Moe Lauzier's Beatdown of WRKO

[D. R. Tucker]

This morning, Moe Lauzier absolutely let loose on his former employers at WRKO-AM:

http://moeissuesoftheday.blogspot.com/2008/04/what-am-i-going-to-do.html

I disagree with some of his points (I gather he's not a big Reese Hopkins fan), but on other points he's dead-on. With regard to his argument about Finneran, it's not so much that Finneran is "not the least bit entertaining" so much as Finneran, who has been on the air for over a year, has been unable to accomplish what Dan Rea was able to accomplish in less than six months, i.e. producing an intelligent, compelling radio show that doesn't pound a particular ideological drum.

 

[Retro]

Interesting article, and I agree, WRKO is not what it used to be.

 

[dumber than a box of hair]

With regard to his argument about Finneran, it's not so much that Finneran is "not the least bit entertaining" so much as Finneran, who has been on the air for over a year, has been unable to accomplish what Dan Rea was able to accomplish in less than six months, i.e. producing an intelligent, compelling radio show that doesn't pound a particular ideological drum.

Dan Rea is a seasoned, professional broadcaster, and doing that kind of show is a no-brainer for someone like him. Finneran is an ex-politician who has never let go of his cronies and his allegiances on Beacon Hill. It's difficult to think of Finneran as being any flavor of "entertaining" when 95% of what he says and the positions he takes are in support of his old pol friends. He's been at the political game so long that he probably just can't help it...that's who and what he is...but then no one, least of all WRKO management, should be pretending that he'll be bringing anything else to the talk-radio table.

 

[LA_Guy]

With regard to his argument about Finneran, it's not so much that Finneran is "not the least bit entertaining" so much as Finneran, who has been on the air for over a year, has been unable to accomplish what Dan Rea was able to accomplish in less than six months, i.e. producing an intelligent, compelling radio show that doesn't pound a particular ideological drum.

Dan Rea is a seasoned, professional broadcaster, and doing that kind of show is a no-brainer for someone like him. Finneran is an ex-politician who has never let go of his cronies and his allegiances on Beacon Hill. It's difficult to think of Finneran as being any flavor of "entertaining" when 95% of what he says and the positions he takes are in support of his old pol friends. He's been at the political game so long that he probably just can't help it...that's who and what he is...but then no one, least of all WRKO management, should be pretending that he'll be bringing anything else to the talk-radio table.

And...let's not forget something important...

Dan Rea has talent. Finneran has none.

 

[AvenueA]

I disagree with some of his points (I gather he's not a big Reese Hopkins fan)

You really think he's the only non-fan?

 

[Blackroc]

Talent:

Finneran has none

I wouldn't say that. I think he'd be ok under certain condidtions. I'm sure Moe has reasons to be po'd at several things but getting to the station via Tommy isn't the way to go.
* He's right that Dan has done well, but really how could he not? He's talented, experienced, and is keying up a power station.

 

[SonicOverload]

so I'll ask the question again... why, during the course of 25 years, didn't Moe ever get a shot at a regular weekday shift?

 

[wavelength9]

20 years ago, when he had a fastball, ( I think he should have been retired 10 yers ago) WRKO had a very strong line up. Ted and Janet, Gene Burns, Jerry Williams, Bruce Williams from TalkNet and larry King from Mutual did well in the evenings. They used has as a fill-in quite a bit. For a short time in the mid eighties, he was the regular fill in for Jerry Williams.

Why they didn't move him to a regular mid day shift when Burns left is a good question. I know Jerry had that shift for a while as did Howie Carr, Victoria Jones, Tom Lykis and the Two Chicks. ( Not necessarily in that order) Mel Miller the longest serving RKO PD liked him. I think they just always considered him a weekend/ fill in guy

 

[ADC]

Didn't Moe do the morning drive time slot for an extended period of time?

I've always enjoyed Moe and I think he's been one of the great local hosts in Boston talk radio. He might not be national material, but he connects well to a local audience and is smart enough to know where his greatest strengths lie. 25 successful years in the business is a major achievement and shouldn't be underplayed.

Unfortunately, talk radio has taken the low road, and seems to value only those that can yell the loudest and make asses of themselves. Since Moe doesn't fall into either category, his future in radio is probably limited. It's a shame, and I will miss him.

- Al

 

[rockababy]

Perhaps Moe wasn't interested in a regular weekday shift, if I remember correctly he was a salesman, maybe he preferred doing that during the week and doing radio on the weekends to break things up. Moe was used extensively during the weeks following 9/11. Todd Feinberg was used extensively when Howie was doing "jury duty", neither Moe or Todd are with RKO anymore, sometimes loyalty doesn't pay.

 

[VoxPox]

I disagree with some of his points (I gather he's not a big Reese Hopkins fan)

You really think he's the only non-fan?

Degree of uncertainty for 'RKO host by Jessica Heslam

http://www.bostonherald.com/news/regional/general/view.bg?articleid=1085706

New WRKO radio morning talk show host Reese Hopkins boasts on the station’s Web site that he has a degree from Fordham University, but officials at the prestigious Catholic college in New York say they have no record of anyone graduating under that name, the Herald has learned.

