Exclusive: At The Scene Of The Latest KGO Radio-Cumulus Purge; Eyewitness Account; Mark Thompson Knew It All; Nikki Medoro In Denial Up Until Death Notice; My Analysis: You Dance With The Devil...

INSIDE the Cumulus cluster--750 Battery St--which houses the Clouds' SF radio stations including KSFO, KNBR, "The Bone" and KGO.

The inter-office e-mail went out the night before --Wednesday night became Thursday morning and it said be on time. It was so important they (Cumulus) wanted everyone there, including part-time workers and off-air and on-air alike. For those unable to show up, a Zoom camera was in place.

After about fifteen minutes of waiting, the boom was about to be lowered.

But an employee in the conference room told everyone they were worrying about nothing. "It's no big deal, stop your grief, it's just a budgetary deal, they're gonna cut us back, that's all it (meeting) is," said Nikki Medoro, the KGO morning personality, who implored everyone to "get a grip" and not be scared.

A few minutes later, Cumulus SF Market manager, Larry Blumhagen fired the assembled 20 or so employees of KGO. In typical Cumulus corporate speak, Blumhagen said, "this is a hard day." Now give us your card keys and go sign your dismissal papers. And Medoro, according to an eyewitness who was right there, uttered out casually, "well, I guess I was wrong."

Mark Thompson, another fired host, was on the air at 10: 07 AM --a source told me Thompson was advised to announce to his audience--from his remote broadcast set-up in LA-- that a guest was waiting but "take a pause and go away from the mic."

Literally, a few seconds later, KGO (Cumulus) went to a looped, canned promo promising a "new Bay Area radio station" would debut Monday and crappy canned music with betting-themed words were heard. Thompson's voice was cut as was KGO.

Thompson was told (by Cumulus brass) about what was to happen even though he said he had no idea. Even his most ardent friends at the station were perplexed. Thompson was sensitive enough to worry about his action, he sent an email to Pat Thurston and John Rothmann, fellow fired KGO talk hosts, to have a Zoom meeting on Monday.

*THUS, another KGO Radio (Cumulus) purge, not as dramatic or shocking as the first one in 2011 or the last, in 2016, but shocking nonetheless which is dramatic enough because everyone knew it was coming, (the death notice) because KGO was hemorraging cash. By industry estimates, they'd lost $20M dollars over ten years.

Blumhagen himself told the assembled masses at the meeting. With all that, sadness, a few cries were seen inside the building, according to the eyewitness and even more so, when they left.

Cumulus barely advertised KGO; barely promoted its talk hosts, even the good ones. They tried everything, (albeit, half ass) give 'em that, but ultimately failed because ultimately you get what you pay for, even if you lease out pretty office buildings near the Embarcadero and buy expensive TV monitors and laptops. You still need human goods and working capital to engross your product and make it sustainable and Cumulus failed big time on that front, then and now.

For my part, the first purge in 2011 was the real death knell. The old KGO was gone then, its talk-show heritage shot and killed. An "all-news" format? That too died in 2016 (of course) and the latest iteration born and now its demise in 2022, with a fake station financed by gambling money and is only a temporary band-aid before it too is dead and it will be in a few years.

See, Cumulus is a radio destroyer. They don't know radio, that's pretty evident and they sure as hell don't know fundamental business. I mean, haven't you discovered this after almost thirteen years?

When you're owned by a hedge fund and have no clue as to how to run a radio station (not just here), then go about hiring middle-aged, uninteligent white men who have ZERO gravitas in directing basic broadcast practice, then you're doomed. And when you defend your ineptness by constantly saying, "we have no money," then look in the goddamned mirror! That's why you have no cash is because you don't know what the fuck you're doing!

Cumulus FUCKED UP KGO from the start and everyone with scant intelligence knew this all along so the latest killoff, while a bit unsettling, was not as sad; maybe for those losing their job and livelihood, that's another story. But in overall terms, it's not such a depressing moment.

I feel sorry for some of the people at KGO who did a lot of the heavy lifting. Those that stayed around in the past to make sure the buttons were pushed and literally make the station go on air. I do not feel sorry for some hosts who continued to blow Cumulus and bow to their knees, as if Cumulus would change and suddenly become the Levi Strauss of radio.

Gimme a fucking break.

You dance with the devil and you get the consequences.

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Branson, Missouri Comes to San Francisco AM Radio

Michael Savage Goes Off On The American Killer Of Cecil The Lion; Takes Segment To Villify Animal Murder; KSFO/Syndicated Talker Offers Compelling Account

 Cecil the lion--one of the most famous big cats in Zimbabwe's national parks--was murdered by an American hunter. The details are gruesome enough and we normally wouldn't pour over this as a media story only its been reported all over the globe, even in Bay Area circles.


