• Get involved.
    We want your input!
    Apply for Membership and join the conversations about everything related to broadcasting.

    After we receive your registration, a moderator will review it. After your registration is approved, you will be permitted to post.
    If you use a disposable or false email address, your registration will be rejected.

    After your membership is approved, please take a minute to tell us a little bit about yourself.
    https://www.radiodiscussions.com/forums/introduce-yourself.1088/

    Thanks in advance and have fun!
    RadioDiscussions Administrators

Merkel gets snarky

M

MadAirchecker

Guest
3WS morning show has a bit where they play jokes recorded from the monologues on the late night shows -- Letterman, Leno, Conan.

Jim Merkel has developed the habit of groaning at the jokes, or saying stuff like, "Hmm, slow night."

Here's the deal: You're a DJ in Pittsburgh, apparently so bereft of ideas and creativity that you're poaching jokes from network TV shows. So obviously what you have to offer isn't any better than the stuff you're dissing.

Second, if the jokes aren't funny, don't use them on the air. It takes about 90 seconds to listen to the material in advance to decide if it's worth airing. It's called preparation, Jim. Stop phoning it in and put some effort into the show.
 
Maybe fans of old music also prefer old jokes.

> 3WS morning show has a bit where they play jokes recorded
> from the monologues on the late night shows -- Letterman,
> Leno, Conan.
>
> Jim Merkel has developed the habit of groaning at the jokes,
> or saying stuff like, "Hmm, slow night."
>
> Here's the deal: You're a DJ in Pittsburgh, apparently so
> bereft of ideas and creativity that you're poaching jokes
> from network TV shows. So obviously what you have to offer
> isn't any better than the stuff you're dissing.
>
> Second, if the jokes aren't funny, don't use them on the
> air. It takes about 90 seconds to listen to the material in
> advance to decide if it's worth airing. It's called
> preparation, Jim. Stop phoning it in and put some effort
> into the show.
>
 
> Maybe fans of old music also prefer old jokes.

Well, that has nothing to do with anything, but at least it's something other than "they need to buy billboards."
 
> > Maybe fans of old music also prefer old jokes.
>
> Well, that has nothing to do with anything, but at least
> it's something other than "they need to buy billboards."
>

Man, you sure get in a snit if someone disagrees with you, don't you.
 
Not at all. I'm just bewildered as to why someone would post a reply that has absolutely nothing to do with the subject.




> > > Maybe fans of old music also prefer old jokes.
> >
> > Well, that has nothing to do with anything, but at least
> > it's something other than "they need to buy billboards."
> >
>
> Man, you sure get in a snit if someone disagrees with you,
> don't you.
>
 
> Maybe fans of old music also prefer old jokes.< <
HUH?!?!?!

> > Jim Merkel has developed the habit of groaning at the jokes,or saying stuff like, "Hmm, slow night."< <
I can name you other morning drive shows that play clips from late night
TV, and critiques them, often not too favorably.

> > Here's the deal: You're a DJ in Pittsburgh, apparently so bereft of ideas and creativity that you're poaching jokes from network TV shows.< <
Someone at CC tapes the late niters and the jocks play them back early the next AM, I hear Jack Malloy play cuts on 'DVE. The only cut CC can't play is Letterman's top 10, STAR has copyright to that.

> > So obviously what you have to offer isn't any better than the stuff you're dissing.< <
Well, what stuff IS Merkel offering in reply?

> > Second, if the jokes aren't funny, don't use them on the air. It takes about 90 seconds to listen to the material in advance to decide if it's worth airing. It's called preparation, Jim. Stop phoning it in and put some effort into the show.< <
Consider this, Merkel has had a successful voice talent company from his place in Mars for the past several years. I don't want to imply, but if you're raking in money hand-over-fist doing voice work (even for some CC stations nation-wide), as opposed to doing prep for a morning show where you're getting paid WHAT?, and you have someone on that show who can do prep as well, I would venture to guess that I would let THEM do the bulk of the prep, and do my part ONLY when needed. And, besides, he's not the only CC morning talent accused of "mailing it in". When you still play bits that include former talent, you have a serious creativity problem.
 
