Jen Brien Officially Gets WBZ-1030 Overnight Show

katzradio · Jul 16, 2013

o weigh in on with a comment for this show.
I knew that would be brief. They aren't going to provide a forum for negative comments.

LOL - Yeah.

There are still quite a few neg. comments on there, they may *edit* them at some point. As far as Phil Hendrie, he is slated to go "live" any day now, they are busy ironing out last minute details. Some of his affiliates are still airing older shows of his.

Dave_C · Jul 17, 2013

It amazes me that Brien got this job in the first place. She's a mediocre host and is unprofessional. On one show about a week ago, she spoke (on-air) of having overslept and waking up with less than two hours to get to the station on time for her show. One night, she had two guests on and let them do most of the talking for the hours they were on, as if she were partly using them to eat up the time that she couldn't handle by talking on her own. On top of that, we're treated to the half-finished sentences and ongoing "mm-hmm" she drops at the end of a thought.

I hope her show gets cancelled fast.

katzradio · Jul 17, 2013

Dave_C said:
It amazes me that Brien got this job in the first place. She's a mediocre host and is unprofessional. On one show about a week ago, she spoke (on-air) of having overslept and waking up with less than two hours to get to the station on time for her show. One night, she had two guests on and let them do most of the talking for the hours they were on, as if she were partly using them to eat up the time that she couldn't handle by talking on her own. On top of that, we're treated to the half-finished sentences and ongoing "mm-hmm" she drops at the end of a thought.

I hope her show gets cancelled fast.

Yes, Dave, same thoughts here. I talk to quite a few of the listeners in the N.E. area and not a one of them can stand her. I would go as far to say that she is hands down, the most unprofessional host I have ever heard. I would like to be able to post one redeeming quality about her, but.... :

thirdendorsed · Jul 18, 2013

Dave_C said:
It amazes me that Brien got this job in the first place. She's a mediocre host and is unprofessional. On one show about a week ago, she spoke (on-air) of having overslept and waking up with less than two hours to get to the station on time for her show. One night, she had two guests on and let them do most of the talking for the hours they were on, as if she were partly using them to eat up the time that she couldn't handle by talking on her own. On top of that, we're treated to the half-finished sentences and ongoing "mm-hmm" she drops at the end of a thought.

I hope her show gets cancelled fast.

You, sir, have nailed it.

katzradio · Jul 18, 2013

I am "in the loop" with a lot of NE listeners, and I have come to find that there is an email/letter writing campaign afoot to have Jen replaced. All who are not happy with her being named as the host, you may contact Peter Casey via. WBZ's radio site.

I've already made my submission. Hey, if you can't do the job, or bit off more than you can chew, maybe you aren't the best choice for this position.

Steve LeVeille, Bob Raleigh, Norm, Larry, all class acts. It takes a special person to follow that lineup.

buick59 · Jul 18, 2013

OMG, this thread is like the Phoenix - it keeps rising from the ashes.
It's funny thought that even the people that dislike or hate her listen faithfully.
I've found a novel solution to the problem -- if I don't have any interest in the subject or Host I shut the radio off. --- LOL
I believe it's a one year contract, she ain't going anywhere soon. I can take or leave her depending on the subject matter.

Bos79 · Jul 18, 2013

I finally really got to listen to her and she's terrible. Dean Johnson was much better. But really there's no bench in radio anymore so there's no talent to hire from. No one wants to work in radio anymore. Kids dont go to college to work in radio because there are no jobs. Dead industry.

CTListener · Jul 18, 2013

Bos79 said:
I finally really got to listen to her and she's terrible. Dean Johnson was much better. But really there's no bench in radio anymore so there's no talent to hire from. No one wants to work in radio anymore. Kids dont go to college to work in radio because there are no jobs. Dead industry.

You should see what we get in print.

katzradio · Jul 19, 2013

You should see what we get in print.

???

What do you mean by that? What do you get in print?

CTListener · Jul 19, 2013

katzradio said:
You should see what we get in print.

Click to expand...

???

What do you mean by that? What do you get in print?

