*Karel, whom I've often ripped for being way too predictable and uneasy on the ears, has scored a minor scoop, getting ex-KGOers, John Rothmann, Ray Taliaferro, and Gene Burns on his syndicated show, Monday. (Go to the "Karel Show" link for time).
The topic? "The loss of 'Liberal Voices"--I'm delighted Karel will tackle this issue. Rather brave of him to invite this forum, given the fact that his chief bread winner, KGO, decided to off the major voices, via Cumulus, their corporate owner.
Sure, he's doing this show on a non-KGO platform, but I don't think his check writers will be pleased. I'll again give him credit. More so than the mattress guy from 9-Noon on the mothership.
*Not only is it great news that Burns has landed a gig on a new ClearChannel, (of all places), outlet in SF, (KKSF-AM, "Hot Talk"), but look for a "major" new ex-KGOer very soon to join Burns. (And yes, you'll get it here first).
*To the crowd of "get over the KGO thing'", well, really, I have--I'm just trying to follow the readers interest. The whole negative vibe that this broadcast coup has generated in this market is illustrated by all the consternation, anger, and angst still fluid on Twitter and Facebook. I'm ready "to move on", but they, (the listeners), aren't. Advantage, listeners.
*Mattress man has decided to yield to the "ignore card." He's pretty much undignified his stellar career with a most unflattering and unprofessional act of betrayal. That's not my take--I'd be more frank and blunt. That's the opinion of some in the industry and they're all not just at KGO. And yes, I read his latest tripe bs on Facebook. Just read a MAJORITY of the comments and you'll understand why the anger is still there.
Nobody asked mattress man to quit his job; all he had to do was give his audience, indeed ALL of KGO's loyal listeners a chance to vent and say goodbye. Had he done simply that, he would negated mostly all of the response.
Instead, he sold out. Plain and simple. He cowered to a corporate bully that needs him far more than he needs them. As to his family loss, I offer condolences.
And I most certainly stand behind my feelings about him.
The fact he feels he still needs to respond should speak volumes about your anger. Just take a minute and read his latest crap.
*Mickey Luckoff is still talking and negotiating.
*Melanie Morgan, wife of ex-KGO ops mgr, Jack Swanson, and KSFO, ally? You betcha. Sometimes, even principal trumps politics. Yo, Melanie, tell Jack I understand. And if he and Mickey can pull it off, they'll be national heros in the Bay Area.
*KSCO reaches into the heart of the Southbay and more strategically, Silicon Valley. It's a mighty powerful 10,000-watt AM radio station with a ton of potential and intriguing programming and content. With Bill Wattenburg on board and a slew of other name talent beckoning, its something to recognize and enjoy.
*Yeah, I heard the Taliaferro/Mother Zwerling bit. Interesting. (The password is: "entertainment.")
*Dear Spencer Hughes: when you, yourself, are sensitive on the air talking about haunted houses and ghosts, uh, dude, read the effing room. Wait, I forgot, you're on the new KGO. That's their idea of appealing to the "younger demo." (Yeah, paging "Coast-to-Coast" listeners, Art Bell, meet your 415 bitch).
*To those of you who have written to me and asked why the local mainstream mutts have largely ignored the KGO mess, yes, part of it is that they have no clue about the real pulse of the community at large. I will NOT subside in coverage and will continue to be your source and sounding board.
The local folks are too busy; after all, it's about the time for your 5000 posts and stories about the emerging drought. They're good at that and when it's a slow news period and there's little rain, expect a ton of drought stories. (They have nothing else to do, trust me, folks).
*The "new" KGO: My god, what an utter mess. Staggeringly embarrassing. Just a load of crap REPEATED umpteen times. Story overload. "In-depth" nothings with sloppy reporters trying desperately to sound relevant. There's a few old-timers trying to cope, but the end result is that the bastards did this to become this? Are you kidding me? No, they're not. Clueless.
*Follow me on Twitter
Is there a link to whatever this Karel thing is?
ReplyDeleteYes there is I found it by googling Karel.
ReplyDeleteI found www.kksf.com which has a streaming link, is this the station Rich mentioned?
