Current Mailbag - Mailbag Archive Index - DCRTV Front Page - Support DCRTV DCRTV Mailbag - May 19 to May 24, 2008 Latest messages listed first..... \/ May 24 Messages \/ Check out the Nats game. Don Sutton went home sick so they called the dugout and the front office and Paul Do Luca and Jose Rios are doing the color with Johnny Holliday. Do Luca is talking so much that Johnnie can't get a word in. But he isn't bad. (5/24/08) Maybe some of your radio pros can help me out. When I left the Arbutus/Catonsville area this morning to have a nice post-coital brunch at First Watch in Pikesville the 104.3 signal got very shaky right around the Reisterstown Road exit. Is that a normal radio dead spot, or is this a 104.3 blind spot? I'm not usually up that way, and I definitely never tried 104.3 prior to yesterday. (5/24/08) Scott, you know nothing about the mass media and should never comment on it again. 100.7 hiccups, burps and farts it's way from TV Hill to the World Trade Center. Why else would they use that puny little translator? The signal's strength lies in Carroll (it's county of license) and northern Baltimore Counties as well as York and Franklin Counties in Pennsylvania. When you were in nappies and they were in their first incarnation of Classic Rock, the station did very well by super-serving those areas. Now, please go learn something. Sebastian Stone and Marshall McLuhan (5/24/08) Dave's response: Mr. McLuhan, I loved you in "Annie Hall"..... For crying out loud, Mike... you hit that nail right on top of the head! We used to have to listen to Channel 4's "Leeeeeeeeeeenda Lopeth, Newth Four, Washington" do the same exact thing and now this! To make this snake have another head, I AM Caribbean and I had to listen for TWO WEEKS to understand what this woman was saying. Y, Patricia, mi amor, who taught you to pronounce your name "pat-ri-CEE-a?" My neice, from Guaynabo is, like every other woman I've ever met from "La Isla," "pat-REE-cee-a." Back me up on this, Silvie! I mean, you're a reporter... not a travelogue! Look, you don't hear the oh, so beautiful Shannon Bream say, "Everybody, look behind me. I have a beautiful face and this beautiful BIG BOTTOM!" do you? Keep it real, mi hermana! Your Mangrove Mama's Mangrove Papa (5/24/08) "--Oh look, another exceptionally useless defense posting by Vaughn in Molesto, CA. To answer your question Vaughn..Simply put...When it the EXACT same shit every day. Allow me to explain it in terms someone like yourself will understand. Let's say a child loves chicken tenders...He wants chicken tenders everyday...LOVES them!!!! After some time, the kid will tire of chicken tenders....In short, everything...EVERYTHING gets boring when said or done over and over and over and over again....EVERYTHING....Now..to bring this all back to the original point...There is only so much of the same crap on the Big O and Dukes show anyone can take. Look, if those guys wanna yammer on about MMA constantly...Then just bill the damn show as a MMA show!" I see you are clouded by ignorance so let me clear some things up for you as you are obviously not very well informed. You really should listen to a show for more then one segment before you criticize a show, even though it must be extremely fun for you to make blanked statements. The content of the show is very diverse, from sports, not just mma, pop culture, gaming, movies, and even snack foods. I don't think I have heard on the show do more then one or two segments about MMA and every segment is normally followed up with a completely different topic unless it touches a nerve with the listeners. Lets take a look at Friday's show shall we. Segment one: Talking about steroids... Segment two: Weight loss... Segment three: MMA interview... Segment four: Movie reviews... Segements 5-7: Snacking talk, a weekly event that does always take some time... Segment 8: An impromptu interview with Buzz Burbank... There was one segment on mma, and the show had a ton of variety and was quite enjoyable. I hope this helps you friend! (5/24/08) Vaughn says WJFK is currently in its "golden years." He bases it on The Mike O' Meara Show and Big O and Dukes. He has a right to his opinion. However, it seems that those shows will have a hard time matching The Howard Stern Show in its heyday, which was a major show on WJFK for many years. I personally think the station's glory years were from 1988 to 2005, when Stern was on the station. Every other show was secondary to his show. There were other good shows on the station during that time. For my money, they weren't the main draw to the station. The other shows could come or go, during the Stern years, for all I cared. As soon as he was gone, the station didn't matter much to me. I give credit to Don & Mike for a long run, and good ratings. They were probably second best to Howard. Maybe WJFK would have been just as strong with them as the main focus of the station, if Howard wasn't on the station, back when they were still on top of their game. Don and Mike's best years were also during the era before self-censorship was imposed on radio performers after the Janet Jackson super Bowl incident. WJFK seems like a sad reminder of what it used to be as a station. It's toned-down shock jock radio, where the jocks are constantly hinting at how racy they used to be, when they reference words and situations they can't talk about anymore. Why keep the format going at all, when it's so tame and boring? "Golden years," for WJFK, Vaughn? Hardly. JOHN IN STAFFORD (5/24/08) I have nothing personally against Patricia Guadalupe – but I find it irritating and a little fake when she uses non-accented English to read her reports, but closes out with “Pah-tlree-see-ah Hwah-dah-loo-peah, WTOP News,” in the thickest Spansih accent she can muster. Is that just her thing? Rant worthy, I would think. Mike (5/24/08) OMG! Seismic event! Alert the media... Cecil and Howard Counties are now bordering! The entire city of Baltimore, Baltimore and Harford Counties have been swallowed into a giant sinkhole...er... Unless the poster just confused Howard with Harford. Perhaps the sky is only falling over Molesto. Sebastion "Tectonic Plate" Stone a/k/a The Playful Poster (5/24/08) Re: ("Let's say a child loves chicken tenders...He wants chicken tenders everyday...LOVES them!!!! After some time, the kid will tire of chicken tenders...") Not all kids outgrow chicken tenders. For every 100 kids, 99 are normal, and one is Bret Oliverio. Cue the Meaty Thighs theme song... (5/24/08) "Sebastian Stone", I'm not sure why you think that 100.7 isn't a Baltimore station. They clearly cover the entire Baltimore metro area and I know that I can get them fine from Annapolis up well into PA. Not a bad spread. I know that they come in well on the Eastern Shore too. The problem isn't that they have a bad signal, it's that they are just a boring station to listen to. If they fixed the dull presentation and the horrible morning show, then they would surely do as well as 98 Rock, who focuses heavily on personality. As for the new 104.3, I can see them taking a big dent out of 98 Rocks audience, and some out of Jack, but not much else. 100.7 has basically an older audience, so I can't see them being affected at all. Maybe a drop in the mornings (if that's possible) for a bit, but that's about it. As for mornings, Elliott is too DC and Virginia focused. I can't see him doing much in Baltimore unless they change the show a lot - and that's not happening. Baltimore listeners like local people. That's why syndicated guys like Howard Stern and Bob & Tom never caught on there. It's a bad programming move. Scott (5/24/08) re: doug mckelway ---You got into the frontpage blurb, but it's funny that the word "bluegrass" never came up in the story (except when Del managed to slip it in his actuality) or the intro or post story chit-chat, or in the copy on the channel 7 website. There's nothing to be afraid of...really. (5/24/08) It was refreshing to see Alisa Parenti on WJLA this morning. I felt like I was getting the news in the metro area not the collegiate report!!! (5/24/08) "since when is talking about movies, gaming, mma, local d.c. issues and general wjfk hijinks considered boring radio?" --Oh look, another exceptionally useless defense posting by Vaughn in Molesto, CA. To answer your question Vaughn..Simply put...When it the EXACT same shit every day. Allow me to explain it in terms someone like yourself will understand. Let's say a child loves chicken tenders...He wants chicken tenders everyday...LOVES them!!!! After some time, the kid will tire of chicken tenders....In short, everything...EVERYTHING gets boring when said or done over and over and over and over again....EVERYTHING....Now..to bring this all back to the original point...There is only so much of the same crap on the Big O and Dukes show anyone can take. Look, if those guys wanna yammer on about MMA constantly...Then just bill the damn show as a MMA show! (5/24/08) "Peace out you losers who keep critizing the greatest hot talk station in America. Your obviously still listening. I'll be waiting for your response, because I know you keep listening. Vaughn, Modesto, VA" - Hey Vaughn in Molesto, didn't you say you were never going to post in here again? You know we've all had a nice week without you. And what is "critizing"? The only thing other than the lame Big O and Pukes show that I would be critical of is your spelling and inept use of the word "your". Please...give us another week's break! GE (5/24/08) RE: [ " If 104.3 covers the mid-Shore, this is a great move. " ]...... Unfortunately, 104.3's move of their transmitter from Kingsville, out in the boonies, to TV Hill, will impact its mid-shore signal a bit. If you're close to the Delaware line and not near the bay, you'll have trouble receiving the new Channel 104.3 alt rock station (see pic). You'll also have trouble up towards the Cecil/Howard County line. In land area alone, the new 104.3 signal will cover LESS area than previously, so it's not clear to me that this move was done in the best interest of signal coverage. More likely the Kingsville property is worth a small fortune now, and the move also removes LOTS of interference to CC's Alt Rock sister station, Radio 104.5 in Philly up in SE PA, Newark DE, and Cecil County, MD. However, it does appear to be good news for those trying to receive 104.3 in Howard County, Carroll County, and downtown Baltimore, especially to the southwest. Speaking of Philly's Radio 104.5, expect Channel 104.3's website and playlist to look something like this... www.radio1045.com (5/24/08) With inflation, especially in house prices, the elder Morfit's estate would be the equivalent of perhaps two million of today's dollars. I remember when "Gary Moore" was a regular on the afternoon show on WOL 1260 back around 1950. The show featured a live organist, etc. The WOL studios were in the Heurich building at 1627 K St. They had normal office-height ceilings, not great for an audience studio. See pages 64 and 67 of "Washington Deco" ISBN 0-87474-970-0. (5/24/08) Dave, This was flagged "must read today" in my office e-mail. I thought you might find it of interest... www.wirelessweek.com (5/24/08) (regarding previous posts) Garry Moore was born at 221 W. Lafayette Avenue, in the Bolton Hill/Mount Royal section of Baltimore. Here's a link to see what the location looks like now maps.google.com (5/24/08) Silly little person! Why would you think that I thought of YOU as a silly little person as you clearly did your homework on the family Morfit. And, I don't mind being corrected when I've made an error... especially one so slight! So, you have only become a silly little person by deducing that I would consider you a silly little person. And now, on to young Mr. Poopervec: YOU, young man, have no idea of what you speak! No one suggested that CBS alter IT'S platform. The suggestion was that both Rock and Oldies are PPM-friendly formats and would have made reasonable choices for the new format on 104.3 by Clear Channel. READ the ratings before you comment. And, learn some grammar, for heaven's sake! One radio station does not "impede on another." It would be correct to say that one station would attract/steal/take listeners from another or to say that one station would impede another's growth. Impede is a verb! Be careful. It DOES something. Furthermore, I have yet to see the FCC guideline or ruling that requires live announcers on Oldies/Classic Hits formats or any aberration of the nomenclature thereof. Such a format could be voicetracked in it's entirety or satellite-fed just as easily as any other. Finally, to think that ANY format on 100.7 will be "successful" in the Baltimore metro is ridiculous. The only hope for that radio station is to program where it's signal goes. However, as long as Shamrock owns the property, they will continue to fool themselves into thinking that they have viable Baltimore signal and continue to urinate into a gale force wind. Sincerely, The Playful Poster a/k/a Sebastian Stone (5/24/08) /\ May 24 Messages /\ \/ May 23 Messages \/ AWESOME 2 week of shows for WJFK. HOGFEST 2008, Drab vs. Batt MMA fight, Drab - Sven kiss for $2000. The great Mike O'Meara was in attendance, also the Junkies & Michael Hughes for the big kiss. All you WJFK haters be gone, this station is back to it's golden years. For those haters of Big O & Dukes, since when is talking about movies, gaming, mma, local d.c. issues and general wjfk hijinks considered boring radio? If you don't like O and Dukes & the Mike O'Meara show, you must be deaf, over the age of 60, or just one boring ass MF'er. The fact is, this station is being talked about more than ever. Peace out you losers who keep critizing the greatest hot talk station in America. Your obviously still listening. I'll be waiting for your response, because I know you keep listening. Vaughn, Modesto, CA (5/23/08) To the playful poster who most recently used the alias of "Sebastian Stone": While I am indeed one of those silly little people who seem to irritate you, that does not alter the fact that Garry Moore used his father's last name "Morfit" when he started in broadcasting at WBAL-AM. Feel free to google "Garrison Morfit" for verification. Incidentally, after Garry's dad passed in 1954, the Washington Post and Times-Herald found reason to report an AP story that he left the monumental sum of $176,656 in his estate. Big bucks for a Baltimore barrister? (5/23/08) Its not that a Classic (Greatest) Hits format would not work in Baltimore but the problem is if CBS Radio did that, it would hurt 101.9 Lite-FM big time and segment the audiance, not gain it. If you say well you can make 101.9 younger than it would impede on Mix 106-5...Clear Channel won't put it on because it requires too much investment in jocks, obviously with the Elliott syndication it shows they want to keep costs to a bare minimum...The only station that could go Classic Hits is The Bay and they seem content with what they are doing...The reason 104.3 wasn't flipped to a Hot format is because it probably wont make enough money with Mix 106-5 