JP and Lana out at KTRH

[Drucifer]

The wheels for this move were set in motion when Roger Hudson was brought in the be KTRH's news director. He was brought in to set the "magazine" type morning format in motion. He's not a bad guy, he's just doing what he was hired to do.

I always liked Roger Hudson and his delivery. In another situation, I would hire him in a minute!

 

[equalinercard]

Seems like KTRH missed a remarkable, once-in-a-lifetime marketing opportunity with the sudden no-notice eliminate of Lana & J.P.

Why not announce a week, or a month, in advance that the veteran duo are 'retiring' and 'book' a final day for broadcast, not unlike the departure of Oprah. Seems to me, the Chron and every TV station in town would have done features on Lana & J.P. and their remarkable tenure. And I would bet the PPM tune-in for their final broadcast would have seen a spectacular spike. And during their final days/weeks they could have talked about their replacements, offering an endorsement of the new morning show.

I find it hard to believe that Lana & J.P. wouldn't have gone along with such a game plan. Instead, it seemed more like they were put on the curb like two trash-cans. Unseemly, after 27 years.

 

[mrbeasley]

Instead, it seemed more like they were put on the curb like two trash-cans. Unseemly, after 27 years.

I would expect nothing different from any executive manager in corporate radio these days. For the most part, they are all a bunch of weenies without the backbone or character to do the right thing by the dedicated people who work for them. They literally use you up, then throw you away like yesterdays newspaper. The magazine news format KTRH has been running the past few years was a joke. The ratings sucked. It didn't fit two professional news people like J. P. and Lana. But, instead of getting rid of a format that sucked, get rid of the talent. Precisely why I never wanted to work for a corporate operation.

 

[FilioScotia]

***Seems like KTRH missed a remarkable, once-in-a-lifetime marketing opportunity with the sudden no-notice eliminate of Lana & J.P. Why not announce a week, or a month, in advance that the veteran duo are 'retiring' and 'book' a final day for broadcast, not unlike the departure of Oprah. I find it hard to believe that Lana & J.P. wouldn't have gone along with such a game plan.***

I agree it was a sorry way to let someone go after 27 years of award winning work. But that's the way it is in today's corporate world. I see lawyers' fingerprints all over this.

It's a fact of life today that SOME people do not react well to learning they've been laid off. It's not uncommon for someone to go completely unhinged and start shooting people. Some places have security watch them empty their desk and escort them to the door. That's what happened to all the employees of the now defunct Houston Post when the Chronicle bought it and shut it down in the mid 90s.

Radio and TV stations are not going to lay someone off and then keep him and/or her on the air. They are outta there - right then. Management will not take chances the laid-off person will go postal, or lock the control room door and start taking out verbal revenge on the air. That is rare, but it has happened.

Would Lana and JP have gone along with a big "Oprah-esque" end-of-the-line extravaganza for a few weeks? Who knows? I know them well, and they're classy people. I can see them doing it.

But, speaking just for myself, I wouldn't. If I had worked my ass off for that station for almost half my life, winning countless awards, and then got laid off, but asked to stay on for a month to do what you suggest, I would tell them - politely - to put it where the sun doesn't shine and walk out the door. Why would I want to do anything to help someone who has treated me so badly?

Would it hurt their careers to leave that way? I doubt it. Lana and JP are living legends in Texas radio circles, and is there anyone who doesn't know that Clear Channel is infamous for screwing people over? I'm betting they're already getting job offers from all over the place.

 

[Drucifer]

***Seems like KTRH missed a remarkable, once-in-a-lifetime marketing opportunity with the sudden no-notice eliminate of Lana & J.P. Why not announce a week, or a month, in advance that the veteran duo are 'retiring' and 'book' a final day for broadcast, not unlike the departure of Oprah. I find it hard to believe that Lana & J.P. wouldn't have gone along with such a game plan.***

I agree it was a sorry way to let someone go after 27 years of award winning work. But that's the way it is in today's corporate world. I see lawyers' fingerprints all over this.

It's a fact of life today that SOME people do not react well to learning they've been laid off. It's not uncommon for someone to go completely unhinged and start shooting people. Some places have security watch them empty their desk and escort them to the door. That's what happened to all the employees of the now defunct Houston Post when the Chronicle bought it and shut it down in the mid 90s.

Radio and TV stations are not going to lay someone off and then keep him and/or her on the air. They are outta there - right then. Management will not take chances the laid-off person will go postal, or lock the control room door and start taking out verbal revenge on the air. That is rare, but it has happened.

Would Lana and JP have gone along with a big "Oprah-esque" end-of-the-line extravaganza for a few weeks? Who knows? I know them well, and they're classy people. I can see them doing it.

But, speaking just for myself, I wouldn't. If I had worked my ass off for that station for almost half my life, winning countless awards, and then got laid off, but asked to stay on for a month to do what you suggest, I would tell them - politely - to put it where the sun doesn't shine and walk out the door. Why would I want to do anything to help someone who has treated me so badly?

Would it hurt their careers to leave that way? I doubt it. Lana and JP are living legends in Texas radio circles, and is there anyone who doesn't know that Clear Channel is infamous for screwing people over? I'm betting they're already getting job offers from all over the place.

Nice way to package the class-less-ness that is Cheap Channel. I hope Erickson and Berry choke on their Cuban cigars!