Monday, January 2, 2012

The old KGO Radio line-up is back on 910 AM, (this week); RL 415 Media Exclusive; UPDATE on Gene Burns

Gene Burns, the ex-KGO veteran scheduled to begin broadcasting this week on the new "Newstalk", KKSF-AM, 910 AM--(Tuesday 4-7 PM after Len Tillem), will not be talking, (due to an unknown situation). Burns is scheduled to be back next week.

  UPDATE, 9: 26 PST: Unconfirmed reports indicate Burns suffered a "mild" stroke, but it still expected back. Pat Thurston, a KGO talk-host has stated Burns suffered a stroke, but is recovering.

Consequently, ex-KGOers will fill in for Burns this week, including some of the more popular voices. Here's the schedule:

TUESDAY: Bill Wattenburg 
WEDNESDAY: Gil Gross
THURSDAY: John Rothmann
FRIDAY: Rosie Allen 

All times, local, 4-7 PM PST on KKSF-AM, "Newstalk" 910 AM

**Rich Lieberman 415 Media Exclusive

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47 comments:

  1. I'll miss Gene but it will be great to hear the other greats!!!!

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  2. Perhap's it's time for Gene Burns to just retire and enjoy the rest of his life in peace? He has served radio well and he deserves the rest.

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  3. Here is hoping it is not a health related situation. Gene and his infamous falls can not and must not happen again. I am certain you will fill us in on any details as to the reason Gene will not start tomorrow. Looking forward to hearing the other hosts!

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  4. Gene, God-speed to you if you are ill. We miss you so-o much.

    But, great news (and clever too if you planned it this way) to have the other KGO hosts (ex) fill in for you.
    Though I will be far away from the Bay Area on a vacation, I am going to find the dial on whatever methods one does those things (Pandora??) and listen in and for sure dow load any podcasts.

    Good wishes to all for a great new year! Gene, we can't wait to hear you again. John Rothmann I am so glad we will be hearing you and Joannie and the others too.

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  5. Wow! I hope Gene is on the mend. This whole thing has to have been so stressful.

    But to have the KGO alums filling in? That's incredible. Gil! John! and Rosie (who I always thought had one of the most beautiful voices in radio)!

    That's exciting.

    This thing ain't over yet.

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  6. Yipeee!! What more can I say!

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  7. Isn't KKSF a jazz station? Was it supposed to read KNEW? Can someone supply the URL link? Thank you.

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  8. Thanks for the heads-up Rich! This is awesome!!! (except for the news about Gene of course, hope he's OK...)

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  9. Anyone know if there will be podcasts?

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  10. KKSF are the new call letters for the former KNEW 910. These changes take effect for the new year.

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  11. As long as my man D Bruce is on KGO, I'll listen. Way better than that biased , political Rothman guy.

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  12. Oh my gosh!!! Do hope Gene is ok..have been looking forward to hearing him, but to have these wonderful hosts...even for a day, will be fantastic!! Thank you Rich for some great New Years NEWS!!!
    Flood the station with calls,e-mails (address anyone?) everyone...let them know how much they are appreciated and missed....rock KKSF off the wall! If the response is positive enough, maybe they'll dump Rush and get back ALL our wonderful hosts!

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  13. Make sure you call Len. He is afraid no one will call. Hi Len, we love you and you keep us out of trouble.

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  14. I don't agree with – or trust – anyone who says forget it; there is nothing we can do. That's EXACTLY what the greedy corporate fascists taking over our airwaves want us to believe.

    They, and that includes Dickey shills like Mel Baker, are trying to manipulate us into believing we shouldn't be reading this blog, and that Rich Lieberman is somehow unhinged and irrelevant.

    Really? Okay then, explain to me how he keeps coming up with these Media Exclusives? Are they lies, too?

    Here it is: Divide and conquer is the oldest trick in the book. Rich is providing a forum for us to share information, bitch slap each other, and stay connected in a "there is more power in numbers" kind of way – and that is making the corporate elite reeeeally uncomfortable.

    "They" don't like the internet; it doesn't have an off switch like a 50000 Watt blowtorch radio station. Not yet, anyway, but that's what they're comin' for next...

    People – tomorrow at 6AM, Glenn Beck is replacing the (sexy liberal) Stephanie Miller Show on 960AM in, of all places, the San Francisco Bay Area... WTF?

