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Comments and Letters 11-23-02How Much Will FM 94.9 Impact 91X In San Diego?... Posted by Ben Shaton"It'll be interesting seeing what the next full San Diego book with both stations competing with each other looks like. How many listeners will remain loyal to 91X once they hear 94.9, which has a decent signal unlike 92.1's weak signal from Escondido? So far I like most of what I hear on 94.9, and feel that they'll have a big leap in their ratings over the lame 80's station that occupied that frequency. They play a good mix of heritage music like 91X used to play when it was really cutting edge during it's first decade, current alternative music, and give airtime to local bands too. During their station ID's, they never forget to mention that Clear Channel doesn't own them. One ID this afternon went like this, "We won't end up like The Flash (a similar station about 10 years ago), because we're not for sale". From Josh: "I actually think Halloreen won't last a year. Just my opinon." From Tico: "I'm going to disagree. I think 94.9 is a great station and I love their music selection and the fact that they play music in the morning while the other morning shows are yapping to no end. I've been paying attention to 91X since FM 94-9 came on and they sound like they're trying to copy 94-9. The last ratings trends had 91X out of the top ten. I wonder what will happen when 94-9's new format shows up in the ratings." Letter: re: Clear Channel Promoting Anti-Downloading Message From anonymous by the webmaster: "First off, I love your website. Have been coming here for about a year now (I was laid off from Clear Channel a year ago when I found your site along with many others) and it's opened my eyes to what they are doing to radio and people in San Diego. I have many friends there that I never got to say goodbye to but that's not the point here. "I too find in very ironic that they are bashing MP3 d/loading when they themselves are guilty as sin. As a former IT Tech for Clear Channel (was employed in the MIS Dept from '98 to 01,) I know for a fact that they used and are continuing to use Napster Clones. They had them installed on computers EVERYWHERE and used MP3's for Liners, Drops, Promos, ad libs, etc. The IT Department tried to discourage this use but to no avail since the suits thought it was "Good For Business." "It sickens me to think what they are doing on a daily basis. From the lay offs of 11 good people last year, the dismissal of Jim Mcinnes, the loss of Xtra Sports and now a new round of lay offs. I have stopped listening to Clear Channel stations in lieu of MP3 CD's, Internet Music, B949 and even the Cox Cable music channels have a better quality and quantity of music than what these money grubbing, unethical thugs are promoting. "Keep up the good work on your site. You have a made a difference and I for one will continue to frequent your site while telling others to do the same." My reply: Thank you for your comments. Oddly, just today, I heard Muckley or some other guy on 91suX mention something about downloading a song before it's released to the public. Los Angeles Radio Wires 11-23-02Wang-NetPetty Ladd... Tom Petty remembers when radio meant something. When disc jockeys were personalities, people of (sometimes questionable) taste. People we related to. That feeling is the inspiration for his new album, "The Last DJ" which was played and discussed by Petty and KLOS (95.5 FM) 10 pm to 12 midnight jock Jim Ladd (THE last DJ, according to some) last Tuesday. Good Ladd radio. Weekend in Sports TV/Radio 11-23-24-02This must be one of those rare weekends where almost every NFL football game being shown in the San Diego Outland area features most of the NFL teams that are ranked #1 in a division. Four being shown features TWO #1 NFL teams battling each other!First off, the 10am game on CBS 8,2 features the San Diego Chargers, #1 AFC West, at Miami, #1 AFC East. San Diego is 7-3, tied with Denver, and Miami is 6-4, one game ahead of Buffalo. You can also hear the game on KFMB 760, KNX 1070, and 101.3 FM in Temecula. CBS' No. 1 team of Greg Gumbel, Phil Simms and Armen Keteyian will call Sunday's Chargers-Dolphins game. The Chargers have reworked their radio deal with KFMB, but the bottom line is that the team's games will remain on 760-AM through 2004. The deal also includes exhibition games and the weekly "Chargers Game Plan" TV show. There's also a Fox game opposite it, but that's not important, with St Louis, #2 NFC West, at Washington, #3 AFC East. Second, at 1:15pm, there's the second Fox game of the doubleheader with Green Bay, #1 NFC North, at Tampa Bay, #1 NFC South. No known radio coverage at this time. Third, at 5:30pm, ESPN and AM 1130 will have Indianapolis, #1 AFC South and tied with Tennessee, at Denver, #1 AFC West. Then on Monday, ABC's Monday Night Football gets its own rare #1 matchup: Philadelphia, #1 NFC East, at San Francisco, #1 NFC West. Some games featuring a #1 team not carried locally are Cincinatti at Pittsburgh (#1 AFC North), and Tennessee (#1 AFC South) at Baltimore. Get plenty of beer and chips ready for these four big games on Sunday, if your kids don't bother you about taking you to see the Mother Goose Parade in the El Cajon zone. And today, college football has some rivalries going on at 9am with the annual nationwide presentation of Michigan at Ohio State, then at 12:30, the college teams in the L.A. Outland, USC at UCLA. Hear the latter game on AM 800 and AM 1360. Why two stations in San Diego? You see, one has coverage for USC, and the other for UCLA. I forget which.
