Longtime Bay Area radio news anchor, Ed Baxter has been chosen as Talk 910 AM's new host from 10 AM- 1 PM.
I like Baxter. Good guy. Professional, interesting and compelling. Slightly.
Not a talk-show host though, my opinion.
I expected this gig to go to John Rothmann who is an outstanding interviewer, has a keen eye on the political arena and deep knowledge of the Middle East debate.
Of course this was a safe pick for the Clear Channel SF crowd and that is why its ratings are in the dumper too.
Choices like this will never move the needle.
Oh well.
It could have been worse.
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DAMN !!! ... I like John Rothmann a lot. I might have started listening to the radio again. Oh well ... Back to my iPod or TV. I'd rather watch a re-run of Cops for the 100th time than tune in to anything on KGO. And that goes from Ronn Boy to Karel ... They all stink.
ReplyDeleteI disagree. I don't think people want to listen to Palestine bashing and anti-Muslim rhetoric from Rothman on a daily basis. This is a guy who can't tolerate any criticism of Israel. Baxter was excellent on 910am before they made the huge mistake of hiring Gross full time. I think Baxter has a greater ability to introduce and discuss a fuller range of topics. Serious news or more light hearted stuff. I wish he'd bring along Rosie Allen to do the show once in a while. I'll definitely tune in at noon instead of listening to that right wing goon Charlie Freedman on KSCO.
ReplyDeleteIf you listen closely, you can hear Jo-Ann Worley, saying.....B O R I N G ! ! !
ReplyDeleteFollowed by Arte Johnson "Veddy interesting, but stupid."
DeleteAnother three hours of no listener callers, not a great way to have a talk show! I have nothing against Baxter but he has not been a talk show host he was a news reader. Rothmann was the choice and they(Corey) went with the wrong choice!
ReplyDeleteI couldn't agree more, but the station seem to want hosts who does not take calls, Rothmann takes calls, often mention calls is what makes the show interesting. Like someone said on this blog, I really wanted to like 910, but it is getting harder and harder. John Rothmann does not do 3 hours of muslim bashing, he supports Israel and has strong words for extreme muslim. Savage does muslim bashing. It is not that Spencer Hughes is too conservative for this area (but, really don't we have enough conservative hosts?) it is that he is not talented enough.
DeleteRich - how hot is Leslie Sbrocco? I mean - damn! Talk about MILF....
ReplyDeleteOnly explanation is that Baxter was way cheaper. Otherwise doesn't make sense. Rothman is Richard Pryor, Baxter is Paulie Shore.
ReplyDelete7:56 PM, So where does that leave my pal Spencer, who is he in comparison, Pee Wee Herman with the white anklets?
DeleteRothmann would practically work for free so that can't be it. Guy grew up with silver spoons. It's probably that he's a one trick pony. Not to say Baxter has many more. Radio is dead in SF and this hiring somewhat proved it.
DeleteSpencer is the Jeff Dunham of talk.
DeleteMeh!
ReplyDeleteSpencer misspelled subscribe on his Web site. I know. I'm a nitpicker. If you see this, Spencer, it's subscribe not subcribe. I'd be happy to copyedit your Web site for you. Rich knows who I am by my IP.
ReplyDeleteGood lord. The worst of the three. Why do we need 9 hours of vanilla bland nobodies talking to themselves? I really wanted to like 910. I really did.
ReplyDeleteI get your reaction. I really like (and miss) both Ed and John, though will always think of Ed with Rosy Allen vs. a talk show. But will give him a chance. Now, if only KGO would rethink their overnight gig, I think I would almost rather the Bloomberg re-runs than John Batchelor.
ReplyDeleteIs there not room on the airwaves for both Ed and John Rothmann?
Baxter is a holding pattern for something else. Strange decision. Your buddy Rothmann wouldn't move the needle either and you know it. Spencer is too conservative for the current lineup but he's probably better than these two.
ReplyDeleteCongrats to Ed Baxter. I listened to him for years on KGO. I think he'll be an incredible host for a daytime talk show -- he'll bring something unique, upbeat and entertaining which is a rarity in local radio these days. John Rothmann is quite a reputable broadcaster as well -- I could see him fit into an early evening shift beginning at 7 pm or so. Hopefully a local station will recognize his amazing talent and offer him a solid position soon.
ReplyDeleteI won't be listening
ReplyDeleteThey needed to find a host who could speak about the issues affecting the Bay Area, which is tech, sports, gentrification, environment, and other things. Baxter does a decent job but he won't change the audience whatsoever. We all agree the younger demo isn't interested in AM but they should have found a new voice. Someone who would expand their audience thru podcasts, social media, and appearances. Spencer could at least do thst and I don't care much for his faux conservatism.
