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Tommy G- NJ 101.5

I hear what you're saying however I found Tommy G. to be humble and thankful for all the things he's accomplished through hard work and dedication. He was so touching when he spoke about the love of his dog and about his excitement for life in general, it inspired me. I found him very real, a very relatable family guy and I miss hearing his show. He even took the cops side over Obama in the Gates arrest which showed me he's fair and shared the opinion I had about it. I have to say I'm successful in life so when Tommy G spoke of his or his families success which really wasn't that often I was happy for him. I was listening to Craig Carton this morning on The Fan and I agree he is also great and is missed. I even heard a Brad Benson commercial on his show this morning on WFAN which tells me the advertisers went over with Craig Carton to WFAN. Judi Franco I thought was great and is sorely missed. It just seems all the people I really enjoyed listening to on New Jersey 101.5 Carton, Franco and Tommy G. are gone and the station has lost much of it's appeal to me and is on a major decline.
 
I liked the comment in The Trentonian about sunshine in the middle of the night. What is troubling for NJ 101.5 is the report that the person who helped formulate that talk station in the early 90's consultant Walter Sabo has been let go. Let's play follow the dots here. NJ 101.5 lost very popular talk hosts like Craig Carton, Judi Franco and Tommy G. They also dropped their coverage of South Jersey by turning 97.3 FM into all sports and let go of their talk radio consultant who was there from day one. Makes you wonder if NJ 101.5 is just not committed to FM talk anymore and may be getting ready to flip to a cheaper all music or a syndicated sports format.
 
You know, NJ 101.5 boasts about how it's the most listened to station in New Jersey. So often, The Jersey Guys (particularly Casey) talk about how they're the highest rated drive-time radio program in the entire country. There seems to be no shortage of advertising on the station, especially during the Jim Gearhart program. With all that NJ 101.5 seems to have going for it, why is Millennium cutting corners and trying to run it on the cheap?

If the rumors are true that they are changing from talk programming to music, that would be terrible. With the exception of the all-request shows, I just can't listen to NJ 101.5 during the weekends. They are extremely repetitive, playing music that you can hear on about half the other stations in New Jersey. At least with FM Talk, they're covering a much-needed format in the area.

But because of Millennium's desire to maximize profit by spending less, the station is suffering big time in quality. Just over two years ago, NJ 101.5 had Craig Carton, Judi Franco, and Tommy G during late nights. Now they've all been replaced by inferior substitutes: Casey Bartholomew, Michele Pilenza, and pre-recorded tapes of old programs during late nights. Casey is always talking about Debbie Gibson, Michele still seems uncomfortable discussing anything other than "soft" topics such as romance, and playing old shows where a live show used to run is just spitting in the face of the late night audience ... yes, that's right, at least 6 hours of the daily programming is regurgitated so-called "Best Of" shows, and with Michelle Jerson taking off frequently as of late, that number grows even more.

This station is going downhill fast. I for one am listening a lot less than I used to. From their lack of willingness to invest in stronger talent to deciding the post-11 PM audience deserves no better than listening to a tape, it's only a matter of time before this station takes a big hit in the ratings. What's next for NJ 101.5 - letting Big Joe Henry go? Considering the stupid decisions that have happened in the past couple of years, it wouldn't surprise me if that was next on the horizon.

I am reminded of what happened at Tropicana in AC under its previous owners, Columbia Sussex Corp. The lack of experience running a casino of that magnitude, combined with the desire to save money anywhere they could (i.e. not running escalators late at night, and having one person clean all the restrooms), are the reasons why that place struggled and why the ownership was deemed incapable of running such an operation. It appears that Millennium may be in over their heads with NJ 101.5. If they're not willing to put in the time, money and effort into keeping it a quality station, they should consider selling.
 
The buzz is gone with that station. It used to be that I'd run into people who say "I hate that Craig Carton"...but they'd admit that they listened. Now it's "that Casey guy sucks" and they DON'T LISTEN anymore. How the ratings haven't plummeted are beyond me, maybe there really are a lot of people who tune in just for traffic updates.

Michelle Pilenza sounds like a nice woman, and she was okay in her night-time gig, but she is severely overmatched with Dennis. He is basically a bully, (except when Carla Katz is there and he kisses her rear end), and Michelle doesn't have the courage to stand up to him even if she wanted to. I don't know what her role in that program is other than to nod along and chuckle occasionally. I used to HATE Judi, but guess what.....you got it, I listened more than, I do now with Michelle there.

Bottom line, the station is treading water creatively, probably trying to max out profits until a format change happens.
 
It looks like what soul cusher said. They're running 101.5 on the cheap now, they don't care especially if the plan is to flip. An effort just isn't the objective at 101.5 anymore which puts PD Eric Johnson in a tough spot. The points are valid Craig Carton Judi Franco and Tommy G all added much more to the station than what's there now. It appears to be a wind down to an eventual format flip to cheaper music or syndicated sports like they did on 97.3. Once they took the 97.3 feed away from 101.5 the handwriting was on the wall thus eliminating a big chunk of NJ 101.5 listeners in South Jersey. The politicians must have cheered that day with NJ 101.5 losing a lot of it's power and credibility as New Jersey's radio staion with that flip. This is followed by taped old stale recycled shows at night and the bouncing of FM talk consultant Walter Sabo. The station's current format is painfully just winding down, it's so obvious.
 
