dcrtv.com - Mailbag - September 10 to September 18, 2009

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DCRTV Mailbag - September 10 to September 18, 2009

Latest messages listed first.....
\/ September 18 Messages \/

During Friday afternoon's BREAKING NEWS wall to wall coverage of the watermain break in Dundalk, I noticed abc 2 news and fox 45 news both had helicopter shots. Did these stations pool from WBAL TV 11's Sky Team 11 and WJZ's Sky Eye Chopper 13? Or was this chopper coverage provided by the D.C. stations. As far as I know.. BAL 11 and WJZ 13 both have their own choppers. (9/18/09)

So Obami made the Alphabet Nets this AM..GEE I wonder Why? Let me say this s-l-o-w-e-r.....Obami has the Alphabet nets in his hip pocket..FOX ain't buying it. Soooooo, Obami not wanting to face really tough questions,(Legitimate) DODGES THE BULLET. Can I make this any clearer 'TWIT". PULL YOUR F'N HEAD OUT OF THE SAND.If you don't, say goodbye to AMERICA!!!!-WOW (9/18/09)

(Golly, let's think this through...FOX is an overtly Right wing, GOP-supporting network which has refused to carry presidential speeches since Obama came into office. Maybe that has something to do with it...?) which is why obambi is going on all the other networks. the other networks are overtly left-wing and report everything the messiah (and DNC) says as gospel without questioning it (outside of jake tapper). -sarc- let's face it: obambi hasn't been on tv that much, and he needs to get his message out there. -/sarc- (9/18/09)

Glad to hear Bill Tynan is still with us. I wish he could check in here. I imagine he'd have some great stories to share! -Unsigned Corporate Suit (9/18/09)

Thanks for the comments about Steve Summer. But where has he been the last two years? He was a Major Market talent working in Salisbury, Maryland. If he could put some of his anger issues aside he could be a real asset to a station. WBOC has really gone down his since his departure. Frankly the station is hard to watch. (9/18/09)

While Tony Kornheiser's decision to retain the rotating panel format he employed at 1500-AM for his new gig on WTEM (with Andy Pollin not part of the show) was surprising, perhaps it's actually better that way. Apparently he insists on having a woman on the panel all the time, which puts his program in stark contrast to Sports Reporters where the feminine gender hasn't really been represented since Carol Maloney left the guest rotation for the short-lived Feldman & Maloney show a few years back (perhaps Pollin and Steve Czaban think a woman would get in the way of those testosterone heavy guy talk topics they seem to relish sinking their teeth into). There's little doubt that Kornheiser has made some concessions to the station's sports format, for example the daily segment where he chats with the producer of ESPN's Pardon the Interrruption. Then again, he hasn't been on the radio at this time of year since 2005 due to being part of the Monday Night Football booth from 2006-08. Kornheiser has also chosen to continue his longstanding policy of not fielding any calls from listeners, which has to be good news for Mike Wise (his competition in the 10 AM to noon timeslot on 106.7 The Fan) - especially on Mondays following a Redskin loss. In the interest of better synergy between shows, they should let Kevin Sheehan preview Sports Fix during one of the segments where he feeds news and sports stories to Mr. Tony for commentary. In addition to not playing the sidekick role for Kornheiser this time around, Pollin's chosen to give up hosting the station's Skins postgame show. Since WTEM's inception back in 1992, whether or not the actual games aired there it's always been Andy and one or two ex-Redskins (mainly Joe Jacoby but also George Starke, Mark May, Monte Coleman, Doc Walker, John Riggins and perhaps a few others) kicking it around for two hours or so with callers and guests. Now it's a solo act with morning update guy Al Galdi doing the honors. Meanwhile, this week marked Holden Kushner's debut as permanent host in the 6-10 PM timeslot on WJFK - I think the last daily local evening sports talk show in DC was hosted by Bram Weinstein (now at ESPN) and went off the air when he jumped from 980 to Dan Snyder's newly launched Triple X stations three years ago. With the start of hockey season just around the corner, there are some early signs that 106.7 FM (rather than 980 AM) will be the preferred landing place on the dial for Capitals fans who think sports talk radio should pay more than token attention to a team considered a possible Stanley Cup threat and featuring arguably the league's best player. Both Wise and Kushner have said on their respective shows that they're open to doing significant Caps stuff if they detect that there's sufficient interest out there. While I'm not sure why there'd be any doubt considering that Ted Leonsis expects every home game to be a sellout this season, it's definitely a refreshing change from the Pollin/Czaban/Sheehan policy of barely acknowledging the fact that hockey's played here until the playoffs start. Mike, Fairfax (9/18/09)

So the other networks are upset at the FOX News ad? Who cares! It serves them right! Maybe if they worried a bit more about making the news and just reporting it, they would have paid a bit more attention. For the last year and a half they done nother but show how left-wing they actually are and its very upsetting and embarassing. (9/18/09)

Steve Summers ?? There's "America's Truckin' Network", hosted by Steve Sommers, Steve Somers on WFAN, Steve Summers from WHIO/WBOC. Am I missing any others? Man, I'm confused ! (9/18/09)

Re: "Obama Made the Alphabet Network rounds this morning but DID NOT go to FOX..wonder why??-WOW." Golly, let's think this through...FOX is an overtly Right wing, GOP-supporting network which has refused to carry presidential speeches since Obama came into office. Maybe that has something to do with it...? ...I can say it slower if that would help you figure it out. (9/18/09)

ROBB SPEWAK is on now @ www.ustream.tv/channel/kcjj-raw (9/18/09)

"The White House releases the President's schedule including the times he is in motorcades with the understanding that it may NOT be broadcast because of Secret Service security concerns. Last time I worked in the White House press room itr was referred to as "the Bible." Well that's interesting but it did not apply to the visit to Comcast Center. At least one local tv station did a live remote from outside showing the college students in line at about 7am and the visit was mentioned several times on the radio that morning. So if someone did not know that there was going to be a massive traffic jam on Route 1 then they were not paying attention. (9/18/09)

RE: [ The President snubbing FOX ]...... Does this mean President Obama is not really serious about healthcare? Seriously, FOX News is the highest rated news channel regardless of what many think of it. It's easy to preach to a smaller choir, but the president really needs confront and take on his skeptics & convert undecided people in order for healthcare reform to actually go through. Dodging the highest rated news channel just makes the president look as petty and thin-skinned as nutjobs like Glenn Beck and Keith Olbermann and it seems like him dodging FOX News is getting more press than his actual healthcare message! Preaching to the choir just isn't going to work, there aren't enough members. Many conservatives believe that the Reagan presidency was such a success because of his conservative agenda and ideology. I've always disagreed with that. Reagan was successful because he made it difficult for even his staunchest o pponents on the other aisle to hate him and had close personal relationships with many people in Congress that strongly opposed his policies. Reagan never ran from his enemies, he faced them with a smile, a joke, or a kind word. This is what's missing in today's politics. (9/18/09)

In response to the various posts recently on DCRTV regarding a Baltimore radio reunion...I've put together several of these over the years and I've learned a few things pro and con. What works and what doesn't. Concerning the WITH Reunion in 1996, I created that event as a way to 'jump start' the station. At the time WITH had a format that just wasn't making much of an impact in the city. The event was tremendously successful, and became so in large part because station staff captured the vision and everybody worked together to pull it off. I also produced a tribute to Buddy Deane in 2003 that drew 1,300 at the Timonium Fairgrounds. MPT-TV came out that night and used footage from the event for a DVD on Buddy's life which airs periodically during MPT's fund-raising drives. I also produced a general radio reunion event in 2005 that drew about 500 people but didn't turn out as well as we had hoped, but we took away a few things not to do next time. In every case, we had fun and brought back some wonderful memories. It would be great to create a big Baltimore radio reunion. If anyone's interested, get in touch with me through www.ultimateoldiesradio.com and we can talk about it. Thanks - Bob Mathers (9/18/09)

Wow, NBC4's sports team, Lindsay Czarniak and Dan Hellie are co-anchoring the 3pm Daily Connection show. Short of anchors today? TL (9/18/09)

Some Fairfax County teachers group has bought a bunch of spots on righty talker WMAL claiming that county teachers make much less dough that in five other area school systems. Sob sob sob! Why would a teachers group buy time on a station that pretty much believes that the public school system in the USA is a left-leaning joke, as witnessed by the show host rantings (Rush, Hannity, etc.) on virtually every talk show on WMAL? Ponderous, man, ponderous. (9/18/09)

I hear that Rush Limbaugh is coming to DC soon do give blow jobs to the head honchos at the Heritage Foundation. (9/18/09)

JMU gets the shaft in Hampton Roads... I know this isn't DC radio, and I don't live in Hampton roads but this pisses me off... ow.ly: ESPN Radio 1310 on the AM dial will switch on Oct. 5 to 94.1 on the FM dial, as Max Media swaps the places of two of its local radio stations. Starting on Oct. 5, the all-sports station will become ESPN Radio 94.1 FM, and the current FM station will switch over to become Star 1310 AM. The switch to the 40,000-watt FM frequency will allow the local ESPN Radio affiliate to be heard clearly at night in such areas as Williamsburg, Gloucester and the Northern Neck. Tony Mercurio, program director and afternoon talk show host for ESPN Radio 1310, said the station will retain its same lineup of national and local programming after the move. He said the call-in shows for Old Dominion, James Madison University and the Norfolk Admirals' hockey team, often featuring their coaches, will be carried on the new ESPN Radio 94.1 FM. Norfolk Tides baseball broadcasts and ODU athletic events will be carried on ESPN Radio 94.1 FM, and the only sports programming on Star 1310 AM will be Admirals games and JMU sporting events... (9/18/09)

(Hey Howie: Cry a little because you know you will never – as a man – get into Rachael Maddow pants.") Boy, I guess you sure told me! Feel better? Howie (9/18/09)

GEEZ! Pay attention folks! The presious poster was correct! FNS is Fox News Sunday. I'm sure the reason he wrote it that way because not only does it appear on the national network but also on FNC. As a side comment: Would you appear on a network that calls you a racist? I know I wouldn't. (9/18/09)

I read the post about the: intelligent folks Obama appeals to wouldn't be tuning in to FNS anyway so Obama making an appearance there would be a waste of his time. If you really believe what you posted you are certainly in the STOOPID column. The reason Obama didn’t visit FSN is because they don’t play “softball”. They’re looking for TRUTH something those INTELLIGENT Obama supporters are still searching for-WOW. Also, it’s Fox news NOT FSN-WOW again~! (9/18/09)

Dave's response: FSN? Fox SportsNet? Turn on your brain before posting. Maaaaaan!

I just saw in the Post where Kathy Griffin is playing another show at DAR Constitution Hall in January. Nothing against her talent, but that is a lousy venue for her to play. A lot of her schtick is to throw in these "littlehighspeedparentheticals" to the audience as asides to her prime material. In a close-up club it works fine. When she's on local radio promoting her concerts, it's all good. And for the first three rows of Constitution Hall, it's OK. Go beyond the fourth row and those little side comments get lost in the hall's acoustics. That hall was designed for broad orations and classic theatrical speech, and if you are sitting in any other spot than a short-throw sweet spot, Griffin's material vanishes into the great wash of reverb that IS Constitution Hall. Why doesn't she play the National or Warner theaters, like her contemporaries Lisa Lampanelli and Jeff Dunham? (9/18/09)

("Wretched Madsow?" Is that what passes for wit in middle school these days?) Hey Howie: Cry a little because you know you will never – as a man – get into Rachael Maddow pants who is ON LOCAL WASHINGTON TV ON CHANNEL 103 WEEKDAYS 9:00 PM EST as those Big Boys are already taken by a bigger, more able woman who can take care of business down there a lot moe than you. Oh Bob Bowie: just go vote for Obambi a few more times and hook yourself at home in Bowie thinking about Nancy Pelosi. But please, stay away from Bowie’s Middle Schools’ --one of which you really should complete one of these days --kids you refer to as you are on the local “Not Allowed Anywhere Near” list. Pervert. (9/18/09)

(RE:(From April 2007) WHIO has fired anchor/reporter Steve Summers over inappropriate remarks made on the station's HD channel. Station insiders say that mics were still hot when Summers began spouting off about the station, the floor crew, and meteorologist Rich Wirdzek. This is not the first problem WHIO had with Summers, as he was already on a probationary period at the station for leaving station premises during a shift after becoming agitated. Summers had been with WHIO for roughly six months.) Summers was supposedly fired from WBOC for walking off the set and leaving the building. Seems he did not learn much about the consequences of doing something like this again. Maybe WMDT should hire him, that has got to be one of the sorriest TV operations ever! Sommers would at least be an upgrade. (9/18/09)

I don’t know if anyone noticed this BLATANT Network Snub this morning. Obama Made the Alphabet Network rounds this morning but DID NOT go to FOX..wonder why??-WOW (9/18/09)

"During this time WTOP traffic kept talking about "police activity" on the major streets there but did not mention the President's appearance at all. Was this a policy of WTOP or did Presidential security ask WTOP to keep it cool? " The White House releases the President's schedule including the times he is in motorcades with the understanding that it may NOT be broadcast because of Secret Service security concerns. Last time I worked in the White House press room itr was referred to as "the Bible." (9/18/09)

Re Chris Wallace. Badge of honor, huh? More like Sour Grapes. Fox is just steamed that Obama isn't falling for their primary school-like games. And the intelligent folks Obama appeals to wouldn't be tuning in to FNS anyway so Obama making an appearance there would be a waste of his time. Why address an audience of teabagger losers who hate him? Suck it up Wallace and get over it. After all, it IS about The Market, isn't it? (9/18/09)

On behalf of everyone at WOCM (Ocean98) I want to wish Kirk McEwen the best of luck with his new endeavors as he will be doing his final show on WOCM on Friday September 25th. It has been a pleasure for all of us to work with Kirk and have him on our station. I know when Kirk gets back on the air he will be a tremendous asset to his new station. He will be on all week next week from 7-11p and you can listen live at www.irieradio.com... GOOD LUCK KIRKSTER!!!! We will miss ya buddy! (9/18/09)

I read with wonder every day at the countless messages and the talk of the 'liberal media' and how the MSM loves OBAMA and how Fox is the only true and balanced network. I have worked in radio/television for over 35 years and let me tell you without a doubt the only thing that matters to ANY owner or general manager of ANY radio station or television station or newpaper is how much money they take home at the end of the day. The owners and GMs will talk about how they are there to serve the public but it's really about serving themselves. Years ago I sat in a meeting where the owner of the corporation said " I can't tell you who to vote for, BUT I can tell you if Bill Clinton gets in office it will be the end of television as we know it. One GM talked endlessly about how global warming is a socialistic plot to force the consumer to buy things they don't really need. Then when corporate decided to "go Green', he was the first one on the bandwagon to talk about how important it all is and ran out and got a politicaly correct car so that it looked good. Anchors carry no weight whatsoever at a station, they are talking heads. If the boss wants a story covered it gets covered and if he doesn't it isn't. ITS ALL ABOUT THE MONEY. Look at the posts on this page. WUSA moves Master Control to Georgia or North Carolina or whatever. Why? MONEY. Get rid of those people and you save on salaries, insurance, benefits, offices. The Post is merging, the Loudon paper is gone, the radio station went dark, how many jobs lost there. WTOP is cleaning house in its sales departments. The amount of jobs lost locally in radio, television and newspapers in the last two or three years is unbelievable and it's all about the money!! Don't fool yourselves people, Beck, Limbaugh, Hannity and Levin don't care about you. There just dogs who've found a good bone to chew and it's called fear of the liberals and it's not new, its just louder. Thomas Jefferson sold John Adams' second term down the river so that he could be president the next go round. It's power, it's money. IF it paid more tomorrow to be on the other side you would see Beck, Limbaugh, Hannity and Levin see the light so fact it would give you whiplash. I watch all the local channels to see what clients they have on, what's new on their sets, what's new techinally and contnet wise this is what I see. The affliates report the news and it's pretty muh the same blah blah blah. Fox reports the same stories in LOUD BOLD headlines to get your attention, they get you to watch because the scare you into thinking that you won't get the whole story if you watchi it somewhere else. Effective but false, and it's all about the money! (9/18/09)

I'm hearing that WJLA has received special temporary authority from the FCC to operate at 52 kW, rather than their licensed 30 kW, and has now implemented that power increase. - Trip www.rabbitears.info (9/18/09)

I find all this recent talk about uber-hot demi-Asian robobabe Angie Goff and Doreen Gentzler's appearance somewhat disconcerting. So superficial. Where where these posters when I was pilloried and excoriated for expressing my appreciation for Tina Fey's maternal munificence? Perhaps waiting to pick up their S.O.'s from a National Assocation of Gals meeting. As Papa Hemingway wrote, paraphrasing the French poet Villon, "Ou sont les negres d'antan?" Of course H. was writing about boxing and in particular L'il Artha'. Earlier this week Patrice Sikora of the Wall Street Journal, also a happ'nin' lady, uttered something that caught my ear: "There's two in the back." It put me in the mind of Brando's famous "There's butter in the kitchen" in Last Tango in Paris. All this to say, if we can't celebrate Tina Fey's boobies, we shouldn't be bagging on Doreen or L. Czarniak. Superficial is as superficial does. Hey Dave, remember that time the Cane Pole Gang knocked you down and took your bike and potatoes went flying all over and you had to go back and pick them all up? That was really funny. Still haven't listened to WJFK since they effed it up. Same for Jay Lenos. Tea bags, birthers, truthers, ACORN (obligatory sneaking in of non local media related political content). Geez, I certainly can put a paragraph together when I put my mind to it. As Sam Clemens wrote: "Cast your eye on me, gentlemen!--and lay low and hold your breath, for I'm bout to turn myself loose!" --- ThePenIsMightier (9/18/09)

On CSPAN’s Washington Journal, based in Washington, DC, they took a caller this morning that said (by my memory, I hope I get this right), “We need to take our country back, and it is time America wakes up. I just heard on Fox News Obama’s high speed rail initiative is designed to transport old people to FEMA concentration camps.” Too funny. If Glenn Beck has 16 researchers on his staff, why didn't one of them check out the murdered husband STORY before he went on the air with it? (9/18/09)

(Re:I wonder how long it'll take before it switches over to the new calls.) However long it takes for someone to log into the HD Radio box and change it. It's probably way on the backburner of things to do at 105.9. Does the station have RDS, if so has that changed ? That would have more impact. When 94.7 first switched to WTGB it took about a week for the HD Radio feeds to reflect the change. (9/19/09)

B101.5 Kids Convention, being held this weekend. It's the largest event of its kind in the country. Details here: www.virginia.org or here: b1015.com (9/18/09)

(From April 2007) WHIO has fired anchor/reporter Steve Summers over inappropriate remarks made on the station's HD channel. Station insiders say that mics were still hot when Summers began spouting off about the station, the floor crew, and meteorologist Rich Wirdzek. This is not the first problem WHIO had with Summers, as he was already on a probationary period at the station for leaving station premises during a shift after becoming agitated. Summers had been with WHIO for roughly six months. (9/18/09)

In March 15, 2007, former WBOC Steve Summers was on WHIO, but a recent check of the WHIO web site no longer lists him. Al McGilvray (9/18/09)

"Wretched Madsow?" Is that what passes for wit in middle school these days? Howie (9/18/09)

The old saying goes that sometimes it is easiest to hide something in plain sight, because that is where no one will be looking. Such is the case with liberalism in media. And that is why, in spite of the demands from the anti-USA hardcore of their own party, it is the Democrats and specifically the Obama admin. who are making sure the Fairness Doctrine is not restored. If the Fairness Doctrine would provide any actual balance in favor of the church of liberalism, or cause harm to the conservatives, you can bet it would be on the radar. As Jack Nicholson said, 'You want the truth, you can't handle the truth". The fairness doctrine would cause the reporting of many statistics, opinions and events which the mainstream media surpresses. (9/18/09)

Does anyone know where Steve Summers is these days? He was the former Lead Anchor of WBOC in Salisbury/Ocean City, Maryland. He anchored the 6pm and 11pm newscasts. The channel just hasn't been the same without him the last few years. (9/18/09)

KFTC is TV-26 in Minneapolis (a satellite of WFTC), a FOX affiliate. But the AM and FM calls are available for any station wishing the slogan, "Keep Fucking That Chicken". At least, they could use it once. (9/18/09)

Don't put Bill Tynan in the past tense. He was alive, feisty and living in Texas as of yesterday. He is too young to have helped build Jansky & Bailey's experimental FM station W3XO - which went on the air prior to WW2. On the other hand, he and I built WHFS 102.3 FM Bethesda. (9/18/09)

I see that "WVRX" 105.9 The Edge's HD call letters still appear as "WJZW" on my HD radio...I wonder how long it'll take before it switches over to the new calls. DLP in Woodbridge (9/18/09)

(I saw on the LOCAL WASHINGTON DC NEWS that Nancy “Stretch” Pelosi was crying over the so-called “health care debate”. www.realclearpolitics.com... After all that sobbing, Nancy needs a lift: bigheaddc.com...) she was actually (pretending to be) crying because she thought everything would lead to violence, and cited the harvey milk case from the 70's. last i checked, the only violence to come out of the health care debate/town hall meetings were when union thugs were bussed in to disrupt the protesters. (9/18/09)

(GOP media strategist Mark McKinnon thinks there are two people in the world who fear Glenn Beck — even if "neither will admit it." The first is Barack Obama. The second is Rush Limbaugh...) McKinnon’s (as well almost all of the Bushies were except Rove) an idiot who does not have a drop of conservative blood in his Bush sucking body. Actually, it is Mark “The Great One” Levin who has been most vocal against The Boozeless Beck, only referring to him as a “Backbencher” up until this week when he finally called him out by name, saying he was a rip-off fraud and a Johnny Come Lately Conservative. The Talk Radio Triad of Limbaugh, Levin and Hannity all compliment and protect each other, but certainly have no love, fear of, let alone jealousy toward Beck: Limbaugh & Levin just simply HATE television, although either could easily have their own FNC show and Hannity’s just a little ham. True Talk Radio Conservatives distrust Beck, can’t stand that pervert O’Smiley, and absolutely loath PMSNBC’s Matthews, as well his retarded sister Keith “God I Look Fat In Those From Behind Shots” Overbite as well Keith’s younger brother Wretched Madsow. Obama’s too stupid to fear anything or anyone. Enough said. (9/18/09)

Unsigned Corporate Suit alluded to the late, great Granville "Granny" Kink. Granny lives on in cyberspace with this first of two 1994 interviews. (Forgive the technical shortcomings of the cable access format) (9/18/09)

Find more videos like this on www.truveo.com.

