Karel must go. First, on Sunday night, he totally screwed things by
first-out-of-the-box asking his guest -- talking about book about Osama Bin
Laden asking "Why did you write a book about Osama Bin Laden?" A first-rate
softball question that Larry King wouldn't have the guts to lob.
Then,
Karel heard in his little iPod headphone (IFB) that the guest has been
researching Bin Laden for, oh, about 15 years.
In a spate of "Truthiness"
for the first time, Karel mentioned over and disgustingly over ... "I am a
moron. There, I've said it. I am a moron. I didn't do my
homework."
Karel is on an undeserved vacation until Saturday. By then,
he will read this and these comments you add. He is such a freaking
fool.
Let's roll tape from Saturday's Karel Show --- "I am going on
vacation and I don't know what to do. I have no money, the mortgage is late
again, I have nothing. I need a boyfriend, bad. Blond, blue eyes, with a beard
... and who, like me, loves to ride motorcyle. Oh, God, I need a boyfriend so
bad."
He then started a rant about Tom Cruise and Scientology ... a
topic that carried over with no calls, but high emotion from Karel, on Sunday
night.
The self-made "moron" ran through a list of Scientology members.
He actually said, in a city that loves its jazz music, "Chick Corea. Who's
that?" He then runs through a list that includes Chaka Kahn. Two of the
Presleys. Many more. The bizarro shreeks of disbelief were sickening, as he just
discovered who "famous Scientologists" are ... as he descibed being "couch
jumping crazy people."
What a self-professed "moron."
He begged
for calls to buy tickets to the Razz Room show next Sunday ... of which he sadly
announced that only 20 people had bought (that's single tickets, not couples
...) and he begged for 72 couples to fill the place "so I can pay the mortgage
and make the vacation worthwhile."
Moron.
And what's up with the
dead air and interruptions? Did the engineers leave, too? On the "Crime Show"
on Friday and Saturday nights, the hostess-with-the-non-mostest was playing
"clips" of a pedophile victim that was filled with gaps and dead air. So, what
does she do? She fills in the gaps with "This is KGO, San Francisco ... and I
am ..." then the clip advances to the next bit. Then, more dead air and it's
"KGO in San Francisco and ..." click. She's gone.
Christine Craft must
be laughing in her Jimmy Choos hearing this unadulterated cow plop that is on
the air on the once mighty KayGeeOh my gawd!
Interesting she hasn't
gotten the bullpen phone a ringin' in the last few weeks. What, Jared not pay
the phone bill or are they going to pay phones now at
Cumulus.
Sad.
Ronn ... you must be countin' down the days waiting
for another month or two before you can grab your money bag and Temper-Pedic and
boogie on out of they, as Geraldo and/or Copie moves in.
Karel is a moron. He admits
it. His vacation couldn't be better than to be fired this week, just as Cumulus
does to other "employees." Fire them while they are on "vacation".
Also
... have you noticed, not ONE phone call to Karel on Sunday and very few, if
any, on Saturday?
I know ... it's the phones. Certainly not
Karel.
Moron.
Goodbye witchy woman from New York ... and please
take Karel with you.
And Crime Story lady, please learn to do something
good with your life. Crime radio doesn't fit your style.
Then, there's
Mel Baker on news. I look forward to hearing new non-air and supercommuterless
reporters, maybe a few voices brought over for minimum wage from what was Shadow
/ Metro -- or they'd be out of work. Will be an interesting week. Stay classy,
San Francisco!
*Follow me on Twitter
And this David Weintraub "dude" on air right now is a real winner! Is he, really, punctuating his monolog with audio "drop-ins" from a cheap, cell phone sound board. Yes...yes he is. He does seem to have a lot of callers, though, A LOT!!! Has he hired them...are they friends of his...or...I think there's a tiny chance he's "Phil Hendrie-ing" us, but I don't think so.
ReplyDeleteWas the NY witch really canned? The dude currently on air sucks big time. He has been on for 40 minutes talking about the gun running scandal and I can't understand jackshit about his position on the issue. His name is Dave Weintraub. 100% worthless garbage. Lots of sound effects and yelling. Time to tune in to the paranormal show....
ReplyDeleteDuh, why are you wasting time listening? What a dork.
DeleteHe says this is his first show in 7 years. It sounds like his first show EVER. Agree with Jason, the "drops" are so infuriatingly bad. This fucker is really pissing me off. Rich, please expose this loser. He has gotten quiet a few calls, very suspicious!!
ReplyDeleteI don't think he's that bad. What's his story, Rich?
DeleteWhat is the NAME of the person from NY?
ReplyDeleteMaureen Lenglen
DeleteThanks.
DeleteThanks for keeping us up to speed on KGOne, Rich. Can't stand that station anymore.
ReplyDeleteKarel was entertaining once for about five minutes. Begging people to attend your show is pathetic. We all have mortgages, well some of us do. Not me, after foreclosure (and I wasn't to blame! it was being laid off after 20 years and the difficult job market).
And that's about how much whining I will do--because no one cares! And the rest of us certainly don't want to listen to Karel whining about his life. No wonder he doesn't have a boyfriend!
I didn't hear much of Weintraub tonight, but what I did hear was a big breath of fresh air. It's good to have a passionate left-wing talk man on the air. I even fantasized about writing to KGO, but I figured no one there cares about what we think - it was just random good luck tonight.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jared. are you taking time off from stealing music online that you admitted to doing on Ronnnnnn's show recently? Maybe the music industry should make you it's WestCoast test case.
DeleteOh, random good luck by listening to the poor man's Phil Hendrie? Are you kidding?
Maybe it's David Weintrub who left that comment.
Either way,Jared the Jerk or Weintrub the Weasel, KGONE SUCKS.
