MARK DAVIS LEAVING WBAP

[longtimelistener]

Revenue might be lost; it just depends on whether the loss is more or less than what they were paying local talent.

 

[Bob E. Nelson]

Along with Norm Hitzges, Mark Davis was part of my mid-morning listening habit.

Although Davis was primarily political, he had just the right amount of ADD (as he himself characterized it) to veer totally off topic and head down some fun cul de sacs. That's when he was at his best and became thoroughly entertaining, an element lacking in every fill-in host, including the current one, that has covered his slot when he's been away.

There were some laugh out loud funny moments on the Mark Davis show like the Biff Barnes bit (which never grew old) as well as his occasional impressions such as his dead-on imitation of Monica Lewinksy's dad and his capturing of severely miscast Edward G. Robinson as Dathan in The Ten Commandments. His banter with Mike Shannon going into the traffic reports several years ago was another highlight.

Those excursions off the beaten path were the extra dimensions that he brought to his show and what I'll miss.

 

[Triple Fake Jerry]

Having to burn a segger on the Hardine a la Brad Barton was too much to bear.

Synergy ain't all that.

 

[MCLowe]

My first post! Happy to be here after trying to register unsuccessfully for a couple of years. I NEVER received the verification emails, so I finally contacted them and they manually accepted me! AT LAST!!!
============================

Mark Davis helped keep me sane during many trying times, like the 2000 election, 9/11, etc. Sometimes, the calming local voice is the one you want to hear during times of uncertainty. He is a brilliant radio man with a great voice and a lot of energy. I have seen him many times at some military events I've been involved with, so that's another great aspect of his show... support for our troops.

I always enjoyed his theory about what made a news story gain national legs... some combination of the uniqueness of the story and a couple other factors I can't recall, but he seemed to have it right.

Now, he is also a bit of a hyper kid, and I was driven nuts by his constant "Myyyyy heavens to Betsy!" and other silly memes, and I haven't listened to his show for a few years just because I couldn't take it anymore... but aside from that, I have a GREAT deal of respect for the man. I still tuned in his show from time to time when I was up (I work at night) just to get a feel for the "good ol' days".

He used to be on Russ Martin's show from time to time years ago. After he got off the phone, they always spoke positively of him for his radio talent, but they also used to rag on him for being such a hyper-energetic happy-ass! :-D

He will definitely be missed from the Dallas airwaves if he doesn't land somewhere. I enjoyed when he subbed for Rush. That's a pretty good little step to take.

 

[jhguthlac]

I only heard Mark when he was filling in for Rush, which he hasn't done often here lately. Talented host.

 

[pickledfirefly]

The Dickey boys would fire their mama if they thought they could put a few more bucks in their pockets. No regard for employees. No regard for listeners. No regard for radio. A lesson learned well from their ol' man.

Wait a minute, Dickeys certainly do not have a mama.

SATAN DOES NOT HAVE A MOTHER .OR A FATHER .SATAN IS A CREATION.

 

[dismuke]

The Dickey boys would fire their mama if they thought they could put a few more bucks in their pockets. No regard for employees. No regard for listeners. No regard for radio. A lesson learned well from their ol' man.

Wait a minute, Dickeys certainly do not have a mama.

SATAN DOES NOT HAVE A MOTHER .OR A FATHER .SATAN IS A CREATION.

They may not have a mother or a father - but they do have a very juvenile little boy named Chris Krok who in Minneapolis, by the way, infamously accused a grief stricken caller whose child had recently died of being possessed by Satan. I kid you not. You can hear the call yourself here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rcRvqR-Cip4 So I guess that means that he thought the caller was possessed by his radio parents.

Something is very wrong. Cumulus does not have the money to keep Mark Davis who, whether you like his views or not, is very talented, capable and highly regarded - but they do have the money to keep Krok, who is, literally, a mystical lunatic on payroll rather than run syndicated programing in a backwater time slot.

I am thoroughly disgusted. These people are going to run WBAP into the ground to the level that KLIF had already been run into the ground.