/\ September 18 Messages /\

\/ September 17 Messages \/

To the DC Memories preson: Thanks for the memory and answering the question anput that building. One of my contemporaries, Bill Tynan, used to work for Jansky & Bailey and helped build W3XO. IIRC, Bill went on to be the Technical Editor of the long-defunct Forecast FM magazine which used to be published here. I last ran into Bill at a convention about 20 or so years ago. A helluva guy. He and "Granny" Klink were good friends. I hope I'm not the only one on here who remember them. Both are much missed. -Unsigned Corporate Suit (9/17/09)

FOX 5 Simpsons update. Starting 9/21 The Simpsons will be moving weekdays from 7:00 pm to 11:30 pm and 12:00 am. D'oh! Have to stay up a little later but I'll enjoy the double episodes. (9/17/09)

I saw on the LOCAL WASHINGTON DC NEWS that Nancy “Stretch” Pelosi was crying over the so-called “health care debate”. www.realclearpolitics.com... After all that sobbing, Nancy needs a lift: bigheaddc.com... (9/17/09)

Erich "Mancow" Muller, who airs at 10 PM on WTNT (570 AM), has been cast in the role of a "nomad biker" in the FX series "The Sons Of Anarchy".....once again, Mike O'Meara, the true nomad biker, gets punked! Who is O'Meara's agent again? (9/17/09)

Just curious.. I was in the traffic mess in College Park today around the time the Pres spoke at UMD.( I didn't know in advance about the appearance) During this time WTOP traffic kept talking about "police activity" on the major streets there but did not mention the President's appearance at all. Was this a policy of WTOP or did Presidential security ask WTOP to keep it cool? Either way, I don't like being left in the dark. Regards Biff (9/17/09)

Dave, as you know I'm a good friend of yours and to the mailbag. BUT really, who cares ABC, CBS, NBC, Cartoon Network! They are all kissing a certain political agenda's ass. They have NOT thought ahead...one day we will all be fed ONLY the news that the Politico wants us to know. What has happened to true journalism? Where are the dedicated and truthful reporters? This is a serious situation. It's time for all AMERICANS to stand up, demand to know the truth and fight for it if we have to. God Bless America-WOW (9/17/09)

www.politico.com... Beck v. Limbaugh... By: Michael Calderone... GOP media strategist Mark McKinnon thinks there are two people in the world who fear Glenn Beck — even if "neither will admit it." The first is Barack Obama. The second is Rush Limbaugh... (9/17/09)

(RE:In my humble opinion the “Alphabet Networks” are all totally afraid of the current Administration. If ANY individual Liberal or Conservative makes a critical statement regarding our President,Nancy Polosi, Joe Biden…Congress, the Senate etc..ACORN, they are instantly labeled either “racist”, a radical, an enemy of the state…a terrorist, I could go on and on. America is on the verge of total collapse politically and STILL the FLAMING LIBS…get their pants in an uproar when the truth is spoken.SHOW US A BIRTH CERTIFICATE!!! Let’s take a brief look at Charles Gibson: “I haven’t heard anything about ACORN”. And He’s an anchor….let’s run, let’s bury our heads in the sand, let’s make believe all is perfect even Jimmy Carter. WOW... Dave's response: That was an incredibly stupid comment by Gibson.) I absolutely agree with this. NBC is particularly in bed with the Obama administration. (9/17/09)

Dave's response: Ah, Charlie Gilson works for ABC, not NBC.....

Around 8:45 the other morning, I heard Tony Perkins say something about getting ready for the 9am broadcast where he'd be interviewing somebody..So, because I haven't seen the 9am broadcast on FOX5, am I to assume from his comment, that he's the host of the 9-10 am show?..If so, then FOX5 is totally copying NBC's Today show where Al Roker hosts the 9-10 show..Oh, and did anybody see Holly Morris practically attacked by one of the "dinosaurs" while at the Verizon Center this morning doing a report on the Walking w/the Dinousaurs show?..It was constantly in her face while the camera was on her and snapped at her more than a couple of times... (9/17/09)

I have to agree with the mailbagger about Angie Goff at the anchor desk on 9News. She brings a whole new energy to a really horrid, stale morning newscast. Ms. Goff is bright, charming, personable and, of course, drop dead gorgeous. I tune in just for her. Andrea and the rest [especially that awful Twitter woman] tune me right back out. I liked Andrea Roane---20 YEARS ago. It's way past time for a change at 9 in the morning. Angie Goff should be a major part of that change. Paul (9/17/09)

Bob A. may have made a specific point, but my generalization is far more accurate. I rarely hear any local TV station identify their political commentators as "leaning left" or "leaning right" and you'd have to be a complete buffoon to think that WMAR, WJZ, WBAL TV have more right leaning political commentators than left leaning. One station uses that far left nutjob from UBMC that is allied with O'Malley and never identifies him properly. If you're going to demand identifying Vatz, then why not him or Frank DeFillipo or all the other left leaning politicos? I can think of a half dozen left wing local political commentators, but I cannot for life of me think of any other right wing local political commentators other than the one Bob A. mentioned yet Bob is having a hissy fit because one right leaning voice got on the air and was so identified. Just because someone makes a specific point that is true does not necessarily make their extrapolated opinion from that fact any more valid. If anyone in Maryland really thinks that the local Baltimore TV news stations are misleading Marylanders with "right leaning" voices, they should probably seek therapy or move to San Francisco! :-) (9/17/09)

Dear Mr. Graham, (I use the term loosely) You said you had worked for WCAO, WFBR, WCBM, WITH, WAQE, WWIN, and WBAL! You missed about 13 others! LOL. As for me and the calculator, never learned how to use one of them, fingers work fine! As for you being nostalgic…you and Marconi! PLB (9/17/09)

FOX45 News anchor Jeff Barnd - recipient of the Baltimore City Paper's "Best News Anchor in Baltimore" presents his acceptance speech on behalf of his hair.... www.facebook.com (9/17/09)

Gee, Bob A. made a specific point, that Towson University's Richard Vatz is often quoted as an unbiased authority when he is tied totally to Bob Ehrlich, and was attacked with a generalization. And as everyone knows, generalization are even more effective a debating tool when you use a lot of CAPS and EXCLAMATION POINTS!!!!! LOL!!!!!!! (9/17/09)

Re: WCAO, WFBR, WCBM, WITH, WAQE, WWIN, and WBAL. Doug Hill mentioned most of those stations and growing up in the 50s and 60s. PLB said that he didn't know about Dennis Hill, but that's because he actually started in the Boston area and doesn't remember most of the 60s and half of the 70s anyway. This WCAO reunion talk made me "live in the past" for a while. It was a great privilege for me to have worked at all of the above stations during those years. (One at a time) And I worked with young Dennis Hill at several of them. I have to say WCAO was my favorite. I started there in 1957 when I was 19 (Paul just got out his calculator) and most of the other DJs were 35 and up. You might say I was classically trained. Gene Plumstead was national PD and mentored me. Some of the early CAO talent included: Hugh Cherry (discovered Pat Boone for Randy Wood), Alan Drake, Lee Parker, Ray Moffit, Les Alexander, Charlie Purcell, and many others. It really reminded me that those days are gone forever and it was a magical time for AM radio. When WCAO became Top-40 in 1956 There were 5 AM stations evenly split with about a 20 share. They all played about the same blend of MOR music and people tuned in to the personality they liked best. WCAO became number one in the first book with twice the rating of the next three stations combined. Top-40 was a killer. Someone asked about the old WCAO weekly Top-40 sheet. I think Jack Edwards has them all (unless he sold them to Charlotte Pritzger on eBay). Ed Graham (9/17/09)

“Keep Fucking That Chicken: (Ernie Anastos, NYC's WNYW News Anchor, Curses On Air (VIDEO)”: No, no, no: Chris Core just said he actually said : “Keep funding that chicken” but was stuttering! (9/17/09)

In my humble opinion the “Alphabet Networks” are all totally afraid of the current Administration. If ANY individual Liberal or Conservative makes a critical statement regarding our President,Nancy Polosi, Joe Biden…Congress, the Senate etc..ACORN, they are instantly labeled either “racist”, a radical, an enemy of the state…a terrorist, I could go on and on. America is on the verge of total collapse politically and STILL the FLAMING LIBS…get their pants in an uproar when the truth is spoken.SHOW US A BIRTH CERTIFICATE!!! Let’s take a brief look at Charles Gibson: “I haven’t heard anything about ACORN”. And He’s an anchor….let’s run, let’s bury our heads in the sand, let’s make believe all is perfect even Jimmy Carter. WOW (9/17/09)

Dave's response: That was an incredibly stupid comment by Gibson.....

To Bob A. in Pikesville: Every OTHER local political commentator on WMAR, WJZ, & even WBAL TV LEANS LEFT or FAR LEFT! I could name a half dozen! And I've never heard a single station acknowledge that any of their left-wing political commentators "leans to the left." So your point was again? Oh, you didn't really have much of a point at all. Geez, sometimes I think of the movie "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" when I think of Maryland politics. As soon as someone is identified as a Republican, there's a howling scream as if someone is not one of us and must be ratted out to the lemming masses. :-) (9/17/09)

ATTENTION BALTIMORE TELEVISION STATIONS: Towson State University Rhetoric/Communication professor Rick Vatz is an articulate supporter, guest and regular radio co-host of former Maryland Republican Governor Bob Ehrlich, and he regularly blasts President Obama and the Democratic Party. So please stop interviewing him when you are looking for "objective" political commentary. Special note to WBAL reporter Lowell Melser: acknowledging in your story that Vatz "leans to the right" is a good effort, but it doesn't help unless you also interview someone who "leans to the left." Bob A. in Pikesville, MD. (9/17/09)

Ah, Doug Hill....A little known fact about Doug, his favorite oldie to sing-a-long with is Bobby Vee's "The Night Has A Thousand Eyes." He displayed that hidden talent many times while he was doing weather on the morning show on WBIG-FM. However, the only folks who got to hear it were those of us in the studio listening on cue. (9/17/09)

Unsigned Corporate Suit... "the building of 1920’s architecture on 8th Street N.W. which had a tapered steel lattice tower atop it and had apparently been used as a radio station at one time" was the original home of WINX when it signed-on in 1940. Details here: DCMemories.com (9/17/09)

I'm pleased to let you know we will re-launch The Q&A Cafe on Thursday, October 15th, at the Georgetown Ritz-Carlton. The guest is actress, comedian, Oprah-regular and cookbook author Alexandra Wentworth. Ali is the star of "Head Case," beginning its third season on the Starz network, and her new film, "It's Complicated," opens in December, with a cast including Meryl Streep, Steve Martin, Alec Baldwin and John Krasinski. She's a mother, Georgetowner, and Sunday talk show "wife of..." She also wrote the iconic "WASP Cookbook." The Georgetown Ritz-Carlton is a lovely venue for The Q&A Cafe. It is quintessential Georgetown in mood and style. The Fahrenheit Restaurant is an elegant and charming room of brick walls, high ceilings, light and comfort. It actually seats about the same number of people as Nathans Back Room, with room for a few more. And the A/C and heat work! The Georgetown Ritz-Carlton is located at 3100 South Street, about a block below Wisconsin and M. They will provide VALET PARKING for a discounted fee of $10. For more about the hotel, please visit here. As usual, on the date of the show, seating will begin at noon. The program will begin at 12:30 and end at 1:30. The fee is $50, all inclusive of beverages, a good meal, tax and tip. Dessert is from Georgetown Cupcake. All reservations must be made through the hotel. Please phone 202.912.4110. Please specify "The Q&A Cafe on October 15." You'll be set. Pay at the door, as at Nathans. Please join us. Please bring friends. I look forward to having you there with me as we begin a new era of The Q&A Cafe. Best regards, Carol Joynt (9/17/09)

"Keep fucking that chicken":Check out the look on the woman's face after they cut back to the anchors after Ernie says that. Hilarious! She heard it... Has 105.9 changed their call letters on the HD text yet? Not as of 0500 this morning. And is it just me or does 105.9 have no song title text? I get it on other stations and I'm getting "WJZW-HD1" so it's probably not my radio. (9/17/09)

Dave's response: Just checked and 105.9 is still sporting WJZW all over its HD Radio display.....

Is WUSA grooming the ever more attractive Angie Goff to be a new anchor on the early morning news? She filled in for Andrea for a week in late August, and I figured that was just vacation. Then this morning, she popped up again as the sole anchor and she and Howard Bernstein even did a little mambo out on the Offenbachers Weather Terrace in imitation of Justice Sotomayor. IMHO, Angie is very good as an anchor and WUSA could do worse than to give her the morning show. Just get rid of dopey Kristen Fisher and her “Twitter updates”… (9/17/09)

Getting caught up on reading my daily trade pubs while on vacation in SC. Here's a story that might be of interest to you: From Tuesday's (9/15) Inside Radio: IDT spins off its media holdings. The telecommunications company will put its media assets including radio into a new subsidiary, CTM Media Holdings. Under the spin-off plan, each IDT stockholders will get one share of CTM Media common stock for every three IDT shares they own. The assets include brokered "World Radio Mundial" WMET, Washington (1160) as well as print and online advertising firm and a comic and book publisher..... And from today's Taylor On Radio-Info: Newark-based IDT spins off its media holdings, and that includes D.C.-market WMET (1160). Brokered-ethnic "World Radio" WMET, Gaithersburg, MD goes into the new CTM Media Holdings along with publishing interests (including a comic-book publisher) and online advertising. IDT shareholders receive one share of the new CTM Media common stock for each three shares of IDT they hold. (9/17/09)

Dave's response: We got a blurb up a few days ago.....

Keep Fucking That Chicken: (Ernie Anastos, NYC's WNYW News Anchor, Curses On Air (VIDEO) www.huffingtonpost.com (9/17/09)

Doug, Nice post, I never realized your brother was an air personality. As for listening to air checks of the past: www.reelradio.com. A lot of the legends are there. Same with www.ultimateoldies.com. Enjoy! PLB/DJ (9/17/09)

Glenn Beck the new cover boy for TIME mag/rag....is this a great country or what? Can't wait to read the story, bet they trash the hell out of him. just saying, let's see the last copy I have of TIME was, oh yea September 2002. Let's make sure a copy hits every waiting room at ACORN. And send a very special copy to 1600 Pa. Ave. And oh yea a copy needs to go to the "SQUEEKER" of the house, I don't have her address just send it to California on the "left" coast. And that ABC Charlie something or another news guy needs a copy (and a wake up call), I guess that's about it. Thanks for your time and have a nice day in the USA. J.J. "Hitman" McKay Ocean City, Maryland. (9/17/09)

Dave's response: Another reminder. I have already trashed two ACORN posts today because they didn't contain any local media references. I will not allow the Mailbag to be "hijacked" by political operatives on the left or the right. This is a local media comment venue! I mean to keep it that. Please think before you post.....

(From DCRTV's Classified Ads:) SFMSports.Net is looking for a qualified media sales representative to build business to business relationships in the Baltimore, Annapolis, Ocean City and Frederick markets. You’ll be generating revenue through selling advertising with our three platforms: On-Line broadcasts, banner ads and features; On-Air broadcast, promotions and events; and On-Demand podcasts and pre-rolls. Our qualifications include the ability to understand and sell new media, create and sell events and charities involving colleges and high schools and be able to build new business through cold calling and lead generation. We would prefer someone with at least two years media, print, or broadcast sales experience. To start off, the pay is 20% commission with 10% residuals for the first 60 days. To apply, please email steve@soundfoundationsmedia.com or call 443.866.8914. SFMSports.Net is focused on creating and broadcasting compelling sports programming based on high school, college and minor league athletics. (9/17/09)

Dave, reading the posts from Alan Field, Gary Helton and others about the great names in Baltimore radio over the years has made me very nostalgic. Growing up there during the 50s and 60s I have vivid memories of countless hours listening to a.m. radio. When my brother Dennis first went on the air on WAQE in the late 50s I was hooked. Hanging out with him, there and later at WWIN, WFBR and WITH, gave me the chance to meet many of the guys mentioned in these posts. After spending 30 years on radio and TV, I still feel the best talent I ever heard was during those days with those men who owned the Baltimore airwaves. It’s funny…when people run into me they recognize me from television but 90% talk about listening to me on WTOP first thing out of their mouth. Just shows the power of radio connecting with people in a very personal way. Wouldn’t it be great to have a full service, personality driven music station again. In the meantime, I’ll keep on my quest to find some full hour air checks from the early and mid 60s featuring guys I am still in awe of, all these years later. Doug Hill (9/17/09)

Here are a couple more “sites” we’ve lost that I recall: The Trans-Lux Building (WMAL/WRC AM-FM), and 8200 block of Bells Mills Road in Potomac (WQQW AM-FM/WGMS AM-FM/WTEM). Also, the Harrington Hotel (although still a hotel today) had been used by channel 5 for studios and transmitter when it was still experimental before moving to the Raleigh Hotel as WTTG. WGMS AM-FM also used the Harrington for studios back in the early 1960’s. On one corner of the building was a large vertical rectangular silver signboard with the WGMS callsign in red lettering. WGMS later moved to 5150 Wisconsin Ave, where its infamous fire occurred. I don’t know whose it was, but there was a building of 1920’s architecture on 8th Street N.W. which had a tapered steel lattice tower atop it and had apparently been used as a radio station at one time although I never learned whose it was. –Unsigned Corporate Suit (9/17/09)

/\ September 17 Messages /\

\/ September 16 Messages \/

@Silvie. If you want lightweight interviewing, go back and take a look at the softball questions that Chris Wallace lobbed to Dick (The Duckhunter) Cheney in their recent encounter on Fox News Sunday. I’m surprised Mike Wallace didn’t disown his brown-nosing, bought-and-paid-for “journalist” son after that debacle. (9/16/09)

For 105.9 being 105.9 the Edge I think it's funny that the calls have nothing to do with "The Edge". Maybe with the PPM system call letters mean nothing, but usually your calls have something to do with what they call the station. Just a note but Citadel's SC PA station 105.7 the X started out as Alt rock 105.7 the Edge (WQXA-FM) in 1995 before tweaking to Active Rock 105.7 the X a year and a half later. Maybe 105.9 will end up having the same fate. DC has no true rock station, maybe 105.9 will end up following along similar lines and become a full rocker as 105.9 the X. (9/16/09)

When the WITH 55th anniversary reunion took place in 1996, the concept was for the alumni to take turns at the mic for an hour at a time. That was trashed right out of the post, and the on-air event immediately became a friendly kind of free-for-all, with all the old jocks jammed into the interview studio at the same time sharing stories and laughs, and taking calls from listeners. Even Hot Rod, who could no longer speak due to cancer surgery, was there soaking it all in. In addition to weekday mornings, I was still doing a Saturday shift--noon to six--at that time, and I remember speeding down I-95 to get downtown. I was giddy with excitement at the prospect of being in the same room with Jack Gale, Buddy Deane, Jack Wells, Buddy McGregor, Bill Evenson, Joel Chaseman and Hot Rod. Later that day, we attracted an impressive crowd at Eastpoint Mall. Even Danny Sheelds showed up. He had somehow been overlooked and not included in the studio activities. It was a privilege to work at WITH for four years, and while I certainly listened to the station growing up, my absolute favorite station in the 50s and 60s was the great WCAO. Any reunion they do should most certainly be a public event--maybe a fund-raising sock hop for a deserving charity. I'd buy a ticket for sure. Tape it and put it on MPT too--seems they could use a little extra money these days. Before he passed away, Harry Shriver arranged a WFBR reunion at the Holiday Inn in Timonium. I was invited, even though I worked there in 1989 after it was sold to JAG. It was great being in the same room with Joe Knight, Wayne Gruehn, Frank Luber, Brent Gunts and all the rest. I have pix from both that evening and the WITH reunion, if anyone's interested. Gary Helton, WHFC-FM, Bel Air. (9/16/09)

Here's a documentary on ye olde tv horror hosts in Virginia. www.virginiacreepersmovie.com... Bowman's Body! and witch Hazel was the wife of the late Mr. Carlson of WKRP fame. Wouldn't Shelby be great on the new FRESH 94.7? Man too me Chad Dukes has to do some heavy lifting working with Arrington, bring back Oscar Santana I thought their show had plenty of sports talk. And say in the wha' ever happened too what be El Jefe and J. Dubs doing these days? (9/16/09)

Dave's response: Look, I'm sure Schelby's a nice gal and all that, but she ruined the Globe with all that feminist folk crap. I don't think radio's her thing.....

