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To the 59?

ChuckTiller

ChuckTiller

Okay, what is with this new phrase I am hearing from Houston traffic reporters? "Traffic is backed up to the 59." US 59 is the Southwest Freeway and the East Tex Freeway. It should be, "traffic is backed up to 59." Now, if you are talking about the 59 split downtown, then say so. "Traffic is backed up to the 59 split."

Lets get on THE Bellaire Blvd, go to THE 610, hook up with THE 45 and go to THE Galveston.
 
Maybe they're taking a page from the D/FW playbook, where either using the freeway name or number is acceptable"

"Take The Bush to 35 to 30 to go to Texarkana" could also be "Take 190 to Stemmons to the Tom Landry..."
 
We can thank our radio brethren and sistern on the west coast for this little affectation. For years they've referred to their freeways and highways as "the five", "the 405", or "the ten", or whatever.

It's now firmly entrenched in the west coast vernacular, and all the TV programs and shows that are filmed there.

Now it appears our Houston radio types are picking it up. I haven't heard anyone use it yet, but once one shop starts it, it's just a matter of time before everybody will be using it.

Personally, I think it's an affectation that bespeaks a self-absorbed "we're cool and you're not" attitude. It should be allowed to stay where it began -- in La-La Land.
 
Aren't most of the traffic reports done out-of-market anyway?

I know MetroNetworks used to broadcast from the Southwest Fwy next door to the KPRC studios, as I applied there once in 1997, right after I moved to Houston. They broadcast "local" news and traffic for a number of Texas markets as well as Houston (at that point, they had the KTRH contract).

But at some point, I understand ClearChannel went in-house for their stations...wouldn't surprise me if they have a centralized hub that serves their station group.
 
Shadow Broadacst used to broadcast from that location. Shadow bought and merged with Metro Networks which are now located in Willimans Tower in The Galleria. Metro uses local people.
 
And where in the world did they find that Barton guy?! Sounds like he's just making everything up. ???
 
Motorhead said:
And where in the world did they find that Barton guy?! Sounds like he's just making everything up. ???
Click to expand...

Tell me about it.... WHERE'S MY WESTPARK TOLLWAY REPORTS!!!!!
 
Tim-In-Houston said:
Aren't most of the traffic reports done out-of-market anyway?

I know MetroNetworks used to broadcast from the Southwest Fwy next door to the KPRC studios, as I applied there once in 1997, right after I moved to Houston. They broadcast "local" news and traffic for a number of Texas markets as well as Houston (at that point, they had the KTRH contract).

But at some point, I understand ClearChannel went in-house for their stations...wouldn't surprise me if they have a centralized hub that serves their station group.
Click to expand...

All Clear Channel stations are provided Traffic by the Total Traffic Network (A CC Invention) which, in Houston, is housed with all of the stations that CC owns.... Houston recently started providing traffic out-of-market for San Antonio, but only on the overnights
 
As Chuck said... at Metro we do our Houston traffic from Houston. Our anchors do read newscasts for a few other markets, but we do our own for the stations we serve in Houston. Same for Traffic dot com at Cox... not sure about CC. Eddie Barton is a CC guy by the way.

As for the original topic... I have not heard any of our reporters refer to "the 59"... If its one of ours, please let me know and we can try to put an end to it before it becomes commonplace and "accepted".
 
Kevinc said:
As for the original topic... I have not heard any of our reporters refer to "the 59"... If its one of ours, please let me know and we can try to put an end to it before it becomes commonplace and "accepted".
Click to expand...

Why stop it? It's jargon, and not any less identifying than the "Katy Freeway", "Nolan Ryan Expressway", "Eastex Freeway", "Sam Houston Tollway", etc., which are all commonlpace already. For anyone that isn't from here, this is just a small sampling of highway names used by traffic anchors that make no sense at all. To choose "the 59" as a place to begin "putting an end" to poor reporting is much too little way too late...IF you believe the practice needs ended in the first place.


Tooooonz
 
Mike, my man. As a native Houstonian, I heard that term when I was young. That is the area of town is known as The Montrose. I'm sure its not correct either. However, I heard it when I was a kid. When you and I worked at KILT, we refered to that area as "The Montrose." The two KILTs and KTRH along with KLOL were in "The Montrose." I never knew it was incorrect.

Just like when I worked at KIKK in Pasadena in 1975, I discovered that "Tarter Street" was spellled T-a-t-a-r. There is only one 'r' and its at the end. Kuykendahl doesn't have the letter 'r' but everybody calls it "Kurk n doll." Tuam looks like Guam with a "T". However we all know it as Too-Am. Those have been around for a long time. This business about "The 59" is recent.

For the sake of accuracy and correct grammar, two words come to mind from the Department of the Continued Bastardization of the English language: STOP IT!
 
Well, at least no one says "Pasa get down dena" anymore. Maybe that was just a KLOL tradition.
 
Amen to Chuck. You really know who's not from around here when you hear them say San Fe-LEEP-ay instead of the localized, commonly accepted, but colloquially correct mis-pronunciation of San FILL-up-ee. Radio's strength is its localized voice, and the regional charm it reflects. Remember the FOX Network News Anchor who was caught on camera during the Anna Nicole Smith soap-opera, referring to her home town of MEX-ee-uh? Instant credibility-loss to the people in his audience who knew better.

You wanna connect with the local listener, even if you're doing a "network" traffic report, or writing news from somewhere else, better put in the proper prono-guides for your anchors.

By the way, in The Metroplex, it's either 35-E or 35-W. It does make a difference.
Small detail to some, but an important one.
Thanks for raising the issue, Chuck.
 
San Fillupy

You really know who's not from around here when you hear them say San Fe-LEEP-ay instead of the localized, commonly accepted, but colloquially correct mis-pronunciation of San FILL-up-ee.

But what about us guys who've lived here since Truman was President, who know the locally correct pronunciation, but whose boss is so stuffy he refuses to let his announcers say it any other way but "San Fee-LEE-pay"?

Think "classical" station.
 
Thankfully there's just one correct safe way to say Fuqua on the air.
 
FilioScotia said:
You really know who's not from around here when you hear them say San Fe-LEEP-ay instead of the localized, commonly accepted, but colloquially correct mis-pronunciation of San FILL-up-ee.

But what about us guys who've lived here since Truman was President, who know the locally correct pronunciation, but whose boss is so stuffy he refuses to let his announcers say it any other way but "San Fee-LEE-pay"?

Think "classical" station.
Click to expand...

It always bugs me when its pronounced "San Fill up ee".
Try calling someone named Felipe that and see what kind of response you get.
Its incorrect and unacceptable.
 
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