakup, though Csincsak himself posted a YouTube video describing the pain he experienced over the split.
Pappas, who still lives in Newnan, recently got back from a USO-type trip to Iraq and Kuwait.
She spent a lot of time talking to solders. “I was really curious about those in the first year of marriage, how they’re coping with things being away from home so long,” said Pappas, whose dad has been in the Navy since he was 18. She has kept in touch with many of them through email and her MySpace page. (She said she’ll respond to all emails off the getmarried.com Web site or her own.)
Not that military personnel are target “Bachelor” viewers, but she said more people recognized her than she expected: “I’m sure a lot of wives made them watch ‘The Bachelor.’ “
Though Pappas is open to more TV gigs, she said there is one genre she won’t pursue again: reality shows.
Permalink | Comments (3) | Post your comment |
1/23: Wow, John Rocker. Is it still the year 2000? Steak Shapiro gets an earful. And Warren Ballentine getting the boot?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
We know Steak Shapiro loves press. He relishes it. He seeks it out. He’s admittedly shameless. But this time around, he wasn’t courting anything. At the W Hotel Buckhead party last night, former Braves player John Rocker verbally abused Shapiro in front of at least 40 witnesses, using Jew epithets galore, Shapiro said.
I just spoke with Shapiro. He said Rocker was staring at him with daggers all evening. When Shapiro came up to him and said, “Let’s be civil. I have no issues with you. It was a long time ago.” Rocker responded by saying it wasn’t that long ago, that he wasn’t over Shapiro’s comments about Rocker over the years. Shapiro said as an opinion maker, he offers his thoughts on Rocker, thinking he was a bigot. “But it wasn’t personal,” he said. Rocker took it personally and at the party had to be escorted out the building by security guards.
“I’ve had some rude listeners but nobody has ever talked to me in public like that before,” he said. “It was crazy. I told him, ‘You’re everything people say you are.’ “
My colleague Richard Eldredge wrote the full story here.. He hasn’t heard back from Rocker, who I doubt is in the mood to respond.
-In other radio news, Warren Ballentine on the air today said he was losing his 102.5 Grown Folks Atlanta affiliate. Tim Davies, the boss in Atlanta who oversees the station, declined to say whether that was true or not. Usually, that means it’s true. A possible scenerio: when 102.5 moves to 107.5 in the coming days, Steve Harvey and Michael Baisden will come along, but probably not the mid-day all-talk shows of Ballentine and Al Sharpton. Instead, they might bring Si-Man to do mid-day music to compete directly against Kiss 104.1, which was the top rated station in Atlanta in December. Then again, Ballentine could move to 107.5, too, though if that were the case, why would he say anything?
Permalink | Comments (35) | Post your comment |
1/23: Auto Scoop nixed off V-103
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
V-103 has decided to end its weekly automotive advice show “Auto Scoop.” Last Saturday’s show was its last. PD Reggie Rouse said he wasn’t ready to announce what will replace it, if anything. Also, he had no answer for who the new mid-day host is going to be, deferring to his boss Rick Caffey, who will be back in town Monday.
Adam Goldfein, who co-hosted the show with Joyce Littell and is head of automotive services for CBS Radio, said he started the show in 2004 to help listeners with car buying. “It was a great run while it lasted,” he said. “Consumers felt like we were pro consumer. Dealers felt like we were pro dealer. We tried to walk the line and add entertertainment as well as helpful information.”
Goldfein has plenty of expertise in the area. His famil owned car dealerships and so did he before he got into radio.
For now, the TV show will continue on CW 69 at 10 a.m. Fridays and 3 p.m. Saturdays.
Permalink | Comments (12) | Post your comment |
1/22: Neal Boortz says he’s sticking around at least another four years
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The WSB-AM execs were probably thrilled when they heard Clark Howard was not running for mayor. They were also equally thrilled, I’m sure, to hear Neal Boortz yesterday tell his audience he was going to stay on the air as long as Barack Obama remained president.
That means at least four more years of Boortz.
“Can I have that in writing, please?” joked producer Belinda Skelton to me today, looking out for her own job security.
She isn’t sure when or if he’ll ever want to retire. “The first day a bit news story comes up and he can’t comment about it in front of a mike, he’ll explode!” she said.
Boortz earlier this month got to visit George W. Bush at the White House right before Bush relinquished power to Obama. His wife called while he was talking to Bush, who joked that he could have easily taken the phone and talked to her. (He forgot to turn off or vibrate his phone.)
-Also, 790/The Zone will remain the flagship home to Ga. Tech basketball and football through 2014. Also, 106.7 is simulcasting the games, as reported earlier. “We wanted to find an FM home,” said Neal Maziar, the program director. “It’s great for fans and advertisers.”
Permalink | Comments (13) | Post your comment |
1/21: South 107 gets a big-time signal upgrade, picks up NASCAR
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Country station South 107 (WTSH-FM) will be gettin’ some getty up and go in the signal department later this year thanks to a major signal upgrade.
The Federal Communications Commission on January 14 gave the station the thumbs up to go from 45,000 watts (medium strong) to 100,000 watts (maximum strength).
Its tower will remain in Kingston, Ga. between Rome and Cartersville, about 50 miles northwest from downtown Atlanta. Given its signal, it now can cover a 40 mile radius comfortably. Currently, the station can reach well down into Cobb County but is very weak inside the Perimeter and directions East and South.
The upgrade will enable South 107 to not only penetrate buildings better in Cobb County but also clear up the signal in much of metro Atlanta by enabling the signal to travel about 20 miles further. Relatively speaking, it would still be a weak signal in the Southeast and Northeast parts of Atlanta but for the first time, South could be a true metro Atlanta player.
Kevin Daniels, operations manager, said the station hopes to have the signal ready to go by mid 2009, though it may be delayed if Radio One, which operates 107.5, takes too long in building its new tower. In other words, for South 107 to make the upgrade, 107.5 has to move its tower a bit further east. That move will enable Radio One’s Hot 107.9 to upgrade its signal and hopefully compete better with V-103.
For former Kicks morning host Moby, this move will be a boon because he’s currently heard in syndicated form out of Athens on 106.1 there as well as South 107 and the Bear in Griffin. With this upgrade, Moby will have near comparable coverage (if not better on the northside) as Kicks.
Right now, Atlanta has two major signal FM country radio stations (Kicks and the Bull) and four “fringe” stations (The Bear in Griffin, 106.1 in Athens, South 107 in Rome and 96.7/The Legend south of the airport).
You can see South 107’s current coverage map here.. And for comparision, here’s the Kicks’ coverage area.
South 107 is also picking up NASCAR coverage on weekends from 106.7, which recently ended its contract after many years. The fact 106.7 went oldies was a major factor in the switch. It had been a country station for many years, which was more compatible to NASCAR.
-(In other radio sports news, our Braves man David O’Brien has reported that Jim Powell from the Milwaukee Brewers is going to be working the radio play by play this year for the Braves, as was previously rumored.)[http://www.ajc.com/services/content/sports/braves/stories/2009/01/21/atlantabravesbroadcasters.html] They also appear to be trying to get back Don Sutton from the Washington Nationals.
Permalink | Comments (8) | Post your comment |
1/21: 106.7 picks up Ga. Tech to simulcast basketball, football games with 790
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Georgia Tech has been airing basketball and football games on 790/The Zone for years. While during the day, that station gets a decent signal, even outside the Perimeter, that’s not the case at night, especially when basketball is aired.