"As for your suggestion that Obama is dodging the press"... Yes. Dodging FOX NEWS. (9/16/09)

I remember Alan Field from his days at WCAO. I listened as a student at Md. but also enjoyed his work in nostalia radio doing "Music of your Life" as I did as well. Just wish I could have done his Eyre travel trips as frequently. Nice to see his post. A true area radio legend. BD (9/16/09)

Dave: The call letters for 95.7 The Wolf in San Francisco are KBWF. The WOLF call sign is legendary to Syracuse, NY. Also, Ms. Landry did brief stints in DC is the early-2000s at WBQB (B101.5) and WMZQ. Be well. (9/16/09)

"I will be checking out more of 980's programs as well, even though I'm not a traditional sports radio listener. Any format can be appealing when it's well done and interesting." 980 is an outright abomination. It is difficult for me to tell what is more boring, putrid, and inane: TK's shite program; the monstrosity that is the John Thompson show; or anything to do with Andy Pollin. (9/16/09)

Oh Lauren “V”: while it’s a good thing DCRTV (thanks, Dave!) is doing providing a resource for your employment search and certainly you sound like a sincere, educated and somewhat experienced person in the field of media & media relations, please don’t be foolish by posting your e-mail (for the most part, I am sure DCRTV mail baggers are okie dokie, there are always the not so okie dokie scammers out there, so please be careful) and for God’s sake find a job of ANY kind right now (Starbucks, Home Depot, Chili’s, part-time teaching, even some pole dancing at Camelot is better than nothing) while you are looking in your field! Work hard at it (I have been getting up every morning around 4:30 AM and scouring the available listings seven days a week for over two years now and I have over twenty years experience in your field), be ready for disappointment(s), no responses, robo responses and being told you are either under qualified or worse yet, over qualified. Just keep at it but as I said: be careful. Good luck, dear! (9/16/09)

hmmm - no official announcement from WBOC, but it seems sports guy Yianni Kourakis has left the building. The only acknowledgment is this message posted on the WBOC website via Twitter ... "My last day at WBOC. I've had a great time covering sports on Delmarva! Thanks everyone." ... Fired for his arrest the other week? Asked to resign? Coincidence? Another gig lined up? The world may never know, but this clip also showed up on their help wanted page ... "Do you love sports? ... (blah blah blah) ... And can you start ASAP?" (9/16/09)

Mr. "Blah blah blah" might want to check his facts. It was Eisenhower, a republican, who sent the first US military advisers into Viet Nam. I know the righties like to ignore facts that don't further their agenda, but truth is, after all, truth. (9/16/09)

Silvie, Obama is the President of the United States; Palin is unemployed and her popularity in her own party has plummeted in the last six months. Why on earth would the GOP want her to be their spokesman on Sunday morning gabfests? As for your suggestion that Obama is dodging the press...he's made a series of appearances and speeches and been interviewed several times in the past few weeks, but wasn't that Palin who forbid any media from attending her recent speeches in the Far East? ...Why, yes -- yes it was! (9/16/09)

Dave, again you are "way ahead of the curve," to use an outmoded, but I don't know a better one, phrase, when it comes to DCRTV. Regarding the "old news" of the Cap's resigning with Bonneville as reported in the WaPo today, the Cap's sent out a press release Tuesday concerning this and all the WaPo did was edit it down to a paragraph. (9/16/09)

Mr Tony's new ESPN show is great. The station has a good, professional presentation and the 980AM HD I'm receiving in Ballston is strong and steady and sounds like FM. Mr K's sidekicks and interesting guests are back again and Kevin Sheehan is superb. He really adds a lot to the program. Bravo to ESPN980. I've not listened to them much before, but now stick around for Sheehan's 12:00 - 2:00 program as well. BTW 980's gain is AMU's loss, it will be interesting to see if my experience is shared by others and shows up in the ratings. I have been a fan of Diane Rehm for years but it's no contest for me between her and Mr Tony. Additionally, I find it hard to go back to Kojo Nnamdi's excellent yet reserved program after the entertainment and fun of Mr K's show, and as I wrote I enjoy Sheehan's program more and more. I will be checking out more of 980's programs as well, even though I'm not a traditional sports radio listener. Any format can be appealing when it's well done and interesting. Robert, Arlington (9/16/09)

“Loud mouthed angry conservative populists are crawling into every nook like spiders. These shamless conservatives (been proven wrong on every serious issue dating to Vietnam War, Iraq, civil rights, global warming, and the prison drug…” blah blah blah. Well, you got 1 out of 4 right, 1 out of 4 half right, and 2 out of 4 wrong. As you are obviously a product of public education, and don’t have a clue about American History, it was JFK, then LBJ, both Democrats, that got us movin’ and shakin’ in Vietnam. Nixon, a Republican, got us out. AFA the civil rights movement is concerned, it was Southern Democrats, a.k.a. Dixiecrats that thwarted most legislation. The “recent” war on drugs was coined by Nixon in 1969, but some historians feel it started with prohibition, or earlier. AFA global warming is concerned, that discussion would take up too much bandwidth to discuss, would be a waste of electricity, and I’m out of carbon credits for the month. Signed P.A. Filament. Laughing & Scratching, and using my spidey sense for the betterment of mankind, in not so beautiful nor historic Hoodbridge. (9/16/09)

Just FYI.... When WCXR switched to WJZW as smooth jazz in 94, we were owned by Viacom......JZW went to ABC, MZQ went to Clear Channel when Vicaom got out of radio. And considering at the time 105.9 was classic rock....the station has gone full circle going back to rock. (9/16/09)

To Alan Field: It was..indeed..a good to see your post; no no no! I haven't forgotten; I certainly do remember your days at WCAO; always thought it kind of interesting that also did the "Nostalgic" type formats..after hearing you do the CAO thing all those years! Guess it turns out that while you did a nice job at WCAO, from what little bit I heard of you on WLG..you fit right in as well; guess now we know why (sounds like that was more your type of music anyway)..but as I've always said: the good ones could handle any format! Think of how long Johnny Dark did "top-40"..then was able to turn around and play country music..and made it sound like he'd been doing it all along! Tom in Denton, MD. (9/16/09)

Dave… Was wondering if you had heard any news about the untimely passing of Max Page, the VP/Government and Community Relations at the Newseum? He was reportedly found by his wife on what would have been his 60th birthday. No word so far on the cause of his death. He’s a former exec with Gannett Television, and was previously an executive producer in the Freedom Forum/Newseum’s Broadcast Division. I had the pleasure of working with him at ‘Newseum 1.0’ in Rosslyn. A very nice guy, who is well known in the D.C. broadcasting community. My condolences to his family on what must be a very sad day. Thanks, - Max in Mild West Arlington… (9/16/09)

Hi Dave! Long time no mailbag posting... I'm still listening to 630 WMAL every day, though! Anyway, regarding the President appearing on 5 Sunday talk shows but not Fox News, I wonder if Fox would consider having Sarah Palin on for the entire hour to counter the other programming? Perhaps later within the hour, Fox should do an interview with a cardboard cutout of Obama and ask him all the tough questions that the mainstream media won't ask him. Best, -Silvie- (9/16/09)

RE: [ " That conservative military SUV skinheads are able to spawn hate with nothing more than snake tattoos and scary three day growth over corn fed hog jowls, is as much a statement about cultural road rage spreading into arts and advertising (hummer imagery spreading into artless boxy car design) as it is about the sad cowardly spinelessness that hamstrings free thinking public discourse. " ]......... Thank You Bill Ayers. Now don't you have a bomb to make, a class to teach, or an ACORN office to help w/ counseling pimps or something? Oh and while you're at it, do us all a favor and wake up Charlie Gibson & The Washington Post from from their naps please. :-) (9/16/09)

Alan Field...You may be the forgotten man to some people but not to me. It was you that welcomed me to Baltimore and we became neighbors. You are truly one of the classiest people I've ever known. Should a WCAO reunion take place, I would certainly hope that you would be a part of it just so that I could "Thank you very much for the use of the hall.".....JD (9/16/09)

ACORN responds: “This Is A Right Wing Speed Bump In The Road” (AUDIO) | Air America Media airamerica.com (9/16/09)

What a nice surprise..A post from Alan Field!!! Alan, have thought of you often, wondered if you were still among us.Great seeing your post. I agree, you’ve certainly spent your days on mic..how well I remember all the sessions we did..all the laughs we had. Stay well-Your old friend, PLB/DJ (9/16/09)

Well now..about this "reunion" thing..I am thinking more on the lines of something that can happen on the air; for some folks like myself, it's not easy to get to Baltimore (or wherever such a reunion would be held! I still maintain it'd be a good idea; I'm just hoping that perhaps there can be a station where folks could listen to it..such as was the case with the WITH reunion! Again, thanks to Bob Mathers for putting it on Ultimate Oldies dot com as I never got to hear it when this actually aired on WITH! ?Tom in Denton, MD. P.S. In case anybody cares..it was I who originally asked the questions about WCAO and WITH yesterday's date. (9/16/09)

Babs Harrison and Craig "Mumble Mouth Melvin the two worst anchors together. Yuck! Les in CP (9/16/09)

Doesn't this guy ever quit? Kanye West just interrupted Patrick Swayze's funeral to say that Michael Jackson's funeral was better... (9/16/09)

I've been scrolling through the Mailbag and noticing references to a WCAO reunion. A lot of names have been dropped, but I seem to be the forgotten man, though I spent 12 years there in the middle of the day at the station's height, from 1960 to 1972. That's OK. I've enjoyed my 56 years behind a mike, including the 'CAO years, but I really think I came into my own as a deejay from 1979 to 2004 when I spent most of that time doing Nostalgia radio at WAYE (Big Band 86), WMAR-FM and WRLX (beautiful music), WITH (Music Of Your Life) and WWLG (Legends Radio). Smaller numbers, but a lot more personal satisfaction playing music I really loved. Alan Field (9/16/09)

Can somebody tell WBJC Radio there is no audio on their audio stream. I've called at least twice. I quess nobody cares! (9/16/09)

Roddy, if it comes to fruition, it would definitely be open to the public as a fundraiser. If, and when, it happens the information will be right here on Dave's site.....Johnny Dark (9/16/09)

The Sussex Amateur Radio Association (SARA) and Sussex County Amateur Radio Emergency Services (ARES), in cooperation with READY.gov, Citizens Corps and the Ad Council, cordially invite you to join us for an emergency communications demonstration during National Preparedness Month 2009 (NPM). When: Saturday September 19, 2009... Where: Marvel Carriage Museum, 510 S. Bedford St., Georgetown, DE 19947... Time: 10 AM – 3 PM... Overview: The Sussex Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) and Sussex Amateur Radio Association will demonstrate to the public what Amateur Radio emergency communications can and will provide in the event that a hurricane or other major event impacts the peninsula. Based on an exercise scenario, Amateur Radio operators will report simulated events in accordance with the progress and damage caused by Hurricane Jocelyn, a category 4/5 storm, which makes landfall in Northampton County, VA and works its way up the DELMARVA, impacting the entire peninsula. Visitors will be able to view interactive displays learn how Amateur Radio operators can provide real time “eyes on the ground” reports, as well as receive valuable information on preparing their families, homes and businesses to be “ready”. (9/16/09)

Regarding the Baltimore top-40 reunion being discussed in posts by Johnny Dark, Bob Mathers and others, would this be open to the public? If so, I think it would be worth a trip to Baltimore. (I live in Atlanta.) Tom and Joyce might even come. Roddy Freeman (9/16/09)

Channel 4's "Daily Connection" is perhaps the worst show I have ever seen on local TV. I was so glad when the regular anchors returned from illness/vacation because it meant less of Craig Melvin. Now, channel 4 is trying to stuff him down our throats. The first day Melvin "hosted" with Wendy in crumpled up jeans and Melvin in an open necked shirt. Oh, I get it...let's be casual so the audience doesn't notice what a lightweight Melvin is. The next day Melvin "hosts" with Lindsey. Ah, now we have the "hipper" look for the show. NBC needs to send Melvin's butt packing. The guy belongs in a small market where spitting out words and trying to act "street cool" can be overlooked. People in the newsroom told me they have received tons of negative feedback from viewers but the suits will not admit to making a mistake bringing him in. I think the real reason is that Melvin is working for peanuts. It's the ONLY logical explanation. (9/16/09)

I wonder if anyone from the FCC reads this? If so, I have to ask a question, I thought you folks were supposed to encourage localism, grass roots, community level communications, competition. Since when are you the thought police? How is it that you find time and money to re-investigate a dead issue, a non-issue, a content issue on a national network such as the wardrobe malfunction....yet again? An issue that has nothing to do at all with what liscensced radio and TV stations do in the service to community. BUT the FCC can not, will not, must not?) find the reason and resources to investigate the lack of local service provided by all and any Birach family stations? How you can waste your time, my tax dollars and the time and dollars of CBS while ignoring a licenscee that ignores the community is beyond me. Leave CBS alone and find the Birach stations a new home. This is absurb what the FCC focuses on. It is rather transparent that you are looking only to generate new fines as a source of new revenue. But that is not what Congress nor the industry expect from you. (9/16/09)

"It's kinda crazy that TOP wouldn't have dumped the F bomb. They run in an 8-9 second delay all day, in all day parts, anyway. Listen for the top of the hour time tone from CBS, and the bottom of the hour network updates. They're all 8-9 seconds late." That's not a delay for dumping out. ALL radio stations broadcasting in HD have an 8.33 second delay. They'd need a delay of over 15 seconds to add in a digital dump. But why should they? They are doing news LIVE. Sure, a bad word was spoken. But it was a stumble over "fundinhg mexhanism" and not an intetniaql expletive. There should be an FCC exemption for news. (9/16/09)

Sorry, Chris Core. Unless there are two versions of the Mark Plotkin and Bob McDonnell conversation floating around the net, it is blatantly apparent that he dropped the F-Word over the air, even if it was inadvertent or a stutter. Obviously, the slip of the tongue squeezed past Mr. Plotkin who conducted the interview, and no one begrudges Bob McDonnell’s mistake. However, the station would be well advised to take responsibility to its audience and move on. But what do I know, I’m just a 23 year communications expert with over two decades broadcast experience. – Ken Forsythe, CRMC - Sr. Media Communicator (9/16/09)

WHY CANT WE HAVE MORE COMMERCIALS LIKE THIS??? whipitoutcomedy.com (9/16/09)

James O’Keefe and Fox News Promote Fake ACORN Murder Confession www.mediaite.com (9/16/09)

Loudoun Independent responds to reports of their demise. www.loudouni.com (9/16/09)

Regarding the Dan Brown book post......after all, it is a fictional novel. (9/16/09)

UM Study Shows Congressional Use of Twitter Falls Short www.newsdesk.umd.edu (9/16/09)

In today's Washington Post 'Style' section: "When Perspective Goes Horribly Wrong": Thrill as Mark Trail is about to be eaten by a menacing 60-foot-tall owl ... in the Comics pages. (9/16/09)

Isn't it amazing that a book that sells 1,000,000 copies doesn't get a review from the NY Times nor the Washington Post? Isn't it amazing that Charles (look down your nose) Gibson when asked had never heard of the latest issues with ACORN? Isn't it amazing that 7 US Senators did not vote to cut off funds for ACORN? It really isn't amazing, is it? George, Stephens City, VA (9/16/09)

Bob McDonnell did not curse on WTOP at all. He stuttered, and it's obvious to the most casual observer of the audio clip. As much as I hate to agree with the free roofing/gutter/basement blowhard, Chris Core is right. The case IS closed. -Chainsman (9/16/09)

Chris Core is totally wrong. I listened about a dozen times to Bob McDonnell talking to Mark Plotkin. He was, obviously, getting mad at Mark because of his line of questioning and he definitely dropped the F bomb. You can question whether the news exemption applies so TOP won't get its license pulled or a large fine. You can question whether it is that big a deal. Mistakes happen. You can question whether there is a dollop of hypocracy for an extremist christian to ever have that word drop off his lips but you cannot say he didn't say it. Helen Keller could tell he used the F word. Open letter to Chris: stop towing the corporate line and admit reality. Oh, if he didn't say it, why not run the audio on the air a couple dozen times and let people make up their own minds? "What's the matter, Col. Sanders? Chicken?" On another matter, why isn't the audio on TOP's web site so the whole family could sit around the computer and enjoy the entire program, together? (9/16/09)

It's kinda crazy that TOP wouldn't have dumped the F bomb. They run in an 8-9 second delay all day, in all day parts, anyway. Listen for the top of the hour time tone from CBS, and the bottom of the hour network updates. They're all 8-9 seconds late. I assume they're in delay all day just for the purpose of avoiding issues like this, and so it makes no sense that they wouldn't dump it on the F bomb. (9/16/09)

For Bob Mathers, Johnny Dark, and for that matter anyone else planning a Top-40 radio reunion: Don't forget to send your event info to reelradio.com! They have a posting section for such. Also, don't forget AFTRA, Radio-Insight.com, and no doubt there are others online, as well. Speaking of radio (and TV) history, how about Dave Loudin or somebody do a page on the "DCRTV+" section on the sites (studio and transmitter) which we've lost. From NAA to whatever was the most recent to be "re-developed", torn down, etc. Us old-timers remember 4461 Connecticut, the Raleigh Hotel, 40th & Brandywine, the Wardman Park, WWDC remotes from the trailer and also the converted bus they had near the roller coaster at Glen Echo (I'd include regularly scheduled remotes!), and WPGC which IIRC did their thing from Marshall Hall. Of course, WEAM did their remotes from Tops, which besides the "Sirloiners" Johnny Dark mentioned (BTW, there was a chain called "Gino's: (After the founder, Baltimore Colt great Gino Marchetti) which bought the rights to "the Sirloiner" from the corporate estate of "Tops" after they folded. and brought back the "Sirloiner" until "Gino's" itself was bought-out by Hardees.), "Tops" was also the local franchisee for Kentucky Fried Chicken until "Gino's" came along. As for the "secret sauce" on the "Sirloiner", I think it's probably like what the ingredients list for some hot dogs would read if the Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906 didn't exist: "You're better off not knowing..." -Unsigned Corporate Suit (9/16/09)

The traditional far left mainstream media, which provided cover for Obama during the campaign and continues to do so daily, is irate that they no longer have a monopoly over news in this country any more. Bloggers and FoxNews have exposed the mainstream media leftists for what they are, partisan liberals who have been, for 40 years, nothing but a propoganda arm of the Democrat National Committee. When it takes a 25 year old nerd and a 20 year old college girl to do the investigative work 60 Minutes, 20/20, and Dateline NBC purposely ignore, you know these "professionals" have been exposed for what they are - partisan hacks who masquerade as unbiased reporters. The fact that Charles Gibson had absolutely no idea when asked about this week's discovery of more ACORN corruption, proves that these mainstream media reporters get their agenda and talking points from the morning addition of the New York Times, who have the motto "All the news that benefits the American liberal that's fit to print". (9/16/09)

Re: "Chris Core obviously didn't listen to the recording. The "F" word rolled off McDonald's tongue like he was VERY familiar with the word" /// Who's McDonald ? Guess what genius, we are all VERY familiar with the word fucking, oops....I just used it myself. To be honest, it's the first thing I like about McDonnell, and judging by the mind-numbingly bad political commercials his campaign is running, always featuring his large gaggle of a family, fucking is one thing McDonnell is quite familiar with. Such a non-issue, it's not going to sway one voter. (9/16/09)

The Marc Clarke show is no longer on Baltimore's My24. The economy has again dealt Clarke a bad hand but he says he is launching a project that will specialize in producing original audio/video content focusing on the Washington D.C./Baltimore area. He can be reached at iammedia66@gmail.com (9/16/09)

The late "Captain Jim" Whittemore of Ocean City radio fame is fondly remembered for his earlier tv work as floor manager and cameraman at WTTG and director at WBAL-TV. Michael Q Anthony (Bill Quinn) noted that Jim was of one of the best directors at Channel 11 in the 1970's. Along with Bunky Gunts who later went with NBC, Jim was the very best. It was pretty frenetc then, sometimes unnecessarily so. Most things were done live and too much on the fly, but you could catch your breath when you worked with Jim or Bucky. There were too very few others with that kind of sensitivity or professionalism. No wonder that Bucky later picked up Emmys for NBC-Universal. I remember Bucky well. Jim was of that caliber. No doubt Jim also deserved a shelf or two of Emmys. Anyone with airchecks of those days at WBAL-TV could testify to that when everyone on the nightshift worked as late as 3 or 4 in the morning following Tom Snyder's "Tomorrow Show," the NBC chimes, "Semonette" and the final sign-off news. Mark Eastwood, Rockville-Washington (9/16/09)

(From DCRTV's Classified Ads:) TV Reporter/Feature Writer/Movie Studio Representative/Journalist: I just graduated from Towson University in the spring with a Bachelor's in Mass Communications and Magna Cum Laude honors. I anchored for Towson's news show, 16News for 4 years and produced and hosted a women's talk show, The Focus. I was a feature writer/multimedia assistant for the BaltimoreSun.com. I was the Baltimore college representative for major movie studio Paramount Vantage where I wrote screening reports and assisted at several movie studio promotional events. Last summer I worked for an independent production company, Another Avenue in Dublin, Ireland where I was a production assistant and writer for the company's TV shows. I am ready to work for your television station, communications or public relations team! Please e-mail me at LaurenVeneziani@gmail.com (9/16/09)

From Tom Taylor at Radio-Info.com: “The FCC has given live news coverage much more lenient treatment than slips that occur elsewhere”… That’s communications attorney David Oxenford chiming in on the T-R-I story about Virginia candidate Bob McDonnell’s f-word blooper. Oxenford says “even the Chairman Kevin Martin administration gave the CBS Early Show a pass, when a Survivor castaway called another contestant a ‘BS’er.’ The Commission said that in the context of a live news show, they were inclined to give broadcasters more flexibility. There was a similar instance several years ago in a courthouse-steps interview by NPR wit John Gotti. But – these decisions don’t give you an open season to use forbidden words in the news. Just that the FCC will accord somewhat more tolerance to a broadcaster for a slip-up by a guest when the broadcaster is in pursuit of hot news, where there is a public interest benefit from the coverage.” Meanwhile, people just keep using their normal language, don’t they? Ohio Media Watch says WOIO-TV, Cleveland meteorologist Jeff Tanchak was doing the game-day NFL forecast from the “Muni Lot”, where a fan “couldn’t help but shout out that he was feeling [bleeping] fine.” (9/16/09)

/\ September 16 Messages /\

\/ September 15 Messages \/

I think status of HD on local AMs probably has more to do with engineering workload and other things than a new policy direction. I would not read to much into it, nothing to see here. (9/15/09)

Re: Obscene words. Has anyone been fined for using "shit" in the past tense/participle form- "shat"? Perhaps there is no problem here, instead of "what a bunch of shit" it could be "that was shat". You're welcome. (9/15/09)

Doreen's Delightful 'Do... Now available as part of her signature DGDC Collection from the Sheinhardt Wig Company. (9/15/09)

Dave's response: "ACORN postings are OK here in the Mailbag if they make reference to local media. Purely political postings will get trashed....." OK. Then travel back six posts to the most recent angry Acorn statement. No local reference and no Dave warning. Stirs another issue from the depths: that crunching down on logic is easier than crunching down on loud mouth camouflaged pant gun slinging military graduates. The issue is about intimidation and has been going on many years in our warm patriotic military economy. That conservative military SUV skinheads are able to spawn hate with nothing more than snake tattoos and scary three day growth over corn fed hog jowls, is as much a statement about cultural road rage spreading into arts and advertising (hummer imagery spreading into artless boxy car design) as it is about the sad cowardly spinelessness that hamstrings free thinking public discourse. (9/15/09)

Regarding WEAM pictures, jingles, etc...I have many but no time to do a web-site. You'll find some WEAM pictures on my site (www.livinglegendonline.com) including the Tops Drive-In mobile studio that I broadcasted my nightly show from. Ah, those Sirloiners they melted in your mouth. I never did find out the secret to the "secret sauce."...Johnny Dark (9/15/09)

Channel 4 is running the larry michael produced Dreadskin show Redskin Late Night at 1:30 am Saturday night. Had been on channel 9 for several years. I seem to recall it had been an hour long borefest but now 30 minutes . There is a gawd? And looks like Disney has redone their Movie review show again At The Movies. now on at 2;30 am channel 9 Friday night. They have brought back the movie critics who worked with Roper before Disney ended that version. Is WJLA channel getting ready to cut more on air folks since they've cut back on reporters used in the morning. I'll assume at this point that Tony Pann is staying at channel 9 and it was La Martucci who has left? All this local news programming what a bunch of sh8t. Still want the thumbs of the tv weathercaster for being wrong so often (9/15/09)

Chris Core obviously didn't listen to the recording. The "F" word rolled off McDonald's tongue like he was VERY familiar with the word. (9/15/09)

Well MR. Dark..I hope you can do something about that "WCAO" reunion" thing; Hmmm! Wonder if you'd want to include the "country" side..as well as the "top-40" part; would be interesting! By the way..would you (or anyone else)..know if there are any old WCAO surveys floating around on line anywhere? I know of a guy who does a "hometown Countdown" show each Saturday night (he features a different survey from a different station each week)..I asked him if he had ever done a countdown for WCAO..he told me that he had a lot of trouble finding that many charts for WCAO (I'm assuming he's looking to find something from the internet)..by the way, if anyone is interested in checking him out, I'll post the link to the website that carries his show. The link is www.therideradio.net... Tom in Denton, MD. (9/15/09)

To Johnny Dark (or anybody else who might know): There have been tribute websites for two DC area stations, WPGC and The Great 98 WRC, but someone would be hard pressed to find any airchecks, jingles, photos or stories online about WEAM. Why doesn't someone have such a site for AM 1390? Even if it were half as good as the aforementioned sites, it would still be a nice thing to see. Over the years, I've seen posts in the DCRTV Mailbag that suggest that WEAM wasn't the easiest or most pleasant place to work, though it sure didn't sound it from this 1960s listener. (9/15/09)

Here is why the corporates are crunching down on ACORN. First, the white suburbans are flush with stupid corporate money( same reason overflowing military money needs a terrorist target). As a national issue ACORN is laughable, but not to these heat-seeking hothead target seeking mad at the world paid per post joe the plumber media intellectuals. Even though ACORN represents a small urban community threat, the white suburban church hate fire needs scapegoat fuel and targets. (9/15/09)

Dave's response: ACORN postings are OK here in the Mailbag if they make reference to local media. Purely political postings will get trashed.....

