Sloany dropped a snarky line on a caller today where a woman called to complain about the content of the "Midday" show sans Mike. She said that (paraphrase) she really liked Sloan on 700 but was use to better content during the 9am to 12 Noon hour and was critical of Scott. She was blown out with Sloan making some crack amounting to "don't criticize my performance and I wont criticize you shaking the french fry basket at your fast food restaurant!" I was struck with the thought that she (along with me and 90% of the other listeners of talk radio) wasn't a regular "Caller" but was compelled to say something about 700's degrading tenor since McConnell's departure, the crappy :30 response to Keise's blog and the petty cancellation of the John Phillips/TargetWorld ads. It's not that Sloan is a bad personality but his talent is "exclusivity suited " for 9-Midnight (like Carney on KMOX). But Midday would be better suited to someone with more life experience like a G,Gorden Liddy, Napolitano, Cunningham or a really good Jesuit (McConnell-like!). The real problem is that MGMT at CC seems to once again take the easy (but ill-fated) way out! Lets do the math: McConnell+Burbank+Furman - 40months = a weak lead in for Cunningham, musical chairs for Sportstalk and the BullDog forcing all of us to listen to his rendition of C-SPAN3 "Continuing legal education for lawyers" I can hear paint drying in the next room...
-
Get involved.
We want your input!
Apply for Membership and join the conversations about everything related to broadcasting.
After we receive your registration, a moderator will review it. After your registration is approved, you will be permitted to post.
If you use a disposable or false email address, your registration will be rejected.
After your membership is approved, please take a minute to tell us a little bit about yourself.
https://www.radiodiscussions.com/forums/introduce-yourself.1088/
Thanks in advance and have fun!
RadioDiscussions Administrators
French Fry baskets and the decline of an empire
- Thread starter philrandy
- Start date
That is harsh.
The screener should have done a better job, unless she lied about her topic.
Talent thinks that they are just slamming one person but there are some listeners that are sensitive to that treatment. You'll lose them as well.
The "rah rah" fans eat it up.
Unless you are a mega star or the caller is being abusive, it may do more harm than good.
The screener should have done a better job, unless she lied about her topic.
Talent thinks that they are just slamming one person but there are some listeners that are sensitive to that treatment. You'll lose them as well.
The "rah rah" fans eat it up.
Unless you are a mega star or the caller is being abusive, it may do more harm than good.
A much better response would have been, "You've obviously given this a lot of thought and it took guts to call and tell me on the air. I'm never going to be Mike. I enjoyed his show, too, but he's gone. Like Sammy Davis, Jr. said, "I gotta be me," so I hope you'll give me the same indulgence you gave Mike when he was new to this shift. Hopefully, I'll grow on you and you'll continue to listen."
His insecurity got the best of him and a mean streak came through. Not very endearing to whatever female demos they have. I know women aren't the focus, but why go out of your way to piss them off? And while some guys listening might have said what he did to themselves, hearing it on the air is kinda like watching an unfair fight. It just doesn't feel good.
His insecurity got the best of him and a mean streak came through. Not very endearing to whatever female demos they have. I know women aren't the focus, but why go out of your way to piss them off? And while some guys listening might have said what he did to themselves, hearing it on the air is kinda like watching an unfair fight. It just doesn't feel good.
Arbitorn said:
Exactly. But that would require a sense of decency and civility.....something all but lost on Sloan and today's crop of talk show hosts and program directors. I have to agree with the OP's point about the overall "tenor" of WLW. While I appreciate that they are trying to remain live and local, the quality of the talent has suffered a steep decline. Sloan and Fingers do nothing for me but at least sound like they have some radio experience. Tracy Jones, Eric Deters, and Mo Egger (who seems to be showing up with increasingly frequency for the often absent Lance, who I actually like) to my ears just don't sound like they belong on radio, especially a station like WLW. I am having trouble understanding the mindset that keeps putting this kind of "talent" on the historic, once-proud airwaves of WLW. I don't care if Deters is a lawyer. His delivery just sounds dumb. He can't even pronounce "W" like real radio people were once instructed to do.
I'm a pretty mainstream conservative, granted, but WLW is becoming an embarrassment with it's crop of unprofessional, brash, tabloid-style hosts and the callers they seem to attract. The blue collar, redneck, beer-for-breakfast crowd that calls into this station is becoming a turn off for me, literally. I just don't listen much anymore. I gave up on FM in favor of sat radio years ago. Now it seems that the only reason to listen to AM.....live and local.....is bogged down by horrible radio talent and callers that sound like they barely graduated from high school or are still stuck in their fraternity days.