We bring up Cecil because our local angle involves America's second-most-listened to, syndicated-radio talk host, Michael Savage.


It was Savage, who on his show (heard here on KSFO) Monday, devoted a segment on the incredibly brutal assault on Cecil; to a point where it was gut-wrenching and emotionally painful to listen but listenable nonetheless and necessary --I'm glad someone here spoke out.


Savage, you may not know, is an extreme animal lover. I say extreme because he treats his 11 year-old poodle, Teddy, as a member of the family. Teddy sits in on most shows and Savage feeds his canine hero with gourmet chicken --to hell with kibbles and bits. Savage loves dogs and often links stories about them on his website.


So it is no surprise that Savage, the often flamboyant host would take the time and highlight the ghoulish fate of Cecil.


It was not unexpected and made for some compelling radio. Bravo Michael Savage.


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Today On the Gil Gross Show

 Hour # 1 on the Gil Gross Show


1. Gil talks to expert about "how to meet the very best wife."


2. Gil talks to relationship guru, Ivan Spemtenstien: "Never beat your girlfriend."


3. Gil interviews animal psychologist, Izzy Katzstein who say felines make better lovers than humans.


4. Gil speaks with fashion analyst Biff Pocaroba : "Hillary needs higher heels."


5. Gluten-free nutrionalist, Dr. Isadore Onion talks to Gil about the secret ingredients in mushroom caps.


6. Gil asks wife Rhoda to sing "What a wonderful world"--In Spanish!


7. 4-minute phoner with mayor of Clovis, CA.


8. 4-minute phoner with kid that can play banjo while sitting on the toilet doing #2.


9. Gross asks expert if Caitlyn Jenner really wanted to be a woman, why did he end his "Good Housekeeping" subscription?


10. Gil and Rhoda give their Top 10 hot dog restaurants in the city.

KGO Radio Falls Further Into the Broadcasting Abyss; May '14 Numbers All-Time Low; Ronn Owens Murky Future; Staffer Morale At Worst Stage; 'Are We A Talk Station Or News Station?' Confusion And Frustration At 810 AM

 CAN IT GET ANY WORSE AT KGO RADIO?


Yes, check the latest radio ratings.


Mind you, nobody should be surprised. Then again, if I hear correctly and I've heard a lot lately, the mood around the studios has never been more down and out.


A staffer who has worked at the beleaguered 810 AM outpost tells me that morale is at its lowest --"even the most optimistic person is in the dumps."


There's been talk that KGO management is quietly and incrementally planning on changes but most people in and around the biz say other than a complete overhaul (and even that can't help)  there's no way KGO can be headed in the right path. Said a veteran broadcast observer: "There's no there
there."


On the rumor mill:


*The mish-mash catastrophe at night from 7-10 PM the "Drex Show" is about to be completely reworked and reinvented --maybe rebranded with KGO class yenta, Maureen Langan who's been filling in a lot lately for the talent-impaired yutz who currently occupies the microphone.


*Both the AM and PM news blocks saw significant drop in listeners, particularly in the morning. Maybe we can all come to the consensus that people are tired of the gigglers.


*Ronn Owens status: we'll talk about this at a future time but the mystery surrounding Owens finale is starting to make the rounds. Owens still makes money for the company but his numbers have deteriorated to the point where he's getting killed at 9-Noon. Both KNBR (sports) and even Rush Limbaugh beat Ronn now.


This much is clear. Owens will celebrate his 40th anniversary in November. There's already talk that Cumulus will roll out an honor for him and he'll say goodbye. This guy is waiting in the wings.


*The newsroom is a state of complete confusion and most of the staff is fed up with the boss, the clueless one, Deb Munroe. To put it bluntly, Munroe has lost the newsroom. Her loyalists even admit that Munroe continues to befuddle staff with incoherent management, questionable judgment and a favoritism that borders on the ridiculous.


Says a newsroom vet: "She has all the right intentions but she just can't lead, she can't. And when she tries one of her 'experiments, the whole menu gets worse. You can't fix something that was already broken."


Make no mistake, there are quality people--reporters, anchors, at KGO. The problems--and there are plenty--is that so many of the problems can't be quickly remedied and therefore, the frustration factor has settled in. "Are we a talk station or a news station?", asks a longtime employee. And therein lies part of KGO's problem--after experiment and throwing fecal matter up against the wall, no one knows the direction of the station.


Furthermore, mild tinkering with staff hasn't worked. KGO has been trying desperately to infuse younger, more "creative" air talent into the schedule, like, for instance, Jason Middleton, the tech and business reporter. Middleton can be interesting every now and then with his intriguing takes on the market and business, but at times, his delivery sounds forced and contrived. Plus, listener cohesion with new air talent takes time to percolate. Probably not enough time, unfortunately, for KGO management.


