 Contents - Front Page - Past Mailbags - Rant - Classifieds - BW2009 - Support DCRTV Edited by Dave Hughes. Send posts to dcrtv@dcrtv.com.  Put "MAILBAG" on the subject line. DCRTV can't take responsibility for message content, although we attempt to edit for taste and fairness. Each posting is solely the opinion of the person who wrote it. DCRTV cannot verify the factual accuracy or authorship of posts. If you see a message that's in poor taste or unfair to someone, contact us and it will be removed. Messages that don't deal with local media issues may not get posted. We can't forward messages to posters..... Support DCRTV and the world famous Mailbag! Just a few bucks a month is all we ask! Click here. Thanks: Bill, Rick, John, Greg, Pam, Mark, Scott, Bob, Kelly, Ross.....    DCRTV'S RADIO/TV/MEDIA NEWS/GOSSIP IS NOW AVAILABLE THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE NORTHEAST USA /\ \/  Latest messages listed first.....  \/ March 9 Messages \/ Limbaugh ‘leaving the country’ if health reform passes rawstory.com (3/9/10) Limbaugh Plays The Massa Race Card: David Paterson’s “Gonna Be A Massuh” - www.mediaite.com (3/9/10) Partial preview of BW2010: Worst –Frank Herzog’s retirement; Closing of “Video Vault”. –Unsigned Corporate Suit (3/9/10) Kim Martucci -the weather staple of WUSA9- is now a free agent. I hope in the wake of Bob Ryan's departure, that WRC picks up Kim and her loyal viewers. After all, it's been a trend for WUSA to drop their top talent and for a competing station (with better ratings) to pick that talent up. (3/9/10) (From DCRTV's Classified Ads:) RADIO GENERAL MANAGER – VA’S. NORTHERN NECK. Two FM stations (BAY FM and WIGO Country) and a home town portal (MiddleNeckNews.com) combine to make this rare opportunity right for the person with successful retail sales management experience. Small town environment, 45 minutes from Williamsburg, 70 minutes from Richmond, in historic and scenic Chesapeake Bay area. Letter and resumes only to: billsherard@tworivers.net. An Equal Opportunity Employer. (3/9/10) I hope Frank Herzog's retirement gets the due that it deserves. When he, Brenner and Michael were going head to head, it was like having our own local Mount Rushmore of sports guys. And Frank will always have a special place in the hearts of Redskins fans. "Touchdown, Washington Redskins" indeed. (3/9/10) Dave's response: I went over to Blockbuster today to pick up a used DVD copy of "State Of Play" for $9. It's the Washington journalism thriller with Ben Affleck, Helen Mirren, and Russell Crowe. And you get to see Frank Herzog sitting there very stoically at a Congressional hearing. Saw it in the theater two years ago, but haven't seen it since..... So I heard that bootsy Vegas, anji Corley, and mike brooks rating got better eveyweek in Feb. you wouldn’t happen to know what their number were would you - just the mourning show thank you (3/9/10) Dave's response: PGC's morning show placed 12th in the PPMs for the second week of February. That's about where Simpson was, maybe a bit better..... Olbermann may have started out his show in the mold of “World News Now” or “NBC News Overnight,” which was an awesome show back in the day, but when he started doing those “special comments” four or five years ago, he lost me as a viewer. Always found him to be clever on “SportsCenter,” now I think he needs to take some meds.... Charles in Winchester (3/9/10) Interesting day on Elliott In The Morning today. The father of the Towson "murder for hire" gunman called in to talk about the case. Talked about what it's like to be the parent of a killer. So did members of Capital Hill to talk about the conduct of ERic Massa. Good stuff today along with shaving vaginas while driving. -- Brett (3/9/10) Can anyone briefly tell me the real story why Frank Herzog was let go by the Redskins and who fired him? I know Larry Michael has always denied being involved in that (3/9/10) Anyone else notice that WTOP anchors are not saying “WTOP Newstime” anymore? What’s up with that? (3/9/10) (regarding your News Page post) "Gordon Peterson and Arch Campbell ... will talk about the movie 'Network' - a 1970s look at the TV news biz that forecast the likes of Glenn Beck and Keith Olbermann ..." I'm not sure that 'Network' had Olbermann in mind, as an example of what would be wrong with TV news in the future. To me, he has always been more in the mold of Murrow/Friendly's 'See It Now' or ‘NBC News Overnight’ with Linda Ellerbee & Lloyd Dobyns, and later, Bill Schechner. Maybe even ABC's overnight effort, ‘World News Now’. These are all unique, yet legitimate news programs. Beck, however, is more along the lines of what 'Network' was forecasting: a circus atmosphere, like say, 'The Bozo Show'. (3/9/10) TWIMC: Mike Berry (long-time NBC engineer and co-webmaster of http://98WRC.com) has identified the voice on that WRC radio ID as "definitely Maury Higdon." (3/9/10) To the KHZTV Looney Tunes submitter...You are spot on. It's "web radio". Ironic, isn't it? The person who disparaged the medium the most was ultimately reduced to becoming a member of it. Kind of sad really. (3/9/10)  Maurice "HotRod" Hulbert Jr. was the self-proclaimed "bald-headed prince" of radio during his three decades on Baltimore airwaves. One of the first black hosts at a white-owned radio station when he started at WITH in Baltimore in 1951, Mr. Hulbert immediately influenced the music the city listened to by playing songs of black artists that previously had been kept off the air." He was unbelievable. He was so far ahead of his time," said Jack Edwards, a WITH disc jockey and legendary Baltimore radio personality. "He was way ahead of his time. His shows were un-be-lieve-able." In addition to radio, Mr. Hulbert was a concert promoter who brought black acts such as Little Richard, Wilson Pickett, Chuck Berry and the Flamingos to local concert halls such as the old Royal Theatre on Pennsylvania Avenue and Carr's Beach in Anne Arundel County. Mr. Hulbert endeared himself to generations of local listeners by his creativity and the off-beat humor he brought to his show. "He was just a fun listen because you never knew what to expect. You knew you were going to get good, new music, but he made the times when music wasn't playing entertaining," said Tim Carrington, a longtime fan of Mr. Hulbert. For example, Mr. Hulbert introduced many terms and phrases to the city, such as "mommyo" and "daddyo," "good googa mooga," which meant awesome, and his signature word "vosa," an acronym that meant the voice of sound advice. A native of Helena, Ark., Mr. Hulbert arrived in Baltimore in 1951 and worked at WITH until 1960. He spent two years at a Philadelphia station and in 1963 worked simultaneously at three radio stations -- in three different cities. "He was always on the go when he worked at WHAT in Philadelphia, WITH in Baltimore and WDES in New York," said Bob Mathers, long-time local radio personality. He returned to Baltimore in 1963 and worked solely at WITH until 1964, when he switched to WWIN and remained there until 1970. During the next 14 years, he switched back and forth between WWIN and WEBB. From 1984 until he retired in 1991, he was general manager at the gospel station WBGR. Hulbert died December 24, 1996 of cancer in Towson at age 80. (Hear Hot Rod on the air: rockradioscrapbook.ca) (3/9/10)Did you see that Tom Shales, in his online chat earlier today, apologized for the column in today's print Washington Post? www.washingtonpost.com... "Tom Shales: Hello. Sorry about that column today. I think it was kind of a good idea but the execution was lacking. Of course everything has to be so SHORT now - and turned in so early. These are tough days in journalism -- not to whine." You gotta love his honesty. Don't all writers on deadline feel the need to apologize sometimes for less than stellar work? I know I've felt that way. Nice to see Pultizer Prize winners sometimes do as well. Christian (3/9/10) I'll miss Frank Herzog. After Larry Michael shafted Frank and sports fans in this area, it was nice to hear his voice somewhere. I hope he doesn't head off into total obscurity. Here's hoping he pops up here and there from time to time, to remind us how lucky we've been to hear his professional voice. Sincerely, James (3/9/10) RE: KHZ TV. WOW....the website looks like Looney Tunes on crack that got bitch smacked by a pissed off pimp. Checked out the radio link and saw, gasp, NO DJ. Just another automated station. This is TRUE FUN! (3/9/10) "WTOP's Craig Heist is the ONLY radio reporter covering Nats Spring trainining." That's an absolute disgrace - media from all over the country are converging on Viera, Florida to cover the debut of pitching phenom Stephen Strasburg this afternoon yet neither of DC's two 24 hour sports talkers will be represented. While a station owned by Dan Snyder can't be expected to go the extra mile for any team not sporting burgundy and gold colors, Thom Loverro (who co-hosts Sports Fix with Kevin Sheehan) used to routinely cover spring training for the Washington Times. Now that the rug's been cut under him with the Times discontinuing its sports section, it would have been a nice gesture (not to mention a service to the listeners) for Red Zebra to send him down there to report on the Nationals and Orioles and perhaps do some remote broadcasts. Has 106.7 The Fan even assigned a beat reporter to the Nats? The only time I recall any on site spring training coverage on local sports talk radio was when Marc Sterne spent a few days at Nats camp for WTEM two or three years ago (prior to Snyder buying the station). Phil Wood getting the postgame show assignment on WFED's Nats broadcasts is long overdue - his last DC radio gig (on 980) was one of the early casualties of that Snyder purchase back in 2008. Mike, Fairfax (3/9/10) Dave's response: It remains a damn shame that WFED 1500/820's night coverage into Northern Virginia remains so poor. In many places in NOVA, you'll be able to hear the Baltimore Orioles at night, a la via WTEM's 94.3 relay in Warrenton VA, better than the hometown Washington Nationals. That just ain't right..... This isn't intended to be snarky. But why do, of late, Ch.4 News' Wendy Rieger, Barbara Harrison and Doreen Gentzler look so bad on the news? Is it the changeover to HD (they haven't switched yet have they?), bad makeup/lighting, the facilities of the temporary set? Or maybe the Curse of Bob Ryan? I know they're not spring chicks anymore but still I'm kind of shocked by their recent appearance. The men, Jim Vance, in particular don't seem to be similarly afflicted but maybe I'm not looking as closely. (3/9/10) Hey Lindsay! Now that you're Miss Nascar, please don't go shoving Nascar down our throats on your NBC4 sportscasts. Unless someone tells me otherwise the DC area is not a hotbed for Nascar. Even soccer is stronger than Nascar. If there's a major event that needs to covered because it is a major sports event, then cover it. We do not have to see every lovetap, spinout or crash in Nascar. Nor do we need to see champagne being shaken up in slow motion. On Monday, where was college hoops? Oh I guess Nascar is more important than college hoops this time of year. Sportscasts on NBC4 have improved dramatically since George Michael left but I still have many problems with them. For one why do we have to have a conversation with the anchors in the middle of the sportscast? Another is the background feed on highlites. On some highlites there is no crowd noise( like the crowd is deaf and dumb?), others may have dubbed in noise. If we're supposed to hear the play-by-play in the background( like ESPN does ), let's hear it- not some muffled announcer. Next please dispense with the slow motion unless it is a highlite that deserves replaying. We don't need slow motion of coaches stalking the sidelines or players doing a high-five dance. We also don't need to see coaches shaking hands after every basketball game. Regards Biff (3/9/10) I wonder if there are any tattoo places in Northern VA that still do the Rolling Stone "Tong" logo...hmmmmm....WWDC, Channel 9, and Greaseman...gotta be mailbag compliant! (3/9/10) (Dave's response: We did report that Patricia left WTOP for a job with an Hispanic organization in DC. Not sure about Raul.....) Rahul's wife, a military surgeon, got re-assigned to Georgia. (3/9/10) "could not put your tong on her cl*t." -Bed, Bath and Beyond has a great deal on high end salad tounges...I suggest checking them out! (3/9/10) More on Frank Herzog - He is ending a 40+ year career that both started and ended at WTOP Radio. In between he was the legendary voice of the Bullets and the Redskins and Channel 9's sports anchor. He returned to WTOP in 2005 as a news anchor. He has also had some on-camera apperances in movies shot in the Washington area in the last few years. He will do a special one-hour "Ask Frank" call-in show with WTOP's Mark Segraves later this month. (3/9/10) "This is a MORONIC post 9 even for Anita" Is this chick employed yet???" First of all it was not posted by Anita Marks it was just an observation made of a post that was put up by Dave. I did not report it so your issue is not with me who ever you are" This must be a WVIE employee". Second its just the truth do you really think that Anita Marks is thinking about Baltimore,Maryland anymore or its radio listeners who have a personal THING against her. That would be a NO. Miami is a much bigger market than Baltimore and WVIE is at the bottom of the rung as far as sports talk stations go in the 22nd market. I do not even like Anita Marks but you gentlemen who hate her need to get over the fact that you could not put your tong on her clit. Note: sorry Dave you might edit that out. (3/9/10) Similar name coincidence? Or did Johnny Riggs(rrrrr!!!) just get busted for Rockfish poaching,of all things,in Rock Hall,of all places.....wow thats alot of coincidence. CBS could have contributed to local conservation by having Jiggsy spinning tunes rather than fishing but once again they care nothing for local issues. Maybe he was selling them to Wanda and Harrys Fish and Salads....or maybe its just 2:40AM and I should stop reading and posting my garbled thoughts....Donnie (3/9/10) "Grizzled Jane Pauley" - Dave, really? I never mistook you for a sheep before now. A comment truly reflective of ageism. You are the mirror of those you pretend to loathe. How about dignified and respected Jane Pauley? More props. Less hypcocrisy. You'll like yourself better in the morning. (3/9/10) Dave's response: Ha ha ha! "You are the mirror of those you pretend to loathe." I know some DC radio vets that could apply to..... To be honest, I enjoy TEM and JFK. When Andy is rambling about some inane topic, Lavar and Dukes are bringing (screaming)the DC fan perspective and when Chad is calling everybody a "d*ck" I can always switch over to hear Andy, Czabe and Chris Knacke give great insight about b-ball. We are spoiled in the DC market. Thanks George Michael! (3/9/10) "If WVIE was not ready to offer Marks somewhere in the range of 150,000 a year dollars which given there ratings that number would be un-realistic talk of her going there is and was non-sense. Baltimore is market #22 Miami is market#12 there is a money difference."