The Rod Ryan Show and the Buzz

[dan_greenberg1500]

Former Houston resident who decided to hop online and check out the Buzz and their morning show. First thing I noticed is on the last 10 songs played list, I saw "Crazy Train" by Ozzy and "Lady Marmalade" by Patty Labelle...what is up with that? I thought this was an alternative station. Is that the norm now or was it just a few random tracks the morning show was playing?I also read that Rod Ryan was pulling in stellar numbers compared to how Steve and Jeff did when they were on air...after listening for about a half hour, I don't see how thats possible. Is it a case of other morning shows there in town not being very competitive anymore?

 

[a_and_m_king]

Former Houston resident who decided to hop online and check out the Buzz and their morning show. First thing I noticed is on the last 10 songs played list, I saw "Crazy Train" by Ozzy and "Lady Marmalade" by Patty Labelle...what is up with that? I thought this was an alternative station. Is that the norm now or was it just a few random tracks the morning show was playing?

They play music beds/songs under their crosstalks. And they choose music that fits the topic, hence the strange songs. And as far as Houston morning shows go, there is nothing else appealing. Atom and Maria still sound like a mess. Actually, Maria sounds like a mess. She should sober up before going on the air. And they should be using music beds to mask the uncomfortable dead air they have during their crosstalk. And Sam Malone on Mix 96.5 isn't much better. I would say that Rod is the lesser of the morning show evils. He gets a lot of criticism around here, but it's better than the alternatives.

 

[thrion]

Speaking of, does anyone know where Travis went?

 

[kendro]

He went "lightly"?

 

[ShaneofTexas]

Former Houston resident who decided to hop online and check out the Buzz and their morning show. First thing I noticed is on the last 10 songs played list, I saw "Crazy Train" by Ozzy and "Lady Marmalade" by Patty Labelle...what is up with that? I thought this was an alternative station. Is that the norm now or was it just a few random tracks the morning show was playing?

They play music beds/songs under their crosstalks. And they choose music that fits the topic, hence the strange songs. And as far as Houston morning shows go, there is nothing else appealing. Atom and Maria still sound like a mess. Actually, Maria sounds like a mess. She should sober up before going on the air. And they should be using music beds to mask the uncomfortable dead air they have during their crosstalk. And Sam Malone on Mix 96.5 isn't much better. I would say that Rod is the lesser of the morning show evils. He gets a lot of criticism around here, but it's better than the alternatives.

KRBE recently quit using background music in their morning show, which I noticed lately. Any reason for that?

 

[marko83]

Maybe Cumulus cut that too. Personally, I think background music is unnecessary. If they are saying something interesting enough to keep my attention, why do I care what's behind them?

 

[a_and_m_king]

Atom & Maria haven't used music beds since they've been together, long before the Cumulus takeover. Sometimes beds can be distracting, but it's nice to have it there when you have an akward pause. Really, they need the beds, because they have an abundance of akward pauses.

He went "lightly"?

You so funny.

 

[Emarti]

Former Houston resident who decided to hop online and check out the Buzz and their morning show. First thing I noticed is on the last 10 songs played list, I saw "Crazy Train" by Ozzy and "Lady Marmalade" by Patty Labelle...what is up with that?

You know how those old queens love their Patti Labelle! The c.d. probably came from his stash of music for his drag shows. :-*

 

[hobbes]

Speaking of, does anyone know where Travis went?

I knew he was leaving b/c it was mentioned here that they were looking for his replacement, but they only quip I've heard was that he was headed back to Canada. Whether or not that was just a joke, I don't know. I generally only catch the last hour of his show on the way to work, and I don't know how much his leaving was mentioned, but it was a surprise to me on Monday that he was gone. I didn't hear any conversation about him leaving on air. Today they were goofing with his replacement about putting on the tube for "tubesday." :

 

[a_and_m_king]

I thought him leaving would be a bigger deal than it has been, but apparently not. Thoughts on the new guy?