 

[MikeShannon914]

There were some laugh out loud funny moments on the Mark Davis show like the Biff Barnes bit (which never grew old) as well as his occasional impressions such as his dead-on imitation of Monica Lewinksy's dad and his capturing of severely miscast Edward G. Robinson as Dathan in The Ten Commandments. His banter with Mike Shannon going into the traffic reports several years ago was another highlight.

Thank you, Bob. That made my day.

 

[MCLowe]

The Dickey boys would fire their mama if they thought they could put a few more bucks in their pockets. No regard for employees. No regard for listeners. No regard for radio. A lesson learned well from their ol' man.

Wait a minute, Dickeys certainly do not have a mama.

SATAN DOES NOT HAVE A MOTHER .OR A FATHER .SATAN IS A CREATION.

They may not have a mother or a father - but they do have a very juvenile little boy named Chris Krok who in Minneapolis, by the way, infamously accused a grief stricken caller whose child had recently died of being possessed by Satan. I kid you not. You can hear the call yourself here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rcRvqR-Cip4 So I guess that means that he thought the caller was possessed by his radio parents.

Something is very wrong. Cumulus does not have the money to keep Mark Davis who, whether you like his views or not, is very talented, capable and highly regarded - but they do have the money to keep Krok, who is, literally, a mystical lunatic on payroll rather than run syndicated programing in a backwater time slot.

I am thoroughly disgusted. These people are going to run WBAP into the ground to the level that KLIF had already been run into the ground.

After all that I spewed above, I do need to make the point that if he was ousted for silly contract reasons, that is a bad move on their part. I can't imagine WBAP without Mark Davis. It's the KING of talk stations now, and they are playing petty with it. What the hell are they thinking???? Now, Krok I've been listening to for the past week and it hasn't been bad, and I have even had to bail on Rusty Humphries a couple of times (my usual 8 till 11 listening) but only time will tell. I am glad they have a live show there now, rather than a MORNING show played after a full day of news has occurred (the big reason I never listened to Laura in that slot).

 

[jeffdfw]

Well, it is Sunday morning and Brad Watson on WFAA Channel 8 just introduced Mark as being on WBAP 820AM and 96.7FM and when Mark finished "Flashpoint" he signed off with that as well... It looked like it was taped but still... :

 

[OHTBGH]

I left KSKY in July, 1997 to come over to WBAP to do Cyber Line on Sunday nights.

Davis' then producer was "schooling" me on what to do/not to do. She even gave me HUUUUGE index cards to place on the board to remind how to brand the station!

She introduced me to Mark and he was to show me how to run the board.

I'd asked when I would get access to Audio Vault for my music and bits. She looked at me like I was from another planet and basically said, "We didn't hire you to play bits!"

I look depressed and Davis noticed.

He says to me, "I've leaned a lot in this business and you know what I think?"

I said "What?"

He paused and said "Its your show: DO WHATEVER YOU WANT! Uh, legally of course. Its better to ask for forgiveness than beg for permission."

I just smiled and said "YES, SIR!"

After that the dye was cast.

The show went on and we were were loved until someone bought our time slot in April, 2001. And we were syndicating and moving to USA Radio at that time as well.

I learned a lot from him. I got to ride with him in is old Oldsmobile (or was it a buick?) smoking and talking about cigars. We went over to Channel 11 where he was taping his then TV show for Sunday mornings. The news had come down that the Catholic Diocees in Dallas got hit with the multimillion dollar lawsuit over a priest abusing a kid.

He had to do a 180 and retool the show to help cover it without missing a beat!

Later I met Kathy at my first WBAP Christmas party at The Studios At las Colinas. Her MS had returned but she was stronger then. My health problems were also starting about as well.

I'd come in about the time he was finishing his (then first tour) Sunday national show. We'd talk briefly and he'd rush out the door to take care of home stuff and the occasional public appearance.

I'd use the computer in the call screening room for show prep while he did the show. Some days I'd come in feeling like utter crap! Didn't want to do it and in such pain.