Kids whose writing skills aren't the best. If colleges are turning out good writers, they're not going into the newspaper business.

katzradio · Jul 19, 2013

Years ago I heard that news stories are written at a 7th grade level for the "sheeple". I would tend to agree with that. I cannot stand the news at all, especially in the current age of breaking/shocking stories, 3/4 of which are "non-stories". I make it a point not to listen to any news sources at all. (or read them)

I only read a headline "by accident" when signing into the email homepage or something like that when a headline flashes in front of you & you cannot get away from it fast enough. :

TSBench · Jul 20, 2013

Steve LeVeille, Bob Raleigh, Norm, Larry, all class acts.

Bob Raleigh was subjected to more abuse, both public and internal, than any person in the history of Boston radio. Only person I ever met in the business who had a station try to publically humiliate him into quitting.

Regards,
TSB

wickedwritah · Jul 21, 2013

CTListener said:
katzradio said:

You should see what we get in print.

Click to expand...

???

What do you mean by that? What do you get in print?

Click to expand...

Kids whose writing skills aren't the best. If colleges are turning out good writers, they're not going into the newspaper business.

You must work at a smaller paper. There are still good writers going into the business, they're just now going to bigger stops who are hiring folks right out of school to save $$$.

Conspiracy theory here ... but could WBZ be keeping Brien on so it can drive away so much nighttime listenership that another flip to syndication would get much less of a public outcry?

katzradio · Jul 23, 2013

They keep hammering away at Ms. Brien on 'BZ's programming page. Almost 100 comments now, probably about 90% negative.

It's no wonder really, as each night's show brings another low blow to the prestigious name that WBZ once commanded on the airwaves.

@wickedwritah on the conspiracy theory; you might have something there. Could be a move towards syndication...Grayson perhaps.

Maybe things will get so bad that they call Steve back out of retirement to save the day! ;D

Bos79 · Jul 23, 2013

TSBench said:
Steve LeVeille, Bob Raleigh, Norm, Larry, all class acts.

Bob Raleigh was subjected to more abuse, both public and internal, than any person in the history of Boston radio. Only person I ever met in the business who had a station try to publically humiliate him into quitting.

Regards,
TSB

What was done to Bob?

katzradio · Jul 23, 2013

Bos79 said:
TSBench said:

Steve LeVeille, Bob Raleigh, Norm, Larry, all class acts.

Bob Raleigh was subjected to more abuse, both public and internal, than any person in the history of Boston radio. Only person I ever met in the business who had a station try to publically humiliate him into quitting.

Regards,
TSB

Click to expand...

What was done to Bob?

Yeah, I'm curious about this too. ???

buick59 · Jul 23, 2013

LOL It really amazes me that sometimes people that think and say that they have all kinds of knowledge and background information really don't know much at all. They also seem to be the ones that don't realize what an opinion is. They also seem to think that they should make choices for other people. This is not a "fits all" comment meant for everyone .....but, you know if the shoe fits....
ROFL. As usual all attempts at pissing contests will be ignored. Have any of these people actually had any personal experience with Radio? I'm not defending anyone including Brien but go do five hours five nights a week and you'll see how easy it is. One other thing, she's getting paid.

Dave_C · Jul 23, 2013

The question is whether WBZ wrote an escape-hatch, such as a probation period, into her contract. I'm appalled by her mentioning her past marijuana use (witness her use of the term "wake and bake"). I'm no saint, having tried the stuff twice myself, but good God, have some professionalism.

katzradio · Jul 23, 2013

LOL right back at you! ;D

I guess the show fits, by your definition, so I'll respond. :-\

Why do folks always take the "easy way out"? No disrespect meant at all, really, but when you say -

but go do five hours five nights a week and you'll see how easy it is.

What's the point of saying that? No one is suggesting that they want to do five hours five nights a week. We're simply expressing our dissatisfaction with this poor decision. Yeah, I know - if you don't like it, turn the dial. :

It's a public forum, a place to vent, and maybe, just maybe our voices will be heard and changes will follow.

Blackroc · Jul 23, 2013

her mentioning her past

"Brudnoy did nothing but mention his past. "

" What was done to Bob?"

There were four different segments (two music, two talk) to Raleigh's career at BZ. At one time I think he was working six mornings a week plus a drive time traffic report after his shift(m-f). Even though he did a very good talk show I don't think it was something he wanted. Or wanted to go back to for a second time?

As far as BZ-talk goes I've stopped listening. That includes the weekend with a possible exception for BradleyJ.