DCRTV's Best & Worst Of 2003

Front Page - Mailbag - Support DCRTV - Back To BW2007

Best Audio and Programming Quality: WGMS..... Worst Audio (waaay to much compression!): WASH.... Worst Programming: WMAL....
Wesley McGee
Best TV News orginization...WRC, they managed to keep their heads and continue to produce a good show. Yeah, they have the luxury of not having to pull stunts to goose the ratings... Worse continuing trend... WUSA What can I say, they let go of many distinguished reporters in their day, but kicking Mike Buchanan to the curb was a topper. A year earlier he distinguished himself with his work on the sniper murders. Elsewhere, WUSA has the most hours of single anchor newscasts doing interview style news, this seems to completely wreck the flow of the shows, and makes Andrea Roane and JC Hayward look harried and overworked...funny that they hyped USA Tonight as a different type of newscast, since that format seems to have taken over their 9am and 5pm shows. I can't attribute this to bumbling by management anymore. This looks like outright sabatogue. . . .Though I give praise to USA Tonight, as best stunt, since it seems like a worthwhile experiment with longer stories about newsworthy events... do more of those and less of the two person shoutfests pieces..... Worse stunt gos to WJLA's two moves to immediately goose their news ratings by hiring high-priced talent. Though the trend dated back to Maureen Bunyan's initial hiring by WJLA several years ago, this trend did not gain the scent of desperation until they pulled Leon Harris to the network. They have improved their news product over the years, but they seem like the strategy department has just decided to call it quits and management is stuck on "more names". How long until WJLA tries to hire Lou Grant?....... Worse local gift from Powell... allowing Fox to buy WDCA and turn it into Fox 5 Lite. Take off the shared programming, WDCA would rival WNVT for length of time off the air. Eeh, local TV isn't even worth it anymore...
Tom Fairfax Va
Prettiest Anchors: Rebecca Cooper (ABC 7/NC8), Laura Evans (FOX 5), Amy Robach (FOX 5), Melanie Alnwick (FOX 5), Allison Starling (ABC 7), Leslie Cooke (ABC 7), Andrea McCarren (ABC 7), Mary Alice Salines (NBC 4), Wendy Reiger (NBC 4), Stacey Cohan (CBS 9)..... Best Anchors/Reporters: Rebecca Cooper (ABC 7/NC8), Carol Costello(CNN), Laura Evans (FOX 5), Amy Robach (FOX 5), Melanie Alnwick (FOX 5), Allison Starling (ABC 7/NC8), Leslie Cooke (ABC 7/NC8), Andrea McCarren (ABC 7), Mary Alice Salines (NBC 4), Wendy Reiger (NBC 4), Will Thomas (FOX 5), Brian Bolter (FOX 5), Tracey Neale (FOX 5), Doug McKelway (ABC 7), Kathleen Matthews (ABC 7), Maureen Bunyan (ABC 7), Michael Gargulio (FOX 5), Lark McCarthy (FOX 5), Shawn Yancey (FOX 5), Kevin Schultz (ABC 7), Brad Bell (ABC 7)..... Best Weather Anchors: Steve Rudin, Tom Sater, Dan Henry, Alexandra Steele, Sue Palka, Doug Hill, Bob Ryan, Tom Kieran, Clay Anderson, Ron Riley..... Worst Weather Anchors: Hillary Howard (hated her since she knocked Steve Rudin), Gwen Tolbart (too hyperactive)..... Best Sports Anchors: Greg Toland (he's the one of everyone I like best), Dave Feldman, Lou Holder, Diane Roberts, Rene Knott, Wally Bruckner, Jill Sorenson..... Best Morning News: FOX WTTG 5, ABC WJLA 7, CNN this morning w/ Carol Costello..... Best Newscast at noon: FOX 5 and ABC 7..... Best Evening News: FOX 5 and ABC 7 (FOX 5 should add a 6pm even if it's just a half hour)..... Best Late Local News: FOX 5 and ABC 7 farewell Del Walters and Tracy Neale We'll miss you on 5 and 7..... Best Breaking News Coverage: ABC WJLA 7 has cut in more with breaking news first while interupting All My Children..... Best Local coverage on Bad Weather ABC WJLA 7 with News Channel 8 tagging along and FOX WTTG 5..... Worst News Operation: Everything at CBS WUSA 9..... Best Additions: Leon Harris..... Worst News Departure: Amy Robach leaving FOX WTTG 5, Del Walters leaving ABC 7 and Tracey Neale leaving FOX 5, Dan Henry and Alexandra Steele leaving ABC 7..... Best Weekend Morning: Tim Russert with Meet the Press following Chris Wallace with Fox News Sunday..... Funniest Commentator: Chris Matthews on Sunday Mornings..... Best Morning Radio: 97.1 WASH-FM (When Scott Brady and Dave Adler were doing it), Stacy Drake (Lite 97.5 WLTF), 98.7 WMZQ (Ben and Brian), 107.3 WRQX (Jack Diamond), WTOP 107.7 (Mike Moss/Richard Day)..... Best Middays: Celeste Clark (107.3) and Maureen McLain (97.1), and Jim London (98.7)..... Best Afternoon: Mike Kaufman (107.3), Bill Worthington (97.1), and Jon Anthony (98.7)..... Best Evenings: Amy Paige/Cindy McGuire (107.3), Paula Young (98.7), Glenn Hollis (97.1), Delilah (97.5 WLTF)..... Best Overnighter: Dave/Spank/Blake (107.3), Dave Wingert (97.1 WASH/97.5 WLTF)..... Best Return: Welcome Back Bill Worthington..... Best Weekends: (the guys at 107.3), Chris Roth, Dave Adler, Jim Curtis..... Best Weekend Program: Backtrax USA, Retro Saturday Night, Girl Talk (bring back to WASH)Worst Radio: DC101, 99.1 HFS, 104 WWZZ (I don't like them making fun of people), 93.9 (WKYS), Loo Katz on 97.1 in the morning..... Worst Radio Loss: bumping Scott Brady off 97.1 and putting Loo in his palce Loo is the one who should have been tossed out, RIP Eddie Gallaher..... Best Sounding Radio Voices: Amy Paige, Cindy McGuire, Celeste Clark, Marilyn Thompson, VanNiece Johnson, Maureen McLain, Delilah.....
Best Anchor Male: Jim Vance..... Best Female Anchor: Tracey Neale..... Best Sports Anchor: George Michael..... Best Weather Anchor Female: Sue Palka..... Best Weather Anchor Male: Doug Hill..... Worst Anchor Male: Derkick McGinty, Elliott Francis, Brian Bolter, Will Thomas..... Worst Anchor Female: Barbara Harrison, Lark McCarthy, JC Hayward..... Worst Reporter: Doug Buchanan..... Worst Weather Anchor Male: Clay Anderson..... Worst Weather Anchor Female: Gwen Tolbart..... Worst Sports Anchor: Levin Reid..... Most Underutilized: Doug McElway, Rene Knott, Steve Rudin..... Biggest Waste of Money: JC Hayward, Maureen Bunyan, WUSA Management.....
Best Radio moment, Buzz Burbank getting hammered on absinthe, that was the best news read ever..... Worst radio, WTOP weekend overnights, could you get any worse readers? and the HOT Morning Mess, thank god for Mark and Chris because otherwise they wouldn't have anyone to laugh at their jokes..... Best Morning Drive, Elliot in the Morning..... Worst news, WJLA..... Best News, WRC NBC-4..... Best Anchor, Doreen Gentzler, Eun Yang..... Worst Anchor, Angela Russell, Elliot Francis, Will Thomas, Kathleen uhh Matthews, Derek McGinty..... Worst Weather, Brian van der graaf, Topper Shutt and Clay Anderson..... Best Weather, Sue Palka and Doug Hill, Hillary Howard..... Best Reporters, Brad Bell, Doug McKelway, Eun Yang, Pat Collins, sometimes Larua Evans, Audrey Barnes..... Worst Reporters, Greg Starddard, Angela Russell, Rebecca Cooper, John Harter and the performers at FOX 5.
Best TV News: WJLA - they are definitely making significant improvements and getting their act together. I'm finding myself watching them more and more..... Worst TV News: WUSA - they have been falling downhill over the last several years. Now they've lost one of their icons in Mike Buchanan. They have no up and coming talent, and when Gordon Peterson retires, I think they'll be in big trouble. The "interview" format of both their 9am and 5pm newscasts stinks. Get back to news - I don't tune in to see long, drawn-out interviews regarding stuff I don't care about. And for God's sakes, get JC Hayward a co-anchor! The solo anchor format doesn't work (and notice that 9 is the only station that uses does this). If they get Tracey Neale, that will help a little bit..... Best TV Weather: WJLA again - Doug Hill and company are all professional, accurate forecasters. WUSA is good too - especially Tony Pann on the weekends. WRC isn't bad either, with the exception of Veronica Johnson. They need to give Chuck Bell (who's been doing Sunday mornings) more airtime - I used to watch him when he was the chief meterologist at WSLS in Roanoke..... Worst TV Weather: WTTG - they have a good team, but they should have given the 5pm job to Steve Rudin instead of Gwen Tolbart. Thier problem is the lack of technology - their radar is outdated and they are they only station lacking a live doppler radar..... Best TV Sports: None - I think local TV sports may be on the way out. It's definitely a low-priority segment on newscasts. At least WTTG, with an hour on their 10pm news, devotes some time to their sportcasts. Worst TV Sports: All of them. George Michael is a washed-up has-been. And WUSA should never have released Ken Mease - Levan Reid just plain sucks.....
Joyce in Chase:
Happy Soon To Be New Year Dave: Here are my best and worst. It's really my Yin-Yang to be more accurate. Best: The jocks on WZBA (100.7) The Bay. Great radio vets, very professional. Let them open up a bit more...... Worst: The WZBA website - no bios or pictures of the jocks and certain sections still have "Rock Without The Hard Edge" which is no longer their imaging..... Best: 104.3's decision to switch to Smooth Jazz. Enjoy Bill Simpson, Lonnie Taylor, Lori Lewis and the great Ramsey Lewis..... Worst: Some of the songs are not true jazz especially Phil Collins' "In the Air Tonight". Definitely need to expand the playlist and allow more personality...... Best: Great non-commercial stations like WTMD and WHFC. Both stations offer a variety of programming from doo-wop to polka, jazz to classical. You name it, they have it..... Worst: Hard to pick up in certain sections of town while driving; however, thank our good Lord for internet availability..... Best: Alan Lee's "Forgotten 45's" and the jocks on WQSR. The Merson Person and Big Don rule..... Worst: WQSR's playlist..... Overall the Worst: Corporate radio. End of story..... Dave, thanks for all that you do with DCRTV. God Bless and much success in 2004.....
Rob (in DC)
Best TV Anchors: 7's Leon Harris - yeah he is new, but the guy is a pro ..... 9's Gordon Peterson - Dean of the DC anchor Corps..... Best TV Weather: 4's Bob Ryan - he's got the toys and he knows how to use them ... 7's Doug Hill - Doug of Doom? Maybe, but he also has tons of credibility, as well as all the gear..... Best TV Sports: None. Does 9 still have a sportscaster? Rene is OK, but nothing special, and George drives me nuts. He looks like a cross between Freddy Kruger and a Raisin. I hope Tim Brant will be better..... Best TV Reporters: 9's Dave Stattler & former Mike Buchanan ..... 4's Eun Yang and Pat Collins..... 7's Doug McKelway, Rebecca Cooper and Brad Bell Best Looking Reporter: Allison Starling on 7.... Worst Looking Reporter: Liz Crenshaw on 4.... Best Local TV News: Channel 4 - lots of history here. Solid..... Most Improved TV News: Channel 7 - lots of changes for the better here. If ABC ever gets an audience again, then Channel 4 could fall - fast..... Most Overrated TV News: Channel 9. Except for Gordon, there isn't much there. Gannett should thank CBS every day for the lead-in they give to 9 news..... Most Overrated TV Anchors: Jim Vance - can...he...read...any...slower...??? and the whistle through his false teeth drives me nuts. JC Hayward - just because you have survived for 10,000 years doesn't make you good..... Worst TV weather: Topper at 9. He doesn't have a clue..... Worst TV News: Fox 5. No, the earth is not about to collide with the sun, but watch Fox and you would think it is, every day, at 5 and 10..... Most Biased TV News: Fox News Channel. This thing is a sad joke about the state of education in America. To think that so many people actually believe them. America: Learn to THINK, then just say no to Fox..... Worst TV Reporter: 7's Sam Ford and John Harter - these guys need to go. 9's Doug Buchanan - I'm sure you are a nice guy, but your dad was so much better. 4's Darcy Spencer - on top of being unattractive, you can't report either. Go back to wherever you came from.
That's it!
DCRTV Fan from Gaithersburg:
TV Best Anchors - 4's Wendy Rieger, Doreen Gentzler, Mil Arcega (Spelling??) and most others at 4, except Barbara Harrison..... TV Best Weatherperson - 5's Sue Palka...... TV Best Sports - hopefully 7's Tim Brandt..... TV Best Reporter - 9's Peggy Fox - bring her back to morning news where she was absoutely wonderful. She's articulate, professional and just tells it like it is...... 4's Jackie Benson - very good at her job..... TV Worst Anchors - 4's Barbara Harrison - she's good at Wednesday Child, but absolutely horrendous as an anchor. She seems so dumb. I cringe when she tries to ad-lib..... 4's Pat Collins - he's so dramatic - he should be on one of those tabloid news shows..... 7's Leon Harris. Why must be make a remark after each story is read???? Isn't he supposed to be objective???? Way overrated..... 7's Maureen Bunyan. I used to think she was great on 9, but now that I watch her on 7 she seems so stiff...... 7's Kathleen Matthews - she is so overrated and cannot ad-lib worth a !*!*(#*$*..... TV Worst Weaterperson - 7's Doug Hill - He thinks too highly of himself..... TV Worst Sports - that guy on 9 (whatever his name is)..... TV Best Move - 9's removal of Buck Buchanan. Now if they would just ged rid of the egomaniac Gordon Peterson..... Radio - Best morning show - still searching..... Radio - Worst morning show - Jack Diamond and everyone else on WRQX. I feel as if I'm being preached to every time I listen. Diamond wants everyone to think he is Mr. everything - from being a great husband and ex-husband (how many times???) to knowing everyone there is to flying on the Concorde - ENOUGH ALREADY. The real kicker was when he was counseling his kid on the air about the dangers of suntanning. Why must be subject his listeners to his father-daughter talks on the air. And, one last thing, is Stacy Binn (Williams) coming back????
Best: Radio Morning Show: Junkies (though I still wish they were on at nights so I could listen to the whole show)..... Radio Mid-day: Tony Kornheiser..... Radio Afternoon: Sports Reporters..... Most used station preset: WTEM (don't understand everyone knocking WTEM, they have a decent mix of national and local programming. Everyone wants more local coverage but for what? None of the teams here are any good. Who wants to hear Joe from Bethesda or Jack on his car phone whining about the Caps, SKins or Wiz all day)..... Newsanchor: Tracey Neale (wherever she ends up)..... Sportsanchor: Dave Feldman.....
