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Russ Martin - The End

Hrm, this is written by a guy that admits he's never listened to the show, doesn't like the show, and now has a job hosting a radio show on 105.3 only because the station flipped formats and distainced itself from Russ. Yep, this article reads exactly like it was written by such a man.

I love how he "reveals" that the things on the show where all bits... except that Russ was famous for saying "everything on the show is a bit".

The only parts of the article that were at all interesting were the O'Malley and JD Ryan quotes. If you listen to the show you know that JD's role was the straight-man sidekick that plays devil's advocate and often draws the ire of the out-of-control Russ Martin character. What the quotes reveal is that that relationship didn't flip off like a light switch when they were off the air. That there was truth in how Russ treated JD off the air too.

But the article makes serious omissions that an author with such a crazy bias is going to make. The most damning accusation of the article is that Russ didn't care about his co-hosts and just did everything for himself. Well that runs into a serious brick wall when you consider that Russ refused to sign his contract with CBS radio, back in I believe 2007, until CBS radio had signed JD Ryan. Russ used his leverage to help JD negotiate the best terms possible by holding out until JD and management reached a deal first.

That is something that, coincidentally enough, the white knight of the article Mike Rhyner has never done for his co-hosts.
 
BenB said:
Russ Martin = still the most popular topic of these boards. HAHA!

And did you ever stop to think that JD's comments in the article could also be part of the bits? And you keep falling for them.
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Yes, it is all a bit. All of the bad press, lawyers, firings, station flips, unemployment for at least 4 guys, mugshots. All an elaborate bit by the Russiah. The man is a genius, and anyone who says otherwise is just plain stupid.

::) ::) ::) ::) ::) ::) ::) ::) ::) ::) ::)
 
Mr. Death: That is what one might call "Urban Legend". Based on your syntax it does appear Russ suggested/asked/told you post that "bit" of information. JD handled it himself quite nicely.
 
thunderradio said:
Mr. Death: That is what one might call "Urban Legend". Based on your syntax it does appear Russ suggested/asked/told you post that "bit" of information. JD handled it himself quite nicely.
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Agreed. Between the article, and what gets posted on this board, I am going with the article.
 
thunderradio said:
Mr. Death: That is what one might call "Urban Legend". Based on your syntax it does appear Russ suggested/asked/told you post that "bit" of information. JD handled it himself quite nicely.
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hahaha I do thank you for the compliment that I am some kind of super secret agent. Makes me feel badass.

I have no secret sources, I am just a guy. Most FM radio hosts play out their contract negotiations on the air because it gives them more bargaining power and Russ was no exception. The fact that CBS radio and Russ had a deal agreed to in principle but Russ held out for months until CBS reached a deal with JD first is something that was discussed many times very publically over the course of those months.

But that doesn’t fit the angle of the story so it was omitted along with a whole lot of other stuff. If you guys are seriously interested in the media you should know a bit how the 'news' media works and how such articles are written.

Now, on the flip side, I spoke to a show member way back in December and can confirm the story about Russ meeting with the show members for a meal and not picking up the tab. I can also confirm that JD wasn't at that dinner and when he heard about it he was, in the words of the show member, "pissed".

My on balance assessment is that Russ is a flawed person to be sure. Russ worked hard and seems to be a very hard "boss" to work for. He is also given to anger which is what made his show entertaining and what caused his co-hosts such angst. However, this isn't uncommon in radio. An example from my experience was when a company I worked for brought in one of Kidd Kraddick's co-hosts in for a commercial and s/he made an uncomfortable number of 'jokes' about Kidd, more than enough for all of us to know they weren't just jokes. Friction between radio hosts is very common. The other thing to remember here is that the people around Russ bennefitted greatly because of him. JD Ryan would have been one of countless number of DJs that got knocked off the air 10 years ago when everything became pre-programmed if he wasn't on the Russ Martin Show. The only reason Dan O'Malley has his shot at doing afternoon drive on a top-5 market station on "The Fan" is only because Russ picked him from the weekend show to be his call screener and then promoted him from call screener to co-host. If it wasn't for Russ' show JD Ryan would be just a faceless rock jock without a job like all the rest and Dan would be another guy with a weekend show that didn't make it anywhere.

People enjoy things to be in the extremes, they enjoy either loving someone or hating him. But the truth of the matter is that almost everyone falls in the middle.
 
So if everyone knew everything was a bit - then one would have to presume that the contract hold-out was a bit as well. No?
 
LumpyF said:
BenB said:
And did you ever stop to think that JD's comments in the article could also be part of the bits? And you keep falling for them.
Click to expand...
Yes, it is all a bit. All of the bad press, lawyers, firings, station flips, unemployment for at least 4 guys, mugshots. All an elaborate bit by the Russiah. The man is a genius, and anyone who says otherwise is just plain stupid.
Click to expand...

I simply said JD's comments might be the continuation of the bit. The rest, well, they have to make the best out of whatever is left at this point, ya know?
 
It appears some wish to argue with a pole. JD didn't need Russ, though the show didgive him some exposure. JD had worked at KZPS and other stuff well befiore Russ. Other folks could have gotten hired by their own merits just like any interview/audition. Me thinks Russ is getting waaaay too much credit where he probably should only receive credit by having worked alongside of them. Give the others credit for elevating their ownselves like everyone else.
 
Jubb05 said:
So if everyone knew everything was a bit - then one would have to presume that the contract hold-out was a bit as well. No?
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This!!!!!!!!!!! So how come it's only a bit when it's convenient to support a particular view point?
 
The article reveals an interesting conundrum for former fans of the show. Some like myself who gave up on it in the last few years, and others he stayed loyal to the end.

It seems the stuff we hoped were not bits, but really were, were so. All the demolition and craziness. Sure you think this can't be real, but part of you hopes it was real.

The stuff we hoped was just a bit, Russ being a major arse and ogre, was actually real.

It is really unfortunate that the stuff we hoped to be real was not real, and the stuff we hoped was fake was actually real.
 
Folks...I'm down in Austin. I've never heard Russ on the air and know precious little about him.

But I CAN tell you that the person portrayed in the Observer article (assuming the article is accurate) desperately needs professional mental health assistance, for his own good and the good of those around him.
 
..and the many "hanger on fans" of his. Lemmings to the core.
 
So it was all "bits"? Color me crestfallen now...that means Al Brumley's casket was never brought into the station for one final mutual a**-kissing. :(
 
MikeShannon914 said:
So it was all "bits"? Color me crestfallen now...that means Al Brumley's casket was never brought into the station for one final mutual a**-kissing. :(
Click to expand...

It's a damn shame Al isn't with us anymore. It would be interesting to get his take on the whole situation.

We miss you, Al. :(
 
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