But instead of using WREK-FM, the college radio station, the university has signed a simulcast deal with the 100,000 watt signal station 106.7, which plays True Oldies. The station recently dropped NASCAR, which is still seeking a radio home in Atlanta.
“We think it could be a profitable relationship,” said Paul O’Malley, the general manager for True Oldies. There is always a risk putting sports on a music station. But he feels the downside is modest since it’s only 32 evenings of basketball and maybe a dozen Saturday afternoon football games. NASCAR took up Sunday afternoons. Dave FM airs Falcons games. 94.9/The Bull does the Braves. There doesn’t appear to be any evidence that in either of those cases, sports helps build audience for the music. But it’s a good service to listeners since clarity and reach is much better on FM.
Permalink | Comments (14) | Post your comment |
1/20: Leo Mazzone hired at 680/The Fan for morning show
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
While the President gets sworn in, plenty of radio news has happened.
Clear Channel nationwide is cutting wide and deep. Locally, I’ve heard the loss of key sales people as well as the program director at WGST-AM/640 Randall Bloomquist. I’m not sure if anybody on air has lost their jobs yet. I’ll add more when I get them.
And 680/The Fan today announced it has signed on former Braves pitching coach Leo Mazzone to the morning show with Christopher Rude and Perry Laurentino.
Mazzone was a key member of the Braves when they were a playoff team. He left in 2005 for the Orioles, a rather disastrous situation for him and he was gone within two years.
The Fan boss David Dickey said Mazzone had a lot of time on his hands last year and they set up a short-term “Leo Mazzone” show during the baseball season twice a week. This led to this full-time gig. On top of his baseball knowledge, he knows quite a bit about football as well.
“We have someone with a professional sports background and it’s a benefit to the listeners that he was a material part of the Braves’ unprecedented run,” Dickey said.
“Where Perry is the vocal fan, Leo can confront him and make him debate all the time. And with Chris, he can joke around,” Dickey said. “He has a lot of fun and it shows.”
Two former 790 exiles Matt Chernoff and Chuck Oliver this week started their noon to 3 p.m. show as well.
680/The Fan,. which now has stronger ratings than 790/The Zone in general, has expanded its local coverage the past year and during the 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. time frame, the only syndicated product now is Colin Cowherd from 10 to noon.
Permalink | Comments (69) | Post your comment |
1/19: Interview with Glenn Beck, starting Monday 1/19
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
ABOVE: Glenn Beck entertaining his fans last June at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre.
Fox News on Monday at 5 p.m. is adding a new conservative talker to its lineup: Glenn Beck.
Beck, 44, made a name for himself first on radio (heard mornings locally on 640/WGST-AM), then got a foothold in TV three years ago at HLN (formerly CNN Headline News). He pulled in good ratings, relatively speaking. (About 400,000 viewers a night at 7 p.m., only behind Nancy Grace.)
But when Fox News came calling last fall, Beck couldn’t resist the obvious benefits; bigger audience, more pay, better fit for his Libertarian-leaning conservative viewpoint. Here are some notable comments from an interview last week:
Were you a fish out of water at CNN?
Surprisingly, not as much as I thought., especially with my bosses. They’re just businessmen. I’m a businessman. We had a great deal of mutual respect. The problem came with the journalists. The elevator rides were extremely long and quiet. Some of them looked at me like I was the anti-Christ.
Did anybody say anything to you about it?
Only one person did. I was walking into the newsroom to do a hit with Wolf [Blitzer.] This woman looked up and said, “Uh… please!” I stopped dead in my tracks. “See, that’s not necessary,” I said. She looked back at me with disgust. “But you expect it,” she said. My response? “Yah. I do. It’s kind of sad.” Some people are so unbelievably full of hatred for no reason.
Will starting the day before the Inauguration work to your advantage?
It works in some ways to our disadvantage. The show’s going to be driven so much by the Inauguration the first couple of days, you won’t get a real essence of what it is.
How will it be different from your CNN show?
“I just did my first rehearsal. It will move a lot faster than HLN did. I think it has the ability to have much more focus because I’m not the only one paddling the boat. I had a great staff at HLN but in the beginning I had to spend a lot of time explaining where we were going. A lot of people there were not conservative or Libertarian. They didn’t understand that point of view. I expect I’ll be able to get out of the gate faster here.”
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment |
1/18: Atlanta radio ratings for the winter, new radio blogger in our midsts
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
We now have three months worth of data for Atlanta radio ratings under the new people meter system, which should be more accurate than the old diary system. What can we conclude so far? Here are some generalizations:
Kiss 104.1 is doing far better than anybody thought before. A distant third-place finisher behind WSB-AM and V-103 in the old days, now it’s up with the elite. (Both V and WSB’s numbers are a bit weaker now compared to the old system but they are still dominant players.). In December, Kiss even beat V and WSB in overall numbers.
Christmas still works —Â at least for B98.5. Its numbers in December (technically mid-November through mid-December) were huge, with the station ranked fourth. Fish was flat compared to November (again, it’s actually mid-October through mid-November).
Q100’s audience is far bigger than even that station’s execs had imagined. It’s now soundly defeating Star 94, the former leader.
Rock didn’t do all that well. The River is down. Project is about the same. Dave continues to lag. Rock 100.5 is at the bottom of the rock pack.
-The Spanish stations are holding up a bit better under the new system, which Clear Channel (which owns both major FMs) is certainly relieved.
-The Bull, with its weeklong no-ads promo in late November, did see an improvement in its performance. But Kicks was unaffected, with more than double the Bull’s audience. And even with the brief improvement, will it hold? (Kicks, in fact, is in general stronger under the new system than the old.)
-Some stations that didn’t show up under the old system do so here such as 1160/WCFO-AM and 92.5/the Bear in Griffin.
680/The Fan is trouncing 790/The Zone overall though the Fan’s strongest shows are still doing okay among men.
Oddly, the only “streaming” version of a station popping up on the charts is WAOK-AM.
You can get general numbers here at radioandrecords.com
New topic: Roddy Freeman, an ad buyer in town who has been following Atlanta radio for years, has started an insightful blog about radio. He has done two entries so far: one about Star 94 and another about the Bull. If you are into radio, check it out here at http://atlairwaves.blogspot.com/
Here’s a tease from his Bull entry:
Atlanta is a huge urban radio market, and the country shares are limited. But the market probably could handle 2 successful country stations. Kicks has given The Bull an opening, and The Bull has started to take some advantage of it. The Bull has languished for 2 years. Will it really get up and fight?
And his take on Star 94:
In any case, Star’s Multiple Personality Disorder has to be cured. Arbitron’s Portable People Meter has been kind to CHR stations because they attract a high cume. But to retake Atlanta’s CHR crown, which it long held, Star 94 cannot continue being an 18-34 station in morning drive, banging its head against The Bert Show, and a 25-54 station in the afternoon.
Permalink | Comments (29) | Post your comment |
1/16: NeNe talks about DeShawn Snow’s departure
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Since I wrote about her housing problems last month, NeNe hasn’t been responding to my emails. But she’s not shying away from other media. She talked to momlogic.com.
She confirmed DeShawn’s departure, noting she was too quiet and low key for the show (which is true). She said she loves weaves. She plans to be “civil” with Kim but friendship is not in the offering. She’s not humble.
And a vague question here elicits a vague answer:
momlogic: Is there any truth to the rumors that you have money problems?