Karel, between your mortgage (lost house due to business closing and couldn't find a job), your constant AND UNPROFESSIONAL comments about sex, boyfriends, breakup, etc., were all enough to get me to start listening to the BBC and only Len Tillem in the USA. Oh, and your addiction to weed. Sue me. That is my opinion after hearing yourself admit on air that you're medicated on occasion, unless I misunderstood. However, having grownup in the Golden Triangle, your jumbled thoughts, inability to concentrate long enough to allow guests to comment or finish their comments is indicative, to me, in my personal opinion about a public figure ( Karel), that you depend on and smoke too much pot. Your show is more like that of an immature teenager who is emotionally distraught after a breakup at the prom. Grow up, stop your whining.
DeleteLol! "Breath of fresh air"!?!!? And the dude is a left winger? He was yelling and using so many stupid drops I was unable to discern what the hell he stood for. Nice try Jared Hart.
DeleteYou didn't misunderstand about Karel doing his show "medicated" on occasion. I've been in his Ustream chat room where he broadcasts video of his show live, and he doesn't care who sees him lighting up while on the air.
DeleteAnd why SHOULD anyone call in? It's not like he lets callers finish their sentences (unless they're telling him he's wonderful).
or you could have a left wing male host WITH a brain and a wit. ie: Stacy Taylor
DeleteIf you listen to KGO, it shows you are as much a moron as Jared and David Weintrub. You fools. His specialty is doing impersonations of young men in their 20s and 30s and middle-aged men. They were not all callers, idiots. KGO has gone over the abyss and only fools would listen. I understand that Rich has to for this blog, but Rich, didn't you say that in the dictionary, next to artist would be a photo of Karel? Or something to that effect? Yeah, next to Itellectual would be a photo of Karel in a dictionary published by Mad Magazine. Karel smokes too much "herb" for me and "medicated" himself way too much to be taken seriously. Good luck with a job, Karel, when you are finally off radio, which you never should have been on in the first place. "if you all believe in God, why would God put this herb on earth and not expect us to use it?" That Karel paraphrase shows his complete lack of an ability for contemplation,. Go ask the Haight-Ashbury Clinic about that herb, Karel,and you might learna few things.
ReplyDelete@6:59am: You know who David Weintraub is and you know his "act" yet those of us who tune in to the train wreck once in a while are "idiots"? What kind of an ass thinks the concept of voice drops, fake callers and serious political talk are a good mix? I should've known the moron was doing a "Phil Hendrie" lite when one of the callers' name was: "Livermore". I do now understand the Jared Hart strategy. Hire sophomoric hosts who sound like dumb 20somethings and since they can't attract the 20something audience, the host can pretend he receives calls from that audience by impersonating dumb 20somethings himself!!! Brilliant. Maybe they could fire everyone in the newsroom and have Weintrub do the voice of two anchors, a few reporters and a weatherman!?!!? Think of all the $aving$!!!!
Deleteyou are an idiot if you tune in to listen to the rain wreck, unless you are tuning in to listen to the train wreck. Don't be surprised by the train wreck; otherwise, yes, you are an idiot.
DeleteI'm gonna get a bumper sticker: "Only idiots listen to KGO."
And I like Pat Thurston but cannot take all the mistakes in news segments, dead air, old ads, etc. The small radio station I managed in a small community never had problems like KGO now has. It is beyond contempt for a 50,000 watt station like KGO. The only time we had dead air was when a tree took out our power line. we had no power until our backup generator came on.
Rich has to listen for the blog.
By the way: 910 should put Rich on, if he's willing, in Gil's spot. Gil is a nice guy, but he makes for very boring radio. He'll be gone in a year.
Many of us adore Gil, sorry for you! He's a very seasoned journalist and we are lucky to have him.
Delete@5:49pm you are a real dumb pain in the ass. Do you think Rich L. Is tuned in to KGO 24/7? People like myself tip him off about stuff happening on air, in case he is out on a date or kicking it with the hommies. I tune in to the train wreck periodically on weekends ONLY to hear what is going on. I am not glued to every show. I love and respect Finney, Walters, Hamilton and Thurston but the hours for their shows are screwed up. At one point Gene Burns described changing the schedule of KGO as akin to changing the direction of a huge ocean vessel. After listening to Finney for years at 4pm on Saturday, it makes no sense to hear him at 1pm all of a sudden. It is crazy! So get off your "small community radio management" high horse you jackass
DeleteYeah, 8:58, I really do think he listens 24/7. You moron. No, people really tip Rich off? You have got to be kidding. Spare me. Don't lecture me, been in media for a quarter century. I know how it works. Rich still has to verify and I am sure he tunes I at times, so take your outrage back to your armchair and find another person to vent your withering wrath. Doesn't work on me or my small radio station jackass. And I like my high horse. It beats wallowing in the mud with a little piglet like you. And our small-town radio station ran way better than KGO does now. Big does not always mean professional. What are hommies? And, might I suggest that you contact your local mental health hotline, moron, because it is way too obvious that you spend way too much time listening to the big community blowtorch that is being run like a pirate FM station. Go be witless on another commenter and take your prejudice against jackasses like me and shove it.
DeleteHey stupid old fart. Can you read? I despise Cumulus for what it did to KGO. I am not defending them you moron. This past weekend I listened at most to two hours out of 48 hours available. I tuned in to Pat one hour and another hour to the Weintraub lunatic. I posted on here ASAP to alert Rich about the Weintraub wreck in case he was busy (did your stupid ass notice all the comments the topic garnered?) If you choose not to tune in at all to KGO go ahead but shut the hell up, we tune in to see how bad it is from time to time, especially on Sunday night. You are a real idiot if you think Rich is glued to KGO 24/7. He has a life outside of this blog. You need to get a life and stop reminiscing about the itsy bitsy tiny little station you claim you ran. I think you were the janitor at the station but that is another matter
DeleteI liked David Weintrub. What is everyone complaining about? Would you rather listen to Maureen Langdon?
ReplyDeleteAre you one of the fake callers to the "dude's" show...in other words, the "dude" himself? That Sunday night 10pm slot has gone from bad to worse. First Spencer "Pepe" Hughes, then Maureen Lactid and now the wretched David Weintraub with his drops and voices pulled out of his ass. I can picture a mike on his ass doing the fake calls to himself. I can't wait for what Jared Hart thinks of next!