John Maffei - North County Times TV/Sports Rome and Hamilton have been told they're safe. The results from the focus group would appear to say the Loose Cannons will survive. But they haven't been told that. It also would indicate that the Vast Morning Wasteland (Billy Ray Smith and Scott Kaplan) mercifully will be a thing of the past after the first of the year. The only problem is that the VMW has an ardent backer in top management at XTRA, and Fox Radio's Tony Bruno ---- once thought to be a lock for the morning spot ---- isn't a sure thing. If they lose their jobs, Smith and Kaplan won't be alone. So while the merger of KXTA-XTRA (what's next, a merger of KHTS-KIIS-FM? Imagine Rick Dees in the morning) is still taking shape, ESPN Radio 800 will be adding local sports talk shows soon (whenever that is) to fill the gap left when XTRA 690 becomes a Los Angeles station as its priority. At 1,000 watts, the station is heard in most of San Diego county (Radio Dismal 1240 has the same wattage), but at night, when the power is turned down, like 250 watts (by Mexican law to protect a Mexican AM 800 station hear Southern Texas), many people can't hear it north of MCAS. When will the power be increased? Nobody knows. According to Posner, many businesses must be eager to advertise on a San Diego station paying San Diego ad rates, and this should be the time for ESPN 800's sales staff to make a strong push. As for local programming, it's the same old story: nothing. Some new localized promos will begin airing shortly (like when the Glacier moves 27 millimeters), and director of operations and programming Dave Palet said minute-long commentaries from XETV Channel 6 sports anchors Kirby Maus and Katy Temple "could happen within the next two weeks." Of course, we also were going to get two-minute blocks of news, sports and traffic every hour starting in August, and we haven't heard one yet. The station really needs to add at least one local show, and Palet, a former sports talk host at KFMB, would like to air one from 1-4 p.m., and maybe another from 4-7 when (if?) the signal is increased. But he doesn't control the cash. The most telling sign that a local show isn't close to happening came this week when Jeff Dotseth, Palet's former co-host, said he is taking a job in the mortgage business beginning Dec. 2. The two friends had hoped to work together at ESPN 800, but Dotseth decided he couldn't wait any longer. Asked to suggest a replacement, Dotseth said: "I would hope Dave would give serious consideration to bringing in 'The Coach' John Kentera (who is being fired by XTRA)." Said Palet: "I told Jeff I'll still call it the 'Dave and Jeff Show,' but I'm going to hire Cabana Boy Jeff, who just got fired from 93.3." Clear Channel Communications, the parent company of XTRA (690 AM) and KXTA (1150 AM), laid off 34 more people this week and 16 the previous week. That's one job loss for each state! Briefs The first of 10 San Diego State and five University of San Diego men's basketball games on Channel 4 will air at 7 p.m. Saturday when Eastern Washington visits the Aztecs. Matt Vasgersian and Chris Marlowe will split the play-by-play duties, with John Kentera generally the color man. But with Kentera on duty with the San Diego State football team Saturday, Tony Gwynn joins Vasgersian on the opening telecast. There is a conflict with the Clippers on Tuesday, so the USD-UCLA men's basketball game shifts from KXTA (1150 AM) to XTRA (690 AM). Word is that XTRA will continue to carry Aztecs basketball through the end of the season but will also pick up all UCLA games. USD men's broadcasts, with Jerry Gross calling the action, can be heard on KCBQ (1170 AM). XEMM (800 AM) will carry all USC men's basketball games this season and will carry several college football bowl games as well as the Preseason NIT basketball semifinals on Wednesday and the final next Friday. Twice this month, a link from an ESPN.com column to Chargers.com created such a traffic jam that access via that link became impossible. The attraction? What else? The Charger Girls in swimsuits. Maybe they sould put Bromo in a thong to cut down on website traffic! San Diego Radio Wires 11-21-02North County Times - Randy DotingaTV on radio, and vice versa. Dave Dawson Obit.
