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Current Mailbag - Mailbag Archive Index - DCRTV Front Page - Support DCRTV DCRTV Mailbag - November 21 to November 25, 2006 Latest messages listed first..... \/ November 25 Messages \/ "JP, one of the Junkies, replied: "There is no truth to that ... DCRTV botches things all the time. You may not know this, but they had about 5 other shows taking over the mornings for Howard when we knew we were getting it all along. Just another botch for them.""-----Well, what is he gonna say? "Yeah, we've been instructed not to say anything about a move...but hmmm...let me go ahead and let some random e-mailer in on all the happenings!" Of course he will deny it....come on people...where there is smoke, there usually is fire..... (11/25/06) I'm skeptical of the D&M/Junkies rumor because when the guys in Baltimore moved from 98 Rock to HFS mornings Don made a comment along the lines of "anyone who takes a morning slot in this company had better watch their backs because there are two guys in New York [O&A] that this company is putting a lot into." That's not a quote, just a paraphrase based on my memory. If anyone wants to find the exact quote I know it's on one of the D&M podcasts posted on iTunes. The point is simply that Don knows the network is favoring O&A right now and for him to agree essentially go up against them with less than 2 years on their contract would surprise me.... UNLESS it was all part of a calculated move to get out of their contracts earlier and allow them to move to satellite. (11/25/06) A Rockville friend wonders what happened to Bob Kelly whom she said her parents listened to on WWRC AM on what she described as an "oldies, big band program?" (11/25/06) I sent the Junkies an e-mail about your rumor that they are switching places with D&M. JP, one of the Junkies, replied: "There is no truth to that ... DCRTV botches things all the time. You may not know this, but they had about 5 other shows taking over the mornings for Howard when we knew we were getting it all along. Just another botch for them." (11/25/06) I'm reading my daily dose of the DCRTV Mailbag this afternoon and find out I'm getting beat up on it by Ed Bukont. I have had NOTHING negative to say about HD Radio on this website... but this will change. Never heard an HD station on radio and right now have NO interest in it. Just my opinion. My personal feeling is, I'll take the content on my XM Radio, the 8.99/mo (took out a 3-year sub) fee, and the slightly lower sound quality over HD Radio ANY day. Terrestrial radio just doesn't have the CONTENT for me. PERIOD. When will it come close to sat radio? Bob Corbin/VARTV.com (11/25/06) I don't think it's right to call people who don't like Pat Collins' style or delivery "small minded and petty." He may be a local institution, and he may deserve to keep his job, but his style and delivery are suitable only to human interest stories, i.e., interviewing Redskins and Terps fans, not serious stories about crimes. He is too glib and too much of a ham to be taken seriously...maybe once upon a time, but no longer. -- Bobbie (11/25/06) I heard a rumor about BIG changes coming to 1260. I have to think that they're going to dump the failing Air America format. Know anything about that? (11/25/06) Dave's response: If a tree falls in a forest, and no one was there to hear it, did it make a sound? Here's a little suggestion for Kris Gamble... if medical bills are piling up--go get a job. Any job. Work out of radio if you have to. I was a single mother working fulltime in radio for less than $27K a year when I had to have 4 surgeries inside of 2 years. Guess what? I had invested my money wisely and saved even more. So when I lost my job right after my 4th surgery, I was still able to provide for me and my child AND pay my medical bills. AND I took a part time job out of radio in order to pay the bills 'til a fulltime gig came along. Be thankful you weren't let go before the surgery and only have to deal with the expense of deductibles, co-pays and 80/20 splits. And while I'm minorly sniping, whatever jock thought it was appropriate to beg their listeners on-air to donate to toward his wifes medical bills when she got cancer was WRONG. Radio jocks have such a sense of entitlement it drives me absolutely apeshit. (11/25/06) Hey Dave!! Keep up the great site! I happened to turn on 95.9 WGRQ (Colonial Beach/Fredericksburg) and noticed they've gone Christmas... didn't know if you were aware or not. So now we have 95.9 and a few clicks up we're blessed with WASH FM!! Oh boy!! Not sure if I can handle another outlet who plays "Christmas Shoes" and "Christmas Eve in Washington". I'm off to puke! Bart, Broadcast Engineer (11/25/06) Clear Channel's WIHT is a union station... Health Benefits for Kris Gamble are provided by AFTRA not the CC policy. (11/25/06) Regarding the smug poster who said that 'only in DC and DCRTV is terrestrial dead'. Did you even read beyond the headline that you trumpeted? Obviously not, and thank you for that. Your cute little broadside at my earlier posts however proves my point. To quote what you conviently left out from the referenced story on the tallest tower.. "Invisioned tower is expected to reach as high as about 600 meters, designed to facilitate the newly launched terrestrial DIGITAL broadcasting." english.people.com.cn..... www.asiamedia.ucla.edu..... Yes, terrestrial broadcasting is alive and well the world over, WHEN DONE IN DIGITAL FORM!!! Thanks again for proving my point in such a highly visible forum. Terrestrial radio is not dead, never said it was. ANALOG radio is however dead the world over, regardless of distribution channel. In many developing nations, satrad has been the choice rather than replacement of legacy terrestrial systems. Is that what you want here? Sirius may be in trouble, but neither they nor XM are dead yet. Some DTV operators in this country have already begun to offer radio style music programming on their supplemental channels. At least one TV operator is considering plans to put cameras in their AM news operation, then run that program on their DTV supplemental, rather than their FM HD supplemental, so that the radio supplemental can offer more music. But some are putting their AM on their FM supplemental. Even at 1% TPO, those AMs may have more power and greater coverage, especially at night, than they did in their analog form. What I said is that the continuance of analog dependency will however cause the death of terrestrial radio in the US. Canada is considering dropping the ill-advised Eureka 147 digital, of which the NAB was also a fan and had a conflict of interest. Eureka is fine for small countries with highly regulated media, but it does not serve the purposes of more competitive, commercial and large land mass audiences. Canada is considering, as are certain Latin American countries, the conversion to Ibiquity HD. Brazil has even allowed some experimental installations of Ibiquity HD technology. Many countries are looking at DRM, or have already allowed its use, in particular prevent the death of SW AND MW (aka AM in the USA). England is even moving ahead with a plan to sunset analog broadcast completely very soon, with MAJOR retailers no longer stocking analog products. Steve Church of Telos Systems, a leading global supplier of communications technology applications has noted that at recent European technology shows there were no terrestrial radios, analog or otherwise even shown. If you think manufactuers are going to continue to make analog receivers when England no longer needs them and Europe no longer offers them, then you are quite unaware of our position in the world economy. The NAB has even suggested that it might be prudent of the terrestrial industry to push for, or if possible legislate, the inclusion of at least FM tuners in digital devices such as IPods. The US lags the rest of the world by at least 15 years in adopting digital technologies for the evolution of communications, not just broadcast. Indeed, in Japan and Europe, terrestrial radio and TV are alive and well thanks to their adaptation of digital, as the tall tower article makes clear. In much of Europe, you cannot even order an analog POTS telephone line. Now, in balance I will say that while I am well aware of the Ibiquity marketing strategy, I do think it may be based on old conclusions and I would hope that their engagement with Radio Shack represents an acknowledgement of what many of us in the industry have been complaining about with regard to receiver marketing. (11/25/06) A few responses to comments. FM succeeded in spite of Sarnoff's attempts to kill it so that it would not compete with AM. Even when he got the FCC to change the band, thus obsoleting thousands of radios practically overnight, guess what, users liked the content and they bought new radios and they found their FM again. The parallels to 8-track are valid in so far as they describe the problem for AM more than they do for FM. What killed 8-track was that it was really a pretty stupid method for delivering content, and it was based upon several flaws. First was the assumption that ease of use would sell a product. The assumption of stupidity and incompetence at the end user was Wrong. Ease of use was trumped by having your favorite song cut off in the middle by an nasty sounding burp as the splice and sense went across the head. Yes, I know that under the current low power ERP of HD there are dropouts. So what, they are no worse than the dropouts AM already has!! And in AM and FM, such often indicates other problems as well, having nothing to do with digital. But again, to the tape analogy. The tape itself was sonically inferior to vinyl in many cases, the players ate the tape in too many cases, repair of either tape or player tended to be too complicated, impractical or expensive. And recording to an 8-track was really a PITA. Folks are abandoning AM for many of the same reasons,,, generally poor quality audio compared to other portable media and too difficult to pick up without effort as the background ambient noise level increases and constructio/economic concerns impacts signals. The amount of information or entertainment received is often not enough justification for the work required to receive it, so the listener finds it elsewhere, faster, more reliably, with less effort, sometimes of better quality. Digital technologies allow radio, especially AM, to broaden the scope of HERE AND NOW information (as opposed to entertainment) that we can deliver to the moving vehicle, unlike any other medium, even the cellfone. However, the Qualcomm system should be cause for concern. OTA terrestrial can do it for free, without a monthly fee to either a content provider, or a carrier. That is the purpose of terrestrial radio, to deliver content, here, now, anywhere, anytime with a minimum of effort. Yet we squander a protected band and wireless delivery living in the deluded desire to return to a pre-FM yesteryear of AM glory that ceased nearly 30 years ago. Only the protected band of terrestrial radio can in reliable wireless form, to moving vehciles and desktops, deliver the bandwidth of content normally reserved for landlines. Yet we seem to refuse to do so. I don't buy the money excuse for even a moment. The incremental costs to add HD2/3 are virtually insignifcant after the costs of HD-1 when it presents terrestrial with the ability to add deeper playlists, packaged content, alternate content, real time data and other applications requiring a high power, broadband, continuous data stream. In many cases the upgrade to HD-1 is itself a long overdue replacement of antiquated technology that would have, and should have ocurred years sooner without any rationalization of the benefits of HD. HD-1 by itself in many situations represents only a $15,000 addition to the cost of a new transmitter beyond what you would pay for an analog transmitter and exciter. If you can't sell that $15k, then you have a problem which any content won't solve. If you add in HD2/3 then the cost will be at least $25k over the analog replacement cost. Those who complain about the cost of broadbanding their AM to accomodate HD fail to note two realities. IF your array won't work for HD, it probably would not have worked very well for AM Stereo either and it probably isn't working very well for AM Mono either. HD is not the problem, your existing plant is the problem. Regardless of adding HD, your plant needs work to deliver content in a clean and reliable manner. This goes well beyond what transmitter and modulation methods are used. As the engineer, my job is to build the highway properly. As an integrator, my job is to be sure that my highway and your vehicle are compatible. If you refuse to get in the car and drive, don't blame me or the technology if you are going no where. I agree, content is king,,,now what are we doing about it..and what are we doing about delivering it? The rest of the world is using digital technology, why are we not? EAB (11/25/06) DCRTV Dave, this just into my "Dark Side"....a look at "junkies" radio website has them all taking an excursion to Atlantic City this coming week. Probably too late to change them plans that look like it includes listener's like 83 year old Aunt Blabby of Springfield, one of their junkettes, to the show. Hey if DnM move to mornings maybe miguelito can do the show from his bed via phone...you know a take off on the old Stern bit.......I say Grease, Grease, Grease afternoons on'jfk then the Hideout and then Ron and Fez or vice versa. I see great minds think alike showing concern for them poor listeners on Ham and Eggs network in Big Sac. Is the Big Sac dance similar to the "Watusi" or "Mashed Potato"? (11/25/06) With all of the cuts at NBC4, I'm curious as to who will be the replacements. I'm assuming that Lindsay and Dan will take turns replacing George.. I have no clue who would team up with Wendy Reiger..Maybe they'll have Pat Lawson Muse or Jim Handley do both the 4pm and 5pm news..And as for Arch, I guess this means that there will no longer be an entertainment segment..I'll really miss that..And don't they have about 5 weather people?..Since they're obviously getting rid of the older staff, what about Bob Ryan?..And would they even consider Jim & Doreen??..What say ye Dave??? (11/25/06) HD radio broadens options - In today's Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star: fredericksburg.com (11/25/06) westwood one is telling stations that don is sick....if you listen to the last new show as don walked out he said "I buried Paul." (11/25/06) HD Radio is too little, too late. If this technology had been invested in 10 years ago it'd be a different story. What's the point if only a couple dozen people will EVER listen to HD Radio? Every new car sold today will have the option of Sirius, XM, and/or iPod connectivity. In a vast majority of cars at least one of those will be STANDARD equipment. HD Radio is merely an option in BMWs (whose market share is at best tiny), that is if you wish to discard the STANDARD Sirius receiver. HD Radio is not even an option, much less