Deletebased on this comment above, sundays were bad, but last night they got worse!
DeleteFuck me! :-)
Trust me, it didn't get worse.
Ftr, it's not a "mike" on my ass. If that were the case, it'd be Karel's show. It's "mic", but you're probably a moron anyway.
Thanks to the above for the compliment. Again, as mentioned below, I will work to the best, and will end up being the best. I'm relentless in pursuit. 7 years off with the UFC, and then last night, first show in years.
And as a final note (probably not, too much fun), no one is telling me what to say, how to say it, etc. I do what I do, on my own. I basically had to build half of that studio last night just to make it work.
"phil hendrie." Man, that's funny, especially since you don't know who Phil stole from in the first place.
You'd never see Phil Hendrie responding to criticism on a blog. You are a moron David Weintraub. I'm sure the Dickheads in Atlanta aren't gonna appreciate your language or tone here. Jared "I steal music" Hart might like your moronic behavior, but it's not gonna bring you more listeners. You have no on-air talent, dude. None. You suck. I'm a radio professional. You will never, ever be one of the best. Do you even know who are among the best in radio history? You cannot even light a birthday candle to the torches that burned in radio in radio's golden years, moron. What a stupid statement. Delusions of grandeur. Were you locked up in a psycho unit the past few years? Are you not on medication? By the way, do the Atlanta dickheads condone Jared Hart stealing music? Would the Dickeys want us stealing soundbites of their station's screwups and putting them online? I mean, if Jared can steal, why can't we record KGO's train wreck and put it on a blog? Because it's illegal, yet they tolerate Jared "I am a music thief" Hart. Back to Weintraub, yeah, I know who Phil Hendrie is, etc. At least I know more about radio than you do, since your delusions or grandeur give you the false belief you can be one of the best. Go back in your cave, you gnat.
DeleteMy favorite Karel moment of the past month was when he said that he was valedictorian of his high school class.
ReplyDeleteYes, he really did say that. Out loud.
Snort!
DeleteI really appreciate those who monitor these shows and fill us in--personally, I am not (wo)man enough to stand listening!
Back when Karel was in the good graces at KGO ( before he got canned) his shows seldom took calls. There was no point in calling him anyway. The caller would get out a word or two and off Karel would prance on whatever struck his mind at that moment. As if being over-the-top gay was all he needed to be. He was mostly a bore then and he's worse now. Of course, I can't listen to anything on KGO anymore ( sorry, Pat Thurston, I love you, but...)
ReplyDeleteWe may find Karel’s style tasteless and idiotic, but if you want to glimpse the future of radio and TV in this country, listen to his show. Karel is simply a man ahead of his time, and we just don’t get it. Indeed, he has a very bright future in the media.
ReplyDeleteack!
DeleteYeah, and there were weapons of mass destruction in Iraq ad Karel was one of them.
DeleteWords fall way short to describe what has happened at KGO, and the words don't even do justice to the damage the Bay Area community has suffered at the hands of this crap company Cumulus. Listening to Karel this weekend, last night actually, was pure torture. It hurt, the problems with calls, the strange noises coming in on the air, squeaking and other "odd" sounds, it was awful. If he doesn't get fired, he should quit and show some backbone. What a colossal embarrassment for any of the radio professionals still left over there. --Brian
ReplyDeleteI find Karel entertaining at times, although I'm not a huge fan. I don't know if all the technical problems can be blamed on Karel. On Ronn's show this morning, he started saying something and was cut of in a middle of a word, by weather I think, it is embarrasing, on the old Kgo this might happen every few months if that, now it happens all the time. Being the professional he is I'm sure Ronn is very upset, but apperently he has no control or say anymore, he use to be able to control who sat in for him, when he was gone, perhaps that is not in his current contract, but I don't think he would have let Monte sit in for him if he had his say. The new KGO continues to screw up, they kept some host and overnite talk, but changed that, they had a chance to keep a decent week-end program with Pat, Christine, Stacy Taylor and Peter B, instead they have hours on end of Bloomberg news, haven't heard Stacy or Peter B in weeks, and who listens to Bloomberg news? Must be cheap to run, from all the hours they are on. Perhaps the should rename the station Bloomberg radio west coast, or something like that. As long as the have the name KGO, most people in the Bay Area will associate them, with these words: Local, class, 1st rate, professional, the best of the best. I agree with 10:59 it is not possible to describe how far Kgo has fallen. Unfortunately, for whose of us who knew the old KGO only know all too well.
ReplyDelete12:06pm--You're so right re the Bloomberg news. Hour upon (recorded) hour of it. Who wants that much financial and economic news at 2am? I never thought things could be worse than Ray had become in the end, but admit to being wrong. As you say, the KGO weekends had some decent stuff after "the change" but not now. It's ALL garbage. I barely ever listen and when I do it's out of desperation and end up turning it off after a few minutes. So depressing. Someone way back when this first went down suggested that the brothers in Atlanta were just part of an overall scheme to limit open discussion (of ANYthing), especially of a more liberal bent. I had decided to keep an open mind. No worries. That suggestion is reality. There is no more intelligent radio and no more public forum, at least of the non-satellite variety. Suppression of information and the exchange of ideas: VERY SCARY. We should all be concerned.
DeleteHey, I'll Bite!
ReplyDeleteI just heard about this blog about a week ago, when someone from the radio station told me I was a believed "leak" regarding this very site!
Now, if you must know, I do not in any way emulate Phil Hendrie, who I know. In fact, I emulate Neil Rogers in so many ways. Unlike Phil, I don't really do voices, impersonations, etc. etc. I use the Sound machine to add levity to the serious topics I tend to cover. But regardless of what you think of my "drops", etc, it's more about entertaining people, and educating them. For the record, Phil stole from Neil, as well, who, in my opinion is the greatest talk show host ever.
