She even did Afternoon Drive today, (Tuesday).
But, there's a bigger story here.
She was hired as the eventual talk-show host that will be the centerpiece of a new, probably nighttime format change at all Audacy stations, including KCBS, as I also reported here, exclusively.
The new format, I've heard through industry sources, is probably set to debut around the new year --the exact date isn't known nor the time but I've heard either a 7-12 midnight time frame --or even more dramatically, 7 PM to 5AM the next day.
Thurston's hiring at KCBS was accelerated by this new coming format. Her news anchoring fill-in Monday is only a "foot-in-the-door", I'm told by multiple broadcast sources, to her eventual position as a talk host on KCBS.
In fact, Thurston took the gig because it was local and it involved an established station that has several advantages, including local access and geography suitable to Thurston, a Marin resident. I'm told Thurston was courted by several outside markets, including Sacramento and LA.
The new format won't be similar to a KGO-type model; won't be opinionated ; won't be partisan-based. It will have a more public-interest, CSPAN-type bend. And it will involve much guests and host-interaction with callers, I'm told by industry sources.
#RICH LIEBERMAN 415 MEDIA EXCLUSIVE
Pat sounded very good on the air.
ReplyDeletePat sounded like she’d had a lobotomy
DeleteIs she north of 70 now? Give her a break.
DeleteGood to hear Pat again. Hope they consider Rothman as well.
DeleteWhat you’re hearing is concentration, doing something that’s new to her. There’s a lot of focus on and you can’t speak extemporaneously.
DeleteThurston wanted to bring back the bath houses in SF. Shameful, KCBS.
DeleteHopefully the other "sites/papers" pay credit to Rich for this story. Glad she got to keep local.
ReplyDeleteWill Rothmann be part of the mix?
ReplyDeletenot likely, as for now.
DeleteThurston is a definite improvement over the other schleps at KCBS -- especially Lisa "The Realtor" Chan. She sounded OK during today's 2 p.m. hour.
ReplyDeleteRich... Will this potential 7p-5a format be smartly just on their AM signals (740 SFO, 1070 LA, 1060 Philadelphia, 1010 NYC, 780 Chicago) allowing the all news format to continue on FM, or will it be simulcast on both signals? OR, could the all news potentially be allowed to continue on the AM, while the FM breaks off to this new overnight talk option?
ReplyDeleteI'm told their AM (and some FM) all -new outlets (like KNX in LA) --don't know about FM yet.
DeleteThat would involved increased spend by Audacy, not cost savings, so no, they will not do either of those split signal scenarios (regardless of how smart it would be). I hope to be able to admit how wrong I was when January rolls around.
DeleteRich, you called another one. That is why this is the best blog in the Bay Area.
ReplyDeleteHey look, until there's an actual announcement from Audacy, this is still vaporware. Rich may have sources feeding him info, but the people who talk usually don't know, and those who know aren't likely to be talking at this stage. There are a *lot* of problems with what he's claiming, not the least of which is that the West Coast is a less-than-ideal location to base a talk show that serves stations on the East Coast and Midwest. NY and Philly are 3 hours ahead of us, so what are WCBS or WPHT, or the 2-hours-ahead WBBM planning to do until 7 pm Pacific rolls around? Keep the all-news wheel spinning? What's the point then? Also, anyone who isn't old enough to recall the name should Google "ABC Talkradio" and read how successful that was back in the 1980s with a stable full of Los Angeles (KABC) based hosts. (Hint: not very) Plus, what makes anyone think that a San Francisco sensibility is going to play well in any other market Audacy has a station in? Sorry, this doesn't pass the sniff test. However, I have to agree with 2:10 and 2:40, I heard Pat around 2:30 this afternoon and she sounded damn good for day 1 (or 2?) co-anchoring an all-news format, the way a pro should sound. Maybe having Brett breaking her in relieved some of her first day jitters, but it was obvious she'd prepped for this, unlike some of the other anchors Ms. Seelig has thrown into that chair.
ReplyDeleteI stopped believing this story when you said other stations were courting Pat. No way is that true. We're talking about 5 hours of hating Trump every night. Get ready for it -- all Republicans are racists!!!
ReplyDeleteSacramento was courting Thurston??? They have two talk stations, both iHeartRadio conservative. Oh, yes, there’s also a Salem outlet that’s REALLY conservative. None of them fertile territory for Pat.
DeleteAt first, I was upset at the idea of a format change. But, if it keeps local talent local AND they can be live when an earthquake (or other disaster) strikes, that's all that matters. KCBS is a community life line, especially in an emergency.
ReplyDeleteThis.
DeleteRich Leiberman, how hard would it be to add a "LIKE" button? (along w/ a thumbs DOWN for cuckoo comments.)
I LOVE PAT and I'll tune in if she's the "real" Pat we a loved and remember. ♡♡♡
I know at this point local radio is taking anyone who has a body temperature, but they really need to dump Eric Thomas. In the beginning I was supportive because he was new but by now he should be over the heebie-jeebies, and he's not. He sounds like he's never done this before, and supposedly he's got something like 30 years of broadcasting under his belt. Was he being well-protected before so that he would look good and now that he has to do things on his own he's floundering? Because I know stations do that to protect their "minority assets" as management calls them behind closed doors, and they therefore get used to that treatment and pretty much can't be fired for anything. (Dennis Richmond, Carolyn Tyler, Brian Copeland, others I can't think of right now.) Otherwise there's no excuse for not knowing the ABC's of an industry he's been in his entire life.
