For some reason, he's become the only FILL-IN at KGO RADIO. In fact, he'll be filling in for vacationing JOHN ROTHMANN tonight from 6-9 PM. I'm told he'll be Rothmann's sub until a week from Monday when Rothmann returns. Which means I'll be TUNING OUT KGO from 6-9 and escaping the HORROR SHOW(s) that is Chris Merrill, a San Diego radio RETREAD with all the sincerity and talent of a Daly City coin laundry.
I'm generally supportive of LEE HAMMER, who runs KGO and has good intentions but by allowing Merrill to bring his bufoonery clown show to the KGO microphone, Hammer is further CHEAPENING the old KGO heritage and giving aid and comfort to the lunacy which is Merrill and his SHRILL-a-thon.
I'VE TRIED to listen to Merrill and can't stomach the guy for more than a few minutes. There's NO point. Why should I take this jerk seriously when he himself doesnt? Merrill, I'm told by a KGO SOURCE, is only there because CUMULUS (KGO) doesn't have the money to pay for a respected fill-in. That's no excuse, sorry Hammer. At best, it's a SAD commentary to allow this MORON to act like a villiage idiot on KGO's air--at worst, Merrill's disgrace is an out and out EMBARRASSMENT to all the various class acts/voices that were once part of the old KGO legacy. Merrill shouldn't be allowed anywhere near the studio; wait a minute, this CLOWN is broadcasting from "live and local San Diego!" --Lovely.
If you've never heard this FRAUD (and he's worse) then consider yourself lucky. Merrill SHOUTS and screams and YELLS. He's FORCED and CONTRIVED. He's trying to be heard as if he's begging to be taken seriously. It's ALL-FAKE stuff, manuufactured crappola. Artificial SHOCK JOCK material by a guy who isn't FUNNY and isn't original. More to the point, if news were to break and require a quarter-brain host to do an interview and/or conduct an honest broadcast, Merrill's fake histrionics would be totally CATASTROPHIC for KGO and its listeners not to mention people that run KGO, especially Lee Hammer.
WHAT IT TELLS ME, the continued affront to all of us who have to stomach this ABYSMAL SCHMUCK, Merrill, is that KGO (Hammer) really has ZERO REPECT for thier listeners. It's the inmates-running-the-asylum-centric radio and it's a TOTAL ABOMINATION.
Count me out.
It's nice I live in the North Bay - KSRO has the drive from 3-6 pm with Action JaXXon, when they're not drinking wine they have some interesting guests on. Also on KPFA you have Dennis Bernstein's Flash Points from 5 to 6, usually discussing current events and finally from 6 to 7 KPFA (94.1) has a lovely hour newscast. On Saturday at 6 KSRO (1350) replays 20 year old Art Bell tapes where you can laugh at all of those 20 year old conspiracy theories that never came true.
ReplyDeleteive tried giving him a shot,and he's always horrible filing in for everyone..there was another lady that kgo had a couple of years ago that was the fill in person, she wasnt great either, but light years better then this schmuck..does anyone know what became of her?
ReplyDeleteWhat's a total mystery is why they keep Hammer and why you suport him!
ReplyDeleteBecause he (LEE) will throw anyone under the bus to keep HIS JOB...Another words...The Perfect Cumulus Stooge. No Talent and No Taste.
DeleteSomebody needs to remind Merrill that Michael Strahan is in the midst of filling in his tooth gap. Need viewers to tell the Cloud Clowns to literally cut the crap and not have their favorite clown on the air.
ReplyDeleteThat was an April Fools joke.
DeleteWow, am I outnumbered! I have come over time to appreciate Merrill's wit and alternative visions of political analysis, so I guess I am in the minority on this forum. I find Chris Merrill's "schtick" refreshing, yet I am a big fan of both Rothmann and Thurston. I guess this goes to show all of us that we can disagree about KGO hosts but hopefully will continue to support KGO, which is one of the only voices of "reason" in Northern or even here in Southern California.
ReplyDeleteThis past week, while filling in for John Rothman, Chris Merrill actually was pretty good. Once he toned down his act and was a bit more serious, he provided rather intelligent analysis. More entertaining than many of the hosts. I think he could grow in to the job.
ReplyDeleteIs Chris Merrill the best KGO can do for fill in? He is awful.
ReplyDeleteThis article summarizes everything I thought about Merrill during his stint in San Diego. It was the most awful show imaginable.
ReplyDelete