With that said, I don't need to apologize for how I use sounds, or why. Do you think Phil, Neil, Opie, or countless others built the first Instant Replay machine? No? You don't? Good, you're not a total moron.
We are limited on radio in the ways we can entertain, and I don't like to be caller driven because I think it's a host's responsibility to do the work, and the entertaining. Unlike most hosts who feel that guests add to their show, and that making news off someone else's comments is going to propel them into stardom.
I don't need someone else to tell me if I'm good/bad, etc, because the ratings will do that, if they come. All I know is when I was on the air elsewhere my TSL #s were unmatched, and my ratings skyrocketed on every show I was a part of. I'm not a conceited guy, but if you're gonna be douchepricks about it, I'm gonna call you out.
Listen, don't listen, I don't really give a shit because those who comment on message boards are such a microcosm of the listening audience, and hold little to no sway over the outcome of radio stations. But it's fun to think we do. - David Weintraub (continuing)
"douchepricks"?? Really? I didn't catch your show and now have NO interest in doing so. Geez.
DeleteThank you, David. You ave clearly stated the case as to why you already are a failure.
DeleteYou may indeed have an audience some day, but not at KGO, which will keep imploding. As it implodes further, because a 28-year-old music thief cannot run a station of this size, you will be thrown off the Cumulus Carnival train as it belches through ratings hell.
Callers make a show, at least an intellectually satisfying show.
Thank you for providing your blueprint of disaster, you poor man's Phil Hendrie.
Unless you are Michael Savage, you cannot carry your own show. You don't have the intellectual chops to do it. And. Even Michael takes calls.
Last night was my first show in 6 years. Do you think you could do better? Trust me, you can't. No guests. Took 5 calls. I have shit to say, and I'm gonna say it.
ReplyDeleteAs for my flaws, I should have been more prepared. I decided, wrongly, during the week to limit my exposure to the news because I wanted what I said to be top of mind. When I got calls they were ill-timed. When I wanted calls, they weren't there. I don't present topics like, "So, what do YOU THINK of this health care bill? Is it going to work? Will it cost money?" Fuck that. That's not me. That's lame. There's enough day time, lame-ass radio in this town (and elsewhere), and I'm not going to do it.
I'm a vicious, asshole, liberaltarian. That's who I am. I got my feet wet last night. I'm a huge critic of my own work, and I'll get better every time. I'll out work every motherfucker on the planet, every day. Because I think people deserve and want better radio. I don't think the medium is dead.
I've fucked myself in this business 6 ways from Sunday, 7 times over. I've got an opportunity here, and I'm not going to relinquish it.
You don't like my shit, don't like my shit. You think I'm some other guy? Put that guy on the air with me, or in a room with me, and have us square off in a "talk off." See what happens.
As for Phil, he's someone I admire tremendously. One of the few people who gets it. It's entertainment.
As for me, I'm not him, he's not me, and if he think he invented "drops", again, you're a moron.
I'm not blaming Blues Travelers for playing G, C, Am, D during "Runaround", nor am I blaming Melissa Etheridge for using it during "Come to My Window." Because there's only so much shit you can do at some point, and this is how I'm doing it.
If I'm not crushing it within half a year, I'll hate myself more than you hate me right now.
But if what you're hearing in this city right now is what you want to be listening to, power to you.
Thanks for listening at all, and thank you for prompting me to write my second ever radio-message-board post. The first being after one of my station's fired me years ago.
It's cathartic. - David Weintraub
Yes, David, you do have "shit" to say.
DeleteAs a former manager at a radio station, and longtime editor of several newspapers, I'd fire your rear-end, David Weintraub, for your immature rant here.
DeletePlus, for a public persona, you have a thin skin, you twirp. What a baby. Go cry to Mama, and show some intellect and maturity and try not cussing, ok?
Oh, and David, I didn't listen, so don't thank me, you moron. Your bio was a turnoff enough, and this post proves you are a donkey's hind-quarters.
Yeah, I know, I delved into calling names. Oh, well.
Karel the pot-smoker cry-baby without-boyfriend bellyacher; David thin-skin Weintraub; Ronn sellout Owens; Jared "I steal music online" Hart; Brian "Boring" Coleman. Man, can it get any worse?
Yes, I like Ms. Thurston, but I no longer listen to KGO. I listen to Al Jazeera, BBC and Len Tillem for radio news and entertainment. American radio is now as bad as American newspapers. Look at The Chronicle. It's trying to be The Daily Mail or New York Daily News with its gossip on top of the front page daily. Beneath contempt. Like KGO.
Well you certainly possess a sophisticated and colorful vocabulary here online Mr Weintraub. It must be difficult to censor yourself on the air. I haven't heard your show but the very idea that you've chosen to publicly defend yourself (and pimp your former successes) here on this rather unseemly blog, well, it seems a little pathetic. I'm sure your employer will be impressed with your potty talk here as well. So, this is the future? Let me off now.
DeleteDavid--
DeleteI have not listened to your show, but based upon your nutty rant and unprofessional remarks here, I will NOT be listening. At all.
Good luck.
Boy, insecure little prick aren't you? You are not the king of drops or fakeness ... but you sure are at the bottom of the heap.
DeletePlus, just because, Weintraub, you have your own Wiki page and facebook, doesn't make you any less of a "wanna-be" than you are from the death-cell of 10 to midnight on Sunday nite on a dying radio station.
If you were funny, that would be one thing. And yes, I CAN do better than you and have the track record to prove it. You have quite the ego-fed potty mouth to push around, don't you? Guess what, asshole, you may have a "provisional" 6-week "probation" contract, but with your attitude and style, you're back to Boise in no time.
And as for "callen driven" radio -- you are right. You, however, aren't Limbaugh (thank God) and you're not Hartmann, Rhodes, Miller or Shultz, either. You're just an insecure asshole who says "shit" and "fuck" like Karel does on his webstream.
Be lucky that you follow that "moron" ... and not someone informed and entertaining. The reason? You wouldn't be on the air at all, dickwipe.