and 92 Q firmly entrenched as the Suburban and Urban Top 40s. CHR also requires a jock investment and ask Mix 106-5, they don't go CHR because they start to lose advertisers...GE-the Eastern Shore is growing but realize CC-Baltimore is going to go for dollars in their market, not elsewhere. There are a ton of local stations seeking those dollars already. Not saying they can't try but its unlikely. -Michael Popovec (5/23/08) If 104.3 covers the mid-Shore, this is a great move. There is no shortage of 90's rock loving late 20-somethings who spend a lot of time in their cars... The most jarring difference I've noticed about the Mike O'Meara Show is that Mike isn't...well....very bright, or informed. I've been disturbed many times recently by just how little he seems to know about anything. The horrendous repeating feature "Argument Wednesday" really drives this home. Maybe all that sensitivity and self-deprecation was rooted in something Don managed to cover for the past couple decades. (5/23/08) Letting you know that for the fourteenth consecutive Memorial Day weekend I will go down to the basement tomorrow about noon. Having already rented Patton, Apocalypse Now, Saving Private Ryan, The Longest Day, Full Metal Jacket, Bridge on the River Kwai, and about five other war moves, I will play them back to back for three days. Don't fret. Already have two thirty packs iced down and at least ten subs already purchased. See you Tuesday. (5/23/08) Re: format change on 104.3 ...And the radio dial gets more of the same old same old. *sigh* Why don't they just come right out and tell us to give up all hope of having a reason to turn on the radio? (5/23/08) Are the same folks that bashed the Don & Mike Show now bashing the Mike O'Meara Show? The same complaints about Mike being the 'yes-man' to Don are now being used to describe Rob. I like the show, like the guys, and believe that it gets better week to week. My only complaint is sometimes the chemistry is lacking, but that will improve over time. Chris - Alexandria (5/23/08) Silly little people! Garry Morven was the real name of CBS-TV's Garry Moore ("I've Got a Secret," "The Garry Moore Show"). He used his real name, Garry Morven, when he worked in Baltimore at WBAL. You probably don't remember him since that would force you to STUDY THE ARTFORM of broadcasting instead of writing silly posts to DCRTV that trash things and people that you know nothing of. CC went rock in Baltimore because it is such a PPM-friendly format. However, the poster that suggested Oldies is right. That is an open franchise in both Baltimore and Washington and equally PPM-friendly! Sebastian Stone (5/23/08) "Seriously, does anybody really think the Mike O'Meara Show has a future? The show is beyond dull." No, seriously, its a dull failure. Someone mentioned in the mailbag the other day that they are leaning too heavily on the interviews. Mike has let the show become too "cookie cutter." Its too safe...I do remember everyone saying that Don's vitriol and his negativity would not be missed. Are we not realizing now that's where his edge came from? I think there are a lot of us realizing that we miss Don terribly. Whatever it was when Don was there, it wasn't safe.... WB Centreville, VA (5/23/08) RE: 104.3 "Don't let is sound as flat as 98 Rock and DC101--add some punch and brightness!!!! Hmmm-will this be like Radio 104.5 in Philly--kinda dry imaging--but a great blend of rock???" - Scuse me! DC-101 has some of the best processing in all of DC. Just because it doesn't have the heavily compressed Wall O' Sound like Hot 99, over driven bottom end, or clipping into distortion doesn't mean it's flat. Get a decent stereo with good seperation and you will hear it. You are probably one of the people that thinks MP3 players sound good. (5/23/08) There was no "Garry Morven". The poster was incorrectly remembering the birth name of Baltimore son "Thomas Garrison Morfit" who was more popularly known by his stage name of "Garry Moore" (January 31, 1915 – November 28, 1993). After dropping out of high school, Moore entered show business as a radio personality in the 1940s, however he graduated to television as a game show host and comedic variety show host during the 1950s and 1960s. After being diagnosed with throat cancer in 1976, Moore retired from the television industry. He spent the last years of his life in South Carolina and at his summer home in Maine. (5/23/08) Seriously, does anybody really think the Mike O'Meara Show has a future? The show is beyond dull. And Mike has become so innocuous, so unfunny, and so darn unimaginitive, you have to wonder if this is the same guy who co-hosted with Don Gernonimo so many years. A radio show needs some kind of edge to survive. This one has none. Even Rob Spewak, who built a following with his biting, cynical personality in the past, has become nothing but a glad-handing yes man to Mike. I understand the show wants to have its own identity, but I'm sorry. Nice and dull is not an identity. It's a death wish for cancellation. (5/23/08) Dave, I am surprised you missed these. For all of us that once had a life, but now have kids, XM is sponsoring a free children's concert tomorrow at noon at the Sylvan Theatre by the Washington Monument. Lisa Loeb will perform, as well as Meredith Brooks, and The Jimmies. The show will be live on XM kids. This is a benefit for Children's Hospital, I think. And speaking of live remotes, Rhonda Vincent and the Rage will be performing on A Prairie Home Companion tonight and tomorrow at Wolf Trap's Filene Center. Listen to tomorrow's show live from Wolf Trap on WAMU, 88.5 FM, beginning at 5:45 PM. Mix 107.3 is sponsoring a free concert by Rick Springfield at Rockville's Hometown Holidays, on Sunday. Have a great weekend! (5/23/08) Dave's response: I try to steer away from reporting promotional stuff at local stations. This is, more or less, a news and gossip site, and not a PR site..... Channel 104.3. Great. Less than 3 hours in, and the playlist already mirrors JACK-FM by about 40-50%. Elliott in the Morning?? You're correct, Dave. DC-101 is audible at least up to Aberdeen on I-95 on my cheap car radio. They'll probably get an initial ratings bump, but long-term, looks like another asinine corporate radio decision. At least it's cheap. Like JACK, it's automated. Doug in Bel Air (5/23/08) Well, I feel vindicated. I predicted on Day 1 that Smooth Jazz was not a "Baltimore type" format. The only thing that amazes me is that no one jumped on the lost old WHFS 99.1 ratings that were giving 98 ROCK a run for its money for so long. Also, where I live DC 101 has a very good signal, but I do know of several very populated places around Baltimore where that is not the case at all. From Towson to Parkville on the Baltimore Beltway, Lite 102 bleed in and interference makes DC 101 unlistenable most days and I'd imagine a similar thing happens from 100.7 The Bay out near Owings Mills. Those are 3 of Baltimore's most populous and advertiser loved suburbs. (5/23/08) ".......the maroon who asked about WJZW must just want SA's job......" I don't think anyonyone wants anyone's job, certainly not at Citadel, but it does seem odd that any business would layoff people who bring in revenue, and keep people who appear to do nothing. As far as 105.9 goes, who is Garry Morven . Is he one of the announcers? I don't recognize the name. (5/23/08) CORRECTION - 104.3 first song …was actually Foo Fighters – NO WAY BACK. (5/23/08) Although DC101's signal gets into the Baltimore area and up the 301 corridor, it cannot be heard on most of MD's Eastern Shore, especially the Mid-Shore counties of Queen Anne's, Talbot, Caroline, and Dorchester, where 104.3 blasts in and beyond with no problem. Might be a smart move on CC's part (uugh...I hate to say that!) with Elliott in the Morning and even better if they do the music right (I know...ha ha ha). When 99.1 flipped formats, it pretty much left that whole area "dead" for any kind of alt rock. Believe me, the audience and ad money are definitely there. G.E. (5/23/08) Here's an audio link to 104.3's format change earlier today: www.formatchange.com. -Greg in Perry Hall, MD (5/23/08) Maybe I'm not understanding something ... DC101 can be heard all the way into Delaware, and covers the Baltimore market without any problems. Why have a relay of Elliot on 104.3, and a duplicate format? I understand that DC101 is not a Baltimore station. Is that simply the answer? I figured CC would've put CHR on 104.3, as Hot 99.5 does have some signal issues in Baltimore. Chris (5/23/08) Dave's response: Yeah, I thought the same thing. If you like Elliot and live in the Baltimore area, you can already hear him on DC101. DC101's signal makes it well up I-95, at least to the first of the two major rest stops between Baltimore and the Maryland state line..... uh- ass clown- listen closely. Unless 98 Rock recently switched demos from 18-34 to 25-54, the two are not going after the same demo. and- from the monthly (ies) I've seen- Elliot is a non-factor in Baltimore 25-54 and is not beating kms. If anyone is shitting themselves right about now its Mickey and Amelia. God, they suck. However, with the exception of Stern and the Grease way back when- DC radio hasn't worked in Baltimore during morning drive. I'll regurgitate. You are an idiot. (5/23/08) Having an Alt rocker in Baltimore again is great, but I like many am not sure how EWlliot is going to fare. He's gonna have to include some Baltimore stuff in his show like Baltimore Ravens player, and etc. Elliott should fare well other than that. As for Baltimore not having an Oldies/Classic Hits station. The last company you want doing the markets Oldies/Classic Hits is CC. It'd be either WQSR's 50 song playlist circa 2005 or like WBIG. But overtime depending on how Ratings play out but if 104.3 takes chomps out of 98 Rock, 100.7 or 102.7 with the exception of 98 Rock one would probably make the flip to Classic Hits. The format does too well in PPM's for there not to be a station on HD-1 carrying it. I think 106.5 should take a look at going true CHR, and shift the 90's AC stuff to 101.9. (5/23/08) story on Sirius Satellite loosing at FCC www.radioworld.com and Mexico okays HD Radio on border www.radioworld.com (5/23/08) Dave's response: I can hear a remake of the Wall Of Voodoo tune - "I'm on a Mexican HD2 radio"..... I guess we in Baltimore are not destined to have an oldies station. I can't believe there is not a market for it. Bob (5/23/08) --------The great Tom Grooms is "rockin' in the grooveyard" all night/every night -------- Is he on vacation? It certainly sounds like no one is there. (5/23/08) DC-area listeners get to hear the 2-hour American Routes program on the main FM signal of WAMU-FM 88.5 this Monday at 2PM-4PM. Host (and former DC resident) Nick Spitzer hosts a show about the great American "road trip." Hear about Ramblin' Jack Elliot and Jack Kerouac. See notionscapital.wordpress.com... Best, Mike Licht (5/23/08) You're calling me Idiot---they are on a talk station--but going for the same demo as 98 ROCK--as hat! And Elliot is beating KMS in Baltimore--and hmm-who is the Baltimore show?? (5/23/08) To me it comes as no surprise that 104.3 is flipping consideringthe way things are going at other SJ formats across the country. My bet would be CHR 104.3 Kiss FM or Some sort of Classic Hits like The River. Hopefully it won't be a twin of WBIG. That's one horrible station IMO. (5/23/08) you're an idiot- have you heard KMS lately? They're on a news talk station for cryin' out loud. And- not sounding too bad lately. As far as Elliot- we all know how well DC shows do in Baltimore... (5/23/08) Well-now that the rock is on 104.3---fix that bland processing. Don't let is sound as flat as 98 Rock and DC101--add some punch and brightness!!!! Hmmm-will this be like Radio 104.5 in Philly--kinda dry imaging--but a great blend of rock??? (5/23/08) It's Noon and 104.3 is flipping.....with a standard lega id, some static....now a message. Now the history of 104.3 as WITH-FM and 80s music in the background. Wait...Wait...Wait...Wait....old WITH-Tiger Radio jingles....Now, WBSB jingles--Variety 104.3 jingles...WOCT liners...104.3 The Colt...WSMJ liners....now.....a bunch of ear nuggets! 104.3 IS NOW CHANNEL 1043--HOME OF ELLIOT IN THE MORNING! KMS--you may now SHIT YOURSELVES!! (5/23/08) Dave's response: CC would have been smarter to make 104.3 "Hot 104.3" and put a morning relay of Kane on it, instead of Elliot. WIHT easily beats DC101 in most dayparts..... First of all... the maroon who asked about WJZW must just want SA's job! The great Tom Grooms is "rockin' in the grooveyard" all night/every night on True Oldies 105.9 with Washington's ONLY LIVE all night show! And, to the Cleavers and Zena Sherman, it was "Jerry's Govans Chevrolet... 56 hundred York Road at Bellona... Best place to become a Chevrolet own-a!" Thanks for listening. Garry Morven (5/23/08) Dave's response: Hey Steve Allan - Rusty says hi! So-what do the braintrusts here on DCRTV predict for 104.3? Could it be a Fresh format? I don't think they will have a leg to stand on due to the heritage of 101.9. Possibly Oldies? They would need a staff for that! CHR? Rock? Polka? Radio Beg-a-Thon...I mean Religious? (5/23/08) Dave's response: Baltimore has a huge "format hole" for a rhythmic contemporary hit outlet, a la DC's Hot 99.5. That would bring in lots of younger pairs of ears that advertisers love. Also, an FM commercial gospel format, a la DC's Praise 104.1, would do well in Charm City. Maybe move CAO over from 600? Nah..... Entertainment Weekly loves POULTRYGEIST www.ew.com... POULTRYGEIST: NIGHT OF THE CHICKEN DEAD will have it's DC area premiere on Thursday, July 17 at the SPOOKY MOVIE FILM FESTIVAL'S MIDSUMMER NIGHT SCREAM. Director Lloyd Kaufman will be here for the screening - introduction and question and answers, as well as four new horror shorts, a preview of the October festival, and a celebration of Count Gore De Vol's 10 years as the first Horror Host on the inter-webs. MUCH more information coming soon! www.thespookymovie.com (5/23/08) A friend of mine in sales at WUSA-TV says WRC and the Post may be playing a little hanky panky in terms of WRC's May sweeps numbers, especially the 11pm. Apparently Paul Farhi's article refers to WRC as winning based on Total Viewers. However, those Total Viewers numbers that WRC wooed Paul on included P2 numbers. These are estimated viewers that are out of demographic range like 2 year olds or 90 year olds. Apparently, no tv station in the country even uses these numbers since they are only estimated and not actually registered, and Ad houses are aware of this. My friend says its like an aged heavy weight fighter trying to woo the fight judge with the number of punches thrown vs. those actually landed. He also says everyone in the industry is hearing WRC is up on the block for sale, thinks the Washington Post may be helping in the sale by giving funny figures to make WRC look good. Just passing it along. (5/23/08) Dave's response: 7 ND Bill Lord just issued a statement to us about the Post's coverage of the TV ratings. We've got it in a news newsblurb on the Front Page, just below the original story..... "_______They appear to only have one live local person now. ____" That's actually pretty funny when you think about it. Now that the overnight is automated, the only person that the so called "PD" has to fire , is himself. That would probably be a good idea. (5/23/08) It figures they'd have to kill off WSMJ. It was the most listenable commercial FM station in Baltimore. I know that's damning with faint praise, but I did check them out now and then. And it seemed like every store in town played WSMJ over their PA system... What I really can't figure out is why my car radio has 18 FM presets. I'm down to using 4 of them now... (5/23/08) Oh look....Another day, another prototypical Big 'Mo and Douche Show...Gay talk, food talk, MMA talk, incesant yelling, more MMA talk, more gay talk, more yelling, etc, etc, etc....