standard equipment on any American or Japanese car. I recently replaced the stereo in my car, with a combo Sirius/iPod unit. Why on earth would I buy an HD unit? For better fidelity? Fidelity? In a car being pounded by the wind? Yeah. For the compelling programming? Does HD Radio offer personalities like Howard Stern or Ron & Fez? Sports like the NFL or Major League Baseball? Does it offer UNCENSORED comedy? Hahahaha uncensored airwaves that's a good one. Does HD Radio offer music with deep cuts or niche genres? Is HD Radio commercial free? Okay that's a yes, but only because advertisers won't waste their money. HD Radio main function is that it will enable program directors to screw up 2, 3, & 4 stations instead of the one main station we're already not listening to. We had someone in this mailbag who was ecstatic that the digital signal of a certain radio station had 35% of the range of its analog signal. That's something to brag about? I can listen to Sirius or my iPod all the way home on my 7 hour drive to my parents' house. Thanks to portable units a person can listen to XM, Sirius, or an iPod when working out, at an airport, or just about anyplace outside a car. Thanks to computers and the internet a person can get XM or Sirius online or listen to their own personal iTunes collection. I can't get regular radio in my home or office right now, explain to me how HD Radio working with significantly weaker signals would or could improve that? As the Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star queried today: "If a song plays and there's no radio receiver out there to hear it, does it make a sound?" (11/25/06) Regarding the annoucement that Japan will build the world's tallest TV tower, which will be even taller than the current tallest, the CN tower in Toronto-- absolutely untrue, and I'm surprised the media is reporting this as fact. There are two TV towers near Fargo ND, which have existed since the 70s, which are the world's tallest manmade structures. They are KTHI/11 and KXJB/4, each of which are around 2040 ft high. WRAL/5 and WTVD/11 in Raleigh NC are almost as tall at 2010 ft and far surpass the CN tower. (11/25/06) Re: D&M and the Junkies shifting time slots....no matter where you put the Junkies, nobody listens. They are the great ratings hoax of the DC area. (11/25/06) RE: [ " NO effort to sell the audience on just why they should have this. And these are the people who successfully run big radio stations and radio clusters every day? " ]........ Wow, you just said a mouthful there. It's plainly obvious that content providers are the WRONG people to try to initiate a new technology idea because they do not have the correct kind of R & D (research and development) budget, nor do they usually have the kind of plan that includes initial losses before a tech product becomes mature. Content providers want instant cash for their product, instant results. They simply do not have the right kind of people to market a new technology such as HD Radio. Keep in mind a "content provider" did not create AM radio, nor did a "content provider" create FM radio. I guess with TV it's arguable to some degree, but mostly inventors and the tech industries of the time were involved. You'd be hard-pressed to find an innovator or inventor in the radio industry today. It's no surpise Clear Channel was sold to a bunch of completely radio-idiot market investors. (11/25/06) I can see, if the switch-a-roo rumors are correct, why D&M have not been doing the PM slot. As a deer hunter, currently in the thick of things, I have to adjust my circadian rhythm to ensure I can get up at 0-dark:30 everyday and be able to stay awake whilst sitting in my tree stand. The afternoon boys would have to deal with early AM drives to get from their abodes in VA and that type of lifestyle change takes a lot of early to bed and early to rise. (D, try melatonin if you are having a problem getting to sleep. Works for me.) I really wonder if the Golden Boy would give up his liver quiver time or just start earlier. I need my Elliot in the AM and my D&M in the PM. I really hope this rumor is untrue. Haymarket Joe (11/25/06) If, as it appears, satellite radio subscriptions have plateaued, does anyone think that their music channels will be commercial-free forever? I wouldn't go writing off HD radio so quickly, friends. Bad name, I agree, but somewhere there's a marketer who will figure it out. I have to believe that there's method to the madness of the seemingly invisible HD Radio marketing campaign at the present time. And, if you ever heard AM Stereo years ago, you know why it didn't make it. (11/25/06) Broadcasters have something of a "darned if they do, darned if they don't" problem with FM HD Radio. They want the additional HD2 and HD3 channels, but if they put compelling content (expensive) on them, they draw listeners away from the main channel. Some people in the business claim that the amount of ad dollars is roughly fixed and spreading it over three channels, each of which costs money to program, isn't the way to get rich. Are they wrong about the inelastic supply of ad dollars? Time will tell. AM HD is a clear winner in apparent quality, but at the expense of adjacent channel interference. Until that is cured, it is not very likely that AM HD will be allowed to operate at night. Unlike FM HD, AM HD cannot provide additional program streams. (11/25/06) Did you see Comcast sports net pull the end of the Oregon State Oregon game on Friday for the Caps pre-game show? With less than one minute to play, a one point differential in the score, and OSU driving, Comcast went to a split screen with the box devoted to the football game was less than ¼ of the screen with much wasted border. Also, the audio was pulled so the cap announcers could pontificate about the UPCOMING GAME rather than a football game in its final minute. With the screen that small it was impossible to follow the winning field goal attempt. This is just another instance of Comcast’s let the fans be damned attitude. The same one that pre-empts the start of football games so you can have a scoreboard show rather than showing a real game. If they’re going to pull this crap they should just give the Fox Sports Nets rights to MASN so the fans can see the game rather than hear the Comcast talking heads. Paul in Waldorf (11/25/06) Dave... In a way, Ed Bukont is suggesting just what the members of the HD Radio consortium *should* be doing: telling people, in a straightforward way, what they will get if they buy a radio and try HD Radio. My big beef all along with HD Radio is with the marketing and promotion of this new technology. As I've told the GM of at least one of the HD Radio groups here in Washington, the stations need to be using the air of their existing analog-compatible stations (its the only way I can describe them) to tell people what is available on HD. Its just like the early days of the Internet and the Web: its the CONTENT. I was saying months ago that the HD Consortium should be giving away radios on the air as contest prizes. There should be kiosks at all the major malls, and at events like parades, and at RFK and FedEx field, where people can just walk up and really listen to the HD channels on headphones, and oh, by the way, mam, here's a coupon for $25 or $50 off on an HD Radio, perfect for your husband, thanks for coming! Had they done this six to nine months before, people would be stampeding Radio Shack for those $75.00 radios they introduced yesterday, and other manufacturers would likely be in the fray by now with their own inexpensive receivers. It seems like the people in the HD Consortium didn't learn anything from the rollout of AM Stereo two decades ago; little, if no promotion, and absolutely NO effort to sell the audience on just why they should have this. And these are the people who successfully run big radio stations and radio clusters every day? On another front, to the people who don't like Pat Collins at Channel 4: you're certainly entitled to your opinion, no matter how small-minded and petty your reasons for slamming this man might be. Pat's one of the best street reporters in D.C., bar none. You may have issues with his delivery, but that's just his style. Just as Mike Buchanan has his style. Its part of what makes both these reporters stand out from the crowd. At least they're not like some of these blow-dried mannequins who now dominate television news, who make it to a major market like D.C., but still don't know what questions to ask at a crime scene, and who are just puppets of equally ignorant assignment desk people who parrott the orders of consultants who have never lived in this market, but think they know everything. As for me, I'll stick with people like Pat Collins, because when they tell me a story is news, I have really, really good reason to believe them, and to listen. And so it goes.... - Max in Mild West Arlington (11/25/06) Gee, with all the holiday glum about HD Radio here, it made me think back to a much better day, when AM radio ruled the world and FM radio was a neato technology that just languished for years and failed to sell. But it sure was swell while it lasted! I never fail to be amazed by people who can say something is absolutely for certain, even myself occasionally. :-) (11/25/06) Dave, maybe you can throw this question to the various sources for your "D&M To Mornings" rumor. Assuming the rumor pans out, what does this do to the alleged "Ham and Eggs Network"? Does this mean the show becomes local only? Unless, for example, KHTK in Sac-town decides to carry the show live at 2 or 3 AM PT! That'd be Don and Mike, going from highly-rated midday mainstays in their arguably most popular syndicated market, to an overnight lead-in to "The Rise Guys"... (11/25/06) The reason the OJ show is still listed in The Washington Post's TV Week is because TV Week is published 2 weeks in advance. As a result, last minute cancellations or schedule changes are not reflected in TV Week. (11/25/06) Rupert, if you want more advertisers on this board, you should really remove your picture from it. You appear to be nothing but a hoodlum like wannabe. Remove your picture, and you may see some results. Later, David (11/25/06) Re: "...The issue is:" Why would anyone go out and spend more money for a radio to hear the same commercial crap, they hear now, for free on the radio's they've already got?" No question it sounds better, as far as audio quality, but so what? So ..."///// Exactly, all the technical wonderfulness aside, where is the root demand ? The previous posters have outlined all the obvious issues, and I agree completely. HD radio will have a shorter shelf life than the 8 track tape. (11/25/06) Dave's response: Does anyone else hate the name "HD Radio" as much as I do? It's digital radio. Let's call it that. Cut the hype and improve the product - a la listening choices that we'd really want. Not a bunch of canned filler stuff..... OK - I finally heard a Christmas song worse than "Christmas Eve in Washington" - it's called "When Snow Falls Gently on Christmas Town." Lite 97.5 in Martinsburg, WV. (11/25/06) Since KMS are coming to HFS mornings, I guess Baltimore will lose D&M if they move to mornings. I wonder if D&M will be heard on 1027 JACK-FM if this takes place? It would make sense, since two highly-rated shows will be on in mornings, which will give Jack more listeners. Chris Paulus (11/25/06) Does anyone know this area's local cable TV must-carry rules for HDTV (ATSC or Clear QAM)? I'm thinking of getting a digital tuner for a bedroom with a computer in it and want to avoid Comcast's overpriced digital cable package at all costs since I do not subscribe to their broadband service. I've read that some cable systems pass thru the local HD signals at no extra charge just like the analog signals they are forced to carry via the FCC Must-carry rules. So, does Comcast pass thru the HD local channels in their basic package just like they have to with the analog locals? I've found several tuners that say they will pick up either ATSC terrestrial or basic cable Clear QAM HDTV signals at a very reasonable cost. Anybody know if this is do-able or is it just wishful too good to be true thinking on my part? (11/25/06) Gathering all the HD naysayers e-mail addresses...isn't that how they started down that slippery slope in Germany back in the 1930's? Who is behind all the advertising for HD radio all over the place these days? It's taken the place of all the advertising sat radio use to do....... DnM moving to the mornings when their contract runs out in a year? Don Juan having a change of mind about retiring? And what happens to all them folks along the old ham and eggs network, they getting up in Sacramento at 4am or is that 3am to hear a live show or will it become a prerecorded show, thus losing it's freshness? Watch it! Still doesn't do anything about the lack of creativity on the show. And is O'Mirror looking for a palatial estate on the Rockville Pike or next to Congressional Golf course?.... CB bite me......... and now The Intruders with "I'll always love my Mama, talkin' about Mama"........... Bill Smith...... actually I believe wild turkeys do fly (11/25/06) I think Ed Bukont makes some valid engineering points about HD, but he is missing the big picture. As was pointed out by a previous poster, go to Best Buy or Circuit City and ask about "HD Radio" for your car or home and they will give you a blank stare, or start talking about Satellite radio. Its a non-issue! The retailers aren't selling it, and while it may sound good (I have heard it) the base issue is being ignored by both engineers and programmers and station owners. The issue is:" Why would anyone go out and spend more money for a radio to hear the same commercial crap, they hear now, for free on the radio's they've already got?" No question it sounds better, as far as audio quality, but so what? So I get to hear the same crap programs in better clarity than now? What's the enticement to buy an HD radio? No one is selling them! The retailers aren't promoting them or have any idea what they are. The root problem is being ignored. People are turning away from commercial and non-commercial radio not because of the quality of the signals, but because of the quality of the programming. You can put 14-karat gold plating on a pile of cow manure, and its still cow manure. The reason for the lack of enthusiasm amongst broadcasters is the realization that HD isn't going to either save it, nor make it any better than it is now. You don't need to set up a 'Demonstration' or prove anything to anyone. We all know it "sounds better" as far as signal quality. The problem is what you are putting on the HD signal. HD isn't going to save commercial or non-commercial radio. The industry has done more to drive away customers (listeners) than Detroit ever did to drive away car buyers. Its not an engineering/technical issue. Its a programming issue. Making crappy programs "sound" better technically or on an O-scope doesn't compel the listener to tune you in. In my opinion, HD will go the same path as "AM Stereo". Good idea, but poorly