What a prick you are. Stick Karel's "mic" up your ass.
Lastly, I don't know shit about what's going on at the radio station, or any other. I'm literally the last to know because I'm the last to care. All I can worry about is what happens to me, and to some extent, Pat, who I absolutely love.
ReplyDeleteI think Ronn Owens is a wonderful guy, and have had the chance to produce for him a few times. He's a class act all the way. Whatever happens to Ronn Owens, happens to Ronn Owens. He's a wonderful host, who continues to have an epic career, but in this ever-changing landscape, who the fuck knows anything?
But again, I really don't know what's going on, and perusing through these posts the last week, or so, i don't think any of you do either. It's a lot bigger than me, but again, I don't want to know. I'm not sure why any of you would want to either.
The only thing I can tell you about KGO (the only station I'm involved with, part-time), is that everyone there sees what's going on as a opportunity to further their careers, and make great radio. It's not a perfect situation; not for anyone. Yet what can we do? We need jobs. We need to work. We are drawn to this business for whatever reason. So while a lot of you want to take shots at people, or make guesses about their careers, choices, etc, recognize, that it's a lot harder for all of us who are just trying to make it than it is for any of you to tell us how bad/good we are , not only as human beings (there's a lot of that, apparently), but as professionals.
if you want to ask me something, feel free to email me: kgodavid@gmail.com.
"great radio"
Deletereally?
Bi-fucking-polar......,
DeleteKGO David, did you make a typo? Great radio? If such radio was on the radio station where I was news director, the entire staff would have been fired by now for dead air, old spots, running news segments where the reporter says the time and then you guys repeat the same segment with two hours later with the time that is now wrong. That's great radio? I can come up with a long list, if you want me to, that puts your "great radio' claim into the trash bin. Any radio professional worth his or her salt would not state publicly that you guys are making great radio. You might want to experience other stations before you make such a stupid claim. You guys are pathetic and it is among the most-amateur radio I've ever heard. You are worse than the small station I worked at in a very small community. We didn't have dead air, my news crew never mentioned times in the news reports, etc. Great radio. What a laugh.
DeleteKGO David -
DeleteYou think WAY to highly of yourself. Secondly, if KGO was "great radio" -- you never make it to the team, let alone the back of the team bus as you are.
Throwing you weight around like you are will only turn you into a remote-controlled Spencer Hughes, Maureen Langden, Karel, Monte Montemayor or fake-name Metro / Shadow "personalities".
And a part-time producer for Ronn "I have no backbone and don't care to" Owens? A freaking producer and a lowly one at that? Monty tried that schtick and got fired from everyplace he worked ... a lot like you. Producers are a dime a dozen, "dude".
What KGO needs is personality, "stationality" and less drooling wanna-bes like you and Karel. The others are gone.
So will you be. And like the rest - soon.
You, sir, are chickenshit at best.
David if you are dense enough to believe that everyone "sees what's going on as a(an) opportunity to further their careers", then you are perfect for the new KGO.
ReplyDeleteReminds me of the line from the film "Kramer vs. Kramer" ...
ReplyDeleteClimbing down the ladder of success ...
KGO has gone from being a Bay Area powerhouse to a Bay Area laughing stock.
Since November, I only tune in to KGO on the weekends since 910 has a horrible weekend lineup.
ReplyDeleteI've had a love-hate relationship with Karel. Once, before he was fired I actually called the station and left a message on Mickey Luckoff's voicemail complaining about Karel. When Karel was rehired, I found him to be much more entertaining, and I've even seen him at the Razz Room for his standup gig (at the time, his bosses Diedre and Jack Swanson were in attendance and he introduced them). No matter what, though, whether I like Karel or can't stand him, I wish he would allow his callers to finish their statements before cutting them off so rudely. Now, when this starts, I just turn off the station because it gets under my skin.
Tim Montemeyer is the other host I listen to on the weekends. In a lot of ways his style is very similar to Karel's. However, he likes to talk about how smart he is, and that has always been a turnoff for me. Once I heard his wife call in and they had a debate about the type of music their kids listen to. I've never understood why these hosts think their spouses belong on the radio. Gil Gross does this on 910 and I don't think his wife adds anything to the show. Again, I usually just turn the radio off when the show turns to puffery.
Speaking of Gil, I was glad when he re-emerged at 910 as a fill in host for Gene Burns. Even though I had grown tired of his show and had stopped listening to it on 810, once he was fired, I found that I missed listening to it and so I started listening again on 910. Since he's been given Gene's permanent spot, though, I once again find myself struggling to listen in. There's just something annoying about how funny Gil thinks he is and it begins to be grating.
I agree wholeheartedly about Gil. His extra long pauses and constant use of:"aaaaaaaaahh" somehow make him think he is hilarious. Gil YOU ARE NOT FUNNY. You are to funny what Copie is to funny which is= nada. I have to believe radio guys who bring their wives on air are either extremely pussy whipped or their wives are forcing them to do so.
DeleteSome of us "get" Gil's humor, some of you don't. And that's OK! My boss can't STAND Will Ferrell, who makes me pee my pants laughing. To each his own.
DeleteBTW, "pussy whipped" is kind of old school misogynist talkin' Boy. Cut it out--us women goes the vote now and we don't have to take your sass.
Monte said he had one son. The current wife is not the mother. The son is an adult. Daddy still drives him on dates.
DeleteThis David Weintraub character sure thinks highly of himself for someone we never heard of. Great radio is not yelling like a jackass into the microphone and using 200 drops an hour. Doing drops is the equivalent of smashing watermelons in comedy. It is laziness. The drops are not funny and do not add anything to the show. If anything they are annoying as hell and piss off the audience. I could not take the dude's schtick for more than one hour. I actually chose to listen to Coast to Coast AM do a show on people whose children were killed than this schmendrick. Think about that for a moment! That is how horrible the dude is/was. David, if you think you are such hot shit how about do a three hour show without drops?