    But for the internet, it would be, as our dear Jim Eason said, "O-V-E-R." Poof!

    Congress – Stop Media Consolidation: http://civic.moveon.org/mediaconsolidation/

    Note: after signing the above petition, you'll get an email from MoveOn.org seeking a donation (of course), but they honor your "unsubscribe" request.

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  15. What an interesting twist!

    Gene--hope you are "talking" soon--anxious to hear you again!

    Great line-up of stars--what terrific folks they all are to fill in for Gene!

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  16. http://www.fox910.com/pages/onair.html

    Click the "Listen Live" link at the top of the page.

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  17. http://groups.google.com/group/ba.broadcast/browse_frm/thread/d9c0f34f1599f80f?pli=1

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  18. Yippee ! Except for Gene not being on, this is fantastic news! What a coup for 910 and for the diehard fans. Thank you, Rich, for breaking the news.

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  19. "Former listeners of KGO Radio Newstalk 810" on Facebook just relayed a message from Pat Thurston, saying that Gene had a mild stroke last Thursday.

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  20. Just heard that Gene had a mild stroke on Thursday but should be home tomorrow. That came from Pat Thurston. My prayers are with him.

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  21. As posted earlier, I cannot find a KKSF-AM website anyplace. Does anyone have the link?

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  22. 5:23PM - I seriously doubt 910 will drop Rush. The various PD's of 910 over the past decade have asked corporate (CC & Premiere) to kill the deal w/KSFO & give Rush to 910. After all these years, they've finally got their wish. Rush will be on 910 until he dies or retires (whichever comes first).

    Pay attention to something here - 910 is paying cash money for the following programs: 1). A&G, 2). Rush, 3). Len 4). Gene. Since GB can't work this week, 910 is also paying Wattenburg, Rothman, Allen & Gross to fill in. It's obvious that CC is serious about making 910 work. In the past, they would've filled the shift with a free satellite show. Alan Eisenson, the PD of KFBK & KSTE is also the PD of 910 & 960. He's finally been given some budget to make 910 into something that resembles a real radio station. That's progress.

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  23. Over at John Higdon's BA Broadcast, he's reporting that Gene Burns suffered a minor stroke last Thursday. It's also said that Gene will be released from the hospital soon - it's speculative as to when Burns will return to the air.

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  24. From Former listeners of KGO Radio Newstalk 810
    "This from Pat Thurston...I know very little. Some of you likely know more than I. Gene Burns had a mild stroke last Thursday. He is expected to be released from the hospital some time this week and is scheduled to be on his new program next week. Please send your best thoughts and love to Gene. I can't tell you more because I don't know any more."

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  25. "This from Pat Thurston...I know very little. Some of you likely know more than I. Gene Burns had a mild stroke last Thursday. He is expected to be released from the hospital some time this week and is scheduled to be on his new program next week. Please send your best thoughts and love to Gene. I can't tell you more because I don't know any more."

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  26. Get well soon, Gene. I'm praying for your quick recovery.

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  27. I'm reposting a great suggestion from a previous thread. Make no mistake: the Dickies have inflicted great harm in the most degrading manner possible, so let's do unto the evil doers as they have done unto our loved ones:

    "RK in San Jose said... Barrage the Dickey Brothers emails with your thoughts and comments. 



    John Dickey email:
john.dickey@cumulus.com

    (This is valid since I have exchanged some emails with him.)



    Lew Dicky email:
lew.dickey@cumulus.com

    (Not sure if this is valid since he has not responded to my emails)



    I also suggest going to the Cumulus website and filing up whatever email address or communication portals they have with crap and make them have constipation. Tie up their communication and give em hell. Be a big pain in the ass and make 'em feel it."

    Damn good work, RK!

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  28. I'm afraid for Gene Burns, dying for what he loved to do.

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  29. Wow! Cumulus totally dodged a bullet there. Even with their piss poor, make employees carry huge deductible health plan, a stroke is costly for Lew & Bro! That's why they're millionaires and you're not.

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  30. Thanks for that tidbit, 8:15pm. Glad to read that someone in this market actually wants a station to thrive. I used to listen to KFBK back when Bernie was on in the afternoons (before he split permanently for KGO), and do listen now to KSTE (ever since the KGO bloodbath) most afternoons. Looking forward to seeing what Alan Eisenson does with both our Bay Area stations.

