--Of course, yes, Brian Copeland seems to only talk about race issues, race relations, et al but while I have a host of issues with Copeland (no pun intended) this is actually an area where I like his work and look forward to listening to his reasoning. Hear me out.
Copeland, who has been filling in for Ronn Owens on KGO (while Owens recovers from surgery) has provided listeners a very genuine background on the history of race relations--back in the day, Copeland himself was stopped on the streets of the East Bay by law enforcement for no particular reason. His comedic one-man show, "Not a Genuine Black Man" deals with growing up Black in mostly White San Leandro. It's both a poignant, surreal, funny, and a rather blunt assessment/ characterization of race in America. And definitely worth seeing if Copeland brings it back which I assume he will at some point.
Copeland more than likely will be Owen's eventual replacement on KGO; I don't necessarily agree or disagree with that move but given the other alternatives, I'd much rather it be Copeland, who is a Bay Area native and certainly knows the community well.
*Has it dawned on you the amount of pharmaceutical ads on TV and radio? Would love to see their balance sheets.
*When Giants announcers like Mike Krukow, Duane Kuiper, Dave Flemming and Jon Miller take a break away from their duties, the other broadcasters say "they're on assignment." Isn't that a little too cute? Why not just say that so-and-so is taking a break? Or is that too simple and unpretentious.
Does it really matter what the Giants announcers say about where the others are? It should not bother anyone.
ReplyDeleteDoesn't bother me.
DeleteFor this past Monday's "assignment", Dave Flemming was 20 feet away, broadcasting the SF-STL for ESPN.
DeleteIt insults people's intelligence. No one really believes that. So, one wonders, what else are they scamming us about? It's a turnoff.
ReplyDeleteFlemming often IS on Assignment as he does tons of ESPN baseball and tons of PAC 12 Football and basketball.
Delete"away on assignment" is a euphemism for being somewhere else or having something else to do. Why would that be insulting?
Delete"euphemism for being somewhere else or having something else to do"
DeleteNo one "assigned" him to do anything. It's genuinely stupid. Why don't they just say he's on vacation, or be more specific about what this other so-called "assignment" is? I'm just trying to help you. I'm not the only one who thinks this way. It's a joke in the industry. I know it. You know it.
2:24, it isn't insulting. It's a standing joke and I find it not at all bothersome.
DeleteI suppose 8:41 has bigger issues. I never saw it as "scamming" us...
Everything about Giants broadcasts is pretentious...
ReplyDeleteIncluding the Giants experience as a whole
DeleteIf it was the Popeye's Chicken Lady instead of Jared that got in trouble, you'd hear a lot more screaming.
ReplyDeleteJared - a sore subject around the nation, a sick person. Reminded me of a sad story in Bay Area talk radio. How can this sickness even exist? For most all of us it is beyond - understanding.
DeletePlease remove these comments (8:55, 9:07). There is enough of this crap to read on the news sites - don't need it here under Ronn's possible replacement. Too distasteful. Too horrifying!
Delete8:55. Poor poor taste. Why even put this on 415 Media?
Delete8:55 playing The Card. Sickening... but typical of the Bay Area celebration of diversity...
DeleteI used to enjoy listening to "Copie" now and then. But he really does discuss "race relations" about 80% of the time when he's on the air. It just gets sooo old. I mean, certainly race relations is and always will be an important issue in our society. But Ronnnn rarely if ever discusses Jewish issues, and even whatzizname (Karel??) didn't often talk about gay issues. I mean, BM's are important too - but please don't make me listen to radio discussions about them.....
ReplyDeleteI guess you were not paying attention when Lowensteinnnnnnnnnn talked about Israel constantly and said Arab nations only understand "force". Glad that chicken hawk is off the air. I lost a lot of respect for Copie when he reacted so tepidly after the mass firings. Rich, you sound like a double speaking politician: "I don't necessarily agree or disagree with that move" regarding Copie as replacement for Lowensteinnnnnnnn. You've expressed nothing but disdain for Byron Allen for years. Suddenly you think he's good?
DeleteI wonder that if Cope were a white man who spoke about race now and then, would anyone notice. The other white host almost always speak about race for one reason other another. Therefore; I ask if Cope is doing anything differently then the other host?
DeleteI prefer to hear Copie speak about race issues because he has/is living the Black Experience. This is perhaps an edge over other talk show host who read a book or who has a friend who is black.