The San Diego Reader Blurt
San Diego Radio Wires 11-21-02Sources: Chris Carmichael - San Diego Radio NetThe San Diego Union Clear Channel lays off 34 workers Due to the downsizing of the radio properties operated by the company, Clear Channel San Diego has laid off 34 employees including some on-air talent. Radio station KSDO, owned by Chase Radio Partners, but up until now, operated with a Joint Sales Agreement by Clear Channel, will be sold to another buyer, possibly by Salem, Infinity, Jefferson-Pilot, Midwestern TV, or even from local Spanish radio station operator HBC, which run stations locally. Outside companies such as Radio One and Emmis, which don't run any stations locally, are longshots, due to the fact that it's difficult for one station in a town cluttered with clusters of stations run by 5-6 station groups in the metro area. Vice President, Mike Glickenhaus, confirmed that Chase Radio Partner station KSDO would be sold next quarter. He indicated the headcount was over target due to the recent adds of Bob 99.3, and Z90. "There were some duplication," Mike said, "and we had to make adjustments." Clear Channel provides a sale and marketing agreement for KSDO and that station will essentially, be a new one. After the sale, it's expected the station will vacate the Clear Channel building. The new prospective owner would have to have studios. The antenna/transmitting facility will be included in the sale. KSDO broadcasts from Santee. It is possible that the new owners of KSDO may pick up some of the displaced workers from Clear Channel, which is merging XTRA 690 into its Los Angeles-based sports radio station operation KXTA 1150, another radio station loss from the company. Some of the displaced XTRA employees may pop up at ESPN 800 out of TJ or elsewhere. Employees who asked not to be identified said colleagues from hosts of shows to engineering, accounting and sales staff members were let go Tuesday and yesterday. Clear Channel also laid off 11 employees just before last Thanksgiving. This year's action was taken after the San Antonio-based company consolidated its once-scattered San Diego workers and stations in one building along Granite Ridge Drive in Mission Village. According to sources, on-air talent fired included Benny Martinez of KOOL/FM 95.7, "Tre" at XHTZ/FM 90.3 "Z90," Kelly Danek of Airwatch Traffic and heard on KHTS/FM 93.3 "Channel 933," XHRM/FM 92.5 "Magic 92.5" and KPOP/AM 1360, and Bridget Sarchino, co-host of "A.J.'s Playhouse" on "Channel 933." In a news release, Jim Richards, Clear Channel's regional vice president of programming, announced that Rick Thomas - "Z90" and "Magic 92.5" program director - was leaving Clear Channel to focus on a new career opportunity. At "Z90," Thomas is being replaced by Diana Laird, and at "Magic 92.5," Duncan Payton assumes Thomas' duties. An update from rronline says that Thomas is going to be working for radio stations in lovely Honolulu, Hawaii. The former Clear Channel Brand Manager and PD of XHTZ & XHRM/San Diego - who is going by the name Rick Innamorato - will work with Salem's Country KHCM, News KHNR and Christian CHR KAIM (The Fish 95.5). Innamorato previously held various positions at New Planet Radio, Secret Communications and United Broadcasting/Crescent Communications and succeeds Michael Shishido, who has been promoted to Creative Director for Salem Media/Hawaii. Shishido will oversee all areas of production for Salem's Honolulu cluster. In related news, David Serrone has been promoted to Sales Manager for Salem's Honolulu station group. Jack Waters will continue as OM/PD of Talk KGU/Honolulu. Despite the merger of the sports outlets and impending loss of KSDO, Clear Channel still operates 11 stations in the San Diego market (2 AM, 9 FM including five from Tijuana), plus two in Temecula. sdradio.net has reaction and more on the story. In radio community news: KPRZ-AM 1210, is teaming with the Armed Services YMCA and Feed the Children to make it a brighter holiday for 800 military families. On December 3, Feed the Children will deliver boxes of food and other items as a holiday gift to San Diego's military. Your help is needed! Show your support and appreciation to our military families by making a donation to Feed the Children. Call 800-742-8833. KPRZ is run by Salem, which operates KCBQ 1170 with transmitters in Santee, which should be moving to a new location within a year, if they can find one. If they buy