Jen Brien Officially Gets WBZ-1030 Overnight Show

[Joseph_Gallant]

After being the most-frequent fill-in for Steve LeVeille after his unexpected retirement from radio last year, Jen Brien has officially been named the weeknight overnight talk hostess on WBZ-1030, where she will be heard Sunday-through-Thrusday nights (Monday-through-Friday mornings) between 12:05 and 5 A.M.

WBZ press release: http://boston.cbslocal.com/jen-brien-named-overnight-host-on-wbz-newsradio-1030/ .

At least CBS didn't push "Overnight America" on to 'BZ for a second time!

Now if only WBZ could expand Bradley Jay's "Jay Talking" on Sunday nights to four full hours (8:05 P.M.-12 Midnight) and replace paid programming between 7:05 P.M. and 12 Midnight on Saturday night with an oldies-music show titled "Retro BZ" and hire J.J. Wright to emcee it!

 

[Blackroc]

Not the choice I would have made. Glick and Raleigh were superstars. Steve and Norm were good. That's a pretty formidable early morning BZ lineup through the years.
I can only speculate as to why she won out for what could be a very nice gig if things go well. GL!

 

[stevensonair]

I'm always curious about new talk talent, and after listening to some of her RKO work and reading her twitter..

Really? I'm seriously surprised this is an attractive choice for five hours a night on a station as significant as WBZ. Were there no better candidates?

 

[wickedwritah]

Didn't she say previously she didn't want the full-time gig because of other commitments?

The problem nowadays with so much satellite talk is that there's no farm team from which people can be promoted. WCAP, WATD, and that's it, really?

 

[DanStrassberg]

I think the answer to why WBZ picked Brien is that, of all the candidates, she was the one that was most clearly and strongly right wing AND, when politics is not the subject, she is very good at light inconsequential banter. The audience for AM talk is skewed very much toward older listeners whose politics are strongly right wing. Pretty clearly, WBZ is not interested in blazing any new trails with its talk shows. What they want is someone who connects well with AM talk's older, politically conservative demos.

But what is to become of the two fill-in hosts who appear to have been displaced: Morgan White Jr and Bradley Jay? Is any future for them at AM 1030 now part of their past?

 

[raccoonradio]

They may still do the occasional fill in, I'd think, and I thought Bradley Jay had a Sunday night gig at BZ (let me check schedule)...yes, the sched says "Jay Talking" Sunday nights 10pm-mid.

btw the other night Jordan Rich was talking to the author of a book on Bob and Ray and I wound up
ordering a copy--show played clips, etc.

Haven't heard Brien enough but would guess she isn't as outrageously right wing as a Michael Savage. (Some listeners incl. older ones are libertarian/classical liberal: Small but effective government, more personal freedom and less "statism", something Jerry Williams was arguing in his later days. For the record which
"party" registration is the biggest in Mass.? The one I belong to: Unenrolled (some call it independent); there are slightly more Unenrolleds than Dem & Repub combined and not everybody is straight-down-the-line left or right. Anyway I wouldn't think she's be like Savage, etc.)

 

[Eli Polonsky]

Now if only WBZ could expand Bradley Jay's "Jay Talking" on Sunday nights to four full hours (8:05 P.M.-12 Midnight) and replace paid programming between 7:05 P.M. and 12 Midnight on Saturday night with an oldies-music show titled "Retro BZ" and hire J.J. Wright to emcee it!

Though I would enjoy such an oldies show, WBZ makes a lot more money with paid programming than they would for commercial sponsors for an oldies show nowadays.

 

[Eli Polonsky]

But what is to become of the two fill-in hosts who appear to have been displaced: Morgan White Jr and Bradley Jay?

Bradley is also doing weekend shifts at co-owned classic rock WZLX, I've heard him Saturday mornings.

 

[raccoonradio]

WABC had been doing oldies Sat night maybe still is

 

[Gregg]

None of the CBS All-News stations runs any infomercials. But because WBZ is a News-Talk hybrid, Boston gets stuck with infomercials. Same with KRLD Dallas. They're All-News but only weekdays 5am - 7pm. So weekends have infomercials there too.

But not on WCBS, WINS, KYW, KCBS, WBBM, KNX, WWJ or even the new CBS All-News station in Washington, WNEW-FM. All-News, no infomercials.

 

[Eli Polonsky]

WABC had been doing oldies Sat night maybe still is

It's gone. WABC is now back to talk Saturday nights.

 

[wickedwritah]

None of the CBS All-News stations runs any infomercials.  But because WBZ is a News-Talk hybrid, Boston gets stuck with infomercials.  Same with KRLD Dallas.  They're All-News but only weekdays 5am - 7pm.  So weekends have infomercials there too. 