....This is a MORONIC post 9 even for Anita ) Is this chick employed yet ???.....I'm sure there was NO offer, certainly NOT 150k, LOL!! and more importantly, there WILL NOT be any genuine offers comin...She was a No Talent -who was EXPOSED ( in many different angles, and airbruhed in fact)...she remains JOB-less (until/If the UFL starts)- so it appears the market(s) have spoken ...enough said. (3/9/10) /\ March 9 Messages /\  \/ March 8 Messages \/ Here's 14 seconds of your life you're never getting back... (3/8/10) Hello DCRTV, What happened Raul Bali and Patricia Guadalupe at WTOP? They are gone from the WTOP website. Mike (3/8/10) Dave's response: We did report that Patricia left WTOP for a job with an Hispanic organization in DC. Not sure about Raul..... TV stations like WABC-TV which are liscensed to operate over the air free of any charges on the receiving end have NO business charging cable operators to carry their programming. Remember the very earliest days of cable when it was simply a relay point for out of market communities to receive distant signals. TV stations than liked the cozy arrangement because their sales departments could benefit from it. If they want to "arm twist" the cable and SAT dealers for fees than they should give up their FCC over the air liscenses and compete fairly with the other cable networks on the same turf. It's funny these stations started crying poverty when the cable networks were starting compete with their over the air brethren in both audience numbers and advertising dollars. You can't have it both ways! Why should cable operators have to fork over cash to carry the local signals when the very stations themselves don't provide local inserts for cable operators to insert their own spots like the cable networks do. You think it's EASY to write a check for 40 million? (3/8/10) (regarding a previous post) "Just seems very hypocritical that the person who openly trashed web based radio shows and producers is the newest participant in that very medium..." It's not hypocritical, just pointless. Trying to dine-out today on his supposed DC radio triumphs 40+ years ago. Pointless - and even worse - pathetic! (3/8/10) Today's 5:48 PM plant caller to Sean Hammity's radio show gets a big "F." She said she was a physician and was "mad as hell about ObamaCare." She continued saying, with regard to payment, doctors work with patients who don't have insurance, and most of the time the charges are less than what insurance companies would pay out. She then stated "Doctors do this because they take the hipp-a-critic oath." Later on the Mark Levin show on WMAL, at 6:05 PM, they gave the WABC ID, followed by Mark's prerecorded diatribe. His diatribe kept skipping like a damaged CD. I mean it skipped over 10 different times in 30 minutes! I love conservative bull crap as much as the next guy, but with all these blunders they are making listening to it harder and harder. (3/8/10) Interesting hearing all the terse “unable to comment” I’m getting about WABC-TV being pulled from Cablevision and then restored. I get the feeling a very high-ranking Disney suit (above Rebecca Campbell’s pay grade.) was told to the effect, “Keep this up and change will come. Change which your industry won’t want. And, you’ll be responsible for it.” Remember that it was WABC-TV, which terminated and resumed the signal –not Cablevision. BTW, Dave, the WABC-TV fiber feed to the Cablevision TOC was restored at 6:43 PM Sunday, after being pulled by WABC-TV at exactly 12:01 AM. Unless the cable industry and Congress acts, this will happen again. I still say the cable people should charge broadcasters for carriage. After all, it’s not 1991 anymore, as Senator Kerry says. Thanks to Congress and the FCC ramming an inferior transmission system down the throats of broadcasters and the audience, over-the-air reception is no longer an option for most Americans. –Unsigned Corporate Suit (3/8/10) Ref : "10AM to Noon EST you can listen and "WATCH" It's streaming on the web just type KHZTV.com" Will the Hitman and Company be on in the early morning before you folks? I listen to those guys when I'm down on the eastern shore, I know they know how to have fun...they have been doing it down here for decades. Chase Landers - Salisbury, Md. (3/8/10) Dave: how funny is it that the only reason I saw the Thuck Codd story about him saying the Washington media should not be “Drudge” driven is that I saw it on The Drudge Report. Even funnier, but all the years he worked at National Journal’s THE HOTLINE he never complained about lazy ass Washington journos just waiting for THE HOTLINE to come up every day to see what was “important”. And indeed: loverly weather in Reston for walking around the lakes (or Wharf ponds) but watch out for that melting-yellow-brown-snow-doo-doo! NBC’s Chuck Todd Blasts “Drudge Driven Journalism”: www.mediaite.com (3/8/10) Dave's response: Hey, all Matt Drudge needs for a good time is a mirror..... Dave, I saw your front page blurb: "Mary Kane gets named editor at the Washington Independent." Congratulations to Ms. Kane. One question: what's "the Washington Independent"? (3/8/10) Dave's response: I've never seen a print copy. But it does exist. Check out washingtonindependent.com..... (from an earlier missive) Riggins and his producer, DC radio veteran Tod Castleberry (end) So Tod bailed on that Twin Star corporation deal thingie that Birach set into motion, huh? Can't say as I blame him. I hope at least it was his choice and not because the Birachs skunked him as they have so many others. (3/8/10) Re Ed Graham: Just seems very hypocritical that the person who openly trashed web based radio shows and producers is the newest participant in that very medium... (3/8/10) Seems Howie Kurtz does very little in depth reporting anymore. What with paid appearances on CNN and his Post gig. It does not leave a lot of time to really see the big picture. Case in point. The one-man-band operation at WUSA and staffer Scott Broom. Broom makes the one-man-band concept work about as well as it can. Enter Kurtz who went to great length to write about the coverage (WUSA's) of the death of Bruce Ivins (anthrax mailer) in Frederick last year. While Broom may have some interviews with neighbors. WUSA missed the picture of his family when they came to the front door. The strongest image of the day and one, as a still photo, that made the front page of the Post and lead video on all the other TV stations. My point: Kurtz covers the new technology/process with scant eye to the downside when there clearly was such a downside on the very story he featured. Did he view the stories of WUSA and its' competitors? I am curious if General Managers' would call one-man-band coverage better...if it cost MORE? (3/8/10) Just woke up in Tokyo (4 PM DC Time, 6 AM here). Tried to play podcast of Junkies as wake up sound. Three times it crashed. I tried My Tony's. Came right on. I'll save for later. Now, listening to the Sports Reporters live and will listen to MOS and Mr. Tony Pods later. OB (3/8/10) ''Club Kane'' is a perfect example of what's wrong with radio. What is this asshole going to do that's any different from any other moment on that dull as dirt station? He's going to sit there and use ''cool cliches'' and play tons of commercials with talking toilet paper. He's not going to take ''requests'' unless you ask for the latest mind numbingly dull Mariah Carey or Beyonce song. It stuns me at times that radio people spoon feed listeners shit like that and expect results. I hope the show tanks after 1 week. Paul (3/8/10) Not sure what WTEM or WFJK are doing at Nats Spring training, but WTOP's Craig Heist has been down there since February 25th. In addition to his on-air work, Craig is blogging www.wtopnews.com (3/8/10) News from the valley: Our Comcast (nee Adelphia) system added the HDs in the 800s last night although we have not had any commercials or notices to that effect. It actually happened about 1:45 a.m., I was watching an episode of "Dirty Jobs" on the DVR when it started acting funny. It automatically switched the DVR channel from 800 to 690 and froze. When I hit play, it picked up where it left off, but the box itself shut down about 15 minutes later to reboot. Like systems closer to DC, we still have the HDs in the 200s, where they have been. Due to the Scientific Atlanta equipment out here, my understanding was we would be late to the party with the digital transport adapters and "world of more" or "Xfinity," so I'm hoping this means we're getting closer. Charles in Winchester (3/8/10) Dave's response: My Comcast system with SciAtl/Cisco boxes here in Reston has been relaying most of the HD channels now in the 200s also in the 800s since late-2009. And they're doing the digital conversion in three stages - in March, April, and May. So I guess by late-spring we'll be Xfinity-ized, too..... Loyal American Rush Limbaugh joined the ranks of Hollywood stars of the left today. At about 1:55 pm Rush threatened that if health care reform passes, he would leave the country and move to Costa Rica. One more reason to call your local congressman and ask for an in favor vote! ACH (3/8/10) Two comments: 1) The sound of Channel 4 switching from its local "mono" newscast to NBC's 5.1 Surround Sound newscast does sometimes take a couple of seconds to change. The music is big, but B. Williams's voice goes from all 3 front speakers kind of everyly and cheap sounding to a definite full sound when Ch. 4 completely switches to HD mode. I notice it when they switch from their small picture and sound news to a 5.1 Surround sound HD commercial; there is a couple of seconds where the sound hasn't switched up. To be an equal-opportunity complainer, Ch. 7 often has a few seconds after one of the SD commercials when the ABC program is still in SD before it jumps up to HD. 2) I personally like the way Craig Melvin does the news; yes, it's a tad stronger sounding than other news broadcasters, but I like that intensity; it sounds like he is enjoying telling us what he has found out is going on in the world, even if he doesn't intend it that way. I'd say it's the opposite of the PBS NewsHour style, kind of like the way Doug Limerick (formerly of WRQX) does the ABC hourly radio news broadcast. So maybe it's 99-1 against, but I like Craig Melvin. Pair him with Lindsay Czarniak on a broadcast, and I'd need my smellling salts to not faint from happiness. -- Carl in Olney (3/8/10) Fred is predicting Hollywood will be making more “conservative” movies? Do you remember when WMAL’s afternoon yahoo did his best to promote a couple of conservative movies that turned out to be embarrassing failures? Think about these movie reviews the next time you hear Hannity giving an opinion on anything. (3/8/10) Answer to: "Is it a regular occurrence that Paul Bicknell sends you an email that is written like an advertisement?" Yes. When Paul sends out mass mail adverts, he also sends them to me. We are friends (I can't explain that one either) and he just lets me know what's up. He didn't ask me to send it in, but I thought that you might want to know so that you can review his effort and then rip it apart. I like the basic idea of this format, and I want to hear it for a while. Ed Graham (3/8/10) WTOP's Craig Heist is the ONLY radio reporter covering Nats Spring trainining He's pretty sure he's the only broadcast reporter for the Washington area there......does not see a camera or crew from any of the local TV stations Not 100% sure on TV, buit he is on radio. (3/8/10) In Morgantown on Saturday, March sixth, the West Virginia Broadcasters Association honored Shenandoah Communications' TalkRadio WRNR AM-740 with their Best News/Sports/Talk Station of the Year Award for 2009. This is the third time in four years the Martinsburg station has been so honored. Al McGilvray (3/8/10) Ed Graham - Is it a regular occurance that Paul Bicknell sends you an email that is written like an advertisement? Seems almost as if you were instructed to post that here in the mailbag. (3/8/10) re: Billy Sparks – that is exactly what I do. Junkies in the morning, Mr. Tony at 10, Thom and Kevin until the MOMS podcast comes out. Then the MOMS podcast, and Andy and Czabe on the way home. Wise is unlistenable, and it is striking after listening to Kornheiser and Loverro how uninformed and simplistic the LaVar and Dukes show is. I used to listen to Chad when his show was about fast food, video games, how much he hated women and whatever random stuff was going in the world. But he just doesn’t have the background at this point in his career to have anything insightful to say about sports. Same with LaVar – good guy, interesting as a person, but it’s just one jock cliché after another. Way to go JFK – I used to be an 8+ hour listener – now I am out after 10 AM every day. (3/8/10) I got this email from PLB and thought you might want to know. "Some of you are aware of the fact that I'm going back on radio, some aren't. I was on two days last week ironing out the "kinks". I was supposed to officially launch today, but I'm home with some damn' bug.But here's the deal....Monday through Friday I'll be playing 4 Decades of Top 40 from 10AM to Noon EST you can listen and "WATCH" It's streaming on the web just type KHZTV.com into your browser and BA-DA-BING, I'll be "Rockin". This is a new concept in broadcasting...watch,it enjoy it. We are also on AM radio in Ocean City Maryland at 1590-WKHZ and In Annapolis Maryland on 810-WYRE, we will be expanding soon. My air name is Davy Jones, so just click on KHZ radio..in the box to your right. Any feedback will be appreciated. I'm pretty excited, how many people almost 70 do we know that still can rock BIG TIME! Paul Bicknell" I listened once last week an it was really fun. It's an interesting format and might be an instructional segment for broadcasters who don't know how to have fun. Ed Graham (3/8/10) It seems Channel 9 is taking advantage of Bob Ryan leaving Channel 4 with commercials bragging that Topper Shut has been forecasting the weather for 22 years and that's not going to change. Then they say somethings never change. (3/8/10) TITTY ON WRC-NBC4 IN WASHINGTON, D.C. - OHHH MYYY: Sucker punch! Here I thought I was gonna see some tittie from the info babe! (3/8/10) If WVIE was not ready to offer Marks somewhere in the range of 150,000 a year dollars which given there ratings that number would be un-realistic talk of her going there is and was non-sense. Baltimore is market #22 Miami is market#12 there is a money difference. (3/8/10) Dave..You reported a couple of weeks ago that CBS was going to put out-of-town sports talkers from New York and Philly on HD channels here. So far that has not happened. Is it still in the works? If so, any idea when? Dennis Lyons (transplanted NY sports fan and a fan of your blog) (3/8/10) Dave's response: Actually, it did happen via DC's 106.7 for a few days. But there were technical difficulties early last week and the launch of the out-of-market sports talkers on WJFK's digital HD Radio channels has been delayed..... Burt in Denton: I highly recommend Global Seduction Radio on WEBR. Fantastic mix of today's hits and comedy. It'll shake you to your core. Thursday nights at 9pm. -Sylvester (3/8/10) Wasn't going to mention this but since Fred Grandy believes that a movie few saw in the theaters and is already out in DVD is evidence that Hollywood is lurching to the right is a harbinger of more conservative leaning movies to come I have to then mention another Grandy prediction. It was one year ago this week that Grandy announced on WMAL that he had sold all of his stocks because of the President's policies and thus the nation was going to hell in a handbasket. At the time the DJIA was around 6500. Let's hope his listeners/lemmings didn't follow Grandy over the cliff as since that day the Dow is up 56 percent and is now above 10,500. I hope that wasn't all of Grandy's vast fortune he lost as if it is, the former Charles Nelson Reilly stand in on Match Game will be slaving away for his Masters at Citadel until they fire him, which could happen at any moment. ACH (3/8/10) What a great quote from former O's broadcaster (& "MASH' writer Ken Levine! In fact his book about his year w/ the Orioles, "It's Gone, No, Wait A Minute" is a very funny read. And yes Burt I still have family in Easton and Chestertown. I hope you can listen to my show (airing Fridays from 5 to 6). Ciao 4 now, Rusty (3/8/10) I think the best quote so far, about last night's Academy Awards broadcast, comes from writer, Ken Levine: "I was thrilled Christoph Waltz won. The last time I rooted for a Nazi was my high school production of 'Sound of Music'." kenlevine.blogspot.com (3/8/10) TITTY ON WRC-NBC4 IN WASHINGTON, D.C. - OHHH MYYY at NBC4! (3/8/10) Rusty, I am an older "fossil" will turn 61 next month. Do you still have family here on the shore? I will have to listen to your programs sometime on WEBR. Burt in Denton (3/8/10) Sometime during one of the February snowstorms, Comcast in Berkeley County, WV added NewsChannel 8 to their lineup. Al McGilvray (3/8/10) /\ March 8 Messages /\ \/ March 7 Messages \/ That's the cow on the right: Marsha, Marsha, Marsha: media.nowpublic.net... Martucci, Martucci, Martucci and we hope nobody is offended: www.wusa9.com (3/7/10) Just saw a commercial for channel 9 talking about Topper Shutt being the weather person and then at the end, the line is "that's not going to change"..Was there rumblings that he was leaving and/or being replaced? (3/7/10) Dave's response: I guess it's a dig against Channel 4, which just said goodbye to Bob Ryan..... May not be new news, but I see where starting tomorrow, WUSA9 will be starting their morning newscasts at 4:25a.m..Uh, why?..It's only a matter of time before the local stations will have an overnight news broadcast. (3/7/10) Dave's response: We did report that..... ''Who's checking the edits at Mix 106.5? I just heard "Shit" plain as day in that God awful new Black Eyed Peas song "Imma Be".'' Shame on you for listening that closely to THAT nonsense. By the way...Howard Stern LOVES that song. How sad is THAT? Paul (3/7/10) Speaking of vintage WITH-Radio: Bill Gormly, well-remembered by local boomers for Channel-5's "Count Down Carnival", was a popular DJ on AM 1230 in the early '60s before arriving at WTTG. In a recent interview, Gormly discusses his Emmy-winning kids' show. (3/7/10) I find the WABC-TV/Cablevision situation very interesting. Wasn’t WABC-TV among the VHF DTV’s requesting a power hike because of inadequate reliable reception after the switch? So, my question is, why isn’t Cablevision charging WABC-TV for providing reliable reception? Will WABC-TV distribute free DTV converters with the freebie $1.99 rabbit ears broadcasters usually pass out at times like this? Hey guys, you need more than just rabbit ears (and a cheapo DTV converter) these days! You need cable carriage to ensure reception! My instincts see Congress stepping-in on this quickly with the result being one the greedy among us won’t like. –Unsigned Corporate Suit (3/7/10) Who's checking the edits at Mix 106.5? I just heard "Shit" plain as day in that God awful new Black Eyed Peas song "Imma Be". (3/7/10) Re: Willard Scott's birthday. The 'Joy Boy' ALSO worked at WITH in Baltimore at the same time as Chuck Thompson and Buddy Deane. He did weekends there on 7 East Lexington for a few months back in the mid 50's while either as a member of the military reserves or having just gotten out of active duty, not sure which one it was. If you see or talk to Willard, ask him to tell his story about legendary WITH DJ Hot Rod Hulbert. Happy Birthday, Willard. A class act, indeed! (3/7/10) Hey Burt in Denton; I'm guessing that we're both approximately the same age (I'm a 52 YO "fossil"). When we would visit family in Federalsburg in the mid 60's, my cousin would frequently lend me his red Denton ballcap w/ the white "D" on the front for our backyard whiffleball games. Unfortunately it was never given. Only lent. Oh, and a huge thanks to DC sports icon Phil Wood for asking me "How are things on WEBR"? When I called The "Wall To Wall Baseball" show on MASN yesterday. And I give credit to you Dave for Phil even Knowing what a WEBR is! Rusty Gibson (3/7/10)  Near the end of that 75th birthday YouTube salute, Al Roker states that Willard was present in the announce booth (at Channel 4) for the very first NBC Today Show broadcast (which aired Monday, January 14th, 1952). Has any other on-air talent ever logged as many years with the same employer? (3/7/10)I echo Rusty Gibson's sentiments about the post on Chuck Thompson and Buddy Deane. There was nobody like Chuck, "Ain't the beer cold! and "Go to War Miss Agnes!". Oriole broadcasts have never been the same. The Orioles have had some great announcers over the years, Ernie Harwell, Bob Murphy, John Miller and so on. But Chuck was the best of them all! Burt in Denton (3/7/10) Back in 2003, on "Booknotes," C-SPAN's Brian Lamb interviewed Willard Scott about his book "The Older the Fiddle, the Better the Tune". It was a compilation of essays on growing older, by celebrities and also some not well-known folks. Most of us have seen Willard's lighthearted and even silly moments (and there is some of that here), but this video also reveals a more serious and personal side. www.c-spanarchives.org (3/7/10) Happy Birthday to former Joy Boy, Today Show weatherman and American treasure, Willard Scott, who turns 76 today! Here's a nice "Today Show" tribute on Willard's 75th, last year... (3/7/10) Billy Sparks - Not bad...The Junks are slowly getting some leverage on being themselves. First few months were painful. I think their demo numbers gave them some leverage. The rest at JFK are in the CBS handcuffs. Mike Wise is a headache with, or without, the handcuffs. I feel for Chad. I still think he and Big O had something special like “Arrested Development” did on TV. Lavar, stupid callers he can not yell at, the success of the MOS podcast with the Big O, and the old school rock must be killing him. (And, the MOS 1:30 PM release is not helping. I stop, come back at work so it lasts two hours.) I hope someone gets those guns of his secured. What will happen to JFK when the NFL draft is over? No Skins no B Ball and guns? I can hear the pin drop. The 980 guys get leverage and it is showing in the ratings. I like me my Mr. Tony. The fix: yes Mr. Arrogant is Arrogant but makes good points…probably the best points by anyone on either sports talker. Thom’s voice is fine. I liked him on the Sports Reporters and he gives great, old time sports reporter knowledge all the time. Other than the Fix, 980 guys talk about life. I wish they would dump Mike and Mike although at big events like the Super Bowl they get great, top line guests. Me: junks/Mr.Tony (ASAP, no JFK cross talk)/The Fix/MOS/some Chad/Sports Reporters/maybe Mr. Tony replay id traffic sucks. I wonder if the male demos, not the overall ones on DCRTV, bare this out. Me WM, Professional, 45-50. OB (3/7/10) re: NBC news audio with Brian Williams...I watch TV via OTA and have noticed the same thing too. Audio is low, then comes up to normal. !!!??? (3/7/10) /\ March 7 Messages /\ \/ March 6 Messages \/ Do you consider yourself a journalist? Is it "journalism" to take a random e-mail from a reader and post it as insider news regarding how bored everyone is at JFK? It could be true, but not exactly a very good source, Dave. (3/6/10) Anyone else in the Leesburg Home Depot hear the page for "TOM GAVIN" around 2pm? Must have been Robb Spewak or Mike O'Meara-related hijinx. I doubt Mr Gavin was there buying a hammer drill, but you never know. (3/6/10) Thanks to the Mailbagger for the splendid Chuck Thompson story. I miss him too and yes he was the best! Though I always wondered. Why was he so hesitant to discuss his days as a danceband singer, and did he have a decent singing voice? Rusty Gibson (3/6/10) OT it is. Who is the blonde actress in the new series of Toyota Sienna commercials? Sorry it would be embrassing to pull away from the desk at this point. Regards Biff (3/6/10) While going through some of my grandparents stuff, I found a cassette w/the attached which I cleaned-up at work... Looks like it was recorded by my grandfather, John W. Garvin at his home in Wagener, S.C. wrc1972.wav (3/6/10) Lil note to Ann Horaday at the Post: If you're going to write a review about Alice In Wonderland, it usually helps give people a clearer idea what the movie's about AND if it's any good by actually reviewing the movie instead of 9 paragraphs about Johnny Depp. Paul (3/6/10) Wondering why so many people here have a hard on for Christians. Picking on Britt Hume? Really? Maybe he wears a Cross pendant under his shirt. (3/6/10) Five years ago this weekend we mourned the passing of the great Chuck Thompson. Whom many believe was THE best play-by-play sportscaster of all time. Chuck was quite the personality away from the mic as well. Here's a little known episode revealing the mutual admiration between Thompson and his fans. In the fall of 2003, Chuck was invited to the tribute for Buddy Deane at Timonium Fairgrounds. Thompson and Buddy were colleagues for a number of years in the early 50's at WITH. They respected each other very much but Chuck never cared for the new 'rock and roll' music promoted and played by Deane. Along with sports, Thompson did afternoons at WITH playing Big Band and Swing records until Joel Chaseman took over the shift in the mid-50's. When Buddy passed in July of '03, what was to have been a Buddy Deane Fan Fair to be held concurrently with the new stage version of 'Hairspray!' at the Mechanic became a posthumous celebration of Deane's time in Baltimore. After receiving a phone call inviting him to be there, Chuck Thompson agreed to attend the tribute for Buddy. During that night, Chuck decided to get up from his table and step outside the back door to ingest a little fresh air and get away from all that 'rock and roll' blaring through the speakers. There he did what he did best: Held a 'bull' session with at first about 4-5 other attendees who were taking a smoke break. Well, word spread and soon more showed up to rap with the man. Before his court of admirers, he was in the middle of telling one of his many great yarns when Mrs. Thompson (who was looking all over for him) appeared and said 'Chuck, it's getting late and we have to go'. As he was making his way to the exit, he was telling his wife he DIDN'T want to go. I can still hear that booming voice...as if he were describing a Bert Jones to Roger Carr touchdown or a Brooks Robinson home run...saying "Doggone it Betty, those youngsters and I were having a good time talking about the old days!!'. Chuck, we didn't want you to go, either. Not then, or ever. Sorry you had to leave us...but in our hearts, ears, and memories of glorious games on Sunday afternoons and summer nights...you live on old friend. Hall of Famer Chuck Thompson. Baltimoreans (and others) who knew him, loved him. And always will. (3/6/10) To the fella noticing the dip in NBC News audio: Does your cable system pick up the lo-def channel, or even better, the feed from the Hagerstown NBC affiliate? Can you get OTA signals via an antenna? See if it is still happening when watching a signal from those other sources. You might be seeing and hearing some weird auto-matrixing taking place where a stereo signal might be reprocessed on WRC TV. You've seen where the pic's aspect ratio changes every time they jump from HD to good ol' regular definition, so its possible the audio is also taking a whack. (3/6/10) From a broadcast industry list-serv, here is a good example of the behavior that gives credence to the claim that the media is liberally biased. Note how much effort when into this. "There were at least two other "open mic" snafus involving Reagan ... before the "bombing" bit. As a longtime broadcaster, HE usually did not get all that excited by this stuff ... but his staff tended to go ballistic over the fact that they were aired. In one, he joked about the Communist government of Poland .. calling it "the biggest bunch of bums I've ever seen" and in the other, he referred to the economy as being "in a hell of a mess" .. which it more or less was at the time. But that was not a politically correct way of admitting it. And his Polish description was not exactly up to diplomatic norms. I have good reason to recall both. I was Washington bureau manager of UPI Audio / Radio at the time (we changed the name in between).And because of the one-(wo)man band staffing we had, I trained our staff to roll way early on these speeches .. lest they forget to roll when they came over live .. because in those days there was no repeat feed from the originating network. So we caught and recorded both. After urgent calls from the staffers who heard them, I made the decision to put both on the air on UPI newscasts and to feed it to client stations. We also had our UPI wire run the quotes ... and then was soon inundated from requests from some of the other radio networks .. and especially their TV brethren ... for copies .. so they could do likewise. In both cases, we gave them the tape and CBS and NBC TV aired them both times, with credits to UPI. The White House screamed "bloody murder" the first time .. that UPI had violated an agreement it had with the "bureau chiefs" not to air anything that was not part of the official speech. So I was called for a reaction quote by both my own wire service and the Associated Press to respond.I did.I pointed out that the then acting press secretary, Larry Speakes, had reached that agreement with the bureau chiefs of the networks who were to rotate handling the "pool feed" of the speech ... ABC, CBS, NBC and Mutual. ... at a meeting to which UPI (and some others .. like AP, NPR, VOA) had not been invited. I said I did not consider UPI bound by an agreement made by others .. without our presence or consent .. or even knowledge." (name left off). Of course that is the same logic that makes some people think a "Do Not Enter" sign does not apply to them either, because they didn't agree to it! (3/6/10) I’d like to share one more memory of WCAO. One night in summer 1965, right after we became of driving age, 2 friends and I drove out to WCAO, which had already relocated to Park Heights Avenue. The door to the building was unlocked so we walked in and made our way to the studio area. It was during the news, and Kirby Scott was standing outside the control room speaking with 2 girls who had also walked in. Kirby was very cordial and told us that we could watch for 5 minutes. When the news ended and music started, we watched through the window as Kirby was jumping up and down in the chair to the beat of the music. That could have been for show, but I doubt it. The newsman, Donn Keller, who was back at his desk, either wasn’t very nice or didn’t care for the idea of 3 punky kids standing around. I asked Mr. Keller, “Are you playing records or tapes?” He sarcastically replied, “I’m not playing anything.” The next summer, one of the friends and I went back. By then, Johnny Dark was on the air, and Fred Gray was the newsperson. Fred informed us that Johnny had a headache that night. But unlike Donn Keller, Fred was very nice to us. Roddy Freeman (3/6/10) RE Brian Williams each evening on WRC Channel 4.1: I watch via Comcast DVR in Montgomery County. Every single night his first few words sound like the director has opened the wrong mic and his voice is down 20 or 30 dB even though the theme music sounds right. Then his voice level pops up to normal. Every night. I can't think of any HD or cable artifact which could create that symptom. Any bright ideas? (3/6/10) I'm down here in sunny Florida doing voiceovers. I just noticed all the hub-bub about Jack Edwards being my alter ego, Seems my old friend Ed Graham started it all. Let me clear things up once and for all. First of all, Jack Edwards and I don't even look alike. If I was going to have an alter-ego, it would be someone like George Clooney, who I resemble, not Jack Edwards. As far as Ed Graham, I remember when he was my boss at WITH. Ed always had two desks in his office. One for each foot. Congrats to Bob Mathers for getting the GM job in Westminster. Knock 'em dead Bob. Maybe he's my alter ego. Jack Gale (3/6/10) Good Mail Bag Post , Billy Sparks (3/6/10) In response to Billy Sparks comment: but has it occurred to corporate suits, GM's and PD's that maybe these people aren't all that good, and maybe you need to hire or train people who do relate to your target demo? >>OMG, I haven't laughed that hard in quite some time. Today's radio GM and PD