*yawn* Oh yes, this kind of show will definatly garner huge ratings... -end sarcasm- (5/23/08) Thanks to the "Mailbagger" who provided the bird's-eye view from WWWT-AM’s Tower #1 in Wheaton. There are some inside photos taken at that facility in 2005 (along with a few historical images) at homepage.mac.com... And if you want even more historical views, dating back to 1939, visit DCMemories.com (5/23/08) Dave's response: Don't forget the WTOP (now WWWT 1500) and WMAL (630) transmitter facility "tours" available at DCRTV Plus..... Orgin of Infamous Weaver Interview Revealed: The Baltimore Sun's Rick Maese uncovered the orgins of one of the most infamous radio interviews never heard "on radio." While there have been scores of urban legends out there as to whether the clip was real or not and if it actually aired, Maese questioned WCBM's Tom Marr, the former O's broadcaster who conducted the now-classic "interview" with Weaver: www.baltimoresun.com. The Weaver "interview" can be heard on YouTube: www.youtube.com. (5/23/08) Regarding digital television reception. Within about 25 miles, most older rotatable TV antennas up on your chimney outside will work fine if you replace the cable between there and your TV set. The flat type of feedline loses a lot of signal at UHF, the band where most of the digital channels are located. There was less loss at the lower VHF range so it wasn't noticed as often since that's where most people watched. Out near Annapolis I can get all the Baltimore and Washington digital stations after switching to low-loss coaxial cable, making no other changes. Before, Barely There. You'll need one of those little line transformers to go from the TV antenna (which is expecting flat stuff) to the round cable, and weatherproof it real well or else rainwater will ruin that nice new line. Got mine from Belmont in Laurel. (5/23/08) Dave - It is nice to take a walk down memory lane in your mailbag. My son (Zena Jr.) enjoys it and writes in sometimes as well. To the Cleavers - Of course I remember Lee Case! Didn't Johnny Cantino wind up owning a chain of Italian restaurants after his career in radio ended? I remember the "boys" at WAYE! Oh the memory fades sometimes. I don't remember dinner last night, but I remember Kenny Waylath from long ago! I remember a special meal that we had at the old Little Tavern over on Holabird Avenue in Dundalk. Oh what a time. We bought 'em by the sack, all right! Oh HON! The great crab cake incident! We all tittered about that for years. I'm sure that we were unofficially banned from Dundalk for quite some time after that. I certainly don't remember sitting on Johnny's knee - but I was pretty heavy on the sauce at that time. Sometime perhaps I can tell the story about when I patted Rolf on his big bottom! Oh, the memories. I remember Jerry's being on Johnnycake, but sure as the sun will rise tomorrow - nobody has what Tate has! Heading downtown to Hoschschild's to do some shopping today. Maybe we'll try to find a crabcake at Lexington market, although my faculties aren't what they used to be. Time to take my pills! Zena Sherman (5/23/08) "CC Ditches PD At SMJ, Plugs Into Satellite "........Why does WJZW need a PD? Do they even have an overnight person any more? All I hear now are station IDs. They appear to only have one live local person now. (5/23/08) Dave's response: Since most radio stations are programmed from their corporate parent's HQ in some far-off place like San Antonio or NYC, I don't know why there are any local PDs any more. What the hell did Cruze do at DC101? What they told him to do..... Sorry to hear about Michael Gargiulo losing his spot on the evening news. I really liked him when he was here at FOX5. I don't think you mentioned what he'd be doing at the station, but I would assume that maybe he's going the same route as James Adams @ NBC4 and doing reporter duties. Wish him the best. (5/23/08) It looks like major changes at WSMJ besides plugging into a sattleite: www.smoothjazz1043.com (5/23/08) Dave's response: Good luck getting reception of WASH's HD2 channel in Baltimore. A better bet for smooth jazz fans would be XM or Sirius..... (NYC's NBC4 Yanks Former DC Fox5er - 5/23 - Vicki Burns, the former news director at DC's NBC4, and now the news director at NYC's NBC4, removes former DC Fox5er Michael Gargiulo from its evening newscasts. He will remain at the NBC Big Apple station.....) Any word as why? I have seen him up there when I go up for fun weeekends once a month. He is a hottie. (5/23/08) Someone called Elliott's show stating that his name/station was mentioned in the MD Independent because of some teach scandal thing at North Point HS. (5/23/08) Dave's response: He and his radio crew were debating on yesterday's show about mentioning a "hot" teacher's name/identity on the air. Probably something related to that..... I thought the faces on those Washington Post Points were creepy enough. This morning, THIS is the face that greeted me in the driveway, printed on the bag the home-delivered paper arrives in. It was promoting a contest where you can win a car from the Post. With the exception of a station owner I worked for 5 years ago, I don't remember the last time I saw a jackass wearing a necktie. (5/23/08) Ever wonder what it looks like from the top of WWWT-AM’s Tower #1 in Wheaton? (5/23/08) Being new to the ways of apartment living I've noticed a big antenna on top of the building looking like a bigger version of the tv antenna seen on homes. I take it a one time the collective used this antenna to get local programming but now most folks got the cable or sallyrite. Anyway's if my digital converter ain't going to pick up local stations very well after the transition in February can folks hook up to the great big antenna on the roof again to pull in the new digital signals from local tv stations or a new kind of antenna will be needed in addition to the digital converter box? And the chances of pulling in the Baltimore stations as in my youth are practically nil? I can barely pull in channel 22 MPT now. I know, go with cable, but I think it was Tuesday night that I finally decided I've had enough of the crummy programming on cable these days. The Learning channel was showing a marathon of moldy oldie 48 Hours I guess it bought from cbs, HGTV was showing the same type of boring, oh and the kitchen has granite countertops , show over and over again night after night and MSNBC was showing the same old John Siegenthaler prison yard yarns and Siegenthaler has been gone from MSNBC for 2 years now hasn't he? Another wards, the same old boring sh8t. I'll just use the money to buy more old tv series and movies on dvd. But I guess I should try and keep abreast of the outside world from some tv news, aha-ha-ha-ha, but then again maybe this is what the powers that be really want. It's sort of like direction NBA is taking unless you pay you don't get to see many tv games no more so tough sh8t to you losers. Oh well there's google news I guess. (5/23/08) /\ May 23 Messages /\ \/ May 22 Messages \/ In reference to your blurb about 1250 Goes Classic Country, it appears that while the songs are "classic country," most of the songs are not sung by the original artists. I have been waiting for the return of classic country to the area, but I cannot consider this to be "an improved classic country format." (5/22/08) Urban Verbs reunion, this Saturday night, 930 Club (5/22/08) Dave's response: "It's 3:06 Eastern Standard Time"..... Will it be tonight or tomorrow? that Barry Nolan gets "3 Best Persons" honor on Countdown for the Bill-O bother. (5/22/08) The MO'M show - do you think Mike doesn't do any show prep and THAT is why he wants 2 or 3 guests daily, even if they suck? Today's weatherman guest Dave Price was great but he was in studio and that seems to make a difference. Mike still seems manic and interrupting cow-like with phoners. How long until he relaxes? Not sure if I am laughing along with them at this point. It has had some moments but not enough to hold my total attention. (5/22/08) Ref: On the antenna side, I ask if there are any hams active on UHF here on DCRTVL What about your antenna opinions? My thought is that tight beamwidth and moderate to high gain will be needed. Plus, a rotor! -- I'm active on 432, 903 and 1296 MHz (along with 50, 144 and 222). My antennas are above the trees and work well; however, they are on an 80 foot tower to clear the trees. Being above the trees on UHF makes all the difference in the world. Another 432 op once told me he could tell who did not have their antennas above the trees as their signals were always much stronger in the winter when there were no leaves. From my location in Western Maryland, I receive ~12 analog channels. Using the same fringe area, all channel, outdoor antenna up 25 feet (NOT above the trees) I receive ONE DTV station. So, to answer your question, especially if you are in an outlying area, you need the highest gain antenna you can find and you must get it above the trees if at all possible. High gain and tight beamwidth go together; when you have one you have the other. (Stacking two or more antennas one above the other will keep the horizontal beamwidth the same as a single antenna.) A rotor will be required unless all stations are within the antenna's beamwidth. The bottom line is that it is going to be much more difficult to recieve DTV off the air than it was with analog television. I'd bet that there are lots of off the air viewers who have no clue what is going to happen when the analog gets turned off nor will they have a clue about what they will have to do in the way of installing a high performance antenna system. THe FCC also picked a poor time to make the switch: Mid winter, a lovely time to do antenna work. H (5/22/08) Oh! What another lovely surprise. Dad and I just stepped out for some Ovaltine and Postum and came home to find this lovely note from Zena Sherman. We feel like celebrities. I wish we'd been here to answer her directly but that's how things go sometimes. I told dad that the first time I recalled seeing Zena was on a spring day like this one when Johnny Cantino and Lee Case came to broadcast from right in the middle of Dundalk. We enjoyed the show but Ken Waylath and the fellows from WAYE were a little nasty to them because WAYE had just started up and I believe that they felt like Dundalk was there territory! So, after the broadcast, we went to have a little bite at Jimmy's over there on Holabird Avenue and who should be sitting in the main dining room but Johnny and Lee with Zena and another girl. Zena kept trying to sit on Lee Case's lap but he would have none of it. He said, "Oh no, I'm a married man." That must have bothered Zena because when the boy brought out the crabc akes, she threw a slice of white bread at him and said, "You don't serve crab cakes with a crummy little slice of bread. You serve it with a roll. Now, go back and get us some rolls!" The whole restaurant got real quiet real fast and dad said maybe we should leave but I wanted to see what was going to happen. That poor little waiter brought them rolls for their crabcakes and I'll be darned if they didn't have a bottle of wine and Johnny had Zena setting on one knee and the other girl sitting on the other. That was quite a time in Baltimore! Can someone refresh my memory? I forgot if Jerry's Chevrolet was in Govans or out there by Johnnycake Road. Dad got cross with me because I said it was on Route 40 by Johnnycake. But who knows? Well, I've used up too much of your time so I'll say goodbye for now. Thanks for sharing all those memories, Zena. It's so nice to know that you're on this side of the dirt, hon! The Cleavers (5/22/08) (From DCRTV's Classifed Ads:) - Join the National Press Club for no money down. To mark the NPC's centennial year, initiation fees have been waived and no deposit is required. Eligible applicants include members of the news media, communications professionals, authors, news sources and journalism students. Dues are billed monthly by credit or debit card. It has never been easier for qualified applicants to join the world's most prestigious press club. For more information check out www.press.org, or email to members@press.org. Call the membership office at 202-662-7584. (5/22/08) You really don't pay attention...they have been running the "Fresh Music Mix" liners on Mix 107.3 for a while--well over a year. Get ya head out of yer ass! (5/22/08) (regarding a previous post) NBC will be leaving the "beautiful downtown Burbank" location. Here are the future plans for the site (as noted recently in the Los Angeles Times) www.latimes.com (5/22/08) I got the information from a very reliable source. The Salem Radio Network facilities in Dallas caught fire yesterday and there was no other uplink facility. The news department for SRN is in Arlington however they pretty much did absolutly nothing after the fire because they had nowhere to send the audio too. Yay for no backups. (5/22/08) Dave's response: Anyone know more? Dave - It was so nice to hear from The Cleavers here on the mailbag. I am flattered that they had remembered my gloried past in Charm City radio. I can't remember the set of call letters from which we did the big broadcast from the top of the Bromo Seltzer tower, but I believe my partner in crime was none other than John Bowman! Of course, I was not the star. Always the bridesmaid. Although, at this age, the mind is getting rusty. I do remember running around with Royal down at the old Cat's Eye around that time. I was actually the fifth hostess in line for Romper Room, a VERY young Rhea was in front of me. Of course, that was years before JP was caught looking at her big bottom. We were all laughing when Pinky Lee had that terrible attack on live television. It was Pinky's way to have spasms to make the children laugh, so we all thought it was part of the act. We found it was serious when the they put the slide on the camera and the medics came in. I looked at Jack Gale's new website. Jack - I've always been a fan. I worked with someone at one time that looked like "The Simian" from your old website. The resemblance was just uncanny. Of course, it is hard to tell with my eyes at