Saturday Morning Post*

[Radknowski]

Credit where credit is (over) due. Much as I've ragged on WJJL over the years, you have to give the station credit for broadcasting the city's premier high school football game of the year, the Harvard Cup. This is a game that has legacy and heritage, and WJJL has been there year after year. That's community service.

WBFO and WNED-AM (and by extension, NPR) are gems. This morning, an NPR feature on Toronto's "Bare Naked Ladies." (No, not the Canadian Ballet, it's a "rock" group.) Interview well done. Why can't commercial radio do interesting, curious and literate Q&A's like this? Also, earlier this week on Morning Edition, a wonderful feature on jazz journeyman Vince Guaraldi, who so effortlessly, whimsically and stylistically composed and played the soundtrack for the Peanuts Christmas specials.

Jay Moran, traffic well done. Another WJYE journeyman who was heard this week, doing traffic on Channel 4's morning news show and gigglefest. Jay, sounding proficient and professional, gets the job done. As one of the cast-offs of WJYE's continued down-sizing and right-sizing (otherwise known as budget cuts), Jay is a stand-up broadcaster, who gives other broadcasters a good name.

Val Townsend. Just one of the best (female) voices in the market. She'd make a great morning show co-host: Funny, occasionally caustic, eminently listenable. She doesn't play the "hot radio chick card." (A comedian once remarked that any woman who sounds hot on the radio is most likely not... same for guys, by the way.) Above all, Townsend is smart. Her smooth on-air delivery and production are outstanding. She'd fit in well on an AOR, Active Rock and even an AC morning show... Jack, WHTT?

*The Saturday Evening Post was a weekly news magazine that published stories on current events and popular fiction, not unlike this board. The 'Post ceased publication on February 8, 1969. Along with Mad Magazine and Time, the Saturday Evening Post usually featured something that was worth reading.[/MR]

 

[x13thfloorrand]

1: Well said on WJJL. With their morning show situation putting the worst publicity out there, there are several things they do right. Even Niagara U Purple Eagles and Hockey, along w/the Bandits for a while.

2: I did catch some of this, Kinda of like "Inside the Actors..." for music. Very well done. Commercial presumes we dont listen to long playing content, unless on morning shows. I beg to differ. Good programming works just about any timeslot

3: Had the pleasure of getting some sound advice on radio and it's direction from Mr. Moran in exchange for a 20 ounce Coke several years back. It's my understanding Jay is replacing Chris Daniels, who left the market for full time weather in Indiana.

4: Val could be many things, but teaching seems to be her passion. She has seen the light at the end of radio tunnel and like many have left the business. The hot rock chic creeps up once in a while, but it's not a crutch. She is terrific on the air.

 

[SirRoxalot]

Speaking of Mornings...

Above all, Townsend is smart. Her smooth on-air delivery and production are outstanding. She'd fit in well on an AOR, Active Rock and even an AC morning show... Jack, WHTT?

So, Mike, are you indicating that Gail Ann Huber might not be the best fit for WHTT? Are you saying that they should replace her? How about Bill Lacy? Is he a keeper, or should they start from scratch in the morning?

As far as WBUF is concerned, they sure miss Stern's numbers. One has to wonder if Citadel's replacement of Shredd & Ragan with Opie & Anthony wasn't a move to keep O&A off Jack. If so, was it worth it?

 

[audioconnell Voice Talent]

Jay Moran, traffic well done. Another WJYE journeyman who was heard this week, doing traffic on Channel 4's morning news show and gigglefest. Jay, sounding proficient and professional, gets the job done. As one of the cast-offs of WJYE's continued down-sizing and right-sizing (otherwise known as budget cuts), Jay is a stand-up broadcaster, who gives other broadcasters a good name.

Congrats to Chris Daniels for his years of service too. Glad he got a nice new TV spot. Don't know him personally but he always seemed like a nice fellow. I share the sentiment that it IS great to see Jay Moran get a regular broadcast gig again. I hope they've got him working somewhere in the Entercom studios and not at the Metro Networks' "disaster waiting to happen" set up on the top of the Statler.

Val Townsend. Just one of the best (female) voices in the market. She'd make a great morning show co-host: Funny, occasionally caustic, eminently listenable. She doesn't play the "hot radio chick card." (A comedian once remarked that any woman who sounds hot on the radio is most likely not... same for guys, by the way.) Above all, Townsend is smart. Her smooth on-air delivery and production are outstanding. She'd fit in well on an AOR, Active Rock and even an AC morning show... Jack, WHTT?

Buffalo is often (and upon reflection, humorously) referred to as "the best kept secret" but in a more complimentary vein, Val is absolutely one of Buffalo's best female voice talents (on-air, commercial et al) and one of radio’s best kept secrets. And I do not denote "female" in any sexist way; in my opinion, female voice talents and male voice talent offer such totally different and unique presentations that I really don't think you could or should compare them equally…each offers a valued and unique perspective to broadcasting. Val’s true broadcast talent I think has yet to be tapped but I really hope that it gets a chance to shine in a situation/format/management group that "gets it". I guess we'll know it when we hear it.

 

[Radknowski]

Re: Speaking of Mornings...

Above all, Townsend is smart. Her smooth on-air delivery and production are outstanding. She'd fit in well on an AOR, Active Rock and even an AC morning show... Jack, WHTT?

So, Mike, are you indicating that Gail Ann Huber might not be the best fit for WHTT? Are you saying that they should replace her? How about Bill Lacy? Is he a keeper, or should they start from scratch in the morning?

Merely an oversight. I was just "throwing out" call letters when I wrote that and WBUF was an automatic... as to WHTT, I had a brain burp, thinking about WJYE having done away with its two person morning show and going solo with Joe Chille. I guess it was "transference." Here's where Carl Jung and Sigmund Freud have a field day... "vhelllllll, Misssster Rrrrrrrad-NOW-ski.... how is eet you wrote WHTT if your whhhere sinking abouwt double-you-chay-vie-ee?" Right, Dr. Freud... and there isn't such a thing as an "accident."

But now that you've broached the subject, Rox, why not a three person morning show on WHTT? Morning a troi!

 

[Element9]

WBFO and WNED-AM (and by extension, NPR) are gems. This morning, an NPR feature on Toronto's "Bare Naked Ladies." (No, not the Canadian Ballet, it's a "rock" group.) Interview well done. Why can't commercial radio do interesting, curious and literate Q&A's like this? Also, earlier this week on Morning Edition, a wonderful feature on jazz journeyman Vince Guaraldi, who so effortlessly, whimsically and stylistically composed and played the soundtrack for the Peanuts Christmas specials.

As long as you're handing out gold stars, give one to Kevin Hardwick for his Sunday morning "Hardline" show on WBEN. Hell, while you're at it, give WBEN a star for running a show that doesn't fall into lock step with its customary right wing mantra. I sure hope Hardwick gets PAID for this superb public affairs show, because if he's buying time, it's a damn shame (and WBEN gets a ten pound bag of dog droppings and the gold star is withdrawn.) Hardwick, a professor at Canisius college, does a superb job probing the issues and attracting guests and news makers who directly speak to the issues. It's a good show that could serve as a template for any responsible news-talk radio station (commercial or non-com) in any market. Props to Hardwick and Hardline.

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