 |
| Chip Franklin |
Wait a sec; It's much better.
Actually, I've been listening to his show and there's a lot more there there. It's a good ebb and flow now. There's no more three-topics-in-a-minute prior Program Director who didn't have a clue what the hell he was doing (but that's another story); Franklin has a personality that many find irritating and offensive but if you listen now he can (and has) become more expansive and formulating in his thoughts. You don't have to agree with his left-leaning politics (I generally do, but so what) but his program is vastly more entertaining and informative. Gone is the "7F" BS and its rudderless radio. There is actually more news talk and topical genre which makes the show more listenable and crisper. The inane toilet humor between Franklin and his sidekick, Nikki Medoro, is mostly gone and there's more intelligent callers and interviews.
Again, Franklin is not everyone's cup of tea but if you give a listen the show is more consistent and news savvy. Franklin is not a Trump fan and his anti-Donald tirades can be tiresome --OK, so he's not alone in that boat. On the other hand, there's a marked difference in Chip Franklin, 2019 than Chip, 2018. If you haven't noticed then you're not a believer and just don't like him which is fine, that's why there's 31 flavors; some people even like chicken on a pizza which should be unconstitutional.
AS FRANKLIN CHANGES SO DOES KGO
I have been mucho-harsh on KGO for almost a decade and if you've listened to it, you understand why. KGO has been through so many recent changes and iterations that I can't really say what direction they're headed only their current model seems to be on the right track. I hope for hope's sake we get at least a couple years worth of the present.The "old" KGO is no more and will never be. But, to KGO (and Cumulus) defense it's a different world and everything/everyone has to adapt. There is no room for twenty minutes, uninterrupted radio. Gone is a great interview with Alan Dershowitz and David Brooks. Ronn Owens is no longer Ronn Owens, circa 2000. Gene Burns is dead. Ray Taliaferro too and Jim Eason retired and, well, you get my drift.
The "new" KGO sounds a trifle like the old KGO with a good mix of news talk and breaking news discussion; politics at night with John Rothmann (6-9PM) is an enjoyable listen. The old standard dialogue/debate --intelligent discourse---has been a Rothmann staple. His argumentative back and forths with callers (mostly the Trump amen corner) has been quite a good listen.
Pat Thurston from Noon-3 PM is an interesting mix of daily news topics and pop culture. Sometimes Thurston goes too left for my taste and relies on guests that embellish that thought but overall, she does a good job of mixing it up and allowing the other side to spiel and they do spiel. Thurston's movie review hour on Friday (2-3 PM) I thought would be tedious, but Tim Sika is profoundly entertaining if a bit smug-sounding on the air. OK, so I'm a tough reviewer, nobody's perfect.
KGO has a way to go. You already know my feelings about the morning and Mark Thompson, its only flaw. Thompson is a disaster but maybe deserves more time. Well for one, he ought to actually do the show here, and not in LA, because if we're preaching "Live and Local," that's hardly the case for a guy 400 miles to the south in a remote studio.
I don't get the "Ronn Owens Report" --Ronn should quietly retire and enjoy his sunset years but whatever, KGO allows him to get out of the house. How charitable.
I hope KGO stays the course and tries to invigorate the weekend programming but that might be asking too much.
OK, so be it.
**SUPPORT 415 MEDIA****
PLEASE SUPPORT MY 415 MEDIA: We rely solely on reader donations to provide honest and edgy Bay Area media information, scoops, commentary and strive hard for entertaining the masses who come here regularly.
TO CONTRIBUTE:
Scroll down the right side of the blog to the "Pay Pal" "Donate" button; click on it and follow the prompters--it takes only a minute and you don't have to have a pay pal account to donate. All contributions are 100 percent confidential and safe and secure.
I will personally call you/e-mail you thanking you for your contribution.
You must have hit your head or something...Chip Franklin still fucking sucks. Not funny, not very smart, an irritating personality, and the same broken record shit every day. No redeeming qualities whatsoever...none.
ReplyDeleteHow or why would you know what he does every day, if you don't listen? When Chip first started, he was very good, solid, interesting. The "lifestyle" and "sidekick" stuff made it unlistenable. Let Chip be Chip, no sidekicks and he'll be back to what he does best, unattended.
DeleteMust be the good clam chowder at the Tadich Grill! Good stuff!
Delete12:31 is that being a conservative in a conservative market and a liberal in a liberal market? Oh how the mighty Chip changes!
DeleteNo you're wrong, Rich. Chip and his yenta are a joke.
ReplyDeleteThat is your opinion, of which you entitled. I tend to agree with Rich, I couldn't listen to Chip before, now I can Niki is quite good, she filled in a few times for Chip, and I liked her, she is not fantastic, but being new as a fill in host I think she did fine. I love and always have loved John Rothmann, he is on vacation for 2 weeks, and Angie Courie will be filling in (not sure if that is how you spell her name) but I for the most part think she does a fine job. Although I think Maureen Langdon has gotten better, since her disastrous start, I have not quite warmed up to her, it depends on her subject, sometimes I listen, other times I find her boring and tiresome.
DeleteKGO, the last refuge of the Angry White Liberal.