Worst: Radio morning show: ESPN Mike and Mike (yawn), all the music stations where the loud, overpaid, not-funny personalities talk to much and don't play enough music..... Radio afternoon: Jim Rome (makes me want to jab my eardrums with a ballpoint pen)..... Newsanchor: Barbara Harrison..... Sportsanchor: George Michael (loud and wrong most times, how much longer can this guy fake it though I like the Skins report and Full COurt if he can manage to stay out of the way).....
RADIO - Essential - WTOP; in times like these, a clock radio Must to know what happened while you were sleeping..... Erased from My Car Presets - WBIG; bring back the real, old Oldies...... Best Sports - None; would someone at Clear Channel please listen to WTEM airchecks from when they first went on the air with local hosts and local calls all day. WTEM Then was SportsRadio; WTEM Now, isn't..... Worst Odd Couple - Andy Pollin/Steve Czaban..... Political Pornography - WMAL..... Most Missed - Local radio; what WMAL used to be, and WTEM should be (especially in the mornings)..... Lifetime Achievement - Johnny Holliday, Thanks for the Memories..... RIP - Eddie Gallagher, the ultimate DC Broadcaster. TV...... Best TV News - WRC; nobody does it better than Vance; his style and professionalism define the station; he makes the first-string team (on and off camera) even better..... Exception to the Rule - George Michael, the Act is stale; luckily for Channel 4, no other station has its Sports act together - Yet..... Worst TV News - WUSA; tired, floundering. Gordon, it was fun, but it's time to Go..... Eternal Bridesmaid - WJLA; still hungry after 40+ years as an also-ran, but needs a dominant anchor and identity. Leon Who? Classless ownership..... Best Odd Couple - Kornheiser/Wilbon, PTI (sorta local)..... Wish List - under $2,000 plasma TV..... MEDIA COVERAGE..... Best - DCRTV (the check's in the mail). Honorable Mention - Washington Times, Chris Baker (thanks to the Web, you don't have to buy the rest of Rev. Moon's fishwrapper)..... Worst - Washington Post, Lisa DeMores; an insult to the memory of Captain Airwaves.....
John Nadolny, Producer 2nd hour of "The Tom Moore Show" Talk Radio 680 WCBM and overnight producer/board operator WCBM:
BEST: New Talk Show - The Tom Moore Show as it brings a fresh and different voice to WCBM's airwaves, Out to Lunch on Live 105.7 as it makes me laugh with their outrageousness and no holds barred approach to talk. National Syndicated Talk Show - Don and Mike Show on Live 105.7, once the contract crap was out of the way they got back to what made them the best duo on the air with great shows like Buzz Burbank getting drunk on the air. Local Morning Show - Kirk, Mark and Lopez on 98Rock the chemistry is just unmatched, Terry Ford and Drew Forrester on WNST - even though they piss me off with too much sarcasm the both of them are entertaining and brings sports talk to a new level. Evening Program - Most of the times night time radio just sucks and totally unlistenable; however, Mickey and Amelia is gaining ground and pulling in people left and right with entertaining shows and Mickey's take no guff and politically incorrect manner. Morning News Program - Sean and Frank with Mandy Allen on WCBM as Sean and Frank takes a no bull look at the news stories and Mandy Allen is a sheer professional. Mid - day to Afternoon Program - Budweiser Sports Forum with Nasty Nestor Aparicio as Nestor is the unqualified leader of provocative sports talk and Ravens coverage. Whether you hate him or not he makes you think and want to voice your opinion. Finally, kudos to WTMD for changing format to a more rock variety as a former jock on it, the smooth jazz and new age music format is a nowhere option and wish they could have switched to this format when I was there. Local News Coverage goes to WBAL TV for their complete investigative work by Jayne Miller and their coverage of the Hurricane in Baltimore.
WORST: Not being able to hear Ron and Fez here in Baltimore. Live 105.7 should yank the Howard Stern wannabe in Tom Lykis and put Ron and Fez there instead as it would strengthen their programming. Rush Limbaugh - what a piece of work he is. He is the true definition of the word hypocrite on his stance of drug abusers and this fat bag of wind was one himself and is trying everything to keep his fat a## out of jail. No wonder he lost his hearing taking that amount of oxycontin. I hope goes to jail and has a furry, gay liberal Democrat named Bubba as a jailmate. Bill O'Reilly this man is no journalist as proven by Al Fraken and he takes himself way to seriously. Would love for someone to find a few skeleton in his closet. The blonde sports chick on WBAL - God this woman is horrendous and makes Chrish Ely look like a eloquent speaker and John Buren as a serious sportscaster. This woman is nothing but eye candy if that at all. She knows nothing about sports. 1300 The Jock for calling theirselves Baltimore's Only Sports Station when anyone with a pulse and a know of radio knows that WNST was the first in Baltimore and any so called all sports station plays infomercials, pleeese!
Rob Ashburn, VA - here are my best and worst votes (please dont take personal offense to any, they are just opinions..) These are all radio only, as I don't watch TV...
Best: Mornings : None for 2003..... Middays : Again, none, but Donyelle on DC101 has a lot of potential for a music-personality jock..... Afternoon : Don and Mike, when they're good, they're great (ie; Buzz' Drunk Show, Don and Robb flying to Miami w/ the Ravens)... but CD's have been my afternoon drive mainstay this year..... Evenings : Ron and Fez, no questions about it. The best thing DC radio has ever had the luck of experiencing. New and flexible..... Overall : Ron and Fez's Fastest Hour In Radio. Its not really midday, not really mornings, but over all the smartest humor this area has probably ever seen. Weekends: Goss's Garage is consistent, even if Pat lacks a dynamic radio persona. El Jefe's Hideout, Sometimes its hysterical simply for the awful trainwreck it can devolve into (think J. Dubbs Treehouse... so bad its funny).....
Worst: Mornings: Sports Junkies on HFS. Just as awful and recycled as the music on HFS's playlists. The 4 most grating voices on local radio today..... Mornings: Tie for sinking to mediocrity : Howard Stern and Elliot in the Morning. Artie Lange was a huge breath of fresh air for the Stern show, but now they're back to the same decade-old tricks and ego-spouting "clone"-bashing. Great for the brainwashed Stern zombie, but painful to see where this show has fallen from. Elliot, while still energetic, has become a shell of the original Elliot/Diane/Haber/Jared/Craig/Flounder class. Sometimes change is good, for Elliot it hasnt been. The show is watered down and compartmentalized for his network. Both of these shows have fallen to mediocre at best, and its a shame, they were both great, but intelligent people deserve better entertainment..... Middays: O'Reilly or Limbaugh? Wow, what a toss up, Hypocrite egostar or Hypocrite pillpopper. Mmm. O'Reilly is invariably incapable of supporting his points without yelling, name calling and cutting off mics or callers. Limbaugh is unapologetic for his addictions and his views concerning that, which he is strangely exempt from. How about all Holier-Than-Thou Poli-talk show hosts? The worst trend in radio today..... Afternoons : Don and Mike. When they're bad, they're the most unbearably bad show on the radio. Ever since the pointless O&A war of about a year and a half ago, they've never quite been the same. Most shows have been elaborate bitch sessions about contracts or inconsequential inconveniences. Whats the difference between before and now? The newer shows have drained all the humor out of the complaining. Even the "Best of" tapes have griping, but always with sharp jokes and in-jokes. Theres just a dull bitterness around this show this past year that makes it work to listen to. Hopefully 2004 will pull these guys back to their usual A+ shows..... Evenings: "Attitude" radio, from rock to hip-hop stations, the evening DJ's are "too cool" to care about what theyre playing or whos listening, if they don't care, why should we?..... Overall : Shaw's Jewellers commercials. These spots were so horribly mismanaged I will personally never step foot in a Shaw's for as long as I live. Since late October these commercials played in super tight rotations on most major local stations. For a week I actually logged how many times between 10 AM and 10 PM JFK played this spot, it irritated me THAT much. The daily average was about 38 times every 12 hours, meaning an estimated 380 times the SAME spot was played per week for 3 months. Hands down the WORST thing about DC radio overall in 2003 whatsoever..... Weekends: Programming in general. Stations don't seem to care about weekend listeners at all, there is so much pre-recorded or computerized weekend programming, it shows that the stations don't much care from friday to monday. Oh, and the Phenoms on WJFK. I'd prefer to hear the Shaw's Jewellers commercial for 2 hours than these no-personality Junkies-wanna-bes. Can we possibly get MORE radio shows where the least interesting people Southern Maryland has to offer can express their thoughts via highly nasal MD accents in droning monotones? Please, can we, can we!!? Phenoms, absolute worst weekends for 2003.
Best Morning show...Richard and Mike on WTOP....Best afternoon Radio show Tom Kelly on WBIG..nightime it's Goldy on WBIG. Best TV news team, Jim Doreen, George and Bob on WRC..Best Sports on TV Rene Knott, WJLA...Best play by play, Johnny Holliday.......Best traffic reporter on Radio, Bob Marburg WTOP....Best Sports Radio talk show host, Tony Kornheiser, WTEM
Worst Morning show , Andy and Grandy , WMAL......weakest anchor team on Television, any of them from Channel 5....worst Weather on TV, Topper Shutt WUSA Worst Sports on radio, Larry Michael and Andy Polin (now that would be some team) Weakest traffic on Radio, Lisa Baden WTOP
Best TV News: WRC. Good people. Good stories, but WJLA is catching up. Can somebody help Doreen with her wardrobe!..... Worst TV News: WTTG If it bleeds it leads. Come on guys get something else. You are wasting some good reporters..... Best Radio: Music Big100 Great decision to update to the 70's and 80's. But can someone give Goldy some valium. I like him anyway..... Worst Radio: WMAL What a waste of a frequency. With Charlie Warren gone there's nothing to listen to except Right Wing propoganda..... Best Radio News: WTOP There is no comparison though WHUR tries sometimes. TOP get the important information on, but won't put you to sleep like some other all-newsers. (Can anyone say WINS?)..... Best Media Reviewer: DCRTV of course..... Worst Media Reviewer: The folks who post here knowing very little about how a real radio station works. And those who feel free to criticize other people without knowing the background.....
Best Television Anchor: Jim Vance (hands down)..... Best Sports: There is none..... Best Network Anchor: Peter Jennings. Best Reporter: Nancy Wiener..... Worst TV Anchor: Whoever is on 7..... Worst Reporter: Pat Collins..... Best Radio, mornings: Donnie Simpson, Andy and Fred, David Burd (Saturdays), Mark & Allie, Moss and Day..... Best Announcers: Dave Brown (WTOP). Cerf WARW. Sam Donaldson WMAL. Tom Kelly (Big 100). Eddie G. (RIP), Goldie (WBIG)...... Worst Announcers: Gary and Jess (BIG 100). Sean Hannidy WMAL, The Black Eagle.....
Best News: WTOP and Channel 4. However, Channel 7 is getting better every day..... Worst News: WMAL and Channel 5. WAMU and WETA Radio don't do much locally to match the good news programming they both carry (at the same damn time !) from NPR..... When it comes to News, Clear Channel is horrible (except for Ira)..... Best Music: WBIG (but please bring back 50's and early 60's music). Getting better: 104..... Worst music: Mix. Please, it is time for Jack Diamond to retire. Throw him a big party..... Best classical: 103.5. No contest..... Worst classical: WETA..... Best Sports: Dave Johnson on radio, Dave Feldman on TV..... Worst Sports: George Michaels. Another past due retirement party !.... Best new radio team: Ron and Fez..... Worst radio team: Don and Mike. We should have a lot of retirement parties in 2004..... Best radio management: Bonneville..... Worst radio management: Clear Channel..... Best website: wtopnews.com.... Worst website: Actually, I'm not gonna knock anybody who at least makes the effort.....
Happy New Year to all !
Best News Anchor: Jim Vance, Doreen Gentzler, Laura Evans..... Worst News Anchor: Derik McGinty, Barbara Harrison..... Best Weather: Doug Hill, Steve Rudin, Hillary Howard..... Worst Weather: Gwen Tolbart, Marlon McGee..... Best Sports: George Michael..... Worst Sports: Glenn Harris..... Best Reporters: Pat Collins, Kevin Schultz, Gary Reels..... Worst Reporters: Wisdom Martin, Doug Buchanan..... Worst Clothing: Pat Lawson-Muse, JC Hayward, Gwen Tolbart, Lark McCarthy..... Best Dressed: Rene Knott, Gordon Peterson..... Worst Facial Hair: Leon Harris (shave the pimp stache!)..... Best Looking: Allison Starling, Steve Rudin, Eun Yang, Peggy Fox, Kevin Schultz, Steve Chenevy, Laura Evans..... Worst Looking: No names, only Michael Jackson can help his true looks..... Most obnoxious and irritating in the field: Will Thomas, Matt Brock..... Best Station Management: WRC.....
The Best: Radio Morning Show: Elliott in the Morning..... Morning Television News: ABC 7 – WRC gets the ratings but WJLA is quickly assembling a news powerhouse!..... Best National Television News Mornings: Good Morning America – The Today Show needs an overhaul as Katie Couric has become too opinionated and Matt Lauer has a hair problem..... Best Radio News: WTOP – when news is breaking you can go straight to the source. I can’t stand their commercial with Lisa Baden though!..... Best Show that does not have the ratings: Ron and Fez! These guys need to take over the Don and Mike time slot. I love their 11am to noon time slot and can’t wait for Don and Mike’s show to end so I can listen to these true radio talents at 7:00pm weekdays...... Best Cable TV AD on Prince William “Regional Retailer” on Comcast 3: Dixie Bones Barbeque – the owners name is Nelson Head and he has a deep southern drawl and you wonder if the guy has slaves working for him in the back kitchen. Weird local commercial ad..... Best Weather Person & team: Doug Hill. This guy likes to hype big storms but you have to like him because he has all of the gadgets and is passionate about his job. The rest of the 7 team is top notch…even Brian Vandergrath..... Best looking news woman in DC: Alison Starling. She will be recognized nationally within two years. Great beat reporter and very attractive as well. She needs more camera time..... Best Drive Time Radio Show: WTOP News team..... Best Late Night Radio: Rona and Fez evening radio show- WJFK..... Best News Anchor: Joe Krebs ( too bad he has to sit next to mumble mouth every morning – Babs “How does my hair look Harrison..... Best Sportscaster: Renee Knott – and 7 is going to replace him with Tim Brant?!?!?!.... Best News Set: WUSA Tonight..... Best News Offices: WJLA 7: Their news offices in Crystal City show that they are going to become the new news powerhouse in DC/MD and VA!..... Best Old Time Radio Persona: Big Don O’Brien.....
Worst: Radio Morning Show: Jack Diamond: I’m so sick of hearing his sincere thoughts on everything from kids to marriage. How many times has this guy divorced? Hypocrite!..... Morning Television News: WRC – Babs Harrison needs to go! Keep her on Wednesday’s Child but rid her of her on-air pain as soon as possible..... Worst Sportscaster: George Michael (he is old and so are his Sports Machine graphics..... Worst News Set: News Channel 8 – very cheap and can’t be taken seriously..... Worst Old Time Radio Persona: Chris Core.....
