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House Foundation
- Thread starter BogusBoy
- Start date
Yes, and????
There ain't many around like Gerry House! He's one of the best! 8)
Not that I disagree but what makes him so great?
What makes GH so great? Could it be the listeners he attracts? (8) Could it be the $$s he brings the company because he has listeners? Could it be his professionalism?
I'm sure it has nothing to do with him being a song writer,comedy writer and probably the brightest person I've ever worked with...and there have been quite a few.
While there are people who don't like him, that's why we have choices. I like funny in the morning. Always have, still do.
And I would have written this if I weren't working at CC and didn't know him. Having said all that....that's just my opinion and I'm sure there are many other opinions out there. Please share.
Buddy Sadler
I'm sure it has nothing to do with him being a song writer,comedy writer and probably the brightest person I've ever worked with...and there have been quite a few.
While there are people who don't like him, that's why we have choices. I like funny in the morning. Always have, still do.
And I would have written this if I weren't working at CC and didn't know him. Having said all that....that's just my opinion and I'm sure there are many other opinions out there. Please share.
Buddy Sadler
My question is, would SIX survive without him? (uh oh, here comes Romer....LOL)
If Gerry were not there who would dominate, the wolf or KDF? Settle down, I know I mentioned the letters KDF but there is no need to get out your rock card. It's been 8 years for Christ's sake, let it go.
If Gerry were not there who would dominate, the wolf or KDF? Settle down, I know I mentioned the letters KDF but there is no need to get out your rock card. It's been 8 years for Christ's sake, let it go.
raydiofreak said:
Since I hope it's not until sometime in the distant future, I'd say who knows what it would be like then. But if it were some tomorrow in the near future, I'd think they'd just pick up Big D & Bubba's syndicated morning show and continue, although with less dominance. Many people listen to Gerry that don't stick around for country the rest of the day.
a) What makes him so great? On a surface level, it's the pretty rare combination of humor & relatability. Many people who are funny aren't especially likeable. But Gerry's very likeable and very funny. On a slightly deeper level, it's his incredible writing ability--it doesn't SOUND scripted; it SOUNDS like he just ad-libs one funny bit after another. Tremendous preparation. And, yeah, he sounds like he's just sitting around the kitchen table shooting the shit with his buddies and having fun. And that's what really makes him great: he understands how radio really works. One on one. Very personal. He talks to his listeners as though they are people he likes.
b) Could WSIX survive without him? Very few radio companies think long term, and I'd be surprised if Clear Channel is one of them. But if they were smart, they'd be scouring the country to find "the next Gerry House." And then hiring that person to play a daily role in the House Foundation, so that when Gerry does finally hang up the old jock strap, his successor just moves to the next mike.
So here's the real question: Is that person already on-board?
b) Could WSIX survive without him? Very few radio companies think long term, and I'd be surprised if Clear Channel is one of them. But if they were smart, they'd be scouring the country to find "the next Gerry House." And then hiring that person to play a daily role in the House Foundation, so that when Gerry does finally hang up the old jock strap, his successor just moves to the next mike.
So here's the real question: Is that person already on-board?
Squeeze it Haemish
In 1998, Gerry was talking about how odd it was in popular music that guitar solos would be preceded by someone saying, "play it Steve", or "pick it John". He said "Imagine if during a polka song, someone yelled 'squeeze it Haemish".
Later that week, I was bowling in a league at Melrose Lanes. I bowled out of turn, and a team mate yelled "squeeze it Haemish". A seemingly obscure and nonsensical quip. About ten people laughed, obviously having heard Gerry say it.. It became a silly catch phrase throughout the league. To this day, when I run into folks from that league we say it. I know it's stupid. But I remember thinking then that GH had the power to start a catch phrase that would rival anything created on SNL, and that he probably never even knew it. Most likely forgot the line seconds after he said it.
Now that's a gift.
In 1998, Gerry was talking about how odd it was in popular music that guitar solos would be preceded by someone saying, "play it Steve", or "pick it John". He said "Imagine if during a polka song, someone yelled 'squeeze it Haemish".
Later that week, I was bowling in a league at Melrose Lanes. I bowled out of turn, and a team mate yelled "squeeze it Haemish". A seemingly obscure and nonsensical quip. About ten people laughed, obviously having heard Gerry say it.. It became a silly catch phrase throughout the league. To this day, when I run into folks from that league we say it. I know it's stupid. But I remember thinking then that GH had the power to start a catch phrase that would rival anything created on SNL, and that he probably never even knew it. Most likely forgot the line seconds after he said it.
Now that's a gift.
So...the question was "what makes Gerry so good"? Answer: no one works harder at what he does. If you listen to his shows, the sheer amount of new, ORIGINAL content he produces every day is mind blowing. I'm certain he finds it all very flattering.