[EDIT]

“I had to go to college either under an emancipated name or under a guardianship, which is under my father’s name,” Hopkins said, refusing to provide his dad’s name as well. “It’s a private matter. I did graduate from Fordham University.”

[EDIT]


“I didn’t get my job based upon me going to Fordham University.”




And Mo got the ax?



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[wavelength9]

Moe had a long career in radio, but I wouldn't say it was all that successful. He never made it past a once a weekend or fill in shift. He had a regular gig on WHJJ for a couple of years back in the 80's. He gave up his sales job 25 years ago. When he wasn't on RKO he was at home doing the housework. His wife had a fulltime teaching job and was basically the primary breadwinner.


He would have taken a regular weekday slot at RKO in a second, but it was never offered.

Mike Elder was trying to phase him out a few years ago. He cut him back to a 5a to 7a Saurday shift to make way for Feinberg. They also used him to train the new gardening guy on air. Once he was up to speed, Moe was back to just Saturdays. When Feinberg moved to weeknights, Moe was back to 6a to 9a.

I don't think what he wrote on his blog was all that harsh and everything he said was true. I think they made the right move by letting him go but after almost 25 years of loyal service he deserved much better. I find it hard to belive they didn't have the decency to call him into the office and tell him to his face that they were cutting costs.

 

[Keith321]

Moe had a long career in radio, but I wouldn't say it was all that successful. He never made it past a once a weekend or fill in shift.

I think having a regular weekend - daytime spot on a major market talk station for 25 years is considered successful.....

 

[wavelength9]

Well, I am sure Moe would agree with you. But weekend shifts are generally considered a place to start or end your career. With the exception on the few years on WHJJ, he was strickly a part time broadcaster and full time house husband. He was never offered a full time gig at 96.9 when they went talk and BZ had several full time openings during Moe's 25 years and he never moved over there, so I would't consider him to be a success.

I realize he had a following, but I didn't like him at all. He presented himself as moraly
superior to most, he regularly pulled fact and figures out of the air like the morning he said that his hometown of Fall River was a very safe community. When someone called in and pointed out that Fall River was in the top 20 of cities with the highest crime rates he cut the guy off, and then admitted to the next caller that Fall River was having a big home invasion probelm.

I found his segment with solidiers who were hand picked by the Army PR department dull and nothing more than proaganda. I don't think he ever had a guest
on who opposed the war.

 

[spilot113]

He was never offered a full time gig...

... so I would't consider him to be a success.

So you've stated twice. But who are you to make that judgement?

As was mentioned, he certainly had a following. He was well prepared for his shifts and handled himself with class and professionalism -both on the air and off - right up until and INCLUDING his last shift.

In this day and age anyone who can last that long (full-time or part-time)...can consider himself a successful in this biz.

How WRKO treated Moe over the years shouldn't be a reflection on him.
('RKO treats everyone like dirt...)

 

[wavelength9]

Well prepaired? I found him to unprepaired most Saturdays. For example, During one of his last shows, he was promoting the Jerry Williams book and that he would be having the two authors on the next week. Not only couldn't he remeber the authors names, he didn't know the name of the book.

Considering he had guests ( other than the Army flacks) maybe 5 times a year, you would think he would have had the information at hand.

The last I am going to say about him is, I think he was a marginal host at best and I would be very surprised if we hear him doing a regular show again except maybe back at WSAR.

 

[Retro]

Sometimes that is a PR issue though, as much as they try, firms do not always get the required information into the right hands sometimes.

 

[Dark Knight]

('RKO treats everyone like dirt...)

I would be careful making statements like that based on what you read in the Herald or on blogs/boards. If you don't know all the facts, you don't know all the facts. I'm not defending anything specific, only stating that the proliferation of EDS makes it easy to throw statements like that out there because it will probably go unchallenged. I don't want to start a point for point debate, but I would argue that Carr treated RKO worse than he treated it, Feinberg chose to leave and Moe was given a chance to say goodbye on the air, something that does not always happen. Others might argue the other way, but my point is that there are two sides and without all the facts, we shouldn't be so definitive.

 

[Dighton Rockhead]

I think he was a marginal host at best and I would be very surprised if we hear him doing a regular show again except maybe back at WSAR.

At this point in his career, I don't think even WSAR would touch him.

With the afternoon drive slot essentially 'open' there, they've elected to take thier chances on a pair of relative unknowns.

Moe might be the last one to figure this out, but......his time has come......and gone.

 

[Keith321]

At this point in his career, I don't think even WSAR would touch him.
Moe might be the last one to figure this out, but......his time has come......and gone.

I think moe has written in his blog that he is well aware that his time in the business is up.

welcome to the radio biz....where they chew you up and spit you out.

With the afternoon drive slot essentially 'open' there, they've elected to take thier chances on a pair of relative unknowns.

they're cheaper.... ;-)

('RKO treats everyone like dirt...)
I would be careful making statements like that...

why? it's true