Have you been able to stomach this year’s talk radio holiday fill-in roster? I’d provide a detailed account of just how awful it has been, but that would be a lie: I’ve heard relatively little.
There’s a vent-fest going on here.
As callers discussed their own interpretations of biblical passages and religious views in general, I did suffer through over an hour of Avi Nelson covering for Howie Carr, however.
What in the world was this doing on WRKO? Did Salem buy the station when I wasn’t looking?
As a talk radio topic, it’s truly one to avoid at all costs. On a religious-formatted station, that sort of discussion is obviously appropriate, but on a general issues talk outlet, it’s an audience killer. The one exception is a major global news event triggered by extremist doctrine (as in Islamofascism).
Why do holiday fill-ins seem worse every year? Easy: it’s all about protecting fragile broadcasting egos. Nobody wants to return from two weeks (or in Severin’s case, a month) away only to find he or she wasn’t missed. Programmers work around this by selecting subs that won’t upstage the regular guy.
Larry Johnson was pulled from his grave to do WEEI today, and he sounded as grating as he always did…and that lasted all of one nanosecond. I do hope radio hosts come onto blogs like this and message boards like the one you pointed to. They need a strong dose of ‘You’re Awful!!!!’
Too right, Chris!
It’s almost not even worth it to listen during this holiday break. However, Tammy Bruce did a great job this am for Laura Ingraham (I listened on WTOD from radiotime.com).
Some hosts like Mark Levin (The Great One!) and “Quinn and Rose” I never listen to when they are not live. The topics the fill-ins are laughable sometimes.
I think the PD’s would love to find great fill-in hosts. The problem is they don’t work holiday weeks at $50/hour. Sure, some up and coming young kid might, but who and where is he/she?
Tammy Bruce? Good? Did you hear her filling in for Laura in the days before election day when she was explaining exactly how McCain was going to win and was wrong on virtually every point? She’s nothing more than a right wing cheerleader with no grip on reality.
Almost any fill-in is better than no-longer-relevant reruns. It might work with an entertainment-based show, but not with current events.
I turned on last night’s Pundit Review only to hear Bill Kristol’s predictions about the election before quickly switching it off. I think Avi does a decent job, but Col. Hunt (nice guy, but…) is pretty sad.
Oh, and being off from work for a couple of weeks has provided me the opportunity to tune into the Two Chicks Dishing show a couple of times while driving around… Could it be any more unlistenable without actually beiing on NPR? I guess their target audience is the unemployable and those with trust funds, though.
Avi is better than Col. Hunt, but the religion topic turned me off as well.
Bring Scotto back as a sub host!
Hee hee Cap’n! when you said “Two Chicks Dishing” I thought you were talking about that old WRKO Show from years and years ago (whatever happened to those two dames anyway?).
When I jumped over to your link I had a good laugh! You’re correct, it is very unlistenable. Santa should have gotten you a satellite radio. You may like Andrew Wilkow on Sirius Satellite. He’s on during their slot.
I can not stand listening to Avi Nelson as a fill in for Howie. I am sure he is a great guy and he is obviously very intelligent but his delivery and choice of subject matter is completely pedantic. Listening to him is like sitting through a lecture on soybean propagation at Southwestern Nebraska Community College. God help me, my teeth actually begin to hurt when I hear him him on WRKO.
But what do you expect from the “management” at our formerly beloved station? They hired The Felon and The Crossover. How could they be expected to come up with decent substitute hosts?
Skunky
I heard one of the chicks on a NYC AM signal. I travel a lot so surf the AM dial.
Did someone point out that, back in the day, Howie had Jay Severin and Laura Ingraham as fill-ins? Before he started using VB, I think. And, of course, way back in the day Jerry Williams sometimes had Howie as his fill-in. We all know how that turned out for Jerry, right?
So, perhaps these guys are right to worry about getting back-stabbed by a fill-in?
I want to go on record as saying that, in spite of our many political differences, I like Avi as a fill-in host. He is bright, unlike Hunt. And not afraid to mix it up, unlike Severin and Finneran — who have producers to handpick the bambi callers.
Peace.
-CF
Does Michelle McPhee count as a fill-in. She may be on the right side of some issues, but she is painful to listen to. Her voice is like a Green line train taking a sharp corner in the tunnel. Who picks the topics to be discussed? I would rather listen to Michael Graham mucking his donkey’s stall than Michelle’s dumb topics and her scratchy voice… I agree about Avi and the Colonel as fill ins.