To the unnamed poster...A WCAO reunion. What a terrific idea to raise funds for a local charity! I've talked about it a number of times and maybe I'll do something about it this time. Thanks for the suggestion. Regarding your comments about WCAO and WITH, WITH had a long history of good personalities much like Big 60. The major difference between the two was power and signal. WCAO was 5-thousand watts at 60 on the dial...hard to beat! Speaking of the old WCAO, Robert C. Allen was with me Friday night at a Children's Cancer Foundation fundraiser, the president Shirley Howard was celebrating her 85th birthday. Richard Sher was also in attendance. A little know fact, Rich, Robert C. and me were all on WEAM together in 1965. Yes, Richard was, once upon a time, a top 40 disc-jockey...Nice to see more radio & tv talk. For a while I've been calling Dave's site the web's version of road-rage....Johnny Dark (9/15/09)

I was doing some FCC searching today regarding WAGE 1190 and sorta of discovered that many of the AM 1190s to the south of Washington are either operating under STA or gone dark. The owners of WAGE have yet to file a nighttime proposal for the WAGE 1190 FCC app. The daytime app states that a separate nighttime filing will be made, but it still hasn't happened. With all these 1190s apparently going under or dark, and only WLIB in New York as the only conflicting signal to the northeast, is it possible WAGE might be able to apply for 5-10kw nighttime or more? It would have to be highly directional with a huge null to the northeast, but it seems possible considering the new transmitter location that they chose in Sterling. WBIS 1190 previously had a 7000 watt CP for Baltimore if I'm not mistaken that took into count the WLIB 30kw nighttime signal. Also, it appears Birach has several AM stations dark for quite awhile (including AM700). Won't they have to be turning those licenses in sometime in early 2010? (9/15/09)

BREAKING NEWS! I would like to report that Doreen's hair looks much better tonight...she must read dcrtv. Whew.... -- Bobbie (9/15/09)

Dave, you clearly don't understand radio. 12+ numbers don't mean anything to JFK. They are all about men 25-54 and in Men 25-54 they are already top5 in PM drive and beating WTEM. You can post those numbers on the front page and shit on the station all you want, but it doesn't mean anything. The Junkies are also crushing in ratings. The Fan is already a financial success whether you choose to acknowledge it or not. (9/15/09)

Dave's response: As I've said many times before, I cannot post more specific radio ratings info, a la the 25-54 and 25-34 data, without getting into hot water with radio ratings firm Arbitron, which charges its subscribing stations mucho bucks for the data. I can get away with printing the overall, more general age 12+ numbers. True, they often don't present the full story, but they are a pretty good picture of the local radio landscape. Look, Lavar Arrington's afternoon numbers on WJFK are about where Mike O'Meara's were. But JFK is paying a lot (!) less for Arrington's show, so, in the long run, the station and its owner, CBS, come out ahead revenue-wise. The Junkies are doing well in the male 25-54 numbers, as I've reported, but I don't know if I'd use the term "crushing" just yet.....

It's true: Kanye really IS a dick www.dickipedia.org (9/15/09)

seriously, where does ACORN do its' produce shopping? it seems all the stuff they buy are "bad apples". we're now up to 4 different offices giving advice on running underage, illegal immigrant prostitution rings and hiding the money from the IRS. and the advice giver here confesses to killing her husband (and threatens the life of someone else) and says she has the ear of all the major democrats in california. and dave, in a responce you gave, you said both sides of the aisle have groups like this. i'd like to know what the republican equivilent of ACORN is. i'm sure if there was a group on the right who gave advice on how to run underage child prostitution and hiding the profits from the IRS, our friends in the "past-tense media" (credit to ace of spades) would've been glad to tell us. (9/15/09)

To Bob Maters: Thanks so much for posting the WITH Reunion on Ultimate Oldies! I've listened to both parts..and am looking forward to more installments! Now I have some questions: when I was growing up, I was under the impression that WCAO was the big "top-40" station in Baltimore! Was this the case..or..is WITH the one that is more remembered?" Also..has there ever been a "WCAO" reunion? I guess the main reason I remember WCAO is..this is the station that came in better down here on the eastern shore; I don't believe I knew about WITH until I started attending school..and had my first transistor radio! I do remember seeing Buddy Deane on channel 13; it is probably his show that helped me become familiar with a good bit of the "rock-&-roll" that I heard as a young fella; I also remember that Buddy Deane was on WITH for a while in the mid-60s...but the big station that the kids here on the shore (as I remember it)..was WCAO. (9/15/09)

Everything is OK...don't look behind the curtain just keep watching the hand puppet..everything is OK..just keep watching NBC, CBS, ABC, CNN.....everything is ok, keep listening to Baltimore, Washington radio everything is OK....O.B.L. (9/15/09)

Here's the answer to CA in BC's question regarding AM fidelity. Back in the day (until the 50's) AM radio would go out to 15 kHz with no problem. Stations were far enough apart; compression was fairly mild. Then in the 50's and 60's the band got very trashed up with all kinds of processing tools. Dorrough came up with multiband processors. Positive excursions can go far higher than negative excursions so there was another device that would sense the higher side and flip the polarity of the signal or you could just clip the bottom and let the other side go as high as you would like. Yes, it sounded like butt, but it was loud. I don't know how many times I heard the program director say, "They are louder than us" or "I want the signal to Pop!" Hey, pop this! Anyway, in the 80's the receivers had such poor bandpass that the highest frequency getting through the system was about 5K so they put in "preemphasis" meaning that they turned up the treble control before the sound hit the transmitter, with the expectation that the car radio manufacturers could build to this improved audio sound. It didn't happen. But to reduce interferance, they used a filter to stop any audio that was higher than 10 kHz. And they put in new rules that said that it wasn't important how loud you were...your signal just had to stay inside your alloted Rf space, as viewed on a spectrum analyzer. Good luck getting one of those in Winchester. Anyway, with the advent of AM HD Radio, they had to fit the digital signal into this "mask" so they reduced the audio down to 5 kHz...tops. I don't know what they can do now to make it worse, but I'm sure they will find a way. John (9/15/09)

To the LIBERAL poster dodging reality (Loud mouthed angry conservative populists are crawling into every nook like spiders.) You sir, are missing the entire scope of issues. The Alphabet Nets are NOT reporting anything that could be considered a disparaging remark about the Reids, Franks, Pelosis, ACORN, the House…All of you Liberals are sticking your heads in the sand pretending all that has happened should be blamed on Conservatives, or you are loving the way that the media is “dodging the bullet, or you’re loving the bullet. I am an American PERIOD. You as a group are either ignoring the way the media is dodging the bullet or loving the BULLET. Both are despicable. THIS POST IS ABOUT THE MEDIA…DAMMIT!!!-WOW (9/15/09)

These "loud mouthed angry conservative populists" sound eerily like a bunch of Archie Bunkers. Like my totally unhip, blindly establishment-oriented "my country right or wrong, love it or leave it" hawkish father 40 years ago whom at one point I detested with a passion! I thought we had buried that stereotype with the new Millenium. Isn't it funny how full circle things have come? KOF (9/15/09)

www.politico.com... Divide between right, mainstream media... By: Michael Calderone and Mike Allen... The right-wing media’s single-minded focus on a handful of targets over the past months and its success in pushing those stories into the mainstream have underscored the sharp divide between traditional news organizations and the bloggers and talk show hosts aggressively pursuing an ideological agenda on-line and on TV and radio. From birthers to tea parties to town halls and ACORN, the scandal-plaged anti-poverty group — not to mention President Obama’s speech last week to school children and the background of former White House aide Van Jones — issues initially dismissed or missed entirely by the national media have burst, if only fleetingly, onto the national agenda after relentless coverage on Fox News, talk radio and in the blogosphere. “If it wasn’t for Fox or talk radio, we’d be done as a republic,” Glenn Beck declared Tuesday morning on “Fox & Friends.” Beck, who’s aggressively pushed the Van Jones and ACORN stories, told the morning show hosts that he plans to devote his hour-long, top-rated 5 p.m. to show new undercover tapes of ACORN employees. (9/15/09)

Loud mouthed angry conservative populists are crawling into every nook like spiders. These shamless conservatives (been proven wrong on every serious issue dating to Vietnam War, Iraq, civil rights, global warming, and the prison-built drug war) substitute ugly media volume for logic. Corporate military and religious zelot control freaks care little about the community tax blood they suck. Why this is relevant to a media site like DCRTV is because cheap late night AM radio and daylight fox corporates poured military contractor and business corporate money into tearing away all the filters of civil logic and historical perspective and has enabled mob volume. It's a beautiful fascist model; plunder and impoverish and then spend a small percentage of profits to scapegoat with a media-megaphone focus of populist libertarian anger toward 'the government' (meanwhile these same conservative patriots used government tax breaks to sell American industries away for cheap, short term parasitic profits). The disgrace of unleashing the US Corporate Contractor Military on Iraq and causing the death hundreds of thousands of human souls registers nothing on the shame meter while the volume is turned up. (9/15/09)

Reading Dan Brown's new novel The Lost Symbol and discovered the first major error. The book takes place in Washington, DC and focuses on the secrecy of the free-masons and the hidden history in the Nation's Capital. Early on in the novel one of the characters arrives at the US Capitol one evening and notices it is deserted. The guard remarks that the Redskins are in the playoffs....bwahhahahahh! (9/15/09)

Dave, what the hell is this crap on my TV!? Channel 4's "Daily Connection" with Lindsey Czarniak and some dude??? God this shit is cheezy. And Lindsey Czarniak is one hardface, unattractive kind of broad. She is hard to watch in this format. I can take a little sports here are there with her...But this is too much exposure in one dose!! But for real...They have no other options for quality programming in the 3pm hour!? (9/15/09)

Hi Dave- wanted to find out if any of your other readers happened to catch the late news report on Channel 4 Sunday night- just to make sure it wasn't some sort of a strange dream... In the wee hours of the morning as I was trying to go to sleep I was watching the channel 4 news, which started late due to the football game. When it came time to do the sports report it was basically Dan Hellie having a conversation with Craig Melvin about what was good/bad about how the Redskins played. This went on for like 5 minutes and I was thinking, what about highlights video, scores, etc.? Only after all that did they say that their whole system had crashed and they couldn't run video, sound, graphics or anything. So the rest of the newscast for 15 minutes was just them at the desk. They kept trying to get a video clip to work but nothing did... Then finally at the very end of the newscast, they said 'Wait, we do have some video that works that we can show' and what did they cut to? A clip of dogs riding surfboards at the beach! Seriously I thought it was like a practical joke or something. Even the news anchor mentioned that this was like the scene in 'Anchorman' where they kept showing the water skiing squirrel. Hilarious! - Chris in Arlington (9/15/09)

Looks like the Independent's web site is up and running again, sorry to have jumped the gun on that. The Connection and Loudoun Times-Mirror are both on thin ice, I think, but they're holding on for now. (9/15/09)

Dave's response: It's one thing for a website simply to not work, and yet quite another to have the domain name forwarder/provider's site come up where the site is supposed to be. They must have been late paying the domain name renewal fee.....

"I've listened to it several times, no rational person who listened to it could deny it. Mr. Farley has his head berried deep in the sand on this one." Would that be strawberry, rasberry or blueberry? I think what the folks at WTOP are saying is not that it was never said, but that it was cleary a stumble (say "funding mechansim" five times fast) and not an intentional f-bomb. (9/15/09)

I'm the person who has questioned Craig Melvin's appeal in the past. This morning, he sat in for Joe Krebs with Barbara Harrison. Not only was he funny, but he completely enlivened the broadcast's normal funereal pace. And strangely, he brought out the best in Barbara, who frequently appears clueless with Joe's corny jokes. I saw a side to her, unseen since her early days with WRC. I like Joe Krebs, but think Craig and Barbara's chemistry renders them a vastly superior anchor team. His banter with Tom Kierein cracked me up. I think Craig has found his niche. (9/15/09)

Really, Dave… this political shit has got to go! Radio and TV is the theme here, right? Let’s get back on track and leave the politics to the pros. Biff in Winchester (9/15/09)

We're pleased to provide DCRTV site visitors with another piece of local broadcasting nostalgia. Parts 1 and 2 of the WITH Baltimore Radio Reunion are now posted at www.ultimateoldiesradio.com. Hear the likes of Buddy Deane, Buddy McGregor and Jake Embry talk about WITH's long and phenomenal run as a Baltimore radio institution. And if that's not enough, we also offer three 'Jacks' to open (Jack Edwards, Jack Gale, and Jack Wells). We'll be adding the rest of the segments over the next few weeks. Speaking of Mr. Wells, the former Baltimore TV-Radio icon turned actor and talk show host for KABC in Los Angeles is recuperating from a stroke in Beverly Hills. His daughter says he's battling with all he's got. Jack is one of the really good guys in the business. Your prayers are appreciated. Thank You, Bob Mathers (9/15/09)

It looks like the Loudoun Independent may be the latest local newspaper to bite the dust. Their web site is no more: www.loudouni.com... -- It's working now….12:48 PM. (9/15/09)

Dave's response: I'm getting a GoDaddy.com "park" page as of 12:55 PM.....

I was so happy to hear of the progress of Johnny Holiday's grandson. That is great news. It also brought to mind the grandson of former Redskins coach Joe Gibbs and his battle with cancer as well. I will continue to keep these two children, as well as both families, in my prayers. Burt in Denton (9/15/09)

It looks like the Loudoun Independent may be the latest local newspaper to bite the dust. Their web site is no more: www.loudouni.com... (9/15/09)

Johnny (Holliday) Glad to hear things are progressing for your grandson. He’s been in my thoughts and prayers on an off since you first let us know. Hope he totally recovers. Your friend-PLB (9/15/09)

Note the Powerline poster: Andrew Sullivan isn't a "liberal" blogger. He's a conservative who "slavishly" supported Bush until the excesses in the prosecution of the war(s) became too much to bear. The right now calls him a liberal based solely on the "if you sren't with us..." theory. They would probably call Ron Smith a liberal, too. Howie (9/15/09)

The Mailbag has become a favorite with far-Right conspiracy theorists. You must be thrilled, Dave. Too bad none of them have anything to say about radio or TV, huh? (9/15/09)

Dear Dave: Today's New York Times op-ed piece by conservative columnist and DC-area resident David Brooks (www.nytimes.com) is a good read and, apparently, was inspired by Mr. Brooks tuning in recently to Ed Walker's Sunday night radio show on WAMU. Great site Dave! Sincerely, Joe Kasell (9/15/09)

Sorry to interrupt the political talk, but I have a broadcasting report from Baltimore. It appears our pirate on 90.7 (Wildout Radio) intends to stick around as a weekend-only 'service'. I don't know where they broadcast from; they mention both Baltimore and Washington, but I doubt their signal reaches that far south. (I haven't checked.) Meanwhile, WWIN (1400) has dropped their HD Radio signal, making it the second station in the B-W area to do so (AFAIK). (WMAL was the first to drop it, that I know of.) I don't know how long ago WWIN did it; I just noticed it yesterday when I heard a station on 1390, something that was impossible with the HD Radio mess fouling the air on both sides of 1400. That leaves just two AM stations in B'more still clinging to that format: WCAO and WOLB. Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't using the HD Radio format on AM reduce the fidelity of the analog signal, which is what 99.99% of the station's listeners will hear? ~~CA in BC (9/15/09)

Dave's response: The only DC area AM station that still runs an HD Radio signal is WTEM. I can see the blinking HD indicator light on my receiver, but 980's digital signal is too weak at my location to get a lock on it.....

Come On Now Dave. Let' show some of that liberal humility. Or is it hypocrisy? You gave fawning coverage to a dead, corrupt, murderous politician from New England,,,and yet you can't seem to find anything 'local' about corrupt activities in Baltimore of a federally funded organization such as ACORN? Don't give me no bull about a dead Kennedy was in Congress and Congress is here. ACORN gets federal funds, and those start here too. As to the issue of audio recording. The earlier poster was more correct than the later. While the tapping may have been illegal, so were the actions of the ACORN people. There is no protection under law for injury caused to you while you are committing a crime. Since when are the liberals so high and mighty on privacy protection? CBS 60 Minutes almost pioneered the smear campaign of walking into a business and asking questions. Those were probably businesses owned by white males engaged in commercial activities so it was OK to 'out' them with a hidden camera and microphone? How is this any different than the myriad of accusatory stories leveled every day at businesses engaged in bad faith practices. Even if the audio taping is ruled illegal, there is sufficient cause for the state to begin investigating ACORN on its own. That of course won't happen with a corrupt liberal scumbags like O'Malley and Dixon in office. (9/15/09)

Dave's response: This is a local media site, duh! I covered local media coverage of Kennedy's passing, and I'll cover local media coverage of the ACORN controversy. But the basic issue of corruption among political organizing groups is not a topic this website covers. I'm sure there are plenty of other websites covering everything about ACORN and groups like that. Go Googling.....

I don't know that this is really D.C.-related, although I believe that the Atlantic left its Boston digs a few years ago to relocate all op's to D.C. However, I don't know that its bloggers are D.C.-based... I'm not looking to start a flame war, but find this to be an interesting media/politics story. www.powerlineblog.com: "No one has been a more uncritical cheerleader for the Obama administration than liberal blogger Andrew Sullivan. Now, Sullivan has gotten his reward, courtesy of Obama's Department of Justice. Sullivan was caught smoking marijuana in a National Park and was prosecuted, consistent with the usual policy of the U.S. Attorney for the District of Massachusetts. But Sullivan's pull with the Obama administration got him a sweetheart deal: the U.S. Attorney decided to drop the charges, even though there evidently is no doubt about Sullivan's guilt. The issue here isn't whether marijuana possession should be illegal, or should be prosecuted. It is illegal, and the U.S. Attorney in Massachusetts does routinely prosecute such cases. But not Sullivan: Barack Obama and Eric Holder paid him off for his slavish devotion..." (9/15/09)

I want to bring this issue to your attention because of the numerous "Reality Radio" spots at Hughes' stations across the nation. Regretablly, it is a one sided arguement. Charles Robinson - An Open Letter to Cathy Hughes: www.industryears.com (9/15/09)

Hey, I think you miss the point on ACORN. It has nothing to do with campaign fundraising. It has to do with the fact that ACORN has received millions and millions of taxpayer dollars over the years. By the way, please identify the GOP organization that you claim is helping set up hooker rings. (9/15/09)

Dave's response: Look, if I went to the GOP with a $5M donation in exchange for a night with a hooker, you think they wouldn't find me a hooker? Come on.....