The BEST has to be WTOP. It's an all too often used description but these are "turbulent times" and WTOP's brand of news and information helps to keep area listeners in the know. The stories have not only the info we need (what it means to me!) , be it about storms or terrorism, and it's done with a balance of seriousness and levity, where levity is proper. Listen to other all-newsers in other cities.. and one gets the constant drone of a bad air conditioning motor in a cheap hotel room. WTOP is none of that. There is the human side as well as the "utility" side where one knows the folks who work there will be there when one needs them. Oh, and management, did I mention Bonneville seems to be a company that cares not only about the bottom line (They are in the business to make a profit. No crime in that) but they also seem to care about the people who work for them and believe in community service. The latter is something some of the other group behemoths seemingly do not care about anymore. It gives me the feeling, as a throwback, that they actually believe that to hold a license one has to ACTUALLY SERVE THE PUBLIC INTEREST. The old Metromedia stations used to operate that way. Bonneville is now carrying the baton. Refreshing ain't it? Class Act.
The WORST... Those "big guys" Like Clear Channel and Infinity. Pick a format du jour.. Doesn't matter. Just bring in the bucks.. send it to corporate and don't reinvest in the product or the people. Stock is off a fraction, analysts are balking, soooo immediately change format and layoff a couple of thousand folks to cut expenses.. the stock will then go up. It's like the line in the deli.... Take a number. "Pound of cream cheese, what else." "Next!"
The Best: Ron & Fez, Don & Mike (Robbay and Buzz) , FM 103.5 for the only serious classical music outlet without leftist drivel, FM 105.9 for Saturday Night Star-Streams and Sunday Night Brazilian Jazz, WMAL for morning drive/traffic/weather, WTOP for weather updates. Nothing for TV: compared to NYC (my original home of record), what a never-ending spew of no-talent drivel.
The Worst: local FM morning hosts (w/exception of 105.9, 103.5 and sometimes WTOP); local television news teams (none worth the energy to change the channel), Howard Stern (long since jumped the shark), 97.1 (please, repeat the same vanilla bland songs over and over again until I find just the right way to kill myself), 97.9 (some more unknown and talentless hair bands, please?), 99.1 (any tighter a playlist and we'd all contract gangrene), 99.5 (who thought Urban could become boring in such a short time?) and 101.1 (programming for the lowest common denominator can indeed be fun and prifitable), the politically correct elitists at NPR (no you're not funny anymore, Mr. Keillor, just a nasty old crank), and the oily sense of entitlement and superiority that DC bureaucrats exhibit every time they're interviewed over yet one more incompetent screw-up afflicting the District.
Best gig in local radio: WTOP Man About Town Bob Madigan. How do I get a job like that ?!!? Best gig in local TV: Arch Campbell. Best news: WTOP in radio, no contest. On TV it has to be Channel 4 for now but ABC 7 is improving.
Worst local radio news: Clear Channel. Aren't they embarassed about how little news they do in DC ?!? Worst local TV news: WTTG. Worst sports play by play on radio: the Redskins on JFK with a commercial every ten seconds.
Best radio news: WTOP for letting me know what was happening when my power went out after Isabel. Best new TV anchor: Lean Harris. Best weather both radio and TV: Doug Hill..... Best radio program director in any format: Jim Farley. Best coverage of DC radio & TV: dcrtv. Second best Chris Baker.....
Worst radio news: WAMU. What the hell does the local news staff do all day ? WAMU runs nothing but one NPR program after another. Worst TV News: Fox 5. Worst new radio morning guy: Fred Grandy. Worst coverage of local TV and radio: Washington Post.
From John in Georgetown:
Best Morning News: WJLA. The competition has Barbara Harrison, so they win by default. McCarren does an excellent job..... Worst Morning News: WUSA. Mike Walters is no Mike Buchanan..... Best Late News: NBC 4. They're getting older and with all the changes in the market, how long can they keep it together?..... Worst: Fox 5. Other than Sue Palka, there is nothing but shrill hype..... Best Anchors: Jim Vance, Andrea McCarren, Tracey Neale.... Most Overrated: Doreen Gentzler, Derek McGinty..... Worst Anchors: JC Hayward, Barbara Harrison, Mike Walter..... Most Underrated: Doug McKelway, Gurvir Dhindsa..... Best Weather: Sue Palka..... Worst Weather: Steve Rudin, Brian Van de Graff..... Best Sports: George's time is about up, but 4 is the only station in town committed to sports coverage...... Worst Sports: What 7 did to Rene and 9's shuffling of sports guys, it's a tie..... Best Reporters: Eun Yang, Stacey Cohan, Gary Reals, Doug McElway, Pat Collins, Dave Statter..... Worst Reporters: Fox 5..... Best Rock/Alternative Radio: There aren't any.... Worst: WHFS. What happened to alternative radio and 'B' playlists?..... Best News Radio: WTOP
Beth in Solomons
Best: Ron & Fez make me laugh and actually show my teeth when I am driving in the car alone. They are actually funny without being quite as low-brow as Don & Mike and that idiot Howard Stern. Brett Haber gets a bad rap, but I liked him at Fox5, and I still do on 104! However, his partner Erin has a laugh that will peel paint (maybe she should team up with Eliot for a real laugh-fest). Can you say "hyena?"
Worst: The doom and gloom of Fox 5 news. EVERYTHING is a crisis. We're all lucky to have survived the day according to their 10 o'clock newscast. And Boo to channel 9 for losing Mike Buchanan. The world is deadly serious as is it...we need some levity. We'll miss you, Mike!
Best: Ed Walker. WAMU has not yet figured out a way to screw up Ed's Sunday night radio show..... Stephen Hunter doing movie reviews on Tony K's Friday program. Dennis Owen... even working part time and weekends he is still one of the best..... Stacy Bien...get well...you are one of the best.
Worst: WASH. Not for playing Christmas music for six weeks, but for playing awful Christmas for six weeks. Speaking of Christmas...How come all these stations want to play Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennet, Ella Fitzgerald, Steve and Edie, Nat King Cole signing Christmas music for four weeks a year and not one station will play music from Frank, Tony and Ella for the rest of the year. Wake up there is some AM station out there that could make actually draw listeners. The NY Times and WSAI killed American Standards we could listen to on the road at night, Now WWLG is now semi-automated playing 70-percent crap from the 70s..... Chris Core. Chris used to be funny with Bill and Andy in the afternoons. Chris used to prepare for shows, do cross country bus trips and interview interesting guests. Now Chris goes to the phones. Chris who do you think gives a rat's ass about what Shirley in Falls Church thinks about a local or national issue? Not me...that's why I now travel with CDs in the car. Time to get a job doing something worthwhile. Goody bye WMAL..... WTEM. For similcasting two hours of the Jim Rome Show. Any program where you have to know a special code to have a clue about what people are talking about does not belong on the air. WTEM for carrying FOX Radio sports instead of ESPN Radio every night..... WJLA. You can hire all the big names you want, but nobody is going to watch until you actually go out and cover local news..... Mark Plotkin...after a while we all get sick and tired of rude loud mouths. Just look at Father John's ratings and how his group from the good years has disappeared. Rush is finally headed in the same direction..... WTTG. It used to be when Big-Mike or Little-Pat were on a story someone was freshly murdered or a pol had just been indicted. Now every story on WTTG is done in Mike and Pat style. It's a little lame folks..... WASH. The guy doing the night time soft talk...he is beginning to make me think he is channeling Fred Rogers back at Baby Boomers.... WJZY or whatever their call letters are...news flash the Dave Brubeck Quartet has recorded many different songs. "Take Five" isn't the only one available.
Bests: WWLG. How this station stays in business I haven't a clue. But, dang, it's nice to have an AM preset that does something besides news or sports..... WTMD. It's a happy day when the ionosphere cooperates and I can pick up this great station on the car stereo. Otherwise, it's a great listen on streaming audio. C'mon WGTS and get a clue: No one listens to your station, pick up programming like this (or, broadcast the WTMD signal on 91.9) and watch those station donations fly in..... Clear Channel's RDS. About time. Now, if only the CC stations would play something worth knowing artist and title of..... WAMU's Hot Jazz Saturday Night and Eddie Stubbs Show. Most cities have a couple shows like Hot Jazz. We have just the one. Not many cities have a treasure like Eddie Stubbs. Thank goodness both of these gems are here -- not an insignificant accomplishment given the vast wasteland that is the rest of WAMU's schedule..... WFLS. One of the last locally owned, non-religious stations you can hear in the DC area. It's not 'FLS's fault today's country music isn't better. It's still fun to hear an old-fashioned, local broadcast outlet do its thing..... Ron and Fez. Compared to their drive-time lead-in, R&F have energy, humor and -- most importantly -- actually seem to spend a few minutes planning out their show. The D&M show isn't dead yet...but it is on life support..... Two indispensable web sites: DCRTV and Daily Howler (www.dailyhowler.com)
Worsts: Chris Core, WMAL. Dang, Dave, you stole one of my big complaints in your rant of last week. Chris Core constantly hawking anything he can get his cheap hands on. Maybe if Chris spent a little more time thinking about his show, and less time worrying about getting his gutters cleaned or his wife's near-sightedness fixed, his show wouldn't be so dead between the ears..... Rush Limbaugh, WMAL/WBAL/WFMD etc. 11/24: " If I were to admit I'm a hypocrite, then I'm going to be disqualified from being able to say what I think is right and wrong. I'm not going to let anybody take that away from me." I guess being a hypocrite means never saying you're a hypocrite..... MIA programming formats. Dude, where's my AAA station? Or general interest talk?..... WTOP traffic. I don't mean to join the pile of mailbag gripers that have 'TOP in their crosshairs. I generally like the on-air product, I value "traffic on the 8s." But, gosh darn it, don't seasoned traffic reporters know that it's not enough to say "there's an accident at 270 and Montrose road"? You need to say Northbound/Southbound/Eastbound or whatever..... WKCW RIP. Just what the hinterlands needed -- more Spanish language broadcasting..... WTNT. For airing hatemongers Laura Ingraham ("I want to see any movie that drives the anti-Christian entertainment elite crazy.") and Michael Savage ("You're one of the sodomites. You should only get AIDS and die, you pig."). I wonder how long talk show hosts who attack Bush with such ignorance and vitriol would stay on CC/WTNT's airwaves.
morning news anchor: lark mccarthy. her interviews are fantastic, she can cut through the bs and force a straight answer. too bad mayor barry's gone, her grillings of him were the best..... best reporters: Pat Collins, Mike Buchanan (emeritis), Wendy Rieger, Doug Mckelway, dave statter. the experienced pros still get the story, and can report complex events without stammering, confusing the issues, and doublespeak. or too much hairspray..... best talk show: kojo. What a joy to hear serious issues discussed---as opposed to the onesided discourses found on AM radio. interesting to listen to whether the guests are computer guys, or an author i've never heard about and couldn't care less about..... best radio talk: stern. still. Kornheiser & Wilbon, too.
stupidest station: wamu. don't bite the hand that feeds you. maybe everyone who wanted money back after pledging for bluegrass (pulled 2 weeks later) really did stop listening. oops! at least bluegrass was unique programming, and LOCAL.
best hidden talent: doug mckelway's banjo breaks. perhaps he could do live bumpers during slow days. even better: let him anchor.
Paul
Best Morning TV News-Andrea McCarren and Elliot Francis Channel 7, [straight, to the point and Andrea's so hot I'd tune in to watch her read the phone book.]
Worst-Channel 4 with[uhh..uh...uh..mumble...mumble...Babs Harrison. Uhh...uhh..S-S-S-Say no more! And honorable mention to Holly Morris at Fox5 for being such a hyperactive dingbat.]
Best Morning Radio relating to Pop Culture-Howard Stern, [at least he seems like he puts a little effort into his show.]
Worst-Tie between Mark Kessler [laughs at his own bad humor way too much, completely phony] and Elliot [complete low brow, bottom feeding imbecile with a horrible fake laugh]
Best Nightly TV News-Channel 4 with Jim, Doreen, George and Bob ['Nuff said]
Worst-Fox5 [Sleazy, salacious and Laura Evans has the personality of a head of cabbage]
Best All Around Rock or Pop Station-None
Worst-94.7 [Anyone with any appreciation for Classic Rock should avoid this station like a plague]
Best: Ron and Fez 11AM - Noon hour. Freshest show to hit DC in a long time.
Worst by far: Michael K. Powell, FCC Chairman
WORST: The attitude of Bratt Haber and WWZZ/WWVZ management.
BEST: Turning your FM radio off.
Best Anchor: Doug McKelway. WJLA had it better and the ratings were higher when he was with Maureen and Kathleen, even though they never promoted him on-air. Homegrown guy with many D.C. connections. Very credible, not hysterical. Would have truly had the city's only hometown team with Brant there. JLA blew it... again.
Worst Newscast: WTTG. The perfect example of how low tv news has sunk. Some nights it's almost indistinguishable from "The Daily Show with John Stewart." An unintended parody of local tv news with its silly over-hyped scare mongering to neurotic housewives. Shame on them.
This took a lot of thought, especially
BEST: Brian and O'brian re-union-Johnny Holliday doing Terp sports-Big Don O'Brian solo doing nights at WQSR-WTOP News-WCBM-Morning Talk With Sean and Frank.The coming out of Rush Limbaugh as a junky.
WORST: Don & Mike's constant bitching-Don and Mike's decline in creativity and audience respect-Tom Marr's Talk Show-Everything about sports radio in this area-the sarcasm of some of the "posters" in the DCRTV Mailbag-Most of the air staff at WBIG-Too much lousy talk on 100.7 the bay(just play the music and shut-up) Infinity/Clear Channel-Lack of real professionals in the DC/Baltimore Markets
PLB:0)
Best: WRC-TV Ch 4 news, for assembling and keeping together a fantastic group with ideal chemistry - kudos to Bob Long for keeping it all together!
Worst: the sponsored "segments" on WTOP such as the Homeland Security Update or Sensible Alternatives - you get 15 seconds of generally useless banter surrounded by 45 seconds of annoying commercial. Imagine it - done. Unisys should can that commercial right away! Has Farley sold out?
Sean Berry
BEST RADIO: Entertainment while Driving: DON and MIKE. Best News Cast: Ron and Fez from 11am to 12 pm. Sports: Tony Kornheiser. Morning Show: The Sports Junkies. Still room for improvement, but the only decent sound coming for WHFS.
Worst in Radio: WJFK’s 11am to 3pm time slot. Either put Ron and Fez in the entire slot or find a local host to air for 4 hours. 1 hour Ron and Fez, 2 Hours Bill, 1 hour Best of D&M is a horrible flow. Sports: Jim Rome – a good example for the needed use of duct tape. Any music format played by CC owned station. NASCAR Broadcast – Any channel to play the entire season? Morning Show: 104.1 Horrible and Error, 107.3 Jack Diamond. Diane Rehm : Good questions, but am I the only one who thinks she sounds like she is 105 years old, ready to kick the bucket any minute? I really wish I could withstand to listen to her entire show, but that creaky voice just sends me into road rage.
BEST TV : WRC Sunday morning Line up. Best Sports anchor : George Michaels. Best News Anchor : Gordon Peterson/Jim Vance. Best Weather Person: Topper Shutt : Just for his honesty on the D&M show about how weathermen really feel when bad weather heads our way.
