Where is Gene Burns? Is he OK? Why doesn't KGO tell us anything?
All legitimate questions. I've received more e-mail lately about the status of Burns and while I concur that KGO brass could be more accommodating to its listeners about Burns; I also know health issues, (and Burns has several) is a privacy deal and therefore, KGO has to be careful.
This much is certain: Burns has been off the air quite regularly recently and Pat Thurston has been filling in, careful to constantly insert "You're listening to the 'Gene Burns Program."
This is a delicate issue. None of my sources in and out of the station are talking and I understand.
Yet on the other hand, I think KGO owes its listeners to Burns program some sort of benign explanation on the status of one of its core on-air talent.
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Pat gave a lot of information about Gene's hospitalization and rehab and eventual return last night . He's had some bad falls with throacic and rib fractures and is now rehabbing..expecting to be back shortly. You must have missed it. Gene is usually pretty specific with his listeners about his health issues.
ReplyDeleteAs bubba noted, Pat repeatedly went out of her way to provide info several times. Presumably, she did so with Gene's blessing. As a concerned and curious listener, I appreciated the update but was a bit queasy about being given specifics that go well beyond my "right to know." It seems that station management has shown a good deal of humanity in working around Gene's extended absences. Here's wishing Gene a full recovery and return to the airwaves as soon as possible. JW
ReplyDeleteThe reason I, and probably many other listeners, didn't hear Pat Thurston's explanation is because she is nearly impossible to listen to ... she's no Gene Burns. But thank you bubba and anonymous for the information, it's very much appreciated. I don't know Gene, personally, but I sure enjoy listening to him and really miss him.
ReplyDeleteI concur. Thurston makes me switch the dial, or turn on the History Channel. Rich Walcoff isn't much better. At least Shawn Nix was ocassionally amusing.
ReplyDeletepat thurston is growing on me. at first, she was too giddy, at times, which I found sometimes fetching but more often off-putting. she is acquiring more gravitas, IMHO. i find her to be competent.
ReplyDeletePat doesn't have the depth of knowledge on a wide range of topics that Gene possesses. As a result, she is not capable of persuading me in most arguments. Frankly, I am surprised that she was picked to fill in for Gene.
ReplyDeleteAdmittedly, Pat Thurston is difficult to listen to for more than a brief period. She seems to be out of her league. I have a very strong liberal voting history, but she is so far left she gives liberals a bad name.
ReplyDeletePat Thurston is cordial, and kind like Gene.
ReplyDeleteWhen you realize that Pat Thurston is a mother of young twins (that much I heard on the radio), plus I think she has another child or more also and is married & managing her family in addition to working, I personally think Pat Thurston is extremely capable, to say the least, to be handling all the buzz and stuff you get working at KGO Radio Station.
Pat Thurston is hopeless - I hope that she will be replaced...
ReplyDeleteSo, what did she say about Gene?? There's been mention of him in the hospital, but I haven't heard anything beyond that.
ReplyDeleteSoooooo... You on the right are afraid of Pat Thurston. I'm a fairly moderate Democrat, and I think she's doing a great job. She tugs me a little to the left, but only a little. And I'm actually pretty close to David Brooks, disagreeing with him only occasionally. So if you're claiming to have a "strong liberal voting history" and that Pat Thurston is "so far left she gives liberals a bad name," I have to doubt one of those claims.
ReplyDeleteLike so many have said before me, I have listened to Gene for many years and really miss his program.
ReplyDeleteSometimes he proposed ideas to the "right" of my thinking, sometimes to the "left". He treated me and most other callers with dignity and respect, even when he disagreed.
As with so many things in life, "you don't know what you have till it's gone". Let us hope and pray for his speedy recovery, both for his sake and ours.
I concurr with the thoughts of many others who have posted. I do not believe that Pat Thurston belongs in this prime-time spot on KGO. Unlike Gene, she is quite predictable. Listening to her wears me down, instead of stimulating my mind.
Dear KGO! Please bring Gene Burns back!! Or at least get someone more engaging. Where's Brian Copeland? Where's Gil Gross. Can't they fill in for Gene. Pat is patronizing and annoying to listen to.
ReplyDelete"Sooooo...You on the right are afraid of Pat Thurston." C'mon! I dislike listening to Pat Thurston for the same reasons I dislike listening to Sean Hannity. They are both cheerleaders for their respective ideologies, which makes for predictive, repetitive and boring radio. For this very same reason we, on the right, are NOT afraid of ...say...Ronn Owens. Why? Because he is a non-idealogical independent thinker who can swing right on issues just as easily as he can take a liberal position.
ReplyDeleteI'm a 25-year old woman who would enjoy listening to more female hostesses and their world views. However, Pat Thurston is not the voice I'm looking for. Please, keep the resumes coming.
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