8: PM PT--UPDATE--According to multiple station and broadcast sources, Mr. Kevin Metheney is dead.
Taken to local hospital where emergency staff were unable to resuscitate him. His family was notified. Metheney had two teenage daughters.
*Developing...
UPDATE, 5: 38 PT: Am told by two sources that Metheney may have suffered heart attack.
UPDATE, 6: 03: I'm hearing, but have not confirmed some ominous news regarding Kevin Metheney. Two independent sources have told me of his medical situation.
It is critical.
**UPDATE: 6: 55: PT
Am told Metheney was found slumped over his desk, unresponsive, at KGO--was taken to local hospital where doctors tried to resuscitate him.
His family has been notified.
Three different sources have told me his condition. Awaiting another confirmation.
*Methany became Opps Mgr at KGO/KSFO in July and is best known as the quirky PD, portrayed by actor, Paul Giamatt, from the Howard Stern movie, "Private Parts."
UPDATE, 5: 38 PT: Am told by two sources that Metheney may have suffered heart attack.
UPDATE, 6: 03: I'm hearing, but have not confirmed some ominous news regarding Kevin Metheney. Two independent sources have told me of his medical situation.
It is critical.
**UPDATE: 6: 55: PT
Am told Metheney was found slumped over his desk, unresponsive, at KGO--was taken to local hospital where doctors tried to resuscitate him.
His family has been notified.
Three different sources have told me his condition. Awaiting another confirmation.
*Methany became Opps Mgr at KGO/KSFO in July and is best known as the quirky PD, portrayed by actor, Paul Giamatt, from the Howard Stern movie, "Private Parts."
Stroke or heart attack. He's an older guy in a young man's business.
ReplyDeletehe's not that old to begin with and radio is anything but a young man's business. Think about it. Prayers for Mr. Metheny and his family..
DeleteWishing him a speedy recovery.
ReplyDeletetwo beloved dogs.........waiting for their person. very sad
ReplyDeleteYeah, that's really sad Christine....
DeleteReally, serious?
DeleteReally...and seriously. ...Trade magazine articles show Kevin Metheny and his vizlas.His dogs are being cared for as of this evening. He was a dog lover. (So is Howard Stern, by the way.) Life is fatal. He died with his boots on, hopefully unconscious quickly and never knew what hit him.
DeleteYeah, tragic whenever a dog owner dies.
DeleteKevin Metheny lived with his two dogs. They meant a lot to him. They saw him and relied on him every day.No doubt that relationship was mutual. I'm sure he would want them to be well taken care of and loved for the rest of their days, rather than end up in peril in an animal control facility. By all accounts, Kevin Metheny appeared to be fine this morning. I'm sure he had no clue he wouldn't come home, or see his dogs again. That's not a stupid, insignificant thing. Many people die and leave their animals in dire straits.
DeleteNot many of us die that young, without a long decline or disease process. By all accounts he loved radio. He died doing something he loved. Celebrate his life, and I hope his pups are okay.
and 10:42, it's not necessarily tragic whenever a dog "owner" dies.
Christine needs to understand that people are far more important than a damn dog.
DeleteThat said, I am sure he has made arrangements for them in his will if he cared about them.
No need to worry about the dogs.
My thoughts and prayers are with Kevin and his family. I know personally that heart disease can bring on sudden critical illness and even death. It is often in the hands of a determined paramedic if one lives or dies in a situation like this. Hopefully the ambulance got there in time and the responders said "not on my watch".
ReplyDeleteWhat we forget is that it wasn't a controversial program director who died...it wasn't someone a controversial radio personality immortalized in a book and move died...it was a human being. A son. A father. A friend and mentor to those who took time or where of better character to see the positive side of humanity rather than always take time for the easy cheap shots....it was you..and me who died....a person with some flaws but no different than any of us.....
