We had the genius insight, inimitable being of Howard Cosell. He moved the needle without having to resort to cheap, manufactured chemistry.
Today, we have people like Henry Wofford--ha, ha, ha, ha, ha!
Yesterday...
We made it a point to watch Ted Koppel, Walter Cronkite, Dan Rather, Pete Wilson, Evan White, Bob Jimenez, Frank Reynolds.
Today, we tolerate Brian Williams, Chris Matthews, Don Lemon, Matt Lauer and Savannah Guthrie.
Yesterday, we turned on KGO Radio to hear the mighty Owen Spann, Jim Eason, the old Ronn Owens, Jim Dunbar, Ted Wygant, Ed Baxter and Rosie Allen.
Today, we have a zoo infested with lemmings that were hired off the street because they were called back to fill up air time and punch out at 5.
Yesterday, we had Herb Caen, Jimmy Breslin, Mike Royko, Hunter Thompson, and Jim Murray. We ate up Art Spander and Charlie McCabe and Art Hoppe. We couldn't wait for the Pinkie to read John L. Wasserman, Gerald Nachman, Joel Selvin, Jesse Hamlin and the like.
Today, thank God, we still have Mick LaSalle, Peter Hartlaub, Ben Fong-Torres, (if a tad jaded), and leftover tossed salad.
Yesterday, we could marvel at KNBR with Ed Bush, Frank and Mike, Ralph Barbieri, Pete Franklin, and a smoother, wiser, funnier, Gary Radnich.
Today, we have interns doing updates and 37 minutes of commercials, a mind-boggling stale and horrific morning "show" that consists of sound effects and reconfigured bits; a hodgepodge of slight-mediocrity with a disdain for its few relevant "listeners" and lust for the leather-lung, horny male from Fremont demo.
Yesterday, we had simplicity and humor and dignity and spirited entertainment with a great deal of talented performers, real broadcasters, showmen, Paul Harvey, Bill King, Hank Greenwald, Ernie Harwell, Lon Simmons, Gary Park, Walt Harris, Chick Hearn, characters.
Today, we have screaming, yelling, bloating, manufactured shouters and con artists who were fortunate enough to move freely and work cheap enough to satisfy the con men who run the business of broadcasting, and it is business because they're not radio people at all, not broadcast people, they're businessmen who mostly fail without the benefit of their lemming shareholders.
Yesterday, we had artists.
Today, we have assorted crack addicts, schlockmeisters, meth-induced porn viewers and drug addicts. They're the managers.
Yesterday, people got paid.
Today, the operative word is "scale."
Yesterday, we had passionate networks both on radio and TV; 24/7 news magnets like ABC Radio, NBC News, Black Rock, The CBS Evening News, a legitimate 60 Minutes, Mike Wallace and Harry Reasoner, David Hartman, Roone Arledge, 30 Rockefeller Plaza and John Chancellor.
Today, we have Fox News.
Yesterday, we had Johnny Carson.
Today, we have Conan O'Brien.
and jay leno, david letterman, jimmy kimmel, and soon, jimmy fallon.
Yesterday, we had the Tonight Show Band with Doc, Eddie and Tommy. Great musicians and showmen.
Today, we have a small ration of Paul Schafer and the CBS Orchestra on good nights.
Yesterday, we had Tom Snyder and David Frost and interesting dialogue without the need for an audience, just a host and guest, table, glass of water, one camera, and two lights.
Today, we have screaming audiences, screaming hosts who couldn't interview a dead pigeon, and inflated, forced, contrived bits that are disguised as "segments" that only cater to the worst common denominator.
Yesterday, we had real performers who sang songs, performed comedy, wrote compelling books and were able to converse with the host.
Today, we have chefs, fake-tit blond actresses high on coke who know how to giggle, scream, tell fake stories and can induce the audience to yell, shriek, and act like a bunch of lunatics from the Burbank Walmart.
Yesterday, we knew at 11: 30 PM, Saturday Night Live made it mandatory non-dating night.
Today, we're reduced to shows about duck calls with homophobic assholes with beards that resemble the Unabomber.
