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Cliff Albert

I

ibezdechi

Guest
While we are going around bashing local programming folks...how has Cliff Albert -- somewhat as San Diego's own Ted Baxter climbed through the ranks to the point of being some kind of big programming authority and big broadcasting kahuna and guru? Sure he sounds like a nice guy and he's been on the air in San Diego since Cabrillo discovered the Indian tribes on what is now San Diego Bay, but he is so bland...so lacking authority....so...so....such a nothing. Air America on KLSD, apparently at his encouragement to CC, has not exactly a major oustanding success after the initial dustup and hubris when they went on the air last August. The big laugh and amazement when I heard him voicing a promotion on KOGO of a cruise where he and Mark Larson are going to be the mega whoop-de-doo celebrities. C'mon folks...how many folks are going to lose their cookies for an opportunity to fork over money (probably a percentage to both Albert and Larson) to sit across from both of these guys and eat Chicken a la King.....

I've always known Cliff Albert as an able good number two news reader who knows not to pop is "P"'s in a microphone and not stumble too many times in a rip-and-read situation....but not as some icon of San Diego broadcast journalism and general San Diego-dom as he is lately being made out to be.
 
Why would we go around bashing program directors?

I work with Cliff via another market and have known him for over 18 years. I believe his committment to KOGO cannot be questioned and KLSD is a good thing for the talk radio dial. If you look around the country, the progressive format is very much like the sports format (1-3shares on average). However this format has a following that does do business with the advertisers and very passionate in what they hear.

So why would you take the time to write a rant like this?

> While we are going around bashing local programming
> folks...how has Cliff Albert -- somewhat as San Diego's own
> Ted Baxter climbed through the ranks to the point of being
> some kind of big programming authority and big broadcasting
> kahuna and guru? Sure he sounds like a nice guy and he's
> been on the air in San Diego since Cabrillo discovered the
> Indian tribes on what is now San Diego Bay, but he is so
> bland...so lacking authority....so...so....such a nothing.
> Air America on KLSD, apparently at his encouragement to CC,
> has not exactly a major oustanding success after the initial
> dustup and hubris when they went on the air last August.
> The big laugh and amazement when I heard him voicing a
> promotion on KOGO of a cruise where he and Mark Larson are
> going to be the mega whoop-de-doo celebrities. C'mon
> folks...how many folks are going to lose their cookies for
> an opportunity to fork over money (probably a percentage to
> both Albert and Larson) to sit across from both of these
> guys and eat Chicken a la King.....
>
> I've always known Cliff Albert as an able good number two
> news reader who knows not to pop is "P"'s in a microphone
> and not stumble too many times in a rip-and-read
> situation....but not as some icon of San Diego broadcast
> journalism and general San Diego-dom as he is lately being
> made out to be.
>
 
Re: Cliff Albert/CC

> Why would we go around bashing program directors?
>
> I work with Cliff via another market and have known him for
> over 18 years. I believe his committment to KOGO cannot be
> questioned and KLSD is a good thing for the talk radio dial.
> If you look around the country, the progressive format is
> very much like the sports format (1-3shares on average).
> However this format has a following that does do business
> with the advertisers and very passionate in what they hear.
>
>
> So why would you take the time to write a rant like this?
>
> > While we are going around bashing local programming
> > folks...how has Cliff Albert -- somewhat as San Diego's
> own
> > Ted Baxter climbed through the ranks to the point of being
>
> > some kind of big programming authority and big
> broadcasting

Cliff Albert is a good guy and is only operating within the parameters of CC. The fish stinks from the top down and the bland, no personality VP. Talk about a corporate drone. Someone put the heart back in radio please and bring up the morale. With the impending station sales it's down in the dumps.
> > kahuna and guru? Sure he sounds like a nice guy and he's
> > been on the air in San Diego since Cabrillo discovered the
>
> > Indian tribes on what is now San Diego Bay, but he is so
> > bland...so lacking authority....so...so....such a nothing.
>
> > Air America on KLSD, apparently at his encouragement to
> CC,
> > has not exactly a major oustanding success after the
> initial
> > dustup and hubris when they went on the air last August.
> > The big laugh and amazement when I heard him voicing a
> > promotion on KOGO of a cruise where he and Mark Larson are
>
> > going to be the mega whoop-de-doo celebrities. C'mon
> > folks...how many folks are going to lose their cookies for
>
> > an opportunity to fork over money (probably a percentage
> to
> > both Albert and Larson) to sit across from both of these
> > guys and eat Chicken a la King.....
> >
> > I've always known Cliff Albert as an able good number two
> > news reader who knows not to pop is "P"'s in a microphone
> > and not stumble too many times in a rip-and-read
> > situation....but not as some icon of San Diego broadcast
> > journalism and general San Diego-dom as he is lately being
>
> > made out to be.
> >
>
 
Cliff Albert=The epitome of bland

It's no suprise that he put Larson on, they're two sides of the same old coin. Albert, just like Larson, makes for bland radio. The opinions he expresses in his little 2 minute diatribes every morning are rarely relevant to anything but the oddball news de jour. Everyone should be thankful that his opinion-spouting only lasts a couple of minutes.