ReplyDeleteOfficial statement from Cumulus...RIP
ReplyDeleteCUMULUS EVP, Programming and Content JOHN DICKEY has issued a statement on behalf of the company saying, "KEVIN METHENY's sudden passing this afternoon is a devastating personal and professional loss for his broadcasting family at CUMULUS, and for the entire radio industry. KEVIN was a legendary broadcasting talent who touched many lives in his remarkable 44-year career, and whose successes made an indelible mark on radio. His reputation and accomplishments are simply unparalleled and we are grateful for having had the opportunity to work with him as PD of WJR in DETROIT and most recently, as Operations Manager of KGO and KSFO in SAN FRANCISCO. His CUMULUS family extends our deepest sympathies to KEVIN's loved ones. We will miss him profoundly."
My thoughts are with his family. The radio business is a bitch.
ReplyDeleteRich, you must be ecstatic.
ReplyDeleteI worked with Kevin at KGO and he seemed like a really good guy who absolutely loved broadcasting and radio. I got to know him slightly and am very sad of his sudden death. One of my friends who works at the station posted the story on her Facebook page, and it was shocking to hear. As one of the earlier posters noted; this was not just a PD and a 'radio lifer,' but a father, a son, a brother, a fellow human being., Kevin was well regarded and well liked by his peers and those of us who worked at KGO. He will be missed!
ReplyDeleteAfter all Lieberman's vile, Methany-hating post, he must be delighted. Get ready for his "it was nothing personal" disclaimer. Good luck with that Rich!
ReplyDeletePlease 9:22pm, spare us your vitriol at a time such as this. It's inappropriate, petty and mean spirited and does a disservice to the poor fellow who suddenly died. For Pete's sake, show some respect man!
ReplyDeleteWhile I agree with your stance here, Rich has invited comments such as the one made by 9:22. Rich showed zero respect for the man while he was alive, with the Howard Stern pig nicknames ad nauseam. After months of this to see him now referred to as "quirky" rings hollow. Did not know the man, myself. RIP
DeleteReally 9:42? Lieberman's constant barrage of hateful, vitriol directed at "Pig Vomit" and others (Radnich, Owens, Scott) has been the lifeblood of this blog for months. Pretending otherwise would be dishonest.
DeleteHere is just a small sample of Lieberman on Methany:
DeleteMetheny is a fool. A miscreant of massive proportions that will be gone in six months, give or take a few, because that's the Cumulus MO. A bunch of know-nothing, non-radio bunglers of mass destruction devoid of any real meaning and incapable of garnering anything even remotely interesting or creative.
These are Rich's own words from 5 days ago. And this is just a small sample of the horrible things he wrote about "Pig Vomit."
Of course Lieberman won't publish this. He's too weak to own what he's written.
Lieberman's description is just as valid today as it was when he wrote it. Please explain how this criticism is "horrible" or anything other than a critique.
DeleteWhen I worked in advertising it was cut throat. I had co-workers that I got along with as co-workers, some I'd socialize with, some I can't remember and some I didn't care for. Then there were a (very) few that I would call competitors. These were the guys and a couple of gals that were like me - leaving no money on the table and no stone unturned. Our conversations were usually NSFW but at the volume at which they were conducted nobody in the office could pretend they didn't hear every word. These are the people I mostly keep in touch with. Even though most of us have moved on into various careers all are now still successful in their fields. That's what I think Kevin Metheny must have been like - a successful competitor who out lasted the flash in the pan know it alls and made a decades long career in an industry that spits 'em out as fast as communications degrees are earned. In this age of techies where six months is too long at one job it's sad to see people with commitment to an industry go. I know he had his enemies but I'm sure that tonight in many bars there are people gathering and raising a glass of Jameson's and saying a toast to Pig Virus. RIP.
ReplyDeleteMay the road rise to meet you.
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face.
And rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the hollow of His hand.
Does this mean the bimbo experiment is over? Is Weintraub back?
ReplyDeleteHe was back tonight but didn't utter a word about it. was the only reason I stayed up.
DeleteCongratulations Rich, you must be delighted! Maybe Radnich next?
ReplyDeleteJust because Rich didn't like the guy's style of managing stations doesn't mean that he wanted him dead. Comments to the contrary are just offensive.
