Sunday, September 16, 2012

A few Sunday notes; Greg Kihn; Brodie Brazil and Shooty Babitt on CSNBA



GREG KIHN: After 18 years at Entercom rocker, KFOX, Kihn was blown out, mostly due to management wanting someone newer, younger, and, where have you heard this, cheaper.

I wasn't much of a Kihn listener and frankly didn't hear all his political shtick, but that wasn't the factor in his demise. Supposedly, he's got some money in the bank and no, his life ain't in Jeopardy, (wink, wink).

*Comcast SportsNet Bay Area surprise: A's Post-Game duo of Brodie Brazil and Shooty Babitt. Brazil doesn't stand out precisely because he doesn't stand out. In other words, straight-forward and no-nonsense work is welcome.


Babbitt has shown marked improvement and doesn't inundate you with all the baseball cliches he's been known to utter in the past. It doesn't hurt that the A's are winning too.

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12 comments:

  1. Glad that Shooty is working, I loved him back in the cold days in Oakland when we'd sneak booze into the games.

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  2. Reason #143 Tim Monteminor sucks: Yesterday he referred to citizens of Afghanistan as AFGHANISTANIANS.
    Why is this idiot on air!!??

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    1. Why do they have Monte on? It's pretty bad when I agree, generally, with a radio host's point of view, but just can't stand listening to him. He uses his voice to sound like he is making an extremely deep, intelligent comment, but what he says is a bunch of nothing. He basically has a monologue which is repetitive and boring and while he asks for callers, he just lets them say a sentence or two and instead of interacting with them, he goes right back to his monologue.
      One day his producer, a female, came on to chat, and that was the only time that he actually had a conversation. She was MUCH better than he was on the radio and had intellect and depth in her comments.

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  3. 5:25: Love the Monteminor criticism. He sounds like a Family Circus character. (Samaritarians?)

    And Rich: I hate to say this, but it's time for another Cumul-ating rant! This time, Annalisa just left KFOG. Regardless of whether it was her own choosing and the fact that she'll remain friends with one of your least favorite personalities, this is more bean-counting boneheadness just the same. Go off, Rich!

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  4. Annalisa was offered Greg Kihn's morning shift at KFOX and was NOT shown the door, just FYI. However, she warrants at least as much, if not more attention than Greg Kihn for having been a stellar part of the KFOG lineup for many many years. Rich, are you listening?

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  5. I was a casual listener but always liked Greg Kihn for his local cred. I thought being a rocker in his own right adds to the appeal. When you say he was making a lot of money, how much (budgetary figure OK) or what kind of range are we talking about? Is the bottom line not whether he brings in ad money or not?

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  6. K-FOX is jockless this morning (Annalisa starts next week) and they're running promos for "the new sound of K-FOX!" which is apparently one of those bullsh*t positioners -- not a lot is changing, they've just added a few '90s bands like Red Hot Chili Peppers to the endless Skynyrd, Petty, Zeppelin and Van Halen. Annalisa is terrific and did a brilliant job taking over 10@10 after Morey left... well, until Constantine came in and started changing everything. I'm hoping she hasn't just traded one strait-jacket for an other, but this *is* corporate radio we're talking about.

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  7. Oh, sad. I have always liked Greg Kihn. Another loss for those of us who are radio fans.

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  8. Greg Kihn wasn't all that great. Recognizable name yes, but as a DJ, not a big needle mover. As for that "newer younger cheaper" comment; easy assumption perhaps but Annalisa is a veteran jock with real credentials, so I really don't think this was a money saver. Remember, ex-KFOG management is in place at KFOX and may account for the hiring of Big Rick, Webster and now Annalisa.

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  9. So, Annalisa is taking over for Greg Kihn? She will be a self fulfilling prophecy. She barely had the chops at KFOG, and (imo) was an EPIC FAIL when she took over Dave Morey's 10@10.

    KFOX has made a HUGE screwup in this particular instance. Although I didn't agree with Kihn's politics, he was otherwise a VERY good morning ride guy, and was entirely entertaining.

    He had great stories, great guests (whom he had actually played with, so could completely relate to their anecdotes) and was in general a lot of fun to kisten to.

    In NO way can Annalisa compare to any of that. Aside from her time as a radio jock, and using the radio station credentials to get into music venues, she has NO street cred.

    Kihn has been there and done that and bought the tee shirt (to use a trite, overused expression)

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    1. You must be kidding: Annalisa did 10@10 brilliantly for the first 2 years after Morey left -- bringing much-needed new blood, with both her own musical knowledge and her addition of daily audience input via Facebook. (Dave was a creative genius but he was a tad cranky when it came to people making requests/suggestions). When Constantine came in last year and started trying to control what songs Annalisa could play and which years would be featured (and how frequently), quality sufferered somewhat but she still did a fine job. Check out some of the other 10@10s around the country (like LA or Chicago) to hear a far-more-playlisted and repetitive version of what *can* be a very creative 45 mins of daily programming.

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  10. Brodie Brazil is a bright young guy who has been given some great opportunities and he has taken full advantage of them. I can see him being around the area for a long time. He understands TV and doesn't try to make a lot of noise and nonsense to get his points across. he's a very smart and talented young man.


    Shooty is one of the better analysts among the local jocks that have been recruited by Comcast, because he respects the game, the players, and understands what's going on. He explains it with enthusiasm, color, and a good sense of humor. And he's gotten much better as the season has worn on. It's too bad he's not working with Papa on the Giants shows. Bip Roberts is okay, Greg Caderet doesn't do a bad job either, and it's fun when Vida and Bill Laskey come on, but Shooty seems to be the best of that bunch. Just my opinion, for what it's worth.

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