this age. Oh well - I must head down to the Grand Union. My S&H stamps are surely going to expire soon. Zena Sherman (5/22/08) WWTD 49 also has a digital permit pending, meaning they probably won't even need the analog signal and might just be using WJLA to help fund their switch to DTV. Not a bad idea really for low power stations that don't have the funds for the eventual upgrade. Yes, the timetable is not set as yet, but eventually all TV stations will be digital, even the low-power ones like channel 49 and channel 23. (5/22/08) In the DC Times article: "I think we all just pray that it works," Sen. Ted Stevens, Alaska Republican, said at a hearing last month. Well said, Senator. The big bucks the Feds are doleing out to subsidize the purchase of converter boxes says a lot about the power of the Commercial Broadcasters Lobby. Imagine going a day without being penetrated by paid advertising on television. (5/22/08) WJLA made the right choice, not a big difference, but channel 49 is authorized for more power as you can see compared to WDDN-LP 23 and I'm not even sure that construction permit for channel 23 was built out as it expired this past March (pic attached). If they didn't do the upgrade, then channel 23 would be an even much worse signal to use. I wonder if any other DC stations will make a similar move though. Poor Baltimore has almost no lower-power TV stations to even consider such a move to extend analog. :-( (5/22/08) To Ed Graham; Thanks for referring to me as "your father". Just remember me on Father's Day. You mention Robert C. Allen drove a school bus. I drove a cab for Greyhound, Belle Isle, and Sun Cabs back in '45. Remember, I had to support you, even though yo fired me in 1996. Imagine a son firing his daddy. FYI, my new website address is JACKGALERADIO.INFO... Jack G. (5/22/08) Nice blistering Tonya - I don't disagree. However, I find myself circling back to the warm blanket of 107 numbnutinity, like a dog with minimal requirements stamping out a sleep place under a morning hour sun. The short logic is that old-school Diamond shows provide some Geritol refuge from the pervasive ass gas that youth-skewed corporate radio exudes. (5/22/08) hey, what's up with all the "Fresh" imaging at 107.3, as in "a FRESH mix of music". if CBS was not looking at "fresh 94.7" then who was. (5/22/08) HEY, Give me break!! This time it's too obvious on who is doing all the bad postings on the Jack Diamond show. RE: "tonya"'s email about Jack. (on 5.21) It's so painfully obvious that it's Carson sending those in. God, he wears it like badge! Just hang in there, kiddo. It will come. (5/22/08) Ed Graham, your “Internet Table Radio” is available in the U.S.A. by mail order. I believe it’s by a company called Sangean. Also, TNX for the kudos. You’re right about expanding on my comments about a successful media operation. But, I want to add one we both left out: Respect! Respect for your co-workers (If you have “employees”, you’re already setting the screws on your corporate coffin.), Respect for your customers (See further…), Respect for your advertisers, Respect for your audience, and most importantly, Respect for yourself. I see and hear so little of any of these today. It’s not just saying “sir” or ma’am”; it’s treating people how they want to be treated –Not how you think they want to be treated. It’s “common sense”. Ed, I enjoy your posts, plus those of Bob Mathers, Tom Conroy, Joyce Conroy, and “Legs”. I also want to comment on the fire sale at NBC/U: Some of it makes sense. Some of it doesn’t. WVIT (Hartford) and WTVJ (Miami) make sense. So would s elling a few others. 4001 Nebraska is another. But, not WRC-DT. Neither does 3000West Alameda Ave. Properly programmed, managed, and sold, WRC-DT can be a moneymaker. And, usually is. Just do it from a different site. As for Burbank, right now, there’s a serious shortage of stages for video shoots in the L.A. area. Yes, the property is ultra-valuable for re-sale. But, renting those stages can bring in on-going coin. However, there’s also something to be said about the future of what my British friends like to call “DTT” for “Digital Terrestrial Television”. Multicasting aside, I think people in the biz are now starting to get antsy about what happens after next February 19. The debate about the fragility of VSB-8 should start heating-up come September when Wilmington, NC goes all-DTV. The FCC was smart in their choice, as there are few natural or man-made features there to disrupt DTV reception. I would’ve rather they’d picked Chicago it is what Wilmington isn’t with stuff t o play havoc with the signals. On the antenna side, I ask if there are any hams active on UHF here on DCRTVL What about your antenna opinions? My thought is that tight beamwidth and moderate to high gain will be needed. Plus, a rotor! Oh yes, in talking with CE’s in the plains states, almost every one I’ve talked with (Not a “large” sample, but a “reasonable cross-section”.) say that they’re going back to their old VHF allocation because the transmitter electric bills for UHF equivalency are eating them alive. Final thought… There’s been much said about who’s going to “lose” in the DTV switch. I’m going to be the bastard stepchild here and say that it’ll be some minority groups who depend on LPTV’s for programming. The WJLA/WWTD deal is the tip of an iceberg. Where I live in Northern Virginia (Way outside of the Beltway…) I get a viewable signal off WWTD on the portable in my den. I’m betting that LPTV’s are privately running “DTV Survivor” auctions. Every major station that can strike a deal w/an LPTV as a “safety net” is likely doing so. Unfortunately, that could spell the end of some minority group programming in analog. I say that because, if I were selling my LPTV analog signal to a “big dog digital”, I’d include carriage of my “normal” signal on their DTV at 480p as part of the “compensation”. In WJLA’s case, that could doom “Local Point”. But, except for Bob Albritton and the people who produce the videos, would anybody notice if it went away? I’ll also bet that if there are enough deals like WJLA/WWTD, watch the FCC do a quick NPRM to begin a ban on them! Especially if minority group programming really starts going away. You see, worse than a traffic cop in a Florida small town, the FCC hates it when anyone finds a way to legally avoid their rules/regs/agendas. Unsigned Corporate Suit (5/22/08) HD (local news) updates and predictions... Already in high-def... KYW-TV/Ch. 3 and WPSG-TV/Ch. 57 (CBS/CW Philly)... WABC-TV/Ch. 7 (ABC New York)... WCBS-TV/Ch. 2 (CBS New York)... WCVB-TV/Ch. 5 (ABC Boston)... WNBC-TV/Ch. 4 (NBC New York)... WPIX-TV/Ch. 11 (CW New York)... WPVI-TV/Ch. 6 (ABC Philly)... WTXF-TV/Ch. 29 (FOX Philly)... WUSA-TV/Ch. 9 (CBS DC)... Soon-to-be in HD... WBFF-TV/Ch. 45 (FOX Baltimore)... WHDH-TV/Ch. 7 and WLVI-TV/Ch. 56 (NBC/CW Boston)... WJLA-TV/Ch. 7 (ABC DC)... WTTG-TV/Ch. 5 (FOX DC)... Both FOX affiliates are slated to debut HD News sometime in May, 2008. I don't know if both stations decided to wait until right after the Idol season finale or not... in hopes of getting strong lead-ins. If they're not in HD quite yet, they'll likely be debuting it any day now. It was recently reported that WJLA is slated to debut HD news by late Summer or early Fall. Rumors have circulated that WHDH and WLVI may be going HD by late Summer or early Fall... Ed Ansin has yet to formally announce it. My predictions... I don't believe viewers will be seeing HD news quite yet on the remaining NBC owned and CBS owned stations... giving their current financial situations. NBC's mediocre performance, and CBS' recent layoffs. Those NBC owned stations being... WCAU-TV/Ch. 10 (Philly), WRC-TV/Ch. 4 (DC), and WVIT-TV/Ch. 30 (Hartford-New Haven). NBC is also in the process of selling ownership of WVIT. Those CBS owned stations being... WBZ-TV/Ch. 4 and WSBK-TV/Ch. 38 (Boston), and WJZ-TV/Ch. 13 (Baltimore). The FOX owned stations... WFXT-TV/Ch. 25 (Boston), and WNYW-TV/Ch. 5 and WWOR-TV/Ch. 9 (New York) have yet to formally announce plans to debut HD news. Baltimore market - With WBFF going HD first, I'm looking at either WMAR-TV/Ch. 2 (ABC) or WBAL-TV/Ch. 11 (NBC) going HD second. Hartford-New Haven market - Too close to call at this time. Providence market - I'm looking at WJAR-TV/Ch. 10 (NBC) going HD first. Boston market - I'm looking at WHDH and WLVI going HD second. (5/22/08) I sympathize (empathize?) with the person expressing concern about the fact that little attention is paid to the engineering/technical staffs on this site. However, Dave, or this site is not responsible for that circumstance. There are several reasons why that happens, but there are two major causes. First, the voices heard, and faces seen on the air are part what we broadcasters dangle in front of the public to attract and hold their attention. As a result, it's perfectly natural for most persons to focus on what is presented to them to see and hear. Second, traditionally, and this goes back to the beginning of radio, the engineers, then and now, actually wanted to be behind the scene. Those are two real generalizations (more coming), and there are a good number of other reasons why the technical staff may be looked down upon, or not looked at until it's time to present an engineering budget. You are correct in realizing that a station can operate just fine without live "talent," but can't operate at all without engineers. I would take that a step farther, and point out that broadcasting was invented by engineers not announcers, and the first voice heard on the air was that of an engineer. We won't be around (I hope) to witness, but I'm willing to bet that the last voice heard on the air will be that of an engineer/technician. In fact, the engineer is the only person who is actually required... by law... to be present or under contract to the station. Unless others in the station are properly licensed, they do not have the authority to sign certain technical documents. As a retired grizzled old "radio guy," I could give at least a hundred examples of how some regard the technical staff as what you describe as, "a necessary evil." In general (again), engineers are a mousey lot, and they understand things that the rest of the staff does not understand. This is intimidating to most, and to be a non-assertive techie with your attention on the station's technical health, instead of what is "hip, cool, or hot," you need to have thick skin You work in a sea of bigger-than-life egos, and from time to time, those egos will be rubbed in your face, because you are an easy target, and because management will often not come to your rescue for fear of upsetting the egotist. This is the way it often is in commercial broadcasting, and you're not likely to change it. I bet that the principle reason so little attention on this board is paid to the technical aspects of the stations is simply because the technicians don't participate. Dave has never failed to post any of my infrequent messages. I'm sure Dave would be pleased to see a cadre of technical folk participate here. Take great pride in what you do. Know your heritage as a broadcaster. Engineers are the original (radio) broadcasters. All other positions in the station came later. As a radio engineer/technician, your claim on the title of broadcaster is stronger than any other staff member. Chris Telladira (5/22/08) I thought the deal with Don Geronimo was cbs allowed his early exit contingent on the character of Don Geronimo no longer being allowed to exist? Any future radio jobs will be as Mike Sorce or as one of those jillion dj names the former dj known as Don Geronimo came up with on the show. Geez, Don ur Mr. Sorce the more I listen to MOM I miss you more, I'm so sorry I didn't realize it was that bad. I thought shirley them guys could come up with some good stuff instead of generic whacky zoo crew WoooWooo stuff,oy. Could you at least call O'Meara and tell'em during interviews to take a breath and maybe let Buzz ask a question or even let Buzz conduct an interview from time to time. O'Meara could dash outside for a quick smoke. One of the songs I heard on Scott Shannon's True Oldies over the weekend with the lead vocals buried was Stephen Stills "For What It's Worth" It was kind of interesting to hear what the background singers were doing. Not being a musician, but wish I could play one, always wondered how an arranger went about deciding what phrases and words from a song should be in the background and were to place'em. Btws, is Citadel slashing and burning in prep to try and unload some stations cause they paid way too much for them? Gee, DCRTV Dave I hope a question like that doesn't bringing the legal vultures down on you again. I think a whole mess of cheapo Beatles cd's were issued with poor sound quality. I picked up one Beatles cd were the vocals were buried but I could pick out Ringo's drumming clear as a bell. I paid $3.72 for reg gas at the Safeway yesterday morn at 8:30 ,went back to get a gallon of gas for the lawnmower at 10 pm and the price had jumped to $3.77. I know investigative journalism is pretty much dead and what we's got known is a collection of chicken's spouting off with their head's cut off but just wonderin' ,el presidente shrub, this war in Iraq wasn't about OIL was it but more of a Christian Crusade for the 21st Century? Wonder if shrub gets thirsty eating pretzels. Watch it! (5/22/08) WJLA's Feb. 2009 analog signal on channel 49 actually won't be too shabby, especially considering that analog WDCW 50 will be gone and be replaced by its DTV signal, which is less likely to interfere. Some of the DTV stations that are still not built out and operating under STA have LESS signal coverage right now than WJLA's 2009 leased analog signal will have! :-) (5/22/08) Dave's response: Gee, maybe they should have gone for that Daystar alleged low-power operation on 23. Not a bad signal even outside the Beltway..... Back in March 11th, in response to the annual "Tony K summer/fall hiatus" report, I wrote: "If what you are reporting is true, that Kornheiser is done for good at 3WT later this year, then it can only mean one thing: That Bonneville likely committed to that third hour of Stephy, which means that 9 a.m. hour will be locked up for some time." Well, I nailed that one, didn't I? Props to me. For my next prediction, Tony's show will be cut down from two hours to one (8-9 am) since 3WT is now "locked in" with Steph and the Mooks for three hours. -- Geno Steak (5/22/08) Speaking of WJLA, where's the Retro Television Network they promised us? And speaking of leasing, DC has 2 stations (WFDC and WHMM) that (digitally) only broadcast one SD channel. That means they have plenty of bits left over to lease out subchannels. WJLA is already second-best in multicasting in DC; they could lease more spectrum space, the PSIP could be set to show 7-4, 7-5, or whatever on these channels, and OTA could start giving cable and satellite a run for its money! Let's see some content on these available channels, folks! (5/22/08) /\ May 22 Messages /\ \/ May 21 Messages \/ so im watching the