Col. Hunt is the worst of the worst. Howie knows this (believe me). I have to say, the Andlemen Brothers did a pretty decent job on WTKK yesterday. I think sometimes they try too hard to prove themselves as being cool (which they aren’t) but I would prefer them to Eagan and Braude. At least one of the Andlemen Brothers seems to have a brain and the 3 hours weren’t ponderous as the Eagan and Braude show has become. Also good, the Andlemen Brothers were ragging on McPhee’s “all outrage all the time” mode. It is clear that McPhee is not ready for prime time and probably never will be. I think a lot of people gave her the benefit of the doubt but now it is time to say that she should be put to pasture. She has no ability to do radio. Yesterday she was mumbling and stumbling over words. She has nothing in her playbook apart from “outrage mode”. It’s a pathetic show. I don’t even think WRKO could have something this bad…well maybe they could but wow, McPhee is off the charts bad.
FYI
WRKO Staffer is actually another fake handle used by Celtic Fraud. The last thread just proved it. Just So You Know.
JSYK = angry and obsessive. I hope he doesn’t have a stockpile of weapons.
With every post you prove it.
WRKO Staffer-=Celtic Fraud
JSYK – I am trying to stick to the topic at hand but clearly you are obsessed and unhinged. You are disturbed and probably someone who needs help before you hurt someone. I am going to try ignore you but you’ll come back at me (just watch folks). The thing is, you can’t stop yourself because you feel getting the last word in provides you a sense of balance (because you are so unbalanced within). Go see a therapist and get help before you commit violent acts. I can tell you are a time bomb waiting to go off. Don’t repond…it only serves to make you angrier than you already are. Walk away from this back and forth. You’ll find peace of mind.
Here, here! Well done, Staffer!
I expect JSYK to go after me again, since I lack your debating skills and flourish! Ah, well, at least someone else here sees him for the troglodyte that he is.
I used to like Todd Feinburg as an occasional fill-in host, but a little Todd goes a looonnnggg way.
Celtic…it’s funny that JSTK thinks I am you and BJD is convinced that I am Julie. Which one is it? Yes, JSYK will be back responding because he can’t stop himself. Getting the last word in on these types of threads makes him feel like a “contendah”. Oh, when he chimes in again, do you think he’ll use “D-Bag” (I have lost count on how many times he wrote “D-Bag”). That abbreviated swear word makes him feel like a real internet tough guy. I rate him as one of the worst of the worst on this blog. There was one guy on this thread who once challenged me to a fight. That was pretty pathetic but JSKY is actually proving to be even worse. Anyway, hopefully he’ll just ignore this and try to stay on topic. BTW, Margery is back on the air today and she is already backtracking on her love for Caroline Kennedy. Margery off WTKK in 2009. You heard it here first.
I think I speak for many when I write that we really don’t need any more threads hijacked by the JSYK/CF/RKO Staffer/Lawrence Glavin/Hugh Jass feud.
Unless JSYK actually turns out to be CF/RKO/LG/HJ as well, we’re just not interested. (If you are all one person, bravo, but stop now.) JSYK, if you are a separate person, ignore the posts if you don’t like them, and CF, pick a handle and stick to it.
I like reading this blog, but once the comments get hijacked by you guys hurling playground insults it gets old fast and you do a disservice to the community.
Happy New Year.
MP
MP – I enjoy a good radio discussion but I got to call it as I see it and JSKY is an angry guy who needs to be put in his place.
I have always implored Brian to goto a full registration-only site. That prevents tools like JSYK from ruining a site. It’s the only way. C’mon, Bri-guy, just do it. Save us all from this nutjob.
Celtic – JSYK is just a run of the mill internet tough guy with obvious anger issues. Hopefully he won’t respond (even though it probably kills him not to) and will just move on. Regardless, all he’s got is his “D-Bag insult (wooo..I’m scared….he called me a “D-Bag”). What a wuss.
If any PD’s (or higher radio execs) from Entercom or WTKK read this blog, and I’m sure you do, why not open the airways up to bloggers as a fill in hosts?
There are at least a dozen people here that can run circles around felon’s failure and vay cay jay, and who knows, you MIGHT just stumble across the next talk radio giant. When your shows are at the bottom and still digging, you really can’t do any worse.
Bill it as where the airways collide with the itnernet, blog inspired radio.
Turned RKO on last nite about 10 of 10 and what did I hear,,,,,,,,,,,,dead air,,,,,,,,,,,,a regular occurence on RKO lately……….
Mr. Pragmatic, I assure you I am not the Celtic Fraud/Hugh Jass/ WRKO Staffer handle hi-jacker. I am the ONLY one who has properly exposed the SINGLE HANDED hi-jacking of this blog by Celtic Fraud.
If you have been here long enough to remember the Hugh Jass/Celtic Frost posts (where “Frosty” was a whole different persona) then you should be able to see the glaring similarities from all the posts of the Celtic Fraud hi-jacker. I’m just pointing them out because he has single-handedly ruined this blog. I’m sure you remember how he pretended he was “joy” (who was long gone by then, BTW) with Barbara. I helped expose that too.
