Gene Valicenti show

[radiorage1]

Tuned in for the 1st time this week after a discussion of his salary with peers and seeing a Tom Tucker episode of Family Guy for whom the character was loosely based on. My question. For what they are paying, Can't they get someone in there with actual talent? I know alot of folks "on the beach" who can run circles around Gene, and for what he is being compensated, could employ 3 people generously. I don't fault him, he is a TV guy looking for a job after getting cut to part time at 10. Maybe it's me, but after 2 different days of tuning in at different times found the show totally un-listenable. Which is fine because now WHJJ and NPR won't lose a listener for which they desperately need.

 

[Dighton Rockhead]

For good or ill, it seems this market over the years has fallen into a habit of giving radio shows to folks with no previous radio experience. Just off the top of my head, examples like Buddy Cianci, Arlene Violet, Maryann Sorrentino, and former Congressman Eddie Beard come to mind.

Gene doesn't quite fit into the catagory, having earned his chops in TV, but it still fits the pattern in so far as radio stations reaching out for a "name"....and then worrying later about whether or not they can do a radio show.

 

[Skynet74]

Gene is one of the best TV Anchors in the market at the moment. WJAR should be promoting him. Not demoting him. Providence is a wacky town.

 

[reelyreal]

Okay, start naming names! Who's better? Who isn't working right now with a proven track record better than Gene's? Not "I personally think my BFF is better...." Who has a proven record better than his?

 

[radioboomer]

Check for yourself, but I hear his ratings are way up. Billing$ too. Go figure.

 

[RI Radio Nut]

Not sure about the ratings. I have only listened a few times and I am not impressed with Gene's version of the venerable program. It's okay, just not great.

Like him or not, IMHO, Ron St. Pierre was the best host of The WPRO Morning News in recent history.

 

[Dighton Rockhead]

Gene's version of the venerable program. It's okay, just not great.

Since WPRO's competition isn't all that strong (kudos to RIPR for good content notwithstanding)......Gene's version of the "Morning News" doesn't have to be great.

It would appear "okay" will be more than good enough.

 

[N1WVQ]

Gene's version of the venerable program. It's okay, just not great.

Since WPRO's competition isn't all that strong...Gene's version of the "Morning News" doesn't have to be great.

It would appear "okay" will be more than good enough.

Agreed and it's too bad. I don't like the choices WPRO has made since Giammarco left, but, WPRO's loss is WHJJ's gain! Now if only they could go even more live & local. I like the Pawsox games knocking off the grating voice of Mark Levin (I'm a conservative saying that).

 

[radioboomer]

Double checked. Morning show moved from 7th/8th place 12+ to 4th/3rd overall last 6th months. 25-54 Demos up too. Individuals can disagree, but audience likes it. I'm buying time, when it open up, right now it's sold out. Bottom line.

 

[Dighton Rockhead]

Double checked. Morning show moved from 7th/8th place 12+ to 4th/3rd overall last 6th months. 25-54 Demos up too. Individuals can disagree, but audience likes it.

I completely agree. It's all part of what I like to call "the comfortable old shoe factor".

I thnk a similar "comfortable old shoe"....like for example....Ron St. Pierre....
Steve Kass....or Arlene Violet....would have yielded similar results.

After all....This is Rhode Island....a place where guys like Walter Cryan and Truman Taylor survived and even thrived on local TV for DECADES.

Go figure.

 

[DG02816]

Something that 990 should have tried, but the ownership was far too sketchy.

 

[RI Radio Nut]

Oh, 990 has come up in a discussion again.

I did a quick FCC search and it's still on the records.

Seems like it has been silent for a long while.