But I'd see Davis on the other side doing his thing. Then he'd go home to take care of his ailing wife, his then six year old daughter and nephew (after Kathy's brother died of MS as well they took him in.).

The usual getting the kids to school, Kathy to rehab and to doctors and all the other normal things a family does. Not to mention all the public appearances and other obligations he had as well.

Somehow he was able to juggle it. It probably wasn't perfect and also wasn't easy. But he did it day in and day out.

And after watching what he did all the time I realized that my life, though what I was going through, was a cake walk!

Like I said I learned alot from him: radio, politics, cigars, family, some religion and life its self.

And I'll be forever grateful. I hope he continues here in D/FW but if not I'm sure he'll land somewhere.

Or maybe even go the way of Glen Beck and the Internet! ;D

May his future always be bright!

-BGH

 

[country24]

Mark is the greatest. (Sorry Rush, you're great, but you don't quite measure up to Mark.)

I'm guessing it's a money dispute. Either Mark thinks he's worth more than he is, or Cumulus isn't willing to pay him what he's worth. Or maybe a little of both.

Sure hope he shows up somewhere I can get him soon.

 

[CinnamonToast]

I suppose it's cheaper for Cumuluseless to be rid of Mark Davis, but I will really miss the only LOCAL news/talk morning show of any quality in DFW. Sure, he drove me nuts sometimes, but for the most part Mark was my morning fix.

I absolutely cannot deal with the radio poison that is blustery old Hal Jay and his wheezy laugh of death. Kidd Kraddick's show has too much bad music and too much pointlessness (bits, Jenna, etc.). Nothing else really comes in on my car radio, and I have a LOOOOONG commute.

Guess it's Glenn Beck on XM for me now. He's technically local these days, right?

 

[MCLowe]

I suppose it's cheaper for Cumuluseless to be rid of Mark Davis, but I will really miss the only LOCAL news/talk morning show of any quality in DFW. Sure, he drove me nuts sometimes, but for the most part Mark was my morning fix.

I absolutely cannot deal with the radio poison that is blustery old Hal Jay and his wheezy laugh of death. Kidd Kraddick's show has too much bad music and too much pointlessness (bits, Jenna, etc.). Nothing else really comes in on my car radio, and I have a LOOOOONG commute.

Guess it's Glenn Beck on XM for me now. He's technically local these days, right?

I'm glad somebody else said that about Hal Jay's forced laugh. Can you imagine if you had made that your meme early on and then had to spend the rest of your career with that forced, painful-sounding, FAKE wheeze every time someone said something you wanted to try to pass off as funny??? I feel sorry for him, because it really just sounds painful! I can just imagine people coming up to him on the street... "Hey, can you do the wheeze?" SHEESH!!!

I saw the Bee Gees years ago on PBS... the Red Rock concert. When I heard Robin Gibb singing in that 70's-era falsetto, it was the same sort of feeling. Did they realize they would have to sing in that ridiculous voice for the rest of their lives when they came up with that sound??? Sure, it's cool for a few songs, but EVERY SONG??? It's such an unnatural voice to be using in the first place, but EVERY SONG??? ;-)

 

[dismuke]

I actually enjoy Hal Jay. But, yes, his laugh is often very obviously fake. In fact, EVERYBODY on that morning program has a fake laugh. After all, many of the jokes and skits are NOT especially funny. But I guess it would be bad form if something is being presented as comedy for the other hosts on the program to remain silent.

I have just always assumed that one of the prerequisites for making it to the big time in any sort of entertainment radio is the ability to laugh on command.

 

[CinnamonToast]

So glad to know I'm not alone on this!

I saw the Bee Gees years ago on PBS... the Red Rock concert. When I heard Robin Gibb singing in that 70's-era falsetto, it was the same sort of feeling. Did they realize they would have to sing in that ridiculous voice for the rest of their lives when they came up with that sound??? Sure, it's cool for a few songs, but EVERY SONG??? It's such an unnatural voice to be using in the first place, but EVERY SONG??? ;-)

I'd take 24 straight hours of Robin Gibb falsetto over 3 hours of Hal Jay! The wheeze is the WORST, but he also comes across as mean and cranky.