NeNe: People are digging and prying into your personal life where they don’t need to go and making up rumors about you — lying about things that are not true … The real deal is … Most people don’t have the opportunity to live in the type of homes that I’ve had the opportunity to live in. Whether I rent them, buy them it doesn’t matter … I live well and if you don’t believe it, ring my doorbell and I’ll show you … My house is not rented.
No word if she’s doing a spinoff show. (That rumor was not addressed.)
Permalink | Comments (13) | Post your comment | Categories: atlanta housewives
1/16: Greg Fitzgerald says goodbye to Smooth Jazz 107.5
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Veteran morning radio DJ Greg Fitzgerald has been at Smooth Jazz 107.5 for many years —Â until this week, when he was dismissed as Radio One preps ending the station’s life after seven years. He sent an email to Radio & Records about his thoughts. He forwarded them to me as well:
“Since the beginning of smooth jazz in Atlanta, it was a great run. It was disappointing to see it come to an end yesterday. Once they learn about this great loss, it’s going to be a sad day to come for all the thousands and thousands of loyal listeners. Our sold-out anniversary concert this past year with Rick Braun, Richard Elliot and Norman Brown was living proof that this city loved its smooth jazz with such a passion. All of the great musicians I had pleasure of working with over the years will also know that this is a huge loss, not only for Atlanta but all the surrounding suburbs. It’s true when I say I heard WJZZ everywhere.”
“I can proudly say I went out meeting some wonderful people, was in the top 10 doing mornings 25-54 women (PPM world) and received back-to-back AIR Awards and the Phoenix award from the Mayor of Atlanta. Additionally, it was a privilege to have helped the beautiful kids for the Make-a-Wish Foundation and the homeless over the years for Hosea Feed the Hungry. My only other wish was that I could have said goodbye to every hand that I shook over the past nine years. We’ve got to believe and keep the faith that this only means greater things will come.”
“I do want to close by saying my previous GM, Mr. Wayne K. Brown, and the new regional GM, Mr. Bruce Demps, who gave me the news yesterday, were outstanding leaders. It was an honor to have worked with them both.”
Permalink | Comments (131) | Post your comment |
1/16: Catching up (briefly) with Porsche Foxx
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Porsche Foxx was let go by V-103 in late November under mysterious circumstances.
Foxx — nee Stephanie Calhoun — called me back Thursday, caught me a bit by surprise. She did tell me she left V-103 amicably, that it had nothing to do with drugs or alcohol. She was a bit vague, though, on what actually happened.
She did say she discovered a lump in her left breast three weeks before she left V-103. She said she lacked “support” from the station management. That’s all she would say why she left her job seven months before her two-year contract was over. “I want to keep it positive,” she said. She will be having the benign lump taken out of her breast later this month.
Foxx said she has another job possibly coming down the pike but wouldn’t be specific what type of job it would be except we might hear her again somewhere.
She was at V-103 for several years til late 2004 when she got caught in a DUI, with pot possession. V-103 let her go in early 2005. She got a second shot at V-103 in mid-2007 after rehab and time to get her life together. Her ratings were solid as mid-day host so her departure was a bit odd.
I’m sure she’ll land somewhere else. She’s that popular. I was getting emails wondering about her virtually every day since her departure seven weeks ago. We’ll see where, once perhaps her six-month noncompete is over. (She still has four months to go on that front.)
Permalink | Comments (64) | Post your comment |
1/15: First format change of the year: say goodbye to Smooth Jazz 107.5
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Smooth Jazz 107.5 is a goner, news first broken Wednesday night by the Radio and Records trade publication.
Already, the station has dumped its two remaining jocks, Greg Fitzgerald and Dave Kosh.
Tim Davies, the market manager, confirmed the station is going jockless for now but he wouldn’t say when the format will flip.
“It’s a nationwide epidemic,” said Atlanta’s Bob Baldwin, a jazz keyboardist and had been doing a Saturday night show on Smooth Jazz 107.5. “In the last 12 months, New York, Philly, Washington D.C., Baltimore, Jacksonville, Memphis and Miami have flipped to different formats. The whole east coast, smooth jazz has become a dying art.”
“I don’t know if this means a new format is coming down the road that speaks to contemporary jazz listeners or going away totally,” Baldwin said. “I’m concerned. I’m doing what I can to keep it alive by doing the show I do, www.newurbanjazz.com.”
I expect at some point, Radio One will move Grown Folks 102.5 to 107.5, a much stronger signal. Already, Steve Harvey and Michael Baisden pull in huge numbers on a very weak signal at 102.5. Harvey is already competitive with Kiss 104.1’s Tom Joyner but on 107.5, he could potentially trounce the veteran Joyner. I have no clue what Radio One would put on 102.5. For a time, they’ll simulcast. Ultimately, they could run a jockless smooth jazz format there or simply make that R&B oldies and turn 107.5 into more of an all talk station.
The station has been around for more than seven years. Smooth Jazz had some good ratings at relatively low cost for a few years but its ratings (and revenues, presumably) had fallen off the past two years. This has been the case nationwide. Smooth jazz, as noted earlier by Baldwin, as a format has been dying in many cities. Under the new measurement system of people meters, smooth jazz has generally done worse than under the paper diary.
Locally, in the most recent Arbitron monthly numbers, Smooth Jazz ranked 13th overall. It was 15th in total listeners. It had the weakest numbers of the four Radio One stations. Among 25 to 54 year olds, it ranked 19th.
Smooth jazz is an interesting hybrid format. Sure, there is some jazz on it of the Kenny G variety but also includes plenty of R&B by the likes of Stevie Wonder, Luther Vandross and Sade. It’s considered the closest to “easy listening” of this generation and is often used as “background” music at offices. The downside: advertisers often prefer to be on stations where the listener is more “active.”
Rene MIller, a veteran smooth jazz jock let go by Smooth Jazz last year during a round of budget cutbacks, said she’s not surprised. She’s hoping another station will now at least run a specialty show featuring smooth jazz.
The only jazz alternative left is WCLK-FM at 91.9. “We are a public radio station that has been here for 35 years. We’re supported by a university. Very limited funds but look at what we’ve been able to do,” said general manager Wendy Williams. She anticipates Smooth Jazz’s impending departure should help WCLK get more listeners and more fundraising.
Permalink | Comments (99) | Post your comment |
1/14: Comments from departing WABE host Wanda Yang Temko, Sheree Whitfield’s latest gig
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Wanda Yang Temko, afternoon host for WABE-FM’s classical music show from noon to 3 p.m., will be leaving once John Lemley takes over in early February.
Here’s what she told a local listserv:
*On November 4, 2008 I was told by my General Manager that due to
“restructuring” I was being laid off along with Robert Hubert, another classical host We were both encouraged to apply for a new position that would not entail hosting music M-F from Noon-3pm, as I have done very successfully over the last 3-plus years. Since I have nearly doubled our audience share over the last three years from Noon-3pm, this demotion did not sit well with me. So, I’ve decided to not “reapply,” and will be ending my tenure with WABE at the end of January. I’ll finally be able to finish my final doctoral document and lecture recital! This is a good thing since my time is up this September.*
She added to me in an email: “I am working on two great interviews and a Chinese New Year special that will air before the end of my tour of duty.”
And here’s bio info about her from her own Web site.
Tried new afternoon “All Things Considered” local host Denis O’Hayer again today but he was in crunch time editing a story for his soon-to-be-former employer of WXIA-TV and couldn’t talk. Hopefully I’ll get something from him directly tomorrow.
- If you want to meet Sheree Whitfield of “The Real Housewives of Atlanta,” here’s her latest gig. Hey—woman’s gotta make a living!
