Jon Elliott replacing Mike Malloy

[Scribbler]

It's also curious that Drobny thwarted the effort by former KXXT GM Robert Christy to re-launch progressive talk in Phoenix by getting in bed with "Dr" Newcomb (Medicare Mike) and his "pledge drive;"  a move which effectively silenced former KXXT morning drive host Charles Goyette whom "Dr" Newcomb froze out of the new station and then moved himself from evenings to morning drive.  (As Archie Bunker used to say, "Let's hear it for the medical profession." Sound of Bronx cheer or "raspberry.")

In any case, AAR could have had an opportunity to promote a new station in New York, a new line-up and new shows.  Instead they've got a discussion of what-are-these-idiots-doing-now.

So would you say that your hatred of the medical profession is greater than your hatred of Air America, or the other way around?  Newcomb doesn't call himself "Dr" on the radio, but he is a physician who graduated from a prestigious medical school -- so why the quotation marks?  And Charles Goyette is a libertarian, not a liberal, so why should he be on a progressive talk station?

Finally, it's standard operating procedure in the talk radio business not to give two weeks notice to talent for fear that they'll go on the air and trash management.  Do you really expect Air America to start announcing two weeks in advance who they're firing and what shows will replace those who have been let go?  The only "discussion of what-are-these-idiots-doing-now" is among the few radio junkies who read boards like this and the few AAR fans who take part in fan boards.

Ninety-nine percent of the public is blissfully unaware of all this stuff and I've got to wonder why I've been caught up in it myself.  I think I'll go out and enjoy the rest of the Labor Day weekend.

[fred flintstone]

Charles Goyette is a libertarian, not a liberal...

Apparently not everyone labels him that way.  But, even if, I'd take somebody anti-war with free-market views over the pro-union, welfare, affirmative action and support the troops types at AAR. 

Ninety-nine percent of the public is blissfully unaware of all this stuff

Good point.   
Probably even 99% of progressive talk's cume.

it's standard operating procedure in the talk radio business not to give two weeks notice to talent for fear that they'll go on the air and trash management. 

We are talking about a nationally syndicated program host, not some local DJ.  Trashing management builds an audience (see Howard Stern and CBS).  AAR management has shown some tolerance for being trashed in the past (see Randi).  And if they are really worried, that's what a delay switch is for.  Letting him stay would have shown some class.  Meanwhile, Jerry Springer apparently is being allowed to finish his last two weeks.

[barooosk]

Since I started this thread, let me be the first to confirm that the permanent replacement for Mike Malloy will not be Jon Elliott, but Laura Flanders.  I have no idea why AAR management is not getting behind this decision at this time, but my sources at AAR confirm to me that this is a done deal. 

My recommendation is that if you would like to see a different host in this important spot -- now would be the time for you to make your opinion known to AAR management. 

I don't particularly like Laura Flanders.  She got her talk radio experience working for a weak NPR station in the San Francisco Bay and reminds me of one of a typical Bay Area liberal.  (I don't have the time or interest to get into this topic.)

I would rather see someone like Jon Elliott of even better yet Johnny Wendell or Bernie Ward in this spot.  Remember the 10 pm to 1 am slot is 7 pm to 10 pm here on the left coast.  Not quite prime time, but a much larger TSL than the 10 pm to 1 am slot. 

In addition, the "late night" slot is more wide open than the daytime time periods.  The FCC looks the other way on late night talk shows on such subjects as language and indecency.  This opens up the content possibilities for the show.

If you are happy with seeing Laura Flanders in this spot just sit back and wait.  If you are now happy with Laura, now is the time to let AAR management know.  I'd go right to the top and let Jon Sinton know your feelings.  You can reach Jon at jsinton@airamerica.com

[evnlee]

[We are talking about a nationally syndicated program host, not some local DJ.  Trashing management builds an audience (see Howard Stern and CBS).  AAR management has shown some tolerance for being trashed in the past (see Randi).  And if they are really worried, that's what a delay switch is for.  Letting him stay would have shown some class.  Meanwhile, Jerry Springer apparently is being allowed to finish his last two weeks.

You are clueless.

Do you think for a minute Stern could have 'bashed' his employers early in his career tenure?

Of course not.

Neither could Letterman bash GE, it was only until he was a household name (like Stern )that he could get away with that, and only becuase he was getting ratings.

When any AAR host can pull in the ratings that Stern, or Letterman did, then you have a point.

And thinking Jon Sinton can make a difference, he lives in Atlanta, and could not enginner an AAR affiliate in his own hometown!

2 weeks notice? puh-leeze.

[Ultimajock]

Do you think for a minute Stern could have 'bashed' his employers early in his career tenure?

Of course not.

...you obviously never heard any of his WNBC shows. Stern was doing it from day one. It only took the dense NBC brass a while to figure out how serious he was...

[fred flintstone]

Do you think for a minute Stern could have 'bashed' his employers early in his career tenure?

Of course not.

...you obviously never heard any of his WNBC shows. Stern was doing it from day one. It only took the dense NBC brass a while to figure out how serious he was...