I have just always assumed that one of the prerequisites for making it to the big time in any sort of entertainment radio is the ability to laugh on command.

You're probably right about that. But why isn't it a prerequisite to actually BE funny so your co-hosts don't have to fake the laughs?

 

[dismuke]

You're probably right about that. But why isn't it a prerequisite to actually BE funny so your co-hosts don't have to fake the laughs?

I think part of it is that some of the humor on the WBAP morning program is intentionally of the cornball type which is intended to produce groans more than laughs. But imagine what it would be like to listen to a Sam From Sales or some of the other skits they do without the fake laugh track. The laugh track sets a certain tone and context for the audience. I can't say that it is my favorite sort of humor. But apparently it does have a following as those skits endured for many years and seemed to have pretty decent sized fan base.

Also, a lot of the forced laughter on the morning program is not in response to anything that is explicitly put forth as comedy but rather to the back and forth banter and "happy talk." Again, the laughter sets a certain tone. I think it is intended to create an appearance of a bunch of cheerful, laid back people who are having a good time with each other while they deliver the news. In other words, it provides people some light hearted background noise and company while they drive in to work and catch up on news and such. It is basically a form of theater. My guess is that the hosts privately groan about all sorts of stuff that they say.

On a similar but different note, if you do a search online, you can find recordings of WBAP's broadcast day from 1963 on the day that Kennedy was assassinated. It begins at 7:00 AM if I recall correctly at the Hotel Texas in downtown Fort Worth where Kennedy had yet to make his last speech in front of the hotel before heading to Dallas. The broadcast follows the events of the rest of that morning and day.

It is a fascinating thing to listen through on many levels aside from the famous events that took place. For example, you hear the station IDs change from WBAP 820 to WBAP 570 (from when WFAA and WBAP shared both frequencies and switched back and forth ever few hours.) But you also hear how different radio news on WBAP was back then verses now. Back then it was serious and formal with none of the clowning around you hear today (or might have heard back then on the top 40 stations). Then again, a lot has changed. Our culture has changed, for one. But also, with the advent of the Internet and cable news networks, radio is not longer as relevant in terms of straight news as it once was. NPR still does it. But my guess is that the WBAP news of 1963 would not attract as much in terms of ratings as their newscast today.

 

[CinnamonToast]

That makes sense. I know culture now leans toward "infotainment," and I certainly prefer some banter in the morning as opposed to straight news. As for the WBAP morning show, I'm probably not the target demo (about 20-30 years too young), which may explain why the humor is lost on me.

 

[Gopher]

That makes sense. I know culture now leans toward "infotainment," and I certainly prefer some banter in the morning as opposed to straight news. As for the WBAP morning show, I'm probably not the target demo (about 20-30 years too young), which may explain why the humor is lost on me.

That may be part of the problem. I wonder what the median age of a WBAP listener is? Our clock radio is set to WBAP and the first school/work day sounds I have heard since the late 60's is the WBAP morning show.

From what I have read on several local discussion boards the Davis issue is not playing well. If they do run Hal off and Mark the station will lose a huge amount of listeners.

I guess they haven't learned anything from the fan reaction at KSFO in San Francisco.

 

[dismuke]

From what I have read on several local discussion boards the Davis issue is not playing well. If they do run Hal off and Mark the station will lose a huge amount of listeners.

I guess they haven't learned anything from the fan reaction at KSFO in San Francisco.

Well, Cumulus is the same outfit that seems to think that Krok is a really good talk show host.

And speaking of Cumulus, the very first caller to the Huckabee program that they are so eager to push turned out to be a staged caller - none other than Cumulus Vice President Mike McVay who called in as "Mike From San Francisco" mere seconds after the call in number was announced for the very first time. See: http://spectator.org/archives/2012/04/10/huckabee-show-opens-with-stage

What a fine and wonderful organization Cumulus seems to be - eh?