It would make too much sense to place Pat Thurston and John Rothmann KGO's 1-2 punch from 7 PM to 1 AM (Thurston 7-10, Rothmann 10-1) but I'm advocating it anyway. For one, it would solidify KGO in the evening and provide a pair of well-seasoned news-talk hosts who have a wide audience swath of demos and loyal followings, even in this state of diminished AM radio.
News-talk still has a place, particularly in this current political climate. Ever heard of a guy named President-elect Donald Trump? You think they'll be something to discuss these next four years? It was a rhetorical question.
I've listened to enough of Thurston to now say firmly she's earned her nightly 7-10 gig; Thurston is a much better interviewer since her early days and she has a good grip on topical events and pop culture. Her inter-action with callers, too, is much more fluid and crisp. She has good guests and insights.
Rothmann to follow her from 10-1 AM (or 2 if need be) is a natural move and should be an easy choice given his huge following not only on KGO but yes, social media too, here, for example. I've marveled at Rothmann's poltical acumen to a point where some people think I'm his agent; no, I just appreciate someone who can make for interesting radio and whose intellect and moxie on politics and international news is second to none. If "Rothmann is too smart for KGO", then management at Cumulus will have to recheck the talk playbook. Both Thurston and Rothmann are reliable and capable personalities --known commodities that are not spectacular, merely solid performers who can deliver a steady audience and reestablish some cadence to KGO's evening line-up. It would also send a firm message to some of KGO's ex-listeners who took off but can now come back. It wouldn't hurt.
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Yes we can! I need people in our corner!! Can I work the board as I'm currently between jobs??
ReplyDeleteOh Debbie, how could you be "between jobs"? You were just easily re-elected to your Florida Congressional post. Did you not know?
DeleteDebbie, you and Amy can headline the "Snatched Tour" in between jobs. Let's Go!!
DeleteThey re-elected that corrupt hack? Terrible, braindead Democrats.
DeleteOh please, please and again please.
ReplyDeleteBut the Cumulus suits will not likely listen and we will stick as things are for a long time or until KGO finally goes into the dumper.
Cumulus head Mary Berner given $1.07-million bonus. Comments?
ReplyDeleteMoney well spent, I'm sure she deserves it (wink)
DeleteRich....spot on. Yes. Adding John Rothmann to the 10p into the wee hours slot would be a very smart move. Especially as KGO has a monster signal in the overnights, it would allow the entire west coast to have access to sensible talk show programming, and that access will deliver listeners, which in turn will support strong ad rates in that daypart. If Cumulus management does not believe this theory, I suggest that do what we always advise in digital media - TEST it. Put Pat and John back to back and create some support for it too, with station promos, PR releases, and social media. Allow John to be John and do NOT handicap him with the silly 15 minute topic cycle requirement. Akin to how stations allow Jim Ladd to throw out the playbook on rock radio (SiriusXM Deep Tracks today and KLOS in LA back in the day), letting an artist like John Rothmann do his artistic best work will bring in the listeners and hence the rewards.
ReplyDeleteAre you Pat Thurston's agent?
ReplyDeleteNo, but it would probably pay better than this does.
Deletestart them at 4!!!!! 4 to 7 and 7 to 10.
ReplyDeleteI enjoy Rothmann but would not listen even if he was on. Too many commercials, news and interruptions. Radio has become unlistenable...
ReplyDeleteAs for Thurston, she has a shrill annoying phony voice. Sounds like a whiny child.
For God's sake take some voice lessons and learn basic diaphragmatic support. You are supposed to be a broadcast professional...Sheeesh.
Unlistenable...I haven't listen to talk radio in 2 years, and I go all the way back to Ira Blue in the 60's, I think it was KGO. I listened to talk radio for probably 35+ years.
DeleteYou used the perfect word, unlistenable.
Commercial after commercial after commercial, throw in the traffic report every 10/8 or so minutes and you no longer have talk radio.
"Ladies and Gentlemen out there in Radio land, tomorrow we will have a very special program for you, so tune in from 2 to 4 pm. We will have an extra special 2 hour (commercial free!!) program, you guessed it, all about commercials."
I don't miss it, because what I left behind two years ago was not worth listening to any more!
And then Raphael Vincent "Ray" Taliaferro @ 1:00am
ReplyDeleteRothman, a resounding yes. Thursten, eh, not so much. I got tired of her and copeland always finding a segway in every topic to insult Trump. Was just too over board. and predictable. Turned their shows off.
ReplyDeleteI have never, ever seen a "segway" anywhere at a broadcast station, unless perhaps they are doing a story on human mobility via segway. Perhaps you were referring to a "segue"?
DeleteI have to assume you weren't able to understand the post. Perhaps if he/she/? were blessed with your spelling prose, you would have done better. Red line that.
DeleteJohn Rothmann has no peer.
ReplyDeleteand no ability to entertain. he's milquetoast.
DeleteFrom your lips....
ReplyDeleteGet rid of Armstrong and Getty !!!! I vote for Pat and John, 7pm till 1am!!! Tone down the commercials for chrissakes. Let them talk and let us call!!!
ReplyDeleteExcellent programming advice Rich. Even if all KGO did was replace that dismal and boring John Batchelor show currently running at 10 pm it would improve the line up immensely . And adding John Rothmann to replace Batchelor, what's not to like? Batchelor has his followers I guess, but his show is neither live nor local nor even a talk show. He takes no callers at all as far as I can tell. The Batchelor show seems to me to mostly be an advertisement for the GOP. I wonder what the arrangement is, does Batchelor pay KGO as an advertiser, or does KGO pay Batchelor for content?
ReplyDeleteBatchelor is a crony of the Dickey's who put him on their stations where they could. He's a pure unadulterated neo-fascist-con shill, nothing more.
DeleteOne's smart but bores you to tears, the other's more lively but not particularly smart.
ReplyDelete