ReplyDeleteAre you implying that Dennis Richmond was hired and kept on because he is a minority? Dennis Richmond was very good and I'm pretty sure his ratings would show that. I heard he was a somewhat difficult behind the scenes, but that is not unusually in that business. Most companies will put up with a fair amount if the person is good at their job, get good ratings (radio, TV) or have good sales.
DeleteUps, I meant to mention Brian Copeland as well. Brian was a talk show host, some liked him others did not. Rich didn't care for him, I liked him, his take on the events were a little different which I found interesting. He also often had intereing guests on I remember an interview with Ben Vereen, and I think the daughter of Grace Slick.
DeleteAs for Carolyn Tyler, don't know much about her, but if my memory is correct Rich have praised her on this blog.
Who cares? No one listens to radio. If Pat Thurston is on the air, and no one listens, is she really saying anything?
ReplyDeleteShe doesn't really say anything whether people are listening or not.
DeleteSome closeminded comments here. Of course people are listening to the radio. You might not, your friends might not, but people are definitely listening, in their car, their homes, and Pat have many fans. You comment suggests that you think everyone feels the same way as you.
DeleteWhy the hell would she be working at her age?
ReplyDeleteTriplets that are sophomores in college.
DeleteMany people Pat's age like to continue working. Don't know if she needs the money, I have heard her husband is very wealthy, which means so is she. I don't know her exact age, but I think she is in her sixties. I'm in my seventies, I work retail part time, I like getting out in the business world, and enjoy my co workers, of course the extra money comes in handy as I'm not independently wealthy. Years ago I work at Macy' in Palo Alto, one sales associate, a german woman, retired 3 times, she would leave and go to Germany for a few month. Then she when she got back she got bored and went back to Macy's. She had a lot of energy, she finally retired for good when she was close to 80 or a little past 80.
DeleteWas surprised to hear her tonight...she was a very strong OK. My question is, what top-tier guests are available between 7p and 5a Pacific time...and what calibur of callers will we hear?
ReplyDeleteThat “very strong OK” is rather impressive, considering she has never done news before and was thrown into PM drive at the last minute to cover an extended vacation. Most people would have sounded like a complete train wreck.
DeleteNot a knock on Pat but if she’s the center piece it will be interesting and kind of hard to imagine the station won’t slant in one direction. I hope not one sided radio (excuse the crudeness) is a circle jerk. Looking forward to see how it shakes out.
ReplyDeleteWith all due respect, let me be crystal clear, what about John Rothmann? I’m astounded that he’s still silent. We need him on the radio now more than ever!
ReplyDeleteWhy are you astounded? There are no other talk stations and radio corporations aren’t exactly chomping at the bit to get the 60-dead demographic. If you listen to John long enough, you realize that he’s not actually an expert outside of Presidential/VP history. Every primary season prediction he’s made since the 90s has been wrong. He’s just confident in his well informed opinions, that’s all. Add in a gigantic ego and an authoritative radio voice. He rarely had guests because it exposed his blind spots. He wasn’t interested in the opinions of other experts and was very miffed that Gary Dietrich’s held the title KGO Political Analyst. Like many monied Bay Area Democrats, he’s not as progressive as he professes to be publicly. For example, he does not care about the homeless at all. You would be shocked at his dismissive and heartless comments. I would know, I worked at KGO prior to the 2011 blow up.
DeleteZ in Emeryville
ReplyDeleteThe late night Thurston proposed show reminds me somewhat of Larry King and Jim Bohanon. Larry was on from 8 pm to 5 am but it was a 3-hour show repeated 3 times with mostly interviews. Chris Matthews got his broadcasting start with Larry.
Bohannon who recently passed away would fill in for Larry and then got his own late show America in the Morning with mostly interviews.
KGO had that syndicated show with interviews with authors, celebrities and a lot about UFOs.
I'd listen to Thurston do interviews as I also like what Keith Manconi does with In Depth on the weekends. There's not much else going on the radio late night/early morning.
Sounds like an interesting move to me with the possibility of running it on several stations.
11:06, aka, John Rothman, there is no update on you
ReplyDeleteYears ago, I'd hit the sack and turn on KGO, Wife and I loved it. So, sure, I'll listen.
ReplyDeleteKCBS going after the AARP crowd.
ReplyDeleteI definitely think it's a good idea -- both for public service and for revenue -- for KCBS to bring a middle of the road talk show segment back to the SF Bay area. It gives Bay Area residents a chance to tell their side of the story that the state's and fed's politicos attempt to shape. The programming success I expect will depend mostly on the degree the content is live and local.
ReplyDeleteA shit show is listening to Pat T!
ReplyDeleteSo don't listen. There are many who would disagree with you.
ReplyDeleteI work in HR in the industry (not KCBS) people can call Jennifer and the ownership team idiots all day. No issue with that, in fact it's protected activity under the NLRA. BUT, if trade secrets like they are going to a limited talk format are leaked before KCBS wants the info released I'd tack down whoever did and fire them. That's not protected activity.
ReplyDeleteThey’re talking about it, but corporate won’t let it happen as of yet. They’re #1-2 in the market, so corporate is going to be very careful.
DeleteAgree with 4:53 pm. Why is KCBS required to talk to Lieberman?
Delete415 Media = National Enquirer "Bay Area Edition"
ReplyDelete12:39, middle of the road? Pat T is brushing up against the left guardrail every time I’ve heard her
ReplyDeleteAnd that's a good thing. We live in a deep BLUE Bay Area and Pat will be a good fit. Trump Republicans don't have to listen, they have KSFO
DeletePete Franklin, Thurston, were pathetic on KGO. Heather Holmes sounded like she was on drugs.
Delete