And they never did figure out they were sitting on a gold mine.  Remember they had Stern in PM drive and Imus in AM drive.  And NBC couldn't make money in radio.  On the radio Darwin scale, the management of NBC's radio division back then ranks way below AAR.

I would rather see someone like Jon Elliott of even better yet Johnny Wendell or Bernie Ward in this spot. 

It really doesn't matter much.  In most markets you're going to see Lionel in that spot.  He may even pick up some markets post Malloy (given AAR's dithering and the fact that Lionel has a track record).   I suppose AAR feels they have to keep the slot filled for XM and Internet listeners - and for those latch-key stations with cheap automation systems that won't let them switch satellite feeds.

[evnlee]

Do you think for a minute Stern could have 'bashed' his employers early in his career tenure?

Of course not.

...you obviously never heard any of his WNBC shows. Stern was doing it from day one. It only took the dense NBC brass a while to figure out how serious he was...

You obviously did not read the book or see the movie 'private parts'...by the time he got to WNBC, he was already pretty well known. He wasn't bashing his employers in Hartford or Detroit all the time like he was in NYC. By then, he was pulling in decent ratings, too.

[fred flintstone]

You obviously did not read the book or see the movie 'private parts'...by the time he got to WNBC, he was already pretty well known. He wasn't bashing his employers in Hartford or Detroit all the time like he was in NYC. By then, he was pulling in decent ratings, too.

Yes, I did.  Both of them.  I listened to his show from shortly after he joined W-NNNNNN-BC.  Stern realized in Detroit that he should be himself.  He started doing the act for which he became famous in Washington and - after repeated attempts to rein him in - got fired there.  NBC hired him in New York, without realizing exactly what they had gotten (as the book and movie make clear).  When an NBC TV did a news feature on Howard and his Washington show, NBC freaked but had already signed and begun to promote him in New York.  The more they tried to control Howard, the more he trashed management on the air (including his PD, "Pig Virus").  Go back and re-read the book and pay attention this time.

[evnlee]

You obviously did not read the book or see the movie 'private parts'...by the time he got to WNBC, he was already pretty well known. He wasn't bashing his employers in Hartford or Detroit all the time like he was in NYC. By then, he was pulling in decent ratings, too.

Yes, I did.  Both of them.  I listened to his show from shortly after he joined W-NNNNNN-BC.  Stern realized in Detroit that he should be himself.  He started doing the act for which he became famous in Washington and - after repeated attempts to rein him in - got fired there.  NBC hired him in New York, without realizing exactly what they had gotten (as the book and movie make clear).  When an NBC TV did a news feature on Howard and his Washington show, NBC freaked but had already signed and begun to promote him in New York.  The more they tried to control Howard, the more he trashed management on the air (including his PD, "Pig Virus").  Go back and re-read the book and pay attention this time.

again~ Stern did not start bashing his employers as a regular part of his 'schtick' until he was signed in the #1 market. He did not do it in Hartford ( at WCCC ) He also did not bash his Detroit employers at ( W4 ), either, even when they went 'country'. He only started that stuff as a regular part of his show from 1982-1985 when he worked in NYC at WNBC.

In the movie 'Private Parts' he starts his battle with his employer ( Paul Giamatti/Pig Vomit ) AFTER he signs with them. In the paperback version, he does not mention insulting his employers until pg 459 ( of 688 ), and again, it's him making fun of Pig Vomit at WNBC.

By this time, he already had great ratings and loads of pub. He really started taking his employers to task after he switched to WXRK after being fired for doing 'bestiality dial a date' on the before mentioned WNBC. Perhaprs you should exercise those reading skills,buddy

The point is, unless you are Stern, or a handful of other hosts, you cant get away with sticking it in the eye of your boss, and certainly no AAR host, not even Franken or Rhodes has enough clout to do that yet.

[fred flintstone]

The program director's name was Kevin Metheney (whom he called "Pig Virus"), currently with Clear Channel's Cleveland cluster.  He was not PD at WNBC when Stern first arrived.

And, yes, he did not attack NBC management until after he signed.  Duh!  He was not on the air at WNBC until after he signed.  First he signed.  Then Douglas Keiker did the story on a weekend NBC Nightly News.  Then management put him on the air and tried to keep him in check.  Then he started bashing managment at WNBC.  I listened to Stern's WNBC show.  He was going after management from the beginning.   Early on in New York, station management encouraged Stern's comments about management (and even ran spots on TV promoting the show with the station manager begging them to stop).  A new station manager took over and was less enlightened.

I did not hear Stern before that on WASH but both the movie and the book make it clear he had bashed management there after they tried to sit on him, as well. 

Let's recap:  You say no station will let a personality take shots at management. 
I say some do.  It can be good radio and good business.  This has been demonstrated repeatedly all the way back to Godfrey in Washington.  Maybe bashing management is part of what makes some personalities successful.
I say AAR should have let Malloy stay on, even if he takes shots at management - maybe especially if he'd take shots at management.  You say - again - no station will let a personality take shots at management.  Sorry, Rhett.  You don't know what you're talking about here.