ReplyDeleteKudos to Karel. Thus far, Karel, Pat Thurston and Christine Craft have displayed more balls than matress man even though he is the multimillion dollar hall of famer. Did anyone catch Brian "disingenuous black man" Copeland today? He was on his knees worshiping every utterance out of Bill Cosby's mouth. Usually the "comedian" admonishes guests and callers to "cut to the chase". Not Cosby, he just lets Cosby go on and on about stuff that happened in 1973. I had to tune it out after one segment. I got the sense the "comedian" is hoping Cosby will leave him a little inheritance for sitting through his boring ass riffs.
ReplyDeleteAny bets if/when Ronn will do an "Up to 30" hour in the next year? That would be awesome to hear right about now!
ReplyDeleteSpencer Hughes is a monolithic bore. He brings absolutely nothing to the table. A complete and total absence of energy and verve, coupled with a self-conscious and defensive on-air persona. He is truly dreadful.
ReplyDelete@9:34 thanks for being completely useless. I appreciate your non-effort and polluting the comments with nothing useful.
ReplyDeleteI believe Gene Burns will be on 910 which is KNEW isn't it? Or are they changing the call letters? Also, Karel's website is radiokrl.com and I believe there is a link to his syndicated weekday show (closest station is in Monterey - 540 AM) on his site.
ReplyDeleteI hardly listen to KGO anymore so I couldn't hear Copeland's show. But if I had Bill Cosby on, I'd give him the whole damn show to talk.
ReplyDeleteThe lack of liberal voices? wtf? Turn on any TV station but one and most if not all newspapers.
ReplyDeleteKarel's Video Live Link: http://bit.ly/KarelShow
ReplyDeleteListen Live via: http://bit.ly/KRXA540
Monday December 19,2011 4pm(pst)
Rich - don't feel you need to apologize for covering KGO. You cover radio, you cover San Francisco, and the hosts had lots of listeners.
ReplyDeleteI object to your calling Ronn mattress man. Just what is your problem anyway?
ReplyDeleteWell I am certainly glad to hear that KAREL will have the group of hosts on his show..
ReplyDeleteBut, I am suspicious of KAREL. He did not ignore the topic on his show, as did Ronn and Brian.( it is still amazing that they have handeled the situation like this?) But KAREL said some very obnoxious and selfish stuff, and discounted the disgust of what hapened. He also attacked listeners for their opinions.
HE MAY BE HAVING THE GROUP ON TO TRY AND REDEEM HIMSELF AFTER BEING ATTACKED BY LISTENERS FOR HIS HORRIBLE COMMENTS ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED> KAREL is about KAREL first!
KAREL is not really anything special, just a loud, obnoxious, self centered, low self esteemed, busy body. He cerrtainly cant intellectually pick apart topics in a legitimate discussion.. He is just there to entertain, HES not REAL TALK RADIO! Hes like a citcomm on TV.
Rich, I too am glad you are keeping the topic alive for the community. IT IS REAL NEWS! And the mainstream news just feeds us what is on the menu. It is also great to read all the posts from our community and to hear their voices.
It would be great to see a TV news reporter reporting on real bay area news... Id love to see them attempt to get and interview with RONN and Brian live.. Instead of just ignoring it.
Lack of liberal voices? I reall take offense to labling these hosts as "liberal voices". We will then be feeding what is wrong with "talk radio" right wing or left wing type thinking.
ReplyDeleteThese hosts, with some exceptions, and certainly not Ray, are intelligent, openminded, and middle of the road. They have way more "liberal" views that RUSH and the other blowhards! But they should not be labeled.
What we liked about KGO and these hosts, was honest intelligent, disscussions. The hosts listened to their callers, and there were always some very intelligent well informed callers. These hosts were interested in truth and openmindedness, while always aknowledging their "personal views" to make clear opinion and fact.
So, lets not ask for liberal radio, lets ask for honest intelligent radio! We want hosts that have different political views to balance the disscussion, but we dont want anymore blowhards! right or left.
Uh, 6:22am--his constant shilling for Sleep Train through his 3 hour show is just too much for the average listener to endure. Especially when he has his guests read the ST commercials on the air--which is rather embarrassing.
ReplyDeleteBTW, my next mattress will be bought at Mancini's.
Well, you have to admit, John, that Ronnnn has been acting like a mattress since the firing occurred.
ReplyDelete@John, I guess you've never heard Mr. Owens shamelessly ask guests on his show to pitch for Sleep Train. It's pretty unprofessional and embarrassing.
ReplyDeletewhat are the call letters for ksco? i have alot of respect for what karel is doing too.