What's wrong with ACORN? They're totally honest and aboveboard. Signed Mickey Mouse and the starting lineup of the Dallas Cowboys. (9/15/09)

An update on my 11 year old grandson, Jack Rolle.First of all a big thank you to every one who checks in on your site for their thoughts and prayers during a very difficult time these past 5 months. Jack has finished his Chemothearpy sessions at Children's Hospital and he handled it like the Champion that he is. I sometime felt as though it was tougher on the family than it was on Jack, although I know that's the farthest thing from the truth!. Just about every family this day and age has probably gone though the same sort of up's and down's as we have, and it's not pleasant. But somehow you deal with it. Last night Jack along with his Mom and Dad boarded a flight to Boston where he will undergo his next round of treatments to make certain the Malignant tumor on the Pituitary gland he's been fighting will not return. Those Radiation treatments will keep him away from home for 5 weeks. This past Saturday, Jack, his brothers Chris, Nick,and one of my son in law's Bob McCarthy, spent the evening on the sidelines at the Maryland, JMU game. It was, in a way a little send off present from the team capped off by a visit to the locker room and topped off by Jack receiving the game ball autographed by the team and coaches. Words can not describe what joy it brought to this 11 year old. The broadcasting community of Washington and Baltimore is a special group of people. I know first hand because so many of them have contacted me offering their support and words of comfort. For that I thank each and every one of you. I can't wait for Jack to return home, Cancer free, and get back to just being a kid again. Boy does he deserve that! Johnny Holliday (9/15/09)

If ACORN were to sue, they would have to prove that FOX reported something that they knew was inaccurate AND that FOX knew it would be damaging to ACORN. None of ACORN's records would be needed, only FOX's. let's say that's true. take a look at the tapes and tell me where FOX reports anything untrue. it's not like there's only one ACORN office involved and the footage was doctored. it's 3 different places (so far) and they all do the same thing, almost like they're trained to give that kind of advice. and for the guy who talks about FOX news being part of the MSM: they are, but they're disregarded as being right wing hacks and don't fit the profile when someone from the right says "MSM". when we say that, we're talking about ABC, CBS, NBC, CNBC, MSNBC, CNN, and most major newspapers, who have yet to cover the story (and purposely buried the van jones story as well). (9/15/09)

Re: AM 700: What I'd like to see done with this station is for Buddy Rizer to move his classic country format to this frequency. He'd have a lower electric bill (5kw versus 17kw outside of the critical hours), have greater coverage with more of the target audience within the primary service area. The question is could he move the 'sticks' to Brunswick without penalty or would they have to stay at the old site? Another consideration would be to buy 820, but I can't see Bonneville letting that one go. (9/15/09)

So Dave I'm watching LATE NIGHT TV on NBC4 and so far Jay Leno is pretty good. At least he called out Kanye West and all of that. Now Doreen is looking a little haggard after taking the summer off. She needs a good "hair do" Vance seems to be in his groove but Doreen needs to get back to the bob cut or do something with her general appearance and not look so tired. Now who are these 2 assclowns calling the late MNF game ?? No visual of them but it sounds like MIKE&MIKE from ESPN. Is there a reason they don't wanna show them or is it just me??? OH WELLLLLLLLLLLLLLL............A.M.F from DELMARVA (9/15/09)

Funny how ABC News and NBC News and didn't want to cover this Baltimore ACORN story until ACORN threatened to fight back and sue, hehe. In fact even DCRTV's news page didn't cover it even though it is a media story of local interest. Hmmm. Now the other question... Does this mean ACORN will only sue FOX News or will they sue CNN too? And will they sue all the local TV stations and newspapers who also ran the video clip as well as YouTube too? Funny how they're only singling out FOX when it was eventually run by hundreds of other websites, hehe. If ACORN does sue, all they'll end up doing is taking this smaller Baltimore story and taking it nationally and worldwide. It's about time this organized crime ring gets outed and dismantled. (9/15/09)

Dave's response: Hey, this is a local media site. We don't cover political organizing groups like ACORN. However, when the media covering ACORN becomes the issue, and stuff takes place in Baltimore, it does become a local media issue. Sort of. Come on guys, you just know the conservatives have got have an equvalent to ACORN. The Dems and the Repubs are identical when it comes to political organizing and fundraising.....

The laws ACORN is referring to were in no small part a response to images shown on ABC's "20/20" ages ago which were supposedly shot in the back rooms of a supermarket chain showing all sorts of unsavory things they were diong -especially to the "fresh" meat. (I'm not just talking about "turkey bowling" here!) Both ABC and those involved got sued and while the judgment was in favor of the supermarket chain, the recovery was negligible compared to the damage done. Basically a bunch of ads from ABC which nobody probably read because they were in newspapers nobody read! However, the damage was done. The chain has "re-branded" itself. But, the stores are still largely deserted. (9/15/09)

(Dave's response: MPT is still part of the basic service on Comcast in the DC area, however you'll need a digital box to see it. Or you can plug the cable directly into your digital TV, without a digital box, and watch MPT, MPT-HD, MPT2, and V-me. Also, being there in PG, you should get good antenna reception of WMPT's broadcast DTV signal from the Crofton area.....) Being old, on a fixed income, and somewhat technologically challenged, I rely on old TV sets and VCRs, not new fancy, more expensive ones, Dish-TV (which doesn't carry MPT), Comcast analog service, and converter boxes. The converter boxes don't receive Comcast's digital signal--something about the kind of encoding or so I've been told. Antenna: I'm in the Temple Hills area with nearby high rise apartments between the 22 transmitter and me. Analog picture was generally acceptable, even if snowy at times. Digital is good when I can receive it--maybe 10 to 20% of the time, otherwise there is a blue screen or a bunch of boxes. I can't see paying Comcast for digital service, or renting two or three boxes from them forever (or carrying one box from room to room) just to receive MPT. I generally watched MPT more than WETA, especially for Maryland-related programs. MPT doesn't seem to care whether I can see them or not or whether I donate or not as long as they continue to receive my tax money. (9/15/09)

From Tom Taylor at Radio-Info.com: Day 2 – did anybody complain about the Virginia candidate’s on-air f-word? Because as Monday’s T-R-I said, the FCC won’t act on its own about alleged indecency – it waits for an email or letter of complaint. But this one could be hard for the agency to ignore, since it happened right there in Washington, D.C. on the #1-rated regional all-news simulcast based at WTOP-FM (103.5). Several readers asked the questions you probably did in your own head. Namely, aren’t politicians exempt from censorship? And isn’t there a “bona fide news” exemption for indecency? Short answer to both questions is “no.” I asked attorney Howard Liberman at Drinker Biddle & Reath about FCC policy about what used to be called a “fleeting indecency.” Howard says “The no-censorship policy applies only to a ‘use’ by a candidate in announcements promoting his/her candidacy. Not to on-the-spot news coverage, which is totally within the control of the station.” Think about that for a second – would WTOP think about running a delay while its political expert Mark Plotkin interviewed a conservative Republican candidate for Governor? But the FCC could argue that the station’s responsible, as the licensee. Here’s another good thing to know – “There is not an official ‘bona fide news’ exemption for obscene or indecent broadcasts.” Stations can be liable for up to a $325,000 fine if a newsmaker slips - like candidate Bob McDonnell’s inadvertent use of the f-word instead of “funding.” That also goes for documentaries or on-the-spot live news coverage. Howard Liberman at Drinker Biddle & Reath tells me there’s no “news exemption” for a word that’s otherwise indecent or obscene (they’re different things). What McDonnell’s mental error really shows is how unrealistic the current FCC standard is. No station can be on a 7-second delay all the time. Liberman rhetorically asks “Would the FCC give the broadcaster a break in this situation”, with McDonnell? He says “I hope so.” (9/15/09)

/\ September 15 Messages /\

\/ September 14 Messages \/

Not a local story, but just read that Patrick Swayze has died..Guess he'll be doing that Dirty Dancin' in the sky..R.I.P.. (9/14/09)

I know from personal experience it’s the audio portion of any taping that is illegal in Maryland. Believe it or not, the video alone is okay, but when you tape audio you need prior consent. The only exemption is if police have a warrant as in “The Wire”. Without a warrant and without prior consent, the audio on the ACORN tapes is illegal and inadmissible. The video is fine. There was a case a few years back where a contractor in AA County installed a camera in the bathroom of a home he was working on to videotape women. I believe they got him on the audio and in court it came out that had he disconnected the mic they would have no case. Here’s a question: If FOX News has the top rated news shows and I’ve seen numbers that at times they do, aren’t they the MSM? This incessant whining from Beck about the MSM is unbecoming. Man up and stand up behind your opinions, you’re getting more numbers than most daily papers and TV News shows. Quotes like, "I know the mainstream media, everyone, will make fun of me . . . but I have wept for my children's future," sound like a middle school martyr. Everyone? Really? You realize that means even your own fans and viewers, don’t you? His constant lip biting and moments of weepiness are very Clintonesque. Where’s your self respect? Even Cronkite held it in check at the Kennedy assassination. Are you the new Limbaugh or are you Howard Beale? It’s hard to tell sometimes. (9/14/09)

I too wondered what channel 5 featured during the 9-10am hour..Couldn't have been news. They exhaust all that between 5-9.. (9/14/09)

Re: MPT To Pink Slip 18. I don't have digital cable, and MPT's digital signal seems to have less reach than the former analog signal. I can no longer watch MPT since Comcast dropped them from the basic analog service. If I can't watch them, I see no point in giving them any money. I wonder how many donors they have lost thanks to Comcast. Diane in PG (9/14/09)

Dave's response: MPT is still part of the basic service on Comcast in the DC area, however you'll need a digital box to see it. Or you can plug the cable directly into your digital TV, without a digital box, and watch MPT, MPT-HD, MPT2, and V-me. Also, being there in PG, you should get good antenna reception of WMPT's broadcast DTV signal from the Crofton area.....

Re: "ACORN Theatens To Sue Fox News, Others - unfortunately, this will never come to pass. if it did, fox news and everyone else getting sued will be able to comb through ACORN's records in the discovery process..." No, they wouldn't. If ACORN were to sue, they would have to prove that FOX reported something that they knew was inaccurate AND that FOX knew it would be damaging to ACORN. None of ACORN's records would be needed, only FOX's. And FOX would likely be able to end everything right there by withholding its reporter's notes, etc, and claim 1st Amendment protection. The discovery process doesn't mean both parties just get to go on fishing expeditions through each other's documentation, and it certainly doesn't permit them to then publish everything they find. Stop watching LA Law reruns. (9/14/09)

Was wondering if anyone saw the exttended hour on FOX5 and what they stuffed into that time..And speaking of FOX5, I sure hope it's nerves that's causing the new woman doing the sports to do so poorly in reporting the sports.. (9/14/09)

Dave's response: Shit, forgot to watch 4 at 3. Was it lifestyle news?

ACORN Theatens To Sue Fox News, Others - unfortunately, this will never come to pass. if it did, fox news and everyone else getting sued will be able to comb through ACORN's records in the discovery process. and we know ACORN (and their democrat enablers) wants no part of that. they're just trying to bully people into bending to their will. again. here's to hoping though. (9/14/09)

The problem with the F bomb form McDonnell is that his party (I don't know about him personally) was the one who was pushing for tougher fines and penalties, so they should hold their own to their tougher standards. Also, WTOP being owned by the LDS leads me to theory that they prefer to hear no evil and see no evil. And he did drop the bomb, I've listened to it several times, no rational person who listened to it could deny it. Mr. Farley has his head berried deep in the sand on this one, possibly by order form Sault Lake City. (9/14/09)

"Interesting discussion is underway on the Broadcast.Net boards: FCC rules and regs established back in 1934 stipulate that it is unlawful to divulge and/or rebroadcast the contents of an intercepted over-the-air radio message." You do know that makes no sense at all, right? (Tora, tora, tora, What hath God wrought, etc.). " A Leno Bomb On 4 Could Help 5, 7, 9 [...] Dave's response: Don't blame me. It was Farhi who penned the thing....." No, Dave, I blame you, because you penned the lede (am I using that word right?). With all credit to douche-about-town Gene Weingarten, here's a googlenope: "Rachel Maddow nude". That's a smooth young BOY, babee!!! --- ThePenIsMightier (9/14/09)

("I found you through googling...you appear to be the best able to evaluate this: Is is just me? Or does the fact that Barbara Harrison can't make it through two sentences without stumbling and bumbling and er-ing and uh-ing drive others crazy as well?") Couldn't agree more. It's gone from being funny to just sad. Paul (9/14/09)

Like so many others, I've listened to the recording of Bob McDonnel's "F-bomb". And, I also looked at it on an ausio spectrum analyzer. It's real. Others may disagree, but I find the casualness with which he said it rather interesting. Not only casual, but so monotonally unemotional that it seemed possibly planned. Of course, that begs the question of 'why'? Is he trying to be a "regular guy" by saying "fucking"? Or, was it planned to get WTOP in trouble? The other thing I find interesting is that Mark Plotkin totally ignored it... Unsigned Corporate Suit (9/14/09)

Dave's response: Geez. It's time we grow up as a culture. "Fuck." It's a slang term for sexual intercourse. You hear it everywhere. All over cable TV and, yes, from the mouths of junior high school kids at the mall. So what if the GOP candidate for VA governor said it, too. And so what if WTOP inadvertantly aired his comments. It's no fucking big deal. Come on FCC, let's focus on important stuff like how there's no more fucking local programming (other than trashy news) on our fucking radio and TV stations any more, and not on the silly nasty words that permeate our society - already. Shiiiiiiit!

Artist Michael Murphy has chosen an unlikely medium for his portrait of Fox's Glenn Beck: manure. The painting, according to Murphy's site, is composed of "bull shit and pigment" on canvas. (Indeed, there are photos of the artist blending his materials). Perhaps Beck, who has recently engaged in a bit of art criticism, will weigh in on Murphy's unusual creation. More from Michael Calderone at the Politico. (9/14/09)

Ref: I so agree with Hitman..as O Reilly would say this guy is a "patriot". Ed thanks for the love and we will take this country back one patriot at a time....those that fought for this country in the brown water & rice fields will NOT lay down in green pastures. TRUST ME J.J. "Hitman" McKay Ocean City, Maryland U.S.A. (9/14/09)

Quote of the day: "Kanye West is singing tonight on Jay Leno's debut show. Jay should go over during West's song, interrupt him and say how great Jay-z is." - Mark Evanier, www.newsfromme.com (9/14/09)

I found you through googling...you appear to be the best able to evaluate this: Is is just me? Or does the fact that Barbara Harrison can't make it through two sentences without stumbling and bumbling and er-ing and uh-ing drive others crazy as well? I like Channel 4 morning news because of everyone else they have. But dammit, how hard is it for a so-called professional broadcaster to read a freaking teleprompter??? I so much prefer when Eun Yang is the lead female talking head. I'm sure Barbara is a very nice lady, and we should indeed respect our elders. But....sheesh. Tom in Silver Spring (9/14/09)

On the combined topic of WDMV and WGOP: How long has 700 AM been idle here in the greater DC area? If I recall my FCC R&R's, station owners are obligated to turn in the license if it is off the air for a year. Memory says its been eight or nine months but I might be incorrect. (9/14/09)

"I just went up to the WJMA website, as directed on the Front Page. Amusing to see Cameron Grey (WJFK, Gordon Liddy, XM, NRA et al) listed among the alumni of that historic station." - Yes, I went to Orange County High School, and WJMA/WVJZ was my first paying job in radio. It was fun to be "Kyle Stevens" on Z96.7. The first song of my first shift was Billy Ocean's "Get Outta My Dreams, Get Into My Car," and the first song I talked up was "Piano Man" by Billy Joel. Happy 60 to them and thanks for getting me into this crazy business. Cameron GrAy (9/14/09)

Harry Smith announces he might have swine flu. Possibly...or maybe he really has the Wine Flu and is hoping his hangover will bring with it a ratings boost! wcbstv.com (9/14/09)

From TVNewser: On CNN's "Reliable Sources," host Howard Kurtz had the opportunity to discuss his own network's handling of Friday's Coast Guard incident with TIME's James Poniewozik and TVNewser columnist Gail Shister. The segment starts at the 29:00 mark. (9/14/09)

Was Trevor Matich back this season with Dave Feldman for the Fox 5 program after the 10pm news? I tuned in late and saw only Feldman and that new Lindsey woman. She's bad. Seems to never get through a read without botching a word or phrase. (9/14/09)

I just went up to the WJMA website, as directed on the Front Page. Amusing to see Cameron Grey (WJFK, Gordon Liddy, XM, NRA et al) listed among the alumni of that historic station. (9/14/09)

Regarding WGOP AM 540, Pocomoke City, MD: Last century, when this station had the call letters WDMV, it promoted itself as "WDMV 54, Your Favorite Country". I have found a playlist for WDVM from 1980, and the format appears to be Top 40 at that time. Does anyone know what time-frame the country format might have been, and who any of the on-air talent was? I am sure someone here knows the answer. Thanks , Dave, for the fine resource that DCRTV is. Signed, Not-A-RadioGuy (but want to be one when I grow up...in my next life). (9/14/09)

Thanks for the link to the Orange radio history. It reminds me (and probably most people) of a station or stations they grew up with - especially if they grew up in a small town. Having worked at one of these from 1979 on (an AM stand alone until I left in 1987), I am struck by a couple of things. 1. this station like many, had many people pass through the doors on their way to other towns and cities...but this one as most did, had a core of local people who stayed "forever". 2. the sheer size of a staff in those days. More specifically, the payroll of a station like this. Most of these people would have made less than $20,000 - and most would have been closer to $10,000 prior to 1980. And maybe some of the people shown were hourly...but there couldn't have been much money in these stations in those day. A station that size would have billed, what? $40K a month in a town the size of Orange? That's a guess - and I know the poor station I worked for in a much smaller town only averaged $30k a month in 1979. Just puts things in perspective...we were poor :) (9/14/09)

In Theismann's defense, he's been an unabashed homer since well before he starting working for Snyder's station. So for Wise or his henchmen to disparage Theismann's integrity in that fashion is sleazy. By the way, it seems like WJFK spends a lot of time listening to what is going on with WTEM's broadcasts. (9/14/09)

I’m really surprised that not one mention was made in reference to Kanye West and his totally boorish drunken tirade at the Video Music Awards last night. Talk about trash, he should be banned from ever even appearing again. Same goes for that BOAR that emcees the event. Krass, ignorant uneducated trash. Beyonce really showed class. Poor Tyler, she was totally shocked, but held her image together. SHAME on Kanye…JERK! WOW (9/14/09)

Dave's response: Yeah, right, a big local media story.....

an update on the ACORN-pimping story that our esteemed MSM chooses not to cover: NYC also has "a couple of bad apples" in their offices as well. that's now 3 major cities advising people on how to bring in illegal, underage prostitutes and how to hide money from the IRS. you have to honestly wonder how many other times things like this (at least the tax evasion advice) have happened. once is a fluke. twice makes it sketchy. this officially makes it a pattern. ACORN is a criminal enterprise. (9/14/09)

Has a new DJ rivalry begun? Are we talking about Elliott and Kane...No! Would you believe its Mike Wise and Joe Theismann!! On his ESPN980 show this morning Theismann questioned a Washington Post article written by Mike Wise. The article says several players were concerned about some of the play calling in yesterday's Skins game. Those players were unnamed sources. On Wise's show on WJFK this morning he asked Joe Theismann to call into the show so they could discuss the article. During the show one of Wise's sidekicks questioned Theismann's journalistic integrity mentioning the fact that he works for the owner of the Redskin's, the team he covers. As of 10:40 a.m., no calls from Theismann. (9/14/09)

the media as "party animals" www.nysocialdiary.com (9/14/09)

"A Leno Bomb On 4 Could Help 5, 7, 9" / REALLY? So a bad show could boost ratings on other stations? I've never seen such forward thinking before. You should be a consultant. (9/14/09)

Dave's response: Don't blame me. It was Farhi who penned the thing.....

Dave: Because of a bad case of the flu over the weekend, I was forced to stay at-home and watch all football on Saturday and Sunday. First, I've given-up on anything that's aired on ESPN980. Theismann will say and do anything in-favor of the Redskins because Joe knows he's lucky to have a job. Second, there's a reason we don't see George on TV anymore and that's because no news director or company wants to deal with someone who's too expensive. Someone or Dave needs to whisper into George's ear that the big money days are done and being politically correct about the Redskins won't win you friends. I actually think George hurt the careers of people like Sonny and Riggo because they aren't seen on TV now and there's a reason for that..they were once connected to George's huge payroll and those reputations may not be able to be repaired. (9/14/09)

On New York Social Diary today my column focuses on the start of the fall "social" season, such as it is in a time of recession and wars, and the ill-timed annointing of the "party animals." www.nysocialdiary.com... Carol Joynt (9/14/09)

re: George Michael/Redskin Report...But it just cost too much to produce. Someone brief me but just how much can a show with a two or three guys talking football cost to produce? Move the show to a bar, set up a camera. Give Wilbon, Sonny and Riggo certificate for a steak dinner someplace as comp and let them talk football. (9/14/09)

Dave's response: Didn't someone say that Michael said during his Friday interview with Kornheiser on ESPN 980 that local TVers didn't want to pay him what he was asking to do the show this season. You know, Michael could be demanding a prohibitively high price as a polite way of saying "no thanks".....