Foreplay Fridays With Sheree (of the Real Housewives of Atlanta). 10:30 p.m. Jan. 16. $10; $5 before 11 p.m. Vita, 2110 Peachtree Road N.W., Atlanta. 404-367-8482, www.girlsinthenight.com.
-Got this timely subject line from a local Christian station: “Happy Thanksgiving from J93.3!” Either they are really late — or extremely early. Actually, it appears the lowly intern probably sending out the mass email forgot to change the subject line. The lead item is related to Valentine’s Day, which is a month away.
Permalink | Comments (9) | Post your comment | Categories: atlanta housewives
1/14: DeShawn Snow ousted from “Housewives”
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
There are already rumors (from mediatakeout.com) that NeNe is about to get spun off on her own show.
Now DeShawn Snow confirmed with Essence magazine that she was booted from “The Real Housewives of Atlanta” because she wasn’t enough of a “circus” drama queen relative speaking to the others. (Lisa, as we know, was the calm, dull one on the show but went nutso during the reunion show, cementing her place for season two.)
You can read Snow’s comments here at Essence.com
Here’s the key Q&A
ESSENCE.COM: What reason did they give for not inviting you back for the second season?
SNOW: [One of the producers] called and said that I was “too human for a circus show” and that because the show did so well, they are about to pump up the drama and they didn’t think that I would fit in. He gave me an example, saying that during the reunion when I found out what a few of the other ladies said about me, they were expecting me to say more, but I’m not the type to go “television” and start acting crazy because somebody’s talking about me. I’m fine with the decision. It wasn’t my decision. They let me go and there are no hard feelings. I am thankful for the opportunity.
I just left messages with her via email and voicemail. Will update this if I hear from her later today. More Housewives stuff here.
Good move or bad move? Will you miss her? Indeed, during the reunion show, she was a virtual nonpresence. She decided to stay classy. This show, alas, is not about classy.
Usher’s wife Tameka Raymond, in the meantime, nixed rumors to Essence that she was joining the show.. She was approached. She turned it down. The biggest rumor has been Julius Irving’s wife.
Permalink | Comments (151) | Post your comment | Categories: atlanta housewives
1/13: WXIA’s Denis O’Hayer new local WABE host for “All Things Considered”
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
WXIA-TV political reporter Denis O’Hayer has been hired to replace John Lemley as local host of “All Things Considered” on 90.1/WABE-FM from 4 to 6:30. He will also do local spots for “The World” at 3 p.m. and “Marketplace” at 6:30 p.m.
He starts on air Feb. 2 though he’ll be at the station starting Tuesday January 20. Lemley will start handling classical duties from noon to 3 p.m. but will continue to do some news-related duties including a special noon hour news/talk show. He used to do classical music before he did news. He takes over for Wanda Yang Temko, who is leaving at the end of January.
General Manager John Weatherford has been a fan of O’Hayer’s for years, having been fellow street reporters many years ago when Weatherford was at WAGA-TV and O’Hayer was at WGST-AM. He finally convinced O’Hayer to leave WXIA, where his contract ends later this week.
“I think he’s the perfect fit to balance the afternoons in the way Steve Goss does in the mornings,” Weatherford said. “He’s in line in keeping with the quality and caliber of a Charles Edwards.”
I will update this when I talk to O’Hayer (he was busy when I talked to him) but here’s his canned quote from the release.
“I am thrilled to work with WABE,” O’Hayer said. “The station has established itself as the city’s public radio station and provider of news. The station has a strong credibility all its own, and I’m looking forward to this new journey.”
Here’s his official bio:
O’Hayer began his broadcast career in radio in Connecticut in 1976 at WGCH-AM followed by WELI-AM. In 1978, his career led him to Atlanta where he accepted a position with WGST-AM/FM. O’Hayer worked at the station for more than 19 years in a variety of roles. Through the years, O’Hayer has hosted several news and public affairs programs including Midday and Lifestyle, two magazine shows; Counterpoint with Tom Houck and Dick Williams; Cover Your Assets, a consumer-oriented show; Lawn & Garden; The Home Show; The Law Show; and Thirty ‘til Six, an afternoon drive news block with Bob Coxe. From 1991-1997, O’Hayer hosted Sixty at Six, a daily, one hour news and interview program. His broadcast career also includes on-air work with CNN’s Southeast Bureau and Georgia Public Broadcasting.
He has been the recipient of several local, regional and national awards including a National Headliner Award, the National Radio Award from Investigative Reporters and Editors and three Achievement in Radio Awards.
O’Hayer has served on the boards of several community organizations. He is currently president of the Atlanta Press Club where he has been a board member for approximately 10 years in two different terms. He spent nine years on the board of Families First and was also a member of the board of the Atlanta Botanical Garden.
Permalink | Comments (11) | Post your comment |
1/12: Ryan Seacrest starts today on Star 94
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Former Dunwoody resident and ubiquitous host Ryan Seacrest’s syndicated afternoon show started today on Star 94 from noon to 3 p.m.
From what I’ve heard so far, there is some artful editing and even a bit of personalization on Seacrest’s part. He has mentioned Star 94 liberally. For instance, he does some generic Star 94 intros to songs such as “Light On” by David Cook and “Just Dance” by Lady GaGa.
They insert little phrases from him such as “Back home in Atlanta on Star 94.”
Not surprisingly, you don’t hear Ryan that much. This is mid-days when “more music” rules on most stations. At about 1:30 p.m., he did talk briefly about who he liked at the Golden Globes last night (Eva Longoria, Eva Mendes and Rachel Evan Woods.). Beyonce, he added helpfully, “has really great skin.” Some sidekick Ellen K. chuckles a lot.
Since none of this is live or local, you won’t hear Ryan say the time, the temps, the traffic or anything about Atlanta. But the tradeoff is Ryan is a familiar voice and brings along the Ryan “brand” cache.
At about 1:45 p.m., Ryan played a clip of Alec Baldwin from last night’s Globes mocking Seacrest on E!, saying he saw him in the tabloid mags in a waiting room. “They were talking about your love life,” Baldwin said. “Women you’re sc—- seeing.”
“We have the same neurologist,” Ryan joked. He then teases a book by Perez Hilton. (An interview with the hideous gossipmonger is coming up, Ryan says.). He notes how Perez thinks Robert Patterson of “Twilight” will crack under the pressure. And Ryan says Perez gives Zac Effron too much heat.
After 60 seconds of such (obviously edited down) patter, Ryan suddenly says, “Love Remains the Same, Star 94,” leading into the Gavin Rossdale song.
At 1:55 p.m., Ryan and Ellen talked a bit about Drew Barrymore and Madonna and they were out in less than 60 seconds.
From 1 to 2 p.m. EST on Star 94, the played 12 songs, two ad breaks and maybe four minutes of Ryan total, including three minute-long talks and a few shorter comments between songs.
Ryan already does a regular morning show in Los Angeles on KIIS-FM from 6 to 10 a.m. PST (or 9 to 1 p.m. EST). It’s not clear if the patter comes from that show or is done specially for his syndicated show, which is heard on 70-plus stations nationwide.
The music mix sounds like what Star normally plays though the turnaround of “Single Ladies” by Beyonce at 12:07 p.m. and 1:48 p.m. was rather fast. Ditto with Jason Mraz’s “I’m Yours,” heard at 12:31 and 2:07 p.m. (The gap has usually been at least two hours between repeats on Star, even for the most popular songs.)
I’m awaiting callbacks from program director J.R. Ammons and/or general manager Rick Mack for what they expect from Ryan and how the show is going to be structured.