ReplyDeleteRich, please stop referring to Ronn Owens as "mattress guy," you're giving mattresses a bad name and they don't deserve it. Owens is more of a putz.
ReplyDeleteListened to a bit of Hughes last night, pretty entertaining to me. I will listen more to him and Jared is a good dude. Met him once outside of KGO and I learned a lot about the radio biz.
ReplyDeleteRon Owens' latest post just fuels my fire. As you said, no one asked him to quit. If there is an idiot out there making threats, shame on him but really shouldn't Ronn Owens understand by now that there are idiots involved in any major issue. Whining like he did just causes me to continue to lose respect (but I guess that is not really true since there has been none left since he returned from vacation). He is keeping our anger alive! I wish he'd stop since I don't have time to be so disgusted.
ReplyDeleteMattress man is too good of a name for Lowenstein.
ReplyDeleteIt seems that corporate has ordered mattress man not to discuss the topic.
ReplyDeleteIf that's the case, what can he do?
Failing to obey a directive would void his contract. I can't really fault him for that.
Couldn't agree more with Mad as Hell (12/19/11, 8 am). Owens' Sleep Train spots where he goads the guest into doing a mattress commercial are "unprofessional and embarrassing."
ReplyDeleteHell, if he had the pope on with him, he'd be trying to get him to do a sleep train spot. Ronn has never gotten over the fact that, before being elected, Obama agreed to come on air with him if he were elected. That has obviously never happened--probably doesn't feel like being bullied into selling mattresses.
Keep up the good work Rich.
I have to agree with Rich and hopefully, this will be Karel's "swan song." He may have a very small "coup" of sorts, but it will be interesting to see if his narcisstic "me, me, me" attitude will continually interrupt the flow of thought. How many of the few listeners he has will he cut off just to make some pithy long winded comment to prove that "I AM Karel!"
ReplyDeleteThe thing is for those who own radio stations, how does almost DAILY talk about a guy doing six hours a week in the worst daypart in radio (7-10 pm Sat. & Sun.) react when they hear KGO KGO KGO KGO talk all the time. Who cares in New Jersey? Decatur, Georgia? Reno? Monterey? Spokane? San Luis Obispo? Eugene, Oregon? If I were "signing the checks", this would be the "denegrating of KGO" that Jim Gabbert was talking about on KSCO last Saturday at the hands of the moron Karel. As Gabbert actually said, "Karel is stupid but entertaining." Even PROMOTING the fact that these three terminated heritage talents on are his "other" show OVER KGO'S AIRWAVES both Saturday and Sunday in EACH HOUR is unprofessional and abysmal.
"We're talkiing about the loss of liberal voices," he says. And how many times will KGO be mentioned on these "non-KGO platforms" that no one gives a tinker's damn about? It's lazy, unprofessional and "stupid."
Is this "brave"? No, it's plain "stupid and denegrating." Karel should be fired for this. He's merely showing off to make himself look better.
Though I am delighted that Gene and "one other" ex-KGO talent (and I hope one is Len)will shortly have a new radio home, I think that rubbing it in Cumulus face on THEIR air is absurd, no matter the emotion.
Karel was a proud "experiment" that doesn't play as well as one thinks, "stupid, entertaining or denegrating" or not. Would you still sign this guy's check?
And if he was on my station continually mentioning someone else's call letters all the time, he'd be gone very quickly.
Maybe the two week reprieve with KGO playing Christmas music this weekend, will be time to put someone in that slot. Bring back Jim Gabbert, who Karel even "called out" for being
"openly gay, and just jealous because he doesn't have a regular shift like I do." Gabbert, incidentally, is still listed in the staff directory of KGO.
Talk about the pot calling the kettle black!
He must go.
One final point -- 50 people showing up at KGO to "Occupy" is very very disappointing. There should have been 50,000 or at least 5000. But 50? Not a good sign. Thank you for reading whether you agree or disagree. I appreciate you taking the time.
First, 50 or 70 people last Friday was GREAT! It was a strong show of support for the old KGO. Particularly since it was a WEEK DAY. Lots of us have jobs!
ReplyDeleteSecond, I watched/listened to Karel again. I wish the guy well, but between him interrupting everyone constantly...and talking constantly about himself...and that annoying swaying thing--I think this is it for me and Karel.
But that's just me.
Wow. I am saddened to hear what has become of KGO. I really don't listen anymore. It was a cold turkey withdrawl, but 2 weeks in, I am getting by on podcasts of Stephanie Miller. She's great, but I miss the localness that was KGO. But now 910 will take that preset in my car.