ReplyDeleteI don't hear anybody angry. I hear liberal and critical analysis of current events, and the President. I'm amazed how many commenters always seem to have a torn in their side that KGO is mostly a liberal station, but have no problem with KSFO, and 860 and 1530 from Sacramento all of which are quite right wing, although I do enjoy Tom Sullivan's show on 1530. Perhaps you should listen a little more closely, especially to John Rothmann, when he talks about Israel, you will find he is often at odds with many liberals (by the way for the most part I agree with his stand on Israel) and what's more he takes calls from listeners who are quite conservative, and he let's them talk. Unlike Savage, Rush, and Mark Levin (get off the phone your big dope) and Hannity who might take a call from a liberal, but then ridicule them. Isn't there room for all persuasions, liberal, conservative, and the middle? It would be awful boring if all stations were the same, or would you be more comfortable with a State run media, i.e. like the old Russia, only one side is allowed to be heard.
DeleteWhile KGO Radio seems to be improving, I've been wondering where "Radio Waves," that shrill piece in the Sunday Comical by Bennie "Not on the Ball" Fong, has gone. Perhaps the smarties at the Comical decided enough is enough and told him to go pound sand. Based on his last column, which appeared in March, that makes sense. He was writing more about anything but radio (sans some comments about KGO, oddly enough). What the hell does Margaret Cho have to do with radio? Benny Boy made her the center of his column. The column is about RADIO, not about Benny's fantasies or self-indulgences. It's people like him that make you more relevant, Richard. Carry on the good work muckraking the mindless dribble on the dial and do keep the use of the pronoun "I" to a minimum. Bennie Boy should read this column and maybe he can learn something about the state of radio around here. Stop looking in the mirror and quit trying to figure out whose ass you need to kiss. Do your job.
ReplyDeleteUhhhhh...what? Back to the topic....Rich is wrong on this one. Chip Franklin is awful. Period
DeleteTwilight zone theme playing I'm the background.
DeleteTried catching up with KGO during various times from the morning until evening but Rich it still sucks, I'm a sold 65, been listening since Ira Blue and I am no longer the DEMO that KGO is looking for. I listen now 7 nights a week from 10;00 PM until 6:00 AM. Listening to KSFO with Brian is impossible not anywhere close to the mighty Lee Rodger. Well is doing a good radio talk show so hard? But I ask the same question about Saturday nights with SNL.
ReplyDeleteMark Thompson has gotta go. He's by far the worst they have ever had in that time slot. Ethan Bearman was much better. My choice would be Len Tillem, he would pull in the ratings and would be a good follow up after A & G. Len would be worth the money they would have to pay him.
ReplyDeleteBearman better than Thompsom? I don't think so. Bearman was pretty much unlistenable. Ditching Bearman was the best decision KGO management has made in several years. Thompsom, he needs to be given a fair chance, at least 6 months before passing any judgements. Thompson would do better if he immediately lost his co-host, whoever that kibitzer is. Mark Thompson, if you are reading this, time go solo! Mr Tillem is worthy of consideration for some air time, but his program -- being limited in scope -- should be no more than an hour.
DeleteInteresting comments about Franklin & KGO's turnaround. BTW, chicken on a pizza is a necessity for enough pizza devoutees who have sensitive constitutions themselves - Reflux, heartburn, Crohn's are more common than ever, so lighten up about that as pepperoni, sausage, and other spicy toppings are impossible for some pizza fans (they're probably the same ones who don't miss Bearman, et al).
ReplyDeleteThen go mushrooms and olives, but pineapple and chicken have no business on pizza.
DeleteI rate the current KGO radio programs in this order:
ReplyDelete(1) John Rothmann, (2) Pat Thurston, (3) Michael Finney, (4) Maureen Langan, (5)John Hamilton (6) Coast to Coast, (7) Chip Franklin, (8) Armstrong & Getty, (9) John Batchelor.
My listening habits with the new line-up, programs 1-3 I'll tune in if I can, 4-6 maybe, and whenever 7-9 hit the airwaves I'll be switching channels immediately to KCBS or KQED. KGO would be better listening if they simply re-aired "best of" hours of the first three programs and in place of Franklin, Armstrong and Getty, and John Batchelor.
That's like the NIT Championship, baaaby!
Deleteryan scott is still worse then everyone at kgo and he always will be so there!
ReplyDeleteArmstrong and Getty are/is my favorite show on KGO radio. They don’t take much seriously, a relief for a morning show. And their middle of the road, slightly right, viewpoints are harmless, in that they are not trying to destroy any one. I like that they are broadcasting from Sacto....who needs more non Bay Natives in SF on the air waves.
ReplyDeleteNo, they destroy anyone and everyone but TRUMP!!
DeleteI don't share their political views but I like Armstrong and Getty. They have a great sense of humor, the best on KGO. I'd like to know what kind of ratings they pull in. Thompson sounds like what he is, a weatherman trying to fake it as a talk-show host. I can't believe what they are paying him.
Deletethurston is one of the few talk show hosts currently on the air who discusses local issues and sounds like a native when doing it. when franklin talks about local issues, he sounds exactly like what he is...a transplant
ReplyDeleteFranklin talks too much, interrupts guests. More bearable when Medoro was with him. Enjoy John Rothmann's program.
ReplyDelete