 

[Emarti]

Clear Channel has made it official that on June 1st (at the latest) they will kill WRNO, New Orleans for news talk, that means the Rod Ryan show won't be heard in that town anymore, which is the only good thing about destroying that heritage station.Tube, you say, oh brother! That probably means the dude is Spinnato, a radio part timer and Locke Siebenhausen type of sidekick that he "worked with" in New Orleans that came aboard as he went to WRNO after RR came aboard about one year ago. With CC killing RNO, he's out of a job. So Rod probably missed the little guy, whose interests include playing basketball with other peoples preteen boys around New Orleans.The tube thing is this: the dude talks through a paper towel tube on "tubesday", for effect or something, certainly not comedy.You ready for that Houston?! Clear Channel is giving you a guy talking through a tube! Well, if you pay minimum wage, that's the kind of lame garbage you get. :-*

 

[RodRyanSucks]

Spinatto will still be employed at CC New Orleans in one capacity or another. I know his father very well and he told me the other day that he will not be leaving the building.

 

[purplejay]

The tube thing is this: the dude talks through a paper towel tube on "tubesday", for effect or something, certainly not comedy.You ready for that Houston?! Clear Channel is giving you a guy talking through a tube! Well, if you pay minimum wage, that's the kind of lame garbage you get. :-*

Rod made Travis do that from Week One. lame bit for 3 years now.can't wait for tomorrow for the big American Idol discussion.

 

[dan_greenberg1500]

This guy is syndicated in N.O.? His shows sounds completely local online, I'm not talking about the traffic breaks which can be inserted seperately for each station, but just the fact of when he turns on the mic and gives only the 94.5 The Buzz monicker.And is the fact that the station in NO is being blown up with his show on there mean that his days could be numbered at the buzz as well? Seems like the stations numbers have slipped a little lately.

 

[thrion]

I remember when they first started syndicating to N.O. and thinking, "How are they going to do that?" So much of what they do is local based: they talk about local sports teams, they do local spots, they pimp out local bars and shopping places, they ask most callers where they are from, etc.And about the new guy, I will reserve my thoughts on him until he has some time to work into the mix. My first impressions were that he isn't a different enough personality to make the show interesting, but who knows how he will develop over time.

 

[Emarti]

I remember when they first started syndicating to N.O. and thinking, "How are they going to do that?" So much of what they do is local based: they talk about local sports teams, they do local spots, they pimp out local bars and shopping places, they ask most callers where they are from, etc

It was really more like they voicetracked the breaks for New Orleans from Houston. But June 1st, at the latest they won't be heard in New Orleans anymore--and it's not like they'll be missed. Good riddance! Houston radio would be better without RRyan and his friend Vince Richards.

 

[slaterradio]

Former Houston resident who decided to hop online and check out the Buzz and their morning show. First thing I noticed is on the last 10 songs played list, I saw "Crazy Train" by Ozzy and "Lady Marmalade" by Patty Labelle...what is up with that? I thought this was an alternative station. Is that the norm now or was it just a few random tracks the morning show was playing?I also read that Rod Ryan was pulling in stellar numbers compared to how Steve and Jeff did when they were on air...after listening for about a half hour, I don't see how thats possible. Is it a case of other morning shows there in town not being very competitive anymore?

The playlist on thebuzz.com is about as reliable as a housefly winning the Triple Crown. Rod plays a lot of quirky and non-rock music in the background, but the strange songs your seeing are not actually played in full length. I think it only takes a few seconds of playing a song for it to register on The Buzz's online 'last 10 played.'If you want an accurate reading of what's actually being played...check out yes.com and type in the KTBZ call letters. Those are the songs that are actually being played during his show.You all are entitled to your own opinions, but Rod has become a favorite of mine. I do have multiple criticisms of his show including his sloppy and immature interview technique, but he has some of the best content around. There's no rock radio morning show in Texas better than Rod, that's for sure.Lisle and Hahn in SA are still enjoyable to listen to and I would rate them at a close second. I've never gotten into Mike and Jason on 101X in Austin.That 'two guys' morning show on C101 in Corpus was like a mediocre barfbag. It wasn't atrocious, it wasn't spectacular. It was adequate.Don't get me started on the 'Lex and Terry' scoundrels who've murdered KDGE's former morning show--barely succesful ratings and all. Jagger wasn't pulling in Rod Ryan numberssss, but he, Mondo and Dean were far preferable to these two jokers who have already failed once in the Dallas market.My visits to El Paso and listens to KLAQ have been sparse, so no ability to comment on their show.That leaves Rod (we are of course only discussing major or prominent Texas cities) at the top of the heap. It's your right to label this show a caffeinated, overated flophouse. Maybe 'free beer friday' isn't brimming with uniqueness, but hey--it beats any of these syndicated asshole shows anyday.