Seacrest’s arrival means an Atlanta DJ’s departure. For now, Tripp West is covering 10 to noon but will leave in May when his contract is up or earlier if he finds a new job.
Permalink | Comments (5) | Post your comment |
1/12: 680/the Fan’s Buck Belue has Bell’s Palsy
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Buck Belue of 680/The Fan called me back this morning, said he has Bell’s Palsy, a paralysis of the cranial nerve. He’s not sure exactly when he’ll be back on the air but will continue to blog. “I could work if I didn’t have to talk on the radio four hours a day,” he said. “It’s a little frustrating. I’m not the most patient guy in the world being out right now with all this football going on.”
The afternoon co-host with John Kincade was out last week but the station wasn’t saying what was wrong with him. Belue said it could take a couple of weeks to months before he’s fully recovered after taking medication. He said it may have been brought on by a combination of a respiratory cold he had before Christmas and stress.
A couple weeks back, “I thought I was going to have a freaking stroke watching Georgia practice,” he said. He went to the hospital and they diagnosed him with Bell’s Palsy.
“It’s a nerve in my left cheek,” he said. “I couldn’t close my left eye. I had numbness on the left side of my face. I have a droopy left eye, some slurred speech.” (I could barely tell any slurring as he spoke to me.) He was on his way to the doctors as he spoke to me. I’ll update you all about his progress and when he’ll be back on the air.
Belue, 49, has been with the Fan for more than eight years and is a football specialist. The former UGA star and Kincade have the highest-rated show on the station.
Permalink | Comments (83) | Post your comment |
1/11: “24” is back tonight
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Jack Bauer and “24” finally returned tonight after the writers’ strike wiped out last year. The producers actually shot the first eight episodes before the strike but could not finish out the entire season in time last spring. So the show was pushed back a year.
The good news, according to actress Annie Wersching, who came into Atlanta late last week to promote the show, is the writers had time to map out the entire season and finish production before the show even started airing. “It turned out pretty good in the end,” she said.
Wersching (right) plays an FBI agent who takes Bauer out of the Senate hearing where he’s being grilled harshly by a fictional Senator. The Senator is played by Kurtwood Smith, the dude who played Red on “That 70s Show.” You almost expect him to call Jack Bauer a dumbass. Rather, he just thinks the means did not justify the ends when it came to Bauer’s torture methods. Bauer eloquently defends himself before Wersching has him help out with a case which involves the return of Tony Almeda, who Bauer thought had died a couple of seasons earlier in his arms.
She said they did quite a bit of the show on location in Washington D.C. She said they even got to tour the National Counterterrorism Center, the closest to what CTU is on the show. And they were treated like heroes. “It was fascinating,” she said. “They were really excited to meet us. Yet we’re meeting the people we’re pretending to be.” The biggest difference between real life and “24” is how fast people in “24” can get from place to place, she said they told her.
Wersching herself said she’s a “24” geek. She watched the show religiously from season one, not on DVD. “I know all of the show,” she said. “I can’t believe I’m in it!”
The storyline, which involves some atrocities at some fictional African country, isn’t all that compelling and the new characters are mostly cookie-butter boring in the early going. (Wersching’s character does some surprising things, though, in hour four that would make Jack proud.) The bad guys have stolen a special (presumably fictional) device that can control the entire utility grid and the FAA’s air traffic control system. They are threatening to kill many Americans if the U.S. military does not pull out of said African country. The “24” world is a world where the mortgage crisis didn’t happen, the economy didn’t tank, the U.S. did not enter Iraq and Afghanistan. It’s all kind of strange.
The most annoying of the newbies: Janeane Garafalo. She basically plays Chloe’s role but without a modicum of charm. Totally miscast. You basically want to throttle her anxious computer expert self. The new president (played by Cherry Jones) is female, playing her tough yet humane. The First Husband is a ball of paranoia over his son’s mysterious suicide.
Kiefer Sutherland acquits himself sympathetically as usual. He can do this character in a catatonic state and still make him compelling.
So tell me what you think? Was it worth the wait?
And if you were disappointed by the first two hours, the third hour, which is on Monday night, is the best of the four. That’s when a couple of beloved characters do show up from past seasons.
Permalink | Comments (18) | Post your comment |
1/10: Where is Buck Belue? And Savannah’s “Ruby” gets second season
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Buck Belue(right) has been off the air on 680/The Fan this week. I’m told John Kincade mentioned he was ill briefly earlier this week but was not specific.
David Dickey, his boss, told me Saturday that he had some sort of bronchial infection and he told Belue it would be wiser for him to rest up at home rather than risk infecting everyone else at the office. He said Belue’s return is “day by day.”
Belue, who missed the BCS championship and Smoltz’s surprise departure, has been updating his blog this week so he was obviously accessible to his computer.
-Oops! A cop at City Hall East arrested a WGCL-TV news crew Friday although they were in a public area. The crew was reporting on City of Atlanta billing problems.zThey were let go after an hour and the police chief apologized for the misunderstanding. More here.
You can get a more trenchant account on Doug Richards’ blog.
Unlike most cops, he doesn’t understand the concept of the media’s role in a free society. All he understands is “security,” kinda like his counterparts in Burma and Tiananman Square. And he doesn’t have much to do, assigned, as he is, to listen for the ring of a metal detector and view the x-rayed contents of briefcases and purses. Put a badge and a gun on a guy with that kind of assignment and brainpower, and we tend to get what we deserve.
—Also, good news for Ruby Gettinger, the star of her own reality show “Ruby” on the Style Network: the Savannah gal is getting a second season. It’s not surprise considering the fact she is pulling in 400,000 viewers per episode, double the typical primetime performance for Style. She has lost more than 150 pounds but her journey is not over.
-BET’s Atlanta-based “Keyshia Cole: The Way It Is” continues to do well in the ratings. The finale December 30 pulled in 2.1 million viewers. But that is down from season two’s finale, which drew 2.89 million.
Permalink | Comments (2) | Post your comment |
1/9: 790/The Zone’s new sports babe, end of WGKA’s local early morning show
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Cayci Johnson is the new “sports babe” at 790/The Zone for Mayhem in the A.M. She replaces Sandra Golden, who wasn’t called “sports babe.”
Johnson, 30, is a St. Louis native and a “guy’s gal,” the daughter of college basketball coach. “I love sports,” she said. “I’m quick. I’m sort of raunch in my humor. I have a locker room mentality. That’s where I grew up.”
She was a reporter at a CBS affiliate in Illinois. She then had a boring job as a consultant at an insurance company after she moved to Atlanta six years ago. Then she went to culinary school and did a radio show on a small Sandy Springs radio station. “I got the radio bug,” she said. When this job came up, she felt she’d be good at it.
The final three included two former cheerleaders. Cayci? Not a cheerleader. “When I got into the studio with the guys. I was really comfortable,” she said. “They are amazing men. My dry wit and dirty sense of humor went hand in hand with them. That’s me!”
She did her first “grind” Thursday morning and had a great story about porn leaders wanting to apply for a bailout. She also talked about “Rock of Love.” “My challenge is to find a way to bridge the gap between the super girly world of Hollywood gossip and make it more focused to the men of the world,” she said.
Her take on each guy:
Steak Shapiro: “I love that he’s a foodie. I have a culinary degree. I love that he’s 100% personfied. The ham of what he is. He’s like a cartoon of himself in the best possible way.”
Chris Dimino: He’s all about sports stats and facts. He’s so knowledgable! He gets so upset with Steak when he talks about food and pop culture.”
