KGO Radio is going to have to make an eventual decision on the 7-10 PM time slot as Gene Burns is leaving due to lingering medical issues.
I'm hoping Peter B. Collins gets the gig.
Collins has been filling in on the weekends for Pat Thurston, (who's been filling in for Burns); while I like Thurston, I think she's better at her former 1-5 AM post.
Collins is a Bay Area radio veteran, having worked at the old KNBR and most recently, Green 960 AM. His political leanings are far-left, but he's very apt at giving the other side plenty of time to make their case. He's also a very adept interviewer and possesses big names on his Rolodex. He'd be a great fit.
What I like most about Collins is his civility. He does interesting radio without dumbing down the audience and resorting to the usual baseless, personal attacks you hear often on commercial radio. See, you can be entertaining without being as ass--Collins' broadcast is both lucid and informative.
He'd be a great voice and just the right person at 7 PM.
PS: Get well soon, Gene Burns.
*Follow me on Twitter
If they bypass Pat Thurston after the many weeks of her subbing for Gene, that will really sting. They should start rotating a few other hosts through that time slot so it won't seem so much of a diss to Pat if she doesn't get it.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I'd rather listen to Peter B, but I also think that KGO has an indefensible record of favoritism to male hosts.
AH
Bernie gets out in less than 3 years. You think that wouldn't get unvbelievably high ratings?
ReplyDelete(assuming KGO still has talk format then)
Gene may not be done yet. The best outcome is Gene Burns back in the host seat. He really is head and shoulders above the current crop of show hosts. Ronn has that great delivery but Gene has so much depth and is a provocative conversationalist.
ReplyDeleteIf he does end up retiring, Peter B. Collins is the next best thing. He is by far the most informative AND entertaining of the rest. If they don't recognize that and give it to Pat, just because she's a woman, they've done a huge diservice to the listeners and their own potential ratings.
I have to think Bernie's career as a talk show host is done. He'll always have that cloud hanging over him and won't be able to take any calls with every other caller bringing it up.
ReplyDeleteAnother no talent boring non intellect that thinks he is... why he's perfect.
ReplyDeleteI am a Latin-Black-Female (unfortunately, I love guys, so can't speak for things gay), but I'd vote for Peter B., hands down, because he has the intellectual breadth and curiosity needed to be a good host, he isn't pain-in-the-rear rude and he has a great voice. The whole too many white men song is tired, I think people speak from things other than their personal immutabilities.
ReplyDeleteThe problem with Bernie Ward coming back after he's released isn't the story of his conviction, it's the fact that he spat into the microphone as he spoke and it was disgusting to try to listen to the pervert....
To Latin Black Female,
ReplyDeleteYes, people do speak from things "other than their personal immutabilities," and thank goodness for that. However, when all the hosts share the same immutabilities, the same frames of reference, it makes for a pretty bland mixture. You may be "tired" of that song, but I don't plan to stop singing it.
AH
I second AH’s sentiments. The middle aged Jewish white male segment of the population is very well represented at KGO. They need to hire TOP talent from other segments of the population. I think it is unfair to bash Pat Thurston simply because she does not measure up to Gene Burns (who can measure up to him!?); she has even referred to Gene as the best talk show host in the history of radio. If you take into consideration the breadth of his work, his knowledge base, versatility and his ability to debate no one comes close to him and I would include, Limbaugh, Savage and any other national hosts. I enjoy Pat and would not turn KGO off if she took over Gene’s spot. That’s no knock on Peter B. I’d much prefer that he take over Copeland’s spot on Sundays….
ReplyDeleteHere's wishing for another chapter for Gene Burns.
ReplyDeleteMaybe the station helping to get living accomodations with few (no?) stairs, and an in-home studio, would help?
I'm glad Pat Thurston recognizes that she isn't on par with Gene because listeners feel that way as well. Send her back into the night and try out some new talent in the 7-10 pm slot if Gene is definitely not coming back.
ReplyDeleteOh dear Lord. Anyone who thinks that Bernie Ward will ever be on any commercial radio station again is kidding themselves.
ReplyDeleteJust to refresh everyone's memory, read this:
http://www.thesmokinggun.com/file/slave-research
I still hope Gene comes back at some point. I am beginning to like Pat. She doesn't have to be All Things Gene -- she has enough strengths of her own to stand on her own there. No one can replace Gene anyway.