KSDO-AM, then they can simply move the KCBQ transmitters over to where KSDO's are and piggy-back them. Jeff and Mike from KKSM write SDR: "Michael Howard here, co-host of the "Jeff & Mike Show" that airs Saturday nights from 6 to 10 on KKSM-AM 1320. Myself and my parter-in-crime, Jeff Lynch, want to spread the word about "The Best Kept Secret in San Diego", and inform everyone listening about our big 4 year Anniversary Show that is airing November 23rd. We'll be playing classic clips from this past year, having special guests, playing some of the most popular songs that premiered on the show, and we want to extend an invitation to the listeners to drop us a line, say hello, and become part of the experience that is "The Living End of Radio". After the show, Jeff and Mike will be seen at Penny Lane Pub & Grill in San Marcos. We invite everyone listening to the show to join us after the program to meet us. The new Jeff & Mike "fiscal year" is fast approaching, and we want YOU involved. Also, please check us out online at The Jeff and Mike Show. TV News (November 21, 2002)ZENtertainment(tm)CEDRIC TO HOST BILLBOARD MUSIC AWARDS - Comedian Cedric the Entertainer (CEDRIC THE ENTERTAINER) has agreed to host the Billboard Music Awards. The show will air on Fox on December 9 at 8 PM ET live from the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Source: Zap2It STAR WARS TOON IS DEFINITELY ON THE WAY - More confirmation about a STAR WARS: CLONE WARS cartoon. http://zentertainment.com/article.php?sid=6248 AOL Users Click Here THE WB WEED WHACKS DO OVER, FAMILY AFFAIR - The WB announced on Monday that after giving freshman series DO OVER and FAMILY AFFAIR a full season order last month, they are now cutting their orders. http://zentertainment.com/article.php?sid=6237 AOL Users Click Here GAROFALO SLICES INTO ABC - Comedian Janeane Garofalo has signed a deal with ABC and Universal TV to develop SLICE O' LIFE, a single camera series that she will star in. http://zentertainment.com/article.php?sid=6236 AOL Users Click Here DUNNIGAN JOINS CEDRIC - Kyle Dunnigan has joined the cast of Fox's CEDRIC THE ENTERTAINER. http://zentertainment.com/article.php?sid=6235 AOL Users Click Here Los Angeles Radio Wires 11-21-02L.A., CA11/20.8/02 - "Application for 93.5 move. An application has been filed to move the Redondo Beach 93.5 transmitter to the KNX tower as previously discussed." Slightly more at members3.boardhost.com/scgroove/msg/12440.html. This has been mentioned before. P.S. - The KNX tower is in the park on 190th. St., just east of Hawthorne Bl., in Torrance. 11/20.7/02 - "L.A. owner Saul Levine's sticking with adult standards: "We're not going away."" From www.insideradio.com. Is that KSUR 1260 AM with a page at 1260thesurf.com/??
Radio Wires (the devolution of radio continues...) 11-20-02rronlineRick Thomas Exits CC/San Diego... Thomas had been PD of CHR/Rhythmic XHTZ and Rhythmic Oldies XHRM but resigns to pursue another opportunity, Clear Channel/S.D. VP/Market Manager Mike Glickenhaus tells R&R. Replacing him at 'HTZ is Diana Laird, who's also PD of co-owned KHTS/S.D. And KMYI/S.D. PD Duncan Payton adds 'HRM programming duties. Clear Channel operates XHTZ via a programming and sales agreement with XTRA Comunicaciones and has a similar agreement with XHRM owner BiNational. Rick Thomas exits Z90/Magic 92.5.... Replacing him is Diana Lard (sic, lol!) of Channel 933. I know Glenn isn't big on her, so I want to know what he thinks about the whole situation. Reply from Brandon: "Rick Thomas takes the high ground and refuses to fire some of his Z90/Magic staff. At least someone working for Clear Channel has some morals. He has already found work! Congratulations Rick. Boo to Clear Channel, as usual." Reply from Glenn: "She's a b###h (and her co-workers would tell you the same). She knows little about CHR (editor: which is why 933 is so g--damn boring to listen to), he brother-in-law, Rick Etchison (my speeling of his last name may be off) when he was at AMFM, gave her the gig at 99.1. Prior to that her experience is basically with AOR...Westwood One and prior. Her best atributes: She'll steal any idea and claim it's hers, sleep with any manager and let anyone else do the work but her. You see, I like her very well :-) Clear Channel owns San Diego CHR, so it really means nothing. Rick Thomas is a very good guy and radio pro...life will be better after Clear Channel... Reply from djdramah: "Rick is a VERY good guy