Nick Cellini: He’s a bit of a mediator. He brings it all together. He talks a little bit about pop culture, then brings it back to sports.”
She can talk sports, though she said she couldn’t match the trio in knowledge. “The Atlanta Falcons are very very dear to my heart. I can root for the Braves as long as they aren’t playing the Cardinals. And I love NCAA basketball.”
She said when she was six years old, she did a March Madness bracket with her dad and his buds. She won $500. She’s been hooked ever since.
-Joel Aaron, who had an early morning talk show (from 4 to 6 a.m.) last year before Bill Bennett on 920/WGKA-AM, lost his show at the end of 2008.
He said although the show had fans, he was also the promotions manager and the station decided to have him focus on that job.
“I hope to do it again,” he said. “We’ll see.”
His boss and producer Jeff Davis also expressed disappointment the bosses above him nixed the show.
Permalink | Comments (23) | Post your comment |
1/9: Casting calls for gospel singers, parents with unruly teens this Saturday
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I got two casting call requests this week, both for Saturday. One is for BET’s “Sunday Best,” a gospel singing contest that is going to be produced this year in Atlanta. (As we now know, BET loves Atlanta!) The other is a “Supernanny” spinoff in which producers are seeking Atlanta families with unruly teenagers and families willing to take them temporarily.
Here’s first the first on the “Supernanny” style show:
The producers of Supernanny (ABC), It’s Me Or The Dog (Animal Planet), and The Real Housewives of NYC (BRAVO) are searching for Atlanta area rebellious teenagers and families who want to host a teen for a brand new cable series.
Producers are hosting an open casting call for the show on Saturday, January 10th from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM inside Underground Atlanta (50 Upper Alabama St., Atlanta, GA 30303) in front of the information booth which is located directly across from the food court.
Teens - are you rebellious? Are you tired of your parent’s rules and restrictions? Ever thought about what it would be like living with really strict parents? If you would like a short vacation from your parents and are up for the challenge; the casting team wants to hear from you! This is an opportunity for teens to go live with another family and trade in their parents for a new set for almost an entire week. Interested teens may apply from anywhere via www.americasstrictestparents.com. They can also call 888-41-TEENS (1-888-418-3367) or email teens@ricochettelevision.com for more information.
On the other side, the casting team is also searching the United States to find the best parents in the country from every type of background and culture to take part in a social experiment exploring the world of the 21st century teenager matched against contemporary, tried-and-true parenting styles. Producers are seeking parents with unique interests; parents with strong family values; conservatives; farmers; parents with devout religious beliefs; academics; eco-friendly parents; and parents who have ordinary or extraordinary circumstances.
And here’s what I got from BET about “Sunday Best.”
*BET’s national talent search for America’s next top gospel singer, SUNDAY BEST returns for a second season and this time we’re doing the entire production out of Atlanta. Our returning host gospel great Kirk Franklin and judges multi-award winning siblings Erica and Tina Campbell of Mary Mary and Grammy Award-winning BeBe Winans will all be in Atlanta for the first round of auditions being held at the Georgia World Congress Center on Saturday, January 10th from 9 to 5 p.m.
Online info is otherwise sketchy. Call the “Sunday Best” hotline at: 1-866-405-BEST (2378).
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment |
1/8: Rumor mill about NeNe Leakes
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I’m going to link this because it’s juicy gossip.
Mediatakeout.com reports that NeNe Leakes will be getting her own spinoff show and will leave “Real Housewives of Atlanta.” That wouldn’t surprise me. She is certainly a fascinating enough personality to go though it will be interesting how that would work.
Also heard that Dr. J’s wife might be her replacement. Julius Irving, the Hall of Fame basketball player, told me at Frank Ski’s party that he moved to Atlanta in August and owns a golf course here.
No response yet from NeNe or the Bravo publicist. NeNe was none too pleased with last month’s story about her moving out of her home late last year after an eviction notice was filed. Her own show would definitely help her financial picture, for sure.
Permalink | Comments (9) | Post your comment |
1/8: Man vs. Food focuses on Atlanta, DeAnna Pappas teased on “The Bachelor”
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Travel Channel’s Adam Richman, an Emory grad, checks out “America’s biggest pigout spots” and goes to his former home of Atlanta. The show aired last night and will be repeated multiple times, of course. He hit three spots:
-Gladys Knight and Ron Winan’s Chicken & Waffles. Shanga Hankerson, the CEO, gives him a tour of the food, along with co-founder Gladys Knight. “I gave you the music. Now I give you the food,” Knight told Richman. She makes him chicken & waffles by herself, bringing a Harlem-based treat dating back to the 1930s. As he sings along with Knight, he says, “I’m a white Pip. I’m a whip!” This clearly makes me want to go there — NOW!
-{The Vortex](http://www.thevortexbarandgrill.com/). This is one of his old college haunts. This place has been known for years for its burgers. And they are goooood. The Vortex has been around for 17 years. He notes they offer 20 different burgers. His favorite: the blue shroom burger, which includes blue cheese and three strips of bacon. “Best kind of homecoming there is,” he said before he bit into it. “Some go to wine tastings,” he said. “I’m now in the sophisticated art of burger tasting.” e.g. the Elvis burger: Bacon, peanut butter and fried bananas & the Double Bypass Burger eight ounce patty, three eggs, four ounces of cheese and three slices of bacon and two grilled cheese sandwiches.
-Big Pie in the Sky at 2090 Baker Road, Kennesaw. This is truly the big one. He takes on the Carnivore New York style pizza challenge. The 30 inch, 11 pound pizza has be eaten in one hour by two people. 400 people have tried. 400 people have failed. He warms up with a crunk dance class. He then shows how the pie is made: six pounds of pizza with five pounds of meat. His partner is Drew Middlebrooks, someone who attempted the pie before but his first partner couldn’t do it. Drew starts looking a bit sick halfway through. “I’m getting a little pizza drunk,” Adam says. Drew leaves the premises and throws up. It’s over at 44 minutes. Awww…
-Newnan’s own DeAnna Pappas will be returning to the “Bachelor” series, based on the teases from Monday night.
Jason Mesnick, who Pappas rejected this past summer in favor of Jesse Csincsak, is now “The Bachelor” and the series opened strong with 11 million-plus viewers. Clearly, women like the Kirkland, Wa. single dad.
It’s not clear when she shows up or what her intentions are. She apologizes to him and the teases imply she wants to revisit their relationship. Hmm… naturally, the new women are jealous and unhappy with her presence. Could this be why she broke up with Jesse? Based on interviews he’s made so far, it’s doubtful Mesnick decided to get engaged to Pappas but obviously, the producers figured the return of Pappas would add a new level of intrigue to the show.
I will be talking to Pappas next week when she shoots intros for the Lifetime show “Get Married,” which she ironically became a cohost. What should I ask her? Give me some suggestions!
Permalink | Comments (7) | Post your comment |
1/7: Style Network seeking “Clean House” candidates
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The PR folks at Style Network are fishing around for the messiest houses in Atlanta for their popular show “Clean House.” (In fact, they’ve been planting notices on my blog about it.) I could propose my own but that’d be a conflict of interest.
Apparently, the show execs have stopped seeking houses in six other markets and focusing exclusively on Atlanta.
Here’s the basic info:
Do you, or someone you know, need help ridding your home of clutter? Are you having a hard time letting go of stuff you don’t need but just can’t seem to part with? Are ALL THE ROOMS IN YOUR HOUSE in dire need of a makeover? Then you need CLEAN HOUSE!!!
