D
Dark Knight
Guest
Now that Howie is back, I thought in the interests of equal time we should revisit some of Mr. Seldom Right and Wrong Again's commentary on the whole saga. Looking at this compendium of quotes juxtaposed with the actual end results should prove enlightening to the few out there who still lend credence to anything they read over on Mr. Objectivity's site. There were many other ridiculous quotes, but like any Greatest Hits collection, there are tough choices to make. The parenthetical commentary separated from the text is mine.
July
Carr has a history of ratings and revenue that is unmatched in Boston. In the entertainment business, that's what counts.
(Let's remember that when he starts bashing him because he's back on WRKO.)
Let's get real: it's in the best interests of both parties for Howie to move on without doing any further WRKO broadcasts. Why force him to work through September? It's just silly.
(How silly does it look now?)
Former WRKO morning drive host, Scott Allen Miller, has chimed in on Howie Carr's departure from WRKO to WTKK. Scotto predicts, "Within a year, WRKO will no longer be a news/talk station," I have to agree with him.
(At least Scott is a better host than he is a prognosticator - not so sure about the other guy.)
With their jobs on the line, Empress Kahn and Coffee Boy are adhering to Entercom's longstanding scorched earth policy regarding air talent. Despite Bay State laws that are entirely in Howie Carr's favor, can they really force him to remain with the station?
(Entirely in Carr's favor? Apparently his legal sense is as good as his prognostication skills.)
George Regan's infamous PR flak firm (which handles both WRKO and the Boston Herald) has just issued a statement saying Howie would remain at WRKO "for many years to come". Could they really be that delusional?
(Riiiight...)
August
Though said to be quite chummy with Empress Kahn, Kramer must by now be aware that the company's Boston operations have become an industry joke.
(It takes one to know one? Actually, Boston was singled out for praise on Entercom's last investor call, and they continue to grow market share every year, but don't let facts get in the way of a good story.)
We're hearing from a number of media-connected folks that Howie Carr's move to WTKK is now a near-certainty, despite the dueling lawsuits and hand-wringing by Entercom management.
(As usual, his sources have their fingers to the ground and their ear on the pulse of the industry.)
September
Why did any of you doubt me? WRKO is being destroyed on purpose. The sleazy ruling regime hates effective talk radio and will do anything to destroy it.
(Yes, and Kahn was planning to put a harpsichord in Carr's former office.)
Think about it: the one reasonably effective conservative on the air has now been removed! Think the Empress and CEO David Field, a key Democrat Party contributor, are really upset to see him axed from the radio? Hell, no!
(Does he realize that as Entercom is a publicly traded company, he's accusing them of a crime here? Probably.)
I don't think this is about keeping Howie from WTKK, rather, the goal is to stick it to someone who dares to deviate from their hippy - dippy political agenda.
We're hearing that as a result of WRKO supposedly "prevailing" in court, sales clients are being told that Howie isn't going anywhere and to expect him to return soon.
Would station advertisers really be foolish enough to believe that? How many are sticking around? Why does the Entercommie regime believe we are all so stupid?
(Momma always said stupid is as stupid does.)
It is downright kooky to continue to name a radio show after a person who has cleaned out his office and left the building.
As I had expected, Howie's legal case didn't go quite as well as his entourage hoped.
(When did he "expect" this? Certainly not when he was making the proclaimations we've read so far.)
October
While Entercom has been busy making enemies all over greater Boston, Carr and Greater Media have never looked better.
Like most non-Entercom stations, WTKK is interested in generating ratings and revenue, while WRKO's parent company is driven primarily by anger and revenge.
(Then why is it that Entercom outsells and outnegotiates Greater Media every day of the week? Anger and revenge? That would be Brian Maloney and Peter Smyth.)
In another way, Greater Media has also positioned itself well: recent rumors that Don Imus might return to WTKK were quickly quashed.
(Some rumors just don't stay "quashed".)
No wonder they'd prefer to believe Howie will soon return to WRKO. I think he'd rather meet up with Whitey Bulger in It-lee than go back to Guest Street, however.
With Howie Carr having quit the program, the big question is why his former affiliates haven't yet dumped it.
(I call the next four quotes, penned over three days in October "Delusional Suite".)
Meanwhile, I don't believe for a moment that Carr will end up back on WRKO, despite what Entercom suits would have us believe.
Tuning in for the first few minutes of what is still called "The Howie Carr Show", it just seemed incredible that WRKO and Entercom believe the station's remaining audience is that stupid.
Anybody not clear on this concept? He HATES the place and would rather be off the air than forced back to WRKO.
That said, every day that WRKO continues this phony "Howie Carr" charade only compounds the foolishness.
The station is only embarrassing itself by continuing this sham.
November
With Howie so close to caving and signing Entercom's deal, one would imagine company insiders could contain the gloating and general arrogance, at least until it has been finalized.
But amazingly, that's simply not the case. In a comment just posted at SaveWRKO, one insider even suggests Howie owes his (still former) WRKO co-workers an apology.
(Under the heading "Ceaseless Arrogance", he criticizes someone who suggests that Howie should consider apologizing to FELLOW EMPLOYEES he badmouthed publicly at length on WBZ-TV and WBZTV.com. Where's the arrogance in that?)
