Smerconish To Replace Severin On WTKK?

[DToTheJ]

Michael Smerconish just announced on his Philadelphia-based morning show that he will be doing "three shows" today; after his regular morning and early-afternoon syndicated shows, he said he is doing afternoon drive in Boston "today only". He didn't mention the station, but I would imagine that it's gotta be WTKK.

But here's where it gets interesting: Smerconish added that he would be doing the live show today to "introduce himself" to the Boston market because he had signed a deal with a station there.

Now, if I were a betting man:

5-9 am Imus (Moby Worm comin' to eat up your school...)
9 am-12 noon Jim & Margery (new time)
12 noon-2 pm Smerconish (new show)
2-7 pm Michael Graham (new time)

 

[raccoonradio]

Interesting--at one point yesterday I tuned in, maybe after 6 pm, and thought I heard him. He is or
was based at WPHT in Philly where Grace Blazer came from...and this could be permanent...?!?
Your projected lineup may just be what they do...

 

[raccoonradio]

Mark of Boston Radio Watch did point out that a "Boston" radio station could be something like WCRN so
who knows (yes, I know, Worcester, but...)--so maybe WTKK fill in but a show elsewhere? (If WCRN:
Oh no, no more Drew Mortgage Show? )

Greater's page about Grace Blazer points out she created the successful Michael Smerconish show. Hmm.

 

[raccoonradio]

All Access had reported yesterday that Smerc. would be on yesterday and today, in for Severin.

(NetNews item http://www.allaccess.com free subscription)
>>He will be heard TODAY and FRIDAY (5/14-15) in the afternoon slot on the BOSTON station.

The SaveWRKO blog had reported on him before, saying he was an opportunist (Maloney says Michael
switched to supporting Obama to attract a "liberal" syndicator--I believe he's on Dial Global). All Access
said Todd Schnitt is also on Dial Global. CBS Radio produces Smerconish's show, while Clear Channel
producers Schnitt. Dial Global's Stephanie Miller and Ed Schulz shows (WWZN locally) are independently
produced acc. to the Dial Global page at http://www.wikipedia.org

 

[DavidZ]

Mark of Boston Radio Watch did point out that a "Boston" radio station could be something like WCRN so
who knows (yes, I know, Worcester, but...)--so maybe WTKK fill in but a show elsewhere? (If WCRN:
Oh no, no more Drew Mortgage Show? )

Greater's page about Grace Blazer points out she created the successful Michael Smerconish show. Hmm.

If the "Boston" radio station turns out to be WCRN, I'm sure it won't mean the end of the Drew Mortgage Show. They would move it to 11 a.m. (dropping their mid-day report) or run it from 2 - 3 p.m. before Howie.

 

[raccoonradio]

Yeah that brings in some money; I was being sarcastic!

 

[DanStrassberg]

The SaveWRKO blog had reported on him before, saying he was an opportunist (Maloney says Michael
switched to supporting Obama to attract a "liberal" syndicator--I believe he's on Dial Global).

I gather your rules are that any syndicator that comes within a mile of a Progressive talent gets branded as Liberal. I think it's total claptrap to characterize Dial-Global as Liberal; they are on the side of making money. Since there are so many Conservative talkers and so many syndicators handling them, Dial-Global simply found itself a market niche, which it is trying to exploit.

By your definition, Premiere must now be branded as Liberal because it picked up Randi Rhodes. The fact that Premiere syndicates Limbaugh and is partnering with Citadel to syndicate Hannity apparently cuts no ice with you. For whatever reasons, Premiere has committed the sin of getting close to a Progressive so you must have burned the Liberal brand into its forehead.

 

[raccoonradio]

The rules would be Maloney's. Note I was quoting him

I had said:
>>The SaveWRKO blog had reported on him before, saying he was an opportunist (Maloney says Michael
switched to supporting Obama to attract a "liberal" syndicator--I believe he's on Dial Global)

The actual quote:
>>Suddenly, that made the longtime Republican look appealing to a liberal radio syndication firm, which signed him to the national deal he’d long sought but couldn’t obtain. They even cooked up an Obama-esque logo for the program.

Actually the logo may be more inspired by the red & blue profile NBA logo, only the shaven-head Smerconish
is used rather than NBA legend Jerry West...

 

[D. R. Tucker]

I like what I've heard out of Smerconish so far--it seems as though he's trying to avoid the usual "Democrats Suck! Republicans Rule!" style of conservative talk, which is a nice change of pace. I'll give the guy a chance.

 

[ScottBurns]

While Smerconish is a conservative, he is no ideologue. He endorsed, and voted for, Barack Obama.

 

[Don Juan]

I like what I've heard out of Smerconish so far--

Two thoughts....

1.) If Severin is gone, then why replace him with another generic "out of town" vanilla show? I want to hear whats going on locally, if something IS going on locally. Howie had a field day with the Wellesley lady who drove off from the airport....and now he's talking about the T train accident....and the budget cuts on Beacon Hill...and the tolls and other issues on the Mass Pike. To plug in another show from "somewhere else" and listen to him talk about Harry Reid, Dick Schumer and waterboarding and the rest of the cabkle tv claptrap seems to be a wrong move.

Smerconish is ok...pleasant enough to listen to...but do we need another show/guy from out-of-town? Is this compelling programming Greater Media?

2.) While I was not a big Jay Severin fan, I give him credit for making noise and making himself known. This is show biz, and you can be the nicest guy on the radio, and if no one knows who you are, then it doesn't make any money. Jay seems to know what he had to do to create and make radio happen. While I never agreed with his stands, I give him credit for his "schtick.

That said...what kind of an employer is Greater Media? They made a deal with this guy....and now they want to get out of it? I don't care if his ratings are up or down...or if he's controversial or not. They made an agreement with him. If it was not a wise deal on their part...then it's their fault.

