Y
yonkstur
Guest
Entercom's Shadoe Steele interviewed Fred Williams today at noon on their weekend public service/talk block. For those of you not familiar with this noon program, it is a step above any public service type shows that interview social service officials about alcohol, battered women, too many pets, poison control for the elderly or interviews about small children locking themselelves in fridges. While all of these issues are important, and need promotion and light of day shone on them, a public affairs show can fall into a familiar, path of least resistance trap. I know, I did that at WBAX for 7 years. It was way easier to have a Carmen Ambrosino on to talk about alcholism and just turn on the tape, let him expound and before you knew it, I had a show in the can. WILK has broken that mold tackling interesting issues and personalities. This week, it was Fred Williams.
And even though I have busted this topic on my blog, phttp://lulacpoliticaletter.blogspot.com,
as well as on the WILK Sports Show, I need to tell you the program with Williams was interesting and informative. More importantly, when you heard the outtakes and Williams speaking to Shadoe Steele, your memory, at least mine went back to the many battles, rational or otherwise this man fought. His show was the most loved and hated thing in the Valley but people listened. I disagreed vehemently with Williams on the Arena, his handling of issues that he seemed to exploit as well as his cronyism with certain politicians, maybe favoritism is a better word that used his show as their own personal political launching pad. I was also in the crosshairs for attacks from Williams. At one point he shared details of a job interview I had with his station manager. So I had no love for his tactics. However, as a fan of broadcasting, an onlooker, a listener, you had to love the guy. His ratings were always at the top, WILK was a hybrid station when he came on board, not quite sure of its footing and in need of a franchise player. Fred Williams was that player who hit the ball out of the park many times for WILK.
To call him a trendsetter for local talk radio is an overestimation. Others paved the way but Williams expanded the limits to how far talk could go. I'd call him a bridge into the big time radio controversial shows that other major markets were listening to long before he hit our area.
The program is one every radio freak should hear. I understand it will be rebroadcast on WILK next Sunday at 9AM. He seems to have mellowed, but just a bit. You'll see what I mean when you tune in for a little "of the good stuff".
Yonkstur
P.S. Future shows will have an interview with Harry West.
And even though I have busted this topic on my blog, phttp://lulacpoliticaletter.blogspot.com,
as well as on the WILK Sports Show, I need to tell you the program with Williams was interesting and informative. More importantly, when you heard the outtakes and Williams speaking to Shadoe Steele, your memory, at least mine went back to the many battles, rational or otherwise this man fought. His show was the most loved and hated thing in the Valley but people listened. I disagreed vehemently with Williams on the Arena, his handling of issues that he seemed to exploit as well as his cronyism with certain politicians, maybe favoritism is a better word that used his show as their own personal political launching pad. I was also in the crosshairs for attacks from Williams. At one point he shared details of a job interview I had with his station manager. So I had no love for his tactics. However, as a fan of broadcasting, an onlooker, a listener, you had to love the guy. His ratings were always at the top, WILK was a hybrid station when he came on board, not quite sure of its footing and in need of a franchise player. Fred Williams was that player who hit the ball out of the park many times for WILK.
To call him a trendsetter for local talk radio is an overestimation. Others paved the way but Williams expanded the limits to how far talk could go. I'd call him a bridge into the big time radio controversial shows that other major markets were listening to long before he hit our area.
The program is one every radio freak should hear. I understand it will be rebroadcast on WILK next Sunday at 9AM. He seems to have mellowed, but just a bit. You'll see what I mean when you tune in for a little "of the good stuff".
Yonkstur
P.S. Future shows will have an interview with Harry West.