don't get talent and don't want talent - unless they can completely control them. The exception to this rule is talent that is already getting numbers. PDs leave them alone. There is a lot of talent reading this blog. It would be interesting to see how many of them actually get ANY constructive feedback from their PD or GM. When was the last time ANY of them had an actual, sit down air check session where they were truly coached on technique and how to reach the target listener. It does not happen because most PDs are clueless in this realm. Today's PD is quick to hot line or rush into the studio if a break is deemed as being 'too long' or if a liner card was read incorrectly. But training and growing talent? It...does...not....happen. Don't believe me? Listen to radio for a day then think of all the incredibly talented personalities who are in this town but can't get a gig. Even as a weekender. (3/6/10) RE: Crucifixes..... Part of being Christian is to witness to your faith, as in show it in public via a crucifix or more importantly by your actions. Although many people wear crucifixes for completely non-religious reasons these days just as jewelry, so I don't understand why this would bother someone. Your post reminded me of an old frustrated & uptight Woody Allen line, "I've got a lot on my mind right now!" to which Tracy Ulman's character yells back "YOUR MIND DON'T HOLD A LOT!" :-) (3/6/10) Dave's response: I always wondered why so many Fox Newsers wear little American flag lapel pins on the air, but not little crucifixes, crosses, or fish symbols. If "journalists" are going to proclaim their patriotism to all their viewers, why not their Christianity, too? How about it, Brit? “Pollin came across as a complete turd with his reaction to the call from that youngster and he definitely owes him and his parents an apology.” – What else did you expect? He hangs up on callers regularly on his Sports Reporters show. It amazes me he still has a job. (3/6/10) RE:crucifixes on air - Dude, tell me what else bugs you on air? To you get all uptight when a female anchor wears some type of ring on her hand? Do the "lapel mikes" bother you? Those are typically a little larger than crucifixes. You need to quit being so uptight and just enjoy the ride! Wow, next the buttons on her shirt will send you to therapy! (3/6/10) Good mailbag post by Billy Sparks – the issue in my opinion is the reason minority broadcasters tend to be ex-jocks and coaches is more indicative of the radio industry than a matter of race. The broadcasting industry has an extremely unbalanced distribution of compensation, where there are a few shows and talent at the top making the lion share of the money, and then the majority of persons in the industry are at the entry-level compensation level mostly due to the market size and the limited radio budgets at the stations. So, many aspiring broadcasters who want to make this a profession, will likely abandon this career path due to a very low salary (talking in the teens), unstable employment situations, and will face a lot of competition that is willing to work for free or next to it. Thus, in most markets like ours in DC, who can really afford to support themselves on an entry level wage? But ex-athletes and coaches who have already eared significant income in their sports career, can pursue the radio business. Matt (3/6/10) The recent posts about Jack Gale and Jack Edwards reminded me of the rivalry between WCAO and WITH when I was growing up. In the mid-sixties, WCAO was well ahead of WITH, whose signal just didn’t reach the growing suburbs, especially at night. That notwithstanding, WITH fought hard to gain against WCAO. WITH hired Buddy Deane around 1964, and paid him based on ratings growth against WCAO. WCAO countered by moving Paul Rodgers (the Rodge) from 10PM to midnight into mornings, and shifting morning man Steve Wade to Rodgers’ former slot. Around 1965, when WITH was still owned by Tinsley, the station challenged WCAO to a broom hockey game at the Civic Center. Smartly, WCAO ignored the whole thing. After all, WCAO was #1; why should they promote WITH by mentioning the station? At the time, Gene Creasy was PD at WITH and was on the air. I remember him mentioning, in reference to the challenge, “those chickens over at 60.” About a year later, Gene Creasy was programming WCAO. As a matter of fact, he really needed some programming smarts to succeed in his mission. WCBM, under Metromedia ownership, was playing a lot of the same music as WCAO but was leaving out the hard stuff. So Gene Creasy had to soften middays to keep and grow WCAO’s audience vs. WCBM; and he was successful. After Reeves purchased WITH later that year, they started playing Eve of Destruction by Barry McGuire. The song caught fire, and I remember Kirby Scott saying on WCAO that the station wasn’t going to play it. He said, “We don’t like what it stands for.” WITH started saying it was “the only Baltimore station playing the bona fide #1 record.” But that didn’t do much good. WITH was beautiful music by the fall of 1966. Roddy Freeman (3/6/10) /\ March 6 Messages /\ \/ March 5 Messages \/ Dave, Can you, or can anyone for that matter, tell me what it is that MSNBC sees in Chris Matthews? This pompous ass-wipe may know something about how things work on Capitol Hill but he proves, on a daily basis, that he knows nothing what-so-ever about courteous/civil discourse. To suggest that as a host Chris Mathews is an obnoxious, discourteous jerk is to risk being accused of monumentally understating his style. The guy seems to be so interested in hearing what he has to say that he can seldom let his guests finish a thought or complete their answers to one of his seemingly never ending questions questions before he bulls his way into their comments and talk all over them. If you or anyone out there has any pull with MSNBC how about asking them to tone this Bozo down. And if that can't be done how about giving his time slot to Rachel Maddow and showing Matthews the door. Thanks, Lew (3/5/10) Does anyone else hate when anchors and reporters wear crucifixes on air? (Some do it regularly, others occasionally). I don't hate religion, it just seems like too much information about them and that they are pushing me to subscribe. (3/5/10) Re: "Boredom at WJFK": Here's my problem with sports radio in general, and in DC specifically. Why is it that any full time minority sports broadcasters always seem to be ex-players or coaches? Are there truly no qualified minority BROADCASTERS who didn't play or coach sports? I mean let's look at the DC sports stations. WJFK for example: The Junkies -4 white guys, great chemistry with questionable professionalism. The Mike Wise Show - 2 more white guys with a host constantly going off on tangents of his lost athletic youth, and a not too likable co-host. LaVar and Dukes - Finally a minority! (However, an ex-athlete), Dukes still doing the Don Geronimo impersonation...poorly. LaVar, a great guest, a bad host. The Holden Kushner Show - Another white guy, not particularly entertaining to anyone except himself. On to ESPN 980: The Tony Kornheiser Show - He's right, he has turned into Imus. He never seems to have a good day. The Sports Fix - Yet 2 more white guys. Kevin Sheehan IS knowledgeable, just ask him, he'll tell you, and Thom Loverro sounds like a cartoon character. The John Thompson Show - 2 minorities, ex-coach, ex-athlete, many ex-listeners. Finally, The Sports Reporters - Yet 2 more white guys. However, Andy and Steve have great chemistry. IMO, this show is king of the heap...but what a heap of shit it is! My point is, in a listening area that is majority minority, is it possible to hear a minority who didn't play or coach? I like going green just as much as the next person, but why do these stations keep recycling alleged "talent"? I heard Frank Hanhrahan and Al Koken on WJFK, and thought I was tuned into the wrong station! No personal offense to all the "talent" named in this post, but has it occurred to corporate suits, GM's and PD's that maybe these people aren't all that good, and maybe you need to hire or train people who do relate to your target demo? (Ed. note: Just saw a commercial for 94.7 Fresh's commercial free Mondays. Paying to run a spot, to advertise that you have no spots? Brilliant!) Anyways, it's the same old story, radio is one the few businesses that you can continue to fail up in, and the only real losers are the listeners. -Billy Sparks (3/5/10)  The resemblance is remarkable. How could anyone not see that Jack Edwards and Jack Gale were one and the same? (3/5/10)The ultimate portrait of Bill Cosby: it's done completely in Jell-O shots. makezine.com (3/5/10) So the new set on channel 4 is temporary? Saw a new reporter recently anchor in richmond the other day. Gosh I hope they don't make him do that Daily Connection thing. sorry to see claudia coffey go. thought she was sort of a legitimate reporter. she didn't want to play the reindeer games over there at channel 5 on the starship enterprise set? (3/5/10) Guilty, as charged. Ed Graham, Jack Gale, Bob Mathers and Alan Field. Have you NO respect for the elderly. Thanks for the memories and no guy could ask for better radio folks to have been associated with thru the years. For the record, I stopped pine oiling/cleaning the WCAO console when the late Gene Creasy took me off the 9 year over night shift and moved me into 7 until midnight the Summer of 1969 to go up against the new WLPL-92 FM Stereo. That was the beginning of the end...LPL became the teens sensation in Baltimore for years, later to evolve into 92 Star and another success story for United Broadcasting. I am alive, well and retired with my wonderful wife Joyce in Reisterstown. I see Johhny Dark in the local supermarkets and just last week, we exchanged poli-grip denture and Depends coupons; which reminds me, my walker has to go in for an oil change. Please support this great site (I do) and Dave's outstanding job. Thanks, Jack Edwards (the real one) (3/5/10) Congratulations to ABC affiliate TV3 Winchester on their third anniversary (March 5). News Director Denise Chandler, anchor Wendi Redman, meteorologist Lauryn Ricketts, operations manager Tony Versely and promotions director Shaun Gelang have been there since the beginning. Al McGilvray (3/5/10) As a longtime WJFK listener, I think it is clear that the talent is bored with sports. You can hear the pain in E.B.’s voice in particular. A week or so ago he ranted about hating the music they come in and out of breaks with. Any fan knows this is NOT the music these guys listen to, it is not authentic. And that is the whole problem with the line-up, the shows are not authentic they are formulated. And DC sports are not that interesting. And it is boring to listen to the same topics over and over again. My favorite time to listen to the station is 5:00 am – 5:30 am for Classic Junkies. Mike Wise Show has no entertainment value at all. And now for the one I’m really passionate about, Lavar & Dukes. Chad does his best, but even he isn’t authentic. Lavar will call DeShawn Stevenson “DeShawn Stevens” 5 times in a row and Chad NEVER calls him out on it. Almost like he has just accepted the mistakes and doesn’t have the energy to correct them. Wasting Chad Dukes on that show is like when you see a great actor in a crap movie. I was very hurt last week when Mike Wise made a “joke” about Big O and Dukes fans wanting their time slot back. Ha ha? Not funny at all Mike, people in DC and nationwide were incredibly passionate about the old line-up particularly the Big O and Dukes Show. It still hurts to think about what we had then compared to what we have now. For now, I’ll listen to about an hour of the Junkies, Tony K, O&A, Howard and look forward everyday to The Mike O’Meara Show online. TSM (3/5/10) Why, oh, why does channel 4 continue to try and shove Craig Melvin down our throats? He really is one of the worst hires in DC TV history. The man doesn't know how to deliver a story. Instead he spits it out, word for word. His facial expressions are so exaggerated that he reminds me of a clown. I can't really listen to anything he is saying because his delivery is so distracting. The minute I see or hear him, I change the channel. Everyone I talk to feels the same way. A friend of mine at 4 says they get MANY complaints but ignore them since Melvin comes so cheap. Channel 4 may be on top now but they are starting to become the joke that channel 9 is. WJLA is looking better all the time. At least I can watch and not feel like I am listening to fingernails on a chalkboard. (3/5/10) "Word in the halls of The Fan is that the air personalities are bored with sports." If that's true, why did they sign on with a sports talk station in the first place? I agree with the earlier poster's comment about Holden Kushner - you get the impression he could care less about all the sports topics and would much rather be chatting about sex and girls for four hours. If the Junkies have carte blanche to go in any direction they want on WJFK, Tony Kornheiser clearly enjoys the same freedom at WTEM - I think there was an entire program earlier this week where his 15 minute interview with Boston Globe writer Bob Ryan was the only time sports was discussed. One big difference between the two shows is that at least Kornheiser steers clear of the low road (even the remarks about Hannah Storm that got him in hot water included a literary reference). There was a boorish moment on 980 this morning when a kid (who sounded 12 or 13) called into the special Redskins free agency show and appeared to be asking a legitimate question when Andy Pollin abruptly hung up on him with a rude "shouldn't you be in school?" reply. Perhaps the station has a strict 18 and over policy for its call-in segments (which is ridiculous since children who follow sports often have better insights than their adult counterparts), but if a kid happens to get through I don't think it's unreasonable to expect him or her to be treated with some simple courtesy. Pollin came across as a complete turd with his reaction to the call from that youngster and he definitely owes him and his parents an apology. Mike, Fairfax (3/5/10) JFK needs to go back to the guy talk format… I’m a big sports fan but I like my boob and fart jokes as well. My drive home is HELL, I like Dukes and he can carry the guy talk format but Lavar needs to GO! (3/5/10) Boredom at WJFK? Word in the halls of The Fan is that the air personalities are bored with sports. Management won't let them deviate from sports and it's beginning to chafe some of the talent that want to be more free swinging like the Junkies. The Junkies are the only show that get to keep most of what they always have been. Funny, going topic to topic, and of course sports. To this listener, Mike Wise sounds like he'd rather be anywhere else, but Lavar sounds pretty good. It's obvious that Holden K is ready to kill himself, probably wondering why the hell he took this gig. I am a listener, but I heard this from a friend of a friend so who knows what it's worth... (3/5/10) My old friend, Ed Graham, is right about the Jack Gale/Jack Edwards conundrum, but he didn't tell you "the rest of the story", as Paul Harvey would say. Yes, they were at one time one and the same. I was one of the all night DJ's who passed the buck to JackG at WITH. He always came in flushed from running from 1102 North Charles to 7 E. Lexington, (forget about the steps!!!). Then I moved over to WCAO and in April of '60 went into the Morning show, replacing Bid Causey, who left for WITH. That was the first time I met JackE, who always had a towel and soap for the transition. I can't remember whether he was cleaning up or getting dirty. Anyway, this dichotomy was wearing on him and what resulted is one of the strangest cases of split personality ever recorded. I read about it later in "Psychology For Dummies". I think what happened is that the daily commute from Jacksonville to Baltimore really began to wear on him and a physical split began. It finally culminated in the mid Sixties. I know that because the JackG who foisted Johnny Cymbal on us could no longer be the JackE who swore the world began and ended with Motown. Alan Field (3/5/10) From TVNewser: In a segment on "Fox & Friends" this morning, Geraldo, who's been in a few studio brawls of his own, came on and discussed this video of a newsroom fist-fight behind an Italian newscaster. Then he attacked Steve Doocy... (3/5/10) You've gotta love Daniel Snyder's amatuer hour at 94.3FM...at about 8:20am they broke away from ESPN's Mike & Mike show -- one of the most popular talk shows on the air -- for a "special report" from Redskins park. The fast breaking news? Nobody from the team is at Redskins Park and the team has made no free agent signings. The punchline? 