Leykis loses national syndication

[bluze1]

No offense, RR, but I think you're making a mountain out of a molehill.

I have to agree. I listened to Tom's show occasionally for entertainment and a few laughs. It was obvious that it it was all a put on. I realize that his type of show is an acting job. It struck me funny as I used to reside in Phoenix when Leykis was on KTAR and his character was that of a screaming liberal. Sure there are some unfortunates that would take him seriously, but those are the same folks that believe pro wrestling is real. There is little hope for them. I'll get my moral compass from my faith thanks. Radio is supposed to be fun unless you are a hard news outfit.

 

[Lancer]

His shows lately had become so watered down it was obvious. With stations being the dog & the FCC being the rolled-up newspaper, stations would jump at the least thing that could be construed as offensive. Thanks Janet. Even Stern's show sounded like Swiss cheese by the time it ran through multiple censor delays. You could fit a 20 minute commercial break into any of those holes. ;D

I will also add Leykis was a nice guy - I met him when he came to Dallas a few years back & he was very cool. Hope he can get something going, maybe on satellite. At least half of his show wouldn't be "dumped."

 

[romanradio]

scrtr84:

So I'm making a mountain out of a molehill? Think about something that offends your sensibilities. Is there anything? Child abuse. Racism. Cruelty. Torture. Now imagine someone went on air and joked about it on their show incessantly. But of course, they're only joking. But naive listeners played along and called this host up for advice, admired the host and lived according to his advice. Would this bother you? Even if this 'nice guy' was only having fun, making good entertaining radio. If you answer yes, then we're in agreement and we both believe there is such a thing as a mountain and not all things are molehills. If you answer no, I'm afraid your life is filled with molehill after molehill and you are beyond reach in regard to any sense of right and wrong.

Maybe I'm on the wrong board speaking about such things as truth and goodness in the media... but I'd like to think that I'm not alone.

RR

 

[scrtr84]

scrtr84:

So I'm making a mountain out of a molehill? Think about something that offends your sensibilities. Is there anything? Child abuse. Racism. Cruelty. Torture. Now imagine someone went on air and joked about it on their show incessantly. But of course, they're only joking. But naive listeners played along and called this host up for advice, admired the host and lived according to his advice. Would this bother you? Even if this 'nice guy' was only having fun, making good entertaining radio. If you answer yes, then we're in agreement and we both believe there is such a thing as a mountain and not all things are molehills. If you answer no, I'm afraid your life is filled with molehill after molehill and you are beyond reach in regard to any sense of right and wrong.

Maybe I'm on the wrong board speaking about such things as truth and goodness in the media... but I'd like to think that I'm not alone.

RR

You are making an M out of an M by ranting and preaching about your values, and how radio doesn't conform to them. Hey that's great that you have them, and I have my own as well. Unfortunately radio, like other forms of media, aren't all about truth and goodness. If you don't like what is being broadcast, then don't listen.

 

[bluze1]

Re: Molehills and Mountains

Radio entertainment is no more to values than modern journalism has to do with the truth. If you don't like it turn the dial Lyle. That is why there are a modicum of choices out there. If no one listens it goes away. If it is popular it stays. If I want to get my values from a radio, I have the opportunity to tune to that type of program, or not. When you use general broadcasting to promote values, how do you determine who's values to promote?

 

[board monkey]

As an example, The Word 100.3 FM is a total waste of a format and signal. They are your values and morals station and have an asterisks in ratings. Radio is a business and you shouldn't get your values from inanimate object.

 

[Lancer]

If I want someone to dictate to me how to vote, I won't be listening to The Word.

I will listen to the Limbaugh's or endless clones. At least they don't use the guise of religion to force their views on me.

 

[jondavidvox]

Interesting thread....But in my view, a few points are being missed.

1.) Our Society, in the vast majority, is comprised of responsible People.

2.) Radio is a public broadcast medium, and therefore has a responsibility to Society, and the People.

3.) The further Radio gets away from being responsible part of Society, the more responsible People look for alternatives to Radio. Even if there are only a few irresponsible Slime Mongers on the air, how is a responsible Person supposed to know when they are going to find worth-while programming, or foul scum on their Radios?

4.) Radio, being irresponsible in the presentation not just of on-air content, but also in it's business dealings with Clients, Investors, and Stockholders, is now flopping around in foolish, self-inflicted death throes trying to keep Wall Street happy. To do this, Radio is now destroying what's left of its product, all the while bemoaning how awful economic times are. (Forgetting that historically Radio is one of the only businesses to ever flourish during hard economic times....)

5.) Tom Leykis represents the completely predictable outcome of Radio's desperate search for revenue over responsibility by allowing a Slime Monger to spew forth every day, on a national network no less, thus representing our industry as the low-rent, trailer-trash, loose cannon of American Media. This foolishness played out on hundreds of lemming radio stations run by those celebrating their ability to gleefully destroy their own industry for literally Hundreds of Dollars!!!.....Wa-HOO!