ReplyDeleteGood for Ed Baxter. It's nice to have a full time job. I will listen to him some, but not all the time. I get up at 6 every morning and spend a couple of hours reading the news online. Huffington Post and the SF Gate. Every single topic Baxter brings up I've already read about. He has way too many topics and I don't really give a shit just to hear his take on them. Why not cover fewer topics, but take calls on them? What a brilliant concept! A talk show that talks about the topics. I want more than Ed's view. I want to hear what Beth from Elk Grove thinks and Jose from San Jose. Taking calls always makes for a better more interesting show. I'm OK with Ed getting this gig even though I was wanting it to be John Rothmann.
ReplyDeleteSomething else that would make the show better is slotting it in at 12:00 to 3:00. Move the childish fools Cory and Joel to 10:00. Better yet just show them the door and put anyone else in their place. Anyone would make for more interesting radio than those two idiots.
I have limited interest in any show where the host just talks to us for hours. I like Ed when he has a guest or a co-host but would have loved to hear John Rothmann on a show with callers as he is skillful and smart, and he gets his callers and listeners to think.
ReplyDeleteOn top of this announcement, now John Batchelor will be on KGO and he has limited understanding and zero personal involvement in California politics.
The good news is I've found some decent stations in other markets, but it would have been great to have good local talent.
Ed Baxter reads the news I already know. Hardly what I would call entertainment. Better than Frosty though.
ReplyDeleteI don't know what to make of this, and will continue to be lost until Christine Craft turns this thread into something about herself. It's all just speculation before that happens.
ReplyDeleteVick4Life, what do you mean by your statement "unitl Christine turns this thread into something about herself"? Are you saying you wish she had her own website, because she seems pretty media savvy, being in the business, and probably is well established online.
DeleteI think the intimation is as obvious as the sarcasm, no?
DeleteBaxter is the better choice in terms of interviewing skills. ...
ReplyDeleteGood for Baxter! I'm sick of the shrill voices, Tom Sullivan is ok but a little too folksy. When and where will Dr Bill reappear in the Bay Area?
ReplyDeleteWhy is Ed Baxter trying to hang on? He worked for years and should enjoy his retirement.
ReplyDeleteOh, no! I was really hoping that John Rothmann would be the choice. What a let-down!
ReplyDeleteRothmann can't be matched for radio savvy and general intelligence. In a political season, his commentary is pure gold. I guess radio in the Bay Area will continue to be dead. Will resurrection ever be possible?
I really wanted Rothmann to get this job. Over the years, I have come to respect his take on world politics. Also he treats his callers with respect.
ReplyDeleteA rare breed indeed.
While I don't listen to 910 at all...John Rothmann is NOT A GOOD TALK SHOW HOST...he's a classic career minor leaguer...I could not stand his act when he was at KGO...nothings changed....he will always be a minor leaguer.
ReplyDeleteCould not agree more. Rothmann takes himself way too seriously and lacks the entertainment aspect needed for radio. Every time I hear him it just sounds totally dry. Ed Baxter at least entertains even if he is just reading news stories all day long. I doubt either will move the needle and a change will come again.
DeleteIf he's a minor leaguer than KGO should hire him now!
DeleteI always enjoyed John Rothman around holidays when he would dig up lots of interesting old radio programs and movie bits. He could do interesting shows around these clips. This was before his Monday through Friday gig. Once he had that it was a non-stop Middle East tirade and it became a bore, very quickly. Pity, because I otherwise enjoyed his show.
ReplyDeleteAnother Cory and Joel, Armstrong and Getty, Gil Gross clone. They always have so much to say about issues relevant to women and minorities----other than to put them down, e.g. women harassed on the street---get over it. Racism exists---no it doesn't, get over it.
ReplyDeleteRacism doesn't exist, and you're intelligent.
DeleteAt least " Special Ed " is live and local like they say. I really like Rothmann's special features like on President's Day. For 3 hours daily he would bore people.
ReplyDeleteJohn Rothmann is a guest and a fill in. He never became a tv expert because he probably didn't have the credentials. No reason anyone needed to hear a show like that at 10am daily. Baxter is average but fine. Prefer him over Owens at this point.
ReplyDeleteTed Baxter gets the gig!!!
ReplyDeleteIs kgo number one yet? lol
ReplyDeleteEd Baxter is racist, i heard him say some nasty stuff about black people on bloomberg radio's Asia Daybreak, he would not the N' word but he put in place a negative comments about black folks, he was making fun of central african republic's civil war just because one of the fighting militia is called anti blacka...he was laughing and saying you cant make up this shit! and he also insulted the black actors who recieved oscar, he said now they are happy but just a year ago they where calling the oscar a racist! but i'm glad he works for bloomberg radio it will keep them unpopular!
ReplyDelete