There IS a God.
Now that I have your attention, allow me to elaborate.
It was another peaceful easy feeling this weekend from the Hawthorne Center for Institutional Awful - SF Radio Division - for a change.
The 49ers not only won, but gave Karel his walking papers at least for the weekend. He was off both Saturday and Sunday, fortunately. Off Saturday to allegedly "walk the red carpet on assignment to interview actors and stars for the Emmys or something" gushed Christine Craft, filling in on Saturday. Sunday, the 49ers on Sunday Night Football on NBC silenced Karel, with the ball game at Candlestick on the Niners new radio home on KGOne eight-one-oh.
I'm thinking this "assignment" is so much BS, as Karel detests being pre-empted by anything -- especially, as he said two weeks ago "by some sort of sport." He hates "all kinds of sport" and that includes the 49ers, the America Cup, golf, midget tossing, horseshoes or anything. Nah, this had to be about him being ticked off being pre-empted and another reason for Pat Thurston to not have to talk with him in a "transition."
I loved it.
Christine was her usual good self, except the idea of her house blowing up this week, thanks to PG&E repairs to a gas line being installed for a neighbor's huge domain in Sacramento was a bit over the top, even by Christine Craft's standards.
Karel was probably doing a "column" for the HuffPo and used that as an excuse to bail. Who in the hell would want to be interviewed of any name by this moron?
But ... I digress.
Let's pick on Mo' She Don't Know, Maureen Langon. You know, the real comic "not standing."
Sorry, but this hack is horrible. Not getting better but getting worse -- lots worse. Why does Cumulus feel as humorless as it is by putting this tripe on the radio? Is it audition week on-the-air again on a 50,000 watt blowtorch in the nation's 4th largest market again? Is this a sick form of round-robin tourney to see just how long she stays on the air "learning" about talk radio before hosehead Hosely and batboy Jared Hart literally haul her ass off the air and out of the Cumulus building?
Case in point.
She opens the "show" Sunday with a topic after the waaaay too long Niner's post-game frivolity, by talking about that goofball amateurish anti-Muslim 14-minute "film" on YouTube that has sparked violence and death of an American diplomat, Chris Stevens, and other Americans in the Middle East over the past few days. The rioting in Cairo, in Libya, Yemen and wherever extremists gather in the Middle East has played out on CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, Current TV, ABC, NBC, CBS, Shop NBC, the Jewelry Channel, the Weather Channel, QVC, the Shopping Network, and on and on. OK, we get it.
Langon then proceeds for a full hour to try to comedisize the riots, fires, rampage and, to only a limited degree, the deaths of those involved. The comedic comedown was lost within her first four words of opening her mouth including "I am Maureen Langon." She was absolutely and revoltingly clueless. At least Karel would have ranted, raved and primped over fake rage about why this is all the Republican's fault, but Langon was just as clueless ... and then some.
She then switches topics, mercifully, in hour number two, where the hit of the hour for this self-proclaimed "journalist" as she admitted (as does Karel) was about "Mama Kardashian", Kris Jenner, who for some unknown reason found herself on the Today Show last Tuesday with Savannah Guthrie on Tuesday, Sept. 11th, talking about her breast implants during the time the nation, the President and the First Lady paused for a moment of silence commemorating the date.
It was horrid to see and NBC must have blown the phone circuits with all the calls, complaints and emails that marked a bad day at 30 Rock in New York.
So, Langon does nearly a show on that event to no buzz on the radio. Awful.
And, lastly, some comedienne that few have ever heard of and Langon, herself a comedienne that few have ever heard of outside fleeting appearances in has-been clubs and equally has-been radio and TV shows (like Karel, in fact) comes on to talk about the Purple Onion in SF closing and other pleasantries.
Well, if that wasn't fun enough from a comedic voice few could understand and is playing in SF for, oh, $18 a ticket ... now that's high priced talent, Maureen doesn't end there.
No sirree.
She goes on for, oh, 45 minutes, about the wackiness of Kate Middleton, the future Queen of England, getting snapped by a French photographer about a MILE AWAY while the wife of the future King was out semi-nude sunbathing and slathering suntan lotion on hubbies back, while showing her "perkiness" if you will by having the most displayed boobies of anyone in the Royal Family's history.
This certainly made the 49ers win over the Lions pale by comparison. It made Al Michaels pale by comparison. It made Chris Collinsworth pale by comparison. Even Tony Dungy paled by comparison.
Her show is that bad. Really, really bad.
Karel must have tripped on the red carpet on his pumps, thigh slapping listening to something as silly as his "show" on KGOne.
Ronn Owens, KGO 810 AM, out. Again.
ReplyDeleteIt's a jewish holiday, he is AlWAYS off on jewish holidays, no surprise there. Surprise is he let's Montemayor sit in for him. Guess he does not have the control he use to. In the past only very few people were okay to sit in for Ronn. Use to be Gill and Bill Press, from KGO I think only Gene and John would sit in for Ronn,and I guess Brian Copeland. I know Bernie was not okay, and I don't think I ever heard Christine sitting in for Ronn.