However, they're obviously doing something right over there or they wouldn't be at the top. The morning team is actually pretty interesting at times, they don't take things too seriously. The biggest Earth-shaker they have is Hedgecock, and he's got a good following, enough to carry the station.

As far as scheduling a cruise to be on the same boat with Albert and Larson, I'd rather spend a summer in Baghdad dodging bullets!
 
Wow,

You is there no limit to how low you guys sink in bashing local veterans?
Mark Larson, Cliff Albert... What's next, Shotgun?

If you've lived in San Diego all your life, and grew up listening to Cliff Albert, you'd know that he is one of the great talents in the west coast.
Taking pot shots at Cliff Albert is cheap, and anyone who does it does not know what they are talking about. You could not in a billion years be as good as him.


> While we are going around bashing local programming
> folks...how has Cliff Albert -- somewhat as San Diego's own
> Ted Baxter climbed through the ranks to the point of being
> some kind of big programming authority and big broadcasting
> kahuna and guru? Sure he sounds like a nice guy and he's
> been on the air in San Diego since Cabrillo discovered the
> Indian tribes on what is now San Diego Bay, but he is so
> bland...so lacking authority....so...so....such a nothing.
> Air America on KLSD, apparently at his encouragement to CC,
> has not exactly a major oustanding success after the initial
> dustup and hubris when they went on the air last August.
> The big laugh and amazement when I heard him voicing a
> promotion on KOGO of a cruise where he and Mark Larson are
> going to be the mega whoop-de-doo celebrities. C'mon
> folks...how many folks are going to lose their cookies for
> an opportunity to fork over money (probably a percentage to
> both Albert and Larson) to sit across from both of these
> guys and eat Chicken a la King.....
>
> I've always known Cliff Albert as an able good number two
> news reader who knows not to pop is "P"'s in a microphone
> and not stumble too many times in a rip-and-read
> situation....but not as some icon of San Diego broadcast
> journalism and general San Diego-dom as he is lately being
> made out to be.
>
 
> Wow,
>
> You is there no limit to how low you guys sink in bashing
> local veterans?
> Mark Larson, Cliff Albert... What's next, Shotgun?
>
> If you've lived in San Diego all your life, and grew up
> listening to Cliff Albert, you'd know that he is one of the
> great talents in the west coast.
> Taking pot shots at Cliff Albert is cheap, and anyone who
> does it does not know what they are talking about. You could
> not in a billion years be as good as him.
>
>

Well said Garrett. Where's the moderator?
 
> > Taking pot shots at Cliff Albert is cheap, and anyone who
> > does it does not know what they are talking about. You
> could
> > not in a billion years be as good as him.
> >
> >
>
> Well said Garrett. Where's the moderator?

Why, isn't par for the course to criticize personalities on a site devoted to radio listening? If not, then there's nothing much else to do except listen to some whiny engineers complain about Mexico (heck we can't really talk about the ratings here).

Cliff is a bland, mundane personality who, like Mark L., is very good at playing the corporate game. Both are well-modulated voices who are just slightly on the plus side of dull, but neither has ever been the least bit innovative or exciting on the air and they sound like leftovers from the MOR radio of the early 70's. There are some real talents in radio and there are some guys who got very lucky.
 
> Why, isn't par for the course to criticize personalities on
> a site devoted to radio listening? If not, then there's
> nothing much else to do except listen to some whiny
> engineers complain about Mexico (heck we can't really talk
> about the ratings here).
>
> Cliff is a bland, mundane personality who, like Mark L., is
> very good at playing the corporate game. Both are
> well-modulated voices who are just slightly on the plus side
> of dull, but neither has ever been the least bit innovative
> or exciting on the air and they sound like leftovers from
> the MOR radio of the early 70's. There are some real talents
> in radio and there are some guys who got very lucky.



Well, alright. But let's not get started on Susan DeVincent, m'kay?
 
Re: Cliff Albert/CC

> > Why would we go around bashing program directors?

> > So why would you take the time to write a rant like this?