His posts as “WRKO Staffer” (the real one also happens to be long gone BTW) in the last thread is PROOF he is Celtic Fraud. All those Jay Severin statements he has already said (it’s in the archives) as Celtic Frost. Those who doubt just need to look. All that I have said can be proven in the archives.
All I’m doing is telling people the truth. Look how shook up I got him, he’s feverishly typing as both WRKO Staffer AND Celtic Fraud for the last two threads.
Take all the hi-jacked posts by Celtic Fraud and this blog doesn’t really have many bloggers. He’s never going to leave.
All I can do is say I am NOT CF. I’ve been the only one to expose him. I can’t be the only one who sees it.
Would you be so kind as to leave ME out of these screeds…I use my real name (spelled with a ‘U’, not a ‘W’) and comment on the subject at hand…speaking of which: you ought to hear the Diane Rehm show on NH Public Radio some time. She vies with George W. Bush as a vacation-taker (to be fair, I understand she has health issues). But compared to her, Vacay Jay is like that baseball player who showed up for every game for two decades!
This whole thread proves that Celtic Fraud is taking over.
WRKO STAFFER=Celtic Fraud
joy=Celtic Fraud
Free The McPhees=Celtic Fraud
Hugh Jass+Celtic Fraud
Laurence Glavin=Celtic Fraud
(He’s shown up to defend himself for the first time since the passing of Tony Snow, all the while Celtic Fraud is posting as multiple bloggers in a melt down frenzy. Niceeeeeeee)
Take all these bloggers away and how many TRUE bloggers are here?
Thanks, Laurence, I knew you’d (once again) prove that JSYK is all wet by telling people that you are you and I am not “posing” you.
I just pray that he owns no weapons of any kind.
Peace.
-CF
JSYK – I am not Celtic or Julie for that matter. If you want feel free to look into my IP info. (as you apparently do….talk about no life). I tried to keep stuff on the topic in this thread but you came at me so I’ll dish it back to you. I suppose you’re a big wussy though because now you’re going into full on crybaby mode by making huge/boring reponses which say I’m Celtic. Why are you now whining to Mr. Pragmatic about topics being hijacked when in fact you’re the one who initially came out swinging in this thread (read the history of this thread folks for your proof)? You’re a big internet tough guy (read loser) who can’t take the heat. You can call me Celtic or Julie all you want but it doesn’t make it true. Still, if you want to believe it fine by me (you can put this into your fantasy world that included Jay Severin in chaps). Now, go ahead and look up my IP address loser.
WRKO Staffer=Celtic Fraud
Laurence Glavin=Celtic Fraud
Look at what JSYK just typed “I am the ONLY one who has properly exposed the SINGLE HANDED hi-jacking of this blog by Celtic Fraud”.
Are you kidding me?? You can just tell that this guy is actually proud of this “acomplishment”. This is an example of an internet loser of the highest order. When one goes online and brags because they think they’ve somehow exposed internet personas (which he hasn’t…again feel free to look into my IP), then it is truly time to look into getting life. The best part is his use of all caps mode to emphasize how he was the “ONLY” one to expose Celtic. This is high priced “get a life” comedy gold. I think JSTK sees himself as a the Sherlock Holmes of Save WRKO. We should give him a little star so he can put it on his forhead.
WRKO Staffer=Celtic Fraud
(And the sad sack is actually so rabid he’s now conflating the “look up my IP”, the old plea of Celtic Fraud.)
That was so funny, Staffer. I just erupted in laughter here at the Starbucks on Tremont. The folks looked at me like I was a zany!
Gold star for his forehead — love it.
In reality, JSYK is more Clouseau than Holmes. Could not even ferret out my ip addy, in spite of his many frothy threats. Paper tiger, indeed.
And, for the thread, I just tried to listen to Hunt again; it’s clear he is the worst fill-in host ever.
McPhee wasn’t on yesterday, it was a fill in named Judy (forget the last name). Agreed on how
she can be knowledgeable, etc., but I don’t
like her voice!
Dan Flynn did some fill ins. Also not the most radio ready voice (a bit “edgy”) but he’s def. from our area and has written books like ‘Why the Left
Hates America’
“WRKO Staffer=Celtic Fraud”
Is that all you got? Oh yeah, I forgot, you have the oh so mean and scary “D-Bag” thing too. Speaking of IP addresses, I thought you were all about researching such stuff? Aren’t you on the case? The funny thing is, this stuff is really getting to you. You are feverishly working to expose personas (you are off the trail btw), looking into IP addresses, responding to post after post, etc. How do you do it all? Maybe your man will give you a back rub when you get home.
WRKO Staffer=Celtic Fraud
Lol. You’re so sad. LOL
raccoonradio – McPhee was on yesterday. She was in the 10-12 slot. She is the economy class radio host on WTKK. BTW, she was friggin’ horrible yesterday. She was in her typical outrage mode (but of course), and she was fumbling and mumbling over words. Even the Andleman Brothers were making fun of her. It’s funny that McPhee is pals with Fred Flintstone (i.e. Joe of Joe and Huggy). They both can comiserate together on how crap their shows are.