ReplyDeletethe drops actually proved to be a major distraction to me, quite frankly. in fact, last night was probably the worst thing i've ever done professionally. i had been working with the UFC and writing for 6 years; in my desire to get back in radio i nearly exploded. i literally couldn't calm myself down for the first hour, or so.
ReplyDeleteas for me, i came form the east, sirs (you can't be female, for they wouldn't waste their time(s) here). i worked at WNEW, WEVD, WABC, WOR, WQAM, and WCTC. So while you think I may not a thing about this business, i probably spent more time in big name radio stations than anyone on this board.
as for drops, i probably hit the button about 20 times, max, but quite frankly, i wish i hadn't at all. i spent too much time in prep trying to replicate shows i used to do, and was unfamiliar with the short-cut i was using. while in my head i had the drop right, trying to find the button was crushing me. i know what sounds good because i've heard it sound good, and have had ratings doing it. last night it sounded like a shitbox.
my biggest problem last night was my desire to do it alone, with few calls, and no guests. in addition, i left all my papers/materials behind because i want to be unconstrained. in completely backfired and rammed my ass because in addition to that, the computer in front of me wasn't working.
anyway, i'm glad you all enjoyed ;-) good thing is, it's not your career.
as for the employees at KGO, this is a tough city/country/world to have a job, and there's a lot going on everywhere. there are a lot of people working hard with the resources available to them.
i see it's really easy to judge. if any of you were doing, you probably wouldn't be pointing out flaws. cheers.
And yet, thanks to people like you, Karel, Cumulus and Clear Channel, there are many hundreds and THOUSANDS of true professionals and known entertaining personalities OUT OF WORK and kicked to the curb -- like Rothman, Gross, Tillem, Talifiero, Baxter, Rosie Allen and so many others from here and across the country.
DeleteYou should go back to producing and get some chops. The call letters you mentioned are great; you, however, were a producer -- if that. Your talent and ability at not doing your homework and not being prepared to be on the air at KGO proved that.
Look, kid -- KGO isn't the UFC. It's not a place for losers. It's not a place for excuses as you have demonstrated here. You abuse 50,000 watts on air -- not behind the scenes as you did back east. And you say "but we need jobs."
So do those who you took their jobs on the cheap. They have, many of them, demonstratable talent.
Unfortunately, you don't.
Kick boxers need not apply, asshole.
being prepared is basic stuff. You didn't want to be "constrained", so you decided not to prepare. Why would anyone want to hear that?much less call in to it?
DeleteI have done it on a small station, you arrogant little weasel, and way better than you. You suk, to be blunt. Younger does not mean better and it is that type of. Stupid that has tanked KGO. I'd stop responding,. Your thin skin is gonna wear out.
DeleteRich, remember the troll morons who said you were over the hill, irrelevant, etc.? Well, you have two KGO people who admit they are KGO people writing in here, and I'm sure there are others reading, if not writing. So much for irrelevant. Good job. When you come up with a price, I'll pay. I just sold a few products in my new business so I have some cash at last! Keep up the good work.
ReplyDeletei don't know Rich, and only found this blog because someone told me I was rumored to have "leaked" info to this blog. I love this business, and if people want to talk about it I'm happy to engage. I don't think this blog has any impact on anything, but like so many other outlets, it's a good place to people to waste some time and relax. Nothing wrong with that. Surely, Rich knows someone who works somewhere, and from time to time that person/those people give him tidbits, which he disperses, and the pigeons follow.
DeleteAs of yesterday, I'd never written in here, and can't imagine I'll be writing too much more, but for the time being, why not? I'm not saying anything about anyone other than myself. If someone was willing to critique the good/bad, I'm always willing to read those things. I thought my show sucked balls, and part of me is happy it did.
I certainly don't represent KGO at all. I know the names of about 15 people there. I know there are a few people who have read the blog, but I know most people I've encountered don't. They have it, but they don't. Like me, one said "i did when i started."
Having been in this business, I'd say this website is probably frequented by about 250 people. It's likely more a hobby. Those who matter, and make decisions, they don't have time to read these things, and those who spill any info, have too much time and probably zero clout. It's usually people who are bummed out about their lot.
And again, I have no idea who Rich is, or why he even does this, but it's kinda cute that he does. You're all kinda cute in your own way.
Cheers.
KGO David, where are you physically broadcasting from? Maureen Langlan was physically in NYC. I listened once, and it was obvious that she was not really knowledgeable about the Bay Area other than what she was reading on the internet. KGO used to be live and local and good. Now it is bad with a steady parade of hosts on the weekends who come out of nowhere and try to be relevant and disappear within a few weeks. The bulk of the audience has disappeared when the format changed in December. So no matter what you do, it's very likely your days are also numbered.
DeleteAccording to Rich, this website is frequented by thousands, not a couple hundred. And btw, I am female and there are MANY females who view this site, contrary to your assumption.
i think it's interesting that you are both "anonymous" and aware of numerous people frequenting the site. it says something about you, to say the least, but it's not important.
Deletei was broadcasting from 55 Hawthorne, physically. maureen has done both.
maureen is totally green as a solo host, and has experience doing other things. she's working really hard at it, and is a really nice person. she's a major critic of her own work, and knows it's not great, but she sure is trying. i've been trying to help her out where i can.
the funny thing about this board is it seems a lot of people talk about the "old KGO', and that's the thing: it's old. i am figuring you understand the need to get young, but at the same time, the circumstances KGO (and others) are dealing with.
is there some pool of radio hosts somewhere just waiting to get on the air? that'd be awesome! thing is, there isn't. there's no place to cut your teeth anymore because of syndication. it's not like there are these small mid-tier markets with local hosts, other than maybe mornings. it's up to the PDs and GMs to find these people, make these people, mold these people, and since there's a serious shortage of talent you end up with people who are somewhat green.
not saying maureen is a star, or the right call. i really don't know. but she's a talented person who is working really hard to get better. does she sound too NY? maybe. but NY is often equated to jew, and jew is all KGO was. and yet mark levin is going coast to coast as is michael savage. so this isn't a foreign entity.
as long as she can understand the issues she can be local enough. that's on her. will she be able to? no idea.