Larger issues confront the 810 AM juggernaut --like, what's going on at weekends? The current commitment to five hours of morning news both Saturday and Sunday is admirable but the increased amount of infomercials and taped, out-of-market, fake talk shows is beginning to take its toll.


KGO long ago lost its soul. Now, officially, looks as if the handwriting is on the wall.





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415 Media Breaking: Karel Fired From KGO Radio; UPDATE: Memo From Mahanay; UPDATE 2: Karel Statement

 And just like that --he gone!

Karel was just let go by KGO Radio and is no longer working at the SF talk station effective immediately.

Several theories as to why. But I just got the news from my Hawthorne source.

*We'll update later as news trickles in.

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UPDATE: The memo that went out to staff earlier today (Wednesday) from Jim Mahanay, KGO manager--




"Good afternoon, We've made some changes in our weekend programming.   Effective this weekend John Batchelor will air from 10pm-5am Saturday. Kim Kommando will now air 7-10pm on Sunday. Karel is no longer part of our weekend programming.   We will be sending a new weekend schedule to everyone shortly." 




Thanks all, Jim--
Jim Mahanay


UPDATE 2:  5: 26 PM PT


Statement from Karel:


"KGO Radio has made the decision to sell their weekends to pay-for-play shows and fully syndicated shows in order to generate revenues. They are beginning this transition to paid programming by getting rid of me. Effective immediately, I will not be on KGO."

Bill O'Reilly's 'Fucking Thing Sucks' Makes It On Air On KGO Radio; Latest Moronic Move On Lame 'Drex Show'; (Audio)

The yahoo on KGO Radio, aka: Drex ran the infamous Bill O'Reilly "Do it Live" rant in which Billo goes nuts and utters a few un-pleasantries---oh like this, "Fucking Thing Sucks! (Here's the audio clip right ON THE AIR from Monday Night's broadcast (listen at 37: 20 for the F-bomb)

It's far past the critical stage for the future of this hideous nightly misadventure that KGO and its Cumulus parent has foisted on the Bay Area radio airwaves--this allowance of the F-bomb to make it on the air has FCC implications --you can bet your rent that someone is going to pay the price, certainly an engineer. Maybe the dumbass host who had to know it had an obscenity.

This show has been downhill since day one last week. This is not going to help. Lame as it is and fully indicative of the house of moron that airs 7-10 PM.

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Jason Barrett Leaving 95.7 The Game As PD; Pens Cute Letter That Doesn't Provide (Real) Details; The Real Reason(s)

 Jason Barrett, the embattled PD of all-sports 95.7 FM The Game is leaving the station in June.

Here, he spells out in roughly a few couple thousand or so words why he's leaving...it reads lovely and cutesy and cuddly and all that but other than mentioning family, Barrett conveniently leaves out the specific reason(s) why.

Funny, I'm not surprised. I've been wondering for some time how Barrett has been able to hold down his Entercom gig despite the station's relative irrelevance and truth be told, The Game, while holding down marginal demos like adult males who covet beer, boobs and sports, has never reached a ratings crescendo --hell, hasn't even come close.

 You're probably going to read the press-release version of this and take it as the positive gospel but it's mostly bull. It's anecdotal verbal messing that's designed to imply that the honest PD misses him and wants to explore his next life. Which would be nothing out of the ordinary and make perfect sense only Barrett doesn't mention some of the things that more than likely accelerated his departure.

As I said, The Game has never registered any real traction in the Bay Area. Never. Its attempt to be an alternative to KNBR, which would have been nice, hasn't materialized. Part of that is sports-radio on FM doesn't work, especially when it's hard to actually listen to that station. The Game's signal is barely audible in most parts of the Bay Area. I can pick it up fine and even better on my car stereo but I'm in the minority. That's not Barrett's fault but it's on his ledger that other variables are and were--

*It was Barrett who hired contest winners--listeners--who became immediate air talent on the radio station. That would work well in, say, Tulsa--not so much in the Bay Area. Furthermore the idea of placing contest winners on the radio station speaks volumes about Mr. Barrett's style of management.

*Both the A's and Raiders want out on The Game. The Raiders have been looking for an alternative for months now because they're unhappy with their Bay Area flagship--so too the A's who have complained about promotion and are also unhappy with the signal. Again, that's hardly Barrett's fault but there's ways to schmooze the suits and get around this--Barrett didn't get the memo.

*The constant reshuffling of the air-talent. There's been a significant fallout on Barrett's every-other-day rearranging the furniture on The Game--his mishandling of the morning show features has been woeful and disruptive --the very best morning show, "The Rise Guys", were held out to pasture and replaced by a startling bad current program whose hosts like to talk about their penises --how thought-provoking and creative.

