Fake Radio Bits

[kp2780]

A quick stroll around the Boston radio dial reveals lots of "fakeness" on radio. Lots of fake bits, made- up stories etc. For example:

-War of the Roses on Mix
-Jam scam on 94.5
-Balt-Buster on Hot 96.9
-Just about every break on the T.J show on AMP (today was his 7 year old "nephew" who he video chats with for life advice, likely an actor, not really a relative.)
-Romeo "Needs to Know" (often times things that supposedly happen to Romeo that he needs advice on, likely made up or embellished.)
-Kiss 108 pretending Miley Cyrus was "backstage" at their concert when she wasn't even there.

If we go to NYC, I know Scott and Todd (and now Todd only) do fake prank calls, and the "Kane show" syndicated on Clear Channel hires actors for "phone scams".

So my question is this: Should radio be held to a standard where it should always be "real" or is it okay to simply make up stories for the air? This is a serious question, it is not meant to "bash" radio. TV and Movies are often fiction, and people have no problem with that. Is it okay for Radio to create fictional characters and fictional stories as well, or is that "lazy radio?" A key difference between movies and TV is that I bet most listeners assume that what they are hearing is legit on the radio, but when you go to a movie they know it is fiction.

 

[raccoonradio]

--Steve Deace, Christian conserv talk host, filled in for Howie a wk ago and talked w a woman pretending to be the late Margaret Sanger, who believed in eugenics. It was not disclosed to listeners. Sandy Shack later said Deace won't be back. In past yrs Jerry Williams talked to 'the governor' (Jay Charboneau as Dukakis) and ' the mayor' (Steve Sweeney as Kev White) and there was some controversy over non-disclosure. Howie did talk to the real Gov Patrick tho, oddly enough on Apr 1.

 

[Omnibus]

CORRECTION: Jerry Williams in 1982 had not Steve Sweeney but Jim Morris on who came on his show as "Hizzoner" not as Kevin Hagen White - the corrupt now dead mayhah of Boston. Jim Morris did Kevin White long before Steve Sweeney took over his act. Morris is probably best remembered for his dead on look and impersonation of Ronald Reagan.
The proverbial " &*&^ hit the fan" when "Hizzoner" appeared on Jerry Williams Show. Kevin White had his mincing pr flack call RKO General corporate in NYC to complain. Although it was a skit put on at the direction of the then general manager, Bob Fish, also now dead, during an initial ratings period Fish claimed that he knew nothing about it and the PD, Mel Miller, also now dead, was probably not fully recovered from his afternoon libation to remember. So, Fish went to the Boston Globe and blamed the executive producer of the show for it and fired him on the pages of the Globe even though Jerry Williams told the press that it was not his executive producer's idea but a joint effort of Bob Fish and Jerry Williams since they could not get Kevin White to appear on the show. In fact, Jerry Williams told the press that his producer tried to stop the broadcast because at that very same time the FCC was taking away the broadcast licensed of RKO General because its parent company General Tire had given bribes to foreign governments to sell their tires in those countries. As a result, the FCC found them unfit to hold a broadcast license. Week's before the "Hizzoner" broadcast the FCC had taken away the license of WNAC - Channel 7 - which was then owned by RKO General and in the same building as the radio station on Bulfinch Place in Boston. Understand, the producer got blacklisted because Bob Fish kept bad mouthing him in the industry. However, later WRKO fired Fish for some personal misdeeds on the job...probably trying to screw another intern...sex of your choice. The Virus and treatment thereof allowed a fatal pancreatic cancer to take hold about 5 years ago.

Believe Howie Carr wrote a definitive article about it at that time which brought him to the attention of Jerry Williams and eventually as Jerry Williams fill in. And as they say..." the rest is history". Howie Carr would not be where he is today most likely if Williams producer had not been made a scapegoat in the Hizzoner broadcast.