Man do I miss Burbank, McConnell, Jerry Thomas, Dave Lee...........
U
Uncas
Guest
I am a WLW fan for the most part and while I am not a big Sloanie fan, he is growing on me.
While I don't consider myself an old guy or a stuffed shirt, Sloan's humor is what I would call a younger man's humor and it does not always click with me. I like the Eddie & Tracy show as well but there are aspects of it at times that don't register as entertaining for about the same reason.
I don't think even Shakespeare could have had top drawer work if he had to produce content for 5/365.
I do detect a trend of arrogance at the station. Not particularly new since it has been over the last few years but I do think it is growing. As an outsider, I can only place that on Parks who is a talented PD but clearly is quite full of himself, at least on radio.
Maybe that is the industry and the approach of many creative talents.
I see him around some but have never met him and I have often wondered what he would be like had I made the effort to introduce myself and tried having a chat.
While I don't consider myself an old guy or a stuffed shirt, Sloan's humor is what I would call a younger man's humor and it does not always click with me. I like the Eddie & Tracy show as well but there are aspects of it at times that don't register as entertaining for about the same reason.
I don't think even Shakespeare could have had top drawer work if he had to produce content for 5/365.
I do detect a trend of arrogance at the station. Not particularly new since it has been over the last few years but I do think it is growing. As an outsider, I can only place that on Parks who is a talented PD but clearly is quite full of himself, at least on radio.
Maybe that is the industry and the approach of many creative talents.
I see him around some but have never met him and I have often wondered what he would be like had I made the effort to introduce myself and tried having a chat.
This is an example of why I tune off of WLW most of the time. It seemed to begin years back when Randy Michaels arrived there and has continued and increased with others running things. I normally choose the radio hosts who talk to me - not at me.
WLW is a habit -- not a choice in 2010 - period. Why do all of us read this board and listen to radio:
a. we love radio
b. we want to be informed and at times, entertained
Let's face it, can a college dropout like Tracy Jones inform us? What can anyone of us here actually learn from an Eddie Fingers, except perhaps how to roll a joint?
Scott Slaon sounds like a spoiled-ass punk with an in your face attitude. I, too heard that french fry comment. Be careful what you say Mr. Sloan, you may be shaking that fry pan sooner than you think.
a. we love radio
b. we want to be informed and at times, entertained
Let's face it, can a college dropout like Tracy Jones inform us? What can anyone of us here actually learn from an Eddie Fingers, except perhaps how to roll a joint?
Scott Slaon sounds like a spoiled-ass punk with an in your face attitude. I, too heard that french fry comment. Be careful what you say Mr. Sloan, you may be shaking that fry pan sooner than you think.
2
2ndsout
Guest
keys2 said:
Keys;
This is a great post. I couldn't have said it any better. WLW; as the station that pretty much started AM Radio going back to the old days of Crosley, et. al; really has slipped. I agree that alot of the so called "Talent" is really there just to get a rise out of those that may be listening. One of the things that really annoys me about Tracy Jones, is his apparent lack of respect for women. What does a woman's weight and height have to do with ANYTHING that him and Fingers talk about on their show? Nothing. While I didn't hear Sloan's comments about the French Fries; on his part; I think it is lack of respect for listeners as well.
It's kind of sad that in today's world; the crap is what sells the best. Apparently talk radio is where it's "At"...but the problem is that it's just become so trite and old....that really...what's the point? Just to get someone to listen and call in and agree? I hardly ever listen to WLW anymore, except for their news/traffic reports. Other times, I'm flipping through the dial or listening to Dave Ramsey over on 1160 AM.
I used to have some respect for the talent that was on WLW, but as the years have progressed; having a has-been Reds ball player as a talk show host, and a former 'EBN host (Fingers was WAY better in his EBN days with Robin Wood and Bob the Producer)... it's all been done.
Randy Michaels is a genius who saved WLW.
I don't like some of the shows on the station either but they are the number one station in town. That means people like what they're hearing.
Plus you guys are assuming that the lady criticizing Sloan was a legit caller, and with WLW you can never be TOO sure. ;-)
It's not about informing. It's about entertaining. WLW is a brash, in-your-face, aggressive talk station. Has been for about 25 years now. If it ain't broke.....
