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Fake Radio Bits

K

kp2780

Baltazar and Pebbles were the target of Opie and Anthony's "Jocktober" yesterday. They ripped the show in general, but especially made fun of the "Balt-busters" which are presented as real prank calls, but are really just actors reading a script. I heard the "Balt-Buster" this morning, and wow did it sound so fake! Listening to it reminded me of "War of the Roses," which I think Mix still does.

Do listeners realize these bits are all fake? Do they care? Is it bad radio to be passing off fake bits as "real," or does radio deserve the right to be scripted/fake just like TV shows and movies are? I'm interested to hear people's opinions.
 
kp2780 said:
Baltazar and Pebbles were the target of Opie and Anthony's "Jocktober" yesterday. They ripped the show in general, but especially made fun of the "Balt-busters" which are presented as real prank calls, but are really just actors reading a script. I heard the "Balt-Buster" this morning, and wow did it sound so fake! Listening to it reminded me of "War of the Roses," which I think Mix still does.

Do listeners realize these bits are all fake? Do they care? Is it bad radio to be passing off fake bits as "real," or does radio deserve the right to be scripted/fake just like TV shows and movies are? I'm interested to hear people's opinions.
Click to expand...

The unscripted pranks, if they involve phoning people and airing the calls without their knowledge, violate FCC rules. This way it's safe.
 
Are they actually scripted, or are the actors just given maybe the subject/nature of the prank, but they then actually play the skit out spontaneously, with no one knowing what each other is going to say?
Ditto with 'ZLX’s “Senseless Survey”?
 
Uncle Kaimbridge said:
Are they actually scripted, or are the actors just given maybe the subject/nature of the prank, but they then actually play the skit out spontaneously, with no one knowing what each other is going to say?
Ditto with 'ZLX’s “Senseless Survey”?
Click to expand...
I figured these were all pre recorded well in advance, as I'm sure plenty of pranks fail. Does the person being called have to grant permission to be recorded in advance? That's the key to it being real or fake I guess.
 
BoredModerator said:
I figured these were all pre recorded well in advance, as I'm sure plenty of pranks fail. Does the person being called have to grant permission to be recorded in advance? That's the key to it being real or fake I guess.
Click to expand...

There have been fines levied by the FCC against stations that had "tape" rolling when someone was called, and the person was recorded ("hello") before it was disclosed the call was being recorded or permission was obtained. Even though the call was not aired, the station was still fined.

If you call the station on the request or call in line, the FCC has ruled the person calling in gives implied consent to being recorded, but if you call someone, and record it, without their prior consent that they will be recorded from the time the receiver is lifted from the cradle ( or something more modern) you are screwed in the eyes of the FCC

And I can do without K&M's stupid survey
 
Public radio's Whad Ya Know has a feature, town of the week where they'd call someone at random in a small town, ask them what life is like there, what people see and do, and the person is sent a prize as a thank you. One week host Michael Feldman and announcer Jim Packard, who has since passed on, said a show worker was talking to someone off air and getting their permission to be on.Seems some one informed them of the rule of we-call-you, we-can't -put-you-on-without-your-OK.
 
kp2780 said:
Baltazar and Pebbles were the target of Opie and Anthony's "Jocktober" yesterday. They ripped the show in general, but especially made fun of the "Balt-busters" which are presented as real prank calls, but are really just actors reading a script. I heard the "Balt-Buster" this morning, and wow did it sound so fake! Listening to it reminded me of "War of the Roses," which I think Mix still does.
Click to expand...

It really doesn't surprise me that these bits are fake. Bits in general are just planned..well, bits. I listen to Opie and Anthony every day, and Jocktober is a great bit in itself. Each Friday they're highlighting Scott and Todd morning show on WPLJ in New York. They're merciless. By the way, do they have Arbitron ratings that rate the various channels as they compete against themselves? I happened to check the Syracuse ratings the other day and noticed that Howard 101 Sirius/XM shows up in the general Arbitron list among all the stations. I'd think O&A rates pretty highly, also.
 
Meh. You've gotta pay extra for O&A, you don't get them in the base Sirius package. You get Howard.

If you're into snarky asshats who make fun of everyone who isn't like them, then O&A are your guys. Shock jocks just don't do it for me. Sure, there are some AWFUL DJs out there, but I've never bought into the "be a bully" mentality.

Elvis Duran used to do his phone taps legit, and he's got the FCC fine to prove it. I'm shocked that most listeners not in the business have no idea that these and many other bits are faked. They believe it, so that's all that matters. People believed War of the Worlds too.
 
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