implemented and not sold to the public. HD hasn't done a good job of selling the people in broadcasting on the idea and hasn't even made a poor attempt at selling the public on it. Just look at how fast HD TV has come into the mainstream. How many times has the target date been postponed? What is it, 2009 now? Give me a reason to want HD. So far none of you proponents has done more than tell us how we don't "understand" the issue. When in reality its you that don't understand and have no clue as to why it will fail. If you want people to listen, or to support, give us a reason other than telling us how much we don't understand it. Pat Murphy (11/25/06) after reading about kris gamble's medical plight; i can only surmise CC has absolutely lousy health insurance, which wouldn't surprise me in the least. some CC friends have told me it's tough just to get prescriptions filled. shades of the old shadow broadcast services, which had a self-funded health plan. took six months or more to get providers paid. calls to HR about unpaid bills produced this answer: "well--they haven't made a payment to the plan in two months." sure, kris can get COBRA, but why bother? and, perhaps, knowing CC's 90 day blanket severance policy (unless you have a PSC); there ain't that much money to deal with that kind of stuff--especially during the holidays. i'm waiting to read or hear a story about a recently-canned CC employee staking out a cluster parking lot, waiting for the cluster GM and PD to come out for lunch and opening fire with a glock 40. my money says it's gonna happen...somewhere in the CC empire. hiring to fire. what a concept! (11/25/06) Not local, but interesting nonetheless... the tallest TV/radio transmission tower in the world is being planned for Tokyo, Japan. At 2,013 feet, it will be taller than even the CN Tower in Toronto and only about 1200 feet taller than anything transmitting from Washington, DC. Yep, apparently, only in Washington & at the DCRTV mailbag is terrestrial TV/radio dead. :-) (11/25/06) (snippage) I think it is awful that NBC is laying off some really good people and leaving some people ... like Joe Krebs... (end snippage) Joe Krebs appears to be the president of the Washington/Baltimore local of AFTRA (www.aftra.org). Firing him would look uu-uugly-yyy... (11/25/06) Bob Corbin is entitled to his opinion. So is everyone else. But what I hear is a whole lot of what people think, rather than know, and damn little of what people have actually heard on HD. I have built or certified >20 HD plants now in the last 18 months. In that time, not one client has asked me to turn it off. Not on HD 1, 2 or 3. Some have been happy just for the improvement in their analog signal alone! I have had enough of the naysayers and the opinionated 'never actually heard one' crowd. So, I am going to make it my project to come up with a venue hear (pun intended) in DC where all of these golden ears can come listen in a scientifically valid test with an audience. We will also have the general public listen. It will be a public venue and I intend to have TV press coverage. Dave, I want you to work with me on using this site to compile the email addresses of all those who comment on HD so they can each be invited. And for the poster who says that HD's main proponent has been sold and broken up,,not totally true. Clear Channel's management has been vocal in their gripes about HD. Clear Channel has been sold, Yes. But as for broken up, No. They are going to sell of markets below 100. In many cases new owners will be getting facilities that are among the best in town, and some may already be HD. HD gives terrestrial radio its only real way to compete with other digital multichannel media. Yes it will evolve, and some of us recall the original arguements for a new band, ignored of course by folks like Mr. Corbin, but what I hear on this site is only going to ensure that terrestrial radio dies. I intend to show you that HD brings radio alive. Ed Bukont, Comm-Struction. (11/25/06) Dave's response: For the record, DCRTV maintains strict confidentiality regarding the e-mail addresses of those who post in the Mailbag or send any message to DCRTV..... Pat Collins is cut from the same cloth as whatshisface---that fogie that used to be on channel 9---his kid is still there. The guy who used to drop his pants (off camera) for laughs. That old dude I don't like, who also over-dramatizes things just like Collins. Now he's on 7 maybe. WHAT THE HECK IS HIS NAME?? Mike Buchanan, that's the one. Not my kind of broadcasters, either of 'em. And while we're piling on D&M, how come they never gave us local fans the bulbous keychains they promised at their anniversary show at Lisner years ago? And that's after we had to pay 5 or 10 bucks to get into that place (was supposed to be free). Can those boys do anything besides lie? Can't wait to hear the s-load they come up with on Monday. Should be a goodie! (11/25/06) I think it is awful that NBC is laying off some really good people and leaving some people that can't even read a tele prompter, like Joe Krebs and Barbara Harrison. I have never seen two people mess up words as much as they do. I refuse to watch them in the mornings. Why are there so many new reporters and weather people??? I think they should go before Susan Kidd and George Michael. J... Columbia, MD (11/25/06) Oh yeah Dave, Peter Rosenberg sinks even lower in life – He will be spinning records and doing a live show for rosenbergradio.com at the McDonalds in Adams Morgan from 1am – 4am Friday and Saturday, you and any other manfans feel free to come through and eat a QP w/cheese and hang out with us. Rosenbergradio.com is the number 1 internet-based show in MD/DC/VA hands down. We even better than Perrynoid! What!!? (11/25/06) RE: [ "HD is a foregone conclusion." ]...... In my book, the score is: Bob Corbin 1, supposed HD radio geeks 0. But seriously, I've always felt HD radio was an interim solution and I think it eventually will change. This same idea was considered for HDTV, but abandoned for technical reasons. With TV channels 2,3,4,5, and possibly 6 (right adjacent to the FM band) opening up soon when the HDTV transition finally occurs, isn't it possible that FM HD radio could then could use a similar transition to digital strategy? And as for HD-radio being dead, that almost sort of sounded like wishful thinking from a failed radio GM! If you don't believe me, just compare iPOD compatibility in cars from a year or 2 ago to today. If anything, the U.S. car industry is dieing, not HD radio! So that was a very poor comparison. As far as AM HD radio goes, it seems to me that the ultimate solution is only going to be full in-band digital, but I'm not sure there's any will to do this either within the industry, the FCC, or even the elderly Rush Limbaugh fans. Geez, they'd have to buy all those costly new-fangled AM radios at the assisted-living homes! Can't have that. :-) (11/25/06) ("we all boycott O'Meara's.") I thought everyone was already. (11/25/06) /\ November 25 Messages /\ \/ November 24 Messages \/ RE: "Curious to find that people think that the 32 kilobits per second compressed audio of AM HD is "FM Quality..." I'm not sure the compression scheme of HD Radio but if it uses an aacPlus-like compression scheme then 32k sounds quite good. FM quality? Pretty close... Bob Corbin/VARTV.com (11/24/06) Rave / Rave - I was talking to the cashier at Donnie's local Safeway in GF today and he said the bloated one was in and said the phones were fixed (Rave!), however they won't be in on Monday because the Echo Machine is broke (Rant, or Rave....) (11/24/06) HD is a foregone conclusion. At this point it doesn't really matter if they sell a $49 after rebate version. There are several factors that are helping to contribute to its demise before it gets started: 1) How it will be rated by Arbitron? No one knows. PD's are not ready to commit to programming another station that may kill their own listeners and contribute to additional work on their part. 2) The industry cannot financially support all the different means of media distribution available at this point. 3) It's biggest financial supporter and backer just got sold, and is about to be broken up. 4) No one really believes in it as a ROI. So when it all boils down to it the real competitor will be cell phones that will eventually pick up streaming bandwidths of 32 kbps and the only thing left will be right where we started. Sooner then later they will make a decision and HD will fall the way of AM Stereo. Analog Transmitters (Free) and Streaming Setups (pay per use or monthly rate). Don't believe me? Go to your local Best Buy or Circuit City to buy a car st ereo, see what they pitch. (11/24/06) Curious to find that people think that the 32 kilobits per second compressed audio of AM HD is "FM Quality". Has the iPod really ruined people's ears that much or is FM really that bad around here? (11/24/06) Dave's response: There's AM. There's FM. And then there's XM, which is kind of somewhere in between if you've ever pumped it through a home stereo system..... Dave, this follows Bob’s post today. I also picked up the Accurain HD Radio at Radio Shack this morning for $99 after rebate. It is great to hear music without commercials. I also was able to pick up WIYY in HD from Rockville with just the wire antenna that hooks up to the back of the radio. I was surprised to find WTNT broadcasting in HD. It was neat to hear the Imus show change over from regular AM to HD after about 10 seconds. The sound is FM quality on AM. Take care, Dick (11/24/06) Re: Odd Couple on DVD... The first season of the TV series for The Odd Couple is also available only at timelife.com for $30. Kevin... (11/24/06) Dave's response: Tony Randall, TV's "Felix," and Janet Leigh (who showered in Hitchcock's "Psycho") both starred together in "Hello Down There," a dippy movie about a family that moves to an underwater home. It features a teenaged Richard Dreyfuss and the great Merv Griffin. By the way, both Tony and Janet died in 2004, the same year my ma died. I don't know how or why this all links together, but I just thought I'd throw it out there. Perhaps it's because I've just come back from seeing "The Fountain" and my brain is a bit scrambled. A great flick, though. Be careful about cutting down that tree - it could be gramps..... I disagree with mailbaggers' negative comments about Pat Collins. He's an institution and I don't think he's being "dramatic" during his reports. He's spent several decades reporting on mostly gruesome homicides in D.C. -- not on Britney Spears' new breast implants. Homicide is real drama, babe. -Silvie in Waldorf- (11/24/06) Dave's response: Pat Collins is one of the all-time DC TV greats. We're planning to honor him with a 20-foot high statue in the DCRTV Hall Of Heroes. Right up there next to Alan Leinwand..... I would not ordinarily air someone else's "dirty laundry" in public, but since she was willing to put it out over the air, I guess that Kris Gamble's medical bills are a fair topic for discussion. As a member of the same union as Kris (AFTRA/SAG) she really should do what EVERY fired union member should do. Call her/your shop steward and her local office in Bethesda to learn your rights. First, even if Kris was on a Personal Services Contract, I believe that union insurance benefits still apply (providing one has been paying the motnhly premium). And, once fired, at the pay level Kris was making, 80-100% of the bills should be covered. I went a year without high blood pressure meds because 1) I chose to believe too much bad information from my peers and 2) I was too dumbe and lazy to pick up the phone! If you don't know who to talk to, ask George Wright. As union members, we PAY for this stuff out of our too meager salaries! Please don't give away your money OR your right to healthcare!. When in doubt, ASK - Good Luck (11/24/06) Re: WRC-TV's shedding of older talent. These guys have had their run. They're lucky to have lasted that long given the fickle TV news industry. Bring on the Young Turks! Collins, Kidd, Campbell et al. have made their dough. Feel sorry for them? No way. (11/24/06) 1. I was referring to the HD reception of the Accurian. Not bad for 1% ERP. 2. As I recall, many of the legacy radios that so many like only had earphone jacks, or required an external amp, or you just dealt with the speaker internal. Some folks will do anything to avoid trying something new. (11/24/06) Re: Kris Gamble insurance: Maybe that's why CC did not fire her sooner. If she had an ongoing medical issue and was cut off before her insurance could pay for her operation, couldn't she have brought up some lawsuit? It's obvious that mgmt, was determined to install a new line-up from the get-go. So, Kris should consider herself lucky that she had the operation before losing her job. LG (11/24/06) Oh how I hope your info about Pat Collins being let go are true. While I hate for anyone to be unemployed, especially around the holidays, it sure would be nice not to listen to his "dramatic" pauses during a story. Call me heartless, but there is only....