basketball on TNT and have one question - who in the world thinks those birds eye view shots from the camera at the roof of staples center are a good idea?? geez... (5/21/08) Confirmed that WJLA does indeed have a deal for WWTD-49. It is a two year deal. Right now the station does some weird UFO programming. It will switch to a WJLA simulcast in November and it will be promoted as a part of the DTV conversion: giving the consumer a choice. Viewers will be able to watch WJLA in analog, digital, HD or SD. The WWTD signal is basically an inside the beltway signal, and there are weak spots up by silver spring, but it does solve the “I can’t get DTV on the kitchen set” dilemma. WJLA suits see it as cheap insurance in the uncertainty of DTV conversion. They wanted a better signal, but this was the best available analog post DTV conversion. Also, looks like WJLA will start doing news in HD no later than August. While ABC does prime time in 720p, WJLA’s news will be in 1080i. (5/21/08) ('(What the fuck's a "snarling"?) Grease-talk for oral sex performed on a man. The female equivalent is "gobble". ') Anyone versed in neither apparently spends their evenings "enjoying Rosie". LMFAO... Eric In Alabamastan (5/21/08) Would anyone happen to know where Lee Parker, Bob Dahlgren, Vance Randolph, Alan Drake, Ray Moffett and Bob Koolage went after they left WCAO. I believe I had an-Email from Jack Edwards a few years ago saying Lee Parker went to Philadelphia but he didn't mention if he went to a radio station. I also think I heard years ago on a talk show that Paul Rodgers said Alan Drake became a race track announcer. Could someone verify these two and let me know about the others? Thanks. Bruce (5/21/08) Please send condolences to Doug "Greaseman" Tracht on the loss of his mother, Gertrude, also known as Trudy. She passed away following a long illness. (5/21/08) Speaking of mono-incompatible records, I thought it was weird that Don Geronimo (or Mike Sorce, I don’t know who he was at that moment) played what was apparently a mono-incompatible version of “In My Life” by the Beatles as his last song. I would’ve expected an old hand like him to know better… (5/21/08) A Mickey, Amelia and Spiegel guest during the 9:00am hour dropped a big F-Bomb in a; “Get on the fucking ground”, when doing a Krav Maga demonstration. Mickey didn’t blow it off, he actually mentioned that it just went over the air and asked the guy to take it down a few notches. (5/21/08) Personally, I'm enjoying the Mike O'Meara Show, but they're leaning a BIT hard on the interviews -- some of which are NOT compelling. Comedians? Sure. Freaks? If carefully selected for entertainment value, sure. But PLEASE, let's not fall into the Beth Ann McBride quicksand and start (again) with the C-Level reality show rejects. This is exactly where the cruel hand of Donny G will be missed -- he could turn on a bad interviewee like a serpent striking. Mike isn't QUITE that nasty, and sometimes you NEED that nasty streak. I think the MOMS is coming around, but they CAN'T start the show by announcing snoozer interviews. Sincerely, TMU (5/21/08) Flying cock interrupts chess master's speech. Caught on tape. www.hackaday.com (5/21/08) Quick answers: If you remember WABW, you must be older than I thought. I'll ask my father Jack Gale about it. I think WABW stood for Annapolis-Baltimore-Washington - - very ambitious for a 250 watt daytimer at 810. Jack Edwards is the CEO of "You doesn't hass ta call me Jackson, Enterprises." Robert C Allen drove a school bus, and loved it. I tried on several occasions to get him to work for me, and I had to bid against the bus route...and, stop looking at bottoms, Jack and I will cover that. Ed Graham (5/21/08) Dave; Do you have any updates on Jack Diamond and his beleaguered morning show? My 2cents is that his show is at once both lame and old cogery. Jack throws out phrases like "don't want to lose my guy-card." Did you just say guy-card? really? And, he refers to making a phone call as "getting on the horn." Wow! Just like my granddad used to say! Really, enough already with shows appealing to the cruise ship (Ledo deck) set, i.e. "American Idol." – Is he thinking the audience wants to hear more info on challenged karaoke? It's time for a fresh, eager, pre-Geritol swigging host on Mix 107.3 in the morning. Now, that would be refreshing. ---Tonya (5/21/08) Dave's response: I haven't heard anything from those lovely folks at Citadel..... Oh! How excited I was to see a note from Zena Sherman posted here. She has been absent from our airwaves for far, far too long. In 1956, after dad traded the Pontiac for a new Desoto (he was SO fond of Groucho's program) we would drive to Haussner's to watch the afternoon radio broadcast over one of the stations (I forget whether it was WFBR or WCBM). Zena, Stu Kerr and Ken Waylath hosted the show. It also seems to me that Royal Parker would come by as a guest now and then. On another occasion, Zena did her broadcast from the very top of the Bromo Seltzer tower clock with a fellow. Ed Graham, was that you? It may have been Jay Grayson. He was always very polite and respectful of the community whenever he visited Dundalk. Many of you may not know this because I do not think that she ever got on camera, but Zena Sherman was the fourth hostess in line if anything had ever happened on the set of "Romper Room" and they needed another teacher. I believe that the networks began maki ng such plans after poor Pinky Lee had his heart attack on live television back in 1955. Our kids were watching and they just kept laughing and laughing. I tried to explain to them that poor Mr. Lee was sick, but that only made them laugh harder. I had to break out the yardstick and give them a few hard swats on the bottom. And say, I certainly can understand why all of you fellows would like to give a swat or two to that Shannon Bream. Such a pretty girl and, like that little calypso man who writes in always says, "She's got a big bottom!" Now that Zena Sherman is back, I'd like to see her on the air again. She also did an easy listening program with Ted Patterson and Bill Lefevre on that WFMM radio. Maybe they could revive that show with some more of their funny stunts. But, I doubt if Zena would be up for a trip to the top of the Bromo Tower at her age! Well, we need to run to the Two Guys before Merritt Boulevard backs up, but I wanted to thank all of you for the kind no tes when dad was not feeling so well. Especially that little Michael Poopovec for stopping by the house and bringing us a few things from down at the Acme. Welcome back, Zena! The Cleavers (5/21/08) The travails of NBC on a national level are no doubt spinning down to the O&O's again. NBC's May sweeps numbers in particular have been nothing short of atrocious. NBC has to pray that the Beijing Olympics can jumpstart the network again or we may see a freakin' fire sale of station properties. Everett W. (5/21/08) Follow this link to the Indian Head test pattern: www.pharis-video.com (5/21/08) I enjoy listening to Burd and Doyle on 3WT in the morning. However, I can't stand that Victoria Jones. Dear God, please relieve Victoria Jones of her duties as co host on 3WT. Speaking of 3WT - has anyone else noticed how bad the acoustics are in that room they are in? You can hear all of the room noise. There is a lot of reflection off the walls. It is especially noticeable when the guest mics are on. Or - am I the only one listening??? Ed Graham - Is Jack Edwards still driving the school bus? That was the last time I saw him. He's such a nice guy. I enjoyed his style on Classic Country WYRE. A 16 minute sign on? 1956? Now THAT is "Olde Golde". Wasn't that when the old storefront studios of WABW were down on Person street? I don't know, I'm getting old. As much as I enjoy I enjoy Shannon Breem's big bottom, I'll certainly miss seeing Miss Moreno's walking around 1801. Playing the hits - Zena Sherman (5/21/08) To the mailbag poster who commented about the Scott Shannon's oldies "in which the lead vocals were buried"... I know of one explanation: A few record companies, (Mercury Records being one), had non-standard stereo pressings in the 1960s that were "mono incompatible." I worked at a mono FM station and, just as you described, there were occasions when we broadcast a tune by Spanky and Our Gang in which the backing vocals were the only voices you heard! I don't believe this incompatibility extended beyond the late '60s, but you were probably hearing a song from that era. (5/21/08) A major market TV station is an enormously expensive "delivery vehicle" for programming that soon will be distributed via some form of enhanced internet. Broadcast entities will no longer need to OWN the pipes that carry their revenue generating content into our homes if they can merely piggy-back on the 'net. Unload the money-sucking, union-intensive infrastructure while it can still draw top dollar. (And don't EVER forget the mantra... "You can't spell greedy executive without GE".) (5/21/08) Some sort of screw-up at WMAL just now, with EAS, compounded by "no one home" at WMZQ. On WMZQ the Sugarland tune was interrupted by EAS duck-farts then the 2-tone attention signal.... then some dead air... then WMAL was rebroadcast for several minutes including the 11AM top-of-hour ID and a couple minutes of ABC news. Then WMAL cut audio briefly to get the "end of message" duck farts on air, and the WMZQ system went back to the Sugarland tune. Any other stations get caught with this, having EAS in the "auto-forward" mode? Too bad no one was home to notice at WMZQ since the doofus known as Michael J is also on WPOC at the same time. But think of all the money they're saving on talent! ~ Garage-man (5/21/08) When I was in Florida a few months ago, I read somewhere that NBC was also considering selling their Miami NBC station as well. I thought that was quite odd and an impossibility too, so who knows. Neither sale would make sense to me but dumber and stranger things have been done by big companies in the past. My favorite example of dumb corporate moves has always been IBM handing over the ownership to the operating systems on IBM personal computers to Bill Gates, and then walking out of the room giggling as to what the hell Bill Gates could possibly make money on there! :-) (5/21/08) Dave's response: NBC has announced that it's selling its Miami and Hartford stations..... Dave - Small editing question: Are David Burd and Jessica Doyle really working the 8a to 9p spot? Larger question: I heard Jerry Doyle on WTNT yesterday. Would this mean that WTNT would have yet another late afternoon change? - R.L. Blake (5/21/08) To: Unsigned Corporate Suit. I always enjoy your posts. The one this morning about future media and other stuff was great. I really hate the expression, "everything old is new again." That's bullshit. But, you can look back and see that people make the same mistakes again by not learning the reasons those mistakes were made before. Professionalism, risk taking, and hard work are the saviours of present day media. As you say, there is little indication that they exist. Citadel and others just don't have the Suits that have a real understanding of what it will take to survive the onslaught of "Future Media." Change in media delivery systems is occurring exponentially. Change from AM to FM was very slow. Changes from LP to 45 to 8-Track to cassette to CD to MP3 moved along at an increasing pace. Now with satellite, Internet, and other delivery systems about to crash down on radio, the only way that local stations can survive will be by offering something that can only be offered locally by terrestrial radio. It will have to be LOCAL, and great radio. It will require professionalism, risk taking, and hard work. Something that WMAL and 3WT don't seem to understand. You can now buy (from Europe) a table radio that receives Internet streams of audio. Put that in a car radio, and you'll have to try hard to get a listener to tun in your AM or FM station. One quick note about radio sign-ons: When I worked with Jack Edwards on WWIN in 1956, the PD Jack Dawson created a 16 minute sign-on. I had the FCC required stuff, but also a thought for the day - some other inspirational stuff - The National Anthem - and Gordon McRae singing "Oh What a Beautiful Morning" from Oklahoma. Jack would remember the details, if the big A hasn't erased his mind. And, yes, I remember the Indian Head test pattern. It went away when Color TV was introduced. Ed Graham (5/21/08) I CALL HIM CHRISTOPHER - MY LETTERS TO CHRIS MATTHEWS OF HARDBALL... Friends - Think you will have an interest in this controversial and funny new book now listed on Amazon and Forbes, among others, worldwide. Please click on the link below for details and lots of smiles and laughter. One man wrote he had a hard time reading through his "tears of laughter." Another wrote, "This is some awesome stuff. I think you know that." In it, I deal with Ann Coulter, the TBN sex scandal, amid a host of other inflaming topics. My first book, ENTRAPPED, is to be found in virtually every major college and university, including Harvard, Yale, Princeton, and Brown Universities, a total of 225 throughout America and Canada. Cordially, EDWARD EUGENE BASKETT - Author www.theomnibus.org (5/21/08) Re: "Don Geronimo vs. Mike Sorce" in references here: Umm, who cares, really? The man legally known as Mike Sorce performed on the radio in the markets covered by DCRTV under the on-air name Don Geronimo for dozens of years. It's entirely accurate to refer to him by his known on-air name for a website that covers media, especially if the item refers to his radio career. Hell, if he hadn't have opened up with his real name to listeners when appropriate, or if he hadn't gotten into a bit of trouble with the law in the past, no one would have known it! (5/21/08) I find it difficult to believe that NBC is considering a piecemeal sale of TV stations. Selling real estate such either verticle or horizonal, then renting back space or a long term lease has certain tax advantages. Especially if the building or tower had been depreciated. However, with the digital transition the actual transmitter site of the San Jose station is actually just 2 miles South of the Mt. Sutro antenna farm in SanFransisco. AND. The San Jose-Fransisco station is digital on VHF. Thus it will have signal parity. I cannot believe the network would want to lose control of news distribution in the capitol. (5/21/08) Dave's response: I find it difficult to swallow, too. But, both ABC and CBS produce a load of DC news stuff without owning local stations here. And, who knows, the future might be here quicker than we thought. Maybe broadcast network television is on its last legs and NBC wants to get a good price for WRC before the bottom falls out of the local TV market. Maybe NBC is eyeing the ability to go directly to viewers' homes without the "middleman" of a local broadcast station or "affiliate." Ever heard of something called the internet? And - just what is local TV? A few hours a day of something called "local news." The rest of what "local TV" broadcasts