Tony Bruno: 'Game Changer'

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.


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Today On The Gil Gross Show

 1. Gil tells about his exciting times at KGO staving off the microwave with Karel.




2. Gil interviews Rhoda: The other things you don't know about my wife.


3. Gil interviews Dr. Mavis Mindshenk --feminism is alive in Fresno!


4. Gil does 10 minutes on the phone with an expert on crawfish who says the critters are polluting SF Bay.


5. Gil goes one-on-one with the editor of The SF Examiner: "I'm more relevant than you guys!"


6. Gil does a quick 5-minute phono with the head of the SF Zoo: "is it true you're 86ing the giraffes and if so, why?"


7. Gil has an exclusive with GM Don Parker but before, mentions off-mike: "Shit, I still can't believe you let me on the air every day for 4 hours--damn, I'm pinching myself."


8. Gil talks briefly with SF PWD spokesperson, Gail Gutter, on the secret delight of taking tours of the sewer system.


9. Gil talks to political analyst, Pricter Politiki, for 20 minutes about the background on Bernie Sanders Iowa mishpuchah .


10. Gil closes show with 10 minutes on line 2 talking to the Walnut Creek city manager: " There really is a creek there?"

Talk 910 Chooses Ed Baxter For 10-1 PM Slot; 'Safe Decision'; John Rothmann Gets Screwed

 Longtime Bay Area radio news anchor, Ed Baxter has been chosen as Talk 910 AM's new host from 10 AM- 1 PM.

I like Baxter. Good guy. Professional, interesting and compelling. Slightly.

Not a talk-show host though, my opinion.

I expected this gig to go to John Rothmann who is an outstanding interviewer, has a keen eye on the political arena and deep knowledge of the Middle East debate.

Of course this was a safe pick for the Clear Channel SF crowd and that is why its ratings are in the dumper too.

Choices like this will never move the needle.

Oh well.

It could have been worse.

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Kate Scott The Rising, Biggest Star at KNBR; Lavish Foods Delivered; VIP Status; Special Parking Place; Wednesday Big Start

  Kate Scott owns KNBR. Well, no she really doesn't but if those worker bees in and around the 55 Hawthorne studios are telling me the truth, the sports/traffic update reporter has become so big she's been spreading her wings and doing it large over the entire Cumulus 415 operation.


Scott hasn't exactly reached diva status but those in the know say her aura has reached crisis proportions. "She's become the star here; at least in her own mind," says a Knibber staffer with deft sarcasm. How much a star? "Bigger than Radnich--plus, she's not afraid to tell you!"


Indeed Scott, an avowed lesbian and the subject matter of plenty of on-air hijinks, has already become a super-VIP member in the eyes of SF's Cumulous managers and bosses.


Like Michael Savage, Scott gets an "special" VIP parking spot with her name set to be inked in on the prized underground parking garage. Scott has her own card key into the building and is provided her own secret/VIP studio to perform prep and is awarded special Italian sodas and teas before going on the air at 5 AM on KNBR's Morning Show." Speaking of the devil...


How BIG is Scott? Big enough to get, and only Savage is provided this perk, a deluxe meal chit that is delivered to the studios. While other staffers and Morning Show schlock's rely on mere Dunkin Donuts morsels, Scott gets VIP food hand-cooked by some of the city's star chefs. Eggs Benedict one morning, Belgian Waffles the next. Coffee/tea? More than you'd imagine and freshly-squeezed orange juice too! We won't even discuss the money because, frankly, we're shocked. It's pointed to the north on the KNBR compass.


Scott's success is large enough to have caused a mini-jealousy storm of epic proportions, including those down in the food chain including Murph and Mac themselves. Nobody wants to speak on the record but reports indicate that Scott, a huge Cal alum and lover of the Berkeley sports apparatus has engaged in verbal jarring with a startled Brian Murphy who loves to root for rival UCLA! Baaaaad! Many key KNBR staff were surprised how passionate Scott was recently when she confronted the brazen Bruin fan off -air and essentially told him to knock it off. According to several insiders, "it wasn't pretty." Lively, apparently, "like they were totally into this 'who's superior thing"! I mean, dude, it was completely shaky."


Scott is normally mild-mannered, even-keeled if you will, but her star residue has become so pervasive Larry Baer and the Giants are contemplating a special day for her. Amy G? You might have some competition running your way! Watch out for the USS Kate Scott!


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Lee Rodgers last broadcast on KSCO Rich Lieberman Show Jan. 24

Lee Rodgers passed away Thursday, Jan. 31, 2013.

Little did I know that his appearance on my show just a week earlier would be his last broadcast on air.

Here is the link to that show.

RIP Lee.

Rich Lieberman
2-1-2013