Worst TV : Fox 5 News- The entire package. Channel 9 WUSA weather coverage. I did not spend hard earned cash on a giant screen TV so that you can shrink my TV shows to show a border of snow flakes to announce flurries! Fox 5 News (thought they deserved a second mention under this category.) Channel 9 WUSA sports confusion. Just leave Frank Herzog as the sports anchor. All other projects have failed in this role. At least Frank is experienced with the local sports scene. Jan Fox – just irritating in general. Pat Collins – too much drama on nothing. Arch Campbell – Will this guy ever just go away?
Doug (Annapolis)
Worst- Al Koken on WTEM (Sports Talk 980). Why won't this worn out local has-been ever stand up to 'Doc' Walker or John Thompson on any issues? 'Doc' Walker- awful..lacks general sports knowledge...Has angry attitude regarding racial issues, then later calls Native American and former Washington Caps strongman Chris Simon a 'savage on the ice'..... Traffic- WTOP- who doesn't go to them on the '8's' when traffic starts to slow?
Best- Tony Kornheiser ...especially when fellow Washington Post writers Michael Wilbon and John Feinstein appear.
First the bad - 1) WJLA for showing its "Scrooge"-ness by dumping sportscaster Rene Knott. Nothing against Tim Brant (I actually thought he was a decent sportscaster back in the day), but I thought Rene at least provided a no-nonsense sportscast. Maybe ABC 7 needed to achieve some "racial" symmetry, in that 3 of the top 4 anchors on its prime newscasts would be African-American? Sorry, for the conspiracy theory, a little of Rasheed Wallace got in me today. And a side note, I have no qualms over Leon Harris' qualifications but did we really need the "heavy" sell in those ads to announce his arrival? 2) The FCC for granting Christmas wishes to, in no particular order: Rupert Murdoch (DirecTV), Corporate America (station ownership), and the MPAA and RIAA (legislation against free downloading of media off the Internet). Mr. Powell, hope your dad recovers fine from his surgery, but you're no Colin Powell. 3) Network and local television for giving me no choice but to go look for better offerings on cable. Particularly, the rise of reality (and cheap) programming, stealing programming ideas from overseas (although we've been doing this for decades - remember 'Sanford and Son' started as 'Steptoe and Son' in the U.K. Also, the use of the informercial as a cheap but profitable way to fill empty airtime such as employed by BET and, for some odd reason on weekends, WJLA. 4) Terrestrial radio. Now that digital or "HD" Radio is here, when am I going to see some new or innovative formats for some of the old dying AM stations in the D.C. area. 5) The NFL for bullying all of us into celebrating their sport as America's new pastime. Don't get me wrong, I love football but as evidenced by the NFL using its weight to force ESPN to consider dropping "Playmakers" (or its NFL Sunday night coverage is threatened), its new cable/satellite network (threatening my cable rates and regional sports network programming) and its continuing butt-kissing to DirecTV for its Sunday Ticket distribution package, it may be getting "too big for its britches," so to speak. 6) Comcast - seriously, aren't you all big enough. You bought out AT&T Broadband, will own a sports network in Chicago, as well as D.C., Philly, and the Southeast, are considering buying other media/cable outlets -- and you're raising my rates again!! What happened to the competition we were supposed to have? We need to de-deregulate the cable industry to bring about fair rates, once and for all. 7) The weekend sports guy on 7. I don't know, he's just never impressed me. He just reminds me of all those University of Maryland fans that take every win and loss sooooo seriously!!!
Now the best: 1) Comcast SportsNet - see Jess Atkinson, Steve Davis, Rene Knott, etc. At least, there's one place sports fans can go locally to get there full-plate of sports news, other than King George on NBC4. 2) NBC-Universal - sorry to come onto the side of the "man" but the merger of Universal by NBC makes sense (re: movie, network and cable TV synergy) from today's media business portfolio (although it seems strange to me that the once great behemoth Time Warner is represented network-wise by the WB(?). Get ready for the new Battlestar Galactica reruns to get NBC airplay after first-runs on SciFi (side note: Let's hope the NBC brass have learned their lesson from 30 years ago -- remember they cancelled Original 'Star Trek'. 3) Clear Channel for finally realizing that a station was needed for Fox Sports and Jim Rome. The schizophrenic offering of ESPN and Fox on 980 went on long enough. It would also make sense for Clear Channel to sell 980 to ABC Radio, so that it can become a full ESPN outlet (although, some of simulcast local shows - Pollin/Czaban and Thompson/Koken/Walker - can remain or at least add some new 'local' radio blood such as John Feinstein or James Brown's Sporting News Radio show to fill in for the loss of Jim Rome on 980). 4) ESPN for having the guts to air Playmakers anyway. It may have distorted (and that's debatable) NFL off-the-field life but at least it was compelling. 5) Local News affiliates and WTOP during our various weather disasters this year. Yeah, they may overstate the impact of our recent wacky weather, but at least we have them when we need them (Kudos, for WTOP/Weather Channel for their coverage in giving my family peace-of-mind, when our power was out during Isabel this year). Which reminds me... 6) Battery-operated analog radio. It may be a few years before this 'HD Radio' thing makes my old radio obsolete, but it's nice to know there are some old-school technologies that can come through in a pinch during a major storm or event. Sometimes we lose sight of the simpler technologies and how efficient they really are despite the bombast for the new digital formats. Hopefully, in 20 years, I'll be saying the same about them. 7) Local morning news on FOX5 and ABC7 (and sports on SportsRise on Comcast). NBC4 and 9News without Doug just don't do it for me anymore. 8) XM Radio. Can't afford it (at least, the initial investment in the receiver and antenna) right now, don't have it in my car as of yet. But when I look at the offerings on the website and the radio ads, I am always intrigued to want to get it. 9) George Bush. I didn't vote for you. I'm not a fan of your policies but I give you your props. You said we'd get Saddam and we did. Props to our soldiers as well. As I joked to my wife and fellow Democrat, if he gets Osama, he'll be President 'for life'. 10) Web radio operators and oppressed MP3 downloaders -- not that I want to promote anarchy or destroy the U.S. economy but don't you think the recording and movie industries are rich enough? Keep that rebel spirit. Kudos to Apple for coming to the fore first with ITunes, making it easy to do (from what I read), and cheap. Notes: Welcome to D.C., the new weekend anchor on 7 (I think it's Angela). Sorry to see them go - Sumi Das on TechTV (but now MSNBC), Soledad O'Brien from Weekend Today (NBC, although there had to be some separation after her co-host's death in Iraq), Joy Pons (FOX 45 Traffic Reporter), Amy Robach on FOX 5 (to MSNBC), Doug Buchanan (nice to see you lose your top every once in awhile on 9 Morning News), Del Walters (you always gave me the impression of being pompous, but you seemed to be professional about how you handled your job -- and dismissal -- at 7).
Vaya con Dios in 2004!
Programmers: Best: WTOP..... Worst: WMAL
Music/Personality Radio: Best: WQSR..... Worst: WBIG.....
Information: Best: WTOP..... Worst: Stations doing only headlines or no news at all, especially no news after morning rush.....
Best Television News: Channel 4 (no contest). Best radio news: WTOP (no contest). Best News Television news anchor: Jim Vance Channel 4. Best radio news anchor: Bruce Alan WTOP. Best weather: Doug Hill. Best Sports: No standouts. Best Traffic reporter: Bob Marbourg WTOP. Best television reporters: Pat Collins, Dave Statter. Best Radio reporters: Dave McConnell, Chas Henry WTOP. Best looks with talent: Stacy Cohan, Alison Starling, Nancy Weiner, Wendy Reiger.
Worst Television News: Fox 5 (unwatchable). Worst Radio News: WMAL (not sure they do news anymore). Worst television anchor: Will Thomas FOX 5. Worst radio news anchor: Judlyn Lilly WTOP (bumbling delivery). Worst Sports: George Michael (breaks news, but I can't see past bungling delivery and personality) Worst traffic: WMAL all the time and WTOP on weekends.
From Lori in Damascus:
Best TV News Anchors: Debbie Jarvis (WRC); Lesli Foster (WUSA) - both are so classy; Brian Bolter (WTTG)..... Worst TV News Anchor: My perennial favorite, Barbara "Uh, Uh" Harrison on WRC..... Best TV News Reporters: Jackie Bentsen (WRC), Liz Crenshaw (WRC) - great info!; Laura Evans (WTTG)..... Worst TV News Reporters: Matt Ackland (WTTG), Pat Collins, WRC (Can they be any more melodramatic??), Holly Morris, WTTG (too perky and silly for morning news); Elisabeth "I'm so pretty" Leamy (WTTG)..... Best TV Sports/Weather: Sue Palka (WTTG); Bob Ryan (WRC); George Michael (WRC)..... Worst TV Sports/Weather: Gwen Tolbart (WTTG) and Brian van de Graaf (WJLA) - no personality; Jill "I overenunciate every word" Sorenson (WRC)..... Best Useless Story: Annual WRC Jack Russell Terrier Races. So cute!..... Worst Useless Story: Pretty Much anything Holly Morris does on Fox 5..... Special Award for Best On-Air Slip-Up: Tony Pann (WUSA) for his weather forecasting of the "Big-Ass Storm!" Worst Lighting: WUSA traffic. Are the Channel 9 traffic reporters sitting in a closet or something? They always look dark and fuzzy..... General rant: Fox 5 is the worst for repeats and overdone promos (although this is probably due to the Fox network and not really the local station)... The show was great? Let's rerun it this Friday! The show was bad? Let's rerun it this Friday! Isn't this why we have the FX network? And please stop running the same promo for 2 months in advance of a show's premiere!! The "Next Joe Millionare" commercials almost drove me to kill...
Best Weekend Host: David Burd, WMAL. Entertainment, with an edge...... Best News Room: WTOP. Hands down...... Best Talk Show Host: Diane Rehm, WAMU. On target, well prepared, incisive talk and interesting!..... Most Entertaining Morning Team: WMMJ. Often hilarious, intensely local..... Best Traffic Reporter: Bob Marburg, WTOP. Technically superior to anyone. Concise use of the language. Good reporting backed with best-guess advice..... Second Best Traffic Reporter: Lisa Baden, mixing traffic and kvetch in the AM.
Worst Weekday Host: (Tie) James Bartell-WGMS (Adenoidal and insipid personality without personality)..... Fred Grandy-WMAL (Basically bellowing, basically boring.)..... Worst Technical on-air sound: WBJC (Cheap compression in the air chain makes brings up bg noise)..... Worst PD: Randall Bloomquist: Still hasn’t a clue or vision about running a major market radio station. “Boutique news coverage” is a bad idea. It didn’t work in Charlotte and it won’t work here. What used to be the best newsroom in town under Len Diebert is long-gone..... Worst Public Radio: WAMU, since Clampitt. Copying WETA is a waste of time, money and talent. Maybe things will change now that she’s gone..... Worst Station Programming: WMAL..... Most Missed Local Morning Shows: WETA, weekdays and weekends..... Worst programming idea in radio: 10-minute stop sets at WJFK..... Most damaging event in broadcast history: The de-regulation process which began back during the Reagan administration (or earlier). This has, in effect, brought an end to local radio and handed the microphones off to conglomerates not operating in the public interest. The F-C-C used to operate under the premise that “The public owns the airwaves.” Not anymore.
From Simon on Delmarva:
HERE'S THE BEST AND WORST OF DELMARVA RADIO IN 2003...
BEST: Michael Popovec's coverage of the market and his passion towards the biz; Clear Channel Dumping Mancow off of 96 Rock; Sandi Alexander retiring from Q-105 mornings and CC replacing her with Kelly Carter; Brion O'Brion returning to the market on Magic 98.9 middays; 93.5 The Beach putting a live 7-midnight show back on the air with Sparks; Murph, Miki, and Cowboy's stunt where they said they were fired with hundreds of listener's complaining; Davy D returning to the market as PD and midday host of Lite Rock and afternoons on B-101.7/95.3; Sportstalk 960 carrying the Orioles after years of them being out of the market and picking up Jim Rome; X-106.9 getting a new voice-guy and going with an almost full-blown alternative format; OC-104 changing it's slogan from "Your Music Now" to "Number 1 for Hip Hop and R & B"; JJ "Hitman" Mckay deciding it's finally time to get back in the business; Ocean 98 WOCM always playing requests and bringing Sam Chase back to the market; 98.5 Big for finally being a full blown Classic Rock station; 101.1 WQMR being the FM home of the Terps and sports; The Wave's Jack Da Wack and Chris Mccoy; 96 Rock's Skip Dixxon and Bill Baker; Cat Country's entire staff; Q's Mike and Kelly in the morning; WOCM's Josh, Rich, Mark Mcgarry, and Sam Chase; X's BK; Dino returning as the voice of the Paddock and H2O spots; TJ Roberts still being the voice of Scandals; Traffax's coverage of local traffic; WKHZ trying to become the ALL News Station; WQMR's Ken Barnett; Redskins and Ravens on FM stations.
WORST: CC replacing Mancow with the equally worse Elliott in the Morning; No one having any guts to put Howard Stern on in the market; Angel leaving Magiv 98.9, and Brion O'Brion doing an afternoon show during middays with Kenny Love doing a midday show in the afternoon, they should switch shifts; Magic 98.9 still never having anyone on the air after 8pm in it's 4 year history; Lite Rock sounding too much like Q-105 with musical chairs in the morning; B-101.7 going more towards a Hot AC and firing longtime afternoon jock Ceri Jones; The Wave firing it's PD and longtime mainstay JT Cruise and not replacing him in the afternoon with anyone live; WOCM being at Seacrets and not using it to it's advantage and playing the worst mix of music, no morning show, and also not utilizing JJ Mckay at all; 96 Rock being too scared to be a full blown Alternative station and still playing Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, etc; Both Q-105 and Lite Rock going All-Christmas; Still no station willing to compete with OC-104; Radio Legend Alexander Piela leaving the market after almost 8 years of giving traffic reports; No one hiring Captian Jim Whittemore; The Wave's Kemosabi Joe (worst morning show in market) and Jon Wilson (he doesn't fit the format, sounds much better on Froggy); 96 Rock's Paula Sangeleer (she puts no effort into her night show, but she does sound good on Q-105 in the afternoon) and Reeves; X-106.9 not taking the opportunity to get Mancow and keeping Glassman in the morning; Q-105's Doug Welldon (on air jokes were funny 20 years ago) and Jon Gunning; WZBH's Aaron the Dark Overlord (can you say BBW Jr?); B's Jeff Farrow and Wayne (Ashly); Magic's Kenny Love (Move him back to Q-105 where he was good); Sportstalk 960 carrying the Redskins when sister station 96 Rock already airs the games; Voicetracking, Voicetracking, Voicetracking.
For broad range appeal and dependable, visionary entertainment the following DC personalities lead the list, certainly heads above the rest: Gordon Peterson (Glen Brennar...) Sue Palka, James Bartell, YDB, Howard Stern, Moss and Day, Demitris Desoto, David Burd, Liza Badan, Tony Kornheiser, Johnny Holiday, John Riggins, Russ Par, the late Eddie Gallaher.
Steadfast disappointments: any entertainment media Clear Channel, or Zier has a hand in managing or staffing. WTOp for usuing maintenance staff to do their ads -- Lisssssa, sssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssomeh, grable, garble, chew those words, woman! 101 for permanently displacing their former, eternal cool. WARW for never establishing the above. Donnie you've gone beyond your time... Cerfs out!!!