is either fed by the network or bought on the national syndication market. Do you really need a "middleman" for that? Other than "news," there is no "local TV" any longer. (Where's Count Gore De Vol?) Seriously - NBC, Gannett, Fox, Hearst, CBS, Allbritton, Scripps, and Sinclair could be stuck with local commercial TV properties that won't be worth (as) much in a few years. Might be smart to sell now..... (What the fuck's a "snarling"?) Grease-talk for oral sex performed on a man. The female equivalent is "gobble". (5/21/08) Regarding future media (as basically asked by MB), I hate the term “re-invent” -Too PC for me! I prefer “adapt and adopt”. Media has been in ancestor worship for far too long. Just because an Atwater Kent that was once tuned to WMAL for NBC “Blue” can now tune to the same station on the same frequency, for the same network-heavy diet of programming, doesn’t mean that the station doesn’t need the same professionalism and dedication of 75+ years ago. If anything, it’s even more essential because there’s more competition for your audience and advertisers than ever before! I may sound curmudgeonly, but when I’m dealing with someone right out of grad school, or on their second (or subsequent) major market gig, and they start to get nervous (as they often do), I tell them that if they take any grandfatherly advice I may give them it’s that ‘there’s never been any great reward received without an equal (if not greater) risk taken’. When I say that, I remind them that I span the eras from crystal to digital. (Am I the last???) So, I guess I’m almost to the point of having “seen it all”! When the younger people talk about Mel Karmazin or Farhid Suleman like they’re new phenomena, I bring up people like Richard Eaton. When then-Attorney General of N.Y. Spitzer was doing his payola investigation, I said, “nothing new” and told them about the traumas of Alan Freed, the Richmond Brothers stations, and others. Finally, as for Digital TV, I remind them of how long it took for color to be adopted by networks (Even by RCA-owned NBC.), local stations, and advertisers –Not to mention the audience! And, of the cruel fate that befell so many early and creative UHF-TV stations. As for me, if there’s anything I miss in the multiplexed all-digital tapeless operation that I sit behind a desk in today, it’s the near-total absence of risk-taking and leadership. Too many of the “leaders” I see in the biz today are more lemmings than leaders. Being a lemming may seem safe in the short-term as a CYA tactic. You’re doing a task to get a paycheck until you retire and then die. But, it’s neither living nor working. It’s just barely existing. As for risk-taking, I really don’t see it anymore. If you can’t achieve positive cash flow (and dividends) quick enough for the investment funds and bankers, you’re either forced into a 12-gauge merger or liquidation. The satellite radio disaster and what happened to Voom are good examples. Finally, as for people, when I interview someone who sends a resume’ & a demo on a dream, if I see drive and desire, I’ll often recommend “hire”. Decades ago, an old man who owned a daytimer in the sticks took a chance on me. I’ve never forgotten. Have I hired disasters? Yes. But, that’s a part of risk. However, I’ve also hired far more who have moved onwards and upwards. And, that’s been my greatest reward of all! Then again, something even better may some along tomorrow. –Unsigned Corporate Suit (5/21/08) Gee, DCRTV Dave can I be the DCRTV Mailbag Sensor? What's it pay? Watch it! You know as time passes it seems less and less of the elements of the Don and Mike show are being carried on by the Mike O'Meara show except for the people and I find myself saying,"Self, who are these people?" Geez Robbay doing a cheesy Vegas commercial with cheesy Melendez. Man what has the world come too. If the daily quota is going to be two guests a day to fill the time get back Yanni for gosh sakes, at least he pulled in some folks we herd of . My dial is drifting more and more over to The Sports Reporters, far more laffs than the MOM show. Listened to a few moments of the Chunkies show yesterday morning, I see the Chunkies are still the "silly" whores as always. I'll be d9mned if they weren't talking about the Britney Spheres again, sh9t seems like I heard the same conversation last summer. And they morphed the conversation into foods that are a "show" like ice cream or the great grilled cheese at 5 guys,okay that's mine, but anyways I've heard this same conversation about foods that are a "show" before on the Chunkies and I hardly listen. And this BDK what a whimpering whippet of a movie reviewer, bring back Clint Howard! Was in the 7 corners area over the weekend and was trying to listen to the Leo LaPorte show on WMAL but could hardly pick it up for all the static. Also listened to Scott Shannons True Oldies and from time to time played a song in which the lead vocals were buried but the background vocals were most prominent. How does that happen? and one last try for Brit Coms on Saturday night on Maryland Public tv and once again in the fundraising mode. I guess sadly this is permanent. (5/21/08) (Well, "green" Vegas gets its power from hydroelectric - the Hoover Dam on the Colorado River. Not nuclear or coal.....) I don't think the plane is powered by the Hoover Dam. That aside according to Nevada Power, Hoover Dam does not provide all the power to Las Vegas...they buy it from the grid like everyone else. Then there is the waste, and other non-green issues. Quite the non-friendly carbon footprint they are shilling. This is what The Globe endorses? (5/21/08) You are all bitching about that Tahiti Village spots. They are on all of the market stations. Every CBS Baltimore station has done it, from 105.7 to WLIF. I've heard Greg Carpenter and the new afternoon guy do it too. Speaking of whoring yourself out, what about 100.7 The Bay now saying "we're broadcasting from the Bill Kidd Studio." It's like the Lido Pizza Glass Enclosed Nerve Center. Ha--Imagine--Broadcasting from the Antwerpin Studio, 102.7 JACK FM. We Say YES to sounding like SHIT!" (5/21/08) Saw an item about the former "Don Geronimo". Hey, Don Geronimo is no more. He's off the air. Retired. If you write a piece about this guy, call him by his real name, Mike Sorce. Mike Sorce did this... or Mike Sorce did that... or Mike Sorce might be back on the radio... or the former "Don Geronimo", Mike Sorce... The Don Geronimo character no longer exists. (5/21/08) Hello, Just wanted to let everyone know that my dad, Bill Ashley, started his chemo treatments last Friday. He will have about six months of various chemo and radiation treatments so please continue to send prayers and positive thoughts his way. I will try to confirm the bizarre Tom Sater sighting as my parents live in Warrenton and I'm just six miles away in beautiful Broad Run. Jennifer Durand (5/21/08) Just curious why you always focus on everyone but technical staff in the radio and tv industry. The technical staff always gets the "evil necessity" attitude. Melissa Moreno IT Director of Clear Channel DC one of the last of the BZ era has left the building. You can talk, play music, and run spots all you want in radio, but if it's not transmitted will anyone hear it? Remember we can play music and spots without jocks (and isn't that when ratings are at their highest, hhhmmm), but they can't talk, play music or spots without us. (5/21/08) During the late night "After Hours" Kentucky & Oregon primaries coverage on MSNBC tonight, Bob Franken was featured as one of the political analysts on the panel. I'm a fairly constant MSNBC viewer, but I don't recall ever seeing him on MSNBC. He was on CNN for quite a long time, but when was he added to the MSNBC line-up? (5/21/08) Got a rumor from a consultant that NBC is considering selling Washington and San Francisco TV stations. (5/21/08) What a mean spirited, rotten and bitter post about Tom Sater. The guy has cleaned himself up and has a respectable job. Sure, it is not as glamorous as waking up at 3AM and saying the same thing over and over again, but it IS a job. (5/21/08) /\ May 21 Messages /\ \/ May 20 Messages \/ Speaking of the lame Tahiti Village spots...ironic they run on WTGB (The Globe); the "green" station. They play up the "we are green" all the time, yet shill for a company that will fly you out to Vegas (the most "un-green" place on the planet, other then the color of money) for a 3 day sales pitch. WTGB...18th, and apparently proud of it! (5/20/08) Dave's response: Well, "green" Vegas gets its power from hydroelectric - the Hoover Dam on the Colorado River. Not nuclear or coal..... DAVE, the G on the end is silent. SNARLIN' rhymes with DARLIN'... A.M.F from DELMARVA (5/20/08) "After hearing the Junks moan and whine every damn morning about the ball-busting drag that heterosexual marriage is, I thank the Lord everyday that I'm gay." To each their own. I'd much rather listen to that than take it in the can or have to give another guy a snarling. (5/20/08) Dave's response: What the fuck's a "snarling"? Cue the "where has Tom Sater been" posts in 5.....4.....3......2....... (5/20/08) Dave's response: Ah, remember the milk carton (right) from 2005..... Could someone in 'DCRTV Land' explains to me how 'brian wilson' is "local" on that mess of a station 105.7fm/'baltimore's less talk fm' (or did I miss that post? :-) Sure he talks about the 'sewage-pool of Baltimore city' & the 'peoples democratic of maryland' from stories online/wire sources every once in awhile after he gets past his own self-centered political rants/beliefs every 10 or so minutes... Yet, 'brian wilson' never comes across as "local" or part of those stories; e.g. 'his' local drive, 'his' local favorite stores-businesses, 'his' local interaction with current events... All nameless?? (vs. "ed norris" who seems to baltimore?) He's 'calling it in' from his estate right??? Every time I call into to 'challenge' the call-screener seems to "hang-up" on me. I'm just saying :-) ~Arthur S. "kinky-neo-con" (5/20/08) That Post article is hilarious, with its picture of the aluminum foil covered rabbit ears. But it points up how most people have put up with pure crap for TV reception all these analog years. Unfortunately, the ATSC digital TV system is not robust enough to survive a varying incoming signal. If your analog reception jumps, buzzes, and goes in and out, you're not going to be able to get a digital signal that doesn't black out on you. I don't know what the answer is for apartment dwellers, but this is a golden opportunity for someone to come up with a truly decent apartment-friendly TV antenna. When I lived in an apartment years ago, I put a 4-bay bowtie antenna in the closet for my TV reception. That still may not be a bad idea--they're cheap and don't take up much room. (Note to the person who is 10 miles from the TV stations and has a pre-amp on his antenna: That pre-amp is likely hurting your reception instead of helping it. Consumer-grade pre-amps will overload on strong signals, creating intermodulation products that will interfere with the signals you're trying to boost.) (5/20/08) Tom Sater eitmfans.blogspot.com Need a tractor? As this web site says: Tom is now the assistant manager at Tractor Supply Co in Warrenton, VA. Saw the guy there and he looks nothing like this picture. The facts: He has facial hair now, a new ... wife & 2 kids on the way. Guess that means the milk carton "missing persons ad" is no longer needed. (5/20/08) (from earlier message) My antenna is clear of obstructions, so if no pre-amp works, elevate the antenna or cut the limbs. (end) Also, try tilting the face of the antenna slightly off vertical. It doesn't sound like it would work, but it does. (5/20/08) A MASN claims rep recently responded to a complaint about no MASN HD by stating that MASN HD has been offered to DISH at no charge, but that DISH has declined to carry at this time. This is hard for me to figure since MASN HD is a part time channel which could be used to pad DISH's HD channel count in battle with DirecTv. Howie (5/20/08) re: "...elevate the antenna or cut the limbs." Gee, now there's the rub. If it were only that simple. These are serious trees with serious limbs -- hundreds and each well over a hundred feet high -- producing massive reflected signals and causing havoc in the digital television realm. (5/20/08) I never thought I'd say this but I miss Don Geronimo. I was tired of his being a complete asshole before he went off the air but now in hindsight, I'd rather have him yelling at idiot callers than anything else. Does ANYONE in radio believe in taking a change on anything where thought and originality is required? The Junkies and that midday show are people trying too hard to be like Stern and Don and Mike and not succeeding very well [my opinion]. Mike's show is...well..not all that exciting. Elliot is ok at times. I STILL think someone should offer Diane Stupor a show. Let HER talk, give her own opinions and play music. I'd be willing to bet it'd be fun and funny and original. Over at 99.5, Kane is possibly the worst of the lot. After hearing 2 minutes of Kane, I was so repulsed I wanted to take several showers to wash his stink off me. Is HE the new direction in radio? Mind numbing, shallow, insincere and playing the same toe tapping bullshit corporate radio thinks listners want to hear? Paul (5/20/08) If you're only 10 miles from the antennas, you should not be using a pre-amp, just a bare antenna. My antenna is clear of obstructions, so if no pre-amp works, elevate the antenna or cut the limbs. (5/20/08) If the Dark Lord **were** to take a gig in the OC - imagine the hilarity - his uber-Diva-ness doing on-air reads for Thrasher's Fries and Grotto Pizza ("Gotta try the 'Grotto Boli'")!! OTOH - things are proceeding nicely at the MOMS, the Cap'tn, is still a little shaky but first first-mate Robbay has plenty to contribute and it's oh-so-nice to hear Buzz actually complete a sentence without being interrupted!! The cross-pollinization amongst JFK shows isn't a bad ting eder. The Junkies have, and always will be, skanky ho's for Tahiti Village - the pantheon of "celebrities" they have fawned over on behalf of the TV include Tonya Roberts, David Faustino and now Studdering John. Oh well, the boys wouldn't be able to remind us working-class trash how rich they are if they didn't get their grubby little paws dirty while stuffing that mad TV cash in their Under Armour (tm) shorts. (5/20/08) After hearing the Junks moan and whine every damn morning about the ball-busting drag that heterosexual marriage is, I thank the Lord everyday that I'm gay. - Sven (5/20/08) RE: the Junks and Tahiti Village; I've heard Maynard interview Rosanne (plugging her Vegas show) and Mark (from KMS) interview Melendez (I think) both DURING their time slot. Maynard's started out with "And we're back with Roseanne..." What a load of crap! I consider myself and educated consumer, and I was fooled for the first few minutes (OK, seconds...) I head Mark this morning, then later heard the MIX 106.5 folks doing a legitimate