20 minutes in, ignoramous Steve Czaban is ridiculing ESPN for their "breathless coverage" of NFL free agency. "C'mon! Nothing is happening," Czaban said. Truer words were never spoken. (3/5/10) "This is getting to be a serious problem with Mr. Wise. Someone needs to sit down with him and tell him how annoying this is. He doesn't just interrupt a caller, he asks the caller a question, and then interrupts him in the middle of the answer." Someone already has. His name is Chris Matthews. (3/5/10) One more Bruce Williams-ism. He has to say the word "b-niss" (for business) at least 10 times per call... (3/5/10) Did anybody find out why Fox5 news anchor Brian Bolter was missing for at least a week during sweeps? He's been back this week but it's generally unheard of for a main anchor to be off the air during a crucial ratings period. And I noticed while he was away no one co-anchored weekends with Maureen Umeh as Will Thomas moved to Brian's week day slot. (3/5/10) NASCAR.....The Beltway.....hmmmmm YES!!! Lets add potholes,paving crews and seafood supply trucks to NASCAR!!!! First one to plow thru a politicians limo gets a free lap up!! Donnie in NASCAR luvin Cessle( just count me out) (3/5/10) /\ March 5 Messages /\ \/ March 4 Messages \/ (regarding Dave's response) “I don't know shit about NASCAR coverage.....” The best way to sum up car racing is to note that it involves drivers in expensive, ad-covered vehicles, racing around and around in a circle as fast as they can; risking life and limb, to see who can stop doing that first. This is, quite possibly, the most pointless exercise in the known universe -- unless, of course, you include coverage of such a thing -- which is probably even more pointless! (3/4/10) Dave's response: Oh, the Beltway..... No offense, but Lindsay Czarnia's pit reporting duties are not exactly a "breakthrough" for motorsports broadcasting or for nascar for that matter. Here are a few other women who are also Pit Reporters in nascar and other motorsports who have been doing it longer than Lindsay: Wendy Venturini... Krista Voda... Sara Dayley... Jamie Howe... Just thought you should know. (3/4/10) Dave's response: That "breakthrough of sorts" quote was from the USA Today article I linked to. I don't know shit about NASCAR coverage..... What's the difference between Joy Pons doing the weather on WMAR and Marty Bass on WJZ? Marty has more experience FOREcasting in Patterson Park! BADDA BING BADDA BOOM! LOL (3/4/10) Not exactly local to DCRTV, but one of my sources sends the text (below) of the letter U.S. Senator John Ketty (D-MA) sent to FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski regarding the battle between Disney/ABC and Cablevision over retransmission payments for Cablevision carriage of WABC-TV in New York.......... Dear Chairman Genachowski: As you know, millions of Cablevision customers in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut could miss the Oscars this year due to a retransmission dispute with Disney. I recognize that these are private negotiations, but its resolution is something that matters to the consumers who take hard earned money out of their wallets each month to pay their cable bills and have a right to expect not to be collateral damage in wars between executives. I ask you to urge the parties to stay at the negotiating table and continue transmitting ABC programming to Cablevision consumers. I simply do not believe consumers should lose access to a signal over their cable service as long as both parties are negotiating in good faith. I take the rules that govern these negotiations seriously because they have repercussions for what Americans can view and how much they pay for it. I fear that this dispute is the most recent evidence that the retransmission consent regime has become outdated in the 18 years since it was crafted. Regardless of how this dispute turns out, it will not be the last time that we see a public fight between cable companies and broadcasters where the consumer is likely to be the loser and we need to fix the system. Today, a broadcaster can pull its signal from cable companies serving millions of people if it does not get paid what it wants for that signal. I don't believe they should be able to do that unless the cable company is negotiating in bad faith, the broadcaster has submitted a claim of bad faith negotiation to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the FCC has determined that claim to be true. At that point, then yes, the broadcaster should be free to pull their signal. But as long as there are good faith negotiations, all parties should stay at the table and signals should continue to be transmitted to consumers. That is not the law today, however. Currently, the broadcaster can pull his signal at his or her discretion. In 1992, when the law was written, satellite and telephone delivery of television service were almost nonexistent. If you lived in New York, for example, you did not have the choice of FIOS or two satellite companies. You do today. Back then, cable's near monopoly status gave it immense power over broadcasters. As a result, the negotiating parameters were rightly set up to favor broadcasters. A lot has changed since then. But the rules are still the same. As a result, Disney can, as it has this week, threaten Cablevision with the loss of ABC right before the Oscars as a tool to negotiate higher cash payment for the programming. FOX did the same thing with Time Warner Cable at the beginning of the year with College Bowls programming. Disney knows that if they pull the signal, viewers will blame the cable company and switch to FIOS, RCN, DISH, or DIRECT TV after missing the Oscars. The result of these flawed incentives is consumer uncertainty, higher prices, and broadcasters using special events as leverage in negotiations. The question for policymakers today is under what conditions the broadcaster should be able to pull programming from consumers, especially considering these important facts: first, broadcasters already benefit from free access to our airwaves; second, broadcasters carry live programming that can't be substituted like the Super Bowl, the Oscars, and the Olympics; and third, we are not living in 1992. I have suggested an answer here and I am open to alternatives. But this game of chicken being played again and again between cable companies and broadcasters with consumers in the crosshairs must come to an end. (3/4/10) As national radio talk host Bruce Williams signs off for what appears to be the final time, I'd like to sum up his decades-long career with the three simple sentences I heard him use most to make millions for himself while advising less fortunate callers: #1 "You should have signed a contract." #2 "You should have hired a lawyer." #3 "Good luck my friend." (3/4/10) re "Had to switch off Mike Wise this morning, again. He kept interrupting caller he was arguing with so that you can't understand either one" This is getting to be a serious problem with Mr. Wise. Someone needs to sit down with him and tell him how annoying this is. He doesn't just interrupt a caller, he asks the caller a question, and then interrupts him in the middle of the answer. (3/4/10) I'm surprised Discovery turned down Miss America. How does Discovery even turn a profit with all the shitty ''reality'' shows that all seem the same? They could USE Miss America. Paul (3/4/10) "I'm sure [Al Galdi] will do a great job but doesn't he know that becoming the station's beat reporter is the kiss of death (see Jerry Coleman and Frank Hanrahan)?". On the other hand, Bram Weinstein (who had that assignment at WTEM for a long time) seems to be doing very well as an anchor for ESPN News. How is the position of Redskins reporter for a radio station owned by Dan Snyder supposed to be viewed? While Galdi will have more access to the team than his WJFK counterpart Chris Russell, you can't convince me there's no pressure from manangement to try and put a positive spin on everything. ESPN 980 has finally gotten around to doing something about its minimal local presence on weekends (outside of Skins game day programming) by giving Galdi the 9 AM to noon timeslot on Saturdays. Of course 106.7 The Fan's been providing a lot of weekend fare including Kevin & Rock, Parker & Parker and the Brian Mitchell/Shan Shariff program (which Galdi will be competing directly with for two hours). If memory serves, Galdi (a pro wrestling aficianado) co-hosted a Saturday morning show with Marc Sterne on 980 some years back and of course he helped out with Steve Czaban's old Fox Sports Radio program as well as handling the Skins postgame call-in show last year. The station will now have to find a replacement in that latter role (maybe Andy Pollin or Kevin Sheehan once again). I've really soured on Holden Kushner's show - way too much frat house type stuff and the chemistry between him and Liz Drabeck isn't very good. Apparently he still works part time for Sirius XM's Home Plate channel - maybe he'll be sent to Florida for baseball's spring training and can do some reporting on the Nationals for WJFK. Does either sports talk station have anyone down there covering the team? Considering all the local and national interest surrounding the impending debut of pitching phenom Stephen Strasburg, you'd think we'd be getting more coverage. I tuned in John Thompson's program (on 980) the other day and heard him ask for "your Redskin calls". The Skins don't play a meaningful game for another six months - how about taking some Nats calls for the first time in God knows when? Mike, Fairfax (3/4/10) I'm writing to let you be the first to know of our next Q&A Cafe, Thursday, March 18 - a provocative but scholarly look at the sex and political scandal that shook and divided the nation, the affair of Monica Lewinsky and President Bill Clinton, and the turbulent aftermath involving Ken Starr, Congress and impeachment. The guest is Ken Gormley, a nationally renowned expert on special prosecutors (and Watergate). His book, already climbing The New York Times bestseller list, is "The Death of American Virtue." One reviewer said, "Gormley appears in remarkable possession of every detail pertinent to this complex story. For those wishing to understand exactly what happened during this dismal time, Gormley's evenhanded analysis is the place to start." Gormley conducted interviews with all the principal players, including Lewinsky, Clinton, Starr, Linda Tripp, Paula Jones, Susan McDougal, Supreme Court justices, and many more individuals key to the saga. The program will take place, as usual, at the Ritz Carlton Georgetown. For reservations, please call 202.912.4110. The fee is $50, all inclusive. Seating begins at noon. You won't want to miss this. I look forward to seeing you there. Carol (3/4/10) Now This... a 90 minute documentary on the early history of WJMA radio in Orange, VA is now available for purchase. The DVD covers the history of WJMA from sign-on in late 1949 through early 1984. Interviews with 30 former staff, owners, listeners and period photos are included in the documentary. There is a second 82 minute disc that includes additional longer stories, audio clips, and reminiscences. Now This...is available for credit card purchase through Amazon.com  . The Amazon price is $14.99 plus applicable tax and shipping. Or you can send a
$15 check to: WJMA Video, PO Box 791, Orange VA 22960. The price includes
shipping. Make checks payable to Ross Hunter. (3/4/10)Had to switch off Mike Wise this morning, again. He kept interrupting caller he was arguing with so that you can't understand either one. Repeatedly, he'd say, Go ahead, and then just jump in and cut off the caller. Bad radio. (3/4/10) A live *TEST* video stream of the syndicated G Gordon Liddy radio show will be happening Thursday from 10A to 1P E.T. on USTREAM.TV. It is a one-camera shoot only, with a few graphics. If you have a moment to log on and see it, please send technical comments and reception reports (nothing pithy, abusive or irrelevant please) to rollingvalleyradio@yahoo.com . Thank you all. (3/4/10) Ed Graham's comments on Jack Edwards and Jack Gale are perhaps the funniest I've ever read on DCRTV. The more I think about it, Graham is on target. Edwards started in radio in 1956. Gale came to mornings at WITH in 1957. Which means I guess, Gale was actually warming up for his WITH gig a few months ahead of time in the role of Jack Edwards. By 1960, Jack was overnights at CAO. Gale was still doing AM drive at WITH. Which means Gale was Edwards between Midnight and 5:45 AM on WCAO, then rolled the daily Sermonette at a quarter to 6 and ran 8 blocks down Charles Street to Lexington, proceeding to climb 3 floors just in time to take the handoff from Roz Ford, Bid Causey, or whomever was doing the all-night satellite at WITH. He was late one day when he tripped in a pothole in the dark near Charles and Centre streets and spent 15 minutes looking for the bag of Little Tavern sandwiches that flew out of his hand on impact. He found them in a hedge near the Washington Monument. Ketchup was oozing out of the bag. Then, if Graham's claim needs even more proof...Jack Gale fired Ron Riley at WAPE in Jacksonville for playing too many Beatle records in a row. Riley got back at Gale when he arrived at WCAO in the early 70's by forcing Edwards/Gale out to where he eventually went to WCBM. They look very similar, save for the fact Jack is 6 inches taller and greets staffers each morning with 'Coffee, Hoss? Fresh Pot!' Yes, Gale certainly played his cards right all those years. He knew...like Bret Maverick...it was best to have 'A pair of Jacks' to open. (3/4/10) Regarding Mick Lee, he also replaced Albie Dee at Hot 99.5 for about 2 weeks until he F bombed a voicetrack. Hopefully, Portland has improved his attention to detail. (3/4/10) Iam surprised that Clear Channel actually hired a real live PD for Z1043 instead of just having it programmed from Rockville a la Thea Mitchum who is the PD of Hot995 based in Rockville program both stations. Will they actually spend money on a local air-staff? Also its about time that CBS Radio and WPGC named Big Tigger as the stations new morning man do not understand what has taken so long but whatever. Apparently Angie Corley is still on their staff so i guess she will return as the co-host of the new "Live In the Den Morning Show"-w Big Tigger. (3/4/10) Joy Pons may be doing WMAR-TV's weather now but for several months, until very recently, she was a semi-regular traffic reporter on WJZ-TV. And most local TV weather segments everywhere have a producer and/or a consulting service to provide content. So accuracy seldom varies just because of who's on screen. Joy doing weather isn't exactly a sea change for WMAR-TV, especially at this stage in its pathetic 20-year decline. And by the same token Bob Ryan, Kim Martucci, or their professional colleagues who are still working don't really add much value except as personalities, which sometimes makes all the difference to the audience. (3/4/10) I am really liking the HD Radio power hike approval. I also nominate 106.7 WJFK for