DeleteSo you're upset the Copeland is talking about race at a time when the whole country is talking about race and people are protesting all over the country. So naturally cope with this not talking about race because it's news he's talking about it because he's black. Get over it. Notice that all these strong. Pinions are posted anonymously.
DeleteI even heard Jon Miller joking about the "on assignment" ruse a few months ago, when one of them was celebrating a birthday or graduation or some such. "Even so, we sent him on assignment!" he said, with a laugh. I laughed, too. But, really, there's no reason for such a ruse ....
ReplyDeleteFlemming DOES go on various different non Giant assignments
DeleteYeah, I remember Miller making fun of the "On Assignment" terminology and asking Flemming if he was going "On Assignment" for the CIA.
DeleteSometimes being "away on assignment" actually means just that. Presently Dave Flemming is "away on assignment" do the Little League World Series for ESPN. In the past Mike Krukow has been "away on assignment" dealing with personal health issues. Jon Miller was "away on assignment" when there was a death in his family.
ReplyDeleteThe Giants apparently believe that when a broadcaster is not working on a particular day they have no duty to explain to the audience exactly why. I agree.
If he talks about race, its to light up the phones.radio is not about silence.its a topic that is always on the minds of people here.if he gets the hosting job, he is like a comfortable pair of slippers.its there, we know the fit, and we move on with our SAFE choice.
ReplyDeleteI said on another topic here that Copie has been a breath of fresh air and he is. He talks about a lot of things beside race but it's telling that you think so. Race is in the news ever day but we shouldn't talk about it? All this talk about how we need to have a conversation about race in this country but people get turned off after give minutes. Copeland's experience is a welcome perspective on race because he is a far cry from being radical. For some black people Copeland isn't nearly black enough. He introduced us to a white undocumented Canadian who was never subjected to what Latinos are.
ReplyDeleteHe's talking about race (ethnicity really) right now, why? Because Trump has made it the cornerstone of his schtick and it's all over the mainstream news every half hour.
Actually, the current resident of the White House and his Very Special Friend Eric Holder have made everything about race for the last 6+ years...
DeleteEric Holder is no longer the Attorney General. In any event, during his tenure, DOJ investigated several "race" cases, most notably that of Darren Wilson in Ferguson, Missouri. They determined that there was no history of racial animus on the part of the police officer who shot Michael Brown. They did not prosecute him for federal civil rights violations, no matter how loudly the crowd insisted they must. I'd say that was a good thing, demonstrating the impartiality of DOJ in not prosecuting a race crime when there isn't one.
DeleteChristine, Barry's Very Special Friend WAS the Attorney General until recently. And he DID pursue a very race-oriented agenda. Some might say racist. He did nothing about the New Black Panthers intimidation of voters, he DID pursue a lot of frivolous cases against non-blacks.
DeleteI don't know what drugs you're on, but they seem stronger than the average LSD...
2015 and race issues seem to be tearing this nation apart. Talk radio and more importantly LISTENING radio can continue the discussion that will eventually lead to better understanding between people.
ReplyDeleteIf Copeland can aid this discussion, I'm all for it. How he diversifies his program will spell his success or failure in any time slot he may get. Glad he adds a thoughtful and thought-provoking perspective,
better to be ON assignment than DESIGNATED for assignment!
ReplyDeleteCopelan is not in the same class as Owen Spann and Ron Owens who proceded him in the 9-12 time slot, he is a real step down. Chip Franklin would be much better.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the other poster who says that Brian Copeland is tedious when it comes to race relations. It seems to be the only thing he cares or knows about. The other 20% of the time he seems to focus on what I would call infotainment. Or as Ben Badikian labeled it junk food news. Stories that while they generate a lot of temporary buzz are not relevant to anyone else's life but the involved parties. He almost never discusses politics. He needs to have a broader spectrum of topics.
ReplyDeleteI would disagree with the other poster that Ronn with 2 n's doesn't talk about being Jewish. Obviously, he has never heard him when he discusses Israel which seems to be often enough.
I am also happy to see that Pat Thurston is covering more progressive issues and politics than she has recently. I guess she decided to drop being a good little soldier. I've enjoyed listening to her since she has been filling in weeknights.
Angela
Copeland is a complete bore who needs guests and callers to keep his show alive. Half his weekend show is filled with bad comics. I think people also said he's depressed and suicidal? If that's true not exactly the person I want hosting on my station. Rich writes "probable." That means he has no idea. Right?