interview, and I had to wonder if it was another Tahiti Village plug. (The Mrs. Was listening to MIX, I swear!) Sure it's Baltimore, but the feelings the same. There nothing illegal about it (I don't think), but it does weaken listeners belief that a shows' interviews are legit... CBS, if you're going to play this game with Tahiti Village, at least respect the listeners enough to not run them during the same time slot that is talent doing the interview is on the air..... (and at least WTOP prefaces their talent reads with "the following is an advertisement) Signed (King of Paren's) (5/20/08) Dave's response: To its credit, 106.7 is running a end-of-ad disclaimer that the preceeding "chat" was a paid spot..... Just wondering – did anyone else experience sound loss on the Nats-Phillies game last night ? It was on MASN and I live in Stafford with Comcast as my provider. (5/20/08) Dear Unsigned Corporate Suit: I appreciate your response, whose length was more than justified by its insightfulness. I agree with your assertion that internet-only insertion of spots is a great start. It is unfortunate that the regulatory environment has yet to catch up with the possibilities offered to audiences by the internet, but my sense is that the lawmakers, who always seem to be behind the curve, will catch up. There is an opportunity, meantime, for marketing and advertising folks (who can see beyond the horizon), to position themselves to take advantage of what is likely to be a more favorable regulatory climate in the near future. With respect to labor, the growing trend away from staff positions toward contractors and freelancers will only accelerate. For talented, smart people, this should be regarded as a good thing. Talent is always rewarded in the marketplace, and not being tied or obligated to one specific employer will allow that person to take his/her skills to whatever platform (s) will pay the most. This business model - which is inevitable and growing - will no doubt scare many and I suspect this "fear factor" correlates closely with age - but older people will work longer and must learn to constantly reinvent themselves and expose themselves to risk. It may sound counterintuitive to some, but hunkering down thinking you're avoiding risk is, perhaps, the biggest risk of all. -- MB (5/20/08) RE: [ " Old Antenna Won't Work With New Digital TV (Duh) " ]........ Actually, that's FALSE! Correct headline should read "Old INDOOR RABBIT EARS ANTENNA Won't Work With New Digital TV (Duh)". If you have an old Channel Master with a UHF wing still on your roof, it should work just fine for locals. In fact most old outdoor antennas should work fine if they can receive UHF signals now. It's only the old indoor rabbit ears that won't. It's sad. There's soooo much misinformation about DTV going on and a lot of it is for profiteering purposes only by the cable companies. There are soooo many cheap and easy ways to get free DTV signals, it sickens me. (5/20/08) re: "Ugh, more BS regarding "HDTV antennas." ...Even during 50-60 mph wind gusts, the picture is solid." Well, for the last three years I've been snagging over-the-air hd signals with a top notch hd receiver, 8-bay bowtie UHF antenna mounted on a rotor, with a pre-amp on the antenna -- and I'm still having major trouble locking in a solid signal through trees on a windy day. And, I'm less than 10 miles from center city. Any suggestions on how to improve my reception? Thanks. (5/20/08) Dave, Regarding "Old Antenna Won't Work With New Digital TV (Duh) - 5/20" Thank goodness I decided to have a near-fringe antenna hooked up to my house back in 2004! I live in the highest point in Laurel, MD and my analog reception has been good to excellent for as along as I can recall, although the rotor gets a work out when switching from DC to Baltimore (or Baton Rouge, LA during the summer "skip" season). As for the DTV signal, yes there are occasions when I have to hunt for the "sweet spot"(the reception during the recent heavy rain was a bit troublesome), but for the most part, the signal has been fine on my cheap DTV and even with the converters on my two other sets. Carl (5/20/08) Dear Dave: I had to laugh a bit about the user in the Post article having problems receiving HD signals using the rabbit ears with tin foil. I'm sure somebody out there has tried a wire coat hanger. The obvious solution would be to purchase an indoor or outdoor HDTV antenna to see how that affects (improves) reception, but I have a feeling many people will assume that what they have will work and will criticize the government for mandating the switch to HD next year. On a related note, last year my wife purchased for her laptop the Pinnacle PCTV HD Pro Stick tuner (which is about the size of a USB flash drive) to watch television on her system. At our home located West of Wild Western Fairfax County, the tuner and the single 2-foot telescoping antenna packaged with it is able to receive both analog and digital signals of DC area stations without much difficulty (sometimes we get ghosting on analog or pixellating on digital). I would guess that a larger outdoor antenna and/or a closer location to DC would pretty much eliminate those issues. Just goes to show that there are many variables people have to consider when attempting to receive over-the-air signals. Again Dave, a great site! Sincerely, Joe Kasell (5/20/08) The hottie in the Post article about DTV is using a VHF antennae but all the DC area DTV signals are UHF. She needs a bowtie or circular antennae to pick up UHF efficiently. So, its a good thing she is getting a signal at all with the wrong antennae. I wonder how many technical geeks are nowcamped out in the lobby of her Arlington condo with a bow-tie antennae hoping to meet her and help her out. I can't, I am married. (5/20/08) Dave's response: Come the February 2009 deadline, 7, 9, 11, and 13 will be broadcasting their digital signals via their old VHF (!) frequencies. However, 2, 4, and 5 will be on UHF, along with all of the existing UHFers. It would have been nice, antenna-wise, if the FCC could have clustered all the TV stations within the same market on the same TV band. But noooooo. Oh, according to the Post's DTV map with this morning's article, Fairfax Station's Channel 66/WPXW is transmitting its digital signal from NW DC. Didn't know that.... Hi, since yesterday, I've noticed a strong stereo signal on 93.5. I live in Windsor Mill, outside Baltimore. The analog signal is stereo and full quieting. I turned on my HD receiver to find that they're transmitting audio on their HD1 allocation. 4 songs, 30 seconds of each played continuously without ID. 1 classical, one jazz, one blues and one about Yankee baseball. The HD2 signal is present but no audio. I've had the analog signal on to listen for an ID but haven't heard any. Douglas (5/20/08) Dave's response: Might be the experimental station digital broadcast equipment manufacturer iBiquity uses. Out of the Columbia area, I believe..... I was going to write about "analog" and "digital"antennas being marketing BS, but someone beat me to it. Once again, antennas are either VHF or UHF. I switched from RCA VHF/UHF rabbitears/loop settop to a UHF bowtie antenna. My readings were above 80 instead of 50/60s . LesinAdelphi (5/20/08) Every Tuesday is Oldies Day on www.wgay.fm. Today's broadcast is an unscoped aircheck of WOL from September 02, 1989. Enjoy! -Barlow T. Shagnasty (5/20/08) Good Morning! We are in the planning stages of the memorial service for Bill Hamlin and are looking for old photos/audio tapes that include Bill. We would like to put together a sound and photo montage. The memorial service will be held on Monday, June 16, 2008 at 7:30 pm. The service will be held in the Aaron and Cecile Goldman Theater at the DC Jewish Community Center, 1529 16th Street NW (at the corner of Q & 16th Streets). A reception with refreshments will follow. Thanks! Beverly Fox, bfox@wtopnews.com (5/20/08) Ugh, more BS regarding "HDTV antennas." There is no difference between an HDTV antenna and an "analog" antenna. Maybe instead of using a crappy pair of rabbit ears wrapped in aluminum foil, the person would spend some money on a decent antenna. I live in Fauquier county and have a roof mounted Antenna that pulls in DC stations just fine, thank you very much. Even during 50-60 mph wind gusts, the picture is solid. Half the problems people have is they are trying to pull a TV signal through cinder block. Doesn't work too well. Get the antenna next to the window. On clear nights, I can even pull in the Baltimore stations. Blaming "the digital transition" is quickly becoming an excuse for antennas that were never aimed correctly the first time. G2 (5/20/08) I know this is a local DC site, but the following Hillary and Obama campaign jingles heard on TV and radio in Puerto Rico, in which the Dem primary is on June 1st, are just too good to pass up. Hillary's jingle (by Willie Colon) is here: www.youtube.com and Obama's jingle (by Miguel Orozco) is here: www.youtube.com (5/20/08) Memo to Jerry Edwards, Traffic, News 4: Please get someone to go out and "Adjust C38 for White Balance" already. That legend is on that one camera every morning during the Traffic reports and it's getting old. (5/20/08) Did I say anything worse than the folks over at Fairfax Underground? My compliments to ian for putting it so lovingly... (5/20/08) For “MB”, to bullet your items… “slumping, and rapidly evolving, advertising market will have on local TV and radio stations?” –In >30 years in the biz, I’ve seen boom-bust, and repeat. We did it with every depression. And, every “expansion”. But, you’re spot on with “evolving”. And, that’s what has so many soiling their pants. While there are more outlets for the audience, there are also more outlets for advertisers. Message exposure and retention within your desired demographics is the key. And, traditional media needs to realize that it's not only the only game in town, but isn't always the best. Look at the way the Post is starting to re-invent itself along the lines of smaller papers taht are not only more focused, but have a lower cost (especially labor) structure. For broadcasting, having internet-only spot insertion as it is today is a great start. We could easily have focused-targeting of spots based on either a micro or macro level. In essence, you could have an overseas broadcaster that’s popular with U.S. audiences selling spots for U.S. listeners, that would only be heard by U.S. online listeners. However, Internet broadcasting from the U.S. is hamstrung by copyright laws and other restrictions which I regard as broadcasting’s equivalent of the “Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act”. Without an overhaul that would encourage small and medium market stations to program online, along with equal encouragement for independent entrepreneurs to establish internet-only stations, internet broadcasting in the U.S. will be the domain of the already rich and established. “How will it effect newsgathering, hiring, salaries,” -Expect even more contracting-out (and pooling of the contractors) of newsgathering than what we’re already seeing. There will also be a reduction in newsgathering overall. Journalistic greatness in tradition of Ed Murrow is dead. So is the documentary. Fox News is cited by some as the future of both TV and radio news. I disagree. But, it appears to be what the audience wants. As for hiring, I’m afraid the future is going to be with the contractors (Who are usually non-union.) or becoming a successful freelancer. Write a book. Or, two. I find it interesting to see how many people at Fox News have “written” books. Never mind how much may have been ghostwritten, or if it ends up in the “All Books $5.00 rack” at Borders or B&N. It seems that if you want to be a “star”, you’ve got to write a book, no matter how bad it is. As for salaries, they’re going to continue being depressed. The loss of power by the unions (I’m lumping AFTRA, NABET, IBEW, etc. all together in this one!) has been a disaster for all in the business. Besides eroding salaries, the loss of benefits is what I like to call “the hidden paycut” (A broadcaster in my past liked to talk about “the hidden paycheck”, for their bennies. Thus, it's fair to call reducing bennies what it essentially is.) Aside from what I feel will become one of a dwindling number of “stars”, one’s only hope is to become an outstanding and sought-after freelancer who can command their compensation and get it… “the ongoing transition to new platforms, innovation, etc?” Broadcasters have traditionally feared and avoided non-traditional choices. For their audiences. Or, for themselves. From the underdash 45 RPM record player (From J.C. Whitney) that I helped my cousin install in his ’58 Inpala to the “Sync” system in my current ride, the primary audiences of radio broadcasters in any era have had choices. Now, TV broadcasters have choices to use and they don’t know what to do witht. They hate cable because expanded choice reduces audience share. But, now that they can become multi-casters, look what some do with their signals. Either they won’t exploit the opportunity, or they cram in so much that they trash everything. Sorry this rant ran long. But, MB asked serious questions that few in this business are willing to face. –Unsigned Corporate Suit (5/20/08) I can testify from personal experience that WRC-4 used an Indian Head test pattern. When I was a boy, I had a Washington Post paper route and often I'd be home before 6:00 a.m. on a summer morning. WRC signed on at 6:00 with "Topper" and a commercial for C.L. Barnes furniture, but there was an Indian Head test pattern on the screen before signon. "Shop C.L. Barnes and Son. If it's from Barnes' it's beautiful!" -- GAB in the Airless Cubicle. (5/20/08) Ugh. One of the Junkies pretending to interview John Melendez for Tahiti Village. And then John even plugs his new movie in the plug. (5/20/08) Dave, so it seems one or more people who post here have a hard-on for the Mormon church and you often allow these diatribes to remain without comment. So, would it also be okay if you were to post critical messages that say ' that's how the Jews spend their money, f'ing idiots', or perhaps 'that's how blacks spend their money in DC, f'ing idiots'. Porter Jervis (5/20/08) Dave's response: You want to apply for the position of DCRTV Mailbag Censor? /\ May 20 Messages /\ \/ May 19 Messages \/ Yes, there is a place where such a high powered exec would have time to play on the computer...it's Idyho ave. Games and play time and real real real long lunches. That's how the LDS spends money in DC. Lots of it. Fucking idiots. (5/19/08) Hey Dave- If you want video to add to your Schieffer story, we talked to him yesterday about coming out of retirement after Face the Nation…. Here’s the link… www.charlottesvillenewsplex.tv.... Jeremy Settle, News Director, WCAV CBS19 / WVAW ABC16/ WAHU FOX27, www.wcav.tv (5/19/08) (snip) "Radio and TV is a wonderful business. If you're lucky, you'll still be working in it when you're 70" (snip) 70? I may have to work well beyond