the world-record holder for HD subchannels. HD-1 through HD-4. Wow!! Even more than C-Span Radio and WAMU!! Who cares if it's the same program? -Chainsman (3/4/10) National Talknet host and my friend Bruce williams retires this Friday with his last nation wide show. (3/4/10) /\ March 4 Messages /\ \/ March 3 Messages \/ Congrats to Al Galdi. He deserves it and I like his style. I'm sure he'll do a great job but doesn't he know that becoming the station's Skins beat reporter is the kiss of death (see Jerry Coleman and Frank Hanrahan)? (3/3/10) OMG CH2 has slipped to an all-time low. This evening Joy Pons is doing the weather. She knows as much about the weather as my cat. She's the one who many years ago posed for playboy magazine draped over a plane's wing when she was doing traffic reports. How can they say they have the most accurate forecast? (3/3/10) "Meet the Press" moderator David Gregory says "mainstream media" has become "a term of derision" and he doesn't like it. Talking to broadcasters in Washington at the National Association of Broadcasters' annual state leadership conference, Gregory suggested that Washington, with the aid of the media, has divided itself into disparate streams that eschew common ground. Uhhh, where has this Beltway hack been? He should know better than anyone that the first rule of the liberal media is to promote the government of the day. www.broadcastingcable.com (3/3/10) Dickhead Jim Handly just pronounced Chuck Levin's family name as "Levine" Did he he catch some kind of disease from Babs? Regards Biff (3/3/10) Good to see Bob Mathers getting back into radio around here. We need more people like him leading this industry once again. I just hope he's given what I like to call, the "freedom to succeed"! God Bless Ya, Bob! -Unsigned Corporate Suit (3/3/10) From TVNewser: Yesterday morning, shock jock Howard Stern appeared on CBS' "Early Show" from his Sirius XM studio to, among other things, weigh in on Jay Leno's return to late night. He told Harry Smith, "Just the mere mention of Jay Leno's name makes me want to vomit." Stern appearing on a network morning show is a rare sight. We hear that a staffer from a competing morning show even sent an email over to the CBS control room, impressed with the get. (3/3/10) Great news...Bob Mathers back where he belongs. Give him a week or so and you'll her a great radio station. I just got some other really fantastic news about another format change coming as soon as tomorrow. Welcome back you guys. Ed Graham (3/3/10) It's sad, that even with the DC stations trying to figure out what morning or afternoon show to broadcast, The Greaseman had to go to Florida to find a job. Makes me glad i'm in the IT biz and not the radio biz. Bethesda Jeff (3/3/10) 106.7 apparently is announcing something big today at 5:10. Any guesses? I am thinking they will carry Capitals games on their air for the rest of the season and/or playoffs. BFD -- hockey is meant to watched on TV in HD. (3/3/10) I just had to say that those Martucci emails that come with the attachments must crack you up as much as me, because you keep running them. A stone pillar being lifted out of the ground is Big Kim relocating to WRC? Her first meal in the cafeteria is some sweat hog eating an entire cake? They’re all so stupid funny I can’t help myself. AND I LIKE KM! She came to my kids’ school and was great with them. She also lives near me in Frederick county, so I have to come to her defense. Still, I think of that stone pillar video, and I just start snickering uncontrollably. I’m cracking up just thinking about it. So even if the guy sending them in needs mental help, MORE PLEASE! (3/3/10) Re: The Baltimore Sun and the use of the word "Fag"...there was a time only just a few years ago when many of the valley news papers such as the Martinsburg Journal, Winchester Star, Harrisonburg Daily News-Record and the Northern Virginia Daily had not only allowed the use of the word "fag" on their forums but even in the actual articles appearing in the paper that was written by the staff. I myself can remember the Martinsburg Journal's "Journal Juction" and for the longest time not a week went by without someone calling somebody a "fag" such as the time some years back when some jerk called the people who belong to the local Martinsburg Moses House ( a home for people with HIV/AIDS ) "..trashy dirty fags". Now before people start to send emails to DCRTV saying "..NO NO NO..that has NEVER happened !!".., well may I suggest to you to whip out your VISA/Mastercard and pay for the access to the website www.newspaperarchive.org. The proof in the pudding is all right there !!! Today on the other hand no local paper in that region still allows the use of that word either online or in the actual paper itself, very surprised to see that a major paper such as the Baltimore Sun still does. (3/3/10) (snip) Sajak Broadcasting hires Bob Mathers (end snip) Glad to see he's been hired. I wondered what happened to him after "Leave it to Beaver" was cancelled. Al McGilvray (3/3/10) Dave's response: That was Jerry Mathers, who has put on a lot of weight since then..... The Baltimore Sun's new COMMENTS to stories thing that was added back does not allow the posting of the N-word, or the words mofo, fuck, or even the word ASS. It checks for offensive words & rightly so. But, guess what it does allow, you can CALL PEOPLE FAGS at BaltimoreSun.com unbelievably... "reader203 at 9:35 AM March 3, 2010 If the people of Maryland decide they do not want Gansler as AG anymore all they have to do is vote him out of office. As for the gay marriage thing, I still can't understand why the FAGS need to call it marriage. Why can't they call it something else, like companionship or partnership or something. I do know the reason (follow the money and benefits) but I still consider it an obomination that they want to call it marriage." THIS POST STILL REMAINS UP! Just unbelievable. Assembly cannot impeach Gansler, his office advises - baltimoresun.com (3/3/10) Jim asked, "What ever happened to Jack Edwards, formerly of WCAO and WCBM in their hey days?" Sorry, Jim, but ironically, Jack never existed. He was merely another voice of the multitalented Jack Gale. This allowed Jack Gale to work for two Baltimore stations at the same time and to declare Edwards as a dependant on his taxes. Ed Graham (3/3/10) actual-secret-video-of-actual-politico-editorial-meeting wonkette.com (3/3/10) (From DCRTV's Classified Ads:) Local entrepreneur is interested in introducing new sound to the DC airwaves, targeting 18-35 demographic. Looking for business partners to discuss this exciting radio opportunity. Please send email to dcmetroradio@aol.com (3/3/10) Today (March 3), WFMD radio host Blaine Young will be sworn in as Frederick, MD County Commissioner. Here is an editorial page from The Frederick News-Post of the future of Blaine Young's WFMD talk show-www.fredericknewspost.com (3/3/10) Dave, thanks for the post about Video Vault—sad news. About three years ago, my VCR broke, and the only reason I bothered to buy a new one was because of Video Vault and their collection of “B” horror movies. Jim, if you’re reading this, please accept my gratitude for providing so many years of affordable entertainment and I wish you and your wife all my best. Chris in Alexandria (3/3/10) (regarding Dave's response) “There's a restroom in the basement of a parking garage in Rosslyn, over on Nash Street, I think.” Isn’t that where Bob Woodward and W. Mark Felt - aka: ‘DeepThroat’ - used to meet? (3/3/10) Dave's response: Right around the corner..... Like so many other people, I can't wait to get my weather from Kim Martucci again. She is the only reason why I actually paused while zipping through the channels one early morning and let my set linger on channel 9 for once. It isn't just that she rarely let me down with the weather, but my kids actually wanted to get up for school and find out what she was going to say. Instead of watching kids programming, I could actually watch news while packing their lunches. My daughter would pick out her clothes and say "But mom Kim said it wasn't going to rain". She is really missed in this Alexandria household and our morning routine just isn't the same. So, Miss Kim, we're looking for you! Hurry up and come back and be part of our family again and know we'll follow you to whichever station is lucky enough to get you. -- The Kennys (3/3/10) Hey, that Spanish party "radio station" at the 87 MHz end of the FM band - the one that is supposed to be a TV station - anyone know where programming originates from; if they have a main or remote studio (not just a mailing address)? (3/3/10) Dave's response: There's a restroom in the basement of a parking garage in Rosslyn, over on Nash Street, I think. In the men's room, enter the third stall from the left and shut the door. With your foot, tap on the floor five times (not four or six). Be careful if Senator Larry Craig is in the next stall. The floor of the stall will slowly drop and you'll find yourself at the WDCN offices and studios..... Keep up the good work. I check your site every day and love keeping up with my Baltimore-D.C. TV and radio memories. What ever happened to Jack Edwards, formerly of WCAO and WCBM in their hey days? Best regards from FL, Jim (3/3/10) Here's a link to a press release about the 40th anniversary of The Beatles arrival in the U.S., with some vintage audio clips of the Fab Four and Carroll James, the WWDC disc jockey who premiered "I Want To Hold Your Hand" on American radio. Earlier, he had heard from a Silver Spring listener, Marsha Albert, who had seen film of them on CBS News, and asked James why their music wasn't being heard on U.S. radio. The press release and audio clips lay out the story. www.thefab40.com... I wonder what became of Marsha? (3/3/10) For the past two days 106.7 the Fan has been running a replay of its HD1 channel on its HD2, HD3, and HD4 channels. Great job CBS engineers! (3/3/10) Dave's response: Well, over the weekend they had Baltimore's WJZ-FM on the HD2, NYC WFAN on the HD3, and Philly's WIP on the HD4. I guess they're having technical troubles. See below..... What is going on with 106.7 the fan I turned them on after 11pm on Tuesday March 2nd for Chris Russel then the beginning of the final hour of The Tony Bruno show and they have 660 am New York on there with John Feinstein which is not a dc radio station I like John but I want my dc sports... Alex (3/3/10) I probably read it wrong but I got the impression from the WaPo magazine article that a principle reason why Leon Harris was speaking to the yutes about the dangers of drunk driving was to garner increased ratings? Did the article mention what a clotheshorse Mr. Harris is? Heck the sales staff over at channel 7 should line up The Men's Warehouse as a sponsor for the 5 pm news. Or maybe the beleaguered SYMS? Was Matt Brock cut loose or went elsewhere ? He's off the talent bio page at channel 7. Wasn't he there about 10 years? I did not know Courtney Robinson and Pamela Brown where both graduates of the University of Tar Heels. If Bob Ryan does show up on channel 7 does that mean some other weatherperson over there bites the dust? And how about Tucker Barnes, the seperated by birth of the young charles Schwab, heck plug him in over at channel 4 as the main weatherman and he'll be there a decade, if local news lasts that long. Man Meyer Emco and now Video Vault, all the places I frequent are biting the dust. (3/3/10) Just for the record, WLOM was, until early 1983, WNAV-FM and it did have a 'beautiful music' format. Right about the late winter or early spring of that year, the calls were changed to WLOM and the format to soft hits (soft AC). This continued until that fall. (3/3/10) A question to my fellow "Mailbaggers". Well, Spring Training is upon us. As a lifelong Oriole fan (please don't hold that against me). Does anyone remember an old PBS baseball series from the early 70's called "Basically Baseball"? As I recall, it featured members of some early to mid-70's Oriole teams (including Earl & some of his coaches). I've been having some computer issues of late and am currently unable to search archives to obtain a copy. Can someone point me in the proper direction? Rusty Gibson, WEBR RadioFairfax (3/3/10) /\ March 3 Messages /\ \/ March 2 Messages \/ My gawd: juz fooling around about the loverly Ms. Martucci! Nothing said any worse than about Angie Goff’s extensions, Rush Limbaugh’s weight or a supposed description of “the poster” (BTW, I'm sure if I opened the dictionary to "ugly" that poster's photo would be displayed). Hmmm. Get help.....Help! (3/2/10) I agree with Shawn in DC regarding these disgraceful posts about Kim Martucci. If you're going to disparage a professional broadcaster, do so because they can't do their job! I mean, what are tuning in for, the forecast or porno? Just because you don't like the physical attributes of a person, doesn't mean that they're incapable of performing their duties correctly. Ms. Martucci has always been affable, charming, and a true professional. She is a credit to all TV meteorologists. And if I'm not mistaken, hasn't NBC 4 pretty much owned DC local news for the last 15 years? And they're recruiting her (allegedly)? Yeah, she must be terrible. Dave, it may be time to ban some of the more well crafted garbage posts...trash is too elevated a word. -Billy Sparks (3/2/10) First of all... I 'd like to commend (Shawn in DC's) response to Dave. I am in total agreement with Shawn. The immature comments about Ms. Martucci really DON'T belong on the board, they are NOT legitimate and they are definitely NOT funny and, as Shawn in DC mentioned they add nothing..... zilch.... NADA!!! Kim Martucci was always a breath of fresh air. She kept her viewers informed and made us feel like we were all part of her team. She always gave more than required in her job. How many other meteorologists and newscasters/news anchors, care enough to take the time and effort to give their audience a birds eye view of what goes on on the set of their job? Kim had the God-given ability to reach people of all ages, different backgrounds, from the young child on the playground, the sports enthusiasts, the stay-at-home Mom, blue collar employee, professionals, college students to the politicians on the Hill. Kim united her viewers as one big diverse community. She is truly missed. BRING KIM MARTUCCI back! (Kathleen in MD) (3/2/10) Re: DCRTV Dave's missing a report on a local media figure getting 'knocked up' - just for the record, I got laid last night, had a normal bowel movement this morning & had a grilled cheese sandwich with my divorce attorney this afternoon. I hope that satisfied your morbid curiosity you vultures. A sidebar - Angie Goff is also a graduate of Herndon High School just like our esteemed DCRTV Dave, so watch the trailer park references...wait, it's Herndon...nevermind. (2/3/10) Dave's response: I don't think there's a trailer park within tobacco-spittin' distance of Herndon..... Dr. Sharon Henry, assistant professor of surgery at the University of Maryland School of Medicine and trauma surgeon at the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center, will be joining the Baltimore Newsmakers Forum panel, "Haiti: The Way Forward." Henry was a member of UMMC's earthquake relief mission in Haiti, where she witnessed first-hand the desperate medical need of the injured. Baltimore Newsmakers Forum will take place at the Reginald F. Lewis Museum, 830 E. Pratt St., just east of Baltimore's Inner Harbor. The March event is the debut of BNF, which is produced by Andaz Media Group in conjunction with the Association of Black Media Workers in Baltimore. Henry and five other panelists will discuss what's next for the impoverished island nation after the devastating earthquake left 230,000 dead, more than one million homeless, and countless children orphaned. “When the disaster first happened it was what everyone was