I don't like some of the shows on the station either but they are the number one station in town. That means people like what they're hearing.
Plus you guys are assuming that the lady criticizing Sloan was a legit caller, and with WLW you can never be TOO sure. ;-)
It's not about informing. It's about entertaining. WLW is a brash, in-your-face, aggressive talk station. Has been for about 25 years now. If it ain't broke.....
WLW ceased being "your father's WLW after Randy Michaels got there. Michaels is trying to "young up" WGN but about 20 years too late. Good as McConnell is now, early in his WLW career he was pulled from the midday show for awhile. Maybe Sloane can grow into the part if he stays in that slot.
U
Uncas
Guest
No one is forced to listen and there are plenty of entertainment options in this era that did not exist in the past so they must be doing something right if they are number one and making a buck.
WLW's rankings have very much to do with their news coverage and their play-by-play coverage of sports: Reds, Bengals, UC, XU. Basically, if you are listening to the radio and want to learn what is taking place, that is the station to tune to.
Listenership also gets a boost (either fortunately or unfortunately depending on your point of view) from what is said on the air. Talk of sexual matters, tasteless remarks, exaggerated tales and bad manners do tend to gain attention from certain segments of society.
Listenership also gets a boost (either fortunately or unfortunately depending on your point of view) from what is said on the air. Talk of sexual matters, tasteless remarks, exaggerated tales and bad manners do tend to gain attention from certain segments of society.
Uncas said:
In the house, sure, but not so much in the car. I do notice more and more people hooking up their iPods to the car stereo, but it's really hard to do that with some cars. My uncle just bought an FM transmitter for his iPhone that the car stereo barely picks up. If you have one of those cars that doesn't have either a tape deck or an auxiliary input, you're kind of screwed in that respect, especially on long road trips where different frequencies will become active and interfere with the transmitter. The earlier poster who compared WLW to a habit is right, that's what it is. A heritage AM with the major sports teams and basically the only news on the dial will almost always dominate the ratings no matter what. People aren't physically forced to listen, but they kind of are by default because no one else has been able to put forth a product that can compete, especially since the only decent AM signals in town are all owned by Clear Channel. If I'm stuck in a car with only the radio, about the only thing I can put on and be able to stand to listen to for extended periods of time is NPR. But what else does Cincinnati radio offer a left-of-center guy with an intense dislike of most mainstream music?
U
Uncas
Guest
It always strikes me as somewhat odd that each generation thinks things are worse when in fact often things are merely different. As an older guy, I am guilty of that too.
I am likely not a typical radio listener. I have Sirius in my car and sometimes I want music and sometimes I want talk. When I am home, I prefer to be outside and AM radio fits when I am puttering around, taking a break or wrapping up the day and having a cold one or whatever...maybe just relaxing on the deck.
Same with cable. Not much of a TV guy anymore except for a few shows later in the p.m. And that is a far cry from my youth when we had 3 stations and maybe one UHF and perhaps some PBS offering also on UHF.
Sometimes my wife and I watch old shows and it is amazing how some hold up and some are "wow", how did we even watch or listen to that"?
I am likely not a typical radio listener. I have Sirius in my car and sometimes I want music and sometimes I want talk. When I am home, I prefer to be outside and AM radio fits when I am puttering around, taking a break or wrapping up the day and having a cold one or whatever...maybe just relaxing on the deck.
Same with cable. Not much of a TV guy anymore except for a few shows later in the p.m. And that is a far cry from my youth when we had 3 stations and maybe one UHF and perhaps some PBS offering also on UHF.
Sometimes my wife and I watch old shows and it is amazing how some hold up and some are "wow", how did we even watch or listen to that"?
Listenership also gets a boost (either fortunately or unfortunately depending on your point of view) from what is said on the air.
On a talk station, I would certainly hope so.
God, you guys are making me defend Clear Channel! Damn you all! LOL
Jim LaBarbara is gone. Dusty Rhodes is inspecting gas pumps. Gary Burbank retired. That is the past. I love those guys too, but it's a new era. Maybe we should re-title this thread "Grumpy Old Men"
On a talk station, I would certainly hope so.
God, you guys are making me defend Clear Channel! Damn you all! LOL
Jim LaBarbara is gone. Dusty Rhodes is inspecting gas pumps. Gary Burbank retired. That is the past. I love those guys too, but it's a new era. Maybe we should re-title this thread "Grumpy Old Men"
- Status