Gays Thrilled Severin Has Joined Them

I’ll let this speak for itself as we await your (sure to be inspired) reaction below:

(Bay Windows)

We lost California but gained Jay Severin

Boston’s bad boy of talk radio, Jay Severin (96.9 FM WTKK) has had a change of heart about what he used to call “homosexual marriage”. It seems the national protests for same sex marriage rights caught his attention. On his November 17th broadcast ( listen to the podcast here ) Jay says that the “Jeffersonian standard” that “rules” his political life indicates to him that if it doesn’t break his leg or pick his pocket, then it’s of no harm to him. He indicates that “we can all be proud of ability to evolve” without “caving in”. Jay further state that he’s” always been for human rights. And that means no discrimination against people for whom they love, with whom they sleep.”

As a long-time listener to Jay I’ve always been confounded by how a practical, Libertarian leaning, fiscal conservative could be against gay marriage. I lean Libertarian and I think the government has no business in the marriage business, for gays or straights. Jay is also a self-described libertine (which would make him a Libertarian libertine).

It’s been a long time coming but I’m glad he’s finally arrived at our party.

Severino bug eyes image: Boston Herald

Were We Used By Curtis Sliwa?

Just a short time after kicking off an evening Boston program that has perplexed many in New England, baggage-burdened New York City radio host / Guardian Angel Curtis Sliwa is apparently switching the show to national syndication.

That’s after convincing locals that he was interested in Boston-area issues, despite his Big Apple / pinstripe background.

Now, we’re learning that WTKK may have simply been a short-term testing ground for a national show to be heard during that very timeslot, primarily on Citadel – ABC Radio stations.

In other words, we’ve been had.

With Citadel so close to a complete corporate financial collapse, it needs cheap programming that can be fed to its stations nationwide. Never mind the fact that Sliwa’s only success in talk radio was as part of a left-right morning show team.

Now, he’ll do four hours alone, in markets where most people have never heard of him. Citadel’s dire situation makes all of this largely irrelevant.

But what’s in it for WTKK and Boston? Not a damn thing.

This is like having one of the Yankees warm up for a few weeks in a Sox uniform for the benefit of his teammates in New York.

Stations Plan Coverage, Sort Of

Both WTKK and WRKO are trumpeting their election night coverage, but neither has assembled what could be considered a dream team.

WTKK’s might be okay, but what’s with the pinstripe-loving New Yorker in the lineup? Let me guess: he’ll be “here” via his phone line. Will he be discussing our local issues from there?

Boston, MA (November 3, 2008): Boston’s Talk Evolution, 96.9 FM-WTKK will host a special live Election Night broadcast on Tuesday, November 4, 2008 beginning at 7pm and continuing until the results are in.

96.9 FM WTKK’s Margery Eagan (Monday-Friday, 12noon – 3pm) Michael Graham (Monday-Friday, 9am – 12noon), Michele McPhee (Monday-Friday, 7pm – 10pm), and Curtis Sliwa (Monday-Friday, 10pm – 1am) will team up to bring listeners and a special studio audience up to the minute results from across the country. In addition to the latest results, they will get live reaction and reports from around the country and host special guests including Jay Severin, Jim Braude and local political go-to people. WTKK’s Ed Cherubino will be live in the newsroom

Meanwhile, over at WRKO, there’s not much of a staff left that can handle election coverage, so they’ve given up on it:

Beginning at 7p, we’ll provide the expansive resources of Fox News for up to the minute race results, national reaction, and every major speech from both candidates camp. We’ll also include local reports from our area’s elections and ballot questions.

Let’s hope WRKO is transferred into more capable hands soon. This is pathetic.

Let’s Hope Joe’s A No Go

Based on the Boston-area media buzz, including from our own readers, it appears most believe Joe Scarborough will fill WTKK-FM’s post-Imus morning void.

The speculation is largely fueled by newspaper reports indicating Scarborough’s deal to take over MSNBC’s morning show is just about complete. In addition, a radio simulcast syndicated by CBS also seems likely.

But other reports also have Imus resurfacing at WFAN, which would make him once again available for WTKK and other stations to grab.

While my contention has been that WTKK still has a great love for Imus, others believe the station will start fresh and go with “Morning Joe”.

Though neither host would be a smart choice for WTKK, the case against Scarborough is actually quite a bit stronger. Consider these points:

– Though most have forgotten this, Joe has already failed miserably in radio syndication, just two short years ago.

– Scarborough is not a seasoned radio broadcaster ready for morning drive. For all of his huge flaws, Imus at least has a feel for the medium.

– Joe’s MSNBC ratings have been particularly lackluster, with no real constituency feeling loyal to his program. Conservatives dislike him, while liberals pretty much ignore him. Neither camp spends much time listening.

– Scarborough has a creepy side, one which has become increasingly apparent in recent times. His degrading comments about Jeri Thompson were only the tip of the iceberg and his outbursts (particularly against women) have provided a lot of fodder for the Radio Equalizer.

– In addition, Joe has in the past stepped way over the ethical line on his show, with past ties to fishy Air America Radio backer / infamous Florida trial lawyer Mike Papantonio causing problems.

– He also has a history of shoddy prep work causing on-air embarrassment, including the now-infamous Arnold Schwarzenegger/”blow up the moon” flap, for which he resisted issuing an apology. My Radio Equalizer post on the subject remains one of the site’s most popular since its inception.

– Because he really isn’t terribly bright, Scarborough has often relied on overly simplistic topics and positions. His widely-criticized “Is Bush Stupid?” episode comes to mind.

– Scarborough has a dreadful, Larry King-approach to dealing with many of his guests, especially political and entertainment industry figures who could use a tough question or two. Even worse, he has allowed Al Franken and others to push crazy conspiracy theories without much of a challenge.

Scarborough has so much baggage that I’m probably forgetting a number of his past flaps. To sum it up, Joe brings creepiness, unethical behavior, mean-spirited comments against people who don’t deserve them, shoddy prep work and a poor ratings track record to talk radio.

Sound good to you?

Though I’ve said WTKK would be far better off developing a hit local morning show, if forced to choose, I’d select Imus in a heartbeat over “Morning Joe”. Despite the mumbling, advancing age and general weirdness, he at least has some sense of how to host a program, unlike Scarborough.

But that sure isn’t much of a choice, is it?