This was following the rant from someone that Dave Sniff at KFMB should be fired. I know that he was not liked by the local AFTRA office. Man talk aobut getting the former local director on a rant about.


> Cliff Albert is a good guy and is only operating within the
> parameters of CC. The fish stinks from the top down and the
> bland, no personality VP. Talk about a corporate drone.
> Someone put the heart back in radio please and bring up the
> morale. With the impending station sales it's down in the
> dumps.

I hear that on the air...it seems like they are just going through the motions of making radio. It bothers me though when I think an air personality is being pumped up more than who he really is.... What triggered me was the promotion for the cruise with himself and Larson...my reaction was...who cares?
 
Cliff Albert, as I understand it, is mostly a programmer now. His job is to watch over the station, and maybe record a news update here or there.

However, I remember a time when he and Mark Larson worked together at KFMB. Under Clif Albert, KFMB had one of the best AM news departments in town. Stories were covered, and covered in depth. Cliff would deliver the sports on Mark's show as "Big Al, the Sportsman's Pal." Together, the two had a certain chmestry that was fun to listen to. Times change though, and Cliff does not get the opportunity to express his personality and sense of humor.

As for Cliff being "Bland," I'm not sure what you mean. How should someone give the news, at the top of their lungs? What you consider "bland," I think of as someone who has a very smooth and professional voice. I wish I had the pipes that Cliff had!

My point about criticizing had to do with the level it has gotten to around here, and the type of people that are haveing shots taken at them. It is one thing to criticize a "newbie" or perhaps somebody who does something questionable. However I am begining to see criticims about people who are trained veterans, seasoned professionals. There was a time in San Diego where you would not even consider criticizing people like Cliff Albert or Mark Larson. These are the people that I looked up to in the radio world, the people that inspired me to get into radio. I can only conclude that the people who don't like Cliff Albert are exactly the same people who would rather listen to Heavy Metal or Classical music all day long. And I have nothing wrong with that but it occurs to me that most of these criticisms are based on subjective opinion. Let the criticism be real, for something like a person not being any good at being on the radio or even TV for that matter. But picking on professionals? I just don't get it...

> > > Taking pot shots at Cliff Albert is cheap, and anyone
> who
> > > does it does not know what they are talking about. You
> > could
> > > not in a billion years be as good as him.
> > >
> > >
> >
> > Well said Garrett. Where's the moderator?
>
> Why, isn't par for the course to criticize personalities on
> a site devoted to radio listening? If not, then there's
> nothing much else to do except listen to some whiny
> engineers complain about Mexico (heck we can't really talk
> about the ratings here).
>
> Cliff is a bland, mundane personality who, like Mark L., is
> very good at playing the corporate game. Both are
> well-modulated voices who are just slightly on the plus side
> of dull, but neither has ever been the least bit innovative
> or exciting on the air and they sound like leftovers from
> the MOR radio of the early 70's. There are some real talents
> in radio and there are some guys who got very lucky.
>
 
> Cliff Albert, as I understand it, is mostly a programmer
> now. His job is to watch over the station, and maybe record
> a news update here or there.

That has been my impression.

> However, I remember a time when he and Mark Larson worked
> together at KFMB. Under Clif Albert, KFMB had one of the
> best AM news departments in town. Stories were covered, and
> covered in depth. Cliff would deliver the sports on Mark's
> show as "Big Al, the Sportsman's Pal." Together, the two had
> a certain chmestry that was fun to listen to. Times change
> though, and Cliff does not get the opportunity to express
> his personality and sense of humor.

I recall that too..that is when he was at his best.

>
> As for Cliff being "Bland," I'm not sure what you mean. How
> should someone give the news, at the top of their lungs?
> What you consider "bland," I think of as someone who has a
> very smooth and professional voice. I wish I had the pipes
> that Cliff had!

In order for someone on the air to connect with listeners, they have to be able to get past the microphone with what I call the extra 10%. Smooth and professional he may be...but is not memorable. You would not turn on KOGO or any other station necessarily because of him... That is what makes successful radio...memorable...the air personality gives you the kick to actually make the point to turn on the cathodes or transistors at a particular time.

>
> My point about criticizing had to do with the level it has
> gotten to around here, and the type of people that are
> haveing shots taken at them. It is one thing to criticize a
> "newbie" or perhaps somebody who does something
> questionable. However I am begining to see criticims about
> people who are trained veterans, seasoned professionals.
> There was a time in San Diego where you would not even
> consider criticizing people like Cliff Albert or Mark
> Larson. These are the people that I looked up to in the
> radio world, the people that inspired me to get into radio.
> I can only conclude that the people who don't like Cliff
> Albert are exactly the same people who would rather listen
> to Heavy Metal or Classical music all day long. And I have
> nothing wrong with that but it occurs to me that most of
> these criticisms are based on subjective opinion. Let the
> criticism be real, for something like a person not being any
> good at being on the radio or even TV for that matter. But
> picking on professionals? I just don't get it...

