KGB's Annual Skyshows: Is It The Best They Can Do? (September 26, 2005)

Back in 1979, I once could proudly say that KGB 101.5 was the raving fave on the dial, but today in 2000, not even their annual fireworks show at some corporate-named station can light up any interest in giving this station a regular listen.

Let's take a brief look at what KGB was back then in 1979 when it was at its peak, and in 2000 when it's KGB in name only, it's just not KGB anymore, in fact, it hasn't been KGB since it went dinosaur rock in 1991.

In 1979, KGB had a enthusiastic progressive rock and roll format, playing selected album cuts of the best rock albums of today, with exciting enthusiastic personalities behind the mikes hosting each of the shifts; that was back when the people who worked at KGB really cared about the music...because they were competeting with KPRI 106.5 at the time!

In 2000, KGB is a pathetic shadow of its former self. Dave, Shelley, and Chainsaw are there solely for the purposes of propping up their lowly ratings for the other dayparts, unemotional voicetracking is rampant overnights and on weekends (as well as on Star and Sets I have to add) giving the station a stale robotic feel.

In 1979, KGB's worst promotional nightmare was Ted Giannolis ankling the station (or fired whatever it was) and KGB trotting out its "Replacement Chicken" at San Diego staduim during a Padres game to jeers and boos. Ted gave rebirth to "The San Diego Chicken" to a standing ovation the following month.

In 2000, KGB's worst promotion so far is the unfunny commercial series of Dave, Shelley, Chainsaw, and Rick Rockwell doing some tribute to his "Who Wants to Marry a Millionaire" stunt some four months ago. Is this the best these top-rated morning show hosts can do for a station plug?

In 1979, great programming brought in the listeners.

In 2000, cheap gimmicks, controversial stunts, and bad commercials don't seem to be bringing back the listeners that defected somewhere else.

In 1979, you could listen to KGB everyday and get something new out of it.

In 2000, just listen to KGB for eight hours one day out of a month; you're not missing anything new since they're not playing anything new.

In 1979, KGB once had exciting weekend and weekday night specials, even the Humpday Special.

In 2000, KGB has voicetracked weekend shifts, reruns of old Rockline episodes, and the usual dinosaur rock most of the other times.

In 1979, KGB had a fun-oriented morning show with plenty of rock and roll to start your day.

In 2000, KGB has a lot of talk in its morning show, using recycled skits and material over and over again. Abromowitz as the fall guy will be funny the day that hockey's Stanley Cup final is the highest-rated sporting event for the year.

In 1979, Radio people were music-oriented from the owners all the way down to the janitors.

In 2000, Radio people are strictly business-oriented, and the quality suffers.

In 1979, I could say that the fireworks were a celebration of how good radio station KGB was.

In 2000, I'm saying that not even the fireworks show can mask how dated KGB's sound has become.

In 1979, I could tell my friends to listen to KGB.

In 2000, I tell everybody on the Internet a better rock station for you to listen to on the Internet.

In 1979, KGB had a preset on my car radio.

In 2000, A Mexican rock station occupies the preset once used for KGB.

So when you folks go to the KGB sky show tonight, just think to yourself, back then this was once a great rock station 21 years ago, and after the fireworks is over, feel free to pop in one of your favorite rock artists' CD that KGB is ignoring as you drive home.

Will KGB ever shape up? Will it move up its classic rock period piece forward one year? Will it make their morning team play rock music during the mornings? Will we see another tasteless billboard publicity stunt from them ever again? And....what about Gabby Powana! Will he ever host Brainstorm again....and...will Dr. Demento ever return to the San Diego airwaves....and...will anyone from KGB interrupt its dinosaur rock broadcast to announce that the classic rock format was all a dream and return to active album-oriented rock and roll?

Don't hold your breath, folks.