and my experience with him back in Phoenix was nothing but positive. He gave me my first job in radio and really gave me the inspiration to finish high school and go to college. Like so many others, I'm sure he will be much better without CC." From the Clear Channel Sucks messageboard From icarius: "Clear Channel Strikes Again! In another move to completely wipe out local Radio, CC merges XTRA 690AM with it's sister station in LA. This was a legendary radio station that had been there for years that started out as a little mom and pop station. The Los Angelization of San Diego Radio continues unabated." From bloodfrommachines: "I heard something about that. XTRA-FM (91X) is still in San Diego, though. Like it's AM format, 91X was a great station before Jacor bought them out." From icarius: "91X USED to be a landmark station, but they too are now a Corporate Clone with bubblegum punk played ad nauseum all day. It was a cutting edge station back in the eighties/ early nineties but got gobbled up by Goliath. However, a local station B94.9 changed formats on Monday to compete directly with Cheap Channel here. http://www.sdradio.net has the scoop and the kid gloves have already come off with Cheap Channel talking smack about the little station trying to compete. It's too funny and it shows that they're already shooting themselves in the foot." From bloodfrommachines: "I was surprised when Mike Halloran was hired by Jefferson Pilot, over a month after he was fired by Art Astor. I listened to FM 94.9 and it sounded like 92/1 before Halloran got fired." From icarius: "I've been listening to 94.9 now for about 24 hours and I kinda like it. Not as many commericals (8 per hour compared to CC's 15 per hour,) music selection is pretty good since they're not playing the same Blink song 10 times a day. Not only that, they are totally bashing Cheap Channel- "So FM Radio is broken. Want to hear someone try to fix it? Keep Listening" or "This is B94.9, NOT owned by Clear Channel. But you knew that already" "They're Corporate Rock, we're local rock. Want to know the difference? Keep listening." I friggin love it! I believe that they have a link on their webpage to this site with the CC logo and the red circle with the slash thru it." From bloodfrommachines: "Have you heard when FM94.9 said..." "When 92.5 The Flash was popular, Clear Channel destroyed it..." "or something similar to that.
Radio Wires 11-20-02L.A., CA11/19.11/02 - KRLA 870 AM has a new URL and site. I never did like their last site; like to find a show, which they often move around, you must search each of the seven daily program listing. Well, it's still that way but slightly better. See www.krla870.com/. Concerning streaming: "Where's The Audio? Thank you for your support of our Internet broadcasts. In an effort to fully evaluate our Internet broadcast initiative, and to update our systems and infrastructure, we will be halting the streaming of this station for 60 days. During this outage, we will be inviting you to provide us with your feedback..." per www2.krla870.com/listen/.
LA Times
rronline
Radio Wires 11-19-02From the FlashFax: NOT SO GREAT STORY ABOUT SDPD officers being encouraged to put San Diego at risk on December 8th. ROGER opens this can of woe on the radio last Friday. Faithful Flashfaxers know the tale. The cops and the city are talking contract. Cops not happy with progress of talks and thus will press their bargaining points by refusing voluntary overtime on December 8th, which just happens to be the day that the dreaded Oakland Raiders come to town to play the Chargers. Game is always a nightmare. ROGER notes that most of the gang bangers in LA trek south to drink too much, toss stuff, be insulting and generally create an explosive and potentially violent atmosphere. This tradition so well known that cops always beef up security and put extra officers on duty when the Raiders and their entourage visit. Well to make the point that cops need more money.Bill Farrar, the President of the San Diego Police Officers Association is throwing a game watching party at POA headquarters.inviting member officers to refuse voluntary overtime, come to the HQ and watch the game there."enjoy good food and drink." "Take the day off.to come to the POA building to enjoy each other's company." This while the gang bangers wreak havoc in Mission Valley. ROGER wonders where the honorable Mayor and Police Chief might fit into this plot? More to come!!