--Steve Deace, Christian conserv talk host, filled in for Howie a wk ago and talked w a woman pretending to be the late Margaret Sanger, who believed in eugenics. It was not disclosed to listeners. Sandy Shack later said Deace won't be back. In past yrs Jerry Williams talked to 'the governor' (Jay Charboneau as Dukakis) and ' the mayor' (Steve Sweeney as Kev White) and there was some controversy over non-disclosure. Howie did talk to the real Gov Patrick tho, oddly enough on Apr 1.

 

[BoredModerator]

It's "entertainment"
Like WWE is "sports entertainment"
What's a fraud is them telling you to request one be done and fill out the online form, etc., it's just them soliciting free creative services. Opie and Anthony really let the cat out of the bag on these gag calls. It makes them more cringe worthy when you realize they are totally staged.

 

[Wimmmex]

Although it was a skit put on at the direction of the then general manager, Bob Fish

That's a reach. Since when does a GM review and direct his staff to do "bits"?

However, later WRKO fired Fish for some personal misdeeds on the job...probably trying to screw another intern...sex of your choice. The Virus and treatment thereof allowed a fatal pancreatic cancer to take hold about 5 years ago.

Another reach. And another cheap shot (which has become the Omnibus calling card.)

 

[Omnibus]

For months before Mel Miller came on board as PD Bob Fish was both GM and PD and he didn't trust Miller. Fish had his fingers in everything. Ask anyone who dealt with him - he was a moral leper. [MOD EDIT]

That's a reach. Since when does a GM review and direct his staff to do "bits"?



Another reach. And another cheap shot (which has become the Omnibus calling card.)

 

[TheBigA]

Radio to create fictional characters and fictional stories as well, or is that "lazy radio?"

That's Orson Welles you hear rolling in his grave. In 1938, he & his Mercury Theater Players staged a radio adaptation of "The War of the Worlds." It was fiction. Total fiction. Flying saucers and men from Mars landing in a field near Grovers Mills NJ (which is actually near RCA Labs in Princeton). The lawyers told Welles he had to broadcast a disclaimer, saying the show was fiction. He did. No one paid attention.

Is it lazy radio? You tell me.

 

[Wimmmex]

Ask anyone who dealt with him

Fish ... - he was a moral leper. [MOD EDIT].

Well, ask me and I won't say that...and I worked with him.

You're all about the personal attacks, aren't you? (And of a dead person no less.)

You can say anything you want about someone when you are anonymous, huh?

Can you talk about broadcasting without the cheap shots? (Or is that what you are all about? A radio wannabe who uses anonymity to talk trash about people?)

 

[Omnibus]

Anyone who would come into the office and studio and brag about the number of AE's he screwed in New York over the weekend is a moral leper. Wonder if he bragged to his wife and kids sitting home in Wellesley?

 

[Wimmmex]

Anyone who would come into the office and studio and brag about the number of AE's he screwed in New York over the weekend is a moral leper. Wonder if he bragged to his wife and kids sitting home in Wellesley?

Let me check with your past bosses and colleagues and see what they say about you. Oh, wait...that's right...you're here anonymous! Such moral fortitude!

You do realize you are writing nasties about a dead person, right?

You do realize you are doing so while cowering behind an anonymous internet board.

 

[Omnibus]

You couldn't have possibly worked with Bob Fish or you would not question what everyone said about him. As to proof, Fish tried to pick up my wife on the station elevator while I was with her. She just laughed AT him.

Let me check with your past bosses and colleagues and see what they say about you. Oh, wait...that's right...you're here anonymous! Such moral fortitude!

You do realize you are writing nasties about a dead person, right?

You do realize you are doing so while cowering behind an anonymous internet board.

 

[Wimmmex]

Proof.

Proof from someone hiding under anonymity....against a man who can't speak or address the acuser. You have a wife and daughter? They must be quite proud of you.

Yovino...is that you? ...probably not. I don't remember him being married.

 

[Omnibus]

Wrong person. Wife and three sons. All proud of me. Good moral training at Boston Latin School and Holy Cross.