Nobody is immune from criticism. All criticism is based on subjective opinion. KOGO is getting soooooo bland. Cliff Albert is not of "personality" caliber. He's a great #2 news reader... Even Mark Larson is not on par as when he was on KFMB...partly I think because he is pushing such a far right wing Christian agenda in his views parroting Rush.

If it weren't for the big magnet that Rog the Dodge wields for KOGO, the station would be in real trouble.
 
Re: Cliff Albert/CC

What's with these chicken littles, when they don't like a post want to edit,ban
the post. Cliff seems like a nice guy, I'll leave him alone-he's paid his dues.
But KOGO overall is tapioca pudding. Compare KOGO to KSDO under Gannett, pund for a pound a better tougher news talk station than KOGO. The KOGO morning show with Ernie Myers and Ron Reina is a great example of KSDO's strengths. They had the ratings too, and this was well before N/T became the hit format.






> > Why would we go around bashing program directors?
>
> > > So why would you take the time to write a rant like
> this?
>
> This was following the rant from someone that Dave Sniff at
> KFMB should be fired. I know that he was not liked by the
> local AFTRA office. Man talk aobut getting the former local
> director on a rant about.
>
>
> > Cliff Albert is a good guy and is only operating within
> the
> > parameters of CC. The fish stinks from the top down and
> the
> > bland, no personality VP. Talk about a corporate drone.
> > Someone put the heart back in radio please and bring up
> the
> > morale. With the impending station sales it's down in the
> > dumps.
>
> I hear that on the air...it seems like they are just going
> through the motions of making radio. It bothers me though
> when I think an air personality is being pumped up more than
> who he really is.... What triggered me was the promotion
> for the cruise with himself and Larson...my reaction
> was...who cares?
>
 
> Well said Garrett. Where's the moderator?

The moderator -- well, one of them, anyway -- is here, has been reading the thread, and hasn't seen anything actionable. I have seen posts that criticize Mr. Albert, and I have seen posts that defend him. What I haven't seen are posts alleging facts not in evidence about him.

In fact, this discussion seems rather balanced (for a change).

<P ID="signature">______________
</P>
 
Re: Cliff Albert/CC

You're absolutely positively right!


> What's with these chicken littles, when they don't like a
> post want to edit,ban
> the post. Cliff seems like a nice guy, I'll leave him
> alone-he's paid his dues.
> But KOGO overall is tapioca pudding. Compare KOGO to KSDO
> under Gannett, pund for a pound a better tougher news talk
> station than KOGO. The KOGO morning show with Ernie Myers
> and Ron Reina is a great example of KSDO's strengths. They
> had the ratings too, and this was well before N/T became the
> hit format.
>
>
>
>
>
>
> > > Why would we go around bashing program directors?
> >
> > > > So why would you take the time to write a rant like
> > this?
> >
> > This was following the rant from someone that Dave Sniff
> at
> > KFMB should be fired. I know that he was not liked by the
> > local AFTRA office. Man talk aobut getting the former
> local
> > director on a rant about.
> >
> >
> > > Cliff Albert is a good guy and is only operating within
> > the
> > > parameters of CC. The fish stinks from the top down and
> > the
> > > bland, no personality VP. Talk about a corporate drone.
> > > Someone put the heart back in radio please and bring up
> > the
> > > morale. With the impending station sales it's down in
> the
> > > dumps.
> >
> > I hear that on the air...it seems like they are just going
>
> > through the motions of making radio. It bothers me though
>
> > when I think an air personality is being pumped up more
> than
> > who he really is.... What triggered me was the promotion
> > for the cruise with himself and Larson...my reaction
> > was...who cares?
> >
>
 
Good point. I think the reason folks consider Air America to be a disappointment is that it has not achieved the great fame and listenership that is initial nationwide hype led folks to believe it would accrue.

- Doc

> If you look around the country, the progressive format is
> very much like the sports format (1-3shares on average).
> However this format has a following that does do business
> with the advertisers and very passionate in what they hear.
 
