Rick Dees en la mañana: Back on air, in Spanglish

[calguy]

What I don't get, and maybe it's different for L.A. radio, is what is so important about how the sidekick looks? Other than for those in the studio (and the occasional appearance) why would the listeners care?

From what I've read from those that have heard the show, looks as if maybe the best decision wasn't made from a listener's point of view.

Dees has had a thing about appearing with attractive women since the 80's. He would routinely show up with a beautiful model at events back then and introduce her as Liz Fulton. Liz was his news anchor and side-kick and she wasn't too happy about it. Saw it happen when Dees went on the old Wally George show when he brought out some really scorching hot model in a bikini and said it was Liz. Ever since Liz left KIIS Rick has had a thing for hiring good looking women as his side-kick. Didn't really matter if they were any good on the air or not. Some got better, some didn't...

 

[Bob_Hudson]

Calling people names is the lowest form of argument.

And I think it was Larry Lujack who once said that radio is the lowest echelon of show biz, so that's appropriate :

I wasn't arguing or calling names, simply expressing my opinion. This is not a fan club, although there have always been a certain number of forum denizens who get all in a lather if you dare to criticize one of their idols.

 

[boone]

Calling people names is the lowest form of argument.

And I think it was Larry Lujack who once said that radio is the lowest echelon of show biz, so that's appropriate :

I wasn't arguing or calling names, simply expressing my opinion. This is not a fan club, although there have always been a certain number of forum denizens who get all in a lather if you dare to criticize one of their idols.

Not upset but rather disappointed that anyone has to express their opinion in such a graphic way. Don't want to argue either. What was your air name at KHJ? What could have caused you to form your opinion?

 

[Bob_Hudson]

What was your air name at KHJ? What could have caused you to form your opinion?

My air name was my real name: Bob Hudson.

I can still recall Rick waltzing through the studios at the end of his shift pretty much ignoring anyone else below the level of program director. His sweet wife Julie was always about 20 feet behind him, stopping to be nice to all the people Rick was too important to say hi to. I for one could not work around him without getting the impression that any charm or friendliness on the air was totally an act. One of the newspaper articlesreferenced in this thread even talks about how Dees and Seacrest each turn on their dimpled charm on cue. It makes for great show biz, but lousy people. Which is not to say that radio has not been full of phonie, but on the same hand it has also been full of folks who were great people on and off the air. Rick Dees is not one of them and i would much rather have seen one of the genuine people succeed in his place.

Trivia: who knows what Rick made when RKO lured him from Tenn. to Ca. to work at KHJ?

Answer: the rumor at KHJ at the time (1979) was that he was making $150,000 a year and they bought him a Cadillac Seville and helped him by a house from Kenny Rogers.

And by the way, the Spanglish thing is great, although probably misguided. I did that at Jammin' Z-90 in San Diego a decade or more ago when, as a VP, I convinced the owner to move our (Latino) night guy to mornings, call him "Mark en la mañana" and let him and other jocks use Spanglish when they felt like it. Up to that point, Z-90 and pretty much every other station of its ilk had addressed rap/hip hop/urban radio as a "black" format that also had a smattering of white kids who thought they too could be Vanilla Ice. It was when Southern California stations gave Latinos something they could embrace that this kind of station took off in the ratings. Now though i wonder if it's a big deal for Latinas to have RD in Spanglish? I have noticed lately that I hear a lot of Latina moms who have obviously very strong accents speaking to their kids only in English and I've known many who only listened to English-language radio stations because they want to improve their English. I don't know that having an older white guy speak Spanglish to Latina soccer moms will have the same impact as having actual Latinos on the radio communicating in a natural flow of English with a well-timed phrase or word en español.

 

[MusicMaestro]

excuse me, but are you the "Emperor Hudson" I remember from my youth on KRLA?

 

[Bob_Hudson]

excuse me, but are you the "Emperor Hudson" I remember from my youth on KRLA?

No Bob Hudson is my real name - it was his air name. We actually both once worked at KRLA at the same time for a week (I was doing vacation fill-in news).

 

[dbdigital]

Just as a footnote to KZLA, the calls went to a station in Huron, CA (south of Fresno).

I have no idea what they expect to gain from switching their calls from KHRN to KZLA but if they're Country maybe the association will benefit them.

db

 

[Christinebeligan]

I disagree. Lopez is hot - nice voice.
That Clarence dude is the one that's weak. Who is he anyway?

Clarence Barnes is a NOBODY. Talk about a no talent who is holding onto the last thread he has to try to be on the air.

Clarence Barnes is actually a very nice guy. He's been working as a producer
on Dees' Weekly Top 40 and has filled in for him. He's worked in Boston, San Diego and New York(Z100) to name but a few and was most recently weekends and fill-in at KIIS.

Not sure who you are above, but Clarence Barnes in my opinion is not a very nice guy. He will be nice to anyone who can help his career and then stab you in the back.

 

[RicoGregg]

excuse me, but are you the "Emperor Hudson" I remember from my youth on KRLA?

Emperor Hudson of KRLA and Ajax Liquor Store fame passed on about 10 years ago.