DeleteI sat in for Ronn many times, many years ago. twas fun. It's very interesting how different the audience is at that time of day.
DeleteHi Christine,
DeleteWhat a very pleasant surprise it was to come home after watching Rigoletto at AT&T Park last Saturday night, turn on KGO, and hear your voice. When can we expect to hear you on KGO again?
don't know at the moment Wendy..but I do know I've been doing my own version of Rigoletto around the house...ear shattering, but pleasing..love those SFOPERA ads on KGO!
DeleteGod bless you for having the fortitude to listen to that witch for three hours. I could only listen for 15 minutes and switched to the UFO show. Her voice gives me hives, her delivery is awkward. She sounds like she is reading and reading badly. Why is she on!!?? She must definitely have pictures, there is no other explanation! And before the usual suspects show up to tell us the young demographic demands this type of horror show let me tell you: The young demographic does not listen to radio!
ReplyDeleteAs for Karel he hates anything he is not, which is why he hates sports and muscular chiseled athletes. He is into obese biker dudes with tats and no athletic ability. Sort of guys that look like him. Yuck!
Rich, I was just glad that that moron Karel was off the air. He cries on cue and begs for money on cue. He must have been fired or suspended, no? I feel so sorry for his ex boyfriend's family, Andrew. He uses their name to try to get sympathy even after all these years. The Bay Area cannot stand him. He cannot get work in his own neighborhood, so why are we stuck with him?
ReplyDeleteRich...
ReplyDeleteI understand that YOU sort of have to listen. The question is why anyone else is...
You really had me going for a minute there, Rich, when I read "gave Karel his walking papers." I thought someone at KGO finally came to their senses. Alas, his absence was temporary. Either way, the Bay Area airwaves heaved a sigh of relief. I've said it before, but it can't be said enough…the man is a complete and utter amateur - and a crappy amateur, at that! That KGO, even in their crappy current incarnation, sees fit to let an imbecile like him on the air in the nation's 4th biggest radio market reels the mind. I can't imagine that his ratings are even detectable by Arbitron.
ReplyDelete-Wayne
The Jewish New Year spells talk show shortfall! Savage Weiner is off, so is Tillem, same as Cabinet Man, Rothman and the guy I haven't heard in months Lowenstein!!! In for Cabinet Man is some fat slob who is whining about soda taxes. The poor slob sounds like he is ready to take up arms to consume fatty foods. Shana Tova Chaverim!!!
ReplyDeleteFrosty Stilltswell is his name. An abomination!
DeleteFrosty...are you F#(<!^G serious...???...really? Really?
DeleteNice. Keep up the fine Cumulus rants, Rich. Interesting that Annalisa is now Greg Kihn's successor at Clear Channel's KFOX. That's at least two KFOG transplants there, after Big Rick. I look forward to the next Rock edition of Cumulus Rants, LOL!
ReplyDeleteI was listening to 'the witch from NYC' after the Niners post game show the other night, and the thing that struck me most about Maureen Langden is that she seemed to find serious issues concerning the middle east to be comedic. She may be a comedian, but making light of explosive and sometimes tragic situations in that volatile part of the world isn't a laughing matter. If she wants to talk about entertainment or be funny, that's fine, but the woman shouldn't try to pass herself off as a 'onetime journalist,' because she is certainly not! Plus that irritating voice and her unprofessional style on the air is an embarrassing to listen to.
ReplyDeletehey Rich
ReplyDeleteyou expect too much from a Jackass like karel.
all of kgo second stringers don't even know what football is. buncha stuffed shirts over there.
Rich - Something wrong with Bloomberg West? I think they do a decent job given their resources...
ReplyDeleteThat photo Rich? That's the face of a woman on a two lane Niles Canyon road at commute time..who goes 5 mph below the speed limit in her mini van. No matter how many cars back up in a long line behind her..she never turns her head and acts like she's the only one on the road "I never go past the speed limit" bitch thinking at its worst!
ReplyDeleteWhen I first saw the picture (I have never listened to Maureen), I thought Rich's article was going to be a profile on what a true Obama liberal is all about. You could see the deep anger in her face for all the things she wants, believes she is entitled to, but doesn't have since she would prefer to complain about what other people have rather than earning it herself. The picture is a poster girl for how Obama is likely going to win another four years. Too bad for America.
DeleteOh,and SHE's the one who brakes at every damn curve to near a stop..as cars honk. "I never speed"...bitch! die!
DeleteI don't think Maureen is very good on the radio, but she's probably not completely talentless. KGO needs to put someone in that time slot that doesn't need the callers because everyone they stick there seems to beg for them. Then when they don't come they all start to fall back on whatever they have left over. She really sounds like she's begging for calls and it's hard to listen to. And her topics are really bad as well. She doesn't seem to have her own angles on stories. I don't blame her though which is why I think calling her names is completely sophomoric. It does seem the people in charge don't know what they are doing which is why you're starting to hear some of the older KGO fill-ins more and more. Since they have failed with their own ideas they are going after the hosts who couldn't get full time in the first place. It's like a vicious cycle. At least the old fill-ins are somewhat professional. What's more remarkable to me is how this Monty guy has the prime weekend slot. He's a buffoon! I bet if Maureen was on at that time she'd be just as bad as he is!