The main concession Howie is seeking is to knock off at least the last three years of his contract, in effect making him a short-timer upon his return to Guest Street. At the end of that abbreviated period, he would be free to go wherever he wants.
(I think he copied this one from a WGBH blog - nice to see he can do covers too.)
July
Carr has a history of ratings and revenue that is unmatched in Boston. In the entertainment business, that's what counts.
(Let's remember that when he starts bashing him because he's back on WRKO.)
Let's get real: it's in the best interests of both parties for Howie to move on without doing any further WRKO broadcasts. Why force him to work through September? It's just silly.
(How silly does it look now?)
Former WRKO morning drive host, Scott Allen Miller, has chimed in on Howie Carr's departure from WRKO to WTKK. Scotto predicts, "Within a year, WRKO will no longer be a news/talk station," I have to agree with him.
(At least Scott is a better host than he is a prognosticator - not so sure about the other guy.)
With their jobs on the line, Empress Kahn and Coffee Boy are adhering to Entercom's longstanding scorched earth policy regarding air talent. Despite Bay State laws that are entirely in Howie Carr's favor, can they really force him to remain with the station?
(Entirely in Carr's favor? Apparently his legal sense is as good as his prognostication skills.)
George Regan's infamous PR flak firm (which handles both WRKO and the Boston Herald) has just issued a statement saying Howie would remain at WRKO "for many years to come". Could they really be that delusional?
(Riiiight...)
August
Though said to be quite chummy with Empress Kahn, Kramer must by now be aware that the company's Boston operations have become an industry joke.
(It takes one to know one? Actually, Boston was singled out for praise on Entercom's last investor call, and they continue to grow market share every year, but don't let facts get in the way of a good story.)
We're hearing from a number of media-connected folks that Howie Carr's move to WTKK is now a near-certainty, despite the dueling lawsuits and hand-wringing by Entercom management.
(As usual, his sources have their fingers to the ground and their ear on the pulse of the industry.)
September
Why did any of you doubt me? WRKO is being destroyed on purpose. The sleazy ruling regime hates effective talk radio and will do anything to destroy it.
(Yes, and Kahn was planning to put a harpsichord in Carr's former office.)
Think about it: the one reasonably effective conservative on the air has now been removed! Think the Empress and CEO David Field, a key Democrat Party contributor, are really upset to see him axed from the radio? Hell, no!
(Does he realize that as Entercom is a publicly traded company, he's accusing them of a crime here? Probably.)
I don't think this is about keeping Howie from WTKK, rather, the goal is to stick it to someone who dares to deviate from their hippy - dippy political agenda.
We're hearing that as a result of WRKO supposedly "prevailing" in court, sales clients are being told that Howie isn't going anywhere and to expect him to return soon.
Would station advertisers really be foolish enough to believe that? How many are sticking around? Why does the Entercommie regime believe we are all so stupid?
(Momma always said stupid is as stupid does.)
It is downright kooky to continue to name a radio show after a person who has cleaned out his office and left the building.
As I had expected, Howie's legal case didn't go quite as well as his entourage hoped.
(When did he "expect" this? Certainly not when he was making the proclaimations we've read so far.)
October
While Entercom has been busy making enemies all over greater Boston, Carr and Greater Media have never looked better.
Like most non-Entercom stations, WTKK is interested in generating ratings and revenue, while WRKO's parent company is driven primarily by anger and revenge.
(Then why is it that Entercom outsells and outnegotiates Greater Media every day of the week? Anger and revenge? That would be Brian Maloney and Peter Smyth.)
In another way, Greater Media has also positioned itself well: recent rumors that Don Imus might return to WTKK were quickly quashed.
(Some rumors just don't stay "quashed".)
No wonder they'd prefer to believe Howie will soon return to WRKO. I think he'd rather meet up with Whitey Bulger in It-lee than go back to Guest Street, however.
With Howie Carr having quit the program, the big question is why his former affiliates haven't yet dumped it.
(I call the next four quotes, penned over three days in October "Delusional Suite".)
Meanwhile, I don't believe for a moment that Carr will end up back on WRKO, despite what Entercom suits would have us believe.
Tuning in for the first few minutes of what is still called "The Howie Carr Show", it just seemed incredible that WRKO and Entercom believe the station's remaining audience is that stupid.
Anybody not clear on this concept? He HATES the place and would rather be off the air than forced back to WRKO.
That said, every day that WRKO continues this phony "Howie Carr" charade only compounds the foolishness.
The station is only embarrassing itself by continuing this sham.
November
With Howie so close to caving and signing Entercom's deal, one would imagine company insiders could contain the gloating and general arrogance, at least until it has been finalized.
But amazingly, that's simply not the case. In a comment just posted at SaveWRKO, one insider even suggests Howie owes his (still former) WRKO co-workers an apology.
(Under the heading "Ceaseless Arrogance", he criticizes someone who suggests that Howie should consider apologizing to FELLOW EMPLOYEES he badmouthed publicly at length on WBZ-TV and WBZTV.com. Where's the arrogance in that?)
The main concession Howie is seeking is to knock off at least the last three years of his contract, in effect making him a short-timer upon his return to Guest Street. At the end of that abbreviated period, he would be free to go wherever he wants.
(I think he copied this one from a WGBH blog - nice to see he can do covers too.)