ReplyDeleteBrian has been very open about his battle with depression, depression is an illness, I doubt he is d epressed now, and as for suicidal that was years ago. As someone who has (HAS as in the past) suffered from depression I appreciate his willingness to talk about it. Depression can happen to anyone, and here is some historical facts for you. Churchill suffered from depression, as did Mike Wallace (tough journalist) possible Lincoln had bouts of depression. Depression can last for months, years, then disappear and recur again. There is little rime of reason for it. I was depressed for a few years about 10 years ago, and when things was about as bad as they could get (I lost my condo) had to move in with a friend and took a job way below my skill level and at a salary much less than I was use to, all of sudden I was not depressed anymore. I'm not sure why, I was not delirious happy, but I was not depressed, nor have I been depressed since. As for needing guest and callers to keep his show alive, yeah, or do you prefer the lame and boring banter of Drex and Joel and Corey on 910, if so it tells me, you are really not interested in current issues. Many of the comics on Brian' show have had successful stand up routines for years, Will Durst, Bobby Slayton. I don't think you know what you are talking about.
DeleteThere was a time when people didn't talk about "depression". That has changed dramatically. We now have a multi-billion dollar depression industry which pimps a wide pharmacopia of mind-numbing drugs with horrid side effects. Being angst-ridden is the trendy disability of the current culture. It is argued by the suicide prevention industry that one must do everything in one's power to stop another person from ending their own life. The mantra is that things will always get miraculously better if you don't opt to opt out. The Catholic church objects, of course,doctrinally and more importantly because they make a big chunk of change "counselling" the sick and the dying. In all the sorrow and anger at the passing of Robin Williams, for example, no one seems to acknowledge the obvious. Robin Williams, stricken with double neurologic degenerative disease, and blessed with a family now ripping each other apart in court over his possessions,may well have made the perfect choice for himself.
DeleteThere are, in fact, many people out there making a killing(pun intended) monetizing depression. There is no absolute medical test to determine if one has "depression". There are clinical, observable indices of behavior that leads to, at best, a guesswork diagnosis. It's pretty depressing.
I think Brian Copeland is completely boring. I also think the comics he brings on aren't at all funny on radio. I don't mind the race talk but that's really all he has.
DeleteTune into Copeland and you are guaranteed to hear some contrived topic about being Black in America. .
DeleteThurston and Craft bring so much more to the table
In the past, as late as last week, I have said negative things about Copeland. I think I said I don't have to be reminded every 15 minutes he is black. After listening to him for the last 2 weeks I have changed my mind. Some of his segments have been very good.
ReplyDeleteI bet when Ronn comes back it will be very short term. He will announce that when he hits 40 years at KGO (October?) he is retiring I don't blame him either. That is if he comes back as he didn't sound 100% this morning chatting with Brian.
I hope they give the time slot to Copeland and not Chip Franklin.
I'm not sure if this is the reason, but there is that weird thing in broadcasting where you're not supposed to acknowledge that someone is off working on another station/network etc. The vast majority of the absences these days (though clearly not all) are related to Dave Flemming's ESPN work. They probably don't want to say "Dave's doing another game for ESPN instead of being here." Silly, since most folks know that anyways, but maybe that's got something to do with it.
ReplyDeleteThe whole "race hysteria" like we have seen lately will mello out once we have a new President. However we may just spend the next few years living with "sexism hysteria".
ReplyDeleteMan v Woman...
Pantsuit vs Skirts vs Slacks.
I bet some e-mails will keep Billary from pushing that sort of hysteria.
Delete"The whole "race hysteria" like we have seen lately will mello out once we have a new President. "
DeleteSilly you. In America, it will always be about race. Forget dwindling 401ks, pension eliminations, depressed wages, mediocre health care and a poor overall quality of life. Race trumps it all and works like a charm.
Copeland...one of the reasons I no longer listen to talk radio. While the rest of us have moved on, he is still stuck in the year 1965. I have never listened to this guy. I am a white person, and the racial talk was boring 10 years ago, it is over the top boring today, and will be boring 50 years from now!! He is the perfect example of the failure of talk radio....boring! The definition of talk radio....Trying to talk smart about stupid shit! I have assigned him the acronym ABC....Another Black Crybaby!
ReplyDeleteOf all the different hosts available you don't listen to talk radio because of just ONE host? As for Brian being stuck in 1965 he was barely born then, and in case you haven't noticed the US still have a racial problem, yes things are better, but there is still a problem, and you sound like one of the reasons we still have that problem. You are white, gee I would never have guessed. Why don't you listen to Rush or Savage, I think you would feel more comfortable with those two, they keep talking about the same subjects over and over, Rush blames liberals for everything, and Savage does the same, plus he blames illegals. Or perhaps you prefer the format of Joel and Corey on 910 or Drex, trying to talk smare about nothing. Frankly you don't sound like someone who has moved on, you sound like a paranoid white man stuck in the past.