TV News (November 19, 2002)ZENtertainment(tm)Top Stories: MONTY HALL ON BOARD WITH NEW DEAL - NBC has announced that Monty Hall, original host of the classic gameshow LET'S MAKE A DEAL, will executive produce the new version with his daughter Sharon. The new DEAL will debut as a series of five, hour long specials in 2003. A syndicated version may be produced after that. Source: USA Today THE END IS NIGH UPON US - Anthony Stewart Head says that this season should be the end for BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER. http://zentertainment.com/article.php?sid=6201 AOL Users Click Here JENNINGS RE-UPS WITH ABC - ABC newsanchor Peter Jennings has signed a new contract with ABC that will keep him at the news desk through 2005 and beyond with documentaries. http://zentertainment.com/article.php?sid=6187 AOL Users Click Here Comments: SD Radio 11-18-02Chris Carmichael - San Diego Radio NetPledge Drive "From today until about mid-December, SDR will be having the "2003 "The premise is simple: I'm asking for support for web and hosting fees only for SDRadio. The site will have about 125,000 visitors this year, about 60,000 more than last year. Internet traffic is up; and so is bandwidth costs. "Please understand, I'm only seeking web and hosting fees only. Folks, I enjoy writing for and about radio here in San Diego. The main newspaper in the county maintains that there is not enough to cover the AM/FM bands ever day. With your help, we've proved them wrong. "With your conitnued support and financial contribution, SDR will continue to be an open place with no lengthy sign ups or other items. Nearly 2.5 years of SDR archives will premiere mid December. In all, counting the pictures and words, SDR is approaching 15 megs of space ... this is for and about San Diego Radio. "I hope I can count on you -- like most of you did for me in 2001. Please consider using the PayPal option that is on the main page at http://SDRadio.net. Of, if you wish to send through email, please write me at Chris@SDRadio.net "Thank you for your continued support. "See you!"
Chris Carmichael
Comments: SD Radio 11-18-02"The way KPOP does Adult Standards" by Ivan Badget:"Lately, I've been listening more to KPOP/San Diego over the Internet. While KPOP plays mostly traditional Adult Standards, they throw in occasional AC songs like "Miss Chatelaine" by K. D. Lang, "Just Once" by Quincy Jones and James Ingram, "From This Moment" by Shania Twain, and "I Can't Make You Love Me" by Bonnie Raitt. KPOP is close to what KJUL/Las Vegas is, playing predominantly Adult Standards with occasional AC tunes. The last time I vacationed in Las Vegas, one of the AC songs KJUL played was "Save the Best For Last" by Vanessa Williams. Even though KPOP is an AM station, it's still very interesting to listen to. "
TV News (November 18, 2002)ZENtertainment(tm)Animated STAR WARS Series in the Works? - AINT IT COOL NEWS reports The CARTOON Network and LUCASFILM are working together on a STAR WARS: CLONE WARS animated series. AICN adds Genndy Tartakovsky (Samurai Jack) is producing the show, which will be formatted as a series of serialized shorts that will air between other shows. http://www.aintitcoolnews.com http://www.cartoonnetwork.com http://www.starwars.com Renewals for This Season & Next - A number of networks ordered additional episodes of shows in their current lineup last week, placing full-season orders for series including FOX's JOHN DOE, FASTLANE, and CEDRIC THE ENTERTAINER, and ABC's 8 SIMPLE RULES..., MY WIFE AND KIDS, and ACCORDING TO JIM. Additionally, KIDS WB! renewed its animated shows OZZY & DRIX, WHAT'S NEW SCOOBY-DOO, MUCHA LUCHA, POKEMON, and YU-GI-OH for next season. EMMYS to Stay on Network TV - HBO came close last week to becoming home to the Primetime EMMY Awards broadcast, but following talks of boycotts from the Big Four networks, the ACADEMY OF TV ARTS & SCIENCES agreed to accept an offer keeping them on network television for the next 8 years, with the awards ceremony shifting between ABC, NBC, CBS, and FOX every year. http://www.emmys.org Guest Stars & Weddings on Must-See-TV Thursday - NBC does their big annual Must-See-TV Thanksgiving thing this Thursday, beginning with a FRIENDS episode guest starring Christina Applegate as Rachel's critical younger sister. WILL & GRACE's 100th episode follows, featuring Grace's wedding to Leo (Harry Connick Jr.,), which baffles me, as I'd swear they just started dating a couple episodes ago... That episode is followed by a W&G clip show at 9:30. On ER at 10, Sally Field returns for the first of four guest appearances as Abby's bipolar mother, back to aid Abby's brother battling his own mental illness. http://www.nbc.com CHARMED Looses a Cast