Rich, your reliable sources aren't always so reliable. Hopefully you are being punked like a midwestern republican governor. Lets not count Gene out just yet. He may be growing feeble physically but he likely has many a brain cell to spare.
ReplyDeleteComeon Gene! Get the ISDN connection going here, there or anywhere and get back to your beloved listeners! Lay off the damn juice & the Foie gras for cryin out loud!!
A diabetic who is a fall risk must not only watch the wine and the foie gras..but more importantly the sweets and other such temptations.Remember Gene used to be a choclatier!
ReplyDeleteHe needs a live/work space with no stairs to negotiate and a full-time assistant.
I hate to paraphrase Rush Limbaugh here, but in regards to radio show hosts, Gene Burns is often imitated, (though poorly), but he will never be duplicated.
ReplyDeleteSo Pat Thurston, Peter B., or even Stacy Taylor would be an adequate replacement for Gene Burns. They all have their qualities, (some more than others).
As for the weekend 7p-10p slot, I'll tolerate Kermit (the frog) over Karel any time.
While Bubba (Christine) makes good points, I think dishing private details about one's co-workers is de clase. (Without class.)
ReplyDeleteGrand idea. I honestly can't stand Pat Thurston, for a variety of reasons. I've heard Collins a few times and find him listenable. Having nothing to do with views...I just can't listen to her voice or presentation. Not against females...just the wrong ones!
ReplyDeleteGene has always been forthcoming about his diabetes and his falls..Perhaps you've not been listening...how declasse(avec un accent aigu) of you not to know that. "de clase" roflmao
ReplyDeletePat told the audience Friday night that she would still be filling in for Gene next week but said Gene is feeling much, much better and plans to return soon. I'm not evaluating that information, just repeating it. Also, the station continues to run promos for Gene's weeknight show -- by the creepy "We need to talk about it" voice! I notice that the station seems to be running lots of commercials done by Gene. I don't know if all those were done prior to his absence or if perhaps KGO has had him cut some spots at home. JW
ReplyDeleteWith the proper accent aigu, one can never be déclassé. I take my accent aigu wherever I go because you never know when an imbécile might turn up to give instructions on how to behave.
ReplyDeleteAH
The problem with Pat Thurston is that she does not know much. She sticks to the basic points. Having three kids and making food for the staff are not big qualifiers for the job. (The standards for a female talk show host at KGO must be quite low.) When someone presents a tough point, Pat begins to panic and say something stupid. ... Peter B Collins does his homework quite well and does a better job in making his points. I might not always agree w/ him. But Peter B. is just many levels ahead of Pat and Ms. Craft. Pat should take some lessons from Ms. Barbara Simpson on the left side of the dial.
ReplyDeleteBubba likes all these people on the air at KGO. Bubba, for the record, is not angling for anyone's radio job...at least at KGO. I'm always delighted to do fill in when asked and able. I have a profession and live and work in a different city.Getting asked to do shows at KGO is and always has been for me...lucrative frosting on the cake. If I owned a radio station..I would hire Bernie in a heartbeat and he'd be very successful.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Bubba. Like Michael Vick, Bernie Ward will have paid his “debt” to society and must be allowed to live his life as he pleases. If that entails going back to radio then he should be allowed to do so if given the chance by a brave entity. My only concern would be that any time he’s involved in a heated debate, his adversaries would bring up his conviction and prison stint to try to put him down. Perhaps that would occur initially but after some time the attacks would get tired. I’d certainly listen to him if he got back on the airwaves.
ReplyDeleteBernie needed treatment, not prison. But he's radioactive (or is that radio-active?) in terms of on-air prospects. I respected his charitable work but couldn't stand his angry show and self-important attitude. Maybe his experience has mellowed him and given him some humility.
ReplyDelete"Bubba" is always a welcome change of pace when called upon to fill. Have followed her interesting career since KC. Often disagree with her, but that's life. JW
There is no treatment for what ails Bernie. Pedophilia runs very deep.
ReplyDeleteso anonymous..you have direct personal knowledge of the deep running nature of pedophilia? For the record...looking at forbidden images on a computer...while yucky...does not constitute molesting any children. There are profound political reasons why such internet thought crimes are severely prosecuted..often much more severely than any actual acts on specific children. do the research..really.
ReplyDeletehmm, yet another left-wing douche for KGO? no coincidence that their ratings continue to drop as they go further and further to the left.
ReplyDeleteMaybe they will put Lee Rodjerks back in the 7 10 slot?
ReplyDelete