Fill Ins for Steph Monday and Tuesday

[fred flintstone]

All Access:

Ken Levine, Elayne Boosler Sit In For Miller

Listen for veteran TV comedy writer/producer/director and baseball broadcaster KEN LEVINE (aka 70s Top 40 personality "BEAVER CLEAVER") as he co-hosts with comic ELAYNE BOOSLER in a fill-in gig for STEPHANIE MILLER via JONES RADIO NETWORK on MONDAY and TUESDAY (7/3-4). LEVINE has hosted DODGER pre- and post-game shows, served as part of the SEATTLE MARINERS and BALTIMORE ORIOLES crew, and written (with partner DAVID ISAACS) many classic episodes of shows like "M*A*S*H" and "CHEERS."

 

[dampier]

You can expect a lot of entertainment and lifestyle talk coming from Boosler who filled in for Stephanie over Christmas as well. Boosler doesn't do straight political talk.

Also interesting is that fact that when Stephanie is out for whatever reason, Jim Ward (the voice guy) is almost never there either, leaving Chris Lavoie there (the producer). He tried to pilot the show alone one day, and although it worked fairly well at least to me, he panned himself big time and from now on, they'll drag a KTLK host into the studio to sit with Chris if both Miller and Ward are out. Lavoie also never goes on remotes.

 

[OhioMediaWatch]

I like Chris, really I do. He's a valuable part of that show. But he's not really a solo host, and he'd be the first to admit it.

The show feels "odd" to me when he's not there, though, which he is not usually when there's a sub host.

BTW, Ms. Boosler is there all week, as Steph returns Monday 7/10. Ken Levine is only there through Tuesday...no idea who will be alongside Elayne the rest of the week.

 

[doc9464]

The guy who was with her memorial day weekend will be with her for two days (i forget his name but he was kinda funny) and then Merill Markoe (of letterman fame) will be with Elayne Friday i believe.....

I give elayne a solid c+ for this outing....not awesome not boring either.....its been a decent listen.....i didnt like the levine guy and i wonder if he dragged her down.....lets see how the rest of the week goes.....

GOd i miss Steph!......and Jim.....and Chris.......and Randi.....LOL.....but i do like when Thom fills in for Randi....

I like Chris, really I do. He's a valuable part of that show. But he's not really a solo host, and he'd be the first to admit it.

The show feels "odd" to me when he's not there, though, which he is not usually when there's a sub host.

BTW, Ms. Boosler is there all week, as Steph returns Monday 7/10. Ken Levine is only there through Tuesday...no idea who will be alongside Elayne the rest of the week.

 

[OhioMediaWatch]

I'm not a diehard listener of the libtalk format...in fact, aside from a very occasional dip into listening to other hosts, Steph is the only one in the genre I listen to regularly. I actually started in libtalk listening to Randi, but stopped regularly listening to her over 6 months ago.

I tried listening to Elayne last time she was on, and she wasn't awful (about C+, like you said), but the presence of a female comedienne subbing for a show hosted by one is a bit jarring, particularly without some of the background Steph has, and without her regular co-hosts/sidekicks. It's a different show without them, at times it almost degrades to a comedic roundtable.

My problem is that I'm not there "listening to the choir" like many who listen to the format (and the same goes on the right side of the ledger, too). Randi's very, very talented, but at times a difficult listen if you're not in the choir. I think she was also a bit "lighter" back when Tim Allan was in the producing chair, and whoever's there now doesn't really have the pull to take her down off the ledge...she's more of a left-wing Savage now than she ever was.

I actually think Thom has improved somewhat since he started doing national radio - he's easier to take without the cheesy synthesizer music and the Small Market Vermont Radio Announcer Voice that does his liners...

-OMW

 

[dampier]

I tried listening to Elayne last time she was on, and she wasn't awful (about C+, like you said), but the presence of a female comedienne subbing for a show hosted by one is a bit jarring, particularly without some of the background Steph has, and without her regular co-hosts/sidekicks. It's a different show without them, at times it almost degrades to a comedic roundtable.

It's the universal truth with most sub hosts. They are almost universally worse than the original host (job security) and they rarely run the same kind of show as listeners are used to. Most rely a lot more on callers or co-hosts or both. Boosler is coherent and has been doing more politics this time which is helping. The last few times Stephanie has been out, we've had topics like "who will win at the Oscars" and the various life and times of Hollywood. You can definitely tell it's an LA-based show.

My problem is that I'm not there "listening to the choir" like many who listen to the format (and the same goes on the right side of the ledger, too). Randi's very, very talented, but at times a difficult listen if you're not in the choir. I think she was also a bit "lighter" back when Tim Allan was in the producing chair, and whoever's there now doesn't really have the pull to take her down off the ledge...she's more of a left-wing Savage now than she ever was.

Tim Allan brought out a lot more personal tidbits from Randi because they've had such a history together, and Allan was heard a lot more than any of her current people are. Randi has a very different style than most talk shows. She holds the mike in her hand (except she does not wander around like Garafalo does with her wireless mike) and if you've ever seen her do her show, she's an arm waver as well. Rhodes is very prone to going off on side issues, and she tolerates dead air more than any other host I've heard. There have been five second pregnant pauses on her show before, and it's noticeable. Randi burns fast and hot, but is very prone to burning out. She takes more vacations than most hosts on AAR. She needs them because long time listeners notice when she is getting tired. She will get much more rambly and especially repetitive, has a shorter fuse, and seems to have less fun. A vacation usually re-energizes her, as do weekends. She needs a producer she can play off of on the air and who can prod/interact with her.