-
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
New PD at WGR?
- Thread starter stratace05
- Start date
G
GeorgeKramer
Guest
That may explain the big staff meeting that the GR guys were referencing last week.
Today is the GR golf tournament, so maybe after a few drinks someone with loose lips will spill the beans.
Andy Roth and Mike Schopp are really good friends. Anyone thinking Schopp would have interest in the job to replace his buddy?
Today is the GR golf tournament, so maybe after a few drinks someone with loose lips will spill the beans.
Andy Roth and Mike Schopp are really good friends. Anyone thinking Schopp would have interest in the job to replace his buddy?
Interesting. A couple suggestions for the new PD:
1. I used to support the idea of Mike and Mike (ESPN Radio) from 6-10am. However, there is too much NBA talk and not nearly enough NHL talk on it, so I agree that time slot should stay local. However, since the station does not see a need to put someone on after 7pm, how about replaying Mike and Mike (instead of playing the "best of" segments).
2. Go local from 10am -Noon...Cowherd is just atrocious to listen to.
1. I used to support the idea of Mike and Mike (ESPN Radio) from 6-10am. However, there is too much NBA talk and not nearly enough NHL talk on it, so I agree that time slot should stay local. However, since the station does not see a need to put someone on after 7pm, how about replaying Mike and Mike (instead of playing the "best of" segments).
2. Go local from 10am -Noon...Cowherd is just atrocious to listen to.
I've heard that Andy Roth was kicked upstairs to Entercom corporate. I can't say that I'll miss his guiding hand at 'GR. It will be interesting to see who replaces him, and if changes are made. I can think of several changes I'd make (as previously expressed).
I don't imagine that they'll promote from within. It will take a strong PD to grab the reins from the inmates in that asylum.
I don't imagine that they'll promote from within. It will take a strong PD to grab the reins from the inmates in that asylum.
G
GeorgeKramer
Guest
Congrats to Andy!
So... any chance that Brad Riter or Nick Mendola get a chance to resurface at 'GR if Roth's replacement decides to make some changes and add a new body or two?
I'd love to see a shakeup of some sort to the daily schedule. I think Jeremy White is poised to showcase his talents and could do that if he was moved to PM drive. Perhaps a new morning team of Simon and Schopp and then have White and Bulldog in the afternoon?
Other options of course are going "live and local" from 10 am to noon OR noon to 3 pm.
Then there's the chance for someone new to shine if they go "live and local" after 7 pm.
Should be interesting. I'm curious when 'GR will address Roth's eventual departure on the air. I'm sure Brad and Nick and some of the other former 'GR staffers will be talking about this on Facebook and Twitter (if they haven't already) and then the cat will be out of the bag.
So... any chance that Brad Riter or Nick Mendola get a chance to resurface at 'GR if Roth's replacement decides to make some changes and add a new body or two?
I'd love to see a shakeup of some sort to the daily schedule. I think Jeremy White is poised to showcase his talents and could do that if he was moved to PM drive. Perhaps a new morning team of Simon and Schopp and then have White and Bulldog in the afternoon?
Other options of course are going "live and local" from 10 am to noon OR noon to 3 pm.
Then there's the chance for someone new to shine if they go "live and local" after 7 pm.
Should be interesting. I'm curious when 'GR will address Roth's eventual departure on the air. I'm sure Brad and Nick and some of the other former 'GR staffers will be talking about this on Facebook and Twitter (if they haven't already) and then the cat will be out of the bag.
GeorgeKramer said:
Why would the air staff talk about this on the air? The average listener has no idea who Andy Roth is. He was an off-air program director. Other than an occasional remark or joke at his expense, you just didn't hear his name. I have no quibble with what Andy accomplished at WGR. But it's not like he was Jeff Kaye at KB. I'd be interested in learning more about his new responsibilities. Is he overseeing programming at several of Entercom's Buffalo stations? Has he been promoted to another market? I don't see where Entercom Buffalo is in need of another manager. In any event, I wish him luck in his new responsibilities. And I don't see Brad Riter returning to WGR. He burned way too many bridges with his WECK manifesto. I'd be truly shocked if that were to happen.
G
GeorgeKramer
Guest
Schopp and Bulldog will briefly mention it, probably during "Ten Opinions in a row."
Mike and Andy are tight. It will be a quick thing, something like "congrats to our old boss and good friend Andy on his promotion within our company. A good man gets rewarded. Nice work Andy."
And then onto what toppings taste best on a pizza after a night drinking at The Old Pink.
Mike and Andy are tight. It will be a quick thing, something like "congrats to our old boss and good friend Andy on his promotion within our company. A good man gets rewarded. Nice work Andy."