Member - Sources tell ZENtertainment that Julian McMahon will leave the cast of CHARMED with the show's 100th episode, set to air early next year. New Toons at COMEDY CENTRAL - COMEDY CENTRAL recently began airing the animated series GARY & MIKE and UNDERGRADS late night Sundays, and will add DILBERT and the CLERKS animated series in early February. http://www.comedycentral.com SOPRANOS to Air on ABC? - According to The NEW YORK POST, DISNEY CEO Michael Eisner mentioned airing HBO's THE SOPRANOS on ABC while speaking at a breakfast hosted by SYRACRUSE UNIVERSITY'S NEWHOUSE School. A DISNEY spokesperson later denied the comments and insisted the network is not looking to acquire the syndication rights to the cable show. THE SOPRANOS wraps up its fourth season on HBO on December 8th. http://www.nypost.com http://www.abc.com http://www.hbo.com ZENtertainment #530 ALL CONTENTS COPYRIGHT 1995-2002 ZENTERTAINMENT. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. ZENtertainment IS A TRADEMARK OF SEAN JORDAN. CONTENTS MAY NOT BE REPRINTED WITHOUT PERMISSION. Letters: Those Clear Channel Idiots! 11-18-02Hi Dave,My name is Bill. I've been looking at your websites for the past few weeks and find them quite interesting. I'm a professional musician, elementary school teacher (hopefully, I'll be getting back to teaching secondary band next year!), and amateur historian with my own website (The LoyalTubist Website). I enjoyed your material about Dr. Demento. In 1995, before I took a job teaching English and music in my wife's native land of Indonesia, I sent him some of my records we thought would be too bulky to send with us (we didn't own a house and couldn't see storing stuff at Public Storage). So I sent him some of my choicest recordings. My favorite was an album I purchased in East Berlin (I was stationed with the 298th U.S. Army Band in West Berlin in 1979-82) by a group called Country Beat from Czechoslovakia. It was middle of the road Country & Western (I'm a native Southern Californian but I earned my Master's degree in Music in Texas, so I've learned to sorta like the stuff). The record was great except that the singers' accents were so thick it was reminiscent of Bobby "Boris" Pickett singing "Monster Mash." I was a member of the Dr. Demento Society for all the time I was in S.E. Asia. I'm so glad I can hear him on the Internet (thanks to your link!) Even though I'm a classically trained musician (as a tuba player, that means I sit for about 40 minutes before I get a chance to play a single quarter note through a tuba which cooled down some 23 degrees before the symphony started, then wait another 15 minutes for my next entrance), I mostly enjoy listening to what's fondly referred to as "Nostalgia," whose fans are generally 15-20 years older than yours truly. I used to love to listen to KLAC 570 on my way to work every morning. Charlie Tuna did a heck of a job as the morning DJ, with sidekick Fran Tunno (their names sounded so much alike, many folks thought they were an "item.") I began listening to them in the summer of 1999, after I returned from overseas. Late into 2000, maybe 2001, the station changed formats without warning. They became another of the talk stations which L.A. (and the country) has too much. I wrote a personal letter to the station manager. While waiting for my answer from the station, Charlie Tuna, himself, intercepted it, stating that AMFM, which owned KLAC was taken over by Clear Channel, which owns KFI, KBIG, KIIS, KXTA, KMPC, and probably owns some Disney and Viacom stock. No one tells Clear Channel anything! (That wasn't said, but it was implied!) The station manager's reply was, "Dear Mr. Long, We're sorry but in today's world the listenership is not as important as the bottom line. Music stations, although they are more popular, do not make even a fraction of the money of even a mediocre talk station. Consider the royalties, recordings, equipment, etc. We offer you no suggestion but thanks for your note. " I'm still trying to figure why KPCC, which had a format before I left for overseas called "Classic American Music," became a talk station in 1999! It's a PUBLIC RADIO STATION!!! Forget that. You can't tell me Public Radio isn't commercial. Even though 75% of that station's financial supporters quit sending them money, they went on with the idea. Blame Minnesota Public Radio (producers of Garrison Keillor's "A Prairie Home Companion") who now owns the station. I don't get to talk this way too much on my website; it mainly revolves around nostalgia (there's that word again). Take care! Bill San Diego Radio Wires 11-17-02Gary Lycan - Orange County RegisterAbout 30 Clear Channel employees were pink-slipped as a result of the coming KLAC