Let's see, you post that Merkel is "poaching jokes" from network TV shows, which means he's replaying old jokes. I say that maybe people who like reruns of old songs also like reruns of old jokes. How does that have "nothing to do with the subject"?

> Not at all. I'm just bewildered as to why someone would post
> a reply that has absolutely nothing to do with the subject.
>
>
>
>
> > > > Maybe fans of old music also prefer old jokes.
> > >
> > > Well, that has nothing to do with anything, but at least
>
> > > it's something other than "they need to buy billboards."
>
> > >
> >
> > Man, you sure get in a snit if someone disagrees with you,
>
> > don't you.
> >
>
 
The jokes are from the previous nights' TV shows. They're about nine hours "old."





> Let's see, you post that Merkel is "poaching jokes" from
> network TV shows, which means he's replaying old jokes. I
> say that maybe people who like reruns of old songs also like
> reruns of old jokes. How does that have "nothing to do with
> the subject"?
>
> > Not at all. I'm just bewildered as to why someone would
> post
> > a reply that has absolutely nothing to do with the
> subject.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > > > > Maybe fans of old music also prefer old jokes.
> > > >
> > > > Well, that has nothing to do with anything, but at
> least
> >
> > > > it's something other than "they need to buy
> billboards."
> >
> > > >
> > >
> > > Man, you sure get in a snit if someone disagrees with
> you,
> >
> > > don't you.
> > >
> >
>
 
Yeah, well some entertainment bits have a longer shelf life than others. Songs get old in a couple of years, jokes get old in a matter of hours.

Maybe you never noticed this, but jokes are usually only funny once, so people don't like listening to the same joke over again. Comedy skits are different. You can listen to a repeat of a comedy skit and still find it funny. But once a joke has been told, it has been used up. So, a joke that's a few hours old is as much an "oldie" as a song that's several years old.

> The jokes are from the previous nights' TV shows. They're
> about nine hours "old."
>
>
>
>
>
> > Let's see, you post that Merkel is "poaching jokes" from
> > network TV shows, which means he's replaying old jokes. I
> > say that maybe people who like reruns of old songs also
> like
> > reruns of old jokes. How does that have "nothing to do
> with
> > the subject"?
> >
> > > Not at all. I'm just bewildered as to why someone would
> > post
> > > a reply that has absolutely nothing to do with the
> > subject.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > > > > Maybe fans of old music also prefer old jokes.
> > > > >
> > > > > Well, that has nothing to do with anything, but at
> > least
> > >
> > > > > it's something other than "they need to buy
> > billboards."
> > >
> > > > >
> > > >
> > > > Man, you sure get in a snit if someone disagrees with
> > you,
> > >
> > > > don't you.
> > > >
> > >
> >
>
 
The problem is that most of your audience is hearing this material for the first time. Unless they are gluttons for punishment, they won't be staying up half of the night to hear monologues that they know they will hear the very next morning, so the idea that the material is old is problematic at best.

That being said, if you don't like the material, rather than whine about it, don't use it!!! I don't even host a show and I still do three hours of prep every day. There is plenty of content out there to do what you believe to be an entertaining show, you just have to get off of your backside and get it. If there are things you would rather do that make more money, then go do those things, but don't come to the show ill prepared and then whine about the content of your show, cause last I checked, it wasn't Bob or Susie the Intern in the morning, and if your show goes bad, it isn't Bob or Susie that are going to look bad, it's going to be the name on the marquee.
 
First & foremost....can I get an AMEN brother?

> The problem is that most of your audience is hearing this material for the first time.< <
True....not may people function on 4 hours of sleep....well, not outside of radio, anyway.

> That being said, if you don't like the material, rather than whine about it, don't use it!!!< <
It's better to have stuff & not use it....you can save it over for another time, possibly.