And then onto what toppings taste best on a pizza after a night drinking at The Old Pink.
Does this mean Roth has no input at GR anymore? If so, PLEASE do something else with Schopp. Preferably fire him, but realistically put him with someone that's not a complete pushover.
Also, as mentioned, anything but Cowherd from 10-12. He is the exact opposite of what should be on Buffalo radio in every area.
Also, there is ZERO chance Riter ever returns to WGR. He may still be pals with a few of the guys there, but he burned bridges multiple times with Entercom and Roth. Mendola could, he left on good terms (on his end, at least) but I think he's looking for more than a low-wage part-time thing, which is probably all he could get at WGR.
Also, as mentioned, anything but Cowherd from 10-12. He is the exact opposite of what should be on Buffalo radio in every area.
Also, there is ZERO chance Riter ever returns to WGR. He may still be pals with a few of the guys there, but he burned bridges multiple times with Entercom and Roth. Mendola could, he left on good terms (on his end, at least) but I think he's looking for more than a low-wage part-time thing, which is probably all he could get at WGR.
leelee said:
I don't get all the Schopp hate. I find him to be one of the few tolerable voices on WGR. Guess what? He's not just a sportshead, which is probably why I like listening to him, whereas some of the others, like Bulldog and Jeremy White, I don't miss them when they're off.
If WGR wants to have a shot at keepinhg audience when the Sabres aren't playing, which they haven't done in recent memory, then they need to be much more than a sports geek station. Schopp advances that more than many others there.
B
Bob1370
Guest
Thoughts out of the box;
1)find a local host to replace Cowherd 10-noon. Lots of talent in the market.
2)Mike Schopp should be moved to noon to 3 on WBEN between Bauerle and Beach. Limbaugh's act, and his audience, are aging rapidly. A guy who's familiar to local audiences, can talk about a lot besides sports, and can bring in more under-55 working people to boost the workplace numbers, is just the ticket for WBEN and would help not only his own daypart but the dayparts surrounding him. He'd also be ready to move into WBEN's afternoons whenever Sandy decides he wants to slow down, although given his energy level that won't happen anytime soon. But you always need a backup plan and a strong roster just in case.
3)Bulldog could probably handle afternoons on his own if Schopp moves down the hall.
1)find a local host to replace Cowherd 10-noon. Lots of talent in the market.
2)Mike Schopp should be moved to noon to 3 on WBEN between Bauerle and Beach. Limbaugh's act, and his audience, are aging rapidly. A guy who's familiar to local audiences, can talk about a lot besides sports, and can bring in more under-55 working people to boost the workplace numbers, is just the ticket for WBEN and would help not only his own daypart but the dayparts surrounding him. He'd also be ready to move into WBEN's afternoons whenever Sandy decides he wants to slow down, although given his energy level that won't happen anytime soon. But you always need a backup plan and a strong roster just in case.
3)Bulldog could probably handle afternoons on his own if Schopp moves down the hall.
When I dial up "The Sports Station", I expect to hear people talking about SPORTS. Strange, huh? If I want "lifestyle talk", I'll dial up Shredd & Ragan, or Sandy Beach.
Schopp simply sounds like he's tired of talking sports. He too often exhibits a lack of sports knowledge, and acts as if he can't be bothered learning anything new about the subject. The number of experts on all of the WGR shows has declined markedly since WNSA went away.
The amount of talk about local sports beyond the Bills & Sabres is miniscule. The amount of talk about major league sports beyond the Bills & Sabres is limited. Essentially, WGR has devolved into a cheerleader for the Sabres, and an antagonist for the Bills. They have some good people there who are underused. They have some other people there who are simply lazy and/or ill-managed.
Schopp simply sounds like he's tired of talking sports. He too often exhibits a lack of sports knowledge, and acts as if he can't be bothered learning anything new about the subject. The number of experts on all of the WGR shows has declined markedly since WNSA went away.
The amount of talk about local sports beyond the Bills & Sabres is miniscule. The amount of talk about major league sports beyond the Bills & Sabres is limited. Essentially, WGR has devolved into a cheerleader for the Sabres, and an antagonist for the Bills. They have some good people there who are underused. They have some other people there who are simply lazy and/or ill-managed.
Schopp is more of a sportshead than most at WGR, just not in the Buffalo sports scene (Bills, Sabres, nothing else). The ennui he exhibits when talking about the Bills, or speaking with any listeners who don't kiss his butt is really, really tired by now.
