TONY BRUNO
*95.7 FM 'The Game' continues to struggle ...especially in the key morning drive (5-9 AM) ; despite repeated new morning shows and experiments, Entercom's FM All-Sports outlet is lagging behind its own projections.
*Enter popular and talented Tony Bruno--I've learned through the grapevine that Bruno was contacted by a key Entercom (which owns The Game) exec out of its corporate SF office making initial contact. It's not known what was discussed but put two and two together.
*Bruno already does a weekly half-hour spot with Damon Bruce. It's funny, smart, edgy, and often controversial --in a good way. It's one of the most compelling thirty minutes of content in local radio.
*Bruno, out of Philadelphia, is a very special, ultra-talented personality but who is deemed difficult to work for. Often times, good people fit that description --Bruno is not alone. But he would need to change his professional MO otherwise he'll forever be stuck here.
*The Game has a new PD--his first project is well-known in local broadcast circles: Get rid of these guys. Because they're a disaster. Enter Bruno. Maybe.
*Game Changer: Again, Bruno comes with baggage but a "Bruno In The Morning" would rearrange the ratings deck for 95.7 FM. Bruno is expensive too (try about $300K a year and 3 years guaranteed --just for an example) but good people are expensive.
*Bruno loves the Bay Area and would probably JUMP at a chance to host his very own show but there is one significant problem (among a few others): Bruno's mother is 91 and lives in Philly. Bruno is thought to be against moving to another city while his mother lives out her sunset years. Then again, that's why you talk and negotiate--anything is possible.
*Follow me on Twitter
I know you're talking about "The Game" and not the leader. But Bruno/Radnich was appointment radio for me on Friday mornings. I'll have to check out the Damon Bruce/Bruno matchup (I'm not a fan of Damon Brice tho). The thing is Bay folks can't get mad if Tony keeps it 1-Hunid and doesn't kiss the local team's arse.
ReplyDeleteSame. I had no idea he was on with Damon. I will definitely be checking it out.
DeleteIf Bruno gets $300K a year for 3 years, then 95.7 better give him a prime chunk of airtime. Whomever he steps on or pushes in front of a train to get the spot should just go into the sewers like the turds that they are.
ReplyDelete1st of all, a 3 or 4 hour morning show w/ Tony Bruno's resume is more like $500K not $300K. Plus moving from Philly to San Fran would be a major increase in cost of living. It was clear that Tony left WIP because he couldn't stand working with a classless Howard Stern wannabe idiot like Josh Innes & walking away from a #1 show in spite of ratings shows that Bruno has integrity which I think the Bay Area would appreciate. He's always claimed SF as his 2nd home so I don't think he'd be treated like an outsider. Hell, I know many people who would be be thrilled about his return. I think a major hitch is his 91 yr old mother who he is helping take care of. If Entercom were smart they'd offer him some kind of split living thing. Allow him to fly back and forth & put him up in SF w/ corporate housing or something. He did it with Philly from Los Angeles for several years before moving back. Hell, isn't his girlfriend his old producer? Seems like a perfect situation to me. Damn it would be good to have Bruno back here. Game Changer indeed!
DeleteWhy did Bruno "retire" in Philly? What would make him come back besides $$$
ReplyDeleteSneh.
DeleteTony is better than most of what the Bay Area has to offer but that's really not saying much. Certainly a talented guy but I don't think he's the answer. That morning show is absolutely terrible, I would agree. There has to be local people who know sports and entertain. Then again, maybe there's not?
ReplyDeleteBruno just took a dump & named it Gary, it was that big.
ReplyDeleteHe'll say something stupid again and get fired. Not worth the risk.
ReplyDeleteBruno would be good. I almost feel sorry for the new PD at the Game as he sorts out the wreckage left behind by Barrett. Firing the Rise Guys and hiring the awful replacements (Lo is cool), the failed ugly Bucher experience, rotating night hosts, giving Steinmetz a show then firing him a few months later, moving Towny all over the place, hiring dbag Brandon Tierny, weird 2 hour shows. Hopefully he will pair Lo with Haberman and Middlekauff for football season and give them another hour.
ReplyDeleteHey Bruno, instead of changing the game, how about changing your drawers...stank ass.
ReplyDeleteBruno would kill the school children on the leader. The Bay Area needs a talent like him. Morning radio sucks. Get him on board ASAP! Worth every penny.
ReplyDeleteTony Bruno would be a great hire for 6-10am. But since we're talking about Entercom they'll probably continue to roll out more lame-ass shows.
ReplyDeleteWow, that's a handsome photo of Patrick Stewart!
ReplyDeleteWell thank you, kind sir! Watch my new show "Blunt Talk" on Starz! I'm about to drink some good malted scotch with Sir Ian, so have a good night!
DeleteCheers,
Sir Patrick Stewart OBE
PS: If you want me to say "Make It so" or any of that Trek horseshit, look up "Fuck You, I will not!!"
Wow, Bruno in the mornings would be a game changer and be an immense improvement over the other station's Muppet Show with Bert and Ernie.
ReplyDeleteTwo-thirds sports-knowledgeable and two-thirds funny adds up to mediocrity.