Joe Theisman spent the first segment of his show today with this analysis of the Redskins loss to the Giants: sports writers shouldn't use anonymous sources. What a pompous bag of wind. Great insight. What's the matter, Joe -- sleep through the game? (9/14/09)

On WTOP they say "Follow us on Twitter." OK. I typed in "WTOP" and up comes "wtrcooler_wtop," a TV station in Oswego NY, "Sports-WTOP" and "wtop_listener." I also typed in WTOPRadio, WTOPNews, WTOP1035, WTOPFM and nothing came up. Out of frustration I tried "WTOPwtf?" and that wasn't successful either. I give up. (9/14/09)

("No, he didn't. I've listened several times. He stumbled on two words, but it was not an expletive. Not true") Mr. Farley - I've listened several times, as well. There is no doubt that he said "fucking". The fact that WTOP was not using a delay to dump such things, while having a live interview on is just stupid for a station of this caliber. While it may be acceptable to say such things "these days", it is still not acceptable to say it over the airwaves when this "fleeting expletive" was "fleeted". (9/14/09)

I so agree with Hitman..as O Reilly would say this guy is a "patriot". The people criticizing Hitman are pinheads for sure. Ed in Easton (9/14/09)

/\ September 14 Messages /\

\/ September 13 Messages \/

The only thing I found noteworthy in the Post's ombudsman's article about people wanting Redskins coverage is that there are three times as many hits on the Post's Skins page as there are on their Caps page...........Huh, ONLY three times? Just a few years ago, I suspect the ratio was more like 20 to 1..................And the Caps announced last week that they have 15,000 tickets going on sale this week, which is all the seats they have left for the entire season, which doesn't start until October ............. They already have the world's best (and the area's most popular) player and if they bring a Stanley Cup to this town, combined with Snyder's ineptitude, could they ever challenge the Redskins for dominance? Most would say not, but I've been a DC area sports fan for 45 years and the Caps have made unbelievable strides the past few years. I wonder.............. (9/13/09)

Tried to pick up ESPN 980 near Baltimore today to hear the 2nd half of the Skins game while driving around town, but nope, couldn't get it at all. I used to be able to. Is that just normal summer early evening skywave interference or are they not transmitting at 50kw for some reason? I was surprised because I've previously picked it up at night before, although really crappy. (9/13/09)

Dave's response: WTEM 980 drops to just 5,000-watts, directional, at sunset.....

for any comcast customers, the NFL REDZONE channel during sunday's is AWESOME, for those who have sunday ticket, save your $$ and get comcast, updates every game, TD's, highlights, live look ins, INCREDIBLE. (9/13/09)

Dave's response: As I Twittered yesterday, Comcast now offers NFL HD on 262 (in addition to 246) and NFL Red Zone HD on 263. In standard def, they're on 733 and 734, respectively. RZ, in case you don't know, jumps around from game to game to show live scoring plays.....

Bob McDonnell is a Christian Solider (as in the old hymn standby "Onward, Christian Soldiers"), and you know how soldiers swear. The Muslims, they say, are taking over, and he's just the one to join the battle. Women! To your battle stations! Back to the nursery, kitchen, and laundry. Don't forget to vacuum and mop. (9/13/09)

Sigh... another hockey season is approaching and we STILL don't have CSN+ on FIOS in Howard County. (9/13/09)

Greta “I Have A Plastic Jaw” Van Susteren’s interview of a convicted felon, former Congressman James “Check Out My New Squirrel Rug” Traficant was too much: this guy must be a confirmed Butt Boy by now after seven years in a federal prison butt he’s asked by her if he’s considering running for office again? Even though another Demoncrat, Charles “I’m just resting on my undeclared beach condo” Rangel should be have been sharing a federal cell with Traficant & his buddies, for Greta to even ask this creep if he is going to run for anything other than president of NAMBLA is an insult to the good people of Youngstown, Ohio. FNC has no shame: Traficant is a convicted crook who ripped off his white trash constituents. z.about.com (9/13/09)

So CNN jumped the gun on the 9/11 Coast Guard story but they were on target with the McDonnell F-bomb story? The source for the F-bomb story is apparently the NotLarrySabato blog, who seemed to get his 15 minutes of fame with the George Allen "macaca" moment and has been trying to make a comeback ever since. That site has the audio. If the following word wasn't "funding", I'd lean towards it being intentional as "macaca" obviously was. Otherwise, it just sounds like an mispronunciation accident. It doesn't make much sense for him to say that--but then neither did "macaca". Perhaps it was what he was thinking while having to look at Plotkin as Allen was when seeing the Indian guy heckling him. But McDonnell clearly said "fucking" on the NotLarrySabato audio. (9/13/09)

I think the issue with Bob McDonnell is that he is selling himself as a family values man by exploiting his wife and kids in his ads. I agree that it was a total slip up, but the way it rolled off his tongue suggests to me that he has used it often enough that his tongue muscles are quite familiar with producing that word. In other matters, I was watching the Chris Matthews show just now and realized that Newsweek's Howard Fineman has stopped using Just for Men and it appears all the hair color is now gone. I think it's a smart move since I don't trust men on these talking head shows or news anchors who obviously color their hair as it makes me question their credibility. If they can't be honest about that, how can I trust the other info they passing on to us over the boob tube. (9/13/09)

I've seen many posts over the past few months here lamenting the demise of Redskins Report and I agree. I miss it already. I'll miss Sonny's shrewd insight into pro football and the Redskins and I'll miss him picking the Skins to win every week. I'll miss Riggo's off beat takes and his ability to occasionally rival the best comedians out there. I'll miss George Michael's mastery at balancing the egos and poking fun at himself. I won't particularly miss Wilbon who didn't add anything and was missing half the time anyway. But you can't have everything. BTW, when George says that what is preventing the show from continuing is the cost, what costs are there other than what he, Sonny, Riggo and Wilbon were being paid? I guess old George was generous with those guys..... (9/13/09)

Here is another view on the CNN story from a former insider www.thelineofdeparture.com (9/13/09)

Every once in a while it becomes necessary to point out the fallacy of the ad hominem argument that you see in the mailbag every day. Regarding the ostensible pro-health care reform mailbag writer who watched yesterday’s Capitol protesters on C-Span, your position is the flimsiest of flimsy in debate. The protestors’ general appearance has NOTHING TO DO with the proposition that the US needs to radically change its health care system. To attack their appearance does nothing to promote the premise except to spotlight the inadequacies of your argument. Put another way, you lose. Now, carry on. (9/13/09)

Re: VA GOP Gov Candidate Drops "F-Bomb" On WTOP: THANKS for the report Dave. I really needed a good laugh today. (9/13/09)

Today the Coast Guardsmen from Station D.C. saved four people from a sinking boat on the Potomac. I was there. The Station is laughing the whole incident off - after all, they did no wrong yesterday. Informing people that the Coast Guard is training on the Potomac is like WMATA telling people the Orange Line is running. It happens every day. (9/13/09)

I find it fascinating that anyone really takes “Fox News Channel” seriously. Besides “Ailes’ Angels” (the blonde babes (often in red ‘’power attire’ and showing whatever cleavage they may have) which you see so many of (But, I bet you won’t see Janice Dean on-camera again in a skirt –Thunder Thighs!) the “talent” and “experts” are an interesting bunch. The “talent” (including the “A.A.” brigade) seems largely comprised of people who want to make a name for themselves, or were either cast aside by their previous employer due to salary or ego demands, which were likely rejected out-of-hand or who retired with a nice pension after their non-compete expired. As for the “experts”, you likewise have an interesting and curious bunch… Excluding the obvious ideological extremists, you have a collection of has-beens, wannabe’s, and never-were’s. And, for those that are curious, I’m not a liberal! Nor, am I a conservative. I piss-off both groups and both parties because I’m the voter they each fear the most: I’m a “middle-of-the-road independent”. Unsigned Corporate Suit (9/13/09)

Interesting discussion is underway on the Broadcast.Net boards: FCC rules and regs established back in 1934 stipulate that it is unlawful to divulge and/or rebroadcast the contents of an intercepted over-the-air radio message. AFAIK, the rule is still on the books. Does that mean CNN's decision to break the Coast Guard story - based entirely on an intercepted communication - now takes on a new layer of complexity involving federal law? Ruh-ro, Astro... (9/13/09)

If you listen to the audo posted on The Huffington Post, it is obvious McDonnell got tongue-tied for a split-second and instantly corrected himself. Try saying "funding mechanism" several times fast and see if you don't also stumble a bit. Why is this even a news story? And isn't it interesting CNN posted the story straight, with no audio sample, and no opportunity for McDonnell or anyone else to explain that he got tongue-tied and isn't the rabid, cursing nut one might conclude from reading the text. (9/13/09)

In the era of NBC's Midnight Special Michael Q Anthony was morning drive personality on WLPL and moonlighted as TV 11's contemporary voice handling the spots during the the time the network telecast was on the air in Baltimore. It was one of the rare occasions when the local guy doing the commercials was actually into the music instead of the usual old line straight laced tv booth announcers. Of course, that left very few winx between tv sign-off time and next morning's drive time gig for Michael Q on Baltimore's pioneer fm top 40 rock station, WLPL 92.5 now known as WERQ. Mark Eastwood, Rockville-Washington & beyond (9/13/09)

Dave - Why has this site become so politically based? I thought this was a TV and Radio site. Where are the stories, the memories, the real Radio and TV news? Can't YOU step aside the political isle and focus on Radio and TV? Or are you just another CNN, FOX and MSNBC wanna be? Radio and People want to know. (9/13/09)

Dave's response: Ah, maybe it's because Washington is such a political town. Obviously, a big part of the media scene here. We just reflect that.....

RE: [ " So the Hitman is a tinfoil hat-wearing, teabagging "patriot"? " ]........ Damn, I thought it was an anti-tax Tea Party. Somebody correct me if I'm wrong. When did it turn into a GAY TEABAGGING SEX ORGY? Did I miss the memo? Geez, I missed another hot sex party then! LOL (bad joke, but couldn't resist making fun of the nutty gay fools who post here just because they think this is a gay website and/or the straight fools who don't understand pop culture or gay terminology at all and misuse words accidently. Either way, WIN/WIN for a good laugh! LOL) (9/13/09)

RE:So the Hitman is a "patriot" - Yes my friend I am and don't drop that race card bullshit on me, 40 years of radio broadcasting with some of the ultra left wing scumbags in various news departments that I have worked with over the years re-writing the news to conform to the "format" yea kinda like GE/NBC.I would think with four years service in the U.S.(brown water) Navy - two combat tours in Vietnam 1965-66 that I would be able to voice my opinion on how the current administration is taking this country on the road to the poor house. Oh yea how is that Acorn census thing working out ? My favorite colors red, white and blue !! Thanks for your time and have a nice day in the U.S.A. J.J. "Hitman" McKay Ocean City, Maryland (9/13/09)

Have you heard? George Michael recently won a major award: Best Orange Sportscaster (9/13/09)

Dave's response: Tony Kornheiser came in 2nd.....

/\ September 13 Messages /\

\/ September 12 Messages \/

The Sun's David Zurawik pens an interesting article about the Baltimore ACORN tape and the legal implications and compares it to a previous Maryland case with ABC News' John Stossel (now of FOX News). weblogs.baltimoresun.com... Of course Zurawik, like most Sun reporters often misses the point, that Maryland law is often crazy, even sodomy is still on the books here technically. The crime being committed by ACORN is far worse than taping someone doing it and this is really not a private place, yet that's the premise of Zurawik's story. Meanwhile Maryland is all awash with cameras everywhere you go, when you drive, even inside a bar now when you buy a drink and the police at the station can see exactly how many you had and arrest you when you leave. Yet this ACORN tape is illegal? PuhLEASE! Talk about hypocrisy. Personally, my interpretation of the law would be that any business that gets ANY kind of government support and offers public assistance or funding DOES NOT have a right to privacy and is a public place essentially. Only their patients or clients should be protected. But with Maryland's low-rated Gov looking for attention these days and that crazy "Let Them All Go Free" Jessamy, it should be fun to watch where this ACORN mess goes from here. I'm gonna pop some popcorn for this one! :-) (9/12/09)

Former local girl done good Katie Couric now does the CBS evening news each weekday and I bet it's only a matter of time before another local, Amy Robach will be doing the weekday evening news for NBC..Saw her filling in for Lester Holt this evening and she's done that on a number of other occasions. (9/12/09)

Martinsburg's WEPM-AM firing their high school football crew at the last minute, was one of them Rob Mario? If it was then that is really BIG news since he has been with WEPM for many many years.Then again I hate to admit it but its been quite awhile since I had heard WEPM's high school games since my own kids haven't reached Berkeley County high school level so why bother but still just how many people within the last few years havd been either let go or had quit at Prettyman Broadcasting? My girlfriend was checking out their sister station's ( WLTF ) "Lite 97.5 " website yesterday and noticed that the only local names left on there now is morning guy Joe Sanchez and midday chick Casey Brooks. Where is their weekend staff? Actually this is quite sad as it was quite known for the longest time in the Martinsburg community that Prettyman Broadcasting ( and more/less in the case with nearby WRNR-AM too )...well it was quite rare that those stations would fire anyone outside of sales. Guess they are making up for it now. (9/12/09)

I am disappointed that Fox network went with the unconfirmed report of shots fired by the Coast Guard in the Potomac right as the Obama motorcade went by. That network already has stirred up a lot of hatred and you know it was deliberate that they should connect that Coast Guard drill to the president's trip to the Pentagon. (9/12/09)

About your comment on George Michaels, maybe he didn't want to do it again. Isn't it odd about Sonny also not being on a show? Maybe they both just said the hell with it after being forced out at 4 and retired from TV. And Sonny said he'll just do radio.I miss the show and especially Sonny. Nobody knows the Skins and presents his insight better on TV then Sonny. BC (9/12/09)

(RE:So the Hitman is a tinfoil hat-wearing, teabagging "patriot"? Fascinating how quickly the election of a non-white president has emboldened the fringe to come out of the closet and show their true colors.) Oh because someone disagees with Obama and his ridiculous polices, they are a racist. That is a ridiculous statement. Ed in Easton (9/12/09)

WCTN 950 am has been back on air for the last couple of weeks. Seems they had a transmitter lighting strike on August 21 that put them off air for a week or so. Nice to have them back. Hey I even heard a few commercials. Interesting show on saturdays from 11 am to 3pm a mixture of rock, soul and country music with really interesting reads of commercial copy. One sponsor of the show is Roadhouse Oldies over in silver spring. Has Mike O'Meara already shut down his my space music site or CBS made him shut it down? I understand that Mr. O'Meara is preparing a one man show of the great Barry White which he'll take on road next spring of 2010. and buzzito drifts away as his twitter entries become less frequent. will he become a lineman for the county? And I can see if your a big fan of metal you'd like the new 105.9 The Edge. too much for my taste. And the person programming must have hard on for Rush and Thorogood's "Bad To The Bone" And must bid a sad adieu to Larry Gelbart. Probably the biggest contributor to making those first 3 years of MASH still some of my favorite tv after all these years. He was a frequent contributor to the Usenet group alt.tv.mash. Who is this Willie Jolley dude on channel 9 morning news show? And does Lisa Baden consciously change her hairstyle nearly every morning? (9/12/09)

The C-SPAN coverage of the 9/12-Teabagger Rally is quite instructive. I am seeing for myself many of the folks who stand to benefit from Health Care Reform - especially in the area of diet/nutritiion/weightloss and mental health. Forget "Death Panels" -- these clowns are in dire need of seeing a "Lard Ass Panel" or "Rightwing Nutjob Panel"! (9/12/09)

Any idea who the ballsy-sounding puker P.A. announcer at the 9/12-Teabagger Rally at the Capitol today is? (9/12/09)

re: George Michael/Redskin Reporter...He was on ESPN 980 AM Friday and was asked about the show, Michael said it was the cost that was holding it up. He said Wilbon was calling him up everyday and asking 'Are we doing it? Are we doing it?' But it just cost too much to produce. Since WRC dropped it, I'm guessing the money would have to come out of his own pocket. Check the podcast, it might be on there. (9/12/09)

CNN is full of crap. While there are many good reasons for the CG to not post much info about such excersizes,,,think people,,,they do indeed publicize the info to specific media outlets with restrictions on use. Perhaps CNN did not have a reason to know. HOWEVER, that does not mean their only source of info to answer a question was the HS office. CNN saw a gleeful moment to embarass a military type organization on a day of great attention to such affairs along the Potomac. Being the anti-american sympathizers that they are, they went with the story. Pure sensationalist newsgathering with no journlistic integrity. The hallmark of CNN and MSNBC. Blaming the CG for the problem is like saying, 'yes i was speeding through the construction area, but I didnt think they were really working then,,,so they should have told me and then I would have behaved. They got to put up better signs so we know what's going on" Typical liberals, its always the fault of someone else. CNN should have slowed down and done a better job of checking. You know, just like they pointed out in Cambridge MA where the police should have slowed down and checked more before arresting Gates for breaking and entering. How's that shoe fitting now? Oh, find some time to cover ACORN please. (9/12/09)

OK found this on Steve Villanueva www.nypost.com... June 21 - There's no place like home for bride Noelle Schlapfer. The trading assistant at First New York Securities and her husband, NBC meteorologist Steve Villanueva, may reside in Murray Hill, but for their big day, the couple traveled to the bride's native country: Switzerland. "We took our families for a week-long vacation and got married at the end of it," says Schlapfer. "It was a small, intimate family gathering." The bride and groom recited their vows before 40 family members at the Eden Roc, a luxury hotel on Lake Maggiore in Ascona, Switzerland. A romantic, candle-lit reception at La Casetta, a rustic waterfront restaurant at the hotel, followed. Finally, the newlyweds set sail for a weeklong honeymoon on the Greek islands of Mykonos and Santorini. (9/12/09)

(from earlier message) The press liason at Homeland Security was contacted twice by CNN and knew nothing about nothing (end). So that made it OK to hit the air? If CNN noticed there were Coast Guard boats involved, couldn't they just call [gasp!] THE COAST GUARD? Path of least resistance, y'all. (9/12/09)

Coast Guard Station Washington is a small, 40 strong station located on Bolling Air Force Base. It has a lieutenant (O-3) as a commanding officer. The unit operationally is part of Sector Baltimore and does not report to National HQ. The persons conducting the drills are junior petty officers. They were using a Coast Guard only channel for this operation (probably 83). This is a channel only the Coast Guard - and scanner buffs - use. When there are major national security events, there is considerable coordination between agencies. Yesterday was a routine day and the Coast Guard does what they always do - train. The White House is assigning them no blame. (9/12/09)

The high school football crew on Martinsburg's WEPM didn't find out they were fired until they noticed their pictures were no longer on the web site. No one told them in person their services were no longer required. more later. (9/12/09)

Here's a movie to see that shows how bigoted many Americans still are these days. www.youtube.com (9/12/09)

With football season starting, I'm really missing the Redskin Report w/George Michael and crew. Nothing that the local stations have on the air anyway compares..I'm just surprised that no station or network has chosen to resurrect that show..It was great.. (9/12/09)

Dave's response: Maybe George didn't want to do it again this year? I'm sure if he did, it would be on the air somewhere.....

So the Hitman is a tinfoil hat-wearing, teabagging "patriot"? Fascinating how quickly the election of a non-white president has emboldened the fringe to come out of the closet and show their true colors. -Mike in Bartonsville (9/12/09)

Dave's response: In you're in DC for the big thingo this weekend, be careful about calling yourself a "teabagging patriot" around Dupont Circle.....

Rob, J.P. will be missed www.journal-news.net (9/12/09)

(Re: "They do training and patrols every day, even New Year's Day and Christmas, day and night, in every sort of weather. They go armed on all these patrols. The only fault was forgetting to announce the exercise was a drill. What if there were a boat accident, a drowning, or a major car crash on the 14th Street Bridge? Should the Coast Guard not respond because it was "a day of service?") I don't think you get the issue here..I doubt that anyone would question the Coast Guard's dedication to their job and the need to perform drills..And if a major crash occurred on that bridge, there's no doubt in my mind that they'd respond immediately..The fact that they "forgot" to announce the exercise as a drill is a BIG deal..But then again, I had heard about it on the local news, so why CNN didn't know makes no sense to me..However, in any case, whomever is responsible for ensuring that all of the media outlets were notified dropped the ball on this one which resulted in uneccessary public panic and unecessary flight delays.. (9/12/09)

The comment "The only fault was forgetting to announce the exercise was a drill." This error, combined with poor timing and unwise location, leaves the Coast Guard to blame for quite a lot. It would have been just as easy for anyone on shore to see and misinterpret the high speed, hysterical moves those boats were making. And the USCG should take a clue from US Capitol Police, who ALWAYS announce drills on their radios before, during and after. (9/12/09)

Sorry that Steve Villanueva left to go back to NY City. He was very easy to listen to.....you know, my wife looked him up on Google and found some unbelievable jottings about him not being gay on Topix; it was hilarious to say the least. Google him and see some of the most unbelievable returns on this subject. Some goofy wrestler named Mike Khoury based out of Laurel, Md kept the heat on everybody on the Villanueva topic. He is legitimate, however, he wrestled in WWE back in the 90s we found out. But what that had to do with weather is beyond me. (9/12/09)

The press liason at Homeland Security was contacted twice by CNN and knew nothing about nothing. Maybe a schedule of training exercises (nature and location) should be posted to her office on a regular basis. Also, even though we think we have one Federal Government, in fact we have many functionally independent Federal agencies who cannot be bothered to communicate with each other. (9/12/09)

RE: [ " The networks see the big picture and are covering this in a responsible manner. " ] You have to be kidding me, bury your head a little further in the sand and let everyone know who you are and sign your name to your response, Yep I didn't think you would.- end of story. JJ "Hitman" McKay Ocean City, Md. U.S.A. (9/12/09)

Last.fm via CBS stations. Rgds. Kim - kimelli.nfshost.com - International broadcasting, sort of: Last.fm on CBS radio stations' digital side channels. "While most radio stations are looking for ways to expand their online presence, CBS Interactive Music Group is doing the opposite with [London based] social music site Last.fm. by giving the brand an all new station to be broadcast on the company’s HD multicast stations. Last.fm will effectively take over CBS HD broadcast stations starting in four markets: New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and San Francisco. The broadcasts kick off on Monday, October 5. The broadcast—it will be the same in all markets—will feature a mix of music aggregated and influenced by the service’s user-generated weekly charts." (9/12/09)

Dave, I know that NBC 4 claims to be the "official TV station of the Washington Redskins" and as a result, they no longer carry the Redskins Report. There was talk last year of it moving to CSN, MASN or somewhere else. Any updates on that? I appreciate your website...great information. Thanks, Rick (9/12/09)

/\ September 12 Messages /\

\/ September 11 Messages \/

I work very closely with the men and women of the Coast Guard Station in Washington, and despite the comments of Rep. Moran, they were not the ones in the wrong today. They do training and patrols every day, even New Year's Day and Christmas, day and night, in every sort of weather. They go armed on all these patrols. The only fault was forgetting to announce the exercise was a drill. What if there were a boat accident, a drowning, or a major car crash on the 14th Street Bridge? Should the Coast Guard not respond because it was "a day of service?" (9/11/09)

The 104.1 signal is a perfect fit for the audience of the format and the owner Radio One. This is a better existence for the signal than struggling to serve a potential audience that is better served by stronger signals. (9/11/09)