(insert pause here)....so much a person can take. (11/24/06) The Baltimore Sun/Morning Edition, 11/24/06, confirmed that Amber Theoharis, the No. 2 Sports Anchor at WBFF-TV/Fox 45, will be leaving at the end of December. Apparantly she doesn't have any other position lined-up. (11/24/06) Dave, if your WRC/NBC source is reliable, the news that Pat Collins might be "let go" is unreal. I mean, let's talk seriously here -- I know the station wants to perhaps attract a younger audience, but for the love of God, can't they be more "subtle" in doing these "firings"? Kidd, Hudson, possibly Campbell, and now Collins. Older, more "seasoned" employees. This has the makings of "age discrimination". Memo to WRC: Learn from FOX5, which employs such "older" reporters as Pat McGrath and John Henrehan -- and they are A-W-E-S-O-M-E! -Silvie in Waldorf- (11/24/06) Okay I'm lifting myself up off the couch for this...Hey who put the mashed sweet potaters in my pants, not funny....boy I see today's mailbag starts off with a lot ebile things...pesky yutes....I got off the couch cause I heard on the Trey Bouche show ( I enjoy your musical selections very much but do you have to talk after every one?) this morning on WEBR that Rusty Gibson will not be in this afternoon due to illness....rest easy dude......but say, can't Tom Gavin fill in, in a pinch...Watch it!.......A nod to Mailbagger who pointed out the You Tube WKRP Thanksgiving special! (and I see the lawsuits have started on myspace and youtube) Man all I got of WKRP is some very faded and blurry vhs tapes...can't wait for the day WKRP(and The Odd Couple) comes out dvd...why that would pretty much complete my favorite 70's and 80's tv shows on dvd collection and I can just retire to the basement and never come back up.....And CB what's that favorite expression of Don Juan's when someone don't agree with him...something about a flavored straw....well raspberries to you p88ppyhead....do you think Arch Campbell might return to Texas and become media relations person for Kinky Friedman?...and I see Pat Collins as the new spokesperson for PBS' Masterpiece Theatre, especially if he wears that houndstooth hat of his.......on Dec 7th the State Theatre in Falls Church will be having the annual Santa's Jam(benefitting homeless women and children and victims of domestic violence) with many of the D.C.area's rockers of old, it's the season of giving folks?....well back to the couch in the basement and them turkey baloney sandwiches.....the itchy old mange, bill smith...... and good day to you sir and all the ships at sea said the assistant producer (11/24/06) Dave's response: I hear that "KRP" won't be coming out on DVD any time soon because the royalty fees for all the original music used in the show would make the cost prohibitively high. Don't know about "The Odd Couple" (I think the original movie, which is out on DVD, is far superior to the TV show) but they are finally releasing the great "Get Smart" on DVD. However, the only place to get it is via Time-Life on the web and it's only available in a five-season package for more than $200. Bummer. I only really liked the first two seasons, anyway. After Max and 99 "got married" the show wasn't as good. Oh, don't forget "Kath And Kim" tonight at 9 on Sundance. The fabulous 3rd season just started. Merge Britcoms "Keeping Up Appearances" and "Absolutely Fabulous" and then plunk it down in Australia..... To my fellow "Mailbaggers" Sadly I will not be doing a "Black Friday" MHT show today (& Bill Smith I refuse to get a Flu shot but God bless you anyway). I will be back on WEBR on Wednesday from 9:00am 'til Noon. Happy "Black Friday" to all. Love, Rusty Gibson, WEBR RadioFairfax (11/24/06) "Get the Accurain HD Radio at Radio Shack. Awesome. I am sitting 30 miles from either WIYY or WJZW and getting them both fine in HD with just the crappy little dipole antenna that comes with." Funny, on a clear day I could get 98 Rock clearly as far south as Frednecksburg (80 miles) with my crappy, stock, circa 1996, Ford radio receiver (haven't tried with their new transmitter, I listen to Sirius or my iPod when driving now). (11/24/06) RE: "Get the Accurain HD Radio at Radio Shack..." I hear it doesn't have ANY audio outputs unless you count the earphone jack. A huge minus for me... Bob Corbin/VARTV.com (11/24/06) Get the Accurain HD Radio at Radio Shack. Awesome. I am sitting 30 miles from either WIYY or WJZW and getting them both fine in HD with just the crappy little dipole antenna that comes with. (11/24/06) Perhaps that explains this strange, creeping normalcy I feel. It all seems so normal today. I actually think the FCC would be the better place to address Net Neutrality issues, but I'm skeptical this proceeding will go anywhere with the current FCC leadership. And then, nothingness. And passing legislation now would greatly lessen the pressure for better legislation in the near future. (11/24/06) channel 2 's presence in Baltimore - is the equivalent of Nasty's 1570 station, or 1300am - ALL are quite Irrelevant ( and 98 rock is quickly on their way , too) (11/24/06) Dave's response: For a major radio market, Baltimore REALLY needs a fulltime alt rocker (K&M all morning on 105.7, the best WHFS alt rock the rest of the time), a fulltime contemporary hit outlet (Hot 104.3), and a fulltime all-newser (WTOP's Baltimore/Eastern Shore Edition 107.9)..... RE: Kris Gamble not having insurance, BOO HOO!! Tell that to all the children who don't have any insurance. At least Kris is elegible for COBRA, which a previous poster also mentioned. At least she did not get fired before the operation. I hope she doesn't expect us to pay for her mounting medical bills. (11/24/06) Wow, I really do have something to give thanks over. Arch Campbell's leaving! Most of the time when he gave one of his half-assed reports, I didn't know if it was him having mini-strokes in between every 3rd word or my cable cutting out. Now, maybe I'll get my Christmas wish as well: Bruce Cunningham and Keith Mills out of TV & Radio, moving to Iraq, and boring them with their subpar sports commentary. Better yet, Afghanistan. At least KM won't have to steal from any cancer patients to get his fix, he'll have all the opium he needs. (11/24/06) /\ November 24 Messages /\ \/ November 23 Messages \/ Re the "Black Friday" poster, I'll bet that dozens of people will be trampled as doors open and carried off by ambulance... then we'll hear them rant about how they're going to "sue this" and "sue that"... isn't it amazing how TV reporters don't get trampled themselves when they cover these events? -Silvie in Waldorf- (11/23/06) I think Kris Gamble should be eligible for COBRA medical insurance which is good for 18 months after being fired. She would have to pay the whole monthly premium but that's a lot less than the medical bills. My son is paying it now and has paid it before in another situation. -Bill (11/23/06) If any of the area news stations would happen to just show last year's "Black Friday" reports, would anybody even notice? Isn't it the same crap every year? (11/23/06) I have to agree with the person who wrote that Don and Mike never miss a vacation or meal. Most of their show is focused on Mike's horrible health, Don's hopes of finding a friend with benefits, and whether their producer sucks or not..... not the makings of a show with much time left. I hope they find a replacement who proves himself/themselves, more worthy of being on JFK..... happy thanksgiving everyone! -NA (11/23/06) Just wanted to say Happy Thanksgiving to all you folks down there below the Mason-Dixon line. JohnnyuinHanover,Pa. (11/23/06) 1) Chris Plante subbed again for "The Great One" Mark Levin last night, Thanksgiving Eve, and apparently has a bit of a following nationwide because many callers to his own show, following Levin's on WMAL, were Levin fans calling from out-of-state. Way to go, Chris! 2) Bryan Nehman should be given a chance, at some point, to sub for Chris Core when Core goes on vacation or otherwise. I just want to see how Bryan does on his own for a few hours handling topics. He's got talent; I think he'll succeed. -Silvie in Waldorf- (11/23/06) Well- Santa is enjoying a threesome on the shore as three, count em, three stations went all Christmas today. First to win the prize was JOE, then Q105 followed, and 107.1 the Duck is now sporting all Christmas. (11/23/06) The music is a wide variety of holiday tunes and the only voice you hear is WFLS-HD2, Fredericksburg. (11/23/06) baisden missing www.nydailynews.com (11/23/06) Dave - the real reason the bloated bumf*cks are off the air is because Don heard about Artie Lange's [deleted in the name of good taste] and is doing the same. Too bad the [deleted in the name of good taste] is working and they are off the air longer than they want - all to get ratings... What a media whore! (11/23/06) I've been listening to WASH-FM for four hours now, and I still haven't heard "Christmas Eve in Washington." How programs this lousy play list anyway? (11/23/06) Dave's response: I was doing some holiday shopping in Herndon's Salvation Army store earlier this week and WASH was being piped in - and they played that very tune..... the (DC) Times should pay you for doing their (media coverage). It was a total rip off of yours! washingtontimes.com (11/23/06) Dave's response: The freebie Examiner gets more daily readers than the DC Times does, I'm told. Heck, the number of unique visitors DCRTV gets in two days exceeds the DC Times' total number of paid subscribers..... From Boston to Burbank, may you all be blessed with love and joy today. And if you are trying to think of something to be thankful for, remember - I only do this once a year. Albert McGilvray, News Director, TalkRadio WRNR AM 740, Martinsburg, WV (11/23/06) Dave's response: Thanks Albert! Say hi to Damian! Oh, whoops, wrong WRNR. Nevermind..... Speaking of "endless reruns of stupid shows" (and with a tip of the hat to Bill Smith), what would Thanksgiving be without this gem?: www.youtube.com (11/23/06) For the twelfth consecutive year I will spend Thanksgiving alone. At about 4pm I will take my thirty pack of Milwaukee's Best and two baloney sandwiches out of the refrigerator and descend into my unfinished basement. I will adjust the rabbit ears on my black and white tv and watch endless reruns of stupid shows until I pass out on the floor. (11/23/06) Dave's response: Hi Mike..... "Dave's response: Ugh! And how many dumb ass TV reporters are going to interviewing dumb ass shoppers...." They're just warming up for the first snow fall of the year when they can stand in front of the salt domes with the plows loading up or show us with their foot that yes in fact the snow is slippery. Maybe one of these years they will figure out it's really not a frigging story. --------- Folks you do know we field peons don't have a choice in doing these stories? The ND, Producers and Assignment Editors speak and we obey - that's how it works. The only choice we have is how well we make the chicken salad out of chicken shit. Really I think if you polled reporters and photogs on how they would like to produce a newscast you would get very different results. But then again I am uninfluenced by all the other forces that tug at the direction of a newscast within the hallowed corporate halls. Anyway, Happy Thanksgiving my fellow working newsers; may your day be quiet and free of managers! (11/23/06) Wo is "Rich" on 100.7? Their website doesn't list him. I like him better than the usual show. Thanks. (11/23/06) Dave - thank you for correcting my posting re Debbie Jarvis as spokesperson for "Pepco" vice "Vepco". Someone posted that the younger reporters for NBC like Shannon Bream and Eun Yang would pick up slack with the eventual firings. My gut feeling is Shannon Bream is sharpening up her act (updated hair and clothes) and is looking at national news (nothing wrong with that) but I don't believe she'll be local news for very long--kind of like Suzanne Malveux (sp?) who was a short timer and quickly departed (practically ran!) for CNN. Eun Yang is busy with her family (just recently had her second baby--certainly nothing wrong with that) but my feeling is when NBC hired her they thought they were getting a Connie Chung. Eun Yang is too nice and likeable to go that route. Thank you, cynthia romero (11/23/06) Dave's response: And there isn't a Vepco any more. It's Dominion Virginia Power..... I'd like to wish Dave a Happy Thanksgiving. You are undoubtedly one of my favorite turkeys! Then I'd like to thank the pathetic souls who have nothing better to do with their useless lives, than to post crap about Don and Mike, as though it was the only thing that mattered in their pointless lives. To see such pathetic little monkeys, focus their entire lives on this show, gives everyone else, who has a life, a reason to live. Day in-Day out, all they can do is post hateful, pointless, jabs at two people who have made a good living, doing what these posters can only hope, pray and wish they could do. Work in real radio. The posters who have to obsess about everything that D&M do, make the rest of us realize that our lives do count, and do mean something. Clearly yours don't. Thank you to all the pitiful apes, who have to spew their venom on two guys, who do an afternoon show, on a station that once played "EZ Listening". Everytime you D&M bashers have to post some inane thought, it only confirms to the rest of us, what happens to the retarded kids on the short bus. You get a computer, and post to DCRTV about something that no one else cares about. A hearty thanksgiving to my second favorite turkey, Paul Bicknell. May you prosper and enjoy health. CB (11/23/06) Dave's response: Thanks "CB" - Commander Bunny. By the way, hope the pic at right brings you some nice memories. Sorry, wrong holiday..... Why ,Why ,Why!!!. You just gave D&M an excuse (especially D to say “ I see these people are saying I wont talk about it “ “ just to egg me on to talk about it , so I wont”... But… Here ya go D , I bet you will talk , You have too its going to eat you alive HAHA (11/23/06) Kris Gamble on 9 News at 11:00 PM - Former Hot 99.5 DJ Kris Gamble is feature on 9 News at 11:00PM tonight. When she had back surgery last month, 9 News cameras were their taping for a story on sugery. She couldn't have lost her job at a worst time, as she was fired 3 days after returning to work. "Once they were HOT...and now they're not!" (11/23/06) Yeesh...did we really need that shot of El Jefe? Was he separated at birth from the wrestler, Bad News Allen (or Brown as he was called in the pre-WWE days?) www.obsessedwithwrestling.com -- Happy Thanksgiving, all! The RCL (11/23/06) Can someone PLEASE explain what is going on with The Michael Baisden Show on WHUR? For two weeks he has been off the air with substitutes sitting in. Most recently comedienne Mo'nique has been sitting in. (11/23/06) This is a closed paragraph to the blinder wearing winder licking minions of the DnM show. They have been practicing satan's way for too long and it has caught up with'em but all you Igor's can't see that from a hole in the ground........ drove by the old ham and egg world headquarter's this eve in toothless Fairfax and I thought I saw satan's children enjoying a meal in a moving van in the parking lot...UH, what's for dinner, Don Juan exclaimed "Crow?" why no it's Spam and Corn on the Cob and lil' baby lima beans and German potater salad and some orange ruffie and top it off with a heap big serving of chocolate pie........Don't forget for the person on your gift list who is hard too buy for I believe Dennis Murphy is still selling his classic Christmas cd "Have A Merry F8cking Xmas" www.dennismurphy.com... I've heard but can't confirm that Dennis and Tom Gavin have buried the hatchet and have sung together one last time a fantastic version of the great Pogues X-Mas classic "A Fairytale of New York" www.pogues.com ..... Remember when WBMW had a turkey day event by inviting the actor who was Les Nesman on WKRP to drop a frozen turkey off the roof of the Safeway in toothless Fairfax....and here's a dedication too all you evening listener's of WEEL it's the Walker Brother's with "The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine (Anymore) and rumor has it you Wing Dingers that the Zombies with Argent and Blunstone will be coming to the State Theatre in Falls Church in spring of 2007......you can have anything you like, I swear as Gawd is my witness, I thought Turkey's could fly! and if you turkey's don't cut it out I'll complain to your wine sipping general manager....well off for a while, I'm going to be over on the couch, no really Bill Smith (11/23/06) Let's face it... Maryland's 1st/pioneer TV station WMAR 2 Baltimore has pretty much hit rock bottom. So what exactly is former WMAR 2 GM Drew Berry going to teach at Norfolk area Hampton University? How NOT to operate a commercial TV station properly?, How even if you screw up a major market TV station you can still make money?, How to take a poorly running major market TV station and run it further into the ground? Somebody humor me here. Doesn't this post sound like an infomercial advertisement? Exactly the source of Scripps Howard WMAR 2's discretionary income that better run stations need less of. So he's going to teach college students how to make money with no effort at all? Amazing world we live in. This guy should resign from Hampton University too, not just WMAR 2! I mean seriously, who in their right mind would choose Mary Beth Hasbeen over Stan Stovall (who's since led WBAL TV 11 to #1 in the morning news ratings)? Somebody humor me here please. Is there anyone in the industry who has any respect for this guy? We should be hearing he's retired to Florida to work on new-fangled punch card technology any day now. Seriously, are other Scripps Howard major market TV stations as poorly run as Baltimore's WMAR 2? It's really hard to imagine anyone could do worse than this guy. (11/23/06) Ho Ho Ho-Santa has arrived on the Eastern Shore early. Great Scott's JOE FM (WKHI) flipped to Christmas overnight (Thursday). Merry Christmas Q105. (11/23/06) Dave's response: And we can forget WLTF, 97.5, out there in the Winchester-Hagerstown area. Ho ho ho.... "I also think it's pretty lame to post something anonymously. Well, that's my "rant." Paul Sheats" I agree. You should always include your name so we know it's legitimate. Saddam, Baghdad (11/23/06) /\ November 23 Messages /\ \/ November 22 Messages \/ Re: "There's music coming from the HD2 signal of 93.3..." Are you speaking of WFLS in Fredericksburg? What kind of music? Just curious. I'm thinking of buying a HD receiver, but didn't think I would be able to get anything on the HD channels this far away from DC or Richmond. Dave in Fredericksburg (11/22/06) Dave's response: Either FLS or MMR in Philly..... QUOTE: "George Michael in the "famous56" photo looks like the caveman in the Geico TV commercials." He actually looks like Davy Jones' (The Monkees) evil twin. QUOTE 2: "I used to listen to Don when he was doing PM drive on WPGC. I lost my virginity in my father’s car while his show was on." Scary thought. Too much detail, sweetie. -Silvie in Waldorf- (11/22/06) ("Don & Mike will return right before they are scheduled to go on their next vacation. With Don & Mike there are certain things one can always count on, they never miss a vacation or a day off, and they never miss a meal...") I hate to agree but I do. Not that they owe anyone anything for our years of listening. I am torn between my enjoyment of their show and the tolerance of putting up with all this. If this was anyone else in any other profession it wouldn't be tolerated or condone. If this was a rating trick,imagine the ratings, the kudos, the applause if they were to postpone their winter break by a week or even a day, just to say they were sorry for being off so long.Imagine cows and pigs flying. (11/22/06) All I know is I've known Bill for over 25 years and he's always told me there was one "r".....go figure...PLB (11/22/06) There's music coming from the HD2 signal of 93.3..... (11/22/06) Greetings from the Left Coast. Since I am not privy to all the inner-workings of DC radio and tv, I have to ask you all, "Why do you hate Don and Mike so much?" Is it some local feud? I started reading everyone's "rants" after listening to Don talk about this website. I can understand if there are some listeners who don't like Don and Mike, but what is with all the name calling and hoping they've been fired? Do you listen to D&M just to rag on them here? Obviously, you're listening to the show, so what gives? If you don't like them, listen to something else. I'm sure DC has plenty of other things to listen to. We're syndicated here in Bakersfield, and we don't get O&A or Ron & Fez. But jeez, lighten up. You people sound like a bunch of bratty kids. I also think it's pretty lame to post something anonymously. Well, that's my "rant." Paul Sheats (11/22/06) I have found it quite surprising how vocal the FOX5 anchors have become regarding a number of controversial issues that have come up. A number of them really ripped into the subject of OJ's book and the plan to broadcast it, even though that broadcast would've been on their own station. Not only have the anchors been vocal on air (both during the Let it Rip segment as well as during the regular broadcast), I've seen blogs by Brian Bolter, Lark, Allison, Gurvir and others where the've been quite candid. I guess times are a changin' from the days when the anchors just reported the news and left their personal opinions out of it. (11/22/06) Regarding Jack Alix: does anyone remember how long he did the evening program at WEEL that was ALL British Invasion music? It was a radio highlight of my teen years (along with WTOP, of all stations, breaking away from their news block each morning to present the adventures of Chickenman). Jack introduced me to a lot of British songs that weren't getting much play on WEAM and WPGC. Something else to be thankful for, I guess, at this season. Rest in peace. (11/22/06) Re Susan Kidd's eventual departure--NBC is not very smart in letting go one of the smartest reporters on their staff. I, too, do not understand the logic of having so many weather people--its the weather, people, and they get their info from NOAA. I hope Ms. Kidd makes a return similar to that of Debbie Jarvis, now spokesperson for the local power company, VEPCO. Thank you, cynthia romero (11/22/06) Dave's response: That's Pepco..... So, if "Bill Paris" did Red Street Sound and Video such a great favor, why the hell can't they RETURN the favor and spell his damn name correctly! It's P-A-R-R-I-S! Parris. The island, not the city, dammit! - Gumby (11/22/06) Don & Mike will return right before they are scheduled to go on their next vacation. With Don & Mike there are certain things one can always count on, they never miss a vacation or a day off, and they never miss a meal. Condolences to the fellow who lost his virginity whilst Don was pontificating on the radio, I can only imagine the pain, humiliation, and the years of suffering such a psychic anchor would cause. (11/22/06) To the folks that cared... here's the update on Read Street Sound and Video owned by Paul L. Bicknell (Davy Jones) and Jay Harrison. Bill Paris was nice enough to provide us with space to get up and running once again and we're almost there. This email is to notify all of you about our CHANGE OF ADDRESS: We are currently located at: 9 Crain Highway North, Glen Burnie MD 21061... The phone number will remain the same, however until we are totally settled you will get voice mail. Be assured you will get a call back. Paul L. Bicknell and Jay Harrison-RSS, Ph: 443-921-0530-office (11/22/06) Hey WJFK - Count me out as a listener from 10am - 1pm. I'm sick and f*cking tired of you cutting out of O&A when they barely get started interviewing good guests. Today they had Tracy Morgan on, and as they were getting warmed up, JFK cuts them off. Good job. I will just listen on XM and not even bother turning on your station. And since I quit D&M ages ago, WJFK IS TOTALLY DEAD TO ME. Way to alienate your listeners dumbasses. Talk about a station that is out of touch. (11/22/06) Dave the holidays are so much nicer without those 2 fat blowhards on the dial maybe you can convince them and their fans just how much they really do suck....Heartbreaking holidays for the folks over at NBC4 as well. It's to bad that a once great team has now begun to be dismantled. I wonder if those who run channel 4 even have a clue as to what lies ahead. Well I haven't forgotten you and I swear a donation is on the way once all of the food digests..Have a great holiday and let's hope D&M did get canned that way the MAILBAG will go back to it's peaceful all encompassing radio space and not just the D&M lovers/haters forum. It really gets old after awhile..AMF from DELMARVA...... (11/22/06) A very heartfelt and sincere wish goes out to ALL (this means you) of my fellow "Mailbaggers" for a joyous and festive Thanksgiving. And while we're giving thanks, without DCRTV Dave, we wouldn't be here. So God Love Ya Diamond Dave! Peace & Love, Rusty Gibson WEBR RadioFairfax (11/22/06) Dave's response: Thanks Rusty. Oh, Rusty's "Magical History Tour" is the "Official DCRTV Radio Show." Sorry Don and Mike..... Random thoughts about Thanksgiving; "As God as my witness, I thought turkeys could fly." Arthur Carlson, General manager, WKRP-AM, Cincinnati, OH. ......Thanksgiving weekend marks the official end of the year for "Republican talk up" talk radio. Starting Monday, a brand new season begins on both O'Reilly and Hannity of (insert booming reverb here) "the war on Christmas." (reverb out) Look for jumping up and down lies, misquotes, fabrications, and exaggerations concerning (hit reverb) "the war on Christmas" (reverb out) coming from those two knuckleheads for about the next three weeks. The subjects of the lies and innuendos will be of the scorning of Santa, Jingle Bells, and the loveable Silent Night. Let's all practice; "How dare they not allow Silent Night to be sung in a high school Winter pageant, but they allowed the kids to sing "Dradle, Dradle," and "I'm a happy Muslim." I always look forward to (hit reverb) "the war on Christmas." (reverb out). As a matter of fact, every January when I get a new calendar for my office I always mark on the square for the Monday after Thanksgiving the words "start of the war on Christmas," listen to WMAL and Fox News Channel for more details." Did you know more mariage engagments happen over Thanksgiving weekend than on Valentine's Day? That is why there are loads of diamond commercials in November. Last thought; is O'Meara's open on Thanksgiving Day? (11/22/06) Hello, Everyone, I wanted to take just a moment to thank my listeners, friends and supporters for making The Angry Black Woman Show with Sunny James a success! It's been a great year and there's so much more growing to do. Have a stupendous holiday wherever you may be and, of course, don't forget to download Show #24 in just a few days. Sunny, www.theabw.net (11/22/06) I think the Hideout was pretty awful when it was on JFK, and the ratings reflected it. Why else would they have been replaced by Jay Severin? I thought Albie Dee and Jim Watts were pretty good, but it doesn’t look like the decision makers agree. (11/22/06) (snip) Whatever happens, I’m sure [WJFK] management has a plan this time. Thanks. Matt (end snip) I like to think that I get jokes, but in this case I'm just not sure. Are you being sarcastic, Matt? If not, what exactly do you see from these clowns' past performance that would lead you to this conclusion? Time for my warm wine enema. Signed, The Ghost of Vince Lombardi (11/22/06) Well, it took All Access until today (ha ha ha) to even mention the latest D&M situation, which has been going on for almost two weeks. Nothing much new from AA, anyway: WESTWOOD ONE and WJFK (FREE FM 106.7)/WASHINGTON afternoon team DON AND MIKE have been in "best of" mode since NOVEMBER 10th, when DON told listeners that technical problems with the show would necessitate coming off the air until repairs could be made (they were briefly back the following MONDAY [11/13] but again walked off). Since then, it's been one rerun after another, and the team's website home page now sports the simple, large, red headline "WTF?" The show recently moved from WJFK's FAIRFAX studios to new ROCKVILLE, MD digs, but the reason for the crew's absence remains unclear -- suspension, stunt, or simple tech problems -- as does a date for their return. (11/22/06) Hi Dave, I love the sight and I also love D&M. I used to listen to Don when he was doing PM drive on WPGC. I lost my virginity in my father’s car while his show was on. I never though he needed a partner but later thought “WOW”…This guy Mike is a perfect fit. I have loved their show as long as there has been a show. I have always wondered what the show would evolve into when the guys started looking at Hardin and Weaver age. I fear what I hear. The sophomoric humor is still there but the fire is out. There is no more bite and no more fight. They used to walk out over content and make stands over censorship. Now they get surly and walk because the phones don’t work. I will listen Monday as all good lemmings should. My only prayer is that they return the show to the glory it once was. The show that had my wife rolling her eyes and asking why I listen to these guys. The show that I couldn’t listen to when my child was in the car. The show that had me scorching my sinuses with carbonated drinks. I really do love the guys and wish the best for them. I would like to be able to say that they went out on top. A long time devotee of Don and Mike Steve in Elkridge (11/22/06) Happy Thanksgiving Dave! It is starting to look like management at WJFK might have a plan in replacing Don and Mike after all. Is it a coincidence that El Jefe and J-Dubs are coming back? I wouldn’t be surprised if this duo will be taking over in the afternoon and not the evening slot. If this is the case, I hope when they sign them to a contract, that they do not allow them to take 10 weeks of vacation. Whatever happens, I’m sure management has a plan this time. Thanks. Matt (11/22/06) "Dave's response: Ugh! And how many dumb ass TV reporters are going to interviewing dumb ass shoppers...." They're just warming up for the first snow fall of the year when they can stand in front of the salt domes with the plows loading up or show us with their foot that yes in fact the snow is slippery. Maybe one of these years they will figure out it's really not a frigging story. (11/22/06) Dave's response: I hear one local TV weatherman is going to have an on-air colonoscopy on the day of the first measurable snow. It'll feature a rectal probe that looks like the pole end of a snow shovel. And the depth of snow will determine the number of inches that the probe will be inserted..... I was listening to Scott Ferrall (sh sha shake it up!) last night on Sirius and he too lost several phone calls and never once told Howard he was going off the air until it was fixed. Amazing the two bloated bigmouth blumpkins can't act the same - is the echo machine broke too? Sent via BlackBerry from Cingular Wireless (11/22/06) Yeah yeah yeah… Bush pardons the turkey. Maybe next year they can combine Thanksgiving and Groundhog Day and pull the big rat from the box AND pardon the Turkey at the same time. There would be a Breaking News bumper rush. Oh yeah AND show the cutting of the White House Christmas Tree! WHATEVER! Get to real news! (11/22/06) Dave's response: Yeah! More Kevin Federline, please..... Hey, Dave – If Channel 2 brings back Stu Kerr, they are going to need a shovel… Todd in Frederick. Wikipedia (11/22/06) Dave's response: I know that. I was just jooooooking. Maybe they could get Keith Mills back to host the "Money Movie"..... Dave, Happy Thanksgiving to you and to all DCRTV mailbaggers, posters, lurkers, etc. We appreciate the work you do to keep this site running. -Silvie in Waldorf- (11/22/06) I think it is SO ridiculous how big a story "Holiday Travel" has become on local and cable news. First of all, it's incredibly cliche - the scripts write themselves. And then, when we finally do hear from passengers "on this busiest travel day of the year," few report any actual problems or irregularities. (If I hear one more "smooth sailing" bite from someone who's "had no problems at the checkpoints," I swear, I'm going to puke. "Smooth sailing" equals NO NEWS.) I've even heard and seen FREELANCERS brought in today to cover this, like it's some major, unexpected event! And it's all bullshit!! From watching and listening to the coverage, you'd imagine EVERYONE is traveling this weekend. No. AAA says 38 million people are traveling. That's hardly MOST of us, that's little more than ONE IN TEN of us. C'mon guys, it's not the friggin Superbowl! THERE ARE OTHER THINGS HAPPENING TODAY. But, I suppose in an era when 17 million people (5.6% of the population) viewing a single television show means "EVERYONE" is watching, there really is nothing else of significance going on as one in ten people go home for turkey dinner. (11/22/06) Dave's response: Ugh! And how many dumb ass TV reporters are going to interviewing dumb ass shoppers as they bash each over the heads at 5 AM on "Black Friday" for 5-cent womens' XXL panties at the Wal-Mart. Sheesh..... Jefe posted on the fan board about the show broadcasting from WJFK in two weeks: www.hideoutheretics.net... That site would prolly find a link to that page pretty cool of you. (11/22/06) Dave's response: The Front Page blurb is up. I hope they invite me back on to make more bondage jokes about Michael Hughes. Oh, just checked the DCRTV Massive Photo Archive and found El Jefe in a Speedo (right)..... The Hideout returns to WJFK, at least for a week. Details at www.hideoutheretics.net (11/22/06) Wow, on the Colin Cowherd radio show, his phone connection with baseball reporter Tim Kurkjian went down and Colin progressed on with his show! Amazing! No tirade, no walk out, no best of segment run. A radio *professional* just continued on with the show. (11/22/06) Sounds like the GM from Channel 2 is the latest affirmation of the conventional wisdom that those who can, Do, and those who can't, Teach. (11/22/06) Dave's response: They really ought to get Stu Kerr and do the "Channel 2 Evening Money Movie" from 5 PM to 7 PM weeknights. Who needs a stinkin' news team, anyway..... Game time people....OVER/UNDER on percentage of D&M listeners permanantly lost due to this current "stoppage".... 5% ....Place bets now!!!!! (11/22/06) Just posted by Jefe from The Hideout... ********************** It's been a very busy 2 weeks since our last show at Real Radio 104.1. I got banned from a Circle K in Tampa, and Dubs got freaked out by a fat lady slated to cut his hair because all he could think about was that her hands, which would be running through his hair, were washing her blubbery crotch that morning. Not to mention the radio gold missed out on thanks to Kramer, OJ & the launch of the PS3. As I posted on the board and told Scott Maxwell from the Orlando Sentinel and, more importantly, Perrynoid from The Cosmic Circus we had 3 opportunities present themselves the very day we were let go from Clear Channel Orlando due to budget cuts. Those opportunities have expanded to 5 and the action is beginning so I now announce these 3 exciting pieces of Hideout News... 1) The Hideout will be doing a week's worth of "test shows" at 106.7 WJFK Free FM in Washington, DC December 4th-8th from 8p-10p. 2) Dubs & I are excited to welcome our former co-worker and very good friend, Shaffee, into The Hideout as a new member of the show. 3) We are currently building a new official website that will serve as part scrapbook for previous versions of The Hideout and part blueprint for the show. Jefe (11/22/06) Sadly, the downward spiral at 4 has been coming for a couple years. GE and NBC have always been an odd mix. When new management took over a few years ago, several long-timers were shown the door, some more unceremoniously than others. Morale has been low for a few years and this certainly won't help. There are still great people working there, and I hope they get through this. Re: the "diction" comment about Susan Kidd, Susan was the grammar police in the newsroom, often emailing the staff to clarify scripting missteps. I don't think she'd object to someone complimenting her on her diction. One thing Susan would never do, however, is say the name "Redskins." She found THAT racist and always managed to call them "washington's football team" or something to that effect. I only hope the folks waiting in the wings (Eun, Shannon, Handley) take advantage of the vacuum and step up. (11/22/06) I'm preaching to the choir, but they should dump B. Harrison before A-N-Y-O-N-E else. Understandably she is the face of Wednesday's Child and has become gal-pals with L. Bush. But the woman can cannot read a teleprompter to save her life. Anyway, NBC has become the Philadelphia Eagles -- dump the veteran talent before you really have to pay them. It's wrong, but it's bidness and sadly it is coming just before the holidays -- not like there is ever a good time to get your walking papers, but really this is a bit scroogy. Happy Thanksgiving to all. Fairfax (11/22/06) The following was forwarded to DCRTV..... To: WMAR Employees (who were not at yesterday’s announcement)..... From: Drew Berry..... It is with great anticipation and excitement that I announce my resignation from ABC2 effective December 1. Scripps has created some opportunities for me that allow me to do some things I’ve wanted to do for a long time. One of those things is teaching full-time on the college level, particularly at the Scripps Howard School of Journalism and Communications at Hampton. I will be the Scripps Howard Chair Visiting Professor at Hampton this spring. As many of you know, the company allowed me to test the teaching waters last fall both at Hampton, a $10 million-plus company investment, and at Morgan while also running the station. It was a great experience. I have to say that the company has been very accommodating with this ‘adventure.” Whether you believe it or not, I know that Scripps is the hands down winner as one of the best companies to work for in the industry…primarily because of the culture that Ken Lowe and the Scripps family have built over the years. My family is thrilled that we’ll be staying in the area while teaching at Hampton, which also allows me to do other things professionally that my wife and I have been talking about for quite some time. It is not often you get an opportunity like this…that’s why I’m so grateful to Scripps. Bill Peterson will be here next week to talk more about what’s ahead. I really don’t know who will be taking the reins here, but the company knows I’m a huge Bill Hooper fan for many reason. I have no inside knowledge of a successor but am confident the company will make a good choice. Thanks for being supportive for almost ten years. Amid the excitement in the Berry household is the sobering fact that I won’t see such a great group of people at WMAR on a daily basis. However, the next best thing is that many of you will be “guest lecturers” in my classes at Hampton and the fact that I get to stay in Baltimore to remain active in the community. Baltimore has charmed my family into making this city our permanent home. (11/22/06) Seeing all the strong responses for WRC and I hope they continue. First thing, it’s not the network affiliate that it’s making the move, its NBC Universal/GE who is making the cuts. They wanted everything be centralized in New York City, so they are taken away an office in New Jersey and most of the workers in DC, including WRC. I bet the WRC GM didn’t want to make these moves, but was forced to even though ratings are still tops in the area. I hope WRC doesn’t follow WUSA in the rise and fall department, but the reality is with the corporate umbrella, they have no choice. Tracy (11/22/06) Dave's response: NBC could dump one top-dog suit making $5 million or 100 hard working technicans, editors, writers, and reporters each making $50,000 a year - and get the same savings. So, why do big corporations always seem to choose the latter option? Hmmm..... As long as we're talking about odd and/or incorrect pronunciations: the town at Routes 97 and 108 is NOT OHL-ney... it's AWL-ney... unless you wanna be a real Muhr'luhnder and say "AWL-uh-nee." The road in Germantown is "ma-TEE-ney"... NOT "MATT-nee." Thank youse, in advance, hons... Richard Montgomery (11/22/06) Dave's response: Just this morning I heard a WaPo Radio guy call that Hawaiian beach "wa-KIKI" (as in "Kiki" Dee)..... George Michael in the "famous56" photo looks like the caveman in the Geico TV commercials. Al McGilvray (11/22/06) There's no need to call WMAL staff "retards". Since the George Noory show you are listening to is a REPLAY, meaning that the full, uncut and live version aired the night before, there's no need to stress out about whether ads run for 5 minutes - or 2 minutes. Just take a chill pill and enjoy the show. If you're so adamant about listening to the whole thing, you can download all Noory and Bell shows at www.coasttocoastam.com. -Silvie in Waldorf- (11/22/06) Rusty Gibson does a special Wednesday edition of "Magical History Tour" 9 AM to noon on WEBR - www.fcac.org. (11/22/06) Every name has been mentioned as a fix for NBC 4's money problems except one...Tom Sherwood. With Chief Ramsey and his story lines on the way out, maybe Tom should go too. Oh, wait, we still have Marion Barry around with his driving problems. Tom is the only one who can cover that hard hitting news story. Lisa M. (11/22/06) As a matter of fact, Jim Vance says the word "Maryland" differently every time. Most of the time it's "Murrilland" sometimes it's "Marilynd" like "Marilyn Monroe". Sometimes it's even correct. Doreen screws it up now and then also. The natives are restless. Regards Biff (11/22/06) Dave's response: JC Hayward has always had trouble with "The District" and Bob Marbourg always butchers "ambulance"..... I thought in cases were someone notable passes away the Wash Post runs an obit and I think Jack Alix is certainly of note in the radio history of this area....for shame if the Wash Post charged the family to run an obit....has the Wash Post written it's own obit for that day, when it comes....wonder if the Richmond Times-Dispatch had an obit for Mr. Alix since he lived in the area so many years....I'll have to check DCRTV sister site VARTV to see mention of his passing..... Jack Alix, was he Catholic being a grad of Archbishop Carroll?.....say the bloodbath currently going on at channel 4 is a similar situation going on at all other NBC owned local affiliates? Is this GE's way of preparing NBC to sell? Sort of the Cheap Channel way , cutting things to the bone and scrape some off of that,ain't it?....... Since cheap channel is no more I've read the private equity folks who tookover are likely to unload many station's. Could we likely be seeing the return of local or maybe regional radio again, please?..... I want to send a shout out compliment to the young lady I saw picking up the Ex-Sen. Georgie "Tirebiter" Allen campaign signs the other day. I hope she weren't stuck with picking them all up but there pretty much gone down Chain Bridge Road from almost Oakless Oakton to Home of the McMansion, Vienna town line....SALUTE!....believe me I know the thanklessness of doing that kind of politico work especially when your candidate loses...builds character I guess...I stopped for health reasons but also after helping out for Democratic candidates at national, state and local level for many a year I came to conclusion a good 75% or more of'em are weasals.....of course you knee jerkers have to wonder about the weasal factor amongst them Republicans these daze....ah but we're sheep and we get what we deserve in our leaders...baa-baa-baa.....didn't watch MNF on ESPN but caught the PTI monday afternoon momentarily....Kornholio didn't wear the Black Bart get up for the game did he? Black cowboy hat, dark wraparound sunglasses and a black jacket...it must have been hard reading that whole legal pad of notes Kornholio needs for each game, meanwhile looks like Theismann gets by on a couple of 5x7 index cards...hey Kornholio I kid but dude you're out at night for gosh sake's!.......I know my vote counts so I'll toss Amy Robach in the replacement ring for Ms. Matthews....hey, I think she's d9mn smart too.....would a newsreader at MSNBC get more money than a anchor at a local news show?....... and with rumored big cuts at CNN, and I thought they cut to bone a few year's back, looks like a lot of hot newsbabes (hey totem polers, hey,hey, hey) are going to be looking for work soon ......Well Mr. Gibson I've been getting a flu shot for the last 15 year's due to a chronic illness and haven't had the flu yet, tap on monitor, a nasty cold or two but no flu(and say why don't we hear about bird flu as much anymore...here we were on the verge of the end of humankind as we know and yet...herd mentality of news media these days?) Mr. Gibson you have heard about the new Beatles album put together by George Martin and son. Seems to be available for listening in it's entirety at Full Listening Party on AOL Music only it looks like so many people listening I couldn't get through. Say hey to Tom Gavin and ask him when is he finally going to get around to my Joe Walsh request........Bill Smith...enjoy every turkey sandwhich.......you know on rare occasion I think Gordon Peterson mumbles...Crunches? We don't do no Crunches! (11/22/06) Dave's response: Once again, an "obituary" is an article written by a newspaper about the death of a notable person. The paper does not charge any fee for an obituary. A "death notice" is paid-for classified-type ad which can be obtained by the family of any recently deceased person..... www.amandfmmorningside.com... I found these memories of Jack Alix very interesting. I like the Jack Brooks one of the British Walkers one. I believe the British Walkers got a mention in the ole mailbag couple weeks back. And it's the VFW hall next to the ole lil' league ballfield, maybe that wasn't there yet, and then the WEEL building. As for ruffians in toothless Fairfax, I can remember as a very wee yute a Pagan chapter hug out at the Burger King, vrrrrooomm and what's the musical fare at the Crossroads in Bladensburg these days? Things Change...dom amenche (11/22/06) Perhaps with Susan leaving Channel 4 someone @ NBC could convince my alltime Fave newsbabe Sally Thorner to leave Charm City and come to DC. She would give Wendy a run for her money as the local on-air hottie! (or even Melanie Hastings from NC8). Rusty Gibson (11/22/06) I say that if D&M come on Monday and pull some sort of "We can't talk about it" deal we all boycott O'Meara's. (11/22/06) to the retard running the commercials on WMAL: during the replay of George Noory, MUST you play 5 minutes of commercials during the time the show allots 2 minutes?.It's VERY annoying to have the commercials FINALLY end and it picks up mid-show (11/22/06) Full technical details of the CBS-designed-and-built "Don & Mike Reverb System". No expense was spared: www.mtbaker.webnet.edu (11/22/06) Where do aging boomers turn to for tips on what's