Simply stated The Game went kaput before our very eyes and ears. There's nothing wrong with that --hell, lots of radio stations are like restaurants --most fail even under the best of intentions. And while everybody would relish an alternative to wildly less-than-mediocre KNBR, The Game struck out. For now and more than likely, the future too.

The KSFO Morning Show Is The Worst Garbage on Bay Area Radio

 Want disgusting, repetitious, ghoulish and bathroom humor peppered with enough racist, misogynist and vitriolic garbage to fill SF Bay?

Welcome to the KSFO Morning Show with hatemonger Brian Sussman and cringe-inducing sidekick and alleged news/traffic anchor, Katie Green.

I'm going to be civil about this uncivil mess and it really is a mess.

To be specific, a four-hour cacophony; a wasteland; an audio cesspool littered with hate, ultra-right-wing talking points that Susspool repeats ad nausea from the Drudge Report, (more on that later). It's the same old tired song every minute, every hour, daily. Sussman could be hate-mongering, vitriol-spewed and entertaining --he's neither of the above. In fact, this program is plain terrible on its own, even some conservatives have taste and constantly e-mail me that this garbage-fest is not what they listen to. That KSFO markets this crap as "hot-talk" and the only "conservative" station in the Bay Area is like describing the Nut Tree as the Taj Mahal.

Sussman used to be merely annoying and loud. When that didn't resonate in the ratings, he and some of the other geniuses at Cumulus decided if they couldn't move the right-wing meter by coordinating GOP/We hate Obama talking points, then they'd go for the gutter and begin a morning-zoo-style buffoonery and they have achieved that status only the program is terrible. Frightening, awful, hateful, (yes, I use that word again), and perfect tools suitable for some Houston tea-party breakfast show.

Sussman and his nincompoop "producer" discovered a train-whistle. And cow moos and fart noises. How insightful, how meaningful. This is what you get by listening to the dreadful KSFO morning show; "news" updates that pretend to be "live and local" delivered by a giddy, teenage-wasteland of a woman whose voice sounds like a pimple-faced cashier from a Hayward strip mall. I'm trying to be kind. At best, it's awkward--at worst, this yenta could make your head explode.

Sussman and his band of idiots like NOISE. Lots of it. Apparently incapable of hosting radio,  Sussman likes to infect his presentation with frequent train whistles, cow moos, fart noises. In between that creative verve, Suss--manning Drudge Report, takes headlines direct from the site and puts forth his take...and then repeats the same tripe twenty minutes later...and again, and again. I'm not kidding. It goes on and on and on and is, I would guess, meant for every known moron that probably thinks that American Idol is a documentary and watches Honey Boo Boo on a regular basis.


It's not that it's bad. We've all suffered through just plain bad radio shows and moved on. It's not that it's conservative-oriented. Sussman's pedigree of going for the gutter has cost him several, notable conservative voices including George Will, Mort Zuckerman, and the like...Sussman's cesspool is a breeding ground for older, white, angry, truck drivers who wouldn't know Cap and Trade from Cap Day. It's a cornucopia of mediocre ranting and raving from 5-9 AM on Susspool's extravaganza complete with a barrage of daily, anti-Obama spit, and old at that. It's not bad because he picks on Obama--hell, even I pick on Obama and I voted for him twice. You can be unique and creative, just like the late Lee Rodgers was, and pick on Obama all you like but if that's your only game, then you become like a low-grade political Groundhog Day--there's no there there. It's not only a right-wing fetish, just ask Stephanie Miller, who did the same with George W Bush and soon after, her radio show crumbled.


Sussman, who was destined to be replaced by Cumulus last year, instead took a significant pay cut and decided to stay on the air--that's the only reason why we're subjected to his shenanigans --and Cumulus will keep people, even undignified low-rent players like Suss on the air at a cheap rate. The end result, though, is a dangerous, self-serving bozo fest with enough kitty litter to please the SPCA.


The KSFO Morning Show is, hands down, the WORST radio show on Bay Area radio.


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Uh, The New Dicks on 95.7 FM/The Game's New Morning Show Talked About Their Dicks Thursday Morning

 What a genius Program Director over at the all-sports 95.7 FM, (The Game)--he recently hired his 27,000th new morning show. It doesn't matter what their names are because the show is terrible. I'm being kind.

I tried to listen. Really, I did. This, (Thursday), morning the new boy wonders had a bit: they spent about five minutes talking about measuring their penis with a ruler.

Ha ha.

Shit, what talent. And here I thought these guys were dicks. (They are, but anyway.)

Well, they're confirming one thing: what a bunch of dicks. New Dicks. The New Sound for Sports? God help us all.

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