I was just wondering what the local vibe is on 610 AM KILT since Gavin Spittle took over as PD? I see the last couple of months, the ratings have been falling. I'm not from Houston and I have to admit, I've never listened to the station, (and never looked back since he left KRLD AM and FM in Dallas)....but I have to wonder if you guys in Houston think that he is doing a good job or not?
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Thoughts of KILT 610 in the past few months
- Thread starter JRG440
- Start date
My thoughts exactly. I listen in the morning on my way to work and in the PM on my way home, and I have to say I don't always enjoy what I hear. Mark Vandemeer is OK, but John Lopez adds nothing. Just once -- JUST ONCE -- I would like to hear him complete a sentence or a thought. He will start an interesting thought, but then he goes shooting off on several tangents, and he never comes back to the thought he started. And I hate the way they constantly step all over each other and interrupt each other. I really wish somebody would make them air-check their show and seriously critique themselves.
I don't know where they got Josh Ennis, but I wish they'd send him back. I didn't think anybody could possibly be worse than Matt Jackson but I was wrong. Ennis wins the Gold Medal for "Most Obnoxious Sports Radio Talker" hands down. Jackson gets the Silver.
And am I the only one who thinks the PM show is drifting close to softcore porn with the "Sexy Traffic" routine Laura Reynolds does every Friday? It's close to softcore radio porn, I almost never miss it. When I do I know where to find it on their website.
And check out that video Laura made with the can of Coors Light. I've watched that one at least a dozen times.
I like sports-oriented radio, and while I don't always enjoy what I hear on KILT AM, it's still the best sports radio in town. The other stations are just pathetic.
I don't know where they got Josh Ennis, but I wish they'd send him back. I didn't think anybody could possibly be worse than Matt Jackson but I was wrong. Ennis wins the Gold Medal for "Most Obnoxious Sports Radio Talker" hands down. Jackson gets the Silver.
And am I the only one who thinks the PM show is drifting close to softcore porn with the "Sexy Traffic" routine Laura Reynolds does every Friday? It's close to softcore radio porn, I almost never miss it. When I do I know where to find it on their website.
And check out that video Laura made with the can of Coors Light. I've watched that one at least a dozen times.
I like sports-oriented radio, and while I don't always enjoy what I hear on KILT AM, it's still the best sports radio in town. The other stations are just pathetic.
justsayin said:
That sentence, if accurate, tells the story. Vandermeer always came across to me as a company shill with hardly any personality other than to support the Texans and rip the Cowboys at all costs. I don't see how 610 could be worse off with a few babbling hosts no longer on their air, but I suppose it's possible. Laura Reynolds always seemed to me more concerned with reeling off "cute" one-liners than actually giving the traffic, which in a city like Houston isn't a great idea IMO.
The sentiments expressed in the above posts are valid IMHO. They most definitely have a morning drive problem. They have never recovered from losing John & Lance who are argueably the best overall sports personalities in the market. Personally I listen to Vandermeer & Lopez when 1560 goes into one of their 10 minute commercial breaks. Listening to them is like waiting for something to happen, but it never does. Fortunately they do get some help from folks like John McClain and some of the NFL & NBA experts, but that's not enough to carry them for four hours a day. Rome solidifies them midday.
I agree with Filo with regards to Matt Jackson. He was the worst. I think Josh Ennis is marginally better, but losing Jackson was certainly a bonus. That finally re-introduced Rich Lord back to the afternoon show. Jackson's constant ignorant takes over dominated Lord every day. With Lord back in charge (seemingly) they are solid there. Where KILT-AM has made the best move is the 7P-10P slot. Bringing back Barry Warner was a great move. So many people hate Barry, but he brings great radio to any station. There's nothing better for ratings than acerbic opinions. Plus, what most listeners fail to recognize, is that Warner is probably the most knowledgeabe well connected sports journalist in this market. His bain has alway been his inability to kiss management's ass when needed. That kills Barry every time. Personally I believe they should bring Barry back to AM Drive. Barry and anyone paired with him won't beat John & Lance, but it might recover some of the audience they no doubt lost over the last couple of years.
I agree with Filo with regards to Matt Jackson. He was the worst. I think Josh Ennis is marginally better, but losing Jackson was certainly a bonus. That finally re-introduced Rich Lord back to the afternoon show. Jackson's constant ignorant takes over dominated Lord every day. With Lord back in charge (seemingly) they are solid there. Where KILT-AM has made the best move is the 7P-10P slot. Bringing back Barry Warner was a great move. So many people hate Barry, but he brings great radio to any station. There's nothing better for ratings than acerbic opinions. Plus, what most listeners fail to recognize, is that Warner is probably the most knowledgeabe well connected sports journalist in this market. His bain has alway been his inability to kiss management's ass when needed. That kills Barry every time. Personally I believe they should bring Barry back to AM Drive. Barry and anyone paired with him won't beat John & Lance, but it might recover some of the audience they no doubt lost over the last couple of years.