Greg Wyshynski, SportsFanMagazine.com
Best Thing To Happen To Washington Since The Metro: Ron and Fez. Great chemistry, fresh material. Even the supporting cast makes me laugh. What radio should be: a community..... Best Political Radio Host: Uh…hmmm…does Howard Stern count? I think the best political radio was Rush trying to explain why his prior views on drug abuse aren’t hypocritical. You could smell the flop sweat..... Best Morning Radio: The Sports Junkies. Stern has rallied nicely, Elliot has gone downhill. The Junks have found a nice groove, especially when they do the game show bits or that “hit or miss” segment with the new songs. But while they’re funny, the various hangers-on aren’t..... Best PM Drive: Don and Mike by default. I don’t care about contract talk or the Ravens. Where the hell is Mike the TV Boy?
Worst Political Radio Host: Sean Hannity, WMAL. Now, to be fair, I loved Sean in New York before syndication. He was a pitbull, attacking some really interesting issues from all sides. Now, along with being a boring mouthpiece for both the Republican Party and FOX News, his show has turned into this unentertaining mess. It’s like a daily contest to see how many stay-at-home moms can call up and beg for crappy county concert tickets. I’d rather listen to Colmes..... Worst Morning Radio: Haber and Erin, or as they’re more commonly known, Suck and Suck. I’d rather listen to that Barenaked Ladies song about the monkeys for three hours straight...... Worst PM Drive: I’ll have to give it to Paul Berry, because the show should just be a lot better than it is.....
The SportsTalk 980 Review: Mike and Mike in the Morning (Grade C+): Good guests, nice topics, no callers, bad hosts..... Tony Bruno (Grade D+) Oh great… Pat O’Brien’s on again. West Coast radio really plays well in DC. Look at the longevity of the Rick Dees show..... Tony K. (Grade B): Still a nice mid-morning listen, but the guest list should increase beyond the regulars..... Jim Rome (Grade B+): Still the best interviewer, still the best guest list, still lets too many callers with the comic timing of Janet Reno have three minutes of air time..... John Thompson (Grade D): It’s easy to knock JT for his grammar, radio voice or lack of sports insight beyond basketball. So I won’t..... The Sports Reporters (Grade D+): Czaben saves the show. He’s funny, has a unique perspective, and cuts through a lot of the politics in the local sports scene. The only guy on the station that makes me laugh. Andy Pollin (who does a hell of a job getting Tony coffee in the morning), on the other hand, is about as funny as a dead puppy. The way he insults sports that don’t use a football is sickening. Hockey fans? Sure, we carry the games, but you don’t actually want to TALK about the sport, right? But he’s a hell of a program director…all long as that gospel station doesn’t find a few more listeners..... One last thing on WTEM: Bram Weinstein is a breath of fresh air who should get a shot somewhere in drive-time, not just as a Redskins beat guy.
Dream Anchor Teams: (Best)..... 6 and 11: Jim Vance, Dorreen Gentzler, Doug Hill, George Michaels..... Noon and 5: Wendy Reiger, Tracey Neale, Steve Rudin, Rene Knott..... Morning: Eun Yang, Joe Krebs, Alexandra Steel.....
Nightmare Anchor Teams: (Worst)..... 6 and 11: Elliott Francis, Barbara Harrison, Gwen Tolbert, Frank Herzog..... Noon and 5: JC Hayward, Barbara Harrison, Topper Shutt..... Morning: Elliott Francis, Derek McGinty, Hillary Howard.....
From Peter B. in Gaithersburg
Best: 104.3FM format change to Smooth Jazz. While Smooth Jazz wouldn't be my first choice, at least station management had the guts to try a format going un-served in Baltimore..... Best: Andy and Grandy on WMAL in the mornings. It's a lot better than the previous 3-way morning cock fight..... Best: Ron and Fez. They are definitely growing on me..... Best: WTOP on 820AM. It surprised me how useful that signal is when traveling in upper Montgomery, Frederick and Washington Counties, especially at night..... Best: DCRTV (of course).
Worst: BREAKING NEWS - the moniker is both overused and abused by just about everyone on TV and radio..... Worst: Chris Core. His latest incarnation (red meat talk) makes him sound very whinny and quite tough to listen to. The talking head format of a few months ago worked better..... Worst: Sensationalizing weather on the news (e.g., FOX 5 Storm Patrol). If we treated the weather like adults (without the hype), perhaps people would behave appropriately and drive like adults. This critique certainly doesn't apply when life-threatening conditions, like tornado and flood warnings, are present..... Worst: WAMU's financial and management mess. It's certainly cast doubt on how listener and corporate donations are utilized. The recent Post article made clear there's plenty of blame to go around. But how is AU going to quickly right the ship?..... Worst: Sound effects linked to visual graphic changes/transitions. This started with FOX's NFL coverage, but has spread to many sport telecasts and some news outlets. I really don't need my TV to behave like a video game.
Happy holidays to all!!!
Carl, Alexandria, VA
Best News Organization - WRC NBC 4 & WTOP Radio..... Best Newscast - WRC NBC 4 @ 5 p.m. & 6 p.m...... Worst Newscast - WJLA ABC 7 @ 5 a.m. & 6 a.m..... Most Overrated Newscast - WUSA 9 News @ 6 p.m..... Most Needed Change - Bring Mike and Andrea back to the evening anchor desk.... Where I Turn In Emergencies - WTOP.... Best Anchorman - Jim Vance (4)..... Worst Anchorman - Elliot Francis (7)..... Sleekest Anchorman - Brian Bolter (5) & Will Thomas (5)..... Honorable Mention (Best) Anchorman - Jim Handley (4), Joe Krebbs (4), MIl Arcega (4), and James Adams (4).... Worst Loss - Mike Buchanan (9)..... Most Likeable (former) Anchorman - Mike Buchanan (9)..... Least Likeable Anchorman - Elliot Francis (7).... Best Anchorwoman - Doreen Gentzler (4)..... Worst Anchorwoman - Girvir Dhindsa (9).... Sleekest Anchorwoman - Wendy Reiger (4) & Tracey Neale (5)..... Honorable Mention (Best) Anchorwoman - Leslie Foster (9) & Andrea Roane (9).... Most Likeable Anchorwoman - JC Hayward (9)..... Least Likeable Anchorwoman - Ghirvir Dhindsa (9).... Best Weather Anchor - Topper Shutt (9).... Best Weather Team -9News..... Worst Weather Anchor - Gwen Tolbert (5)..... Worst Weather Team - ABC7 & Newschannel 8..... Sleekest Weather Anchor - Dave Zahren (7/8)..... Honorable Mention (Best) Weather - Tom Kierein (4), Tom Sader (5), Steve Rudin (5), Doug Hill (7) and Howard Bernstein (9)..... Happiest Loss - Chikage Windler (4)..... Least Likeable Weather - Gwen Tolbert (5)..... Competent but Overrated - Bob Ryan (4)..... Where I Turn In Weather Emergencies - 9News..... Best Sports Anchor - George Michael (4)..... Sleekest Sports Anchor - Rene Knott (7)..... Worst Loss - Jess Atkinson (9)..... Best News Reporter - Pat Collins (4) & Bruce Johnson (9)..... Best New (addition) Reporter - Doug Buchanan (9) & Darcy Spencer (4)..... Least Likeable Reporter - Tom Sherwood (4)..... Best News Set - WUSA 9News..... Worst News Set - WRC NBC 4 & WJLA ABC 7..... Best News Graphics - Fox 5..... Best Camerawork - WTTG Fox 5..... Best Radar - WJLA ABC 7..... Worst Radar - WTTG Fox 5..... Worst Abuse of Live Reports - NBC 4..... Most Tabloid - Fox 5..... Worst Website - Fox 5..... Best Public Affairs Show - Inside Washington..... Best Sunday Morning Show - Meet The Press & Tim Russert
Best: Overall news: WRC-TV--it's their consistency that makes them #1 Weather: Doug Hill Radio: WTOP Reporter: Eun Yang, Gail Pennybacker, Brad Bell, Laura Evans Anchor Team: Doreen, Jim, George--you can tell they like each other and talk outside of the newsroom Producing: WTTG Fox 5
Worst: News: ABC-7--consistently bad Weather: Brian va de Graaf--get to the point! Radio: HOT 99.5's Morning Mess Anchor: Barbara Harrison, Elliott Francis, Gurvir Dhindsa Reporter: Holly Morris, Mary Alice Salinas, Will Thomas Anchor Team: Andrea McCarren and Elliot Francis--no chemistry Anchor: Derek McGinty--ugh!
EP at Fort Belvoir--
Best radio--Don and Mike (still far better than anyone else going into their 19th year together), Ron and Fez, and the Junkies. Best Don&Mike LBJ--Mike doing a LMFAO duel between Bob Dole and Bill Clitton in March, their last show prior to their Spring Break. Best new syndication deal--Don&Mike (helloooo Des Moines!). Best news in DC, radio or TV--Buzz Burbank's news and comments. Best Weekend Infomercial--Robbay's show, when it was two hours long (yes us mooks will listen to an infomercial because hey, Robbay is on!). Best DJ'ing--Don Geronimo talking up records during the 2-3 pm hour AND when coming out of break. It never gets old. Honorable mention--Slow Joe talking up Stones records and Robbay talkin' up records on the weekend. Best radio commercial--John Goodman 'more cash in your khaki pants *fart*' for Red Roof Inns. Honorable Mention--any commercial in which Don can insert the 'JOE' sound drop multiple times. Best impersonation of a politician--Mike O'Meara doing Ahnold Schwarzenegger all year long (thank you Collie-fornya!). Best potential new business venture--Mike's 'Reach-around' Cafe. Best radio interview--Big Don O'Brien on Don and Mike. Hottest DC TV news personality--Tracy Neale. Honorable Mention--Wilma Thomas. Best crank yanker--the Belcher for finding 'Hugh Hamilton' and every other show with the stupidity to do live radio with NO delay--classic. Honorable Mention--East Coast Bob calling Michael Savage on MSNBC and getting that wonderful volcanic eruption from Savage over a ''you have bad teeth'' comment. Best all news--Fox News for all 'flashiness' and the hottest babes by far.
WORST: Worst radio programming--WJFK inserting political talker O'Reilly into their mix (''wanna get high?''). Damn, when is that contract finally up! Worst news coverage--all the TV stations who hype up every potential snowfall. Let's see, it's Winter in the mid-Atlantic, and it may snow....and THAT'S NEWS? Worst move on changing station voices--WJFK replacing the best voice in the biz with that douche Zeus-yuck! Worst radio in general--every music station that plays preformatted, preprogrammed junk with either a board op or a DJ who isn't allowed to talk more than 10 seconds. Here's another guy who loves classic rock but doesn't listen to radio to get his classic rock music fix. Idiots. Most annoying radio personality--hands down, it's Elliot. Worst format--AH. Call it All-Holiday or insert your own appropriate words. Way to RUIN our holiday spirit. Worst all-news TV--CNN. Boring, predictable, old...just go away. Get some hotties and flashy special effects like Fox News and maybe, just maybe. naw.
Best: XM Satellite Radio (80's, 90's, XMU, Fred, Fine Tuning, BBC-WS; it all good!!) WWLG 1370 and WCBM 680 increasing power!! WTMD 89.7 flipping to AAA
Worst: Terrestrial Radio (especially cookie-cutter FM, some leniency on AM) AAA formatted 810 WYRE going spanish Classic country 1420 going ethnic
John:
Best: Radio News Operation: WTOP. The only ones doing it better is KNX. On a scale of 1-10 with KNX as a 10, WTOP is a 0.025.Jim Farley would do well to analyze a KNX broadcast week, all 168 hours. Apply the lessons and WTOP would become a great radio station! Worst News Operation (That purports to have one): WMAL I disagree with DVV Dave. WMAL is so bad that associating with Republicans is insulting... To Republicans! Best Local TV News: WUSA Worst Local TV News: WTTG Best Oldies Station: WARX Worst Oldies Station: WBIG (Close second: WQSR, but poor signal west of the 267/495 interchange!) Best Radio Imporvement Opportunity Waiting to Happen: 104.1/103.9 C'mon Bonneville! Show the world that full-service broadcasting can be profitable! Worst waste of a good signal: WBIG (If they punched Plate Off, would anybody notice? Would anybody care?) Best traffic reporter: Tie: Lisa Baden and Bob Marbourg of Metro and WTOP respectively. Best Source of Traffic News: VDOT! Their policy of prolonging traffic tie-ups wherever possible costs Virginia productivity, jobs, and clean air. But gives Lisa and Bob lots to talk about! Best Spot(s) Ever: Normandie Farm, Alfio's La Trattoria, or any restaurant live copy spot Eddie Galliher did. (God rest your soul, Eddie. Tell Felix howdy!) Worst spot ever: Fedcenter.com Thank God that sucker has fallen and will never get up! Best TV Technical Idea: 1080i DTV. Worst TV Technical Idea: Running 480p and calling it "EDTV". The only "ED" I see in it has a "Mister" in front and was turned into dog food ages ago! Best TV Weatherperson: Doug (of Doom) Hill on WJLA. Close second: Sue Palka on WTTG. Worst TV Weatherperson: Topper Shutt on WUSA. He was bad on WFMY. And, he's terrible on WUSA. He still has those dark shadows under his eyes! Jim Gandy needs to leave WLTX and look at what the competition is doing here, then look nationally, and then make Nine's weather match the rest of the news. There's a lot of rust there! Topper also gets the "All-time Waste of Technology Award"! Back in 1994, my wife and I were touring Europe and at 1400 one afternoon in Wien, we caught the 0800 EDT feed of what was then "CBS This Morning" on Sky TV from the U.K. While I'm in the bathroom taking a shower, whose voice do I hear, but Topper Shutt, "Live from the WUSA-TV Weather Terrace in Washington, D.C."... It almost made me retch! Several days later, on NBC Europe, we caught a cut-in from Willard Scott at Riverbanks Zoo in Columbia where he did a big thanks to the technical folks at WIS-10. Nice to see a class act get exported. Worst Departure: Eddie Galliher's passing. Best Arrival: Leon Harris at WJLA. Absolute Worst Person in the Business: Rupert Murdoch. His obsession with world power borders on meglomania. Unfortunately, he's also unstoppable. He even makes Michael Eisner (ABC/Disney) look reasonable. The best thing I can say about Rupert Murdoch is that he's conquered the would without nuclear weapons. He used something more insidious. Cash. Best Group Owner: CBS -But, only if they drop that "CBS/Infinity" BS and realize that it's "CBS"! Close second, ABC/Disney, if they sell the chain! Worst Group Owner: No contest here: Clear Channel. Citadel doesn't even come close. Citadel has done more damage to radio broadcasting than Delco! Best Radio TV Website: DCRTV! Close second: WVWA.com (The "Nine" Website.) Worst: WTTG-5 Second Most Anticipated Format Change: When NIST LMA's WWV to Clear Channel. There's already a website "preview" of "All time, all the time, WWV"!