talking about, but it seems to have been pushed to the back burner,” said Jerry Bembry, cofounder of Andaz Media Group and vice president of the Association of Black Media Workers. “We want to keep this in the news, and we plan to push the discussion further with health care professionals, relief workers, and activists who knew of Haiti’s struggles long before this earthquake happened, and from journalists who saw, firsthand, the devastation. From health to infrastructure, fractured families to economics, this earthquake will have a lasting effect on Haiti for years, if not decades.” Other panelists include Ann Varghese, program officer at IMA World Health, who was in Haiti during the earthquake and was rescued from the rubble at the Hotel Montana; Sunni Khalid, news editor at WYPR, who won the Overseas Press Club's Ben Grauer Award for his coverage of Haiti; Eric Walcott, executive director of the National Organization for the Advancement of Haitians (NOAH); Lowell Melser, a reporter at WBAL-TV who traveled to Haiti aboard the USNS Comfort; and André Chung, a photojournalist who recently returned from Haiti with powerful images from the disaster. Doors at the Reginald F. Lewis Museum will open at 5:30 p.m., and the event runs between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. For more information visit www.facebook.com/BaltimoreNewsmakersForum or call 443-982-2513. (3/2/10) Hey I watched sportnite last night on CSN and Jill Sorenson looked to be seriously pregnant. Never saw it mentioned on your blog. (3/2/10) Dave's response: Darn, you mean DCRTV failed to report someone in the local TV biz getting "knocked-up"? I'm going to have to do a dozen "Hail Farhis" before I go to bed tonight..... That wouldn't be Mr.. Tony making those nasty comments about Ms Martucci, would it ???? Naahh (3/2/10) "B&C tells us that "Daily Connection," the time-filler, quasi-news show that airs on Channel 4/WRC at 3 PM" --Actually, beginning yesterday, WRC flipped Daily Connection to 2pm and Ellen to 3pm (3/2/10) Dave, these horrific comments about Ms. Martucci really don't belong on the board. They are not informative, not funny, gratuitously vicious, and really add nothing. I assume it is one poster, as the language is similar to the language of a few months ago. I've never seen much of her, but these comments are beyond the pale. It's your board but I don't understand the rationale for posting that stuff. She's not running for office. BTW, I'm sure if I opened the dictionary to "ugly" that poster's photo would be displayed. (Shawn in DC) (3/2/10) "What is up with this hate for Kim Martucci?" Amen... but judging from the asinine commenters in this mailbag, she might be better off moving to another town.-Chris in DC": never knew Chris Plante had a thing for Lurch. Does "Number One" know about this Chris? And here we have Martucci "moving to another town": www.elephantremovals.co.uk (3/2/10) Dave's response: Your pic doesn't work well as a "tall" joke, as with Ms. Martucci. It works better as a "fat" joke. A la - I hear that's how Rush Limbaugh gets around these days, now that he's ballooned back to over 200 pounds. I just bet that the writer of the above post is incredibly short, or, better yet, a certain appendage of his is, and that's what irritates him so much about this particular former 9 tall weathercaster. Hmmm. Get help..... Speaking of Angie "shrieking" Goff, will somebody, ANYBODY please tell her that her HAIR EXTENSIONS are constantly hitting the mic! You can take the woman out of the trailer park... (3/2/10) "Dave's response: Huh?!?!?: Whadda u mean "huh?": 5'5" my ass: she'd need a crane to "return" anywhere. MORE BREAKING MARTUCCI NEWS: KIM "LURCH" MARTUCCI'S FIRST LUNCH AT WRC: davart.net (3/2/10) Hey! Kim Martucci is only 5'5. Lying on her back. (3/2/10) "This weekly "rag" [the National Enquirer] broke the John Edwards affair, the Rielle Hunter pregnancy and proved a year ago that the baby was Edwards', even though he kept denying it until last December. These writers should get a Pulitzer Prize for this investigation, in my opinion." Let's not get crazy here - has the Enquirer ever broken a really important story like the Valerie Plame spy case? To confer a prestigious honor like the Pulitzer on a trashy, sex-obsessed scandal sheet would be an insult to all the accomplished journalists who've been awarded that prize. That's not to mention the Enquirer's propensity for making stuff up out of the blue (such as celebrities having encounters with extraterrestrials). On another topic, Steve Czaban (on WTEM's Sports Reporters) recently asked "who's Holden Caulfield?" while commenting on Tony Kornheiser's remarks about Hannah Storm that got him suspended from ESPN's Pardon the Interruption. While fewer people may read books than was the case 20 or 30 years ago, you have to be a nearly complete zero when it comes to American culture to have never even heard of the protagonist of the late J. D. Salinger's landmark novel "Catcher in the Rye". Speaking of Sports Reporters, Czaban and Andy Pollin did two shows from Orlando, Florida last week as part of "ESPN The Weekend" (a big corporate event that the four letter network holds there every year). Thursday's program featured several on-site guests including ex-World Cup soccer player Brandi Chastain. One of the questions the hosts asked her was "can we see your six pack?" - while Chastain took it in good humor, I'm wondering if ESPN (which believes in wholesome, family friendly radio and probably frowns on that type of thing) found out about it and instructed its guests not to appear on Reporters the following day. Whether or not that's the case, it's curious that the lone interview on Friday was with someone in Indianapolis covering the NFL combine workouts. Mike, Fairfax (3/2/10) Hi Dave, I am hoping CBS radio is really taking time to think about what they are going to do. They should just change 95.5 WPGC to AMP 95-5 (it looks like it is working out in LA and up in NYC) and have Tigger hosting mornings. They should give Herkules the afternoon show leave Michel during the middays and keep the Home Team in the evenings. If they do this AMP 95-5 will be dangerous (watch out HOT 995)! Also get rid of Fresh-FM (We already have WASH and Mix) and just move HFS over there and bring back Cerphe to play the classics and good modern stuff. (3/2/10) Personally, I have nothing against Ms. Martucci. I just find Angie Goff much easier on the eyes. (3/2/10) "What is up with this hate for Kim Martucci?" Amen. All she has done is deliver weather, smile, and look pretty darn good on TV while doing it. The abuse and insults hurled at her in this mailbag are absurd. A bunch of children taking cheap shots at a woman who has done nothing but her job. Hopefully, she gets picked up at Channel 4...but judging from the asinine commenters in this mailbag, she might be better off moving to another town. -Chris in DC (3/2/10) The sticks for WLVE 610 AM in Winchester, VA (aka "SportsTalk 610) were on land leased by Clear Channel. The owner wanted the land back for a retirement village in development. CC moved the programming to WXVA AM 1550 in Charles Town, WV, although the mail goes to CC's complex of stations at Winchester airport on Rt 522 in Frederick County. Al McGilvray (3/2/10) Hello -- We just posted an interview with Howie Mandel about his memoir and experience living with OCD on the WETA Book Studio, an online project that gives us a chance to hear from a wider range of people than you might on our air... www.thebookstudio.com... Pam (3/2/10) Memo to Dan Mason. Nobody works for orange juice and the 'fun' of being on the radio anymore. You had a hand in that change when you dumped the pegs of CIRP and let Ben hire Donnie. (3/2/10) Oh no. Radio One is again considering moving back into DC. I guess the mayor's $23,000,000 carrot is too good to turn down. I stilll say that money is better serving the fixing of run down schools than helping Cathy Hughes inflate her bank account. Come on DC, do the right thing. Take that money and do the right thing. (3/2/10) That's a pretty scthing indictment of the job the stations are doing: 2 non-commercial. "Public" stations in the top 10???? WHAAAAAAAT? Completely insane! (3/2/10) Dave's response: It's funny how alleged lefty talk WAMU beats the crap out of alleged righty talk WMAL every damn week. And, WETA-FM is the only place on DC radio to hear classical, and now-defunct commercial classical WGMS was frequently a top 10 performer..... From looking at last week's FCC filings I guess it's official, 2 area AM stations have gone permanently dark now with 2nd filings with the FCC last week. WAMD 970 AM in Aberdeen, Maryland, & WLVE 610 AM in Winchester, VA. Religious broadcasting giant Salem Media is taking 970 dark to improve its New York City WNYM 970. AM 970 is Aberdeen, MD's ONLY radio station, not to mention the home of Cal Ripken & used to broadcast his Aberdeen Ironbirds, The Orioles, & even The Baltimore Colts! People forget that back then you couldn't get WCBM 680 very easily in Harford County to listen to a Colts broadcast as they were only 5000 watts, not 50,000 watts. WLVE 610 is co-owned by Clear Channel with Baltimore's WCAO AM 600 which has signal problems towards Columbia & DC due to the 2 stations being adjacent on the AM band. Might Clear Channel be looking to improve Gospel WCAO 600's anemic signal towards Columbia & DC by just ditching a money losing station in Winchester, VA? Hmm, I wonder. (3/2/10) I hope Ch 4 will pick up Kim Martucci as their new weather person...I was so upset when Ch 9 let her go. If they do I for one will follow her there...PLEASE ch 4 consider her for the JOB!!!!! Babs Bowden (3/2/10) What is up with this hate for Kim Martucci? Honestly! Are you all that afraid of a presumably tall woman? Are you all 5'2" and still upset that tall people called you all shrimp? Did she show you folks up at a game of hoops? Did tall women stand you up at prom? I have never seen anyone else get the level of vitriol that gets directed at her. And only because she might be *taller* than you! --Wesley (3/2/10) Back when simulcasting of AM programming on FM stations was cut back, companies like Drake-Chenault (and others) provided syndicated content in various formats. I think I recall reading that in one of the many incarnations of WRC-FM, they offered "beautiful music" from Shulke. The other "easy listening" stations in the area then, were WGAY-FM, WJMD-FM, WEZR-FM. I think I remember reading that WGAY was programmed locally, but the other two stations were programmed (or, at least, consulted) by program syndicators. Some of these stations were either automated full-time or were in a part-time "live assist" mode. Also, back when WMOD-FM was "oldies" it was automated at least part of the time. I'm not sure if it was programmed locally or programmed/consulted from out of town. One time, during off-peak hours, the equipment kept playing a commercial for a suburban Maryland apartment/condo development, over and over. At one point, WWDC-FM was also automated part-time. Anyway, here's a link with info and audio from several of the companies that created syndicated content in various formats, around the country. www.dougquick.com (3/2/10) OK... Who's going to blink this time? Check these out... cablevision.com and saveabc7.com... Interesting to watch these re-transmission battles play themselves out in other cities as the politics dictate that a serious one will never happen here... too much for all parties to lose in an industry loath to gamble its existence... -Unsigned Corpotate Suit (3/2/10) Just LOVE Kim Martucci. She'd be an awesome addition to ch 4 and can't wait to see her return to the airwaves soon. At least I can still get her forecast online and let me tell you they're a hell of a lot more accurate than some of the bs we were told we wouldn't be shoveling by some of the other weather people. We are Weather Kim! (3/2/10) Hi Dave, What ever happened to the "big announcement" that CBS was going to do at 12 noon today that you wrote about Yesterday? Steve (3/2/10) Dave's response: It didn't happen. According to All Access, CBS is still negotiating with Mo'Nique to do mornings at PGC. At it looks like not all the talks were completed in time for the "big announcement" yesterday. Stay tuned. As I've always said, DCRTV sometimes presents news "as its happening." If you only want stuff that's completely confirmed, like Bob Ryan's jump to 7 (ha ha ha), then get your media news from The Farhi Post..... Dave apparently the rapper Ludicrus will be doing PGC`s morning drive on Tuesday could PGC be stunting until Big Tigger really takes over the slot Mo`Nique may end up there in the morning drive I have my doubts. Stranger things have happen however. (3/2/10) Dave's response: Personally, I think PGC is just trying to "stunt" with news that Mo'Nique will be PGC new morning personality. My bet is on Big Tigger getting moved from afternoons. PGC is probably doing final talks on a new AFTERNOON personality for the station, before making the "big announcement"..... /\ March 2 Messages /\ \/ March 1 Messages \/ "While I am sad to see Bob Ryan go, I was really hoping that his departure would mean Kim "Lurch" Martucci's return." BREAKING NEWS: KIM "LURCH" MARTUCCI TO RETURN. VIDEO OF HER LEAVING FOR WRC HAS JUST BEEN POSTED: www.blinkx.com (3/1/10) Dave's response: Huh?!?!? re: Why is Wise off the air? ...Someone accidentally flipped the switch to their Philadelphia subchannel. It came back after a few minutes. (3/1/10) Here's some interesting info about the creation of the taped music that Drake-Chenault sent out to stations from their format syndication service, back in the day. www.drakechenault.org (3/1/10) So the "Big Announcement" is that CBS MAY have a replacement for Donnie Simpson? Who was let go already?? This is news?? Was there a debate whether someone would be hired as his replacement? I'm glad I slept thru it. No thats not a Junks reference. Wake me up when CBS returns the best station it ever destroyed to its rightful frequency. Suits: don't bother me with your 'facts' I already established my opinion of your penny pinching ass kissing mental vacuum based policies. Donnie (Not Simpson) (3/1/10) Steve Harvey has indeed parlayed a standup and TV career into a decent radio career, and more power to him. But even consultants say putting a TV star on a radio show is not a guarantee of success. Whoopie Goldberg is one of the biggest stars of our time - she has a Grammy, an Emmy and an Oscar. So why did her radio show suck toad nuts? Maybe its time to follow my own advice, get the hell out of radio and go into TV production and performance. That's where the action is. (3/1/10) Samsung Blue Ray plug and play into internet. Blockbuster and Net Flix streaming on line. Rest In Peace Video Store : ) Mark A. Coltrin (3/1/10) WTOP - How much do they pay you every month to pump their ratings?... "gigantic ratings" "substantial first place leads". You're a hack that only includes 12+ ratings every single week. Do they save a seat for you inside the "glass enclosed nerve center"? (3/1/10) Dave's response: DCRTV, a Bonneville company. Seriously, ratings firm Arbitron frowns on the public release of anything but the most broad numbers. That's why we always stick to the full-week, age 12+ numbers. Oh, good luck on your divorce..... Hi Dave. MarketWatch Radio Network offers special series on job hunting... We’re providing a five-part series all this week on how to find a job in this terrible economy. Adrienne Mitchell will offer job tips and job hunting advice from experts. With close to 15 million Americans now unemployed, MarketWatch Radio Network is offering these reports as a public service to our affiliates and listeners. Among those stations airing our reports: WTOP-Washington, WBZ-Boston, KCBS-San Francisco, KMOX-St. Louis, KRLD-Dallas and KXL-Portland. Cheers! John Wordock (3/1/10) Dave, I think we should update