DeleteYet you have "never" listened to him. Real informed comment there Junior.
ReplyDeleteI remember the first time the Giants announcers said one of the others was "on assignment". They joked about how sometimes reporters are described as being "on assignment", and started using it for themselves. I think it was Jon Miller who started it up referring to Dave Fleming.
ReplyDeleteI like it, it doesn't bother me. Krukow saying "benefactor" instead of "beneficiary" bugs me, but I can live with it at this point...
I wish Krukow would go on permanent assignment -- away from the booth.
DeleteHis act is so tired. Gamer babes, Posey in the squaaaat, grab some pine meat. How about getting some new material MEAT!! Plus, he's a homer
-- a total shill.
4:39,
DeleteI've heard several other sports reporters mix up benefactor and beneficiary, including CSNBA's Kelli Johnson. Krukow has been doing it for so long, it's almost like a running joke.
Fleming is on assignment....
ReplyDeleteThey say "on assignment" when any of them are away, this started when Kruk came down with his degenerative health condition. He can't work certain old ballparks like Wrigely because they don't have an elevator to the pressbox.
ReplyDeleteKruk was on KNBR a few weeks ago and explained that "on assignment" is just to avoid an awkward explanation every time...
Both Brian Copeland and Pat Thurston have done a great job in the last few weeks filling in for others. If they aren't offered jobs in the time slots they've been on, then there's no management paying attention. I also hope Christine Craft is then offered a regular weekend schedule because she's interesting to listen to even if controversial in many of her opinions. These three hosts have a few things in common - they aren't talking about topics for just one age group, and they are intelligent and articulate.
ReplyDeleteThey have another thing in common too: no one under 50 cares to listen. Christine Craft sounds like a Grandma handing out cookies.
Delete8:55 you sound like a totally idiot, very superficial with no serious thoughts about anything, listen to Drex or Joel and Corey on 910 from 1 to 3 p.m. and let those of us who like intelligent conversation and intelligent well informed host listen to the few good hosts who are left, no matter out age. Frankly I know several serious minded young people, some I work with, some are my daughter's and son in laws age group (mid thirties) age is not what it use to be. When my parents where my age (late sixties) they have been retired for a few yeas, they took a nap every afternoon, I work full time, am on my feet 7 hours most days, work in a fast paced environment, commute 2 or more hours a day, and still have left over energy to exercise a few days a week, cook clean and shop and spend time with friends. Christine (I believe we are about the same age, she might be a few years younger) sounds energetic and mentally sharp I bet she could run circles around you 8:55.
DeleteSo what is Christine Craft saying? That Copeland is really not suffering from depression? That he's a depression pimp? WTF?! I don't like to criticize women on this site because there are so many anti female comments but you have quite a pair, lady. And where did you get your medical degree? What a judgemental pompous ass you are
ReplyDeleteI made no assertion about Brian's much-publicized depression, did I? Show me where. Was it just in your imagination? I'm not a lady. I have no testicles. I have, however, represented many California workers whose claims include "depression" as a result of workplace injury. I have deposed many psychiatrists and psychologists in these cases. What specific fact that I cited do you find untrue? I'm waiting.
DeleteGreat talk show hosts are one in a million. As such - people like Hannity, Savage, Rush should be able to command as much money as a broadcasting enterprise can fund. Where can you find one of these Superstars? Next to impossible!
ReplyDeleteWhy are you only mentioning right wing hosts? Certainly there are excellent left wing hosts, or do you not believe in a diversity of opinions? The best host of all times as far as I'm concerned was Gene Burns, and not that I always agreed with him, far from it, but he was an intellectual powerhouse, a word master, and even when I disagreed he sounded reasonable. Savage although very smart, is too much of a one issue host, except for his stories that are not political, Rush too bombastic, and EVERYTHING is the fault of the left, boring and predictable. Hannity is too transparent and a bit of an intellectual lightweight. Gene is gone, John Rothmann is still available, but the powers to be on locale radio stations prefer lame hosts like Joel and Corey and Drex. Although conservative I like and often listen to Tom Sullivan, I always liked Bill Press when he filed in for Ronn, or when he had an overnight show on a local station, now he is not heard in this area. As for money I think the 3 hosts you mentioned are doing just fine, didn't Rush get 40 million a few years back? Not sure if it was for certain timespan, (3-5 years) but he certainly is not hurting, then he gets on the air and rail against $10.00 minimum wage. Give me a break, just cannot identify with his stance.