DeleteCumulus EVP and co-COO John Dickey states, “Kevin Metheny’s reputation and accomplishments are unparalleled. His deep understanding of spoken-word radio and ability to work with bigger-than-life talents make him the ideal candidate to lead the legendary KGO and KSFO.” Metheny takes over for Ron Escarsega, who exits the stations.
ReplyDeleteHoly Crap! "The Cloud" claims another fatality. The Dickey Brothers must be so pleased...
ReplyDeletea little stunned to say the least - he had quite the career - NY, Detroit, San Francisco....and he was just beginning to kick major butt at KGO....
ReplyDeletegood one.
DeleteYou know this, how, RadioGal? Please, do share.
DeleteJohn Dickey, Executive Vice President, Programming and Content for Cumulus Media released this statement late Friday night: “Kevin Metheny’s sudden passing this afternoon is a devastating personal and professional loss for his broadcasting family at Cumulus, and for the entire radio industry. Kevin was a legendary broadcasting talent who touched many lives in his remarkable 44-year career, and whose successes made an indelible mark on radio. His reputation and accomplishments are simply unparalleled and we are grateful for having had the opportunity to work with him as PD of WJR in Detroit and most recently, as Operations Manager of KGO and KSFO in San Francisco. His Cumulus family extends our deepest sympathies to Kevin’s loved ones. We will miss him profoundly.”
ReplyDeleteCould Randall Bloomquist, who killed off his share of talk stations, be next at KGO / KSFO?
He single handedly killed off WGST for Clear Channel as PD, before sliding into Cumulus.
BLOOMQUIST is a veteran Talk radio programmer, who mostly recently operated BLOOMQUIST MEDIA, a marketing communications and content creation firm. Prior to starting his own business, BLOOMQUIST served as PD of News/Talk WGST/ATLANTA.
"I'm thrilled to join CUMULUS at this exciting time in the history of radio and audio content,” BLOOMQUIST said. “CUMULUS is a true audio platform company well-positioned to help shape the future of our industry. I look forward to working with JOHN DICKEY, MIKE MCVAY and the rest of the CUMULUS News/Talk team to create great radio that resonates with listeners and delivers for clients."
Even Christine Craft chimed in on the importance of taking care of Kevin Metheny's two dogs after hearing of his death. This ... from All Access. This is a sick, sick woman.
ReplyDeletecoppersmom • 4 hours ago (Christine Craft) 7:30 pm
"I would hope Howard would want to help the two doggies Kevin Metheny left behind. It could happen to any of us."
Holy shit! No wonder she's not on KGO anymore ...
How in the world is this "sick?" Please explain.
DeleteWhat's so troubling about that post?
DeleteNothing wrong with that post at all. My best friend recently passed away suddenly. He had two cats that I took in and I know he would have appreciated it.
DeleteChristine ... people die everyday and leave their pets behind. There are places for such help. Radio blogsites are not them.
DeleteApparently, anon at 11:48 thinks that caring about a suddenly deceased person's companion animals is an evil thing. For those not in the know, Howard Stern, a person of some significance in Kevin Metheny's life, is also a huge lover of dogs. Use your google, read about "Bianca" and Stern's endless efforts to find homes for homeless dogs. It's called "irony", when two people who were foes on one level, share the same compassion at another level. I would not want to see these two dogs separated, or worse. I would gladly help out.
ReplyDeleteAs for 11:48's insistence that "she's not on KGO anymore", in recent weeks I was asked to fill in twice on weekend afternoons, which I happily did. I"m a fill in host, you see. I thank Kevin Metheny for the opportunities.
Christine, as usual, you twist and turn in the wind to prove a point which is false. "Bianca" was Beth Ostrofsky's family dog - not Howard Stern's. Howard was/is a cat lover -- his wife, Beth, both a cat and dog lover. They are now both rescuers. As for your filling in to keep you AFTRA ticket alive, you suck. You may not be a "lady", but you sure are a "bitch." Figures. The name fits you perfectly. You can't even debate Mr. Lieberman because you are a phony, irrelevant individual. .