the Bill Kamal file. He was released from prison in December of 2008 to a halfway house. I believe he has since been released completely. He has lifetime probation, and of course is a registered sex offender henceforth. The Miami papers have the story in their archives. KDF (3/1/10) This POSSIBLE Mo`nique coming to WPGC is causing a stir in the mailbag WOW. When you can generate buzz about your station it might be worth it. Billy Sparks you are correct Baltimore and D.C. are different Baltimore is working class ie: police,firemen,etc. where D.C. is transient ie; out of towners, congressmen,politian's,power. That is not an insult just as he said two different styles of cities i do agree with him about Big Tigger they should name him morning man and call it a day. Mo`nique lives in L.A. how could it be local and the money demand it really does not make sense(cents). (3/1/10) The following was forwarded to DCRTV..... Washington, D.C.’s Video Vault Closing Doors For Good After 25 Years.... I'm writing to share some sad news. After 25 years as a mainstay in Old Town Alexandria and among movie-lovers and wackos nationwide, Video Vault will soon be finis, kaput, closed forever. What happened? Well, the story of packaged media (movies, but also music and maybe books) is simple: It's all about digits. Too many digital downloads, too many digits on that rent check. My wife Jane and I always believed in the value of good advice and customer service. In tough times, low cost and convenience trump all that. We haven't had any time to really look back over the 25 years, but we did scrape up some of our favorite news articles about the Vault. Sorry to say, the National Enquirer piece isn't available online, neither are the Entertainment Weekly or Wall Street Journal, but here's some stuff that helps tell our story, a kind of virtual press kit: Finding VHS in a DVD World - 2006 - washingtonpost.com... Movie 'Turkeys' Run Free at Specialty Video Store - 1990 - Associated Press... Thrillers Are Treasure at Alexandria's Vault - 1987 - washingtonpost.com... Treasures in Relocated Vault - 1993 - Washington Post (preview)... Best Place to Rent Bad Movies - 2008 - Washington City Paper... Vault About to Burst - 2002 - The Astounding B Monster... Video Vault Uncovered - Multimedia fansite about Video Vault... My wife Jane and I will be around the store until the end, telling our story and selling off everything that will fit through the door, especially our collection of 65,000 movie titles, ranging in quality from the great to the good to the God-awful! Many titles in our inventory are impossible to find elsewhere - we've prided ourselves on selection that no chain and no other mom & pop store could beat. Our GOING OUT OF VIDNESS sale starts today and runs until April 30. Come see us, you never know what amusing title, anecdote, or graphic art might be fodder for your reporting. I'm in the store from 11-6 nearly every day. You can reach me at 703-549-8848. I'd love to hear from you, and tell a few stories, and yes, get some more folks in the store at least one more time. Support independent retail! Jim (3/1/10) Dave, calling the National Enquirer a "trashy celeb gossip tabloid" is unfair. This weekly "rag" broke the John Edwards affair, the Rielle Hunter pregnancy and proved a year ago that the baby was Edwards', even though he kept denying it until last December. These writers should get a Pulitzer Prize for this investigation, in my opinion. If the 'mainstream media' had been doing their jobs, John Edwards' lies would've been exposed during the primary season '08, and, instead of taking votes & delegates away from Hillary Clinton, he would've been forced to drop out of the race early, and thus Hillary would've had a huge chance of winning the Dem nomination. Instead, we're stuck in this mess, no thanks to John Edwards' ego & narcissism, as well as that of his cohort and partner-in-crime, Andrew Young. Soooo, lay off the Enquirer, eh? -Silvie- (3/1/10) Not that anyone would notice based on ratings, but WNST has been off the since shortly after 9:00 this morning, unless they had a significant power reduction, and I can no longer get the already weak signal. They claim to take pride in their website, so why not post what the heck is going on? Two things on this: Last week the internet is down in the am. A week or so before that, the phones weren't working. And they continue to wonder why they aren't taken seriously. (3/1/10) Re: Mo'Nique- If the rumors are indeed true about Mo'Nique signing w/WPGC, then the call letters would truly stand for White People Going Crazy. First of all, she's not coming cheap. After all, she is a Golden Globe winning actress, and I'm sure her salary would have to be commiserate to at least what Donnie made. Not a good budget decision. Factor in, that hers is not the most inclusive show. She has a very narrow demographic, and in this PPM climate, that would further move WPGC away from a broader cume. I mean how far can the "sassy sista" act last on a station that clearly needs to readjust it's brand? Plus, will she be local? While in later years Donnie may not have had ratings numbers per se, advertisers didn't necessarily buy the station, they bought Donnie, because he had actually been to their restaurant, or wore their clothes, etc. He had a strong local following. I know Mo'Nique's from Baltimore, but DC and Baltimore are not the same...sorry Charmers, it's a fact. It would behoove WPGC to give mornings to Big Tigger. Fiscally, he'd be cheaper, geographically, he actually lives in the area, and from a programming standpoint he's an air-personality, not an actor! But, what do I know? They're the ones with the top ranked, highest revenue generating station...right? -Billy Sparks (3/1/10) What's the deal? There was supposed to be some big announcement about the CBS cluster F around noonish. Here it is 2:35 and there is nothing about it on DCRTV. If we wanted to find out about it next month, we would be reading the Washington Post. John (3/1/10) In the Washington Post on Friday, February 26, on page A21, there was an article headlined "Radio One backs out of plan to move to Shaw, D.C." The first paragraph read, "A deal that would have brought the country's largest radio broadcaster back to its home town has fallen apart, according to District officials." To what country were they referring, Guatemala? In what universe is Radio One the "country's largest radio broadcaster"? (3/1/10) What's the difference between Mo'Nique & Don Gerorimo? Answer: 5 lbs. What's the difference between Mo'Nique & Don Gerorimo? Answer: Mo'Nique drives a car to work, Sorce takes AMTRAK. What's the difference between Mo'Nique & Don Gerorimo? Answer: Mo'Nique starred in Precious. Sorce had a cameo role on The King of Queens. What's the difference between Mo'Nique & Don Gerorimo? Answer: Mo'Nique makes Mo' Money. They do have one thing in common. Neither shave their legs. AHHHHH (3/1/10) Why is Wise off the air? Thanks. (3/1/10) Regarding the ever shrinking Washington Times, I was a long time subscriber and its a real disappointment that the air was let out of it. They stopped delivering it without notice and then sent me an email a week ago stating they were going to re-establish home delivery in Fairfax County. The caveat was the cost, $15.00 and week. No thanks, that 60 bucks a months is what it use to cost for a year. (3/1/10) I read with amusement the following "Hasn't anyone learned over the past 6 years that giving a TV personality a radio show is a disaster set into motion from the start? Said "talent" will bring in all their heavy hitters from their Rolodex of famous friends, have a few fun show-biz stories to tell... and basically blow thru all their A-material in the first three weeks." I've got two words for you... Steve Harvey... currently 3rd place AM drive not too bad for a "TV personality". Rick the Rat (3/1/10) Hi Dave, Thought you might be interested in this post, or at least following it to see what kind of comments folks leave: Under-the-radar goodbye for Bob Ryan at 4 washingtonpost.com Thanks, Dan (3/1/10) Dave's response: I wouldn't spend too much time on a goodbye message for Bob since he'll almost certainly be back on TV, via 7, pretty soon..... To the naysayers who think Mo'Nique will fall flat if PGC actually signs her, don't be so sure. At the very least, your generalization that placing celebrities on the radio is a recipe for disaster is misguided. Yes, some celebs have failed. However, look at HUR. They lost Joyner to Radio One and couldn't come close to regaining the top spot with what I would consider to be pretty good jocks (along with personalities like Mo'Nique and George Wilborn). So they got celebrity and radio newcomer Steve Harvey. It didn't take long for him to consistently beat out Donnie and Joyner, both of whom are seasoned and extraordinarily capable jocks. Harvey has been at or near the top of the DC morning show mountain for some time now and has done well elsewhere. As for why Mo' didn't last long in her first radio gig with HUR, who knows? Maybe it's because she wanted too much money. Maybe it's because she was more of a third wheel as opposed to it being 'her' show. Maybe it's because she didn't want to roll out of her California bed at 3:00 a.m. to do an east coast show. Your guess is as good as mine. However, she's much more well known now through her comedy specials and, of course, her recent success with "Precious." I, too, lament how radio has changed and that many great radio people are on the beach. But it's a business, and station management and ownership will continue to try to increase ratings and revenue however they can. I don't fault them for this. What I read in some of these comments about celebs is bitterness and jealousy. Get over it. Either find a way to adapt and survive in the industry or move on. You'll be happier and healthier. Take it from someone who knows. (3/1/10) Traffic/Entertainment Reporter Candace Dold announced on FOX45's Morning News this morning that she is 4 months pregnant! She'll find out the gender of her baby on March 9th. -Greg in Perry Hall (3/1/10) Don Geromimo - News just in from your DJ Draft Combine, CBS Radio has waived Mike Sorce & signed Mo'Nique. AHHHHH (3/1/10) I'm hearing a very fringy AM station this morning at 810 kHz, playing adult contemp music; apparently without much attention given to rotation, as I've heard "She Moves In Mysterious Ways" twice in the last 50 minutes. It comes in best when my portable radio is aligned N-S. I'm finding nothing local on radiolocator.net, other than a McKeesport PA station, one in Dublin VA, and a Spanish property in Annapolis. IDs are hard to hear thru the noise floor. Anyone know who this might be? (3/1/10) "Hasn't anyone learned over the past 6 years that giving a TV personality a radio show is a disaster set into motion from the start?" Two words: Fred Grandy :) (3/1/10) Dave can you post some info on the ratings for yesterday’s USA-CANADA hockey game? (3/1/10) Ohhhhh...I can't wait to see how resident windbag Pauly B. spins the Mo'Nique news into another anti-Sorce diatribe. The suspense is terrible. I hope it will last. (3/1/10) Mo'Nique to PGC mornings? Oh God no!!! Hasn't anyone learned over the past 6 years that giving a TV personality a radio show is a disaster set into motion from the start? Said "talent" will bring in all their heavy hitters from their Rolodex of famous friends, have a few fun show-biz stories to tell... and basically blow thru all their A-material in the first three weeks. If this is not a stunt and is the way PGC will actually go, Mo'Nique will show a curiosity spike early, be largely ignored by May, and by December will be beaten in the ratings by WDMV. Just ask "Issac Hayes & Friends", "The Whoopie Goldberg Show", Adam Corolla, Danny Bonaduce etc. Come on CBS! Cost-cutting is one thing, but this is just shooting yourself in the prepuce (look it up, ya lazy bastids...). (3/1/10) For those of us who worked local radio in the 60s and 70s, Gene Chenault was a giant in the industry. He and Bill Drake, along with Paul Drew at RKO, largely defined what was later called CHR. In the late 70s, I was the News Director at Chenault's "flagship" KYNO AM/FM Fresno. Not a major market, but a lot of major market talent went through there. Somewhere in a box in the basement I still have all of the station jingles...but I think they're on a ten a half reel! Lotta good that does someone these days. JYoung, VOA-TV (3/1/10) My New York Social Diary column today: WASHINGTON: TOUGH TOWN FOR A WOMAN by Carol Joynt... Once again Washington has proved it is a tough town for a woman unless she is a whore, a bitch or a heat-seeking wife of. Score on any one of those counts, or all three, and the men here respect you, because they fear you, and that equals power. Obvious ambition, and the attitude that goes with it, sinks a woman here, unless she possesses the heart and soul of a dominatrix. If Sports Illustrated did a Washington issue, instead of posing in bikinis the models would brandish carbide ball cutters. Maureen Dowd would be the cover, offering up a sultry “I’ll kill you and then I’ll eat you” glance, right down to her bare toes. Washington’s teen boys might not take it to the bathroom, but their Dads would. READ MORE: www.nysocialdiary.com (3/1/10) Sooooooooooooooooooooooooo the smart money says Mo-nique's fat ass is gonna do mornings on WPGC-FM??? Wow, what happened to actually hiring someone with some actual radio credentials (e.g. hands on experience) to do a radio show! If this is true than the brain trust at CBS radio must think someone with a "name" is gonna save that station? There are too many capable (SP) jocks out there looking for work that can do a better job and not cost as much as that UNFUNNY over caloried lady! This is what radio has come to nothing but prep sheets and entertainers who have no business doing radio programs. Didn't she try this before and it didn't last long? (3/1/10) Kris Ostegard. If it's the same Mike O that I worked with at VOA, your father was known as one tough cookie, a very exacting professional who settled for nothing less than 110% effort from EVERYONE on the team, which pretty much meant anyone within his eyesight or earshot at the moment he needed something done, no excuses. It was never 'close enough for government' with him. He gave me some good advice that I should have followed. (3/1/10) WPGC's probably going to flip to the "AMP Radio" format. It was rumored last year when WJFK flipped to "THE FAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAN." (3/1/10) Gene Chenault, who partnered with Bill Drake to revolutionize Top-40 radio in the 1960s, is dead at 90. www.latimes.com (3/1/10) Fez Whatley & Mayberry:: One of the hosts of The Ron and Fez Show on Sirius XM Radio offered to add $1,000 to the Crimestoppers reward for information leading to the arrest of the Andy Griffith statue vandal. During the radio program Monday, host Fez Whatley told a representative from Mount Airy Crimestoppers he wanted to write the tipster organization a thousand-dollar check to help catch the person or people responsible for painting the statue green and red over the weekend "I am a huge Andy Griffith fan. Grew up loving the show. Still watch the reruns on TV Land," Whatley said. Read more www.latimes.com (3/1/10) My favorite HD converter is Verizon FiOS. -Chainsman (3/1/10) Memo to NBC Suits: Why have sportscasters covering opening and closing ceremonies at the Olympic Games? They only “cover” the ceremonies as in a football game. If you had a “voice” or two at the ceremonies who were actually a part of the program and who had rehearsed with it the show would be a lot more entertaining. The two sportscaster gas bags literally killed the two events at Vancouver. (3/1/10) /\ March 1 Messages /\ Messages from February 18 to February 28, 2009 can be reached HERE.....  |
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