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I don't know about you, but I've never turned on that blowhard Chris Matthews. He is a delusional hack. Does he still have a "thrill running up his leg" over Obama? I wonder how terrible his numbers are?
ReplyDeleteWhatever happened to Howard Cosell from heaven who used to frequent KNBR?
ReplyDeleteErnie from Oakland if I am not mistaken.
DeleteHoward and Frank Sinatra had the best hairpieces for their time. Today I would give that title to William Shatner, Burt Reynolds and Charlie Sheen.
ReplyDeleteDon't forget Steve Martin (most folks don't know he wears one!)
DeleteWow does he really? I never knew. And I love Steve! Now that I think about it was he thinning back in the day? I'll have to look at old photos.
DeleteIs that horny male from Fremont demo mainly Filipino's? Or do they only have a monopoly on Milpitas?
ReplyDeleteCount your blessings that they surround you. They are hard working,honest people. They have the highest Cal. income of not only all Asian cultures,but also Caucasians.
DeleteWhere we would be without the Filipino nurses taking care of us,I don't want to know.
So,shut the hell up.
Where would we be without Filipino nurses taking care of us? Perhaps being taken care of by Caucasian, Latino, and African American nurses for starters. Stan, take your meds.
DeleteAt least we now know Stan is Filipino.
Delete436's both display total ignorance that anybody can see. You both and 1050 are classic backwoods hicks. And I know I can guess what color skin you all have. Republican color.
DeleteOh,and thank you I should add. I would be proud to be Pinoy.
DeleteI agree completely with you on the Johnny Carson point. I was thinking of picking up the bio on him recently released by his former lawyer. Has anyone here read it and do you care to comment?
ReplyDeleteI believe you could have thrown in "old David Letterman" like you did "old Ronn Owens". Dave has gone way downhill the last 10 years.
Definitely read Henry Bushkin's book anout Johnny Carson - I couldn't put it down.
DeleteLots of names that brings back memories, Herb Caen, Mike Wallace, Pete Wilson all were unique and are missed, but there was no one like Johnny Carson, I came to this country from Denmark in 1967 as an au pair in Connecticut, TV programming around the clock was foreign to me, although in Denmark we got quite a few American shows, I remember, Bonanza, Leave to Beaver, Perry Mason, the Fugitive with David Janssen (what an attractive man) and most likely I love Lucy, also some older American movies, mostly light comedy (the Bob Hope Bing Crosby series) but the late night show was totally foreign to me. Because my girl friends and I worked as Au Pair, the night we were off we liked to go to a local bar, where guys and girls our age would hang out, and thats when I first discovered Carson, we would stop our conversation and listen to his monolog, and often his guests (unless we were talking to a really cute guy) I have been a huge fan every since. We always watched Laugh In and The Smother Brothers, today we have Duck Dynasty and Honey Boo Boo, of course we miss the good old days, for those of you who don't understand. That's talking about entertainment only, not even getting into the news, with Walter Cronkite, Ted Koppel etc. Also liked Dick Cavett a lot.
DeleteBack then we had TV's that lasted 20 years and then could be repaired. Now? We have 60" LED,Plasma TV's that cost thousands and burn out after three years and aren't worth repairing.
ReplyDeleteSo true Stan, so true. You could even say the same for most appliances and tools.
DeleteI don't know where Stan buys televisions. Today's televisions are far less expensive than they used to be. I just bought a large screen Samsung HD television for close to $200.
DeleteAnd the quality is so much greater than "the good old days." Electronics these days are a fabulous bargain.
As usual, Stan has no idea what he's talking about.
"Large screen for 200$" who's BSing who? Everybody knows..the cost to repair is always more then the TV is worth after 2-3 years. Disposable TVs what a great ecological solution.
DeleteSo 1251,when that fantastic bargain needs a new powerboard in a few months..your going to pay 199$ to fix it?. New flat TV's are incredibly unreliable,no matter what brand. Takes a lot of heat in those thin panels..parts burn out fast.
Ah,you dope,stay anonypuss.