If you are chosen, the CLEAN HOUSE crew will get rid of your clutter, clean, paint, and transform your home into a beautiful living space with the help of an interior designer.
You will stay in a luxury hotel while the work is being done, and reap the benefits, but you must participate as the owners of the house in the filming of the show.
If you OWN a SINGLE-FAMILY HOUSE (sorry, no apartments, condos, or townhouses) and at least 2 adults live in your home, then please email the following info to us and we’ll be in touch with more details:
1. Names and ages of everyone living in the home. (must OWN home)
2. Address & phone number.
3. Full room photos of your cluttered rooms is required (please send no more than 5 photos per email; use multiple emails if needed). Garages only qualify if they’ve already been converted into actual rooms.
4. Tell us about yourself and why you and your family need CLEAN HOUSE!!!
Email us at mcolford@mindspring.com
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment |
1/7: Sheree Whitfield appeals divorce to Ga. Supreme Court
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
On the show “The Real Housewives of Atlanta,” Sheree Whitfield expressed a desire for a “seven figure” settlement from her ex-husband and former Falcon player Bob Whitfield. She has since said very little about the case because of legal wranglings.
She received a settlement last year but wasn’t happy with it. So she has appealed it all the way to the Georgia Supreme Court. The case is scheduled to be heard Monday, January 12.
Her attorneys painted her a high school graduate with limited skills to earn income, arguments for alimony she did not receive. This agreement meant she wouldn’t be able to stay at her $2.6 million home. She receives $113,422 a year from the divorce, not enough for her live the lifestyle she’s used to and clearly not at the level of what the hit Bravo show conveys. Sheree also received a lump sum of $775,000, shares of Whitfield’s retirement pension, nearly half of the marital property and child support.
Here are all the facts provided by the Georgia Supreme Court public information officer:
The ex-wife of a former Atlanta Falcons football player is appealing a Fulton County court’s refusal to grant her alimony and a new trial. Under a 2003 pilot project, the high court has agreed to review all challenges to final divorce decrees that are not deemed frivolous.
FACTS: Bob and Sheree Whitfield separated after three years of marriage in 2003 and divorced after seven in 2007. They have two children, who were 8 and 11 at the time of the divorce.
Bob Whitfield, 36, is a recently retired NFL player who once played for the Atlanta Falcons. Sheree Whitfield currently appears on the popular reality TV show, “Real Housewives of Atlanta.”
The trial court awarded her custody of the children and $2,142.87 a month in child support. It also awarded her a division of the marital property totaling more than $1.1 million and including a lump sum payment of $775,000. It gave her half of the marital portion of three NFL retirement plans. But the court did not award alimony.
The court awarded him nearly all the real estate, including four homes, and the recording studio, Patchwerks, which he founded. Her lawyers moved for a new trial over the denial of alimony. The lower court denied the motion, and she now appeals to the Supreme Court.
ARGUMENTS:
Her attorneys argue that based on her lack of education and inability to earn income, the court abused its discretion by not awarding alimony and then ordering her and the children out of their $2.6 million home in Sandy Springs.
Under state law, the trial court must consider a number of factors in determining the amount of alimony, including the standard of living established during the marriage, the duration of the marriage, the financial resources of each party and the time necessary for a party to acquire sufficient education and training to get a job.
Her ex-husband not only received an $8 million signing bonus as part of a $30 million six-year contract, but he is also a sophisticated businessman with investment properties in Costa Rica, California and Atlanta, as well as founder and owner of a “world-class” recording studio, from which he draws $50,000 annually.
To enhance his earning power, he has returned to Stanford University. She, on the other hand, has devoted her time to raising the couple’s two young children. The clothing boutique she managed for a brief time, “Bella Azul,” quickly failed under her management and oversight, her attorneys point out. With only a high school degree, she depended on her husband, with whom she had been in a relationship for 14 years.
Despite her lack of education, marketable job skills and employment prospects, the court wrongly denied her alimony, even though her husband’s monthly income is almost 12 times her. The failure to award alimony is also contrary to the best interests of the children, her attorneys contend. Without alimony, she cannot afford to buy another home in the neighborhood where they have grown up, have friends and go to school.
His attorney argues that even though the marriage was “very short-term,” she was awarded 48 percent of the marital estate and a part of three retirement plans. Alimony is authorized but not required under state law, and the trial court did not abuse its discretion by not awarding any to her.
“The trial court left no stone unturned in regard to determining the assets and incomes of the parties,” his lawyer argues in the briefs. From the divorce, she receives a total yearly income of $113,422. In addition, she gets a portion of three NFL retirement programs. His attorney argues she should be fined $2,500 for bringing a frivolous appeal solely for the purpose of delaying the time when she’ll have to vacate the Sandy Springs home.
1/7: What’s up with Imus on True Oldies?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Recently, True Oldies 106.7 has been playing what seems to be only snippets of Don Imus in the morning and filling it in with mostly music. Paul O’Malley, the boss, was circumspect with me on why they are doing this beyond the fact Imus had been ill for a time.
But fans say his regular show based out of 770/WABC-AM in New York has been normal this week. True Oldies does seem to be airing relatively few ads so part of the music may just be filling in what normally would be advertising. (This tends to be a slack time for radio ads anyway, though the economy is probably exacerbating things, too. Then again, fewer ads benefits listeners who are getting more music.)
I listened to the tail end of the show this morning. (Imus runs on True Oldies from 6 to 9 a.m.). I heard him do an interview with Pat Buchanan from about 8:35 a.m to 8:45 a.m. Five minutes of ads, then “The Boys Are Back in Town” by Thin Lizzy at 8:50 and Sam & Dave’s “Hold On! I’m a Comin’ ” Oddly, they played about two minutes of Sam & Dave, played an “Imus/True Oldies” promo, then started the song over again. Strange glitch. At 8:59 a.m., Looking Glass’ “Brandy” played.
Checking yes.com, which tracks music airplay, True Oldies is playing 9 to 10 songs an hour during the Imus show. Assuming 10 minutes of ads and 3.5 minutes per song, that leaves about 15 minutes for Imus, maybe two clips worth per hour. Normally, Imus talks about 40 minutes an hour or so.
Imus fans— is this a good compromise so True Oldies can stay a music station? A couple of people have emailed me and said this has been the pattern for three weeks. We’ll see if this remains the norm from here on in.
Citadel, which owns Kicks and True Oldies, also runs Imus’ syndication. That’s why he is even on the station, which started last March once Citadel dumped Eagle and the country format. Imus has been on other stations in the market in the past but has never built a big audience. This is his first FM affiliate in Atlanta.
Permalink | Comments (26) | Post your comment |
1/7: New Braves announcer? Jim Powell from Brewers a possibility
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Here’s some bio info on the guy. He’s been with the Brewers for 12 years.
If he joins the Braves, he’d be replacing retiring Pete Van Wieren, who mostly did radio last year. The Braves are currently on 94.9/The Bull and 640/WGST-AM on the radio and mostly Peachtree TV and Fox Sports South for TV.
Permalink | Comments (5) | Post your comment |
1/6: Old Moby/Kicks billboard pops up from the past
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
A few days ago, I was driving north near Turner Field just west of I-75/85 and spied a billboard where the newer message had ripped off and a really old billboard message was showing. I took a picture of it, too:
Yes, that’s Moby, who was let go from Kicks 101.5 in 2002. “I think that billboard looks like it’s at least 10 years old,” said Moby, after I sent emailed him a copy of the photo. “Funny, isn’t it?”