RE: [ " End of story. The networks see the big picture and are covering this in a responsible manner. " ]...... And how many ACORN scandals does there need to be before the networks take off their biased blinders & earmuffs and just report, ummmm, what do they call that again, ummm, OH, THE NEWS!?!?!? LOL I can understand minimal coverage to some extent, but IGNORING the story is just unbelievable and proves my last point about them just not wanting to cover this story at all, period. End of story. Or as they say..... "The FIX IS IN!" (9/11/09)

(The networks aren't covering the ACORN story the way you would like because there is no story. There is no ACORN conspiracy to support illegal prostitution. The people in question were fired immediately. End of story. The networks see the big picture and are covering this in a responsible manner.) a few bad apples, huh? ACORN has also been caught doing the exact same thing in their DC office as well (so far). and the people in question were fired only after there wasn't a way to spin the story. and it wasn't just the illegal prostitution. it was the ACORN employees advising the undercover people how to avoid paying taxes as well. not to mention ACORN offices in about a dozen states being investigated for voter registration fraud. after a while, something like this is called a pattern, and criminal activity. (9/11/09)

Based on what I’ve seen in the Baltimore PPM’s, is the management of WZBA (the bay) stupid, or inept? They are about 10th in the market in most every daypart except morning drive where they are 31st. (9/11/09)

The networks aren't covering the ACORN story the way you would like because there is no story. From their web site: "ACORN is a grassroots community organization of low- and moderate-income people with over 400,000 member families organized into more than 1,200 neighborhood chapters in 110 cities across the country". There will always be a few bad apples in any organization and these two clowns are not representative of the hundreds of thousands of hard-working people that comprise ACORN. They take people off the streets and put them to work. There is no ACORN conspiracy to support illegal prostitution. The people in question were fired immediately. End of story. The networks see the big picture and are covering this in a responsible manner. (9/11/09)

Is anybody thinking/reading/reflecting on today's 9/11 anniversary? I turned on MSNBC this morning, and they were re-running NBC's continuous coverage from 9/11. I couldn't tear myself away. It was so riveting and so compelling that I sat mesmerized. And, I knew how it ended! ;-} I had two overall impressions: 1) that NBC was a credit to the field of broadcast journalism for the way they handled the information they had, not letting the story get beyond the facts on hand, the restraint with which they dealt with partial information, and a determined zeal to report only what they knew. For example, their Pentagon correspondent, Jim Michlazewski was on the air from inside the far east side of the Pentagon when the jet dove into the far west side of the Pentagon. He was startled, reported feeling the explosion, reported people running through the halls and outside, was told that there were reports that the cause was an airplane, but he did not confirm that fact until he had either first hand confirmation or a solid source. And, how solidly Robert Hagar handled the FAA side of the story, getting the flight numbers and departures and destinations down cold before reporting anything. And, how laser clear and right Andrea Mitchell was in the earliest moments in identifying Osama Bin Laden as the likely source of this. The second plane hit the second tower at 9:10, and it was 9:19 when the word "terrorism" was first use, and then only quite tentatively. By 9:25, it was part of the coverage. 2) Ironically, while they were replaying their 9/11 coverage, there was a scare on the Potomac River today at just the time that President Obama was in Arlington for a 9/11 memorial. Apparently, the Coast Guard was doing water and radio drills on the Potomac, and someone interpreted that as a response to an attack, called a news crew, which went with the story. The newsbabe on MSNBC this morning broke into the 9/11 coverage. There was no bumper, no slide, no voice over, no introduction, and -- get this -- no camera on her! She just broke into the 9/11 tape with a voice over and a shot of a Coast Guard boat on the Potomac, and passed along a factually incorrect bulletin, sourced to an un-named news outlet, only to require Pete Williams to come on and rebut every single "fact" that she initially reported. The ironic contrast was stunning, between the serious and professional job that Katie Couric, Matt Lauer, Tom Brokaw, and the NBC producers did on 9/11, and the half assed, slip shod, inaccurate job done by the current staff of MSNBC. I'm betting that, either, the newsbabe wasn't dressed, or had no makeup, or, more likely, that MSNBC didn't schedule a camera operator to work this morning, expecting to just run the 9/11 tape . . . Irresponsible and amateurish are the only words I can come up with. What a huge humiliation for this once proud network and news source. (9/11/09)

"Today Show" hosts Matt Lauer and Meredith Vieira were met with loud whistles during their morning broadcast from Rockefeller Plaza Thursday, as NBC engineers staged a protest over their work contract. Members of Local 11, part of the National Association of Broadcast Employees and Technicians, waved placards and made noise as soon as the show went on the air at 7 a.m. to draw attention to their demands. www.nydailynews.com (9/11/09)

www.cbsnews.com just picked up the Baltimore ACORN story with a similar tone as CNN, referring to it as GOTCHA journalism in a quote from ACORN. Still nothing at NBC, MSNBC, or ABC. Very interesting since ACORN's response basically admitted it happened, yet both CNN and now CBS are decrying the sting (i.e. the messenger) rather than the message. What more proof do the other networks need to run the story? Are they waiting for the Central American prostitutes to come in from out of the country? HAha! The question begs, how is this worse of a GOTCHA journalism story than 60 Minutes has done so many times over the years and what would even be the importance if they had tried the sting 3 times and only the 3rd time was the charm? The hypocrisy of this CBS story is just way too funny. I'm sure FOX News is loving this too because CBS News had to quote them multiple times, probably because CBS-owned WJZ 13, Maryland's News Station, has no clue what's going on. hehe. :-) (9/11/09)

To Burt in Denton (regarding Joe Grogan)..as best as I remember, Joe did the Colt's games in..I'll say 1970 (he may have done the games in 69 and 71 as well; seems like there was a guy named Ted (don't recall the last name right off(..in the late 50s/early 60s, Chuck Thompson and Vince Bagli did the games..but it was different than when they did the games in the 70s; in the late 50s/early 60s era, Vince actually called "play-by-play"..if memory serves me, Chuck did the first half, while Vince would call the second half. When Chuck and Vince worked together on the Colts games in the 70s, Chuck would call the entire game, while Vince would provide "color commentary." Tom in Denton, MD (9/11/09)

Thanks to the person who posted about Atlantic Oldies 2NG www.2ngradio.com... This afternoon they've been playing a great mix of tunes which flows quite nicely. I'm looking forward to listening to their Pirate Radio special this weekend. (9/11/09)

Here is a link to a blog about the Washington Post and World Wide Wilbon recoveringjournalist.typepad.com (9/11/09)

RE: Bonneville & the 104.1 failures..... Keep in mind WJZW 105.9 has a significantly better signal over the DC market than Praise 104.1 does (even though Praise largely hits its target market well). Both have problems towards Baltimore, but 104.1 has problems into parts of northern Virginia and towards the I-270 corridor too, not to mention WCHH 104.3 just moved to the huge FOX 45 TV Hill tower. I think Bonneville wisely decided to cut their losses and it would be a lot easier to make 105.9 a success than 104.1 in my opinion just due to the signal coverage. (9/11/09)

Dave's response: The 105.9 tower overlooks the Capital Beltway. It has a significantly better metro area signal than does 104.1, and that's why Bonneville had paired 104.1 with Frederick's 103.9 when it owned the former. And, yeah, 104.1's great coverage of heavily black PG County and SE DC is perfect for the gospel format.....

Robb Spewak is on 1630 KCJJ, Iowa City from 2 to 6. You can listen www.ustream.tv/channel/kcjj-raw. (9/11/09)

CBS News producer Kia Baskerville shared her unique 9/11 experience on today’s “Washington Unplugged.” From Air Force One to the Oval Office she was the travel pool producer with President Bush that day. Take a look: www.cbsnews.com (9/11/09)

The mainstream media doesn't want to cover the Baltimore ACORN story because it points out a glaring omission in their campaign coverage and makes them look bad for being asleep at the switch. They spent all their time on Sarah Palin when they should have been looking into ACORN and other more important issues between McCain & Obama. But at this point for them, it's better to just keep on ignoring a story you should have covered as if it never happened. At least that way, you look consistent and can use as your excuse that the source of the story is not a credible source and couldn't be properly vetted. And since this sting was done by a right wing group, basically ABC, CBS, & NBC, & MSNBC have the perfect excuse to not cover it. And if MSNBC does eventually cover it, I'm sure it'll be Olbermann saying that the person who ran the Sting operation is The Worst Person in The World! (9/11/09)

Here's a real snazzy idea for ALL news outlets, local and national, check for RELIABLE sources before charging on the air with today's scary story. And, CNN, that Carol Costello ''Just Sayin'' segement is possibly the STUPIDEST fucking thing EVER! Paul (9/11/09)

(RE: "Bonneville will bring in the programming talent that has made WTMX and WDRV in Chicago and the Arch in St. Louis and The Peak in Chicago") Cough cough. So why did they sell 104.1 then? Why couldn't the programming talent do something with it? And how would 105.9 be any different - its another partial market signal. All evidence is that Bonneville gave up. (9/11/09)

A few things about the CNN/Coast Guard debacle. Obviously there are several places to point fingers. Why didn't CNN get confirmation? Why did the Coast Guard do this in a high-profile place and on of all days 9-11? The biggest question from my perspective was where was the Coast Guards public affairs office on this? CNN was on the air reporting this for approximately 30 minutes until they received third-party information that this was training. Why didn't the public affairs officers knock this story to begin with? They should take some of the blame in this as well. (9/11/09)

I haven't listened to Tony K's show - can you DH or anyone else comment on whether he has has jounalistic freedom on the Snyder-owned station? Does he criticize the Rredskins? Did he comment on the ticket fracas and if so, what was his opinion? Just wondering if he's forced to toe the Snyder line or what. (9/11/09)

Dave's response: Tony seems rather laidback and talks a lot about "old guy" stuff, much of it non-sports-related. I haven't heard him slam the Skins yet, but I also haven't listened to his entire show. Nice chat this morning with George Michael, who, we learn, is spending his time buying and selling newspaper photo archives, of all things.....

"Hey CBS Radio, Hows those WJFK ratings???????? Boy they are lookin GREAT!!!!!!!!! wow!!! 20th place!!!! thats worse than The rating b4 you changed formats...Mike O'meara was trending upwards when you pulled the rug out from under him. I hope ur all Happy with urself.... cuz nobody esle is. why dont u get out of radio....it would be a better place if u concentrated on football or something. YOU SUCK!!!!!!" Perhaps you missed this post... CBS suits are pointing out gains for WJFK, 106.7 The Fan, within its target male age 25-54 demo. In the weekly breakdowns for August, the morning Junkies are solidly in 3rd place, with middayers Mike Wise and Bill Rohland up from 9th to 5th place since the flip, and afternooners Lavar Arrington and Chad Dukes rising from 7th to 2nd place in the demo. While the overall ratings are down LaVar and Dukes are cheaper and get better ratings than O'Meara in the demo that matters. Hell even the god awful Mike Wise show is up, you don't know what you are talking about so please stop trying. (9/11/09)

Well apparently WBAL, WMAR, & WJZ & The Baltimore Sun do all read DCRTV or watch YouTube because they all finally got this Baltimore ACORN story up on their websites hastily now, but you gotta wonder why none of them jumped on this story sooner. When I googled the story just now, I only found the story on YouTube/Fox News, www.youtube.com and on CNN.com. But notice the slanted CNN coverage with constant use of the words "edited" and "alleged". My God, can CNN not even hear what they are seeing or do they have their partisan earmuffs on? HAha! By the way, the full unedited video is available here www.biggovernment.com but CNN is STILL referring to it as "edited" even though the entire unedited video was released. Also interesting to note, MSNBC, NBC, CBS, and ABC News have all chosen not to cover the story at all! That means the story has been covered technically by DCRTV.com before the 3 major networks! HAha! And by the way, admittedly this is Gotcha journalism, but there's just no denying what was done here. Police do sting operations all the time. I don't see anything different here except the mainstream media does not like that it's a right wing group that pulled the sting off and it sticks in their craw a bit because of bias. (9/11/09)

I haven't heard anything from The Edge that reminds me of 94.7 The Arrow/Globe. Not once did those stations ever have a playlist spanning from Pearl Jam to Motley Crue to Bad Company. I saw a comparison in an earlier Mailbag to Pittsburgh's DVE and I'd have to say that is apt. Leave the current alt rock on pathetic DC101...they can have all that craptastic Linkin Park, Hinder, Puddle of Mudd drivel. Awful music. Just give me a KCRW-type station and a legit indie offering and I might be able to ditch my Sirius. (9/11/09)

I honestly couldn't imagine a worse fit for Goldy than 105.9 The Edge. Is that a joke? (9/11/09)

"If Oxley gets his mitts on 105.9" then Bonneville will bring in the programming talent that has made WTMX and WDRV in Chicago and the Arch in St. Louis and The Peak in Chicago HUGE ratings winners in PPM. TOP and The Mix would complement each other very nicely. (9/11/09)

A Washington, DC based internet radio station 2NG is running a special show looking at the "Pirate" years when such radio ships as Radio Caroline and Radio London (based on an old US Minesweeper) tore apart the BBC's monopoly and finally bough Top 40 radio to the U.K. Great music from the sixties as well as clips from the era, the show is fast paced and presented by Bill Rollins, who started his career on the short-lived Tower Radio. www.2ngradio.com. Starts Sunday at 12noon. (9/11/09)

I love how Tony Kornheiser must make a reference to "old" just about everytime he opens his mouth. It would be like if Limbaugh called himself a shithead in every segment. It only illustrates the obvious. Why do it, Tony? (9/11/09)

(From DCRTV's Classified Ads:) Business/Traffic Manager Position available: Baltimore based radio station is looking for someone who is a multi-tasker, hardworking, very organized and possesses a high attention to detail. We would like someone with 2-5 years of radio experience and experience with Deltaflex (helpful, but not necessary). The Business/Traffic Manager is responsible for building logs, entering copy, daily reconciliations, entering contracts, invoicing, month-end closings, assisting with accounts receivables, and payroll. Come work for a family-owned company that is in its fourth generation of ownership and still growing! Please email your resume to lsigler@thebayonline.com. Shamrock Communications is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Closing date: 9/25/09 (9/11/09)

(RE If Oxley gets his mitts on 105.9.....MoR/Top-40/Oldies even C&W crossover) um, someone please remind me what "music" formats were successful for that company in this market? Z-104, no - changed it..... George 104, no - sold it; classical, no - gave it up. What, exactly would they do with 105.9 that they couldn't have already done with their other FM signals? The only success with their FM signals that remain are those that have gone all-news. (9/11/09)

I see that Tony Perkins is filling in for Steve Chenevey again..It's obvious that he's being groomed to be an anchor, but please, please don't replace Steve with Tony..He looks like a cardboard cutout reading a teleprompter..But maybe they'll put Tony on the 9-10 broadcast which would be fine with me since I don't plan on watching it..I just don't understand the need for them to broadcast FIVE hours of news..But then again, after thinking about it, I doubt if that last hour will contain news..It will probably be like another Regis and Kelly.. (9/11/09)

If Oxley gets his mitts on 105.9...... w/"personality announcers". SUGGESTION - Bring back Goldy, best Jock in the Top 40/oldies business!!!!!! (9/11/09)

Sorry to nitpick, Dave, but your note about public radio mentions that WGTS is owned by Columbia Union College. I listen to the station sometimes and thought I remembered a change in the name of that institution, so I went to the WGTS Web site. Columbia Union was a Seventh Day Adventist school, and I thought I remembered that it recently had become a university. Turns out the WGTS Web site still mentions Columbia Union College, but when I Google that term, the link takes me to Washington Adventist University, which sounds like the name I remember hearing mentioned on WGTS a couple of weeks ago as the station's owner. However, the "About" page on the universty's site reads, "Columbia Union Colleges [sic?] is a small private college near the nation’s capital with deeply-felt Christian roots," and Web address is www.cuc.edu, so ... Hmmm. ... Maybe someone else can confirm? Christian (9/11/09)

So Dave, do ya think that the WUSA9 employees who are scheduled to be axed are on air talent or behind the scenes people? (9/11/09)

Dave's response: So far, most of the cuts are on the technical side.....

If Oxley gets his mitts on 105.9, it might be a radio station the like of which we've not seen for ages: MoR/Top-40/Oldies even C&W crossover w/"personality announcers", a "strong" local newscast at the top of the hour (sourced but not voiced by WTOP), strong local and national sales, heavy local presence and promotion... (9/11/09)

Dave's response: Plus the Nats and the Caps.....

As we pause this day to remember those who perished in the terrorist attacks on 9/11, let us also remember our fallen fellow broadcast professionals who lost their lives in the attack on the World Trade Center. -Unsigned Corporate Suit (9/11/09)

Dave's response: Still got the 9/11/01 Mailbag around.....

From the Baltimore Sun (local rag) Federal officials call for clamping down harder on pollution from farms, cities and suburbs; Home sales continued to rise -- and prices continued to drop - Three years after 14-year-old Deanna Green was electrocuted on a Druid Hill park softball field, etc etc…..not a mention of the Acorn "sting" in Baltimore on Thursday….not a word, I did hear a brief story on a Baltimore radio station, I think it was WBAL, but not a word in the Sun or on any tv station in Charm City, As one might say not a word from the “Drive By” media - I guess its no big deal for Acorn “organizers” to help a prostitute and her pimp find a place to live and conduct business with illegal 14 & 15 year old children…..I guess there is just not enough space for a story like this in the newspaper and surely not enough time to make mention of this story on the Baltimore TV stations, And I would almost bet you won’t read this on this “left” handed blog. But I’ll give it a try and see what happens. J.J. “Hitman” McKay Ocean City, Maryland. (9/11/09)

JA said "it will be the hope that more stations that typically attract younger demos will latch on to a few of them and expose this group to a generation (or two) who, as one poster intimated, don't even know who the Beatles even were and how prolific their music was and the influences it made." The problem is, it's virtually impossible for anyone born post-Beatles to understand why/how they were so influential, when everything we've heard has been influenced by them. I was born in 1978, and I never knew a world without their influence on pop music. As a musician, I can recognize the dramatic shifts in pop music that they introduced, but I regret that I can NEVER "feel" what it was like to experience that first-hand. As I listen to more and more of the music from their contemporaries and their "disciples" (like Badfinger, recorded by Geoff Emerick, produced by George Harrison), I realize how I take them for granted. I grew up thinking they were overrated, by a long shot, but the more I listen to Rubber Soul and Revolver, the more I appreciate what they did. I don't know if this re-release is enough to make other people stop to study them, but I sure will. Aaron in Leesburg (9/11/09)

(regarding Dave's response: They'll soon be moving from Broadcast House to Broadcast Hut.....) The way I heard it is that they're changing the name to "Broadcast Shack," then they'll re-brand it as "The Shack," to make it sound more hip. (9/11/09)

Hey CBS Radio, Hows those WJFK ratings???????? Boy they are lookin GREAT!!!!!!!!! wow!!! 20th place!!!! thats worse than The rating b4 you changed formats...Mike O'meara was trending upwards when you pulled the rug out from under him. I hope ur all Happy with urself.... cuz nobody esle is. why dont u get out of radio....it would be a better place if u concentrated on football or something. YOU SUCK!!!!!! (9/11/09)

To the Radio Guy re: Ipods. I am so glad to hear someone on the inside with this point of view and the ability to put it into words even we listeners can relate to. I don't have an Ipod but I do have an MP3 player. I like it. It holds alot of songs and even some airchecks of certain defunct stations. Awesome. Does this replace my want and need for radio? Absolutely not. I never thought for a minute that it may. I have been a radio/music nut since the mid 70s. I have rigged up cassette recorders,8 track recorders,reel to reel,turntables and even a 4 track player. What was it connected to? My radio. I could,at one time,pull up any piece of music or interview or segment of show I wanted. What I could NOT do is use any one of those formats to hear the next crazy thing a DJ would say or the new concert promo or request line or the many other things I have come to take for granted in the once magic realm of FM radio. Radio is radio. Did VCRs replace Cable? No. So why do radio execs roll over and die? Give radio back to the listeners and people with a passion for hitting the airwaves and let the number crunchers be number crunchers. (9/11/09)

Soooo, what is 5 planning to do with the simpsons now that seinfeld is moving to 7PM????? i dont think anyone else airs the simpsons at all right now... (9/11/09)

RE: "Michael Popovec will again be hosting the "Ravens Wrap Show" from the Greene Turtle in North Ocean City at Thursdays at 7 PM. Former Baltimore Colt Bruce Laird and Tony Lombardi will be among the co-hosts." WOW! - Bruce Laird knows how to Shake and Bake! We were just in my office around 2pm in Towson talking about Monday Morning Quarterback on MASN and ESPN Radio 1300. It's hosted by Tom Davis, along with Bruce, Mike Preston from the Sun the lovely Amber Theo Harris. Airs 8am - 10am. It's football season hun! (9/11/09)

/\ September 11 Messages /\

\/ September 10 Messages \/

Unsigned CS is usually right on the ball and up to date. His rant on where TV operations are headed is correct,,,but misses two ingredients. 1. We already have synthesized images...have you forgotten the hologram that CNN used for the elections? It is only a matter of time before technical refinement replaces the studio itself with a black box, which will be essentially a video game back drop and a database of avatars. 2. Offshore is a relative experience. While US stations have not been operated from offshore (yet),,,,there have in fact been European affiliations of US networks (such as the NBC SuperChannel) that had facilities here which were operated from the target country and in some cases, facilities located in the target country that were operated from here. Foriegn broadcasters have operated US bureaus via remote control for many years. CNN uses remote controlled cameras in the homes and offices of many commentators. IIRC, the 2002 Winter Games and the recent political conventions both had about 60% of the coverage with a large array of stationary cameras using operators based in NYC. Raw video per camera was backhauled to NY and the switched feed was returned to the venue. Much of this was done via fiber and IP video, so the delays were not as bad as satellite. This also allowed for various localization, time shifting and multilingual support without the usual huge IBC. IIRC, CNN now operates their NY and DC live news shows from Atlanta, with considerable interaction between the three cities, live, and unaware to the viewer. That is a somewhat more complex performance in real time than justing having your MC operated by remote. The cable networks do a huge amount of ad insert and other localization via automation and remote control. Our military flies drone planes over the Middle East from an air base in California. I suspect our traffic copters will be doing the same soon. Citizen journalists, pooled assets with ubiquitous FIOS, Comcast etc connectivity for upload from home or business will fill in whatever man-on-the-street needs are required. (9/10/09)

If anything good (including sound quality) comes out of the "re mastered" Beatles release, it will be the hope that more stations that typically attract younger demos will latch on to a few of them and expose this group to a generation (or two) who, as one poster intimated, don't even know who the Beatles even were and how prolific their music was and the influences it made. And by the way, Dave, with all due respect, I must say that IMHO, the best rock album of all time is "Dark Side of the Moon." Eclectic. A Sonic masterpiece. Brilliant in all respects. Years ahead of its time. JA (9/10/09)

How the mighty are falling... Today "Broadcast House". Tomorrow, "Broadcast Outhouse"??? (9/10/09)

With WUSA 9 slashing even more jobs and moving master control to Atlanta, what is the point of having such a huge building? They could probably rent office space for a fraction of the cost! (9/10/09)

Dave's response: They'll soon be moving from Broadcast House to Broadcast Hut.....