> Good point. I think the reason folks consider Air America to
> be a disappointment is that it has not achieved the great
> fame and listenership that is initial nationwide hype led
> folks to believe it would accrue.
>
> - Doc
>
> > If you look around the country, the progressive format is
> > very much like the sports format (1-3shares on average).
> > However this format has a following that does do business
> > with the advertisers and very passionate in what they
> hear.
>
does air america pay klsd to broadcast that format? poor stacy taylor doing liberal talk after doing the other shows in san diego
 
Actually, I think it's the other way around.
I believe (and feel free to correct me), that CCU has bought in substantially to Err-America. Before CCU came along, AA was failing. Now, CCU has put AA on in some of the biggiest markets, including LA, Boston, and San Diego (and a few others, which escape me for now).

I know what you mean about Stacy. He is doing the best to get with the program. He never struck me as a conservative by any stretch, and he has no love for Republicans.

On the other hand, there's a big difference between being liberal, and bing a civil libertarian. The type of audience that AA goes after generally is more concerned with protection of social programs such as welfare, social security, and more adminstrative measures. However, civil libertarians share with republicans and those on the right, to have less government and to keep government out of our lives.

Also, when he was on KOGO, it seemed like Stacy was more level headed, and worked very hard not to cheerlead one side or another. Now, he's forced to go in one direction only, and that is certainly a very narrow and limiting position for him to be in.



> > Good point. I think the reason folks consider Air America
> to
> > be a disappointment is that it has not achieved the great
> > fame and listenership that is initial nationwide hype led
> > folks to believe it would accrue.
> >
> > - Doc
> >
> > > If you look around the country, the progressive format
> is
> > > very much like the sports format (1-3shares on average).
>
> > > However this format has a following that does do
> business
> > > with the advertisers and very passionate in what they
> > hear.
> >
> does air america pay klsd to broadcast that format? poor
> stacy taylor doing liberal talk after doing the other shows
> in san diego
>
 
Re: Cliff Albert/CC

I have to agree that the cruise with Mark (Kermit the conservative)
Larson and Cliff is somewhat lacking in star power. Mark, I never
will get-he sure loves to drop name and make vauge references. Part
of KOGO's problem is KFI is everything KOGO isn't. KSDO-while not hot
talk-like KFI was a damn good 10,000 watt severly directional station
with a stronger stable of talent than KOGO, which at times resembles
just another CC station in Bakersfield.


> You're absolutely positively right!
>
>
> > What's with these chicken littles, when they don't like a
> > post want to edit,ban
> > the post. Cliff seems like a nice guy, I'll leave him
> > alone-he's paid his dues.
> > But KOGO overall is tapioca pudding. Compare KOGO to KSDO
> > under Gannett, pund for a pound a better tougher news talk
>
> > station than KOGO. The KOGO morning show with Ernie Myers
> > and Ron Reina is a great example of KSDO's strengths. They
>
> > had the ratings too, and this was well before N/T became
> the
> > hit format.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > > > Why would we go around bashing program directors?
> > >
> > > > > So why would you take the time to write a rant like
> > > this?
> > >
> > > This was following the rant from someone that Dave Sniff
>
> > at
> > > KFMB should be fired. I know that he was not liked by
> the
> > > local AFTRA office. Man talk aobut getting the former
> > local
> > > director on a rant about.
> > >
> > >
> > > > Cliff Albert is a good guy and is only operating
> within
> > > the
> > > > parameters of CC. The fish stinks from the top down
> and
> > > the
> > > > bland, no personality VP. Talk about a corporate
> drone.
> > > > Someone put the heart back in radio please and bring
> up
> > > the
> > > > morale. With the impending station sales it's down in
> > the
> > > > dumps.
> > >
> > > I hear that on the air...it seems like they are just
> going
> >
> > > through the motions of making radio. It bothers me
> though
> >
> > > when I think an air personality is being pumped up more
> > than
> > > who he really is.... What triggered me was the
> promotion
> > > for the cruise with himself and Larson...my reaction
> > > was...who cares?
> > >
> >
>
 
Not like anyone is going to listen to me. I believe Cliff Albert & Mark Larson have huge following and most of you are under estimating the audience following. After all is not KOGO one of the most listen to station in San Diego? Surely someone listens...or lot people listen
 
> Not like anyone is going to listen to me. I believe Cliff
> Albert & Mark Larson have huge following and most of you are
> under estimating the audience following. After all is not
> KOGO one of the most listen to station in San Diego? Surely
> someone listens...or lot people listen
>

A "huge following" - no. Cliff does the news on some fairly high-rated programs but no one listen to those because of him. Secondly, there is no such thing as a "huge following" in radio these days. If you have five percent of the audience you're doing quite well.

Mark does have his followers but he gets a big, big ride on the coattails of Hedgecock and Limbaugh. Mark's personl "huge following" barely showed up in the ratings when he was at other stations in recent years.
 
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