DeleteChristine needs to get laid. She must be back to her hot flashes. Good thing you're on KGO only because there is no one else and they won't put Karel on any other shift. So, you scrape the bottom of the barrel in desperation. If you were that good, you'd be working more on air. You're arrogant. You have a 2 share, Christine. KGO rates 19th in the market. Give it up. You're not fucking martyr.
Delete@ 11:36am - Bianca was Howard's dog, not Beth's family's dog. He named her after Bianca Jagger because she was a bulldog and he thought it was funny to name an "ugly" dog after a model.
Delete12:03 thinks it's a good idea to ignore that a suddenly deceased person's dogs might need someone to care for them. 12:03 wouldn't soil his hands with such a mundane task, because it wouldn't get him anything, and he doesn't give a whit about something that can't get him anything. I do care and so do others. What are you going to do about it? sue me?
DeleteI remember WGN, a terrific big city radio station with very bright hosts. I was a guest on several of their talk shows and visited once to do a show with a couple. I don't remember their names, but it was a nighttime show and they were sharp as tacks. I've never had any interest in living in Illinois.
DeleteIn your screed that there isn't enough online information about Mr. Metheny's dogs to make you convinced that he loved dogs, did you actually research such a thing? feverishly? Would you be disgusted to learn that he once described himself as a "walker of stray dogs"?
Then, upset that I am a fill-in host at KGO, 12:09 reveals his own lack of knowledge,not only of female physiology, but of the radio ratings system. I'm a fill-in host, You are perhaps confusing me with the person whose show it actually is, whatever show that is.Ask your mommy how it works.
Hey Christine, what about Metheny's poor house plants? They're drying up and waiting for their missing owner to come water them. TRAGIC
DeleteExcuse me, Christine, but I am offended by your comment. My mother died on July 4, 2003. You didn't know her, but I did. You have no right to say anything snarky about my mother. Further both of these are accurate in the context mentioned. Since you are so cavalier, why don't YOU share your sources? You have no balls. A shame.
DeleteAlso: "Stern and his wife, a model and animal activist known for her work with the North Shore Animal League, married in 2008. They have no children together. They have two cats - Leon and Walter. Bianca was Stern's first dog. The couple got her when she was a puppy and when they first began dating:
bitch/biCH/
noun
1.a female dog, wolf, fox, or otter.
2.a spiteful or unpleasant woman.
As is widely stated, Ms. Craft, "If the shoe fits, wear it."
Christine Craft:
DeleteTo prove your phoniness, I have to admit that yeah, I "researched" about Kevin Metheny's pets.
I found the same thing you did - a Twitter feed about him saying he walked stray dogs and this nugget from Brian Sussman's Facebook page.
http://www.briansussman.com/news/my-boss-has-died/
I think you are the most neurotic, whack-job out there. Thank you for proving your ignorance once again. Especially after someone had already "checked" on his pet.
If you weren't 68 years old, Christine, I'd tell you to grow the fuck up.
I guess your research skills are a little undeveloped. I'm not 68. There isn't one pet, but two, as apparently you and Mr. Sussman assumed. That sort of assumption is precisely why I offered to help secure these dogs, whether it be for the short term as in fostered here or for the long term, if necessary. You see, dogs don't care about radio ratings or companies or any of that. That you are so frothingly mad over my desire to offer to help these dogs that it causes you to call me mentally ill, speaks to your inherent lack of compassion and your disregard for sentient beings. go to hell.
DeleteI just heard about Mr. Metheny who used to be at WJR. I understand that he has two teen-aged daughters...my prayers and thoughts are going to these girls as they go thru this difficult time.
ReplyDeleteThey're adults I believe, one married and the other through college.
DeleteThere are people who take advantage of the recently-deceased. I'm a ham radio operator as well, and I know of one ham who used to look in the "Silent Keys" columns of ham magazines in order to find hams who had recently passed. He'd then contact the widow and say how sorry he was, that he and (dead ham's name) spoke often over the air and would close with, "oh, by the way, what are you planning on doing with all of his ham gear? I could find it a good home".
ReplyDelete