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Jordan Rich - Way Too Many Boring Guests - Not Enough Open Lines!!! IMHO

K

katzradio

This is an excerpt from a letter that I just sent off to Peter Casey, program director at WBZ. I sure hope it starts something with him, (a change for the better) as I am ready to write WBZ off completely on the weekend overnights... Any feedback from board members is appreciated...I don't see why anyone would disagree with my points. :D

I can get "hard & heavy" radio/guests anytime during the day-time hours; at night, I just want to kick back & relax with some "easy to listen to" radio. That is what draws me to Steve so much; NO GUESTS (other than the great Mel :) Simons) & plently of light topics! But I digress - please read the following & give feedback/your thoughts. :)

I just wanted to bring something to your attention; I have been a long-time WBZ listener, mainly of the overnight shows. Absolutely love Steve LeVeille, & when I can't get the radio reception, I can now stream from the website - very nice!

My issue is this; in the early days, Jordan Rich USED to do mainly "open lines" shows. But, for the last couple of years, his show is about 90% pre-recorded or live/phone-in guests, & about 10% open line calls.

I would MUCH RATHER that Jordan return to his previous format, where he took open line calls for much of the show, & did very little guests/pre-recorded. And I am sure that I am not alone on this;

on the rare occasion that he does open the phone lines up, they are so jammed with callers who want to talk, that you can hardly ever get through to him.

I have sent him an emails in the past about this, & he said if I didn't like the current format, to send emails to the program director. So, that is what I am doing. I sincerely hope that you can do something about this, as the overnight radio selections are pretty slim on the entire dial, as it is.

Way too much syndication from a certain "UFO" broadcast, & the other slots are trucking radio shows & a smattering of sports; So, Jordan is our only option for decent overnight radio!

Please urge him to return the show the the "old days" when we were one large happy family of callers, & audience participation & enjoyment was high!
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Please don't misunderstand me, this is not a "bashing" letter about Jordan; on the contrary, I like him just as much as Steve LeVeille, I just miss the way things used to be; "Better" radio, in my opinion!

Regards, katzradio :)
 
'BZ's getting way too geriatric now, wonder who listens outside of the nursing homes.
 
'BZ's getting way too geriatric now, wonder who listens outside of the nursing homes.
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Hmmm.... I don't know if I agree with that necessarily. :-\ I would say that I hear a mix of callers, young & older, on the overnight shows.
 
Katzradio, I couldn't agree with you more. I too, like Jordan..but I can not stand listening to him anymore because he always has on guests that I find extremely boring. It might be tolorable if the guest stayed on for 20 mins. or so but it seems like he keeps them on forever..and if it is a person you are unfamliar with and the topic of their book is not that interesting or compelling it's a tune out. That is why I like Steve L. so much because he is topical and takes a lot of calls from people that want to talk about things that are relatable. I could be wrong but...l get the feeling that Jordan is not comfortable with "open lines" I wish he was because I can't listen to him anymore. The awful guests have to go!
 
I'm prejudiced about this a bit because my friend Frank Ochieng, movie critic, is part of the movie/TV panel Jordan has on every couple months. I know those shows aren't boring, and while the lines can get busy I managed to get on with very little trouble early in the show. At times I've tuned in and found topics of interest and there were other times when it didn't interest me.

So you do have a point--if there are guests/topics you aren't interested in, it can be a turnoff. Morgan does
fill ins and has guests for the first or second hours only. Steve L, as you note, does open lines usually.
I just went to Jordan's page and saw (upcoming and recent guests) some guests/topics listed that might interest me: Mike "MASH" Farrell; a discussion of the New England Music Museum; a couple that has been to every
city and town in the state. Some that may possibly interest me--author of a medical thriller...but many that I
didn't find too much interest in...though others may.

Maybe if he confined his guests to one or two hours only, and have open lines the rest of the show? But that would mean you'd get a lot less of
the Movie/TV Panel, etc...

btw Steve does have some heavy topics on from time to time, like the war...

and Jordan was doing some fill ins for Sullivan...and I think he also did guests/topics the whole show.
 
when I was at Allston-Brighton Free Radio, we got in a publication that gave contact/publicist info for potential guests on shows. So when I hear the parade of guests on Jordan's show, it makes me think that someone uses those guides! It's a parade of self-help gurus, etc... or sycophantic interviews with various low-level celebrities. I do like the movie shows... and, besides, it's bedtime radio... the idea is to be able to fall asleep and when I have him or LaVeille on, I'm out within a few minutes :)
 
When I was at WNSH years ago they had some kind of magazine telling you what guests you could book.

Howie was supposed to have Mike Farrell on yesterday but it must have got cancelled or he decided to just do the WBZ interview. One weekend the same guest was on both Jordan's show and Howie's: record
collector Mighty John.
 
I think it is refreshing in today's spate of hate talk radio to have a Jordan Rich who is allowed to explore a multitude of topics. There is a life outside of the Democrats and the Republicrats and the Plutocrats...

I for one hope that the management of WBZ Radio leaves the Jordan Rich Progam just the way it is and let him continue to program it the way that best fits his style and interests.

Sadly, too many listeners have become accustomed to talk show hosts who are vile and contemptable people both on an off the air. Anyone who knows Jordan Rich knows he is the salt of the earth. We should praise the refreshing gift he brings to Boston radio. We are fortunate to have him.
 
AvenueA said:
'BZ's getting way too geriatric now, wonder who listens outside of the nursing homes.
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That has always been the rap on BZ, they've always had a lock on the blue haired crowd. Whenever they would get a down book the joke was always that part of their audience must have been called home to glory. They needed to purge the place a while ago.
 