ReplyDeleteTony's biggest issue back east (I'm told) is that he has an old school mentality of doing radio, and isn't going to change. The whole "tease it forward" and "use social media" doesn't appeal to a guy who has been doing it one way most of his career, and has been largely successful.
ReplyDeleteEven though he was #1 at WIP with Innes, he walked out because he wasn't going to get along with the "Gen Y" type co-host. Not worth it to him. Do you think in the Bay Area, home of social media and all that comes with it, Tony is going to handle being micro-managed? Somehow I doubt it. And the last thing the Game can afford is ANOTHER morning show if/when Bruno fails.
You can't trust a guy who walks out the door when you're #1. You just can't. Especially because while he's talented, he's not THAT talented.
Interesting post. I was not aware he was in #1 Philly.
DeleteI can see how he would not get along with a young co-host.
You obviously don't follow Tony on social media. He might be one of the most "active" guys on there. And he walked out because Innes is a douche and Tony didn't like how he treated fans. And yes, Tony brought that afternoon show from #8 to #1. I believe he's been #1 in every show he's done. I don't think it has anything to do with a young cohost. He's worked with many young people including the guys on his Podcast. You might have a point with the micro-managing thing however. But if 95.7 is smart they'll figure out a way to bring him in, because yes, he is that talented.
DeleteAnd Tony brought it from #8 to #1 in his first month on the air there. The first month! He's gold!
DeleteTony Bruno will NEVER do a local show. He's too big, national, for local radio in SF. Plus - he's an east coaster - that talk wont fly here. He also has that Giants flap for 3-4 years ago... he's burned a lot of bridges. I sure would love to hear him daily.
ReplyDeleteI think that Giants flap was blown way out of proportion.
DeleteI have been giving the KNBR Morning Show a listen for over a month. From 0500 on. Its AWFUL. How the hell do these schmucks get 4 hours of morning drive on a large national market? They must have pics of people with farm animals....
ReplyDeleteWhat a TERRIBLE pair of clowns.
You and many others are dumbfounded by KNBR's morning show.
DeleteIs there any reason he couldn't do the show from Philly with a local producer?
ReplyDeleteOr at least have him fly back and forth like he used to do between LA and Philly. I think it's a great idea.
DeleteBruno has to make up the money he loses now that Keith Olberman is going off the air at ESPN. He was a regular contributor to Olberman's show.
ReplyDeleteThe thing I hate about the KNBR morning show is you'd think there were only two teams in the NL West - the Giants and Dodgers. Same goes for football season and basketball, if the Warriors continue to be good. I gotta think the blatant homerism keeps ratings high - if listener calls during the day are any indication.
ReplyDeleteMurph and Mac aren't dummies - they keep the execs happy and provide an upbeat morning presence. After the morning show, the homerism slowly declines during the day up to Tolbert. But Murph and Mac are the worst.
Personally, I don't think it's homerism. If there are negative things going on, they will address them. Perhaps in a lighter way that you'd like, but they don't ignore the bad stuff. Of course they focus on the Giants, 49ers, and Warriors because they broadcast those teams' games. But they do still talk about the other teams.
DeleteI don't get the bashing of these guys. It's a light hearted morning show, which frankly is what I like in the morning. Sure some of the stuff like Mac's songs are cheesy. But they don't pretend it's anything other than cheesy fun. For Giants/49ers/Warriors fans, which is a large part of the population, Murph & Mac is a good source for info and interviews and a relatively cheerful way to start the morning. I'll take this show over at least 60% of the dreck on 95.7, especially the morning show.
I don't give a FCUK about homerism or being a homer, this is the Bay Area; talk about the the local teams, make them the story! We get enough of the east coast bias via the media. The Warriors had an exciting, record setting season and national media could barely get over their regional bias to talk about it. Don't want to hear ESPN radio talk about the football recruiting class of West Indiana Tech in April
ReplyDeleteOr spelling.
DeleteIt's just all the time - I can take a break from 162 games to hear about other teams. I like the sport, not just the home team.
And when do Murph and Mac ever talk about the A's, the other home team?
M and M work for the flagship of 3 teams so of course their focus will be with those teams. Plus they were fans of those teams as kids, as are (were) thousands of listeners who grew up with our local teams. People, get a clue!
DeleteKNBR's homerism is glaring and repugnant.
ReplyDeleteI disagree with this assessment
ReplyDeleteMurph and Mac aren't dummies
Could the Raiders decision to not use 95.7 for presason games signal a change could be in order for 2016?
ReplyDeleteOr maybe Raiders preseason games just move to 98.5 when the A's are on 95.7?
DeleteGet rid of teenager wanna-be John Lund, get rid of idiots Haberman & Middlekauff, they sound like 2 teenagers high on cocaine for the first time...more Matt Steinmetz, more Mychael Urban, and more what's that other guy, Rick Tittle I think?
ReplyDeleteThat's all...
I don't listen to 95.7, but I saw Lund on CSN Bay Area sports talk last night. My first thought was, "It looks like he sure spends a lot of time on his hair for a guy his age."
DeleteNo to Rick Tittle. Too whiny.
DeleteChad, Joe, and Lo . . . Joe is a statistics freak. Lo tries hard but I wince sometimes when he uses football analogies to explain baseball. I would not listen to Tony Bruno--too big of an ego and not local.
ReplyDelete