But not on WCBS, WINS, KYW, KCBS, WBBM, KNX, WWJ or even the new CBS All-News station in Washington, WNEW-FM.  All-News, no infomercials.

In respect to WNEW, CBS is still about 150 yards behind WTOP. Running infomercials would be shooting itself in the foot. Also, WJFK ran infomercials before going to sports, and I wouldn't be surprised if 1580 (their slightly enhanced daytimer) is doing them now.

 

[benale]

WYAY in Atlanta is all news and not CBS owned and they run infomercials early weekend mornings. Guess they need the money, but nothing damages an all news station where listeners are conditioned to turn the station on anytime they want news, than those god awful infomercials. Talk about an instant tuneout!

Is the $$$ the informercials(that nobody listens to)bring in, really worth it to an all news station that wants to make itself known with a consistent product?

I wish WBZ would run an entertainment oriented show on Saturday night. As soon as I hear an informercial on any station...I'm gone. As soon as I hear the words..the following paid program..I switch immediately. It wouldn't matter if it was the greatest hour of radio ever. I would never wait to find out and I'm sure no one would disagree.

 

[Blackroc]

she didn't want the full-time gig because of other commitments?
--------------------------------------------------------------
That's pretty funny.


I hope it wasn't the RW thing although it's a logical conclusion. Likely it was more data-based than that. Amount of calls per shift, m/f ratios, repeat callers, out-of-state, Ma, range of topics?

I didn't hear all the choices but I don't think they took any tapes from different markets just the locals.

 

[TSBench]

Is the $$$ the informercials(that nobody listens to)bring in, really worth it to an all news station that wants to make itself known with a consistent product?

The best evidence that people DO listen is their very existence.

But I'd be very interested in whatever evidence you have that nobody listens to them.

Thanks in advance.

Regards,
TSB

 

[benale]

Personally, I would never listen to an infomercial. I have no evidence,obviously, but I couldn't imagine infomercials would get any kind of an audience. All I was saying is that a station that proclaims it is all news all the time that runs infomercials is doing a disservice to their audience who expect to hear news whenever they tune in.

 

[wickedwritah]

I'm guessing most of WBZ's target audience isn't listening to AM radio on Saturday nights.

I'd prefer news-talk, too, of course.

 

[raccoonradio]

Diff opinions exist of Brien; Dan on b-r-i said "right wing, Tea party talking points". Comment on Free Republic: "Brien is no conservative! She's a RINO (Republican in Name Only)"

Whatever she is, she impressed enough people to get the slot, y'know?

 

[katzradio]

LOL - Do any of you read the comments on WBZ's program page?

I just found this - I must say I concur with "radjunkie".

C'mon 'BZ, what the heck were you thinking when making this move???

I agree - WBZ has sunk to the lowest of the low..

As far as any other night time talk shows, not local, but Jon Grayson is syndicated in a lot of different markets. His style is similar to Steve's, and he is no where near as dopey sounding as JB is...

From the legend of Larry Glick to this.... my oh my. 'tis a sad day indeed.

 

[TSBench]

Personally, I would never listen to an infomercial.

We've gone from 'nobody' to you personally. Next time, say what you actually mean.

"but I couldn't imagine infomercials would get any kind of an audience.:

What they get is results. That is why an entire industry, and personal fortunes, have been built around producing them. They are the purest form of radio capitalism. Either they work, or they don't, the results are instantaneously known, and if they don't work, they are gone. What part of this formula don't you understand?

All I was saying is that a station that proclaims it is all news all the time

To what station are you refering? WBZ has never been all news, all the time, EVER. And never has promo'd that they were.

that runs infomercials is doing a disservice to their audience

How so? That's like saying Magic is doing a disservice to Lady Gaga fans when they play Maroon 5. WBZ's program mix is what they decide it is. It's not like there's a shortage of alternatives around here. If you're going to take everything a station does that you don't like or expect as a personal affront, you're going to live a life of perpetual umbrage. In fact, if WBZ management were thin-skinned, they'd probably take affront at someone who criticizes them for not being what they never claimed to be.

who expect to hear news whenever they tune in.

You may be the only person in the universe who tunes into WBZ expecting straight-up news 24/7.

Do you actually listen to WBZ, or do you just like to bash long-form pitchmen for buying radio time? It would seem the latter, but you don't seem up-to-speed on the former, either.

I have no interest in radio infomercials myself, and don't think I've ever listened to more than a minute of any of them except by accident. And, with hundreds of alternatives, I'm pretty good at fending for myself.

Regards,
TSB