I would say that anyone who is set to sign a contract with Greater Media better beware and think twice. They are showing their true stripes in being a company that isn't worth their word...or the contract they sign.

$.02

 

[Blackroc]

I give him credit for his "schtick.

We'll they all have it. But most tell the truth about things that can be verified. Severin didn't and compounded things when questioned about it.
As far as his contract goes I'd guess it was worded carefully enough --to GM's benefit-- so that they can get out without being counter-sued with cause.

 

[Don Juan]

I give him credit for his "schtick.

We'll they all have it. But most tell the truth about things that can be verified. Severin didn't and compounded things when questioned about it.

I don't know that they all have it. There are many pleasant people that come to radio and never make any impression on anyone. Severin suceeded. How many people has RKO had in their morning show? No one remembers any of them. Some people have a verbal swagger...and a "schtick" that works....most don't.

Second, you don't think everyone embellishes the truth? Welcome to radio and show-biz. It's done all the time.....Severin just did a poor job of it.

Has Howie Carr ever come clean about the Herald's role in Peter Blute's "booze-cruise" setup? Does Howie really think the Herald is a far superior paper to the Globe? Crtiticizes the Globe all day...but never a word about the Herald's faults. Everyone exaggerates the truth in their favor. Again, Severin was never good at it.

I give him credit for his "schtick.

As far as his contract goes I'd guess it was worded carefully enough --to GM's benefit-- so that they can get out without being counter-sued with cause.

Well, we don't know that yet. If it was carefully worded as you say, they would be done with him, and there wouldn't be people "filling in" for Jay Severin.

This is a high-stakes bluff/negotiating tactic that is being employed. It is apparently GM's right to have him sit at home off-air while they continue to pay him. Whether they will succeed at getting rid of him without paying through the nose....or getting him back at reduced salary...is yet to be seen.

 

[Davef1820]

Smerconish used to fill in for O'Reilly alot so I have heard him. Hes okay but I think if they have to let Jay go ,and from a business point of view i can see whythey may have too ... id rather see someone local.If not a local person I would much rather see a Glenn Beck or maybe a return of Sean Hannity.Im sure ill get heat for that but thats just my opinion.

 

[Blackroc]

You don't think everyone embellishes the truth?

Maybe The Dean wasn't with Merrill's Marauders in India. He could have been at a PX in Fresno?

 

[BRNout]

While Smerconish is a conservative, he is no ideologue. He endorsed, and voted for, Barack Obama.

OK, Smerconish is not a conservative. That's not meant to be a slap of any sort - it's just a fact. He's a moderate. Which means that he's on the right for certain issues and on the left for others. And yes, he endorsed Obama. He may seem conservative to you if you're a liberal, but he's no conservative either. Not even close. Not that there's anything wrong with it, but it's helpful to understand his position on the political scale before we talk about the relative viability of his show to certain audiences. Frankly, I think his politics would probably play well on WTKK - no issue there.

Having listened to him in Philadelphia on WPHT for the 18 months I lived there, I found that he became monotonous after a while - often playing the role of a 'one trick pony' when it comes to certain pet subjects. He's one of the few talk hosts that I liked at first, but who actually wore on me after a while. Usually, it's the other way around.

Lastly, I wonder how well he will translate to the New England cultural marketplace. That's no idle comment because New England has a rather unique personality and culture that can be tough to relate to for an out of towner. Smerconish is from Philly, born and bred there, and has never lived anywhere else. It's evident in his accent, mannerisms, and vocabulary. That may not play particularly well in Boston; just as Howie Carr never made it beyond New England for a similar reason (roles reversed).

My instinct tells me that Greater Media is flying various trial balloons to see if any gain traction (Schnitt, Smerco, etc.). That's not a bad way to do things. But it also means that nothing is resolved yet.

 

[raccoonradio]

Still no sign of Severin's return....it's now been about 3 weeks (happened at end of April) WTKK's website still says "new site coming soon". I'm surprised they haven't at least put a link up for their current lineup (even if they list Jay's show even if it is in limbo). Of course a similar drawn out drama existed in the past with Severin,
and also with the Howie/WRKO situation. (I think WTKK was all set to have their Howie page of the site ready to go just in case--I think someone even registered a "howie969" web domain at one point! It was not to be.)

Today's Salem news has a columnist arguing Jay went over the line and should be fired (there are several comments, pro and con)
http://www.salemnews.com/puopinion/local_story_140000950.html?keyword=secondarystory

 

[raccoonradio]

In Miami Neil Rogers was suspended for letting the F-word through--he didn't realize, he said, that the dump button was disconnected. Diff. between his situation and Jay's: the highly rated Rogers was suspended WITH
pay, acc. to Wikipedia. Severin: without pay.

 

[Thai]

Wikipedia, now there's a good source :

Smerc sux deluxe. It's back to Howie with Jay gone. Imus sucks and J&M suck like the puff pieces they are. I like Graham but he's on when I'm working so TKK loses another listener. WTKK=WRKO

 

[raccoonradio]

Why, Wikipedia is very accurate. Here: "The first person to land on the moon was an 11 year old Florida boy who built his own rocket." (OK, made that up! )

Smerc was criticized by those on the Right for his endorsement of Obama (B. Maloney claiming it was to
appease Jones/Dial Global for syndie rights, etc.) He has since been called "moderate". I haven't heard enough to judge but his voice at least sounds like any number of slightly-raspy-sounding middle-aged-guys-who-do-
fill-ins.
File under "Ex-Severin Headache # 96.9" ...or... "Wipe That Smerc Of Your Face!"

Smerc's bio on the WPHT page lists him as a fill in for Radio Factor...which ended a couple months ago...
http://www.thebigtalker1210.com/pages/14999.php