Moby is now on several outlying country stations doing his own syndicated show: the Bear in Griffin, South 107 in Rome and WNGC-FM in Athens. “If any of those stations would like to hire a vandal to paint their logos up there, feel free!” he joked.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment |
1/6: Steve Barnes starting new TV series “High Rise,”
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Steve Barnes, former 99X and Dave FM morning host and actor/producer, is about to start production on a new local TV series called “High Rise,” which he said will be a bit like “Melrose Place” but less campy. “Think ‘Grey’s Anatomy,’ ” he said.
The show will be available online at www.highrisetheseries.com twice a week starting March 31 for 10 weeks. It will also be available at Comcast On Demand. It will air in five minute segments adding up to a total of 100 minutes.
The cast is local actors: Bryan Brendle, Leland Jones, Kaira Akita, Greg Corbett, Heather Smith, Rob Pralgo and Cynthia Evans. Barnes will have a recurring role as an entertainment attorney (akin to Ari Gold on “Entourage”). He said his former Dave FM host Holly Firfer will also get a small role as well. He invited former 99X host Jimmy Baron to play a record executive but he said Baron was out of town on the scheduled shooting day.
The two writers are Mike Stiles, a former Star 94 producer and part of Sketchworks, a sketch comedy team; and Charles Van Eman, a former actor who was on “All My Children.”
Barnes also got local rock singer Shawn Mullins (“Lullaby”) to play a bartender/singer and Mullins will be performing some tunes for the show.
Production starts in Buckhead at the Terminus buildling on January 25.
Barnes has gotten plenty of advertisers to help pay for the production including Airtran, Kraft and Hennessey Jaguar and Land Rover. People who watch the show online will be eligible to win prizes such as Airtran tickets. There is also a social networking setup on the Web site.
“I had this idea a year ago,” Barnes said. “I wanted to do this ‘Melrose Place’ in a high rise. I saw this beautiful building, Terminus. I thought, ‘Man, that’s a perfect place to do a drama.’ “
-Sebas (Sebastian Davis), who works at Rock 100.5 as a producer, appeared on Sunday’s CBS game show “Million Dollar Password.” He’s part of Mensa, the Regular Guys said, but that didn’t help him when radio host Adam Carolla said “south,” hoping for the password “north.” Sebas said “Texas.” Then Carolla tried “east” and “west” Seabass still didn’t get it. When Carolla said “pole,” Sebas uttered “Antarctica.” “I literally wanted to punch him,” Carolla joked on his radio show, replayed by the Regular Guys.
Sebas said he was naturally disappointed by the results. He said if he had gotten past that initial round, it would be relatively easy to get $25,000 and as much as $150,000 without too much pain. Instead, he got nothing. He said, when people do “opposites,” they use a certain sing-song-y inflection. But Carolla didn’t do that and it threw Sebas off.
You can watch him here.. He is on the second half of the show. He also gets to parry with Betty White.
Permalink | Comments (54) | Post your comment |
1/5: Clark Howard debuts on CNN Headline News
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I DVRed Clark Howard’s new show on CNN Headline News, which debuted this past weekend, repeated six times at 6 a.m., noon and 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Here’s a quick recap of the first 30 minutes, which summarizes many of his radio calls you hear on WSB-AM to about a minute or so. He gets his own funky theme song, too!
He’s in his WSB studio (converted to a TV studio) and says: “America. we’re living in tough economic times But I have good news. I’m Clark Howard I’m here to show you how to save more, spend less and avoid getting ripped off.” (For those who don’t know and many who are watching CNN Headline News probably aren’t, that’s his signature line he’s been using for years.)
Then they go to cartoon graphics as if his life is a comic book.
“Ever since I can remember, I’ve been fascinated by money. Making it. Saving it. Studying it. By the time I was 31, I earned enough to retire [he sold a travel agency]. So I embarked on a new mission: helping take care of your money.” The show doesn’t get into the fact this happened more than two decades but in show business, why reveal your age when you don’t look your age!
Then they show video of him taking a call from his radio show. Julie is considering a home equity loan to get her through job loss. He recommends a home equity line of credit as an emergency situation. He also says apply for unemployment benefits asap. “This is not about pride,” he says. “Think of it as insurance.” Then a woman summarizes his thoughts.
The next caller says his daughter traded in a car with a loan balance and the car dealer went out of business. He says this is a big no no anyway. “The risk is too great the dealer goes bust and never pay off your trade in. You can end up with your credit ruined and two loans.”
He does a one-minute consumer tip about the stock market. A large percentage of people over the age of 65 have too much cash in stocks. (27% of people 55-64 have 90% or more in stocks. Wrong!)
The segment after the first commercial break is called “money coach.” Melba is trying to work down her massive $150,000 debt. She needs to get a second job, he suggested. “It can be a noose around your wallet. You have to be careful in school how much debt you take on. Eventually you have to pay it back.”
He then take a call about selling time shares (if you can’t, donate it for the tax deduction), then another person who had a credit card closed because she hadn’t used it in two years and she’s worried her credit score will hurt. (It will, but not a huge amount since she hadn’t used it.)
CNN throws in some economic news at 18 minutes after the hour.
He then addresses a “pay off your IRS taxes” scam you might see in late-night ads. “Scuzzoids” and “crooks” are what Clark calls them.
I missed the last few minutes of the show because WSB-TV (where he’s done consumer stories for years) runs some news updates instead. How ironic is that?
Has anybody caught the show yet? Do you think he’s got a shot at a weekday show with this?
Permalink | Comments (36) | Post your comment |
1/2: Tripp West leaving Star 94, replaced by syndicated Ryan Seacrest
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Ryan Seacrest will effectively replace Tripp West (above, from July) at Star 94.
If you don’t already get enough of Ryan Seacrest on “American Idol,” the E! cable network and American Top 40 countdown on Star 94, you’ll be hearing more of him from noon to 3 p.m. each weekday on that same top 40 station.
Seacrest is coming full circle. He started his career in the early 1990s in high school as a fill-in DJ at Star 94 before moving to Los Angeles to pursue his Hollywood dreams. Star picked up his weekly weekend countdown show as soon as he took over in 2004 for Casey Kasem.
He has been doing a morning show on KIIS-FM in Los Angeles since 2004 as well. Last year, the show was syndicated and is heard on about 70 radio stations nationwide including the top 40 station in New York City. You won’t get a full-fledged morning show from noon to 3. Rather, you’ll get a “best of” compilation of what Seacrest had done a few hours earlier on his Los Angeles show.
At the same time, Tripp West, who has been at Star for 11 years and seven of them as mid-day host, will be leaving. His contract isn’t up until May but he said Star is being nice enough to allow him the time to job hunt. If he finds a good job before May, they will let him out of his contract. (This is a rare case of true compassion from an employer, relatively speaking.)
West said he is fine with the move, understands why Star is doing it. (Star is getting a bit of star power, literally, and hopefully save a few bucks, too.) “Eleven years was a great run,” he said. “I’m very excited about the challenge moving forward.” He also runs a DJ company (www.liquidmindproduction.com) so if you need a jock for a corporate, club or wedding, he’s available.
I couldn’t get a hold of Rick Mack, the general manager, so I’m not sure what Star will do from 10 a.m. to noon. (Tripp had done 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.). West said he’s willing to fill in during that time once Seacrest starts on Star.
West wasn’t sure when Star was starting Seacrest’s show but said it’s probably in mid-January.