Well, last night was a refreshing change of pace! Jordan must have been perusing these boards & took note of the topic, because there was Much open line time on the show. The calls were frequent, but not a heavy flow of phone traffic.

My guess is that most folks are so used to his usual format nowadays, that they stopped listening long ago...

Don't get me wrong, I can tolerate movie reviews, book shows, & the car mechanics that he has on the show - that's all fine. My complaint is as I stated in my first post;

My issue is this; in the early days, Jordan Rich USED to do mainly "open lines" shows. But, for the last couple of years, his show is about 90% pre-recorded or live/phone-in guests, & about 10% open line calls.
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Yeah, the 90/10 ratio doesn't set well with me... :(

Guess I am too settled in with WBZ's finest broadcaster - Steve LeVeille!!!
 
And you think WRKO and WTKK with the likes of Finneran, Feinburg, Limbaugh and Carr as well as Graham Crackers and Jay Severino is fine talk radio? Steve Leveille is great AND So Is Jordan Rich.
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quote author=katzradio link=topic=66905.msg476447#msg476447 date=1174850423]
Well, last night was a refreshing change of pace! Jordan must have been perusing these boards & took note of the topic, because there was Much open line time on the show. The calls were frequent, but not a heavy flow of phone traffic.

My guess is that most folks are so used to his usual format nowadays, that they stopped listening long ago...

Don't get me wrong, I can tolerate movie reviews, book shows, & the car mechanics that he has on the show - that's all fine. My complaint is as I stated in my first post;

My issue is this; in the early days, Jordan Rich USED to do mainly "open lines" shows. But, for the last couple of years, his show is about 90% pre-recorded or live/phone-in guests, & about 10% open line calls.
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Yeah, the 90/10 ratio doesn't set well with me... :(

Guess I am too settled in with WBZ's finest broadcaster - Steve LeVeille!!!



[/quote]
 
Someone write this date down! Casablanca and I are in complete agreement! :D
Jordan runs his show a bit differently from how many people are used to hearing local talk shows, yes. I find, though, that at least there's SOME-thing happening during those segments, other than Mary from Everett (name I pull out of thin air) calling to discuss her poinsetta collection and that condition of hers.
I drove out to Chicopee last night, and on the way home, listened to Jordan talking about the Museum of New England Music or whatever they're calling it, someone correct me. My point is I found that segment quite interesting, and gave me something to occupy my mind other than the starfield of snowflakes rushing my windshield on an early spring morning!
Thank you.

Casablanca said:
I think it is refreshing in today's spate of hate talk radio to have a Jordan Rich who is allowed to explore a multitude of topics. There is a life outside of the Democrats and the Republicrats and the Plutocrats...

I for one hope that the management of WBZ Radio leaves the Jordan Rich Progam just the way it is and let him continue to program it the way that best fits his style and interests.

Sadly, too many listeners have become accustomed to talk show hosts who are vile and contemptable people both on an off the air. Anyone who knows Jordan Rich knows he is the salt of the earth. We should praise the refreshing gift he brings to Boston radio. We are fortunate to have him.
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Mickey37 said:
on the way home, listened to Jordan talking about the Museum of New England Music or whatever they're calling it, someone correct me. My point is I found that segment quite interesting, and gave me something to occupy my mind other than the starfield of snowflakes rushing my windshield on an early spring morning!
Thank you.
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that WAS a good segment. Re: my earlier post, I wasn't trying to say that all of Jordan's guests were dull but there are definitely some that sound as though they got the airtime due to a good pitch from a publicist.
 
This is interesting;

I see several posts referring to "Let Jordan Alone", & that his show is great just the way it is. So, are you saying that you didn't like his show previously? Remember, he USED to run his show much live Steve's.

It has only been the last couple of years that he has done the format in this manner...
 
Sunday night, and I've heard Mike Farrell (MASH, Providence, and activism) and a couple who are visiting every city and town in the state. Jordan Rich gives good radio.
 
With all due respect. It may not be the guests who are dull but the listeners.... :(
 
Don't let the door hit you on the way out... Your leaving means more bandwith for the rest of us. Hope you enjoy the syndicated junk or repeats on the other stations.

What did Jordan ever do to you. He is one of the very few good guys in this business.

katzradio1 said:
"I am ready to write WBZ off completely on the weekend overnights..."

BYE!
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Don't let the door hit you on the way out... Your leaving means more bandwith for the rest of us. Hope you enjoy the syndicated junk or repeats on the other stations.

What did Jordan ever do to you. He is one of the very few good guys in this business.
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Guys, if you will please take notice; I (katzradio) did not post that last one - it was a new member "katzradio1"...

@ Casablanca - I don't understand why this thread has turned so nasty & defensive... Jordan has done noting to me; I very much agree with you - he is one of the Best in the business. He has got to be the most mild mannered radio guy I have ever listened to, more so than Steve, for sure!

My "beef" is not with Jordan, just with the way his format has changed over the last couple of years. If you re-read my initial posts, I am sure you will understand that I am very cool with Jordan, i.e., I like him very much, & that is the main reason I want to hear More of him & the callers, not the pre-recorded stuff!

You mentioned
the syndicated junk
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why, to be quite honest; that is what I feel I am listening to anymore with all those guests/pre-records, etc. (Esp. the medium he has on, Gawd) That's paranormal C2C- AM (George Noory/Art Bell) :( if I ever heard it!

There's no originality in that stuff. I do agree, the occasional movie review show, book show, car mechanics, & more are just fine. But after all that, only leaving 20 min. worth of "open-line" time?

I guess I am just used to the way he did his shows in the beginning, & don't like the format shift now...

Please Jordan, come back "home" !
 
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