Gary in Springfield
Best show in DC- Ron and Fez (11am & 7pm), for those of you who have not given them a try you are missing out. Turn the dial to "the best show in tooowwnnnnn". Ron and Fez are two of the nicest guys in the business, if you get a chance come out to a live gig and see for yourself. Hopefully they will kick Leykis off of 105.7 and give Ron and Fez the night time spot. Best sports show - WTEM Sports reporters and JT the brick. Thank you to WARW for finally playing Elvis Costello and REM it is about time the mix up the playlist. Tony, Mark, and Cerphe do a great job and I know they would love to play other tunes. Best website DCRTV thanks Dave for keeping us updated on local radio and tv info.
Scott - From my perch in Annapolis...best/worst of 2003:
Best: WTOP (you lucky VA folks get to hear 'TOP on FM) - Newsfotainment in the morning. Great reporters and great interaction. A lot of all-newsers are really dull and forgetable, not WTOP. 98 Rock - They are letting their jocks deliver a personality driven music intensive show (KML & the Night Show especially). A fun station to listen to, even if the music is not always to my liking. John Ballard / DC101 - Ballard is just funny enough, not too chatty, and informative. My pick drive time every day. WTMD-89.7 - AAA format with no commercials! I only wish that they put a stronger signal into the Annapolis area.
Worst (the long list): WYRE-810 in Annapolis flipping from a cool eclectic format to Spanish. Are there that many Spanish speaking people in Annapolis? WRNR-103.1 in Annapolis playing Dave Matthews every hour and not letting their jocks have a personality. Radio Nyquil - Zzzzzzzzz..... Junkies on WHFS - Blah blah blah Redskins, blah blah blah my kid, blah blah blah "silly"..... Their choice of dorky words like "donkey", "silly" and "money" is annoying. I tried to like these guys. Don & Mike - They just aren't funny. WOL & WOLB - Appalling is all that I can come up with. Hate radio and then some. WSMJ-104.3 - Sleepy 'love makin' jazz. As a jazz fan, I really dislike "Smooth Jazz". It's not jazz. Smooth Jazz has more in common with A.C. than jazz....Celine Dion with horns. WZBA-100.7 - The same outplayed junk. It's "B104.3" with bad jocks. Does anyone really want to hear "Money" or "Fool for the City" on a daily basis? Very amateurish and it's really easy to tell when it's voice tracked (which is often). Voice Tracking (speaking of) - Over the Summer, on a rainy day, I heard a jock on WCEI (96.7) talking about "What a nice day it was and to take advantage of being outside..." I was in Easton when I heard that too. What a bad station as well - but funny to listen to it's so bad. WINX / Country - Country music has become A.C. with a Christian undertone. Scary stuff. What were the folks at Empire thinking when the flipped WINX to country? There already is WAAI in Cambridge, plus WPOC and WMZQ come in good, as well as 97.5 out of Salisbury. I would have gone with a southern rock leaning classic rocker instead. Not my favorite music, but it would work in Easton/Cambridge. The only other station playing old rock is WZBA - and their signal isn't very strong there. WNUV-TV54 - The news is terrible looking - ugly graphics, poor lighting, just amature hour (ok, half-hour). "The Simpson's" airs right after the news and they often have head clogs, causing a flicker for many parts of the show, as well as static from a badly tuned satellite receiver. They must re-use 40 generation tapes as well. Everything is always washed out looking. Fox Newschannel - A total tool for the GOP. Unfair, unbalanced. NPR - Do they really need to be on more than one station in any area? Total overkill and now a lack of localism in public radio. LPFM - Radio that no one can get. It was a great idea at 1000 watts. At 100 watts it's nothing but more static on the dial. Thank the Republicans, NAB and NPR for that one. Wow, lots more to gripe about than to praise about this year.
Bob/Gaithersburg
Radio:
Best Mornings Non Music: WTOP/Richard Day..... Best Mornings Music: WARW/Mark & Allie..... Best Announcer Music Station: Goldie/oldies 100..... Best Announcers overall music/non music: David Burd/WMAL. ABC Management still doesn't have a clue as to what they have working on weekends and how many people really listen to Burd. Funniest man on the radio without being dirty. Cerf/WARW. No one can touch his act with Classic Rock. Johnny Holiday/Maryland Football. Donny Simpson/WPGC....Mr. Smooth. Al Santo/Smooth Jazz...he is to jazz what Cerf is to classic rock. Big Don O'Brien.....why? Just because.
Take them to the discount bin now please: Jack Diamond/WRQX....is this guy the Ted Baxter of radio? About as sincere as Tammy Faye Baker. Chris Core/WMAL: Should have left when his old partner did years ago. Dr. Laura/WMAL and that pill-popping hypocrite Rush L. 104's morning show of Erin and fill in the blank.
Best: WJFK's Ron and Fez! - both at 11 and 7! Now these are two guys that like their listeners, keep their material fresh, and had the talent and flexibility to move cities halfway through the year seamlessly (though I still miss some of the old crew, like Mikey D, Black Earl, and yes .. *5-letter-man* Billy Staples!) The fastest hour in radio makes the mornings go by quicker!
Worst: As much as it pains me to say this .... WJFK's Don & Mike. For the better part of two decades, I've loved these guys ... however, over the last year or so, they (Don particularly) seem to have lost a lot of their interest in doing a show, and seem to have settled into a rut of annoying listener phone calls, whining about their contract and dealings with Infinity suits (memo to Don ... arguing with Alan Leinwand for 30 minutes on the air is *not* good radio), fighting with listeners, long phone calls home to Freda that seem to serve no point other than to fill up time in between 10 minute commercial breaks, and truncating Buzz's news and comment to make up for the time wasted earlier in the show. I know they have the ability to get back on track - (the recent Buzz gets drunk show was hi-larious, and Robbay still is tops), but it may be too late.
Best of 2003: Big Don O'Brien. For someone whose been on the radio for 100 years, he's sound like he's having a BLAST. Ravens radio coverage...tight production...Scott sounds great. I don't want to sound like a WQSR commercial , but their 20 year celebration was great. 50 years of radio for Johnny Dark! MIX 107.3 sounds focused...though people bash their playlist, they are always playing a hit. WLIF Christmas music. 98 Rock and MIX 1065 production. WPOC news. Bob Haney at WNST.
Worst of 2003: Jocks who are in it to shock. So many shows are all about pushing people's buttons. What's the point of strippers on radio? We can't SEE them! I don't care if a morning show is or isn't getting laid. Be more creative. Voice tracked weekends...most are and it's killing the talent pool and that bad for the future of radio.
Best Local News: WBAL TV - Stan's back in town. What a steal! But Sarah Caldwell must be related to some high-ranking officials at TV Hill. And thanks so much for dropping Pegues off at the train station.
Worst Local News: WMAR. Why are they still open for business? Looks like they've tried to fire any reasonable talent they've had but the General Manager. That should change soon. Scottie Garceau is (as usual) the best in the business. And who are the rest of these people on their station? I couldn't pick them out of a police lineup!!!
Anna, Ashton
Best Talk Show Host: David Burd MAL, Best News Anchor Dave Brown TOP/GMS. Best Programming Move: James Bartel replacing Dennis Owens on GMS, Best Traffic: Lisa Baden, any traffic reporter who gets that much "pub" is doing something right. Best Morning: Russ Parr/KYS
Worst: Traffic reporter: arrogant Bob Marburg, Worst Reporter: Hank Silverberg and a lot of the ones with voices you can't understand on TOP. Worst Weather: TOP during the snow, saying it's not when it is. Worst exit: Buddy Riser leaving a once great station in shambles. Worst stay: Christie Banks, making a disaster of ARW even worse. Worst leadership:Bennet Zier when your top station is 99.5 something is wrong
Mike, Fairfax
Best new local TV anchor: Leon Harris (Channel 7)... Best weathercaster: Sue Palka... Best addition to roundtable show: Post political columnist Colby King (Channel 9's Inside Washington)... Gutsiest talk show host: Ron Smith (WBAL radio), a conservative who took all kinds of heat for questioning the wisdom of invading Iraq... Most fair and balanced political talk show: Sam Donaldson (WMAL)... Best local play-by-play announcer: Johnny Holiday (U. of Maryland football and hoops)... Best local TV sportscaster: Rene Knott... Best football theme TV show: Channel 4's Redskins Report; honorable mention: Channel 5's Redskins Extra with Dave Feldman and Trevor Matich... Best Redskins reporting: Rich Cook (Comcast), Bram Weinstein (WTEM)... Most entertaining Skins radio commentary: John Riggins on WTEM... Most improved TV sportscaster: Jill Sorenson (Channel 4)... Best sports radio show: ESPN Weekend Game Day with Andy Pollin and Mel Kiper, Jr.... Compelling radio essay: Tony Kornheiser's reminiscences of the JFK assassination... Best alternatives to mainstream radio music: WETA-FM's 'Traditions' with Mary Cliff, WAMU's Sunday morning bluegrass shows.
Worst local news: Channel 9 (can't seem to get it right no matter what they try)... Annoying political talk show hosts: Sean Hannity (WMAL), Don Imus (WTNT)... Worst play-by-play: Michael Reghi (Orioles TV); Biggest 'Homers' broadcasting games: Hunter and Manfra (Orioles), Tom Matte (Ravens), Steve Kolbe (Capitals), Rich Chvotkin (Hoyas)... Annoying sports radio hosts: Jim Rome, Steve Czaban (WTEM), Earl Forcey (WJFK-FM)... Most overhyped news stories: toppling of Saddam statue, Bush's Baghdad pep rally, Michael Jackson arrest, Laci and Kobe cases, northeastern power blackout, light snow flurries in DC... Most underplayed news story: failure to uncover weapons of mass destruction in Iraq (isn't that why we went to war in the first place?)... Geraldo Rivera 'Upstaging the Event You're Covering' Award: Geraldo Rivera; honorable mention: Peter Arnett... 'Full of Sound and Fury, Signifying Nothing' Award - Bill O'Reilly (Fox News/WJFK-FM), for conveniently forgetting his earlier promise to hold President Bush's feet to the fire regarding the search for WMD... Worst display of hypocrisy: Clear Channel, a company that employs right wing radio hosts who gush on and on about how we brought freedom to the Iraqi people, promoting rallies at which Dixie Chicks CDs were destroyed after one member of that music trio exercised her freedom of speech by criticizing Bush... Dumbest network decision: ESPN putting Rush Limbaugh on its NFL pregame show... Worst local personnel moves: Channel 9 dumping longtime sportscaster Ken Mease, WMAL cancelling Charlie Warren's talk show.
KEMI OLUNLOYO , ATL, GEORGIA
BEST OVERALL NEWS CAST WBAL BALTIMORE ..... RADIO NEWS AND TVNEWS..... BEST INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER: JAYNE MILLER .... BEST ANCHOR: ROD DANIELS..... BEST HEALTH REPORTER: DONNA HAMILTON..... BEST PRODUCER: JOYCE KARP..... BEST PHOTOGRAPHER: MARC DELEON..... BESTWEEKEND NEWSTEAM:LISA ROBINSON AND NOEL TUCKER..... BEST SPORTS TEAM: GERRY SNDUSKY AND SARAH..... RADIO NEWS, SCOTT WYKOFF AND ANN KRAMER (TIED)..... BEST VETERAN NEWS ANCHOR: JOHN PATTI..... BEST NEWS DIRECTOR RADIO: MARK MILLER..... SUPER DOOPER BEST RADIO PRODUCER: ANGELA JACKSON..... BEST TALK SHOW ON LOCAL RADIO: TIE: RON SMITH AND TOM MARR (WCBM)...... BEST TRAFFIC REPORTER: DETOUR DAVE SANDLER.....
THAT'S MY 2 CENTS.
Scott in Damascus
Personal 10 Best and 10 Worst of Local Media (no particular order)
10 Best: 1. WTMD (89.7)-I actually heard Elvis Costello on a radio station! Thank God someone plays a truly adult alternative format around here. 2. Andy and Grandy-They complement each other well and Fred has a quick wit. Would like more local stories and caller input, however. 3. WASH at Christmas-My dental hygienist might have a nervous breakdown since it plays in her office 9 hrs a day, but I still like it. 4. Simpsons at 11 on Fox 5-Woo Hoo! 5. Frederick/Hagerstown radio-WFRE (99.9) is fairly listenable for a country station. WAFY (103.1) throws in some 80s stuff now and then. WARX (106.9) still plays decent late 50s and early 60s songs. 6. Dr. Laura-No hate mail, please. 7. WBIG (100.3) on weekends-Sometimes they have good weekend themes. Ok, I'm starting to reach for ten good things 8. Fox 5 News at 10-Still too dramatic with their "Breaking News" and investigative reports, but I like Brian, Tracey and Sue. 9. Don & Mike-Like "The Simpsons": Not quite as fall-down funny as their early days, but it wouldn't be the same without them. 10. XM-Haven't even listened to it, but it has to be better than our current selection on the radio. Too bad it costs $.
10 Worst: 1. WHFS (99.1)(We Have Forty Songs)-And half of them are by Linkin Park, Evanescence, and Trapt. How about something with a little melody: New Pornographers, XTC, Hot Hot Heat, The Smiths. Geez, throw me a freakin' bone! 2. WARW (94.7)-Doesn't get more bland. Hey, throw in some 80's hair bands during the day. You can't go much further in the ratings. And, believe it or not, Led Zeppelin has more songs than "Rock and Roll". I hear it enough on TV commercials these days. 3. WBIG (100.3)-All Beatles, all the time! Sometimes I'll hear them twice in a half hour. You have two whole decades to work with. Expand your playlist! I'll take "Beach Baby" over the overplayed "Ain't to Proud to Beg" any day. 4. WRQX (107.3)-What is their fascination with Counting Crows, Alanis Morrisette, Hootie, and Sheryl Crow?? Aren't they all past their prime? I really think some of these stations are sleepwalking through the day. 5. Jack Diamond-If I hear one more word about Conner, I'll throw my radio out the window. 6. WZBA (100.7)-They were in my "Best of" section last year. Used to play Classic Rock that I rarely heard on the radio. Once 104.3 went limp, so did 100.7. They adopted the WARW philosophy of playing it safe and lost a listener. Great, another station that'll play Elton John and the Eagles. We certainly need that. 7. WSMJ(104.3)/WJZW(105.9)-Why in the world is the "Smooth Jazz" format popular? Someone please enlighten me, because I just don't get it. 8. Country Music-Probably not a local issue, but WMZQ and WPOC sound about as country as 50 Cent. People have shown a love for traditional country (O Brother soundtrack), but all we get it syrup from Martina McBride. You know country music is off track when they won't give Hank Williams III any airplay (or even the original and Jr.). 9. Ben and Brian-Boring. WMZQ was actually better in the morning with Murphy and Cash. 10. WIHT (99.5)-Again, probably not a local issue. If this is what kids want, more power to them. Just compare Michelle Branch, Justin, Mya, and 3 Doors Down to Michael Jackson (pre Freak Show days), Prince, U2, and Guns n' Roses. It's a no-brainer to me.
Thanks for the wonderful coverage, Dave.
Best: news: WTOP (no other station comes close); weather: Topper Shutt followed closely by Ron Riley; female anchors: Wendy Rieger and Doreen Gentzler (man they're still hot); radio anchor/interviewer: Bruce Allen; Charm City talk host: WCBM's Tom Marr; DJ: Big Don O'Brien (he's in a class by himself - somebody please clone him); WCBM's Dave Serio for his car talk show (just as knowledgeable as Pat Goss and without the attitude).