DeleteAll 3 of these hosts mentioned is why radio is going out of business. Their type of radio, developed when there was little media competition, came very cheap. And it proved to be the primary reason radio has been destroyed. Most of these shows propped up by political dollars.
DeleteThe original post is way off base. Hannity is still relatively young and has horrendous ratings, as do the rest of them.
I posted the blog at 11:16 p.m. and I'm not sure what Christine's point is. I agree if someone wants to kill themselves they will, but I don't agree that we shouldn't try to stop someone who wants to commit suicide. When I was extremely depressed I thought about suicide, but somehow back in my mind I knew I couldn't do it, I did not want to leave my only child (daughter) with that legacy. Now 10 years later I can look back and see how much more life still had in store for me, good times with friends and family, the enjoyment of working, the wedding of my daughter. The late great Gene Burns use to say, instead of trying to stop someone from committed suicide, just ask them to wait a day, and then the next day, wait a day more, then perhaps a week. I'm sure you get my point. Anyway this is not a discussion about depression and suicide, it is about a discussion about Brian Copeland, certainly critic about his show is legit, but to attack him because he has battled depression, is unfair, would you attack him if he had battled cancer? To Christine, whom I always listen to when she is on, I did not take medication when I was depressed. As for Robin Williams, I'm not about to judge his decision to take his own life, but I do think he had some good times ahead, he had children, his disease was in the early stages, what if he had done like Gene Burns suggested, let me just wait a day, a week etc. and see if things get better.
ReplyDeleteYou assume that things will always get better For many people in a variety of situations, that's just not true. I made no mention of Brian Copeland. I believe, from listening to him over the years that he has been diagnosed with depression. I believe he has a mission to deter other people from suicide. I don't doubt that in the least. My point isn't about him, it's about the facts of how they determine someone has "depression". .Anyone can qualify if they give the right answers to a few basic questions...look it up. It is a multi,mega-billion dollar industry...It's not a dirty little shameful secret. Ever notice all the young celebs who get dui's and drunk busts and how they polish their images by saying they've been "diagnosed with depression"? They couldn't help it, they were just organically "blue". Go to the clinic, tell them you have suicidal thoughts, and before you can say "boo", you've got your diagnosis..Did you think there was a blood test or a brain scan they could do? There isn't.
DeleteKrukow's physical woes aside, but it does take a lot of energy to be a paid cheerleader for three hours. That's why they need the time off. It's hard to be a liar for 162 days. They know how people have to fake liking their jobs every day. But these yakkers get first class charter flights, meal money, transportation to work when they're on the road and the opportunity to see the country. They're luckier than most. But they pay for it: by having to kiss orange and black ass.
ReplyDeleteCraft may be the most insensitive, least likeable person that appears on 415; to think she disseminates this idiocy on other platforms is truly disturbing.
ReplyDeleteI'm not auditioning for your "likeability" test. You apparently find factual statements to be "insensitive". To what specific "idiocy" do you refer? What did I state that you find to be incorrect? You won't answer, because you are wrong as well as "disturbed". Maybe you can turn that into a diagnosis for yourself.
DeleteAs good as he is, it's probably time for the Giants to seek a replacement for Dave Flemming in the broadcast booth. Being "on assignment" to ESPN or wherever at this time of the year when the Giants are in contention, is not acceptable, and should be part of his contract. If he wants to advance his career, fine, but not at the expense of the Giants.
ReplyDeleteDoug Greenwald, now doing the Fresno Grizzlies, would be an excellent replacement.
No. Doug sounds too much like his dad but without the predictable humor. Dave is just fine. He's much better than you think.
DeleteWalter Cronkite made fun of the term on his last newscast over 30 years ago when he said that he'd "be away on assignment, and that Dan Rather would be filling in the next few years"
ReplyDeleteI'm not a fan of Brian Copeland. I don't think he's funny and I remember his MotS on MO2 back in the day and they were cringe worthy... at BEST. No one would stop to talk to him... on LIVE TV- made for some awkward moments. I do appreciate his history of growing up black in San Leandro and his take on race from a black man's perspective growing in a white community. He did an episode a few years back on the weekend and the subject was dealing with his mother's passing and the subsequent life insurance hassle/run around. THAT was an EXCELLENT award winning episode because it was impassioned, spontaneous and informative.
ReplyDelete