IF YOU WANT TO READ FIRST HAND of the STUPIDITY known as Cumulus Media, take a look back to A Year Ago Today what I wrote.Even after Trump's great reviews after last night's SOTU, the country remains divided; the world on edge; a bustling economy doesn't make the angst go way.
Whatever the case, with Trump in the White House, daily news is almost a letdown --his tweets, his off-court behavior, the whole domain has an instantaneous element to it perfectly apt to news-talk radio. Which is precisely why John Rothmann should be on the albatross AM 810, the old, broken-down KGO, but KGO ceased to be taken seriously; now they have an excuse; their owner has declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy and the guillotine is about to slash.
Politics is big business and big money entertainment; there's a reason why the CNN's and MSNBC's and Fox News has generated enormous ratings and profits the past few years; the election of 2016; the five-ring circus known as "President Donald J. Trump." It's not really about those of you can't stand Trump and those who believe he's the greatest thing since sliced bread. Trump's movements has created a media industry; a phenomenon similar to the OJ Simpson deal and subsequent trial. It was distasteful, it was lurid, it was violent and it had LA, Hollywood as a dateline and everyone under the sun ate it up.
KGO should hire Rothmann at night; no, it probably won't happen because KGO is DOA and markets itself as if it were in the Stone age. Their PD thinks you, collectively you, the Bay Area audience that still listens to AM radio has no yearning for red-meat "NEWS-TALK" and "INFORMATION"; they think you're rather placid and dumb and would like to hear discussions about food and sex and cookie recipes. They regard you as crumbs; their version of the deplorables.
And the worst thing is they have no clue what the hell they're talking about and won't hire a Rothmann because they're stubborn assholes who'd rather choose failure and dorkyism over creativity and what's on the national pulse.
Yes, kick me, I'm a Rothmann advocate; I find it silly and still, call me naive--amazing that KGO suits would not have on its air a guy who not only walks the walk but talks the talk too. You may or may not like Rothmann's staccato pattern; his political girth; his presence on the airwaves that produce instant credibility; enjoy your cooking shows with the fake chef; relish with delight the 10-1 boob who talks in stilted language as if speaking to ninth graders about chocolate chip cookie recipes
The 'Next Generation' my ass.
I've always liked Rothman, but KGO is dead. Time to move on. Too bad KCBS can't break up their monotony with some news talk. Remember Jan Black's journal? It can be done.
ReplyDeleteAh yes, Jan Black’s Journal. Thanks for the memories. My most cherished memories are when the old KGO Morning News crew would comment on how bad Ray T’s chair stank after his shift. That and the time when Dr Bill called Karel an Asshole will go down in eternal radio history.
DeleteKGO 810 makes me PUKE!!!
ReplyDelete"the 10-1 boob('s) ... stilted language as if speaking to ninth graders" Actually, he sounds more like he's speaking to fifth graders.
ReplyDeleteKGO is long gone and Jon Rothman wasn’t a favor when it was something. This blog is the only interesting thing about KGO.
ReplyDeleteAgreed. For 30 years people have asked Tom Wilson the same questions over and over and over again. He decided to put his answer into a song. At this point Rich should just write a "KGO was so great Cumulus ruined it" song so that when he feels the need to revisit the topic 264 times a year he can just put a link to the song on youtube so we can all skip the posting that day. #dejavualloveragain
ReplyDeleteAs long as the Anthony, Twittmayer, and McVay-like goons are around they will never do anything that is intelligent. They are as UNintelligent as the classic old Kgo hosts/management, including Mr Rothmann, WERE/ARE intelligent.
ReplyDeleteReplacing the boring 10 pm John Batchelor show with Mr Rothmann's political insights would indeed be a good ratings move for KGO. But I don't see it happening. It's pretty clear ratings are not driving the management's decisions.
ReplyDeleteSorry to disagree, but listening to the "Purity Products" and "Live Abundant Radio" are the finest radio programs I have ever hear, and "Hangin' with Langan" a very close second.
ReplyDeleteA little sarcasm 9:08, I hope. To other bloggers, I listen to John Batchelor, yes he can be a little boring, and he is on the conservative side, but he can also be interesting, depending on his guest or subjects. I mostly listen the first hour, since I work to almost 10 p.m. and have over an hour commute. I think it would make more sense to have John on from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. instead of reruns of the insufferable Ethan Bearman. There are several spots that could work for John Rothmann, getting rid of Ethan altogether would not be a bad thing, John could do his morning show, and Pat Thurston the evening 7 to 10 p.m. Not a fan of Chip Franklin either, so there are lots of possibilities, but Cumulus seem to think that whoever is listening, has no brains, and don't want in depth, serious and intelligent hosts. It is not only sad, but those of us who like good old fashion talk radio are loosing out.
ReplyDeleteIf kgo had the wit to replace Ethan Bearman with Jon Rothman in the mornings and the equally insufferable Chip Franklin with Pat Thurston in the late afternoons, I'd tune back into it. But it doesn't, so I won't.
DeleteIf Rothmann were on Jeopardy and the category were presidential trivia he would clean up. But he’s not so good at other subjects. I think that’s why he doesn’t have a full-time gig. Copie had the same problem. His favorite subject was race. But he couldn’t do other topics that well. That’s why neither of these guys had high-profile slots on the old KGO. You need to be versitile if you want to succeed in talk radio. I’m sure John is a nice guy but he just doesn’t have it.
ReplyDeleteRothman is just another liberal hack -- I recall listening to him before the election and being the 'expert' that he is, he almost guaranteed that Trump 'had no chance of winning'. So much for the 'insight' that he has into politics. He obviously hates Trump and therefore cannot recognize a single positive thing that the President does. This is just partisan reporting like most of the liberal media. And, don't get me started on Pat Thirsten - her blabbing about politics is as worth while as listening to a dentist's drill. Both of these folks should be replaced with a Preparation H infomercial.
ReplyDelete