> >I don't even host a show and I still do three hours of prep every day.< <
You're a refreshing exception to the rule! I take my prep, re-write into my style, re-read before going on the air. It seems like a lot of work, but when listners call back unsolicted and offer their comments, it makes the show sound a LOT more interesting!

> >There is plenty of content out there to do what you believe to be an entertaining show, you just have to get off of your backside and get it.< <
With the Internet, there is definately NO shortage there! No excuses. I used to cut & paste articles from the newspaper, and believe me, printing from a website & re-write is a LOT easier!

> If there are things you would rather do that make more money, then go do those things, but don't come to the show ill prepared and then whine about the content of your show, cause last I checked, it wasn't Bob or Susie the Intern in the morning, and if your show goes bad, it isn't Bob or Susie that are going to look bad, it's going to be the name on the marquee.< <
Remember, it's easier to point the finger than accept responsibility. What that means, it's real easy to sit there and be critical of others, i.e. our AM DJ calling Letterman/Leno/Conan/etc.'s monologues "boring." I'd say, if it was that boring to you, scrap it and do something else, something more creative. Maybe something that requires some prep.

To those who still give a hoot about what goes into their shows, more power to you! Good luck, and hope all the work shows good results.
 
I am puzzled by your reply. You generalize, "People don't like listening to the same joke over again." Thats odd, I have many comedy albums, plenty of Carlin, Wright, Kinison, Seinfeld CDs of entire joke monologue shows. I have lots of funny movies too. I like to listen to or watch all these things often. "But once a joke has been told, it has been used up." Who are these people who don't like listening to a joke twice? Maybe Playboy should stop printing jokes, too, in case somebody already heard that one. Is it possible these people are just you? Or am I the crazy one.

> Yeah, well some entertainment bits have a longer shelf life
> than others. Songs get old in a couple of years, jokes get
> old in a matter of hours.
>
> Maybe you never noticed this, but jokes are usually only
> funny once, so people don't like listening to the same joke
> over again. Comedy skits are different. You can listen to a
> repeat of a comedy skit and still find it funny. But once a
> joke has been told, it has been used up. So, a joke that's a
> few hours old is as much an "oldie" as a song that's several
> years old.
>
> > The jokes are from the previous nights' TV shows. They're
> > about nine hours "old."
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > > Let's see, you post that Merkel is "poaching jokes" from
>
> > > network TV shows, which means he's replaying old jokes.
> I
> > > say that maybe people who like reruns of old songs also
> > like
> > > reruns of old jokes. How does that have "nothing to do
> > with
> > > the subject"?
> > >
> > > > Not at all. I'm just bewildered as to why someone
> would
> > > post
> > > > a reply that has absolutely nothing to do with the
> > > subject.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > > > > Maybe fans of old music also prefer old jokes.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Well, that has nothing to do with anything, but at
>
> > > least
> > > >
> > > > > > it's something other than "they need to buy
> > > billboards."
> > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > Man, you sure get in a snit if someone disagrees
> with
> > > you,
> > > >
> > > > > don't you.
> > > > >
> > > >
> > >
> >
>
 
> I am puzzled by your reply. You generalize, "People don't
> like listening to the same joke over again." Thats odd, I
> have many comedy albums, plenty of Carlin, Wright, Kinison,
> Seinfeld CDs of entire joke monologue shows. I have lots of
> funny movies too. I like to listen to or watch all these
> things often. "But once a joke has been told, it has been
> used up." Who are these people who don't like listening to a
> joke twice? Maybe Playboy should stop printing jokes, too,
> in case somebody already heard that one. Is it possible
> these people are just you? Or am I the crazy one.

Without pontificating, I agree whole heartedly. I listen to Bob & Tom quite a bit, and they re-run a lot of older stuff, but (according to Tom) only by request. While the original reaction may not return because you know what to expect, the warm, fuzzy feeling you get never ends. That's why 'DVE still runs old Paulsen & Krenn stuff (even the Gene Collier bit w/Eddy Crow) because listners LIKE it! Most posters here just get on 'DVE because it seems that those are the ONLY ones they run. Too bad for them when 'RRK picked up Bob & Tom, they lost a good deal of their "creativity."
 