that, given the skimpy raises, declining health care benefits etc. that my employer offers. I am 49 years old with two kids and glad to have a steady paycheck, but I am barely hanging on. Hey boss: Can I work remotely from a nursing home in 2030? Broadcasting is worse than ever, but I don't know what else to do. I hear plumbers, electricians and nurses can all make over 100K. - James (5/19/08) My theory on "Unsigned Corporate Suit" is that he could not possibly be a "corporate suit" and post here so often. Only a government employee or an unemployed person like myself would have so much time on their hands, meaning practically, ummm, ANYONE from Washington, DC! :-) PS: I actually wrote this BEFORE the Baltimore crack! LOL (5/19/08) Considering 102.7 Jack has been broadcasting with too much stereo for some time, it would quite amusing if a "technical difficulty" left them in mono for a while. (5/19/08) Could someone out there please explain why MSNBC,CNN,FOX"News" all report local-yokel; construction accidents, cats stuck in trees, fender benders, drunks running stop signs etc. as "BREAKING NEWS! FLASH!!!" -I find it extremely cheap & amateurish for such self-centered & stuck-up cable 'news' networks to report when Im trying to find real news! (like the stuff we read in DCRTV ;-) (5/19/08) RE: What effect will the slumping advertising market will have on local TV and radio stations?" In many respects, an economic downturn can be an opportunistic time. But worker bees - and that's what all but those signing the checks are - won't see much if anything in the form of economic gains. You can expect to see stagnant, less-than-inflation-matching wage increases, insecurity, no opportunity to get ahead financially. Radio and TV is a wonderful business. If you're lucky, you'll still be working in it when you're 70, because you may need to. My advice: move outside your comfort zone, learn new skills, explore higher-yielding options and control your fate - before someone else controls it for you. (5/19/08) Dave, what effect do you and your audience think the slumping, and rapidly evolving, advertising market will have on local TV and radio stations? How will it effect newsgathering, hiring, salaries, the ongoing transition to new platforms, innovation, etc? Thanks. - MB (5/19/08) Dave's response: Can't think today. Anyone want to chime in? I used to think that the “Unsigned Corporate Suit” was just plain stupid. I was wrong, he is just from Baltimore! (5/19/08) Re: "to my horror, NBC's "The Office" appeared to be broadcast in 16 x 9"... OK, I assume that you mean you hooked up a digital TV converter box. Every converter box will have 3 options for displaying a widescreen picture: You can have the center portion of the picture fill your 4:3 screen, which is how yours is set now. You can have the full widescreen picture fit into your 4:3 screen, which is generally called letterboxing. And the third option is for displaying a widescreen picture on a widescreen TV (there were a lot sold without tuners); if you choose this for your 4:3 TV, everybody will be really skinny. These options are accessed through one of the menus on your converter box, generally called a Setup menu. Your remote may even allow you to jump between display modes directly. Without knowing what box you have, I can't get more specific. Since sometimes a station will broadcast a 4:3 picture in a widescreen field, you are going to have to switch display modes fairly often to get the best results. Get out the manual for the converter box and read all about the menus. (5/19/08) Hey Dave, You got to post the footage of the Drab vs. Batt fight from Saturday that's up on wjfk.com. Those two guys fought each other like warriors. Congrats to those two, and Big O and Dukes for putting on such a great event. -Troy (5/19/08) The FCC gods have answered my question about the WMAR-DT woes and the use of WJZ's channel 38 on which candelabra tower. Apparently Scripps Howard's WMAR-2 does not have adequate auxiliary facilities for the proper DTV transition before the turn-off date......... "WMAR and WJZ plan to construct new digital facilities after the end of the transition with a Channel 38/Channel 13 stacked antenna configuration on the position of the candelabra tower presently occupied by the WMAR analog (Channel 2) and digital (Channel 52) antennas. This work cannot be completed before the transition date without turning off the WMAR existing analog and digital facilities (as WMAR-TV has inadequate auxiliary antennas for long term operation) permanently for at least 5 months before end of the transition; therefore, WMAR and WJZ will initially operate their post-transition facilities from the existing stacked Channel 38 and Channel 13 antennas" (5/19/08) With so many Washington Post buyouts in the news, it makes me wonder if the paper is going to survive without a huge boost in circulation. Are things so bad for the paper that it could fold in a few years? JOHN IN STAFFORD (5/19/08) I didn't notice anyone mentioning how GREAT the joint Nats/O's broadcast teams were over the weekend on MASN! When I first heard they were going to do this, of course, I immediately thought, damn cheap-ass Angelos again, but I was quite pleasantly surprised at how well it came off and not knowing much about the Nats, I really did learn quite a bit and might even travel down to DC to see a game now. Sure there were some initial jitters and flubs, but Palmer and Sutton were absolutely fantastic. It was as if they were hangin out in the dugout 25 yrs ago gossipin! Overall, the only person who seemed a bit uncomfortable the whole time seemed to be Bob Carpenter, but even he got better. I hope they do this again next season. Way to go MASN! (5/19/08) Now the question begs..... Will Marc Steiner also be on the Board of Directors of WEAA, ya know, just in case he wants to fire himself, create a whole huge phony controversy in The Baltimore Sun to hype his non-existent popularity, and then get a better gig, say, a year from now??? :-) (5/19/08) Meredith Vieira Is many Things: Mother, Wife, Today Show Host, Streaker soupcans.blogspot.com (5/19/08) The Annandale referred to is Annandale-on-Hudson in New York. It's the home of Bard College which Becker and Fagan both attended and is where they met. Now, how about REM's (Don't Go Back to) Rockville? Sprawl and Crawl Steve (5/19/08) Dave's response: REM is from Georgia - and there is a Rockville in Georgia..... Dave- Becker and Fagan of Steely Dan went to Bard College, which is in the NY town of Annandale-on-Hudson, so it’s a pretty safe bet that that’s the Annandale they referred to in “My Old School.” (5/19/08) From: www.videouniversity.com... Seems likely that WRC would have aired this test pattern as part of their sign on-off. (5/19/08) Let me add in my $.02 on Tom Conroy's mailbag post on WZBB in Southwestern Virginia. I used for work for them early in my radio career and a cost of living salary increase to offset higher gas prices sounds like something they would do. I lived through a budget cutting experience with that station in that I got laid off because they had spent far more money on getting their FM station on the air than they anticipated and they had to let me go because they simply couldn't afford to keep me...but they gave me about three months notice and helped me land at another station which eased the transition. I still try to get down and visit them on the rare opportunities I get to see my family back home in Virginia. Let me also echo Tom's sentiments on small-market radio. I've been at WCTR in Chestertown for about a year now and I'm having fun in radio again. Sure, working at an AM daytimer means that I'm missing some of the perks I had at my previous employer (I'm on my wife's health plan now): but I also get to do live and tracked radio without a program director trying to alter my delivery or content and I can pick my own music without checking with a consultant first. I also get to have daily contact with all sorts of interesting people in the community like mayors and county administrators as well as dealing with local business owners rather than regional ad agencies. It's like I've gone back to my roots and I'm a real broadcaster again rather than just being a marketer. And I'm getting paid comparable to what I was making before, so I have no complaints. I'd like to thank owner Dick Gelfman for taking a chance on a broken-down old radio guy like me and for his commitment to truly make WCTR a community-driven radio station rather than a transmitter and a building. Keith Thompson, Operations Manager/Shore Morning Show, WCTR (5/19/08) "Downy Ocean" Zena sorry you missed JJ McKay in the Morning on 107.9 (Between 6-8am) Weekday Mornings Here is what you missed: Beatles – I feel fine... Sonny & Cher – The beat goes on... Wilson Pickett – Land of 1,000 dances... Guess Who – These Eyes... Crystals – Then he kissed me... Van Morrison – Brown Eyed Girl... Terry Stafford – Suspicion... Stevie & Dionne – That’s what friends are for... Roy Orbison – Pretty Woman... Steely Dan – My old school... Otis Reading – I’ve been loving you too long... Monkees – I’m a believer... George Harrison – What is life?... Three Dog Night – Old fashioned love song... Eric Clapton – Knocking on Heavens door... UB-40 – I got you babe... Moody Blues – Tuesday Afternoon... Call next time your in town – I’ll have ya stop By and say hello….J.J. “Hitman” McKay" (5/19/08) Dave's response: Always wondered. Is the "Annandale" mentioned in Steely Dan's "My Old School" the Annandale in Northern Virginia? John McCain was born in 1936, so he was almost a teen before the advent of regular, non-experimental television broadcasts. However, from the medium's early days, late night programs WERE on the TV schedule in most markets. One example; "Broadway Open House" with Jerry Lester and Morey Amsterdam, (the predecessor to the Tonight Show) was carried on NBC-TV starting May 1950. For the person who wondered about the syndicated "Lohman and Barkley" TV show from the late '70s, you can watch a rather unremarkable clip at www.youtube.com (5/19/08) 102.7 JACK-FM is not broadcasting in stereo this morning. Is it technical difficulties or intentional, the mono signal is just awful. (5/19/08) Dave's response: ABC's "The Look Of Love" came blasting through on 102.7 here in Northern Virginia at about 11:40 via the car radio..... Regarding Unsigned Corporate Suit's comments about Peter Angelos and MASN, some retorts, and some facts: "Given that, there are some things the Nationals fans do need to fear for their team. Among them: Washington winning a 'Parkway Series' over Baltimore. That is not to be permitted. Nor, will it be tolerated." Uh, it happened last year (Nats 4 games to 2, including a three-game sweep at the Yards. And the teams split the six games the year before. "Second, Washington must never have a better performance record over Baltimore in any way, shape, or form." The Nationals have had a better record than the Orioles every year since their arrival. "Third, the return of baseball to Washington will be extremely short-lived should the Nationals make the playoffs, much less win a pennant, or heaven forbid make the World Series without the Orioles doing better. You can see this in the records of the two teams, to date. Washington has never out-performed Baltimore and never shall. For to do otherwise would require Angelos to spend money on his Baltimore team that he'd rather not have to." To give Cuban Pete some credit, he seems to have learned his lesson and is now letting baseball people run the show (and MacPhail is a good one). They've made a few nice trades to get rid of much of the deadwood in their organization. The Nats may yet reach the postseason before Baltimore, since they don't have to contend with the two superwealthy evil empires of the AL East. But the Orioles should soon be legitimately competitive. -- Vincent in Triangle (5/19/08) Another DTV question for DCRTV readers. I hooked up my digital antenna last night and managed to get a strong enough signal to watch a few stations, but to my horror, NBC's "The Office" appeared to be broadcast in 16 x 9 or something. My 4 x 3 TV picked up the signal fine, but there's no option on my TV to activate a 16 x 9 ratio, or to turn it off. There were several scenes where characters who were speaking were cut off on my TV's picture, in some instances, entirely off the screen! It only now occurs to me that the remote control for my new digital antenna might offer a "turn-off 16 x 9" option, but I'm thinking that's a long shot. Does anyone know if the digital transmission defaults to 16 x 9, and if so, does that mean all NTSC TV-set owners are in for horribly cropped programs unless they upgrade to widescreen TVs? Thanks for the continued help as I crawl toward 21st century TV mandates. Christian (5/19/08) Note to Unsigned Corporate Suit: The Nats swept the Orioles in a series at Camden last year, won the season series between the two, and have a better W-L record in each of their first three seasons of coexistence. There goes the old theory. Howie (5/19/08) Dave - A few things. I was "downy ocean" this weekend - and fell in love with 107.5 JOE FM. It was like my iPod on ludes. Just awesome. I was disappointed that I didn't get to hear J.J. McKay on WEES-LP 107.9. Actually - I'm disappointed that J.J. McKay is on WEES-LP 107.9. Jesus, Hitman - isn't there somewhere you could go? I mean, I like listening to the Sandpipers next to the Andrews Sisters as much as the next person, but the station just sounds awful. I also enjoyed the extended periods of dead air on 97.5 and 105.9 after the NASCAR race. Someone pot up the race, take a dump, and forget to come back? I was actually happy to be able to listen to the Orioles on WKHZ, though. To the unsigned corporate suit - I think that WNVC would have more of a following if they placed a camera in an smpte bar in Indian Head. I'd probably go by and drink. Krystal Koons? She's a good looking lady. Lohman and Barkley? The hacks from KFI? I can't even remember their show. Now - Don Kirshner's Rock Concert was the shit. Oh, Dave - the PBS (26) HD does look like crap a majority of the time. God forbid they pan quickly on a leopard eating it's prey. It's not good for my vertigo. Shannon Breem's big bottom is, however. Zena (5/19/08) Any reason why WRC NBC 4 has been out for over an hour on my Comcast service in Alexandria? I was hoping to watch the Office, but no dice. All of the other channels seem to work but no WRC. Any insight, Dave? Chris (5/19/08) Dave's response: Digital or analog? Call Comcast..... I missed whatever point "Unsigned Corporate Suit" was trying to make .... and the point of the joke apparently. The joke was that "Saturday Night Live" consisted of the Star Spangled Banner and a test pattern. There was no late night television. (5/19/08) or ugly ass spokes persons (Koons)? ???? Definately mean spirited and inaccurate. Classy joint this place sometimes. (sigh-rolls eyes) (5/19/08) Cool Globe Tunes - Porcupine Tree (5/19/08) /\ May 19 Messages /\ Jump to the Mailbag Archive Index.....