Worst: programming decision: WMAL for dropping the Mark Davis show; weather: Bob Ryan, Doug Hill and the Weather Channel forecasts on WTOP; morning radio show: all on the FM dial (not one good one in the lot, but really bad are KML on 98Rock (those guys are terrible) and WRQX (Jack Diamond - enough said); male morning anchor: Marty (hey officer, SHE propositioned ME) Bass (absolutely no class whatsoever and nose in the stratosphere); female anchor: poor Babs (I 'm in the Twilight Zone) Harrison and Susan (I know I need to lose weight and get a personality) Kidd; male anchor: Jim Vance (way past his prime and sporting a goatee is a no-no in the business now, Jim); news "specialty" person: Derek McGinty (man, he's REALLY bad ... what a voice); local sports show hosts: John Thompson and Rick (I'm a Doctor, you know) Walker; national sports show host: Terry Bradshaw (Rush should give him some Valium); tv reporters: Pat Collins (he always looks like he just walked out of a bar and it takes him forever to get a sentence out) and Gary Reals (monotone and just boring to listen to - no charisma at all); traffic reports: WTOP on the weekends (especially Alexander Piela - he's clueless); radio reporter: Neal (he sounds like he's always got marbles in my mouth - can anyone understand him?) Augenstein; play-by-play announcers: the "Sam" part of Sonny, Sam (he's an absolute moron), and Frank and Johnny Holliday; sports franchise: all of ‘em in DC.
Best - Ron and Fez show, especially the 11 a.m. portion. G Strings show on WPFW Sunday mornings, Bama's daughter is okay but I'd prefer less talk more music, sure miss 'Bama! Howard Stern , at least he tries unlike those afternoon guys, imo. Sonny, Frank and Sam, and hope that other guy don't try to muscle his way in next season. John Riggins' Thursday radio show. Johnny Holliday doing Maryland sport's broadcasts and Chris Knoche but with regards to football how about getting Randy White with his Texas accent even though he's from Jersey. Or Boomer.
Worst - WMAL deleting the Charlie Warren show! Jerry Gray not doing a bluegrass show! The John "Master Rationalizer" Thompson show, I presume the station is making money on this show otherwise why is it on? That Derek McGinty doesn't do a radio show on WAMU. The overhype of weather by most media outlets to garner ratings and avoiding more and more news stories of some substance. And of course Susan Roberts not getting renewed at WMAL!
Best TV Website(s) - WJLA & DCRTV.... Best Radio PBP & Commentary - WMAL's Johnny Holliday & Chris Knoche... Best TV News "Babe" - WJLA's Alison Starling... Best Venerable TV Anchor: Jim Vance... Best Personification of Radio's "Empty Suit" (Re: the movie "FM") - Bennett Zier.. Best Sports Anchor(s) - WJLA's Rene Knott & Comcast's Rick Cook.. Best Whiner on Radio - Anthony Kornheiser... Best Know it All on Radio - Pat Goss...
Worst Programming: Most DC radio stations, take your pick... Worst Thing on Local Television: George Michael's out-of-focus, poor audio edited highlights.. Stick to wrestling and the rest of shtick, George, at least they're funny.... Worst commercials: GEICO (they were funny for about a minute) and this latest Miller "over the top" campaign... Worst excuse for sports on TV and radio: Anything related to the Redskins, Caps & Wizards.. Welcome to Loserville, USA!
Best: TV News: ABC 7/NewsChannel 8 [dc] Eyewitness News[balt.]..... Anchors: J.C. Hayward, Nathan Roberts, Leon Harris, Andrea Mc Carren, Andrea Roane [dc]..... Kellye Lynn, Sharon Lee [baltimore]..... [TV] Morning Show: Good Morning Washington [dc], EWN Morning Edition [baltimore]..... Weather Anchor: Doug Hill [dc], Brooks Thomlin [baltimore]..... Name of Weather: First Alert [both places]..... Doppler: Live Superdoppler 7/Live Doppler 8 [dc] Storm Trak Doppler 2[baltimore]..... Graphics: ABC 7 [dc] ABC 2 [baltimore]..... **honorable mention: WJZ [wx graphics]**..... Programming: Fox 5 [3 simpsons] and UPN 20 [ricki at 5, and king of the hill] and WB 50 [ steve harvey, parkers, steve harvey]..... Radio Station: 95.5 [dc] and (tie) 92.3/[former x105.7] [baltimore]..... **honorable mention: HOT 99.5**..... [radio]Morning Show:[tie] Donnie Simpson Show, and Big Phat Morning Show happy holidays!
Best - Weather team - Channel 9 - almost always right. Sports radio - John Thompson show. I love the people who claim that it is the worst but they still seem to listen. Crime reporters - Gary Reals & Dave Statter. Morning radio - Imus in the Morning.
Worst - Channel 8's insistence in using alert tones to announce the daily number...even in the middle of a ballgame. Morning radio - still WMAL since Tim Brandt left. TV news - channel 7. Channel 9's female street reporters. If I hear "roads are dicey" or "looks like a rainy sleety thing" when the woman is standing in heavy snow I will scream.
BEST: Eddie Gallaher, Mac McGarry, Williard Scott, Ed Walker, Johnny Holliday, Bob Duckman, WRC-TV's Jim Vance, George Michael & Doreen Genzler; WGMS's James Bartel, Dennis Owens, Renee Chaney, John Chester; WJFK's Don & Mike, WTOP's Dean Lane, Bob Marbourgh; WMAL's Andy Parks; Clear Channel's decision to blow out Steve Allen and Catherine Malloy; Howard Stern telling that no talent Don Imus what a douche bag he really is on Imus's own show; Rob Speewak's Musical Interludes; Don Geronimo's Top 40 Festival of Hits; and DCRTV's continuing free service. Where else can a ZZ Top bearded liberal from Wild West Fairfax make so many neo-conservatives into towel chewing panty-twisters?
WORST: WJLA's inserting weather storm warnings in programming instead of commercial breaks; Sports Junkies (what a verbal cluster f*ck!), 104's Haber & Erin (amateur hour for four hours), WBIG's Charlie Donovan (depressing nudnick), WBIG's Goldy (simpleton schmuck), WTOP's Lisa Baden, WAMU's book keeping, WPFW's lack of professionalism on-the-air, NewsChannel8's Glenn Harris, WARX's automated, programmed from out-of-town Oldies; the fact that Dave Adler doesn't have a permanent gig; WMAL's Fred Grandy (sorry but you need to "Go-pher" another line of work!), XM Radio continuing to pull the biggest technological & investor scam of the century; Bennett Zier's not flipping 1260 AM to a Contemporary Standards/Big Band format and the general wasteland of DC's AM radio band. DCRTV armchair quarterback's thinking "Girl Talk" would be the format du jour on WWZZ 104 (that's the WORST call of the DECADE!)
Presenting... THE BEST (and worst...) OF DC RADIO AND TV 2003!!! In shortform...
BEST: Cable News--Any breaking news on CNN...the rest is just details...... Local News--WRC. Most stable news organization in town..... Sports Coverage--Comcast Sports Net...perhaps the only thing Comcast does right...... Sports Talk--WTEM's 9a-3p block (Bruno, Kornhieser and Rome) Satire, Sarcasm, and Sports makes this the fastest six hours in a day..... News Coverage--Who else? WTOP. They'll have the story if the others don't. Which is usually the case, anyway..... Music Station-- (tie) Majic 102.3 and WHUR 96.3: They'll play the songs that other stations couldn't type into a computerized playlist...... Sports Play-by-play--I second the motion: Johnny Holliday. Best delivery of sports broadcast in the metro area.
worst: Cable News--(tie) "The Bland and the Obvious" MSNBC, and the ever overlitigious Fox News Channel..... Local News--WUSA (established in 1997)..... Sports Coverage--Again, WUSA (established in 1993)..... Sports Talk--WTEM, 5p-3a...While Thompson is tolerable, "The Sports Reporters" (or, Pollin, Czaban, and some other guy on a list of go-to's) is the worst sports talk concept ever...then you get Fox Sports Radio (or Nationally Syndicated Local Talk Radio Show(s) with Czaban and JT the As--er, Brick.) until ESPN radio is on air at 3am, WTEM is grating to listen to at these hours..... News Coverage--News Channel 8. When they can get an engineer to turn off the BETA tape loop they created to think that they actually cover breaking news (the scroll is at least 26 hours old in spots, too), let me know...... Music Station--grudgingly this honor goes to WKYS, whose only saving grace is Russ Parr. Outside of that, no thanks...... Sports Play-by-play--Washington Wizards radio network. Shut up, Dave Johnson...... Radio invention--the cashbox compression system. Period..... The "Shut Up" award--Honor for most annoying personality on air Andy Pollin, WTEM's resident Mr. Know It All Sports Director. Shut. Up. Pollin...... The "WTF" award--Honor for the most stupifying event to happen in local media..... Comcast Cable--in general for programming decisions like not adding the NFL network, still not adding Turner Classic Movies, not settling a launch date for TVOne, and other obivious issues of depravity that would take up too much space here. Special shoutout to Cox Communications for its mishandling of the ESPN tiering issue.
Worst show and personality: John Thomspon, dumb, ignorant and grammatically challenged would be an improvement. 2 hours of the Emergency Broadcast System would be preferable to the John Thompson Show. He's terrible, as is Richard Walker, his sidekick, dumber than 1/2 a box of rocks.
The Blue Minister
Best cable news: CNN. Yes, they're liberal but they're more fair and balanced than Fox. See below.
Worst cable news: Fox. Their rah-rah jingoism and love fest for Bush is just sickening.
Best news anchors/reporters: Jim Vance-He's getting old and gray but he still delivers. JC Hayward-Mature, attractive, and sensible. Wendy Rieger-An eye-catching delight if there ever was one. Tracey Neal-Ditto. George Michael-Annoyingly bombastic at times but the man knows sports and delivers it with passion. Who else could make you care about hockey or 'rasslin'? Wally Bruckner-A conummate pro. Bob Ryan-A meteorologist’s meteorologist. Doug Hill-Credible and informative.
Worst news anchors/reporters: Doreen Gentzler-An annoying know-it-all. Pat Collins-Overly dramatic, also very annoying. Susan Kidd-Has all the personality of wallpaper. Barbara Harrison-Comes across as phony. Veronica Johnson-Attractive but is something of an empty suit. Clay Anderson-Is an empty polyester suit. Lisa Baden-Need I say more?
Best Radio Station: Does not exist. Corporate America has ruined--no, destroyed--radio. Frequent commercials and one-dimensional playlists have made this media all but unlistenable. Can't afford to subscribe to satellite radio just yet so for now, I'll be content listening to my ever growing CD collection.
Jonathan in Stafford
Best: Don and Mike, Ron and Fez, Junkies in the Morning, WTOP for traffic, Topper Schutt, Limbaugh getting busted.
Worst: O'reilly. Sean Hannity, Elliot, DC weather forecasts, WJFK weekends.
From Glen in Middle River:
Best: WBAL TV and radio news (except below), Nasty Nestor Aparicio, Dave Durian, WCBM and WWLG powering up, WQSR and WRQX's Saturday Night, WCEI-FM on the Shore, XM Radio, DCRTV...
Worst: WNST's nighttime power, Susan Carter on WBAL radio news, Jim Rome being ripped from WJFK, Jim Rome still only 2 hours on WTEM, 92-Q, Smooth Jazz 104.3 (I'm getting sleeee-peeee!!!), features on Durian's morning show pre-empted by zillions of snow closings when one inch is on the ground, Comcast Baltimore County having TV Guide Channel on 2 channels, CCBC on 2 channels, and no NFL Network; late news cancelled when basketball or baseball runs late.
Best Morning show on Radio, Richard Day and Mike Moss WTOP....Best TV Newscaster, Doreen Genzler WRC-TV, Gordon Peterson WUSA....Best Weatherperson Ron Riley News Channel Eight... Best TV Sports anchor, George Michael. WRC.....Best Radio Play by Play, Johnny Holliday......Best Traffic Reporter Dan Alper, WMAL....Best Mid day show Radio, Tony Kornheiser..
Worst Morning show on Radio, Parks and Grandy, WMAL,.... worst traffic reporter, Lisa Baden, WTOP..worst radio play by play, the guy who does the Wizzards..worst TV sports anchors, Comcast, take your pick...worst TV News anchor...Derrek McGinty WUSA.
BEST: Eddie Gallaher (posthumously), Paul Anthony, Adrienne Mitchell. Ron David. Walt Starling--for all the good things he does to maintain Washington radio camaraderie. Pat O'Donnell, because without her, there would be no severance package. Bruce Alan, Jim London, Ira Mellman, Loo Katz, Dave Adler.
WORST: Cluster radio in general. WTOP's coverage of any breaking news. Bob Marbourg describing an accident. Susan Clampitt.
From Gary "Digital" Williams
Best: For radio talk shows: "The Black Eagle" Joe Madison on WOL... For radio traffic reports: Lisa Baden on WTOP
Worst decision: changing 104.3 from classic rock to smooth jazz.
Best morning TV show: News 4 with Barbara Harrison and Joe Krebs... Best morning TV show decision: Channel 9 Morning news going with live sportscast...
Worst morning TV show decision: Channel 4 staying with "Sports In A Minute."
Best looking TV news reporter: Lesli Foster, Channel 9... Best TV sports anchor: George Johnson, Comcast Sportsnet
Jay Clark
Worst: Infinity flipping X-105.7 in B-More from hip-hop to hot talk.
Best: Clear Channel flipping 104.3 in B-More to Smooth Jazz.
Best local entertainment show: Ron & Fez [WJFK]
I vote that the best thing in 2003 was when WASH-FM put together Loo and Lori on their 5-9 hour. It's a pleasure to wake up 'with' them every weekday morning.
From Joe Kasell
Best: Bob Marbourg's traffic reports; Dave McConnell's Capitol Hill reports; WWLG's power boost; my DirecTV subscription; Sam, Sonny & Frank; WINC-FM; WARX-FM "Oldies 106.9"; WQSR; Eddie Gallaher (R.I.P.); Ed Walker; Don O'Brien, Phil Wood, Doug Hill; the Car Guys; station engineering staff who do a lot of vital work in the background but rarely get the recognition they deserve; my dad's newscasts on NPR :-)
Worst: anything owned by Clear Channel; WTEM's Sports Reporters program; WBIG-FM's playlist; WRQX-FM (except for "Retro Saturday Night"); the lack of a "Vegas-Radio" station in the DC area; any DC media outlet treating the Baltimore Orioles as the "home team"; Lisa Baden's traffic reports; any political talk show that emphasizes shouting down and insults over thoughtful conversation; stations that give you two scores then tell you to check out the web site for the rest, which is hard to do while driving; the near impossibility this year of listening to certain American and National League Divisional Series games on local radio; cable television providers.