RE: I have been mystified... suc·cinct (sk-sngkt)... adj. suc·cinct·er, suc·cinct·est... 1. Characterized by clear, precise expression in few words; concise and terse: a succinct reply; a succinct style. 2. Archaic Encircled as if by a girdle; girded. (9/10/09)

There’s no technical or legal reason why you can’t have your MC functions done off-site. WRC-48 has been doing it for quite awhile. Even back when they were still on channel 4. But, then again, they were for sale before the bottom fell out of the TV M&A marketplace with the Digital Transition. Right now, few broadcast TV licenses are worth their transmitter sites, let alone their studio locations. Next to newspapers, broadcast TV is another media dinosaur waiting to croak. Why? Just like newspapers, broadcast TV failed to exploit its advantages with the coming of competition. In this case, it was progressive from the failed start of Cartrivision all the way to the video iPod, with things like the Betamax, VHS, Laserdiscs, Cable, and DVD’s along the way. Broadcast TV never got used to the idea that their model of an ad-supported limited choice marketplace was not only going away, but that it has gone away! Ever see the movie “UHF”? The image of “R.J. Fletcher, Jr.” is still alive and well in too many places to save the industry. It’s the guys and gals with the entrepreneurial and innovative spirits of “George Newman” and “Philo” who have shaped things for years to come. Indeed, thanks to the digital transition, cable is the only thing that’s saved broadcast TV’s ass. Without cable, all stations would be the limited-coverage “community” TV stations the FCC originally envisioned some stations as being, instead of being “metropolitan” as almost all ultimately became before the demise of analog. The next development I expect to see is where most broadcast stations (not just TV) have their MC and back office functions not just off-site, but offshore. Don’t say anything about those pesky FCC Rules and Regs or Federal laws. Those can be changed so easily. I use as my example how long Congress attached riders to FTC appropriation legislation forbidding enforcement of FTC rules on the funeral or used car industries. Yes, Congress ultimately changed whom they listened to. And, lobbyists finally lost out to voters. What really scares me is if the technology envisioned in the movie “Looker” comes to pass. (Check out Susan Dey in it…) We could have synthesized images and voices replacing expensive human beings on TV. You could theoretically have Chet Huntley and David Brinkley covering the current President with Frank McGee reporting from the White House! Then again, imagine that technology at C-SPAN… Unsigned Corporate Suit (P.S. IMHO, the Beatles best album was “Live at the Hollywood Bowl!”) (9/10/09)

I have been mystified by the celebration surrounding this news story. "Steve Jobs put an FM radio in the new iPod!!!!!!!!" Well Merry Christmas, war is over. I understand that the heads of Citadel, CBS, and Emmis are all convening in a locker room, wildly shaking bottles of champagne and crying, while they hold their extended index fingers over their "Steve Jobs approves" hats. Elsewhere people are hugging, shaking hands, and in Times Square, a sailor just kissed a nurse. I hate to rain on the parade, but who cares? I guess I missed the memo, but was the issue a lack of available radios? What does this solve exactly? So we think that the TSL problem or the relative apathy about radio is solved now. I hate to burst your bubble but it doesn't help at all. Radio continues its self loathing routine, and it still isn't helping. When Apple released the latest iPhone earlier this year, their was a rumor of a FM radio being installed. When that didn't happen, well out came the critics. People who just want to take shots at the industry, like Del Colliano (who apparently has a dump truck somewhere full of "staring uncomfortably at the lens" pictures), came whooping out of their houses. It was confirmation of everything they have been saying, because the genius said it too. King Jobs had spoken, and now we all had to hang our heads because we were dumb enough to work in an industry that He had deemed obsolete. This was stupid, too. Let's not forget Jobs was behind AppleTV, and the iMacs that looked like they had fashioned a screen to a desk with a wire hanger. Now, Apple is releasing models of iPods with radios, and in doing so, saved the industry. The stories from radio trades became a ticker tape parade, with guys that own companies riding in the back of a convertible, pulling their shirts off and spinning them like the proverbial helicopter. The iPod has become this buzzword in the industry, and I for one have never understood it. I have sat in very plush rooms with men in very smart suits, and heard fear when the word is brought up. Its usually brought up with a sense of defeatism, and I am willing to bet money that most radio management who fears the iPod also doesn't own one. Someone just says, "People are buying iPods!", and the boardroom will murmur for a while in recognition that we are dinosaurs rumbling toward a tar pit. Because its never brought up in a discussion about the future of radio. Its always brought up in this light where we need to make as much money as possible, because this buzzword is putting us out of business soon, and we can't compete. Its the self loathing again. The radio has never understood the iPod, its limitations and why we should have never been worried about it. When the first generation iPod came out, I was a promotion director at a radio station. A record company had sent both the PD and the MD iPods as gifts. The record rep might as well have given them rocks to bash their own heads with, and the boxes collected dust for a week before I said I wanted it. I loved it immediately. It was everything you ever wanted a walkman to be. It was easy, you could hold thousands of songs in it, and it was compact (I thought so at the time, looking back that iPod was the size of a station wagon compared to current models). But it never occurred to me that anyone would view it as a replacement to radio. For one, its just songs one after the other back to back. If you want more, you must buy them or illegally download them. The illegal download is ALWAYS a lot harder than it sounds, btw. you always get shoddy versions with huge problems in the file. No matter if your library 3000 songs, you are going to get sick of listening to the same ones. Our industry has problems, and none of them are solved by this. Radio stations are not worth listening to anymore because for some reason we have decided to start imitating iPods. iPods were NEVER a threat to the industry, just like CD changers and Internet streams out there. The thing that we never consider is that we actually know how to present this stuff!! For years we built a formula of brand building, where listeners got excited and were actually entertained by what was being done on the air. There were funny pieces of production, DJs that sometime annoyed us but always entertained us. There were guys and girls that knew how to make us laugh, cry and destroy our disco records in the middle of a baseball stadium. So what have we done? We have decided to imitate the worst part of iPods, their repetitive, mechanical song switching. Don't you realize that Apple has been trying to solve that problem? The "Genius" list is basically Apple's attempt to make a music director. They are trying to improve it now, because the basic problem remains. Its still the mechanical, dry clicking between the songs. You listen to a song, and then you are bored. Either clicking through hundreds of songs that you have heard a million times or scrolling through more that you have heard hundreds of times. iPods will always be around, always. Devices that play sound are always going to exist. The phonograph predates the radio (barely). But iPod users will put them down, and they are going to turn on the radio. Have we stopped and asked ourselves what they are going to hear when they turn on? We have stripped radio of all its fun. Most jocks are micro-managed, afraid of saying anything interesting because saying something interesting could lead to the latest firing. The problem with saying something interesting is that someone somewhere will disagree with it. Radio has completely lost is sense of fun, and that's why we have the TSL problem. We have slashed air staffs and turned who remains into robots. There is no sense of danger listening to the radio any more. You never get the impression that something truly memorable is about to happen, and you might be part of it. It seems like just about everybody is just going through the motions. What ever happened to the mantra: "You win between the records." That worked every time. Perhaps PPMs aren't the problem. They are the proof of what the problem is. So here come the iPods with radios. We should all be excited. We have invited everybody to our pool party, and we shall see what happens. We have filled our pool with water, and arranged some lawn chairs. We have sent out invitations. On the invitations, we have alerted possible guests that they must remain in street clothes for the duration of the party, and their will be no drinking, food or flirtatious conversation among guests. Sure hope someone comes. (9/10/09)

DCRTVDave wrote "And I do think the Beatles' "White Album" is probably the best rock album ever....." I think the Rolling Stones' Exile on Main Street is as good or better. I agree that remastered CDs aren't worth it. I am hoping that 105.9 the edge can succeed where WARW, WTGB, WCXR and others have failed. Why can't terrestrial radio do as good as internet or DARS stations even though there are commercials. Les in College Park (9/10/09)

Dave's response: You know, now that I think about it, maybe U2's "Achtung Baby" is the best rock album of all time. That's my nephew Tom (right, below) during a visit to Ireland a few years back. Don't know who that guy is on the left. Ha ha ha.....

Dave, Not sure if you can re-post the blurb from last Thursday about the Ravens Wrap show kicking off tonight, special time tonight at 6:30pm. Call ins are welcome to 410-723-4236. Thanks for anything you can do. --- Popovec Keeps Busy With Ravens Show - 9/3 - DCRTV hears that Baltimore/Eastern Shore radio vet Michael Popovec will again be hosting the "Ravens Wrap Show" on Salisbury-Ocean City rocker and Ravens affiliate WZBH (93.5 FM). From the Greene Turtle in North Ocean City at Thursdays at 7 PM. Former Baltimore Colt Bruce Laird and chief editor of Ravens24x7.com Tony Lombardi will be among the co-hosts. The show will be on webcam and available at oceancity.tv. (9/10/09)

IMO the White Album is not their best, but it's still my favorite of all time. All their other LP's were essentially a group effort, but the White one highlights each of the Beatles' individual playing and writing talents more than any other. It gives the whole record a looser, more informal, spontaneous and personal feel without sacrificing too much in the music's quality. And after all, it is a double LP, so you get twice as much of the Fab Four anyway. But hey, all their albums are great, so if Sgt. Pepper is Babe Ruth, the White Album is perhaps Mickey Mantle. My fave underrated track: Savoy Truffle. A sweet, delicious rocker!! KOF (9/10/09)

I emailed WRNR Program Director, Bob Waugh, on Wednesday to report the streaming audio issue. No response yesterday or so far today. Typical example of the lack of interest many stations have today, in putting out a quality product, or addressing legitimate concerns of listeners. (9/10/09)

Dave, I was wondering if you could help me find an old Channel 9 promo for me. It was from the mid to late 90's, and was for Doug Hill. There is a girl saying something like "I like the way he explains things so people can understand". The girl in that video is a friend of mine, and she challenged me to find it for her. I've looked all over YouTube, and Google video with no results. Thanks for any help you can give me. I fear my Google-Fu is weak here. -- Jake (9/10/09)

Dave's response: Can anyone point Jake in the right direction?

To answer to question about Channel 9 on FIOS in Howard County: Today FIOS rearranged their Howard County local channel lineup to give preference to Balt stations over DC stations. Non HD Balt stations are now 9 – 14 and non HD DC stations are now 16 – 19. HD Balt stations are now 509 – 514 and HD DC stations are 516 - 519. If you have your channel guide in “Favorite mode” you will need to modify your selections to see the lineup changes. (9/10/09)

Geez, I thought FOX running WUTB 24's master control from New York was kind of cheesy, gave the station a non-local feel, and showed that FOX didn't give a rats ass about the station. Now a Top 10 market station, WUSA 9, being run from Atlanta? Geez, that's even far worse. Never thought that would happen. Makes me wonder if we'll ever see a day where the Top 5 market stations run the majority of the nation's TV stations robotically, sort of the way radio has become person-less and automated. Also speaking of Gannett, there's a USA Today blog today regarding The Beatles that states they'll be on iTUNES in 2010. blogs.usatoday.com... There's only one problem with that: an entire generation of young people who buy music exclusively on iTUNES, the #1 music seller in the U.S., won't even know who the hell The Beatles are by then. By the time The Beatles get on iTUNES, no one will care anymore. And how many times have they re-mastered their catalog now? Isn't this at least the 2nd or 3rd time on CD? You'd have to be a complete idiot to be fooled for the 3rd time on this re-mastering scam! Ever since Ringo Starr said publicly that he was never reading anymore fan mail or responding (or even hiring someone to for him that his filthy rich asshole self could easily do), I've even lost interest in the Beatles and I'm in my 40s. Buying a Beatles re-master to me at this point would feel like donating money to the Queen of England for new palace curtains. Not gonna happen. (9/10/09)

Beatles! Awesome! I'm not spending $250 to nearly $300 to hear the Beatles tunes I have already. I shall play what I have because the media and others want me to spend the money. I'll keep the money and play ALL my own Beatles music. Awesome! (9/10/09)

Dave's response: Dittos! I have bought most of the Beatles albums at least twice in my lifetime - on vinyl and again on CD. I have no desire to buy remastered CDs. To my ears, my "unremastered" CDs sound just fine. And I do think the Beatles' "White Album" is probably the best rock album ever.....

Limbaugh wishes Wilson hadn't apologized - www.politico.com - As the media focuses on Joe Wilson's "you lie" outburst, both leading Democrats and Republicans have spoken out against the South Carolina Congressman's remarks. Wilson, himself, quickly apologized. But there's at least one prominent voice who wishes he hadn't: Rush Limbaugh. "Joe Wilson simply articulated what millions of Americans were saying," Limbaugh said on his radio show today. The conservative talker said it angered him to see Republicans "denigrating" Wilson for calling out Obama on "a blatant lie." However, while Limbaugh thinks that Obama's lying, PolitiFact.com sides with the president on this one: Obama's said "the reforms I’m proposing would not apply to those who are here illegally," which Wilson said was a "lie." Actually, Obama can make a pretty thorough case that reform doesn't apply to those here illegally. We don't find the public option argument enough to make the case that Obama "lied." We rate Wilson's statement False. (9/10/09)

Has FIOS in Howard County done something with channel 9? This morning there was infomercial. Where is my 9 NEWS. Dick (9/10/09)

Somebody correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't Baltimore's WQSR an Oldies Top 5 station too back when they were even on the more weak signaled 105.7 frequency and when they had all those great personalities like Big Don O'Brien, etc., that actually attracted people to listen? It seems like every time CBS Radio screws with something good, they get what they deserve, piss-poor ratings. Then it turns into a desperate Titanic deck chairs rearrangement operation after that. (9/10/09)

The "age 88" for Frank Batten came from pilotonline.com e-mail alert. (9/10/09)

RE: "righty talker WMAL spending more time this morning talking about Republican Joe Wilson than the content of the address . . ." How appropriate. A marginal AM talk station, now down to 18th place (where have you gone Harden&Weaver, Trumbull&Core, et al) in the ratings yapping about a marginal congressman from one of the most backward states in America whose political leaders include and have included Strom Thurmond, Mark Sanford, Jim "Waterloo" DeMint and Ms. Lindsay Graham. ACH (9/10/09)

"FRANK BATTEN SR., RETIRED LANDMARK CHAIRMAN, DIES AT 82... Frank Batten Sr., retired chairman of Landmark Communications, owner of The Virginian-Pilot, died in Norfolk early this morning at age 88." OK, guys...was he 82 or 88? Al McGilvray (9/10/09)

As host of MMA Nation on 106.7 The Fan on Saturdays, I'm also the Editor-in-Chief of BloodyElbow.com, the biggest blog on the entire SBNation network for the months of July and August. Traffic here: www.sitemeter.com. There is also the strong potential I will play a role on the new sbnation.com website as well. Just thought I'd close the loop. Luke Thomas (9/10/09)

Yeah, great ... watch for "You Lie!" to become the next "Don't Tase Me Bro!" It'll be relevant for all of three days, then vanish. (9/10/09)

The problem with Shales column is that Obama is a Chicago pol. He may still be naive in the ways of Washington, but he's as ruthless and political as they come. The Jimmy Stewart routine is a fraud. (9/10/09)

Re:105.9 the Edge Rant- Dave, you may be a fan of Alt Rock and think it will do better here than BIG or the Edge, but guess what- some of us like hearing "The Other Side" by Aerosmith (1990) or "Until It Sleeps" by Metallica (1996) or even a deep cut by Ozzy or Tom Petty. I particularly think that the imaging is much better than any other station in DC right now and the classic rock sounds much (pardon the pun) "fresh"er than on 100.3 or even 94.7. The Edge has a cool classic rock playlist that those of us who grew up in the late 80's/ early 90's might enjoy. And yes, they've also played Smashing Pumpkins, Alice In Chains, Soundgarden, and others as well for those who remember the 90's Alt Rock universe. 105.9 The Edge will put 100.3 in 17th soon and be a cool top 10 station in the not too distant future. (9/10/09)

Dave's response: Let's hope that Citadel is reading the "constructive criticism" here on DCRTV and making the appropriate tweaks. There's no question that 105.9 can still be saved. Now, how about a "Cerphe's Up" morning show?

Regarding your rant about WJZW being listened to by 50-year-old geezers, Citadel had that market -- and all of disposable income that the baby boom generation still has to spend -- with its True Oldies format. Now it's just another junky classic rock station so it can attract younger listeners. WCBS-FM is a top five station in NY. With the right promotion and local DJs, oldies is still a major format. But not when WJZW keeps its format a secret, runs a syndicated talk show in the morning, and then wonders why no one listens so it decides to be a poor imitiation of WBIG. (9/10/09)

It's a shame. I was searching Youtube for old WMAR 2 news clips to find Ted Patterson or Sally Thorner and there's not much. There's only like one Sally Thorner clip and I could find none of Ted Patterson. There is one NewScene2 intro video that shows his face in the intro, but when they switch to the set, you can clearly see a very young Scott Garceau instead! The oldest WMAR 2 clip I could find was with Jack Dawson. It's kinda a shame that Maryland's pioneer TV station and the first to actually do TV news (back when it was owned by The Baltimore Sun) has very little on Youtube and almost all of them are kind of embarrassing bloopers, hehe. There's clips from WBAL that I think were before I was born and god knows how many WJZ Jerry and Al clips. (9/10/09)

Has anyone listened to any of the new remixed stereo Beatle albums *in mono*? I don't own them myself, but it is possible (read: highly improbable) that someone did some phasing trickery during the remastering session to make the stereo image appear "wider". This is the same principle that made the "spacious" switch on your old boombox work. The unfortunate side effect is that all common mode center-channel information goes bye-bye when heard in mono, as if played over a one-speaker clock radio. I would think George Martin and company are too smart to allow this to happen, and the fact the same problem doesn't plague the specific mono recordings means someone was paying attention. The again, it could just be that someone swapped the red and black wires on the streaming computer back at the radio station and f%^&ed up the phase. (9/10/09)

Is the Washington Post biased in its own ads? In the radio ad for the Washington Post the announcer says in today's post President Obama Made the Case for Healthcare..Shouldn't it read "makes his case"? Also, we will see if they cover this story. Ten years ago Creigh Deeds wrote in a campaign mailer: I don’t believe in discrimination, but I don’t believe in special rights for anyone. I have never voted to allow gay partners to receive medical insurance — or any other benefit — from the state. Creigh Deeds even supported bringing the Marshall-Newman Amendment to a statewide vote! I guess to make A1 of the post you have to be a Republican or Dan Snyder! (9/10/09)

Anyone have a clue about WMAL's night pattern? It keeps deteriorating in the Annandale, VA area. Sometimes in the pre-sunrise hours the signal is at an equal level with signals skipping in from afar. It never used to be that way. I'm wondering if Citidal is scrimping on antenna maintenance? It wasn't that way in the 80s. Ed Montgomery (9/10/09)

Dave's response: I notice the same thing here in Reston.....

The popular use of "retarded" refers to the timing in an automobile engine. I first learned this from that mechanic's show "Greaseman" on DC101. (9/10/09)

What makes this whole WRNR Beatles Stunt streaming problem so insane is that the promotion was done to highlight the newly remixed and much better sounding Beatles catalog. They gave away music boxed sets and Beatles video games. Hell, they got a single sponsor to underwrite the enterprise, to allow limited commercial interruption. Then, the audio stream is done so ineptly, it's defeats the entire premise and purpose of the promotion! This kind of shoddiness is a great example of radio not capitalizing on new technology that's helping an old technology keep from dying off altogether. What a day-glo florescent cluster-fuck! (9/10/09)

"WJFK's only hope is to provide an outlet for the local teams that are undercovered by local sports talk, which is pretty much everything but the Redskins and Maryland basketball. Sure, they have to do Redskins. But they should be advertising that they plan to do plenty of Nats, Wiz, Caps, other local college teams, etc. They should be doing a couple of Nats only shows a week until the season ends. Then they should be doing Caps and Wiz shows too." After the predictable, unadventurous way CBS programmed the Globe, you're honestly expecting it to know how to counterprogram? You must be joking. -- Vincent in Triangle (9/10/09)

Baltimore Sports Radio Legend Calls it Quits: The Sun is reporting that Baltimore's longtime sports radio personality Ted Patterson has has "hung up the microphone, ending a terrific 45-year career in radio and TV broadcasting that should not go unrecognized." Spending the last 11 years as the sports director for WCBM (680-AM), he held the same job at WPOC-FM for 16 years as well as at WMAR-TV and WBAL-Radio, where he hosted Baltimore's first regularly scheduled sports talk show. He was also the play-by-play man for Navy football for 13 years. He did Navy, Towson State and UMBC hoops, Morgan State football, Baltimore Blast soccer games, and even called Orioles games on the old "Super TV" in the early '80s. Additionally, Patterson wrote five books on everything from the Orioles, to the history of football in Baltimore, to legendary baseball announcers. Link to full article: www.baltimoresun.com (9/10/09)

Dave's response: Ah, DCRTV first reported Ted Patterson's retirement in late August.....

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