Here's my issue: NOT ONE morning show does a radio station make. Not even Gerry House...although he might be close at today's WSIX. As with all morning shows, his program SHOULD set the table for the rest of the broadcast day. Clearly, Gerry does his part. However, Gerry house IS NOT on the air the other 20 hours of the day. There have been a variety of quite talented people who have come and gone from "the big fat 98 of love" and rarely do they get their due.
Let's see...Gerry House was there before WSIX became #1 in the market and here's there now when they aren't.
It takes more than a good morning show to make a great radio station.
Here's my issue: NOT ONE morning show does a radio station make. Not even Gerry House...although he might be close at today's WSIX. As with all morning shows, his program SHOULD set the table for the rest of the broadcast day. Clearly, Gerry does his part. However, Gerry house IS NOT on the air the other 20 hours of the day. There have been a variety of quite talented people who have come and gone from "the big fat 98 of love" and rarely do they get their due.
Let's see...Gerry House was there before WSIX became #1 in the market and here's there now when they aren't.
It takes more than a good morning show to make a great radio station.
What to do with the other 20 hours a day? Back in the late eighties I was visiting my sister in San Diego and stumbled upon Hot AC (or whatever it was called then) KFMB-FM ("KFMBFM"). I listened to the last part of their ensemble morning act and then was shocked to find myself listening to their ensemble mid-day act... which they followed with an ensemble PM Drive act. Basically, the House Foundation X three. Funny, likeable people interacting with each other... all day long. 13 hours of what we all think of as "morning drive."
KFMBFM did real well all through the nineties--top 3 ratings & top 3 revenues--though they've slipped back into the pack in recent years. If I recall correctly, I think they finally got sideswiped by another (Clear Channel) Hot AC pounding away at the "more music, less talk" tactic. KFMB-FM is now some sort of Adult Hits format and #11 in the market.
But it was cool while it lasted. And it remains a blueprint for a station realizing that music-intensive is a short-term deal in an iPod universe...
KFMBFM did real well all through the nineties--top 3 ratings & top 3 revenues--though they've slipped back into the pack in recent years. If I recall correctly, I think they finally got sideswiped by another (Clear Channel) Hot AC pounding away at the "more music, less talk" tactic. KFMB-FM is now some sort of Adult Hits format and #11 in the market.
But it was cool while it lasted. And it remains a blueprint for a station realizing that music-intensive is a short-term deal in an iPod universe...
Bat Fastard said:
Sheesh - you had to go and put on the pants of controversy
and give one of the most positive threads I've ever seen on this board such a negative turn! ;DI do agree though - I'm sure I'm one of many who has always flipped the radio off WSIX at 10AM when Gerry and the gang leave for the day. It's not the talent - it's the fact that the playlist seems to shrink to the Top 20 for the rest of the day. I know Gerry is a bit more talk and a bit less music, but you'd think the great variety of music he does play would rub off on the programming there just a little bit.
Of course, there are a lot of House Foundation listeners who are more fans of Gerry than they are of country music, so retaining these listeners past 10 is not going to be happening!
Have House go till 11.. put on best ofs from 11-12 there are an awful lot of stations playing new country for that size market...maybe fun it up in the afternoon too. Not the clear channel 7 second or less nor a yack fest..but something in the middle. We have always played a ton of country music new and mixed..lets not blame the music for bad programming. Although less Rascal Flatts would be fine.
If Gerri House left SIX, KDF would dominate. I've been friends with Eddie Fox since way back, and I don't really know what's going on at The Wolf since Sebastion left, I've been in the Caribbean since August. But SIX without Gerri House is like LOWER BROAD without Roberts.
Z
Zero Zagnut
Guest
yorkie9 said:Bat Fastard said:
Sheesh - you had to go and put on the pants of controversy
I do agree though - I'm sure I'm one of many who has always flipped the radio off WSIX at 10AM when Gerry and the gang leave for the day. It's not the talent - it's the fact that the playlist seems to shrink to the Top 20 for the rest of the day. I know Gerry is a bit more talk and a bit less music, but you'd think the great variety of music he does play would rub off on the programming there just a little bit.
Of course, there are a lot of House Foundation listeners who are more fans of Gerry than they are of country music, so retaining these listeners past 10 is not going to be happening!
"Wearing the pants of controversy" would make a great CD title or a slogan for Phil Valentine. Great stuff, Yorkie!!!
Dylan Michaels said:
I don't know if I agree. I like the way KDF sounds, but I forget about them being in existence all year until the Titans start playing again. It's like they kind of disappear until the Fall and go back into hibernation at the end of the season.
There's also still an image problem. A lot of us grew up with KDF being THE rock station and a lot of us were not pleased with the switch. In today's world, the "buy-in" for radio is just not there like it was, say 25 years ago. One word - iPOD. Something really big (or a really big name) would have to happen to get people flipping back to KDF again.
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