6.) Those who say, "Leykis is just a radio host..." contribute to this pathological idiocy by devaluing the formerly honored job title of "Radio Host". Edward R. Murrow was a Radio Host. Ronald Reagan was a Radio Host. Steve Allen was a Radio Host. Walter Cronkite was a Radio Host. Bill Moyers. Larry King. David Letterman. Tom Snyder. And because Radio has mindlessly pursued the Cheap over the Responsible, those giants left Radio, just as our former Listeners are doing....Thanks to the likes of Tom Leykis, and those who first empower them, then cast them aside when the embarrassment becomes too great for even their low-brow ethics.

Roman, keep speaking out. Stand for the Good and the True. But Take Care....

The Meek Shall Inherit the Mess.

Jon-David Wells
The Wells Report
KLIF, Dallas/Ft. Worth

 

[scrtr84]

J.D.,

That's all well and good, but my point is RR comes off as being a Bible thumper, by preaching his / her values and expecting radio to have the same values RR does. Every individual has their own set of values, and they may not all be equal. As such, to expect even the public airwaves to follow any individual's values to the letter, is unrealistic amd all but impossible. The same can be said for TV which also operates on the public airwaves, does it not?

 

[jondavidvox]

SCRTR....

First, of all the things that should be "thumped" in any discussion regarding Radio, I'm thinking that thumping the Bible isn't such a bad idea. That being said, being condescended to can get tiresome. (I almost never join these conversations anymore because I come off as a jerk sometimes....)

TV has always looked for opportunities to exploit the scummy edge of content, and for the exact same reason. (Frankly, anything TV does that is stupid pleases me to no end.)

I think we need to set aside style differences and join together as On-Air Broadcasters and begin the labor of fixing this mess right now.

J-D
TWR

 

[romanradio]

scrtr84:

I find it interesting that you accuse me of sounding like a 'bible thumper' when not once in any of my messages on this topic did I mention God, the bible or religion. I only spoke of Truth and Goodness. While I am a Catholic Christian, it's not necessary to refer to religion specifically when speaking of Goodness and Truth. There are many things which are simply natural law (which never contradicts the faith). We know such things through the light of human reason. So I think you're a bit trigger happy to accuse folks of shoving religion down the throat... when religion is never even mentioned.

But this does bring us nicely back to square one.... what are the standards that all decent people... of any or all faiths... would find acceptable on public radio... what exposes beauty and goodness? This is a very valuable and important question for anyone in radio to ask.

Jon David, thanks for your support. You argue much more eloquently than I... and I'm glad you're out there.

RR

 

[board monkey]

My final comment on this whole morals/values idea about radio. My mortgage company doesnt care whether I have a job that is family friendly or the O&A's, Tom Leykis', Howard Sterns, Rush Limbaughs, Sean Hannity's, Al Franken's or whatever. All they care about is the fact I pay it on time. Same with my refrigerator. I like food and eating is great. I dont have to have the same ideas as the show I'm running as long as the company pays me. Radio is only a business anymore. I dont care what the original FCC intent was in the frequencies being public domain and to serve the "greater good" of the populace. We all know most radio people have to have a second job just to get by anyways. So holding on to the one you have whether you agree or not with whatever show your running is of no consequence.

The only station I didnt like working for was KNON. I worked for free and I had to be there early in the morning for the morning show. That and the crazies that would vandalize the "Old White House" by peeing in the lobby by the ACORN office and the workers union. That studio was a death trap. The equipment sucked and the window unit could be heard on the mics with the pidgeons nesting next to it. Not like the mics worked all that well either. Oh and you can't forget the protesters that were upset because they were let go from a VOLUNTEER position. Ridiculous :.

 

[scrtr84]

RR,

I believe you missed my point.

The point is, you are pushing your values onto everyone else. The Bible thumping comment was merely an attempt to show an example of what some people do when they get over-obsessed with preaching their beliefs, so to speak.

Unfortunately, society has changed with the passage of time, and defining "truth and goodness" has become a gray area. As such, I believe more and more people are keeping their values and beliefs to themselves, as they should, since really that's no one else's business anyway.

I hope that will clear things up for you.

 

[DToTheJ]

My final comment on this whole morals/values idea about radio. My mortgage company doesnt care whether I have a job that is family friendly or the O&A's, Tom Leykis', Howard Sterns, Rush Limbaughs, Sean Hannity's, Al Franken's or whatever. All they care about is the fact I pay it on time. Same with my refrigerator. I like food and eating is great. I dont have to have the same ideas as the show I'm running as long as the company pays me. Radio is only a business anymore. I dont care what the original FCC intent was in the frequencies being public domain and to serve the "greater good" of the populace. We all know most radio people have to have a second job just to get by anyways. So holding on to the one you have whether you agree or not with whatever show your running is of no consequence.