> I am puzzled by your reply. You generalize, "People don't
> like listening to the same joke over again." Thats odd, I
> have many comedy albums, plenty of Carlin, Wright, Kinison,
> Seinfeld CDs of entire joke monologue shows. I have lots of
> funny movies too. I like to listen to or watch all these
> things often. "But once a joke has been told, it has been
> used up." Who are these people who don't like listening to a
> joke twice? Maybe Playboy should stop printing jokes, too,
> in case somebody already heard that one. Is it possible
> these people are just you? Or am I the crazy one.

No, you're not crazy. You just don't understand the difference between comedy bits which can stand up to repeated hearings, and jokes, which cannot. A true joke is only one type of comedy. Lots of comedic things are funny every time you see or hear them. Skits are like that. Schtick is like that. Bits and riffs can be like that. Jokes are about the only type of comedy that doesn't play well once the surprise is gone.

In fact, there are very few comedians today who even tell any jokes at all. The late night guys like Leno and Letterman are among the few who do. Basically, a joke is a something that a comedian says that you can repeat the next day at the office and get a laugh. Henny Youngman told jokes. Old school comedians like Jack Carter or Henny Youngman told jokes. You can listen to new school comedians like Carlin, Wright, Kinison, etc., and as funny as they are, you can't repeat their jokes at the office the next day. That's because their comedy bits aren't just jokes based on a surprise twist, they're comedy bits in which the delivery is at least as important as the content.

Stephen Wright's stuff is a prime example. His stuff is hilarious when he says it, it's mildly amusing at best if someone else repeats it. Kinison's stuff was the same way. Only Sam Kinison could deliver Sam Kinison's material and make it work.

But then, you'll probably regard any explanation of the finer points of comedy as pontificating.
 
> To those who still give a hoot about what goes into their
> shows, more power to you! Good luck, and hope all the work
> shows good results.

Personally, I just wish a few PD's would loosen up the reins on talented people and LET them create entertaining shows. I'll wager that there are more crappy shows on the air in Pittsburgh because management is keeping the lid on really entertaining people than because the talent doesn't do its homework.
 
Basically, a joke is a
> something that a comedian says that you can repeat the next
> day at the office and get a laugh.


This is the whole reason that someone would use the monlogues from the night before as part of their show. That being said, if you have on air talent bemoaning the very material that they are using, maybe they should show a little bit of initiative into finding or creating better material with which to work. If the host doesn't like the show he is doing, why should I? Unless your hook is you are pissed off at the world, and here are what the late night retards are saying, it would seem pointless to belittle the very material you are using.
 
> If the host doesn't like the
> show he is doing, why should I? Unless your hook is you are
> pissed off at the world, and here are what the late night
> retards are saying, it would seem pointless to belittle the
> very material you are using.

But that sort of schtick can be quite effective. I confess I never listen to Merkel, because that means I'd have to put up with also listening to the songs they play on 3WS, and that's not something I want to put myself through. But speaking in general terms, making fun of someone else can be extremely funny, or it can be really boring. It depends on how well it is done.

So, if Merkel is simply "bemoaning" the use of the jokes from the niht before, that's one thing. If he's doing an effective schtick of making fun of the jokes (or whoever decided to use the jokes), that's another thing.

Most people who were active in broadcasting back in the 1970's remember that Ted Atkins was one of the best radio programmers around. Yet O'Brian and Gary got a lot of mileage out of making fun of "Captain Showbiz". Were they merely "bemoaning" what Atkins did, or were they doing good schtick?
 
Based on teh very first post to this thread, if all he is doing is groaning about the previous night's monologues and saying stuff like "must have been a slow night" and he believes that this is a good schtick, he very well might be the only one who believes that. I would hope there are no morning shows that are so bereft of ideas that the notion of just groaning during your bits is somehow seen as entertaining radio.
 
Status
This thread has been closed due to inactivity. You can create a new thread to discuss this topic.


Back
Top Bottom