I don't understand your point about "finding people, and moulding them" KGO had several first rate regular hosts and even fill in's, they were fired and instead we got Montemayor, Maureen, Candace Delong (who was always a terific guest, but can't carry her show) and David Weintrub, who I only listened to briefly. All I know is that none of these people come close, to Gene Burns, John Rothman, Gil Gross, even fill in's like Stacy Taylor, Peter B Collins, and Christine Kraft is much better then above mentioned hosts. I listened to the "old" KGO for 15-16 years, I was entertained, informed and challenged intellectually, because the hosts were entertaining, informed, challenging and intelligent. I'm not really interested in giving someone new a chance to develop, I want good radio, and if the current KGO cannot provide that I will find it elsewhere. I understand Montemayor has been on the radio for years, sorry I don't care for his style, I think is speaks badly of his command of the english language, when he often uses phrases like: Pissed off, I'm not a prude, and I swear, but it doesen't come across well when a radio hosts uses the phrase all the time. I have listen to Maureen several times, she is not getting better. Ronn is still a professional, as is Pat Thurston I listen when they speak about an interesting subject, but more often than not, I find other ways to entertain myself, rather than listening to the disaster KGO has become.
DeleteActually, KGO David duffs, Rich has broken more stories here than KGO lately is my guess. Thus, to refute your assertion, breaking exclusives is not a waste of time if one comes here for that. Now, it is not traditional journalism in terms of story architecture, but Rich does not caim to be a reporter. He is a blogger who is more informative about local media than mr. Boring ex-dj in the Chron. Furthermore, KGO showed its unethical journalistic practices by NOT reporting on the controversies surrounding Cumulus' changes. As an editor, I had to report on allegations against the owner of me newspaper, so I know it can be done, and journalists are ethically bound to do it. KGO did not. So much for your bogus claim of "great radio." You may be a great cheerleader, but you know noting about radio or broadcast journalism. Typos cause I'm one-fingering on iAd and it is too funky to go back and change, but you get my point, I'm sure
DeleteDid Jared Hart, the self-confessed music download thief thatCumulus tolerates, go to the same East Coast carnival show to hire you and Maureen? What other experience does she have?certainly, not radio experience. And she is not funny, so if she is a comedian, she has bombed at. That, too.
DeleteAlso, East Coast doesn't sell here, sorry. And either does the idiot but talented Phil Hendrie, which you don't even come close to.
I'm listening to the BBC, Al Jazeera (because it has news and not news with opinion like Fux News, MSNBC and most of CNN.
And please stop your comparisons to Michael Savage would never lower himself to cussing, immature statements, speaking for other hosts without their permission in a paternalistic, thin-skinned manner.
Although, Savage is unbalanced and hateful, while being entertaining. He is far,far superior to you intellectually, so just stop it. If Savage did not prepare for a show as you admitted you did not do, he could still carry the show.
I do not give you any chops for coming on this forum and admitting you wereill-prepared. I'd terminate your amateur ass today for the further embarrassment you have brought to KGO.
btw, "doing drops" is not necessarily what i'm doing. a "drop", as you refer to it, would be like adding a "scream" or a "laugh track" in a moment, or a "baba booey." I get it.
ReplyDeletei am using the machine merely to answer questions. it's usually a "yeah", "yes", "uh huh", "nuh uh" or a "no" with me. i'm not smashing watermelons, or firing guns. but thanks for the tip.
i don't think i'm "hot shit", but what i do think is you're an anonymous message board poster, who probably doesn't have a great job in this business, or any other, who probably has a nice arm chair. if you can explain to me how the "drops" actually added to my ability to carry the show for 3 hours, i'd be happy to read it. i'm betting you can't, Anonymous.
You did not carry the show. You bombed. You suck. You do not have as much talent as your delusions of grandeur tell you that you have, Mama's boy.
DeleteRe:3:57 p.m. and 4:50 p.m. I Iove to listen to Gil Gross. Not only do I like his style, but it's a very informative show talking about news topics with a variety of well informed, well connected people. However, Rhoda on Friday is a problem. I know Gil loves her,but it's like nails on chalkboard. She's supposed to be a feminist, but she's only there because she's Gil's wife, so it's wrong philosophically, and she has not been forced through trial and error (like getting fired) to develop a pleasing radio personalty.
ReplyDeleteshe completely ruins his show. he does a decent job on the air and it is informative but bringing her on with him is terrible radio. i am hoping they dont pay her.
DeleteGlad you like him. He puts me to sleep most days so I don't listen, but he is a good, decent man. I hope he succeeds and that my view is a very small minority
DeleteGil's wife has been in the radio & entertainment industry for over 30 years. Her professional name is Rhoda Bodzin.
DeleteI wonder how Gil Gross would react if after Lasek eye surgery, he awakened and found out the procedure was done by the surgeon AND the surgeon's wife. Come on Gil, you are a pro. We tune in to listen to you, not your wife. When you take your car for an oil change do you expect the mechanic's wife to come out of nowhere to inspect your valves?
Deletebetween the gratuitous giggles and grins on KNBR, there isn't much substance there. Just a bunch of overgrown frat boys trying to tell the best jokes and pathetically bragging about drinking to excess while staring at womens' boobs. This is what you hear for a good portion of time on both KNBR and 'the Game.'
ReplyDeleteIt's either that or cross cultural talk with news about hip-hop artist, 'dish' about non-celebrity types such as Paris Hilton or the Kardasians, or news about some other d-list celebrity who is having emotional or mental problems.