hot in music? A source not known for its musical savvy: AARP. The American Association of Retired Persons is targeting the 50+ demo with a sweeping marketing campaign that it hopes will entice millions of new members, as the first kids weaned on rock ’n’ roll turn gray. www.nytimes.com (11/22/06) Good God with all the bloodletting at Channel 4.... I wonder how many driveways Bob Ryan will have to promise to clean with his Golden Snow Shovel to keep his cherry weather gig, and keep the money rolling in for that stocked closet full of red hair dye. I feel like the Justice League has been disbanded.... (11/22/06) NBC 4 - In regard to the goings on at NBC4, I will truly miss Susan Kidd, IJ Hudson, Arch Campbell, and George Michael!! Since Michael claims that he was offered a nice deal to stay, I think it’s safe to say that the rest of the 6 & 11 team – Vance, Gentzler, and Ryan are safe. Vance just signed a new contract (w/reported paycut). I’ve noticed the pattern of firings seems to be individuals who have been with the station a long time, yet don’t hold the key anchoring time slots like the early mornings or at 6 & 11, nor lead departments like weather and sports (Michael wasn’t actually fired). That being the following are most to be on the chopping block in my opinion: Pat Lawson-Muse, either Tom Kieren or Veronica Johnson, and either Joe Krebs or Barb Harrison (since they hold a key timeslot, I doubt both would be let go). Also, long time reporters like Megan McGrath, Jackie Bensen, and Pat Collins could be targets also. One bright spot at the station is that they have a lot of younger and competent talent that may be able to shine more now if they promote from within. I’m thinking of Eun Yang, Shannon Bream, Keith Garvin, and Jim Handley. Arch Campbell will be a true loss if the rumors are true even though they could purchase a mass market produced Hollywood/Movie segments to replace him. Unfortunately, everything must change and the people who are leaving actually replaced someone before them back in the 1980s – it’s all a cycle and about $$$. I think if NBC 4 plays their cards right and promote familiar faces from within, they can weather these layoffs okay. (11/22/06) I must admit I am shocked, dismayed and saddened about the recent happenings at WRC. The people I have enjoyed the most, (even George Michael's) are leaving or being forced out, while Babs Harrison remains! I would bet WJLA would take Arch. Since Channel 4 seems to be taking the Channel 9 route, will they cancel the 4PM show? Pat Lawson is deadweight, so is Jim Handly. Makes cents. (11/22/06) /\ November 22 Messages /\ \/ November 21 Messages \/ First it was George Michael leaving, then Susan Kidd, now Arch..ARCH!!!!..This is unbelievable..I wonder if the staff over there is shaking in their boots wondering who's next..I really loved the interaction that Arch had with Jim, Doreen and George..Well, considering Jim seems to only be working a few days a week these days, maybe he's going to be bumped down to part time status..I just don't know what to expect next..I've just been in shock with the NBC4 cuts.. (11/21/06) Dave's response: I must stress that the rumors about Arch are still only rumors. I have sources at 4 who are denying them. Still, we get a fresh batch of "Arch rumblings" every few weeks. With the current climate over there at NBC4, who knows what's up..... Will the last person leaving 4001 Nebraska Avenue please turn off the lights and the transmitter. Dave in Fredericksburg (11/21/06) Will the last remaining employee at WRC please take down the flag? Dave- What's going on? The once great news franchise of WRC is imploding before our eyes. It's clear that their product has been slipping for quite some time. It's no longer the best in the market. But viewers have stayed with them becasue of their strong talent line up and decades of familiarity. Now, as we read each day that the NBC Suits are taking these popular anchors out and shooting them one by one, Channel 4 is moving into a free fall. Are they taking a page from the old WUSA Playbook on "How to Rapidly Ruin a TV Station"??? Kidd...Campbell...and the others before them. Wake me up with the blood letting is over. Until then, I'm switching channels. (11/21/06) It is interesting that the Fantasy Football scores are being updated on the D&M website, but an update to tell any remaining fans what the hell is going on is nowhere to be found. Way to go guys!!! (11/21/06) "Is anyone other than people who work there actually listening to WPR? Who cares what experiment they try? LISTENERS WITH DIARIES ARE NOT PAYING ATTENTION! Check the Arbitron numbers since they signed on." You are so right, two 50kW sticks backed by the power of BOTH WTOP and the DC Post. What's worse is that it looks like Red Zebra and its rimshots is about to gallup right over the big fat toad and his band of fellow gas bags! (11/21/06) It was widely reported that NBC turned down the OJ "story," so no need to be "very anonymoous" (sic). Since it's being reported that Arch Campbell will be a victim of NBC4's budget cuts, if there is justice (and who ever said there was...e.g., OJ), then added to the list should be Pat Collins and Barbara Harrison. We'll see... Bobbie (11/21/06) 1) By "great diction", I meant that Susan Kidd speaks "loud & clear". 2) My L.A. source (which will remain very anonymoous) says that the O.J. special was offered to NBC first and that they turned it down. -Silvie in Waldorf- (11/21/06) A great replacement for Susan Kidd on 4 or Kathleen Matthews on 7 would be Julie Parker. The woman is talented and stunning. She more than deserves a chance at an anchor chair. Paul (11/21/06) Check out KING GEORGE ON WFIL www.famous56.com (11/21/06) Dave's response: Scary. Really scary..... Is anyone other than people who work there actually listening to WPR? Who cares what experiment they try? LISTENERS WITH DIARIES ARE NOT PAYING ATTENTION! Check the Arbitron numbers since they signed on. (11/21/06) Concerning Joe in SS comment "Channel 9 dropped Maureen Bunyan". If memory serves me correctly, Maureen, fed up with what was happening at 9News, abruptly quiet one night after doing the 11pm news. She read a statement to her viewers and was never again seen on channel 9. It caught everyone by surprise Jeff in E'burg. (11/21/06) Hey Dave, Regarding TV Talk/Anchor-person's diction, I don't now if there was any racial-ist implications as there plenty of white folk, mush mouths with horrible diction; Larry King springs to mind. But Jim Vance is even worse, he sounds like Shirley Liquor when he says "Meer-a-len" (Maryland). Chuck (11/21/06) "Dave's response: Great diction? A borderline racist comment? Would you say that about a white anchor?" Relax Dave -- As a black man, I would appreciate you not playing the race card, especially because that is a HUGE stretch considering there are plenty of white broadcasters who have horrible diction. Anyway, when you play the race card like this, you de-value the card when it is really needed in clearly racial situations. I thought nothing racist about the poster's comments, but now you just planted the idea in many minds who weren't even thinking about race... (11/21/06) sorry, Dave...you are obviously filled with liberal guilt..."great diction" is definitely NOT a racist, nor borderline, racist statement...actually, in my opinion, your comment is more racist in that you can't concede that a black person might have "great diction." It has NOTHING to do with race...get over yourself! -- Bobbie (11/21/06) Is there any place people can write or e-mail to protest Susan Kidd's firing? If enough people would register protests, maybe it would help reinstate her. It worked in the last election and it worked with the Fox/OJ situation. People need to make their voices heard so it will make a difference -- I think many people are upset that Susan Kidd was let go in view of the fact that she didn't deserve it and she has a very large fan base of people who don't want her to go. I'd be happy to voice my opinion to anyone in control of the situation if it would help. Please let me know if there's someone I can write to. -- Bobbie (11/21/06) "Dave's response: Great diction? A borderline racist comment? Would you say that about a white anchor?" Geez Dave that's kind of big leap on your part. Where's your mind at? Dictation is an important part of speech and it's not unusual for air talent to be coached or graded on such. (11/21/06) Dave - I have it on good authority that Don & Mike are out because the echo machine is broken. I understand the engineering staff is searching all over China for vacuum tubes because the manufacturer stopped making the machine in the early 1970's. (11/21/06) I think that WJLA should pick up Susan Kidd when Kathleen Matthews leaves she would be a great replacement for the 5 o'clock spot on News7. Just watch the ratings go up if they do . (11/21/06) D&M being off the air is not costing WJFK ad revenue. The station is still running a full bag of ads during their "Worst of..." tapes. The advertisers are getting robbed. Sure they get their ads on the radio but who is listening when they run? I bet a large portion of the D&M listening audience does not tune in when they are not doing a live show. I don't and never did. I drifted away for a few years after one of their frequent vacation breaks. I found something else but later returned to find their act had gone stale. The paid ads lose their value. Wise up advertisers! That's it guys! no more coming back after this BS. What a waste of talent (yes, they are a talented crew but don't know how to innovate). -- RG (11/21/06) I apologize up front for remaining anonymous. My company demands it of me and I can't afford to lose my gig. Re: Silvie's "great diction" comment. Methinks the PC Police need to ratchet it back a bit! Channel 4 is actually home to two of the worst mumble mouths on the air and they both white/caucasian/European/whatever. Tom Sherwood is a print journalist. He is a great digger and can put the story together. He is NOT pretty to look at or pleasant to listen to. Between his gig at the Washington Post and WRC-TV, he anchored for a few weeks at WASH-FM, replacing the late, great John Holliman. The difference was astounding. Holliman won by a landslide. But, I repeat, Sherwood is a great reporter when it comes to unearthing the facts. Pat Collins... well, I've always felt that someone at NBC Washington said, "We need somebody like "Shoe" to compete with Mike Buchanan!" Pat was much straighter and, in my opinion, better before his stint at WLS-TV in Chicago. I know that I am in the minority here, but for years I have just never understood the appeal of Wendy Rieger, Susan Kidd or Alison Starling. It's just never happened for me. Evaluating Washington's female anchors, I still find Maureen Bunyan to be incredibly intelligent, and talented. Kathleen Matthews had me until got just a bit too political. JC Hayward is an out-and-out character. I love that about her and hate that about her. But, she does know her stuff. I have yet to see her stumble, mumble or fall. And, like 99% of mailbag posters will never understand the appeal of Barbara Harrison. I haven't since her first day! Finally, I am NO FAN of Don and Mike. I believe that they really began their downhill slide about five years ago... whenever Don started airing the dirty laundry with parents. But, must posters attack them, or anyone else for that matter, on this website in such base and witless fashions? If you have something funny or pithy to say to illustrate your point, that's one thing. But, "Hey, man... so and so and such and such are big assholes!" reduce the mailbag to seventh grade graffiti. I can deal with insults, but just make them worth reading. For instance: If someone were to say that every idiot Washington general manager's dream team for mornings was Jack Diamond, Barbara Harrison and Paul Bicknell, that's funny on the face of it and took virtually NO creative mental power. And, sadly, the humor is found in the element of truth! The Washington Ear (11/21/06) Open note to Don G.: There is just not a valid excuse for this, nope,not this time. You guys may very well show up on Monday and say "...we can only say this much about it" or "everything's okay now, so we're going to just do our thing and not talk anymore about it". That is not going to cut it, Don. Sorry. Let me point out that I've listened to you guys going back to mornings at WAVA. And you know what I'm realizing? It's not so much the "Ruperts" or the "D&M haters" of the world that are getting the most p***d off with all this, its the folks like me. The ones who would think that you've long outgrown the need for ratings-period theatrics or for that matter, would march out of the building because you can't take calls from Sacramento. Whatever the case is, you already know what a good show really is. A good show doesn't take it's listeners (and that means 700,000 or 7 million) for granted,especially their intelligence. A good show can be handed practically every and any situation and using improvisation, turn it back into something listenable. You (and even Stern) were able to hang onto the air during 9/11, so it makes absolutely no sense not to be able to work around an in-studio glitch. And a good show and those featured in it also know that old show business adage, try your best to go out on top; even if you're not really on top.To make matters worse, you've got a supposed independent show website, and are making no visible effort to A: take it back over if indeed it's been hacked, or B: come up with some way to use it now to communicate with your fans,even if you can't go on-air. It's all being embarassingly mishandled. Play to your core audience for whatever time remains and put down the dog-eared playbook. You just don't need it anymore. It's for the freshmen & sophomores, not you guys. (off the soapbox ) (11/21/06) RE: D&M - these guys blow -- they're getting old and tired like an over-used joke. I agree with the post (which some douchebag blasted - probably Robbay or one of D&M's cronies-or Don himself - since we know they/he peruse this site daily). I think we can flip them big middle finger by boycotting them from any Arbitron diaries. Regardless of D&M's contract, it's still going to affect them if they know their actions are costing them ratings. What say you, RadioHasbeens???? (11/21/06) Subscribers of Verizon Fios also get the NFL Network. It's even available in HD. SD channel 69... HD channel 814... (11/21/06) Was out at lunch today and around 1:45 caught a station at 1020 on the dial broadcasting a continuous 1 kHz tone. It was coming in fair with slight fading every now and then. Any ideas as to what it could be? Couldn't stay till 2:00 to perhaps catch a top-of-the-hour ID, had to get back to the salt mine. KOF (11/21/06) Dave's response: Isn't that KDKA's frequency? The reason why Susan's being canned is because she has talent, personality, and great diction. Totally unacceptable in today's broadcast media. KOF (11/21/06) Dave's response: Great diction? A borderline racist comment? Would you say that about a