 

[Wimmmex]

Good moral training at Boston Latin School and Holy Cross.

They trained you to attack people personally while hiding under anonymity?

They taught it was OK to speak ill of the dead?

Doesn't sound like Jesuit teaching to me.

 

[raccoonradio]

Thanks for the info incl. the fact it was Morris not Sweeney who imitated White. This is covered in pp. 237-8 of Burning Up the Air (Hardcover edition), the J Williams bio by Tolz and Elman.

Another fake bit: Mikey Adams does a Larry Justice and barricades himself in the EEI studios till Jason Wolfe hires him for evenings.

http://www.amandfmmorningside.com/wpgc_larry_justice.html
>>On Monday, August 6th, 1962 at the start of his shift at 10AM, midday personality 'Barefoot' Larry Justice took over the airwaves of WPGC, locking himself in the control room and played the same record (Len Weinrib's 'Prez Conference' - see details below) over and over again until station management met his demands for a pay raise.

 

[Omnibus]

The Jebbies taught me to speak truth to power. More to the point to those who use their position of power to intimidate and threaten others. Just because Bob Fish is dead it does not erase the evil he wrought on others while that tortured soul was walking the earth. One can forgive but not forget. Why lie about the misdeed of Bob Fish just because he died?

They trained you to attack people personally while hiding under anonymity?

They taught it was OK to speak ill of the dead?

Doesn't sound like Jesuit teaching to me.

 

[Wimmmex]

Just because Bob Fish is dead it does not erase the evil he wrought on others while that tortured soul was walking the earth. One can forgive but not forget. Why lie about the misdeed of Bob Fish just because he died?

Doesn't sound like forgiveness....sounds like resentment.

More to the point to those who use their position of power to intimidate and threaten others.

Bob is in no position of power, and in no position to intimidate or threaten. You on the other hand have no excuse.

If you are so proud of speaking truth to power...do it under you're own name. Want to bear witness to something evil?

Stand up and bear witness under your own name. Otherwise it's just mudslinging and sleazy.

 

[Omnibus]

Bob fish is getting everything the a hole deserved in life. Deal with it. Don't resent someone who i had no respect for. He had no respect for his wife and kids while he was cheating on them. [mod edit]

doesn't sound like forgiveness....sounds like resentment.



Bob is in no position of power, and in no position to intimidate or threaten. You on the other hand have no excuse.

If you are so proud of speaking truth to power...do it under you're own name. Want to bear witness to something evil?

Stand up and bear witness under your own name. Otherwise it's just mudslinging and sleazy.

 

[raccoonradio]

There's a New Eng Broadcasting History group on Facebook and one photo is a repro of a newspaper article from 9/12/81:
WRKO Radio Going To All Talk Format:
"Radio station WRKO will switch to an all-talk format Monday, dropping the (AC) format that left it struggling among the top 10 stations...WRKP (sic) general manager Bob Fish and PD Charlie Van Dyke announced the format change.The new format also marks the return to Boston of Jerry Williams, now a Miami broadcaster".

One comment on the clip said that as they recalled, the lineup was "Norm Nathan and Jordan Rich in the morning; Dick Syatt (9-12); Dr. Harry Sobel (12-2); Jerry Williams (2-6); SportsCall with Bill O'Connell (6-8); Dr. David Brudnoy (8-12); Larry King (overnight)"

Another: (D Boucher): "I still have the memo from Bob Fish denying Norma Nathan's column that WRKO has hired Jerry Williams and will be going talk. ("If we were changing to talk, you would be the first one I would have told".)"

---
>>Stand up and bear witness under your own name

We can be anonymous here, but some advocate that comments, etc. should have the Real Name of the commentator,
such as on a newspaper's website/comments. Dan Kennedy is big on that and insisted people commenting on his Media Nation blog give their real names.

 

[Some old radio guy]

Speaking of fake radio bits on Boston radio who can forget Dale Dorman with "Mrs. J" on WRKO back in the 70s. If I'm not mistaken she was Dale's wife.