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  31. I miss Gene and can't wait to hear him again. I'll be in Listening Land as soon as recovers ... however long it takes. Love that guy!

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  32. Why is that windbag, Thurston, announcing Gene's business? That bitch was gunning for his 7 - 10 pm slot the entire time he was out sick. I turned on the radio in a rental that was tuned to KGO and Thurston was on with the screechy voice of hers -- I almost wreaked the car. She desperately needs voice lessons.

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  33. 6:48 - Hold the hate. What kind of life experience have you had to assume, that because someone is filling in for an ill co-worker, they are gunning for their job? She is obviously ambitious and will fill in where necessary to get on the air... but really... she is no bitch, no windbag.

    I for one love her voice. And hope Gene recovers quickly and fully. He is truly one of a kind.

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  34. Wishing Gene a speedy recovery. I am looking forward to his new 910AM show.

    @6:48AM - Pat Thurston is one of the only reasons to listen to KGO now.

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  35. Cumulus has done a hell of job alienating multiple audiences in a short amount of time.
    They are going to have spend a good bit on promotion and improving their content to even get back to where they were with the old KGO. So they may have thought they were making a "budget" move, but they will end up having to spend some cash in order to not lose their shirts.
    Unless the corporate plan is just to milk the cash flow and then declare bankruptcy and walk away.

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  36. Re: 9:06 -- If "Pat Thurston is one of the only reasons to listen to KGO now" then you need to pull the plug. She, like the rest of the hosts, aren't worth wasting you time. She whines rather than asserts. Also, she has a weird tonal quality to her voice. She's not my cup of tea, but I've stopped listening to KGO. Can't wait to hear my old friends today, however.

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  37. 11:08 you write, referring to Pat, that..
    "she aren't".....check the grammar and the judgment...both faulty.

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  38. "He's finally been given some budget to make 910 into something that resembles a real radio station. That's progress.
    January 2, 2012 8:15 PM :"
    Where is this budget coming from? More tracking on other stations in the cluster?

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  39. Every time I heatr Pat Thurston say "for pity's sake", I cringe and get a flashback to Aunt Bea on the Andy Griffith show.

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  40. 11:45, why do a grammar check when there are boring folks like you to do it!

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  41. I'm sorry to hear that Gene had another health setback. The way he manages to rally, is truly amazing. I admire him for so much, and I would call for most people in his position to retire and relax. However, I have a feeling that it's being on the radio, and communicating with an audience that keeps him going.

    Best of luck, Gene.

    I love the fact that his former colleagues will be sitting in for him. It would be wonderful if they could all land permanent time slots on KKSF. But, I doubt that the station has the financial resources necessary to attract and hold such a lineup.

    I hope that advertisers who find radio to be an effective tool will consider ramping up their KKSF efforts. Go, KKSF Sales Department!!

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  42. 12:11 ...poor grammar indicates.....lazy thinking.

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  43. Ha! Just listened a bit to Len T. on 910 and he made a mistake and said KGO! Hey, they are all emotional about this whole thing and it must be quite an event for them to be on another radio station after all these years. I am sure it's going to get some getting used to for awhile. Good luck to all our ex KGO talk show hosts, we wish you well!

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  44. A couple of people have asked where KKSF can come up with a budget to support new talk hosts. Since they are owned by Clear Channel, the owner of the most stations in the country, I would surmise somewhere in their corporate coffers, they have money. Let's just hope they are willing to spend it on good local programming (not just syndicated types) rather than on ever bigger salaries and bonuses for their CEO-types.

    Someone keeps asking "what's Sweetjack". I don't know specifically, but it's similar to Groupon -- discounts for products and services, and is owned by Cumulus. So by buying up more and more stations around the country, they are just buying up more outlets to advertise SweetJack.

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  45. Hey what's happening with the podcasts/

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  46. Hi fellow ex-KGOers. Get well soon, Gene, we love ya. Glad to see what made the station great coming back on another station, one problem, we here over the hill (Felton) are getting a weak signal at home. I'm hoping 910 takes some of its increased profits to expand their airwave range to us mountain folk, but will listen as much as I can meanwhile.

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