white anchor? "Dave's response: There should be an FCC rule forbidding a station from calling itself "new" more than six months after its launch. Since WaPo Radio was born in late March, its "new" status should have expired at the end of September....." Hot 99.5 called itself "new" for years, and may still be doing it. (11/21/06) I disagree there's nothing going on at WaPo or WPR, whatever you wanna call it. The on-air dual anchor auditions have been fascinating. I love trying to gurss who they willend up choosing. Second-guess the radio pros; it's a great game and anybody can play. (11/21/06) Did NBC secretly hire former WUSA-9 news director David Roberts as a consultant? i haven't seen this type of a blood bath on a DC station since his reign at 9 and they still haven't recovered from that bloodletting. I think Channel 4 is making a big mistake and Channel 7 is going to dethrone them if they haven't already done so. Also, when is going WTWP going to stop referring to themselves as the "new" Washington Post radio. They've been on the air long enough where they need to drop the "new". The only thing "new" is their dodgy attempt to shake-up their line up every couple days. David Burd should be doing the morning show with Victoria Jones. Mike Moss should be doing the various Politics shows with Mark Plotkin where I wouldn't mind so much his biased opining which would be a good counter balance to Plotkin's liberal leanings. And Don and Mike have lost all credibility. What is going to be the next ratings stunt? Mike's inevitable trip to rehab? I think they are too washed up to go to satellite. I really miss Capitol Radio. That would be the perfect replacement in this age of boring, cookie cutter radio. (11/21/06) Dave's response: There should be an FCC rule forbidding a station from calling itself "new" more than six months after its launch. Since WaPo Radio was born in late March, its "new" status should have expired at the end of September..... I predicted that Susan Kidd would be leaving NBC4 in one of my posts a few weeks ago, and I'm sad to see her being canned. She's got talent, personality and great diction. It's disturbing to see her being let go and have others who are much less-talented stay. Disturbing indeed. Susan, you have yourself a great Thanksgiving -- don't worry because you'll be fine. Sometimes things happen for a reason. While some doors close, others will open. Best to you! -Silvie in Waldorf- (11/21/06) I'm rather amused by the current D&M situation. They complain about being in the Fairfax studios so CBS radio moves them to Rockville. Everything is OK for awhile and then they start having problems with the phones and walk off the show. From all of this complaining I think it's pretty obvious that we're looking at two guys who are either trying to get out of their current contract or don't want to do a show at all. I DON'T think this is a ratings stunt or a suspension. It makes no sense. D&M walk off the show, costing revenue so CBS is going to suspend them, costing the company even more money? I really think that D&M are trying to get out of their current contract and are using this time to do it. Break the contract with CBS now and move to XM or Sirius for the New Year... (11/21/06) Channel 4 should dump that horrible 4 PM ''newscast'' if they're trying to ''cut back.'' Pat Lawson Muse and Jim Handley are just plain awful and agonizing to watch. I've joked about Susan Kidd on here before but SHE is a class act. I ALSO watched Charlie Brown's Thanksgiving last night. LOVED it just like I do every year. Paul (11/21/06) From Radio Gods to Radio Pussies. This time they went too far. F*** D&M. I have other options in the car to listen too. The XM radio in my car offers me plenty. I listened out of loyalty but this last stunt went too far. So they come back Monday for what, another two weeks, then they go on extended holiday again? All because a phone won't work? Grow the f*** up Radio Pussies, my little kid behaves better. (11/21/06) Has anyone heard an update on when Verizon Fios will start in Montgomery County? It was supposed to be late December or first of the year but haven't heard anything since the two parties ended their possum fight in late summer. Signed, The Dim-Witted Poster (11/21/06) When the funeral Director asked me if I wanted to run an O'bit in the Post. I didn't have to think twice. The answer came out no so fast the Director had to ask me again. The local papers should do this as a community service. Besides I don't need to put it in the paper to show that I LOVE her. (11/21/06) I am impressed by the series "Beyond the Purple Heart" now running on WTOP. It is posted on-line on wtopnews.com (at least the parts that have run so far) and there is a very good photo gallery. Whether you like WTOP or not, this is impressive on-line Journalism. Kudos to Darci and her bosses at TOP. (11/21/06) Anybody hear David Burd with Mike Moss this morning? I thought that was a good team. (11/21/06) Dave's response: Not a bad show, expect for the endless Washington Post plugs..... What do you think of Susan Kidd taking Kathleen's place at 7? She'll be leaving at the same time Kathleen is supposed to be heading out. (11/21/06) Dave's response: Hmmm. Bill Lord, what say you? Dave: I read the response you posted by Michael Hughes stating that D&M would be back soon. I don’t buy it Dave. What else is he supposed to do? If he hasn’t found a replacement for them then he still wants whatever idiots are out there to listen to the sorry reruns that have been played over and over again. I don’t pretend to know how the radio business works but don’t the advertisers get their money back when they play reruns? It would seem to me that if an advertiser pays a certain price for a live show and they get played on a rerun show that nobody listens to, then they should be entitled to their money back. If listeners want to send a message about how sick they are of this selfish behavior, then contact each and everyone of the advertisers and ask them if they paid for a live show and if they knew their ads were being run on shows that attract absolutely no listeners. Thanks Dave. Matt (11/21/06) Dave's response: If D&M had been suspended or if they're not doing their show because of on-going technical issues with the Rockville studio, I don't know why someone at CBS or in the show's camp couldn't make a statement about it. The on-going secrecy about the whole affair leads one to strongly suspect that it's a ratings-driven publicity stunt. Don's website - donandmikewebsite.com - is not controlled by CBS or WJFK. I believe he owns it directly. I don't know why he couldn't produce a carefully-worded explanation to his listeners about what's going on with the show. A bit more info than "WTF?," anyway..... Good to hear that D&M are probably coming back, but it’s distressing to realize that the options on this latest little adventure break down to: (a) the guys were jerks about the phones, and have been staying away on purpose in some kind of snit; (b) the guys were jerks about the phones, and were suspended; or (c) this whole thing is yet another ray-dee-oh stunt, designed to draw us back in Monday. None of those are very flattering to the principals involved. Oh, I’ll tune in on Monday, but if they start out with, “we can’t talk about it”, with a bunch of veiled references to the suits at CBS, it’ll be iPod time for me on Monday afternoon. That rebel-without-a-clue routine from D&M has worn REAL thin. Can’t wait for their three week vacation over Christmas! Sheesh. Sincerely, TMU (11/21/06) John Eggerton offers some insights on the comedy club N-word outburst by Michael Richards, of "Seinfeld" fame, at the 'Broadcasting & Cable' website. www.broadcastingcable.com (11/21/06) Dave's response: This morning, WMAL's Grandy and Andy were critical of Postie Paul Farhi's comparison of Michael "Kramer" Richards' racist rant to George Allen's "macaca" incident..... Sorry D&M, I used to rely on you guys to make my crappy commute bearable in the afternoon but now I will rely on my iPod for Junkies Podcasts & music. Your inability to adapt to a situation and a weak excuse for a walk-off stunt have finally caused me to not care if you come back or not. Have fun in your McMansion cave & mediocore resturant & bar, they will be the only place you are relivant soon. A “used to be” loyal listner in Fairfax. (11/21/06) Hey Bill Smith: Nope I've Never rec'd a flu shot because those in my family that have promptly got the flu soonafter. Hope you can listen to my show tomorrow. Happy Thanksgiving, Rusty Gibson (11/21/06) RE: "I could care less what people think of [Rush] but lets interject some facts….this war hasn't been going on 5 years" Excuse me, but I believe we invaded Afghanistan in October, 2001. Now, I'm no rocket scientist, and please correct me if I am wrong, but it is currently mid-November 2006. It appears to me as I look at a calendar that this war has been going on for five years and one month now. BTW, Rush has never been in Iraq, as you claim. He did visit Afghanistan. Once. Over a year ago. At that point, we were nearly four years into the war. In his press release announcing his visit, he made the following excuse for not going there in the first four years of the war, "Now, you do not know this, but for the past year and a half or two years, I have been asking both the State Department and the Department of Defense to go on a troop visit to either Iraq or Afghanistan, and in some cases I was denied, in some cases I was ignored". Yeah...right. While he was there, he was kind enough to lie to our troops, telling them that Liberals back home in America were cheering for their deaths. Wonderful way to build morale there, Rusty. Great message, but I'll cut him some slack...at that point in his life, he was still so hopped up on Hillbilly heroin that he was prone to making insane statements. On a final note, Al Franken is taking a hiatus from his radio show this winter to do a month-long USO tour through the war region. It is his third extended trip over there to support our troops. Can anyone tell me if O'Reilly, Limbaugh or Hannity have begun planning their first yet? Or were Limbaugh's international travel privelages suspended after his last non-prescription drug scuffle with TSA? Great role model. (11/21/06) NBC4 drops Susan Kidd, yet they have a hundred weathermen!! Can't they axe the weekend weather guy that has been separated at birth from Doogie Howser's best friend (can 't remember the name of the kid), and also dump Chuck "every second of air time is an opportunity to say something clever that annoys the hell out of Jerry Edwards" Bell? (11/21/06) For the first time ever Hartford, Connecticut got a non-stop Christmas Music Station. LITE 100.5 WRCH the heritege 18 year old Soft Adult Contemporary Station flipped to non-stop Christmas Music at 9AM yesterday. For most of their 18 years they had been doing "36 Hours of Christmas Music" from 12 Noon Christmas Eve until 12AM December 26. For the past couple years they also had the Christmas Shopping Special - All Christmas Music Saturdays and Sundays 1PM-7PM during December. Except for Springfield, Massachusetts I can't think of another market without at least one all Christmas station. (2 other markets in CT Bridgeport and New London will have stations flipping in a few days). (11/21/06) Two thoughts on NBC4...Susan Kidd (and IJ Hudson) are leaving, yet Pat Collins STILL has a job with a major market news station. The man has the language skills of a 10 year old with a delivery that is worse than nails on a chalkboard. We can only hope that the layoffs will continue and Mr. Collins will be shown the door as well. Over at the sports desk, I can live with either Lindsay or Dan as the new #1 when George leaves, but I hope and pray that Lindsay drops the "let me take you to..." weak BS that she picked up from King George. With the Sports Machine bug that often obliterates the action on the field, this is one of the most annoying and pointless aspects of channel 4's sports report. (11/21/06) Mark is flat out wrong when he says WTOP has never been # 1. In total listeners per week (cume) they have been # 1 by a wide margin for years. (11/21/06) I use to laugh at my parents when I was growing up when they would be discusted about something being aired on TV and would flash back to "the good old days" when they spent the evening reading prior to TV. Wierdly enough lately I find myself doing the same thing (In a different way as I grew up in the TV era). I look at how cut throat our media competitors are getting for ratings ( for money) that they seem to have lost (if they ever had any) a sense of right or wrong. This whole OJ book / interview garbage is one perfect example. I am a liberal....I do not read the bible on a regular or even irregular basis...I do not believe in sensorship nor do I spout "family values" slogans but I have had enough. What happened to the good ole days when the ratings war consisted of which channel was airing the Hallmark Hall of Fame specials.... In all seriousness......I am an educated, masters prepared woman but I spent last night watching The Peanuts Thanksgiving Special rather than any network battle and I do not even have small children. I used to catch my mother watching Mr. Rogers all by herself. I guess I am either getting old or like my parents, flashing back to the good ole days of TV when family values was not a politicized slogan and the line was clearly defined. Miranda in Mclean (11/21/06) "and will hit them in the pocket book...since ratings are tied to ca$h bonuses" I'm glad you know every contract. So what is the bonus for particular ratings on D&M's contract? Don't know do you? Then SHUT UP and quit bitching. Bryslock (11/21/06) What???!!! Channel 4 should have canned feebs Joe Krebs and Babs Harrison and the 4 o'clock train wreck that is tool Jim Handley and Pat Lawson-Muse before canning Susan Kidd. I always enjoyed the Wendy and Susan show at 5 o' clock. If Don and Mike want to make things right in the world, they should interview her like when they interview Morris Jones after he got canned by Channel 5 instead of blaming you for the inability to do an entertaining radio show. Is there something in their contract that says WFJK has to run re-runs when DnM are suspended for their own stupidity? I'd rather listen to a rebroadcast of Ron anf Fez's XM show than canned DnM or sample some show I've never heard before. And how can I get one of those Arbritron radio diaries? (11/21/06) Thank You for your constant diatribes about D and M. It keeps me from ever desiring to listen to a show where two middle aged babies past their prime throw temper tantrums on a constant basis in order to drum up listeners. Please put it to rest. At least Clear Channel bashing is fun and cathartic. (11/21/06) I think the best way we as listeners can 'punish' (if you want to call it that) Don & Mike for this latest stunt of theirs (since that's what it appears to be?) is to NOT TO LIST THEM AS A STATION YOU LISTEN TO WHEN/IF YOU GET AN ARBITRON DIARY. Just like voting folks...it sends a message....and will hit the