ReplyDeleteI am now, and I have always been happy and grateful to fill in at KGO. It's been 18 years of broadcasting on that big, powerful wurlitzer. I am not now, nor have I ever asked KGO for a full-time job. The only time I ever would have really really really wanted that was when Bernie left. As listeners may remember, there were four of us who each took a week every month for more than a year. I was lucky to be lawyering at a firm which let me work three weeks a month so I could do that. Karel, Pat, John and I all would have loved that spot. John filled it very ably. Cheers
DeleteChristine, thank you for refreshing my memory about the process that took place after Bernie. It was a slow and judicious process, Gene Burns at one point compared major changes at KGO to turning around an ocean liner. It was painfully slow but it showed a serious respect for the station, its product and the craft (no pun intended). Now we take a look at most of the hosts they have on air and it is embarrassing.
DeleteWhether you or someone else is "happy and grateful" to fill in is beside the point. If you felt you had the ability, or if management felt you did, to be a superstar host you'd likely give up your job as a lawyer. Which gets me back to the point of why you're filling in, and not maintaining your own show. If you are suggesting it's your call as to why you're not a full time host on KGO I'd have a problem hiring you as a lawyer.
DeleteDid you always have this pathology? You want me to be unhappy that I've been able to play the mighty KGO wurlitzer for many years without playing the agent, superstar, give me a job or else game. I've seen so many folks who demanded jobs from management.Most thought they were superstars. None of them were.
DeleteI've seen them come and go, over and over again. I enjoy my little niche. You don't have to listen. As for your hypothetical legal woes, I certainly wouldn't want to represent you in any event.Since you are so sure you know what goes on in people's minds, you'd be a client no lawyer in their right mind would want.
Rich -
ReplyDeleteYou are so "dead on" again! There is no conceivable reason for Karel to EVER be on the airwaves when there are intelligent and experienced people such as Christine who are willing to work for KGONE. As far as Maureen goes; is she someone at the station's mother? What possible excuse could there be to have her host a show. I occasionally tune in on weekends but as soon as I hear her or Karel I switch. Wow!
Correction for 10:58 9/27: KFOX obviously was sold to Entercom, but still, even that is better than Cumulus, albeit not much.
ReplyDeleteIn no way was Kate an "accident" she was flashing..knew she was being watched OR a very good chance that added to her sexual thrill. To pretend she had no idea that it was possible she was being watched is more of her passing the blame. And where were her body guards who as we all know get plenty of royal teasing?
ReplyDeleteTo play innocent just turns Kate on more.
Here's a hot flash. going topless is no big whup for most of the civilized world. Grow up.It's typically not sexual, just comfortable. Try wearing a bra on your manboobs for a while, you'll figure it out.
DeleteKate and Will are smart,attractive, modern royals with a good sense of fun. I think they are the cat's p.j.s.
I find it ironic that London has the most video cameras of any big city in the world. No one has privacy when they are out, yet the royal machinery goes into crisis mode when Kate's boobies are photographed. If Kate really has a sense of fun she and Will should instruct their lawyers to stop their legal wrangling. For her tiny boobs to create an international crisis is hilarious.
DeleteUhuh Christine..if your a proper princess I'm sure the thrill is multiplied...the being naughty taboo factor is sky high. Its easy to figure her hearing how hot she is everyday while being forced to be a good girl is causing her repressed sexual fantasies to get the best of her...
DeleteNewest reports? there are photos of her having sex in that courtyard. She never had any idea?..lol..sure.
WHO's the naive one Christine? me or you?
DeleteI really like Maureen. I find her opinions interesting and she's really funny. It feels like I am having a conversation with a friend that makes my laugh. You're pretty rough on her all the time - what would you talk about after a 49ers game? There is a post game show, right? What's wrong with moving to a fresh topic? I don't understand why you think she's a witch - seems nice to me.
ReplyDeleteYes Jared Hart, we all agree she must have pictures...
DeleteYeah she's pretty terrible. Does Jared Hart really make the programming decisions over there? That can't be the truth at KGO. It really can't be. Can it be? What basis would they have for letting him do that? And if he really did put all of these people on the air over the last year why are they still letting him do it? Crazy how far the mighty has fallen.
DeleteAnd WHO IS HE?
Too bad CUMulus screwed up KGO's previous winning formula and now whose airwaves are just a bunch of "aimless trons floating off the ionosphere." The KGO airwaves "used" to be so entertaining and I looked forwarded to tuning in as much as possible from LA terrestially for many years and then via the internet. I loved those "Bay Area flavored" commercials like World of Carpet, The Shane Company, and the various Bay Area charities. Now KGO is a 24 hour monotone news station interspered with uninteresting so-called talk show hosts....very flat
ReplyDelete