As for "can talk about a lot besides sports"... what? I'm sorry, if you find lengthy conversations on hot dogs and endless boring stories about how "rich and successful" he wishes he was because he mentions how he went to Los Angeles for a month, and nonstop prattling about his kid to be interesting... I don't know. I have no idea what makes for good radio then.
As for "can talk about a lot besides sports"... what? I'm sorry, if you find lengthy conversations on hot dogs and endless boring stories about how "rich and successful" he wishes he was because he mentions how he went to Los Angeles for a month, and nonstop prattling about his kid to be interesting... I don't know. I have no idea what makes for good radio then.
G
GeorgeKramer
Guest
Here's the thing with Mensa Mike: I think he could do a mighty fine job with general talk, but I don't think he can enter into it at this point of his career by just walking down the hall.
No, a move like that means going to a new market, something I don't think Mike wants to do given his ties to WNY and his relatively new life as a husband and father.
I just don't think the WBEN listeners would "accept" him. He'd be viewed as "the former sports guy at the end of the dial."
He's bright and could probably do it, but I just don't think changing studios here would fly with most of the faithful 930 AM hosts.
Maybe he takes his talents elsewhere for 2 to 3 years and eventually returns to 'BEN when Sandy finally hangs up his mic?
Again, it's up to Mike if he wants to make that type of change in his life. Although right now he sounds absolutely miserable just talking sports not involving the Sabres or the NHL - and even if he isn't, he comes across that way, which doesn't make for good local radio programming - so maybe he should strongly consider doing just that.
No, a move like that means going to a new market, something I don't think Mike wants to do given his ties to WNY and his relatively new life as a husband and father.
I just don't think the WBEN listeners would "accept" him. He'd be viewed as "the former sports guy at the end of the dial."
He's bright and could probably do it, but I just don't think changing studios here would fly with most of the faithful 930 AM hosts.
Maybe he takes his talents elsewhere for 2 to 3 years and eventually returns to 'BEN when Sandy finally hangs up his mic?
Again, it's up to Mike if he wants to make that type of change in his life. Although right now he sounds absolutely miserable just talking sports not involving the Sabres or the NHL - and even if he isn't, he comes across that way, which doesn't make for good local radio programming - so maybe he should strongly consider doing just that.
Bob1370 said:
I like the idea of Schopp doing straighht talk!
However, I would want former night host Ron Dobson in Sandy or Bauerle's spot before Shcopp. I just heard him in for Bauerle last week. He's much more fiery and entertaining, yet not predictably partisan. A Dobson-Schopp lineup would definitely be a step in the right direction for WBEN as it moves into the future.
I like the idea of Mike Schopp doing regular talk. But I think dropping Rush to put Mike on is not realistic. Believe me, I can't stand Rush Limbaugh. He's a partisan right-wing hack. There was a time in the early 1990s when I was a big fan. Granted, the show was in its infancy then. But the tenor was much different then, much less partisan. I rarely listen for more than a few minutes anymore. That said, Rush Limbaugh still commands the largest radio audience in America. WBEN is not going to drop him. He'll have to really tank in the local and national ratings for such a change to be made.
I also like the commentary posted in this thread about Rob Dobson. It was refreshing to hear him filling in for Bauerle last week. WBEN is lucky to have such a talented fill-in at their disposal for Bauerle and Beach.
I also like the commentary posted in this thread about Rob Dobson. It was refreshing to hear him filling in for Bauerle last week. WBEN is lucky to have such a talented fill-in at their disposal for Bauerle and Beach.
Schopp has tried to branch out to national ESPN radio, and get out of this area otherwise, but nobody wants him. He's a ham n' egger stuck in WNY for life.
Maybe he could get into general talk, I could see him being an acceptable obnoxious Bauerle type. And he wasn't nearly so bad back in his WNSA days. Something needs to change, though. Give Schopp some motivation.
Maybe he could get into general talk, I could see him being an acceptable obnoxious Bauerle type. And he wasn't nearly so bad back in his WNSA days. Something needs to change, though. Give Schopp some motivation.
Out of the bushes I ask this...only because I can, and maybe it someone will take the lead...
Why THEN, not now? (ergo...has something changed in your life, like so many others?)
Just askin...
HDBG
leelee said:
Yes, I actually enjoyed listening to Schopp when he was on WNSA. Now, not so much. When he and the Bulldog talk about Sabres/Bills history I find the chatter to be enjoyable as they both have a lot of memories of the games that I can relate to. It doesn't take me long to switch the station when Schopp berates a caller for a point that he finds "ridiculous". As to the "straight talk" suggestion I believe I've heard Schopp mention in the past how he can't stand politics so I don't see him going there.
- Status