ReplyDeleteA couple of previous posters have highlighted my feelings exactly about Karel. It is great to know I am not alone. This stupid idiot has a very self-destructive and narcissistic on air persona. How many fucking times did he interrupt the previous KGO hosts? He needs to watch Charlie Rose to learn some skills. Karel you stupid fool, you do not need to interrupt skilled broadcasters to put your dumb ass words in their mouths. They are grown ass men who can think and talk for themselves. We appreciate you bringing them on, but honestly, as usual with your big stupid mouth you destroy a promising show. You always find a way to to shoot yourself in the foot. Gabbert is right, you are stupid but entertaining, except when you interview former KGO royalty. You need to learn to know when to shut the fuck up and let intelligent guests talk.
ReplyDeleteYeah, 50 or 70 people is fine, just not in a city of 3.5 million people. Hell, there are garage sales that get more attention on Saturday mornings!
ReplyDeleteI heartily agree with your points about Karel. The "swaying like a cobra" because he gets numbness in his right leg is more of a nervousness if you ask me.
Today, was absurd. No relevance to the topic at all ... it was "Karel, Karel, Karel." He didn't let Ray speak much and kept cutting him off and interrupting him to talk about ... himself.
He just flat cut John Rothman off several times.
And Gene was gracious and played it right and straight down the middle. Very classy. They all tried to be, but the interruptions were awful to take.
Plus, as always, Karel was wrong about "carriage fees". Most successful shows in syndication to pay to be on stations except in rare cases. The stations pay the syndicator (Premier/Clear Channel, TRN, Westwood One, etc.)
All three agreed that there should be no bureaucratic intervention of the government choosing what stations should be allowed to run left or right wing politics.
Also, Karel forgot to mention that a renewal of the Fairness Doctrine has been buried by this Congress. It won't happen.
He toe'd the line in saying anything bad about Cumulus; he pretty much left that to the guests.
One three calls taken because he talked so much about himself.
He did let the hosts say goodbye to the KGO audience and Karel did give Gene the chance to break the news about 910 KKSF from 4-7pm. I bet Cumulus loved hearing that ... and the promtion of their company and KGO ad nauseum as it has been since Dec. 1 on nine radio stations that KGO has no bearing in ... nor should, on someone else's radio stations.
Never a mention about Dr. Bill, but what to expect? He did mention Jim Gabbert once ... and the "stupid but entertaining" line. Mentioned in on KGO both Saturday & Sunday.
If Clear Channel were to rehire him, it would be the death of radio as we know it.
Oh, and he said in his post show interview of thousands (he said) that "I'd like to syndicate Len Tillem and Christine Craft."
Puh-leeze. Out of his league.
I would have advised the 3 orphans to stay away from Karel's show. Thought it rather undignified. If they still want to talk they will have to work harder for less money in smaller markets. Rothmann is beginning to sound a little whiney. Just get over it and get to work like Dr Bill did. KGO who? Who cares. The rest of society has been pounded by deregulation and these big corporations for decades.
ReplyDeleteA real low point for Lowenstein was throwing the mattress ad in the face of a Supreme Court justice recently. Shows a total lack of class and respect.
Don't like Karel. It's all about him 24-7. Someone needs to let him know: especially yesterday, the audience wanted to hear Gene, John, and Ray talk.
ReplyDeleteOne thing I heard Gene Burns mention to Karel was that Ronn offered to work a few more years at KGO for less money and Cumulus said no. I think we can surmise that he's out the door on 1/1/13 and he knows it.
ReplyDeleteI wonder why he's the way he's been on the air? It's so not like him and I have to think that deep down he's hating life right now.
This is for the idiot who feels that Rothman, Burns & Ray are not "liberal voices". Middle of the road, what road is that? The road to Moscow. You frigging wigged out leftist asshole. I've heard this tripe before, "oh KGO was balanced".
ReplyDeleteRight, even Mickey Luckoff admitted that KGO had gone too far left.
@8:07 Gene Burn is a libertarian (now registered Dem), and in fact ran on the libertarian ticket for president in '84. He still champions the free market. Yes he is a paragon of the Communism. In fact listen to him defend Cumulus on Karel's show.
ReplyDeleteIt's obvious you're a drive by douche bag from probably the Free Republic but i thought I'd throw this out there.