Ah, JSKY got nothin’. He’s a one trick pony. Where did Mr. Internet Tough guy go? Is all your feverish inspector work making you into a nerd now? I want to the tough guy back. He was so scary. Wuss.
raccoonradio:
“… but I don’t like her voice!”
I thought a bad voice was a requirement for talk radio here. Consider: felon, wendy, phyllis, michelle, jay (even with his erfect dictation), et al.
Would be easier to list those hosts with a listenable voice.
WRKO Staffer=Celtic Fraud
oh OK, thought you were referring to the night show. Now I remember, “Judy” had said at 7 pm
that Michelle had covered an earlier show. I did hear a bit of her show during the “let’s block
the tolls” phase and also the breaking stuff about Chuck Turner, Diane Wilkerson, etc.
Aww…his little interet tough guy persona has been packed away. JSKY is now just copying and pasting the same thing over and over again. A sure sign that all his hard investigative work on this blog is tuckering the big guy out. Well, you get your binky and blanket and take a nap. Hopefully you’ll wake up nice and rested so you can come back into angry mode. Still, if you need to continually copy and paste I understand. You have a lot of investigative work to do in your basement.
Oh..by the way…JSTK = wussy.
WRKO Staffer IS Celtic fraud!
JSKY is the master investigator. Remember, he is the ONLY one working this. Did you hear that? The ONLY one!!!! Still, I can tell the big baby is tired because he is copying and pasting now. Gone is the anger, the rage, the detective work. Now, all he can do is copy and paste the same response over and over again. A once lousy blogger just got even worse.
You should have heard Col. Hunt during the 3:00 opening stumbling over how Gov. Blogo is making a Senate appointment despite his impending impeachment by the “US Illinois House” and other verbal gaffes – he just kept stuttering and stamering. Vay Cay Jay is just running “best ofs.”
Thank God for Sirius.
Brian Flaherty
I agree with you. The Colonel sounded as if he was notified that he would be hosting the show about 2 minutes before it went on the air – he sounded totaly unprepared. I like him as a person (although I don’t know him) and I appreciate his tremendous military service but sometimes he makes you wonder why he is allowed to fill in for Howie.
As for you guys who have hijacked this site for your own little bitch-slap fest, could you please give the rest of us a big break and knock it off?
Celtic Frost – you are the biggest offender on this site. I don’t know if you are just “Celtic Frost” or if you are operating with several aliases (as it appears you are) but please just stay on topic. We don’t need to hear about your alternative lifestyle in every other sentence. When I post, I don’t feel the need to mention how many years I have been married or how many kids I have because I assume you guys don’t give a shit .
There are plenty of people who are busy ruining talk radio in Boston so, if you are looking for a fight, try focusing on them instead of one another on this site. You guys all have good takes on the subject matter and you all seem to be intelligent people. Please just end all the extraneous B.S.
WEEI has been unlistenable with Felger on there, the guy never shuts up. And anything that lets Meterparel speak more, I’m against.
Christmas Eve they replayed last years Celtic playoff games.
I salute Col. Hunt’s service, but he’s horrible. I can take Avi Nelson in small doses.
the andleman brothers are so creepy.
as a woman, in her 20′s, they make me want to take a shower.
i bet they dont have a sister.
why are they on the radio?
i kind of like michele mcfee…….i know she has a terrible voice…….it is really grating.
i dont agree with her on many issues.
but, come on, she has published two books, she was a reporter. she has a lot more qualifications than a lot of these flounders….lol
hey, more than vay cay j ay….LOL
It’s probably safe to say that Howie Carr gives two you-know-whats about WRKO. The court ruled RKO could match TTK’s offer to Howie and now they are stuck with a big contract and Howie’s vaca time. I guess if I saw what the bosses had done to RKO the past two to three years and then fought like hell to keep me employed there to save the little ratings they had and wouldn’t even consider putting me in the morning slot because the felon was promised the same slot, I’d be pissed off too.
NH, thanks for your sage advice. Believe it or not, I do try to stick to the thread. I apologize for any times that I have not. Believe me, though, that I pose no one / have no aliases here. I am just me, warts and all.
The Andelmans are on the radio because their Daddy bought them a company (Phantom Gourmet) and they get to pretend they are businessmen. So sad.
susan mcbride – Anyone can publish a book these days. McPhee’s books are not exactly brilliant. Regarding her being a reporter, just remember, Margery was once a reporter too.
Herald says Finneran is moving to 5:30 to 9 am
and thus losing half an hour (so, more Ingraham?) They also mention his lackluster 25-54 ratings.