S
streetbeat
Guest
Have to agree and disagree with some of the stuff here. I do think PM drive with Rich Lord and Robert Henslee is actually pretty good. They play well off each other and seem to listen (unlike Matt dominating Rich before). Both those guys have been here for a long time and know the market inside and out. I would probably agree that AM drive needs some help. Wasn't sure about the Lopez hiring when it happened and am still not convinced he's the right guy there. I'm a believer in karma, so I won't say too much, but Filio's take on Matt Jackson was funny and accurate. Seemed that Matt Jackson always loved him some Matt Jackson more than the listeners loved them some Matt Jackson. I guess we don't have to worry about that anymore since he and Adam disappeared into the black hole known as KBME. John and Lance are still the gold standard here, but I hope they don't get lazy and sloppy. I've noticed their show sometimes seems thrown together, with a bunch of voices in the studio I don't know or don't care about. Trivia: Remember Jeremy Foster, update boy and all-around goof-ball for a long time with J&L? He's a news reporter now at KTAR in Phoenix. I guess he fills-in on sports sometimes as well. Hell has officially frozen-over.
For the life of me, I cannot figure out why Lopez?!?!
I've had it. I tried. I really did. I have really tried to "get" John Lopez. And I have really tried to enjoy the mix he and Vandermeer have cooked up on the AM show. But I just can't take them anymore. They are the definition of "unlistenable."
By himself, Vandermeer is OK, but Lopez just sends me around the bend. He's a square peg trying to fit into a round hole. He's a print reporter trying to fit in with the radio way of doing things and it's just not working for me. So I've said bye-bye and gone back to an old friend.
What's really sad is that they are the best of a very bad lot of morning sports shows in this town. Everybody else is worse, and that has forced me to tune back to NPR on KUHF for my drive to work every morning.
By himself, Vandermeer is OK, but Lopez just sends me around the bend. He's a square peg trying to fit into a round hole. He's a print reporter trying to fit in with the radio way of doing things and it's just not working for me. So I've said bye-bye and gone back to an old friend.
What's really sad is that they are the best of a very bad lot of morning sports shows in this town. Everybody else is worse, and that has forced me to tune back to NPR on KUHF for my drive to work every morning.
****you probably aren't in their demo. Only reason I say that because it says Old Radio Guy under your name.****
LOLL...I forgot about that little notation. You have no idea how old. I was telling President Coolidge just the other day...but I digress.
I understand what you meant, but I wonder if being in their demo, or not, is of any importance?
I enjoy Rich and Robert in the afternoon. They're funny as hell and do a great show. And I'm significantly older than they too. It's not that I don't enjoy what Lopez and Vandermeer are doing. I just don't enjoy the way they do their show. Tune in on any morning at 6am when they go on the air, and listen to how chaotic, disorganized, aimless, cluttered and hard-to-listen-to their first hour is. It's a complete waste. I usually get to work around 6:45, so I don't know if it gets any better after that. Lord I hope so, for their sake.
I wish someone would make them air-check themselves some morning, so they can hear how truly bad they are. As I said in an earlier posting, they're the living definition of the word "unlistenable."
I'll be 67 years old in a few weeks, and I'm planning to close out my 45 years in radio and retire at the end of May. But that doesn't mean I'm too old to enjoy good radio when I hear it. I'm just not hearing it in the morning on The Big 610. KUHF and NPR is where you'll find me now.
LOLL...I forgot about that little notation. You have no idea how old. I was telling President Coolidge just the other day...but I digress.
I understand what you meant, but I wonder if being in their demo, or not, is of any importance?
I enjoy Rich and Robert in the afternoon. They're funny as hell and do a great show. And I'm significantly older than they too. It's not that I don't enjoy what Lopez and Vandermeer are doing. I just don't enjoy the way they do their show. Tune in on any morning at 6am when they go on the air, and listen to how chaotic, disorganized, aimless, cluttered and hard-to-listen-to their first hour is. It's a complete waste. I usually get to work around 6:45, so I don't know if it gets any better after that. Lord I hope so, for their sake.
I wish someone would make them air-check themselves some morning, so they can hear how truly bad they are. As I said in an earlier posting, they're the living definition of the word "unlistenable."
I'll be 67 years old in a few weeks, and I'm planning to close out my 45 years in radio and retire at the end of May. But that doesn't mean I'm too old to enjoy good radio when I hear it. I'm just not hearing it in the morning on The Big 610. KUHF and NPR is where you'll find me now.
Anyone know where Bill Van Rysdam landed?
L
lpfair
Guest
Actually from what I hear, they really like Gavin over there. John McClain of the Chronicle mentioned in his blog that their holiday book was the highest ratings that they have had in over two years so I asked a friend of mine who works in that building and they said that he has provided a lot of spark to that radio station and he's someone that they really respect because of his work ethic, ideas and how he takes care of his staff. I think the last couple of months have faltered because of the Texans audience leaving for the season, that's just my guess. Lopez is frustrating but he does draw my interest as to what he's saying next. I flip around but when there is breaking sports news, 610 in my opinion takes the lead by far.
lpfair said:
Thanks for chiming in, Gavin...
Anybbody know what's happening to KILT's pM drive show with Rich Lord? I see they've lost a producer and update anchor...did they get a better gig, or the usual?
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