Funny you should mention O&A, and a previous comment about Leykis being a nice guy behind the scenes, which I won't doubt - but according to O&A, he wasn't like that about ten years ago. When both shows broadcasted live from the now-defunct WNEW-FM in New York, O&A told their listeners that Leykis didn't allow anyone in his studio when O&A checked in, I guess to make nice. I guess they took it personal.

 

[jeffdfw]

The LA board is reporting that Leykis last day is Friday. It seems that CBS is blowing up LA's FM Talk station. Carolla is out as well. Looks like the previous poster hit the nail on the head... Looks like CHR/Top 40 is on the way.

 

[board monkey]

My final comment on this whole morals/values idea about radio. My mortgage company doesnt care whether I have a job that is family friendly or the O&A's, Tom Leykis', Howard Sterns, Rush Limbaughs, Sean Hannity's, Al Franken's or whatever. All they care about is the fact I pay it on time. Same with my refrigerator. I like food and eating is great. I dont have to have the same ideas as the show I'm running as long as the company pays me. Radio is only a business anymore. I dont care what the original FCC intent was in the frequencies being public domain and to serve the "greater good" of the populace. We all know most radio people have to have a second job just to get by anyways. So holding on to the one you have whether you agree or not with whatever show your running is of no consequence.

Funny you should mention O&A, and a previous comment about Leykis being a nice guy behind the scenes, which I won't doubt - but according to O&A, he wasn't like that about ten years ago. When both shows broadcasted live from the now-defunct WNEW-FM in New York, O&A told their listeners that Leykis didn't allow anyone in his studio when O&A checked in, I guess to make nice. I guess they took it personal.

He was nice to me and so was his crew. I cant speak for how he treated others.

 

[Knockpincorn]

And for those who don't realize it, most of Tom's 'views' are shtick. He found a niche that worked and he stuck with it. I don't agree with most of the things he said regarding women, relationships, money, etc... but mad props to him for finding something that worked and sticking with it. The only thing I don't really approve of personally, is the fact that there are SO many morons out there who actually DO follow the things he says. That's pretty sad, but oh well.

Yeah, promoting things like...

Wearing condoms 100% of the time and not screwing up you life with unplanned pregnancies.
Going to a real college and getting the best education you can.
Realizing your dreams before even thinking of getting married.
That there's no benefit to a man to get married (there isn't).
Not getting into relationships before you're mature enough to handle them.
Protecting yourself from bad marriages and unfair divorce laws with pre-nup's or, better yet, not marrying in the first place.
Avoiding people who will make your life more difficult.
Putting away money and investing conservatively for your future.
Not spending all your money on dinners and gifts for women expecting them to sleep with you.
Not caving in to women's demands.
Taking control of your life and not being a loser.
Having self respect.

Wow, what horrible advice, he can't possibly mean all that! ;D

Tom was an advocate for men. He's the one guy out there who apologetically told things the way they are from a man's perspective. It sounded harsh to the people accustomed to the usual pussified point of view in the media (ie. the Dr. Phil and Oprah crowd and the God crowd) but to those of us living the real world, it was damn good advice.

He'll be missed, but he'll be back.

 

[board monkey]

And for those who don't realize it, most of Tom's 'views' are shtick. He found a niche that worked and he stuck with it. I don't agree with most of the things he said regarding women, relationships, money, etc... but mad props to him for finding something that worked and sticking with it. The only thing I don't really approve of personally, is the fact that there are SO many morons out there who actually DO follow the things he says. That's pretty sad, but oh well.

Yeah, promoting things like...

Wearing condoms 100% of the time and not screwing up you life with unplanned pregnancies.
Going to a real college and getting the best education you can.
Realizing your dreams before even thinking of getting married.
That there's no benefit to a man to get married (there isn't).
Not getting into relationships before you're mature enough to handle them.
Protecting yourself from bad marriages and unfair divorce laws with pre-nup's or, better yet, not marrying in the first place.
Avoiding people who will make your life more difficult.
Putting away money and investing conservatively for your future.
Not spending all your money on dinners and gifts for women expecting them to sleep with you.
Not caving in to women's demands.
Taking control of your life and not being a loser.
Having self respect.

Wow, what horrible advice, he can't possibly mean all that! ;D

Tom was an advocate for men. He's the one guy out there who apologetically told things the way they are from a man's perspective. It sounded harsh to the people accustomed to the usual pussified point of view in the media (ie. the Dr. Phil and Oprah crowd and the God crowd) but to those of us living the real world, it was damn good advice.

He'll be missed, but he'll be back.

BINGO! Well put!