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Mike Reeves & JoJo Walker surface on News/Talk 820 7-9am weekdays

  • Thread starter unemployed air talent
  • Start date

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unemployed air talent

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Give it a listen...it's not as bad as one might think!
 
The only person missing is Mason Leroy Dixon..... Get rid of all the phony laughing, and it might have promise.
 
I guess they're not going syndicated after all. I fail to see how this is cheaper for the station than Larsen was. Why didn't the station just say they wanted a different direction (a Q Morning Zoo ripoff) and not cry poor-mouth? Should have seen this coming, I guess, with the sudden addition of all these old faces.
 
It seems that 820 is not gaining on FLA. Based on the posts about Dave Harrell and Denny Bateman, why don't they adopt the old WGUL format? If they are hiring former DJ's anyway!

Mike and JoJo------6-10
Denny Bateman----10-2
Dave Harrell--------2-6
Bob Reynolds--------6-12
12 mid------------music

Or some combination of those or other sidelined people.
 
You maybe suprised to find that no money arrangement has been made with Mike or JoJo at this point and as mark Larsen said in his post, he left of his own accord due to the fact that they could not come to terms with a money deal and that he took a MAJOR pay cut back in Feb. and continued on for ten months to see if they could come to some kind of arrangement. I have the deepest respect for Mark, he is a true professional in this crazy business and I really miss hearing him on the radio. At the same time I really don't feel that it is fair to Mike and JoJo to say that they are doing a cheap version of the QZOO. Both are doing this just to try and make something happen that is real and local for Tampa Bay radio. All four on the show are Tampa bay Radio Icons. Mike Reeves, JoJo Walker, Roger & Shanna all have the battle scars to prove it. They have been at some of the most well respected station in this market since the early 80's and I think it show while they are on the air. When you take into account that this is the first time that Mike & JoJo 1. have worked together on the air as a team and 2. this is the first time that either of them has done News/Talk radio, I find it very refreshing and funny instead of the constant bashing of this president or that president. They are hooked into Tampa Bay because they live here and have been here for close to 30 years. And I know that they just want to entertain you on your drive to work. There's enough bad mouthing on the air. Lets give these guys a chance. Maybe they could be on to something different for morning drive in Tampa Bay and not the same old same old. Before you pass judgement, and I know how cruel you guys can be on this board, give them a listen and most of all, give them a well deserved chance. It's the very least you can do and I think that after 30 years you at least owe it to them.
 
I am a little confused, some clarification would be appreciated. With the multiple references to the Q morning zoo, are you saying this is an entertainment show with, heaven forbid, music and skits being aired? Or are they doing a "funny" call in talk show? Please dont make me tune in tomorrow morning to find out for myself. ;)
 
Well, I guess free is better than a 95% paycut from Larsen. God bless Mike and Jo-Jo. Both are better men than most.
 
Before you pass judgement, and I know how cruel you guys can be on this board, give them a listen and most of all, give them a well deserved chance. It's the very least you can do and I think that after 30 years you at least owe it to them.
Click to expand...

I don't think they have to worry about a few cracks from the board. Their problem is this: Of course they can produce a competent morning show. But the talk radio audience has shown itself resistant to ex-DJ's if they are not dyed-in-the-wool true-believing conservatives. If they are apolitical or worse yet, liberal, the hard core will spit them out. Look at what happened to Footy in Miami. The two main comments made by WIOD core listeners to (non-radio) message boards when Footy got canned were: 1) his content is vapid, and 2) he's a liberal.

As the station that is -- or at least was -- trying to be the alternative to WFLA, 820 has to play Marco Rubio to 970's Charlie Crist, and be the red-meat station. The folks who like a topical but not political morning show
have plenty to satisfy them on FM. They probably won't come to AM, and if they do, you'll simply see revolving doors every morning at 9 as one audience clears out and another comes in.

Perhaps a bigger concern is that if Reeves and Walker build up an audience, it is immediately dissipated at 9 by fare such as the "Ask a Doctor" show. WWBA has regressed like a boulder rolling down a hill, after being rolled up the hill for 8 years. It is just a high-power version of WTAN now, and perhaps the Wagenvoords are the one set of owners in this market who can now correctly manage it to its (limited) potential.
 