Whatever happened to straight sports talk on the radio? I guess not enough people will listen unless you 'dumb down' the product and cater to the lowest common denominator. No wonder most sportstalk radio stinks these days! But if you think it's bad here,
listen to sportstalk radio sometime when you're in St Louis, Houston, Denver or Phoenix. More of the same old crap! The only station that still does a credible job is WFAN in New York. They were the first all-sports talk (I know, KMOX, St Louis was the powerhouse, but they are no longer as relevant,) station back in 1987, and they cover a lot of sports the 'right way,' by actually having reporters cover the local games instead of some traffic guy reading scores back in the studio.
You'd be wrong, David. I own a successful FM within 250 miles from where you are. I've done talk radio for the better part of 20 years -- and lead my market, still. I also quit radio to join "the dark side" of newspapering in 1992 from cub reporter at a daily to editor to General Manager.
ReplyDeleteI then returned to radio in 2000 because of my passion for "great radio". The morning show still leads the market of 28 radio stations and we are in the top 5 -- top 3 in billing. TSL's don't matter much in a PPM world, David. When they do in diary markets like mine, they'd better be long and with an audience base. Let's see ... KGO has dropped from mid-4s to a 2.4 and you are going to save the day with a cume of less than what it had. #2 to #16. As Dean Martin would say, "Good luck with that, pally."
I use "drops" the right way ... and made similar mistakes you have in the beginning. That was 20 years ago. I know better now. I also know syndication like the back of my hand and management.
Don't kid yourself. You may have 50kw behind you, but you aren't 50kw material ... not by a long shot. Good luck, dude. And thanks for being cheap enough to keep a deserving talent from reinventing KGO to what it should be -- and not what it was.
Who is the talent?
DeleteIf anyone at KGO cared about me dangling a ball in front of your face, that would be sad. - dw
Earth to Dave: KGO IS SAD. You have succeeded in further embarrassing a radio station that one has to try REALLY hard to embarrass further. I congratulate you. You, sir, have done what no other KGO host has done so well: taken the bait. And, by admitting you were suspected of leaking, you are giving credibility to a claim you assert is false.
DeleteOnly a mental midget would succeed at all of the above.
So, let us take your metaphor one step farther, Dave. If you have dangled a ball, I just became Willie Mays and socked the ball all the way to Oakland.
You just lost the KGO game, but you, in your arrogance, cannot yet see that.
I like this Dave guy, I may tune in. Just don't go sheen on us.....
ReplyDeleteYou can have the schmuck. If he worked at the stations I ran, I'd terminate him for cause tomorrow morning. His tenor here was disrespectful, immature, thin-skinned and very Ill-advised. It makes our case that KGO is being ruined by amateurs.
DeleteYou gotta give props to this David Weintraub "dude", he seems eager but is so naive. Guys like him are in a tough situation. They show up with cocky attitudes to a place where we were blessed with legendary talk show hosts. We KNOW good talk radio. Dude, Michael Savage whom you mentioned previously got his start on KGO. You could not hold his jockstrap, neither Gene Burns' nor any of the other greats. You are a fourth round draft choice expected to replace Montana and you ain't good enough. I give you props for coming on this forum to admit your crappy show sucked last night. You get major kudos for that....
ReplyDeleteI worked for savage. I'm well aware how good he wasn't when he started. i'm merely pointing out that the assumption that all of you have seen/heard things I haven't is much more naive than anything I could say or do. - DW
ReplyDeleteI appreciate the great comments and the wisdom. Ths was fun for a day.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the inspiring comments!
I won't be back, but you'll be listening.
Cheers - David Weintraub
Nope, you do not get it. The majority of us will not be, and are not, listening to KGO.
DeleteTHe ones listening do it for the freak-show effect, you moron, and are mostly current or former radio people who are amazed an icon like KGO has resorted to hiring Jared Th Music Download Thief's answer to attracting the younger demographic by hiring you, a Phil Hendrrie imposter.
The young demographic will not be listening, however. And you have lost your older demos.
Do you know how to read KGO s implosion in the demos?
You think by engaging here with your pitiful cussing and shallow reasoning with zero knowledge of KGO's old audience, KGO's iconic history and the station's historic plunge will bring you listeners?
Do you actually believe that an audience accustomed to solid hosts who could attract callers are going to listen to a rank, immature amateur like you who pulls callers out of his ass?
You are symptomatic of the TMZ, Twitter generations who cannot concentrate, who do not prepare and who are so bereft of sober thinking and discussion.
We will not be listening, but we will continue to watch the ratings implosion, and you will just be another freak act in the carnival show called Cumulus KGO.
Moronic jerk that you are. And yeah, I could do better, and have, and so could Rich.
You will be back, or you would not be here. In the first place, mama's boy. You will just sign on with another ip.
DeleteYou have been humiliated beyond belief, too. Even the corporate slave masters at Carnival Cumulus will not be impressed by your presence here. Jared The Music Thief Hart might think it is cool, but the greedy Dickheads and their equally soul-less bean counters who constantly look over their shoulders in fear of the bloody corporate guillotine will not like what you said here.
Had you been able to construct an intellectually solid defense of yourself, perhaps, but to admit you weren't prepared, to admit you offer an inferior product and will for some time on a 50,000 watt blowtorch, is a ticket out the door until they can find a new freak act from the Coney Island freak show. Carnival.
Even the evil Carnival Cumulus barkers will see through your thin skin and soon you will join Maureen and other KGO skeletons.
Let's hope Karel will be joining you.
Let's play nice, people!
DeleteAll the name calling is sucky. On both sides!
Fact is, KGO sank like a tank when they fired almost their entire roster of GREAT hosts last December. Many of us the Bay Area just. quit. listening.
I listen to KQED much more and also 910 when they have Gil and Len on...Also others, when I know about it.
But KGO has this WEIRD idea that we'll keep listening, despite their destruction of what was once a great radio station. It's SO easy to turn the dial!
David--I feel for you, people have been pretty rotten here. But your responses were WORSE.
I WILL keep reading this blog--it's a kick! But I'm done with KGO.
Its unbelievable what they did to KGO, which was a station that provided valuable community service to its listners. Now its destroyed. How can this take place and be legal? Is there any way to fight back?
ReplyDelete