Jon Elliott replacing Mike Malloy

[Scribbler]

Here's an e-mail exchange I had today with Jon Elliott:

Hi Jon,

I enjoy your weekend shows and see that both KLSD and Air America now list you in the old Mike Malloy spot.  There are rumors that this is only for two weeks and that Laura Flanders will take over the spot on September 18th.  Can you enlighten us?

(Jon's answer)
Thanks for your email and your kind words...had no idea that KLSD nor Air America had me listed at all in Mike's spot.
 
Your understanding is my understanding.
 
Best,
 
Jon

[Scribbler]

If Laura Flanders is going to replace Mike Malloy, the Flanders people haven't been told about it. Here's what Flanders' producer posted on her blog:

Dear bloggers. While the rumor mill is spinning. We have been told absolutely nothing about moving to the week, let alone to replace Mike Malloy in his late night slot. We were as shocked as everyone about Malloy, who is a kindred spirit. Everything else really is speculation. AAR management is making changes, but the last we've been told we're staying in our weekend perch.
by Steve Rosenfeld at September 2, 2006 - 7:25pm |

[RBA]

Who knows, maybe this is a publicity stunt by Mike Malloy and Air America?   Like when the shock jock get suspended and winds up on vacation.  It maybe, but I don't think Air America has the gonads to pull it off.

[tombetz]

If Laura Flanders is going to replace Mike Malloy, the Flanders people haven't been told about it. Here's what Flanders' producer posted on her blog:

Dear bloggers. While the rumor mill is spinning. We have been told absolutely nothing about moving to the week, let alone to replace Mike Malloy in his late night slot. We were as shocked as everyone about Malloy, who is a kindred spirit. Everything else really is speculation. AAR management is making changes, but the last we've been told we're staying in our weekend perch.
by Steve Rosenfeld at September 2, 2006 - 7:25pm |

Here's an e-mail exchange I had today with Jon Elliott:

Hi Jon,

I enjoy your weekend shows and see that both KLSD and Air America now list you in the old Mike Malloy spot.  There are rumors that this is only for two weeks and that Laura Flanders will take over the spot on September 18th.  Can you enlighten us?

(Jon's answer)
Thanks for your email and your kind words...had no idea that KLSD nor Air America had me listed at all in Mike's spot.
 
Your understanding is my understanding.
 
Best,
 
Jon

It looks to me like AAR management is finally getting the hang of what it takes to run a radio operation!

 

[fred flintstone]

I know you're a fan of AAR, so I hope the wink means you are joking.


Big changes to the line-up on September 18th - two and a half weeks after changing stations in the number one market.
No clear statement about the line-up changes or station change.
Late night host taken off the air more than two weeks in advance of the changes.
One fill in host.
Then another host who may or may not be filling in.
He doesn't know for sure.
Another weekend host may or may not be the permanent new host come September 18th.
She doesn't know either.
God forbid these stumble-bums should tell people what's going on - let alone promote something!
Apparently the only form of promotion AAR does being stupid so people talk about them.

Meanwhile, AAR's PR person leaves for a job in Iraq.  Let's hope she does as well with war as she did with AAR.

No wonder Drobny is washing his hands of them.

[Scribbler]

I know you're a fan of AAR, so I hope the wink means you are joking.


Big changes to the line-up on September 18th - two and a half weeks after changing stations in the number one market.
No clear statement about the line-up changes or station change.
Late night host taken off the air more than two weeks in advance of the changes.
One fill in host.
Then another host who may or may not be filling in.
He doesn't know for sure.
Another weekend host may or may not be the permanent new host come September 18th.
She doesn't know either.
God forbid these stumble-bums should tell people what's going on - let alone promote something!
Apparently the only form of promotion AAR does being stupid so people talk about them.

Meanwhile, AAR's PR person leaves for a job in Iraq.  Let's hope she does as well with war as she did with AAR.

No wonder Drobny is washing his hands of them.

Jon Elliott knows that he's filling in for the next two weeks....he was only saying that he didn't know that AAR and KLSD had listed him on their web sites in that slot.

He said on the air (on his KLSD weekend show) shortly after our e-mail exchange that he would be filling the old Malloy slot for two weeks and that he thought Flanders would be the permanent replacement.  But he was just passing along what seems to have been speculation by Mike Malloy. 

And the comment by Flanders' producer could just mean that the rumors about her moving to weekdays are untrue.  Sounds to me like the AAR suits decided to fire Malloy and haven't firmed up an agreement on or with his replacement.

And Drobny has "washed his hands of them?"  He's actively setting up affiliates to carry their programming, which is hardly washing his hands of them.

[fred flintstone]

And Drobny has "washed his hands of them?"  He's actively setting up affiliates to carry their programming, which is hardly washing his hands of them.

You read what he wrote on the Huffington site.  What phrase would you use?  He clearly is not happy.

You raise an interesting point, however: Drobny has backed stations in Phoenix and in Little Rock.  Both use the AAR "brand" ("Air America Phoenix" and "Air America Little Rock").  Both (from their websites) are local in morning drive.  Neither carries Jerry (Little Rock has a 2nd local show in that slot).  Interestingly enough, neither carries Stephanie Miller or Ed Schultz (although Phoenix does carry Peter B. Collins delayed).  It is a bit curious that this Drobny's stations use neither of the Jones Radio programs.  Wonder what that's about?  (Big Ed and Steph were started by Democracy Radio, which had split from AAR very early on.)  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.

[tombetz]

(Big Ed and Steph were started by Democracy Radio, which had split from AAR very early on.)

VERY early, as in "never had anything to do with AAR."

[tombetz]

I know you're a fan of AAR,

I'm a fan of old-fashioned full-service radio (for example, what WJR used to be before the Reagan administration came along) and of the Fairness Doctrine.

Until those two things make a comeback, I'll take Progressive Talk as a palliative.

so I hope the wink means you are joking.

So I guess you've never dealt with anyone running a radio operation in a capricious manner before?

[fred flintstone]

So I guess you've never dealt with anyone running a radio operation in a capricious manner before?

I've dealt with them.  I don't admire them.
Either caprice is something you find outside radio (and Chevrolet dealers) or the radio newbies at AAR have managed to absorb the worst traits of radio managers.

What worked about the McCarthy/Cap Cities era at 'JR was it was:
Classy, very classy;
Very local, sometimes to the point of boosterism; supporting local service organizations, business, the auto industry, professional sports teams and the g.d. U of M.  But Detroit is in many ways an over-grown, very parochial, small town (Lake Woebegone writ large), so local works;
And non-political. 

They moved from the top of "the Golden Tower of the Fisher Building" to the ninth floor in more ways than one.

And the current state of AAR is a huge step down for the legendary Keener13, too.