I can't speak for Mike or JoJo, but I do know them and Mike is a liberal and JoJo is a very strong right wing Rebulican and is very passionate about his views, but so far the show has stayed away from all the bashing of either party. It seems that they really want a more local approach and a really fun to listen to show where the caller can control the content on any and all subjects. I really wish them the best of luck for trying to do a local show without all the hate and bashing in morning drive. God knows there already is more than enough of that on the air-ways as it is. I think and I may be wrong, but they seem to be leaning on local and funny with Roger and Shanna handleing the hard news stuff. You have to admit that this town needs and should have a funny and informative morning show without all the hate and bashing. It can be done, and it appears that Mike and JoJo seem to be doing just that. It's only been 3 days and a total of 6 hours of air time, and I for one am impressed.
 
unemployed air talent said:
I can't speak for Mike or JoJo, but I do know them and Mike is a liberal and JoJo is a very strong right wing Rebulican and is very passionate about his views, but so far the show has stayed away from all the bashing of either party. It seems that they really want a more local approach and a really fun to listen to show where the caller can control the content on any and all subjects. I really wish them the best of luck for trying to do a local show without all the hate and bashing in morning drive. God knows there already is more than enough of that on the air-ways as it is. I think and I may be wrong, but they seem to be leaning on local and funny with Roger and Shanna handleing the hard news stuff. You have to admit that this town needs and should have a funny and informative morning show without all the hate and bashing. It can be done, and it appears that Mike and JoJo seem to be doing just that. It's only been 3 days and a total of 6 hours of air time, and I for one am impressed.
Click to expand...
So, which one are you?

I heard it, this will not succeed or last. They are trying to be an FM show on AM.

That talk is tedious.
The music stuff is horrendous.
 
This morning zoo is embarrassing

I feel bad for these people. the countdowns in seconds until the next scheduled segment with the uncomfortable giggling. oyyyyyy. I hope Larsen picks up a morning gig somewhere. I could even cope with the America's Morning News. But this most recent move, though, along with the GOLD SHOW have trivialized WWBA into a station belonging in a town of 1500 people. Roger PEEEE Shulmann has to be the worst on air talent ever. WHY THE P ??? Are we going to mix him up with other ROGER SHULMANNS?????? Mike Reeves is at least tolerable. I never thought I would holler to bring back DAN YORK but Good Lord, my station now wreaks of... lemme think.... ummmmm........CRAP !!!!
 
unemployed air talent said:
Mike Reeves, JoJo Walker, Roger & Shanna all have the battle scars to prove it...
Click to expand...

unemployed air talent said:
...Roger and Shanna handleing the hard news stuff...
Click to expand...

Are you sure it isn't Shayna, as in Shayne Lance?
 
The question is why would any audience tune in for an FM type show on AM except in places like NYC like Imus
 
MsMusicRadio said:
The question is why would any audience tune in for an FM type show on AM except in places like NYC like Imus
Click to expand...

Do you think Imus is running a morning zoo? He doesn't play records and talk up the intros anymore. Not since the days of 66 WNNNNNNNNBC.

WWBA's problem is two-fold: Second tier programming (if not third tier) and zero promotion. We used to blame WWBA's problem on AM 1040's signal. This station is proof that even the bigger trees in the forest still make no sound when falling if nobody is around to hear it.

Mike & JoJo are nice guys, but if they plan on doing a "four and out the door" workday, this show won't do anything. These guys need to pound the pavement. They need to convince their old advertisers to buy spots. They need to show up at the Florida State Fair. They need to MC those post-game concerts at the Rays games. They need to be visible in other venues where they can remind people to tune into a radio station at AM 820 most people don't even know exists.
 
The show has potential but it's going to be a challenge because the rules have changed. PPM.
Larsen is a good example. As a respected name and long timer in the market he showed up with ok numbers
with diaries. PPM came along, and he was ranked as low as 29th. Larson story is a lesson for hosts and programmers.
Guys who've done this a long time and find comfort zones in the same topic over and over easily bore an audience who are now jumpier than ever and change channels in a second. It's hard to be interesting everyday. We're going to see Limbaugh and Hannity, even with their name values, show shorter listening times because it's the same old song everyday. But at least the listener knows that going in. With a new show, working out the kinks each day while first impressions are being made, well, let's just hope they find the right trick, right quick, and make up for so much lost time as 820 was tanking. I wish somebody could have shown Mark where this was heading, but it's all changing so quickly I still everybody is relearning how to do talk radio.
 
It would be my bet that this is a brokered show. They may not be paying for the airtime but I bet they are working on commision from ad sales..

To bad that two real pros can't get a "real" paying job in this market.
 
Dude,

All we have to do is go back to previous threads - bashing Q105's New PD - to know that YOU ARE Jo Jo Walker. So, be the man in front of the curtain, and I for one, will pay more attention to you. Own it, Jo Jo!

Since you're no longer unemployed, why not change your user ID? ;)

Seriously though, we're solid, so good luck with the new gig.
 
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