Andy in Reston
Best - XM Radio (especially 50's on 5, 60's on 6, 80's on 8, Soulstreet, the Loft and the Village)
Worst - All D.C. terrestrial music stations. If you continue to listen to this commerical-filled repetive crap without investigating XM (and can afford $10 a month), you have only yourself to blame.
best baltimore anchor jennifer gilbert she is HOT. best sports sarah caldwell. best weather lori pinson 45 blew that one.best morning don and marty. best web DCRTV.. joann bauer was great also 2 blew that one. 11 is the best overall newscast. jimhunter and fred manfra are great.
worst radio it is all bush league especially the horrible micky and amelia. worst weather the fox 45 pretaped robot vitus flytrap just awful. sally thorner, kelly lynn, stan saunders, vic carter, the al sanders wannabe, heck most of 13 is awful. fox 45 morning is horrible. jamie costello should be a toll booth collector.s kml are pretencious and annoying just shut up and play some music. pasty face michael reghi go back to cleveland bring back jon miller and john lowenstein.
P. in Gaithersburg
BEST: Ron & Fez at 7pm (a healthy Fez of course), Goss's Garage on WJFK (the guy knows everything), an extra episode of "The Simpsons,"at 11pm, The Christmas Yule Log on WBDC (although borrowed from NYC's WPIX), The Amber Alert System, Brian Bolter & Sue Palka on WTTG (best anchor/weatherperson in DC), the funky-new "Marching Band" promo for WBDC (their new imaging is making the other local stations look old & tired), WRC's morning news (right to the point), Montgomery County's traffic cams...and of course - DCRTV!
WORST: Ron & Fez at 11am, WRC's Jim Vance & his sloooooow delivery, WRC's Pat Collins & his overdramatic reports, WDCA in general (now just a buffet of WTTG's leftovers), WASH's Christmas music pre-Thanksgiving, Comcast & their "no refunds due to mother nature" policy, Donnie Simpson, The Russ Parr Show w/out Olivia Fox, "The Freak Show with Julian" on WIHT - especially the "Make your parents think you're being robbed" bit - tacky.
From CW in Springfield:
Best - WJZW for bringing back Musical Starstreams to D.C.(and not really advertising that) and Al Santos' Sunday Jazz Brunch.
Worst - Powell and the FCC for allowing TV stations to follow Radio and one big blob of sameness. WARW for playing the same 75 songs and lousy air sound. It's so compressed it reminds me of WAVA in the '80's.
BEST: WPGC-FM's David Haines "Burnt Toast and Coffee Time" morning newscasts. He is the best radio news anchor in DC year after year.
WORST: 2-way Tie. (1) Derek McGinty's 7pm newscast on WUSA-TV. He never should have gotten out of radio. (2) The accuracy of any DC TV weather forecaster throughout the year.
from dan from the shore...
Best - Mike Kaufman/Marilyn Thompson Afternoons, Al Santos, Retro Saturday Night on Mix, WTOP mornings
Worst - WMAL syndicated shows. WASH all christmas all the time, tight playlist of WARW
From A.J. in DC
Best in Radio: Ron and Fez, Don Geronimo's February Beach Boys Show in the 2-3PM hour, Robb Spewack's Saturday Music Show, Jack Diamond (unintentional comedic value) Best in TV: Channel 4 (except for Sports), Pat Collins/Arch Campbell (unintentional comedic value)
Worst in Radio: Elliot, Bill O'Reilly, 94.7/97.9/99.1/101.1 playlists (the same tunes repeated ad naseum) Worst in TV: Channel 4 Sports (fake sounds added to all footage, George Michael's constant making of mistakes) News babe (tie) Wendy Rieger, Tracy Neale
JC in Baltimore:
Best: Don and Mike Show, WBAL news, Donna Hamilton, Marilyn Getas, Stan Stovall, Sade Baderinwa (we miss you!), Lexy Hickok, Big Don O'Brien, Traffic with Dianah Gibson
Worst: WMAR news (bush league), Katie Leahan, Jack Diamond morning show, Sally Thorner, WZBA 100.7 (Format change in response to 104.3's change to smooth jazz). Give me Carly Simon over Foghat anyday!!
Best TV news: Channel 4 ... Best TV (and radio) weather: Doug Hill ... Best traffic: Bob Marbourg ... Best play-by-play: Johnny Holliday ... Best mid-day show: Tony Kornheiser (this show stinks) ... Best radio for breaking news/weather: WTOP in both AM and PM ... Best Music Station: None
Worst format: Smooth Jazz (it may be soft Urban, but it's NOT Jazz) ... Worst commercial (tie): OnStar, Lyndon Larouche ... Worst play-by-play team: Sonny, Sam and Frank (Sonny and Sam may be legends, but they are simply unlistenable) ... Worst Evening: Chris Core ... Worst company operating local stations: Clear Channel
Rick the Rat, Stafford
Best TV Newscaster: Amy Robach, formerly of WTTG, now on MSNBC.... Best TV Weathercaster: Sue Palka, WTTG..... Best TV Sportscaster: yeah, right they're all obnoxious..... Best TV News: WTTG, Fox 5..... Best Radio Morning Show: tie Howard Stern and Moss & Day..... Best Afternoon Drive Show: Don and Mike..... Best Station: WJFK.....
 Worst TV Newscaster: Barbara Harrison, WRC4..... Worst TV Weathercaster: Doug Hill, WJLA..... Worst TV Sportscaster: Take your pick they're all pretty bad..... Worst TV News: hands down WJLA..... Worst Radio Morning Show: Sports Junkies, WHFS..... Worst Radio Afternoon Show: Albie Dee, Hot 99.5, EZ Street, WPGC, Mike Kaufman, Mix 107 (zzzzz)..... Worst Station: Take your pick most of them are owned by Cheap Channel.....
Mike in Baltimore
Best - Don & Mike on FM - Buzz Burbank's news - Mike's celebrity voices - Elvis Death Day on D&M - 105.7 format change - Coast to Coast AM w/ Art & George - Brian & O'Brien reunion - 10am to 2pm on WQSR with Ken Merson - WWLG finally boosting their night signal - Jim Hunter & Fred Manfra Oriole's radio broadcasts - FOX 45 Morning News - Rouse & Company - Paul Harvey news - 98 Rock's support of the Baltimore Zoo - DCRTV
Worst - Don & Mike's WW1 dispute - Jack Diamond, Elliot, Tom Joyner, and JoJo& Kenny Morning Shows - Marty Bass's voice @ 6am - Jim Palmer & Michael Reghi Oriole TV broadcasts - 104.3 format change - weather coverage of the snow and Isabel - Rush Limbaugh - WASH going X-mas in November - Michael Savage's bitching @ D&M - Sport's Talk in Baltimore - no Baltimore AM outlet carrying Bill O'Reilly - the inablity to have a radio station catering to both Baltimore & DC ( HFS does not count because it is not a real station ) - DC not having a WWLG-like station
John in Fairfax County
Best: Fox News Channel's embedded reporters. Rush Limbaugh admitting dope problem. Howard Stern. WGOP 700 AM's Best of Greaseman on Saturdays. WUSA getting rid of Mike Buchanan (he was annoying!). Michael Savage airing live on WTNT. Fred Grandy joining WMAL morning team. Ron and Fez's 11:00 hour on WJFK.
Worst: No issues-oriented programs on weekend talk radio. Cancellation of Mark Davis's syndicated Sunday show. WTNT losing Michael Graham (or was that in 2002). Bill Press on WMAL morning show.
J in DC
Best: FOX5 News, 939.9WKYS, 102.3WMMJ, Tracey Neale, Brian Bolter, Shawn Yancy, Lark McCarthy, Leon Harris, Maureen Bunyan, and JC Hayward
Worst: ABC7/News Channel 8
*although I believe ABC7 had the best storm coverage for Isabel..... *FOX5 gets best for their sweeps investigations
& ABC7 gets worse for their sweeps investigations.
Gary Bayridge, Fairfax
Ron and Fez made radio hip again. I am addicted to their show, and hardly ever watch TV anymore. They belong on the air in the daytime, I would love to hear them at work!
Zip:
Best-Morning-Stern..... Best Mid day-Chip Franklin..... Best Afternoon Drive-used to be Don and Mike, now WTOP..... Best evening...Nobody.....
Worst- Morning-Jack Diamond..... Worst Mid Day-Dr Laura..... Worst Afternoon-Hannity..... Worst Evening...same as best....
Wally In Herndon
Best: 9Weather's storm coverage, Topper Shutt, Fox 5's Breaking News Coverage, ABC7 getting Leon Harris, and
Worst: Lisa Baden, WTOP, Richard Day, Elliot In The Morning, Fox 5's storm coverage(they give you a shitty 5 minutes and return to reg programming), Fox 5's Ravens Games because in my opinion, if the Skins have a Sunday night game, a CBS game, or a 4:00 game, the Ravens should be on so DC area Ravens Fans can get some half decent football, 9News getting rid of Mike Buchanan in the morning(he is better than Mike Walter), Kate Slaugh from WIHT(Sub Traffic Reporter), Ron Riley, Dave Willingham, NBC4's morning crew, having all local media outlets starting news at 4am when severe weather occurs, and Bob Immler
 ps: I know I sound like a bitch but nost media in DC sucks
Bill Duck - Salisbury, MD
WORST: CH 5 in DC not showing Ravens games on the two occasions they are FOX each year. OK, this weekend, they had the double-header rule in effect. But what about the Seattle game when the 'Skins didn't play until 8:30? Those of us on the Shore have missed the best two offensive games the team has played in its existence because WTTG caters to a 4-8 team.
BEST: Eastern Shore coverage of Isabel. Not over the top, but enough information to take the storm seriously. Really stuck it to Conectiv about why power took 7 days to restore in some neighborhoods and just a few hours in others.
BEST: Don and Mike Afternoons Fox 5 News at 5AM 10PM and most of the on air staff
WORST: Jack Diamond WJFK Weekends WJLA News any and all (except for Kathleen Mathews)
Tracy from Fairfax-
Let me say first that nothing was going on in 2003. There was nothing special, except that I have my own show Fridays from 9 a.m.-11 a.m. on WGMU (wgmuradio.com) and coming on 650 AM for one more show this year (Ok, sorry for a cheap pop, but hey, my professor and program director introduce me to the site, so thank your lucky stars that I found this web site.) Anyway:
The Best of 2003- Well, there was no one particular that jump, but I would agree Ron and Fez. They were getting bounced in New York and basically dead on water, until WJFK gave them a shot, and guess what, a potential hit in the DC area. These are survivors..... Other best: NBC4 news and sports, weekdays of WJFK, Kornheiser, The legends who passed away like a Eddie Gallaher, Me (in jest).....
The worst of 2003- Oh man, I have a huge list that could of been on the top, but Bill O'Reilly takes the cake. For starters, he's a schmo who got lucky, but also he pulled the plugs on guests during a conversation, he yelled "SHUT UP" to Al Franken a billion times during a book conference, spinning his facts, and can't face the music. If you go to WAMU.com, you can hear the O'Reilly interview. Man, he can't face pressure..... Other worse (here I go): The Sports Junkies (becoming too formatted), Michael Savage, Big companies, Elliot, Howard Stern, Rush Limbaugh, the rest of the local news (except NBC 4), cable outlets, the music formatted stations, other conservative blowhards, the guy who wanted to ban Jethro Tull because Ian Anderson made a "comment" about cars carrying flags, California, Jesse Ventura, Michael Powell, Rupert Murdoch, and the list goes on and on.
Steve from Baltimore
Best: Howard Stern on FM in Baltimore, Live 105.7's Bod Squad, Ron and Fez, Katie Leahan, The destruction of WJZ-13's chopper,Buzz Burbank, Out to Lunch with Bill and Thrill
Worst: Don and Mike contract squabbles, Classic Baltimore Sports w/ Mike Paskoff, The Great American Health Radio Show (err..infomerical), Tom Leykis, Out to Lunch with Miles and Thrill, Jared and Shaw Jewelers ads.
Tom Moore, host, "The Tom Moore Show," Talk Radio 680 WCBM, 11pm-1am Saturdays:
BEST - New Talk Show: Tom Moore Show (no bias at all)..... Nationally Syndicated Talk Show: Sean Hannity Show..... Local Morning Show: Kirk Mark and Lopez (98 Rock) Evening Program: Mickey and Amelia (98 Rock)..... Mid-Day Program: Chip Franklin (WBAL)..... Morning News Program: Sean and Frank, Mandy Allen (WCBM)..... Sports Program: Brian Billick Show (Ravens Radio)..... New Station: Live 105.7.....
Best - Ron and Fez - it must have been a tough move for them, and while they more likely would have liked things to go any other way, I am grateful DC was here as an option for them - their live appearances are becoming something very special; "The Spooky Movie" on Falls Church Cable Access; Don and Mike free of Philly and NY's stinch; no fall edition of the HFSTival; an extra half hour of THE SIMPSONS on Fox 5; Jim Vance; one full year without Opie and Anthony; Captain 20 RETURNS TO WASHINGTON!!! "Live 105"
Worst - BILL O'REILLY...I should just leave it there, but there are more...The Sports Junkies; Elliot; Howard Stern's "chicken hawk" stance during the war - very ugly - turned me off to him so much I really haven't been able to go back; WHFSuck; Christmas before Thanksgiving; no local television programming; Rush; Channel 20 is just a shadow of Channel 5; oh, and BILL O'REILLY!
Greg from Overlea
Best Radio Format Switch: Infinity flipping 105.7 from CHR/Rhythmic to Hot Talk (92Q is enough!).
Worst Radio Format Switch: Clear Channel flipping 104.3 from Classic Rock to Smooth Jazz (I was hoping for a return to CHR/Dance in Baltimore!).
Best TV News: WBAL-TV 11 (Thanks for bringing Stan Stovall back to weekdays!).
Worst TV News: WJZ-TV 13 (They need permanent anchors at 4pm!). Also, WBAL-TV & FOX45 need to make sure their sports ticker is up-to-date during their respective sports segments!
Best: Brian and O'Brien Reunion Show..... Don and Mike on FM in Baltimore..... Jo Jo and Kenny.....
Worst: Tom Leykis!..... Rush Limbaugh..... Weekends on live 105.7..... No Ron and Fez in Baltimore..... Mickey Cuchella show.....
Mike Berry, WWW.98WRC.COM
BEST: Alan Lee - Forgotten 45's Sunday nights on WQSR.
WORST: Everyone's coverage of Hurricane Isabel. The excessive hype resulted in the schools & federal government closing unnecessarily a day before it even started to rain. If a foreign country did that to us we would consider it an act of war. This is not operating in the public interest. We have a new policy at our home --- no local news during extreme weather conditions. We get our weather from the Weather Channel & school closings from the internet.
Best: The Don and Mike Show, The Ron and Fez Show, DCRTV, 98 Rock's KML and Mickey & Amelia shows, Diane's news, let's not forget Buzz's news, WJFK-FM's website - I like the shows' pictures.
Worst: Bill O'Rilley's republican ideology, Infinity's lack of DJ personality, Elliot's laugh, Jack Diamond, Robbay's car show.
DCRTV Dave:
Best - Ron and Fez, "Girl Talk," George Noory and Art Bell, Big Don, the late great Eddie Gallaher, Ron Smith, David Burd, Walt Starling, Ed Walker, Al Santos, Dennis Owens, WGMS, WETA-FM, WETA's digital multiplexes, WNVC, WBJC, WWLG, WQSR.....
Worst - WHFS, WARW, weekends on WJFK-FM, Rush Limbaugh (as usual), Michael Savage, the Post's Style section and continued lack of local radio/TV news, any media outlet tainted by Rupert Murdoch's ownership.....
Please click here.....


Lotsa cool stuff.....