I had never turned on Duck Dynasty prior to the scandal. I watched part of the marathon recently and enjoyed it. It is obviously a group of rich middle aged white men (except the father and uncle) playing the role of redneck but it is entertaining. I had never watched any reality show prior to this show so I can't say how it compares to other reality shows however I do enjoy the underlying theme of the show..family, morals, god and country. That being said I'm more a "let them do what they want to do" in regards to gay marriage. Who cares?
ReplyDelete"Today, we have Fox News." I think that should read "Today, we have MSNBC".
ReplyDeleteYour life probably sucks. I can see you walking around angry all the time. BENGHAZI!!!!
DeleteFucking loser.
11:42am
DeleteAnother example of the angry white liberal in the Bay Area.
Good English.
Another example of the angry white liberal in the Bay Area
DeleteThanks for the laugh...that is funny stuff.....but you stole that from either Hannity, Limbaugh or Beck
Don't fight with him 11:04 and 12:59. He has all the time in the world to comment nonstop on Rich's website while he sits at home collecting his Democratic party checks (welfare) and smoking his weed.
Delete11:42 is another MSLSD dumbass who drinks the Democratic party's Kool-Aid. Perfect example of why California is going in the shitter.
DeleteYeah and "yesterday" Rich had a 32" waist.
ReplyDelete42/30 today and quite happy, thanks schmuck.
DeleteOh, didn't you know that Rich is quite the Lady's Man? Just read his posts about wooing Bailey.
DeleteHey Rich, how come we haven't heard anything else about Bailey lately? She sobered up?
11:20 and 1:02 are probably the same Dem liberal that craps on anyone speaking the truth. Such a shame.
DeleteHey, you know, everybody's talkin bout the good ol days, right? Everybody, the good ol days, the good ol days. Well lat's talk about the good ol days...Can it be that it was all so simple then?
ReplyDeleteAlthough, I have no problem with coked out blondes with fakies.
How many more times can Lieberman trot out his "Oh, the good old days were so great, everything today sucks" sob story.
ReplyDeleteThe glorification of the good old days is a simplified, overly sentimentalized fantasy that Lieberman preaches about so he can continue to bellyache about everything current.
At least in 2014, we will have Rich's new weekend show to fill some of the void. When do you think that will start, Rich?
ReplyDeleteRich, probably the most honest, sincere, heartfelt blog spot you've ever written -- in years.
ReplyDeleteWell done.
Agreed, very well done.
DeleteGreat post Rich. I couldn't agree with you more! The crap that passes for talent these days on local radio and TV boggles my mind. 20 years ago, the lot of them would be laughed off the air. Does anyone think for one moment that non-entities and mediocrities such as Kate Scott, Amy Guitirrez, Pauley Mac, 'Dibs,' John Lund, Rod Brooks, 'Guru,' Karel, Maureen Langden and Monte-manure would have ever been hired back in 1992? NOT!
ReplyDeleteWatch Al Jazeera America for a few hours. That'll partially restore your hope. They actually do news the old fashioned way...
ReplyDeleteThere are many of us working in SF media that watch clips of the old masters on YouTube and wish we had the opportunity to show that we can follow in their footsteps. There aren't many of us, but we're here; unfortunately, we are all either doing traffic or voice-tracking at part-time rates and trying to find a way to make podcasts worthwhile.
ReplyDeleteBoo hoo the industry is changing. Are you waiting for a new "way back machine" so you can go back in time and work with the old masters? Good luck with that.
DeleteYou know Kodak used to sell a lot of camera film, but now they don't. and went bankrupt. You think all their ex-employees sit around waiting for film photography to make a come back?
Hey 8:33...that's a typically cynical, smart-mouthed attitude you've just displayed. You're showing your true character as well. If you and your ilk are the kind of assholes who are now going to be running things in this world for the foreseeable future, god help us all! How did my generation raise such a group of self-absorbed, immature brats anyway? (Well, I didn't thank goodness!)
ReplyDeleteWell done post. I would submit that while Fox News lacks the stature of any of the old school broadcasts, it is far ahead of "Today we have Al Jazeera, .MSNBC, CNN, NBC, CBS, ABC." The sad state of affairs is that we have no real journalism or journalist remaining to inform us.
ReplyDelete