format change and simulcast merger of XTRA (690AM) and KXTA (1150AM). At KLAC, Gil Gross, Michael Jackson, and Leslie Marshall will depart the station once Talk is abandoned. With them go screeners, producers and support staff. Top Ten (November 11-17, 2002)The DTV Ratings System has been replaced by the Top Ten TV rankings.1. Bernie Mac (FOX) 2. The Simpsons (8:00) (FOX) 3. Sabrina the Teenage Witch (WB) 4. The Simpsons (7:30) (FOX) 5. South Park (COM) 6. Friends (NBC) 7. King of the Hill (FOX) 8. Late Show with David Letterman (average for the week) (CBS) 9. Futurama (FOX) 10. Charmed (WB) Los Angeles Radio Wires 11-17-02Gary Lycan - Orange County RegisterAbout 30 Clear Channel employees were pink-slipped as a result of the coming KLAC format change and simulcast merger of XTRA (690AM) and KXTA (1150AM). At KLAC, Gil Gross, Michael Jackson, and Leslie Marshall will depart the station once Talk is abandoned. With them go screeners, producers and support staff. Los Angeles Radio Wires 11-16-02L.A., CA11/15/02 - "Sinatra's in, talk is out at KLAC. You'll be seeing it in all the old familiar places: Adult standards are returning to KLAC-AM (570). Station owners plan to announce today that they are giving up the 14-month-old talk format and will return next month to playing the songs of Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett and Ella Fitzgerald. But with a twist... None of the roster of talk hosts on KLAC -- which includes L.A. radio fixture Michael Jackson -- will be retained or shifted to sister station KFI-AM (640), she said. "It's just a very difficult task to wedge another talk format into this market. We've had some very talented people, and I feel very sorry that it wasn't more successful."...The new KLAC will debut Dec. 12, Sinatra's birthday." More at http://www.calendarlive.com/printedition/calendar/cl-et-steve15nov15.story
Don Barrett - Los Angeles Radio People
rronline Infinity To Have No Business Contact With KFWB... As part of Infinity's decision to place KFWB into a trust administered by Bill Clark, no Infinity executive may have any business relationships or contact with Clark or any KFWB personnel. KFWB will operate independently, and one source close to the situation tells R&R the station was the perfect choice to be placed into a trust since it is the only Infinity/L.A. property that does not share real estate with another station. The move to place KFWB into a trust allows Infinity parent Viacom to proceed with its purchase of KCAL-TV/Los Angeles. Viacom will eventually own 2 TV stations in L.A. and six radio stations. Tommy Edwards Exits KCBS-FM/Los Angeles... Edwards' voicemail at the Infinity Classic Rocker says, "I'm no longer employed by Arrow 93." He also hopes to end up at another spot on the L.A. radio dial in the near future. Kevin Weatherly, who was just promoted to SVP/Programming on Tuesday, will add PD duties for 'CBS-FM and continue as PD of Alternative sister KROQ. Brad Chambers To Program "Fabulous 570"... That's the name Clear Channel's KLAC/Los Angeles will start calling itself at Noon on Dec. 12, when it returns to Adult Standards from Talk with 24 hours of continuous music from "Ol' Blue Eyes," Frank Sinatra. KLAC will debut the new format with a live broadcast from the Museum of Television and Radio in Beverly Hills, CA. Recording artist Rod Stewart will help launch the Adult Standards formt by perfoming a song from his new release Great American Songbook. KLAC's core artists will include Tony Bennett, Dean Martin, Ella Fitzgerald and Norah Jones, among others. KLAC will compete against Mt. Wilson FM Broadcasters' simulcast KSUR/Los Angeles and XSUR/Tijuana-San Diego. http://www.Fabulous570.com/. Comments from the SC Messagaboard: From Jeff S. "They picked the right name for this station, because it's going to be a big winner. The folks at Clear Channel did a perfect job with the design of the website, the hip "rat pack" style logo and the martini lounge imaging. It isn't really going out on a limb to predict great things for this new KLAC. They're right when they say this music has never been more popular. How can you lose with Sinatra and Stewart and Tyrell? You can't. I just had a conversation the other night with one of the all-time biggest Hollywood managers, someone who knows everyone and everything, and the subject of Steve Tyrell came up. This guy is on the cutting edge of cool, and for KLAC to use him for their launch and imaging proves they are way ahead of the curve on this one. For all you idiots who criticize everything CC does every day, get ready to eat a king-size crow. The Fabulous 570 is a downright hit right out of the box. Guaranteed!"
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