PDRonM said:
The station's current format is painfully just winding down, it's so obvious.
Click to expand...

Is that what YOU would do, Mr. "PD" RonM?

Change the format of the most successful FM talk station in the country, at at time when
it is enjoying its best ratings ever, and revenues are just fine?

If you built a house in 1990, would you keep the architect on your payroll, doing nothing,
for $$$$ a month, for almost 20 years? I don't think so.

Would you pay one of your hosts "New York Money" to keep him at your station, when his
antics cost you many advertisers and mucho dinero?

Would you keep your late night talk host, who had a tiny (even though they were loyal) base
of listeners, when there is a big jump in ratings at 3AM when your reruns come on?

Just wondering.
 
Zackster be objective and not the company man/woman. I just feel they are getting ready to flip. Let's review your misinformation.

1. NJ101.5 had it's best ratings when Craig Carton who's currently doing mornings on 66 WFAN was there hands down. Decent ratings now are on the weekends when the music is on. That's why a flip to music makes sense. What planet are you on ? Revenues are down, Eric Johnson said that in the e-mail he sent out to listeners. Look back on an earlier post.

2. Walter Sabo is the FM talk radio guru if you plan on keeping the FM talk format you keep him on to advise. He's a brillant man, if you keep FM talk you would want to keep him.

3. How much money did Craig Carton cost the company due to lost advertisers ? Whatever was lost I'm sure was made up with other advertisers. Craig Carton brought much attention and buzz to 101.5 when he was there which they benefited from. Watch the movie Private Parts, whatever advertisers Howard Stern lost he gained audience so they could charge more and he eventually got new advertisers.

4. Just looked at the overnight numbers and they were really good with a drop off at 3 AM when the reruns came on. That was a cost cutting move as per Eric Johnson, once again see an earlier post with the e-mail that states that from PD Eric Johnson.

IMO with all that's going on including the flip on 97.3 to syndicated sports NJ 101.5 gave up on the FM talk format to maybe go to a cheaper music or cheaper syndicated sports format to increase their bottom line which is hurting.

Everyone in the industry knows Millennium is in major financial trouble, maybe it's time Zackster wakes up and smells the coffee. If Zackster wants we can continue debating the financial trouble that's currently affecting Millennium.
 
I don't miss him as much because I'm now forced to hear ESPN sports. It's really great hearing about teams from the midwest. Maybe if the sales department was able to be sell a program that did have a fair amount of listeners...we wouldn't be discussing this. Really interesting to see the strong differences of opinion of radio broadcasters.
 
max80 said:
Tommy G is a man with many talents. Our leader of the late night announced on his Facebook today that a movie Robodoc he's the associate producer for is being distributed by National Lampoon Nov 10. It was written and produced by his brothers and Amazon has it listed. Congratulations Tommy G. can't wait to get a copy of the movie !!
Click to expand...

I'm obviously a big Tommy G guy, but I have to be honest. I watched the trailer for "Robodoc" and ummm........it looks absolutely horrible. Like, REALLY bad. If the scenes they chose to put in the trailer are supposed to make you want to see the movie, I'm scared to think of what the actual movie is like.
 
I've seen movies with great trailers turn out to be the worst and movies with so so trailers turn out to be entertaining. I guess I'll wait and see how this turns out, I already ordered a copy from Amazon. Just the fact that a radio guy along with his two doctor brothers have National Lampoon distributing their first movie worldwide is a big win and I'm excited for Tommy G. It takes guts and determination to get a movie to market. Tommy G always projected that determination on the air which I came to admire.
 
I hope you guys know you will never hear Tommy Gordon on the radio again.maybe online but not on the radio.He is done at WKXW,WPHT is not looking for anyone WIP is not looking I don't know about Espn 950.and I think he wants to stay with talk and not music radio so he will have to look for something in NY. or even some other state that can NOT be picked up with a radio in the Philly-Trenton market..I am very happy with the best of and we still get live traffic and weather and Steve does Answer the phone and would be more then happy to put something out on the air if something big would happen.and max80 in your post you put "Our leader"please don't ever do that again he may be YOUR leader but he is NOT my leader so he is NOT "Our leader".he maybe the leader at the unemployment office I don't know.
 
Some of us with intelligence like to call in to a LIVE show to offer an opinion and discuss a current topic.
That's why we support our leader of the late night Tommy G. ! Some may know him also as movie producer Tommy Gordon. Either way he's someone who earned my respect for all his current and future accomplishmemts.

http://www.facebook.com/TommyG.radio
 
max80 said:
Some may know him also as movie producer Tommy Gordon.
Click to expand...

HAHAHAHA ! He's one of 18 "producers" and surely only on the list because his
brothers wrote the horrible movie.

Jason Faulds .... associate producer
Andrea Faustino .... associate producer
David Faustino .... associate producer
Sandi Foncannon .... associate producer
Ronald Fox .... associate producer
Rene Ross Garza .... associate producer
Dr. Doug Gordon .... producer
Dr. Scott Gordon .... executive producer
Jason Gordon .... associate producer
Thomas Gordon .... associate producer
Mark Hayes .... executive producer
Sheri Kebbel .... executive producer
Sandra Milliner .... coordinating producer
Corin Nemec .... associate producer
John O'Regan .... line producer
Martin Sherrow .... associate producer
Donald Tynes .... producer
John White .... associate producer
 
Muliple producers are the norm in the film and TV industry, just look at any closing credits. An executive producer, producer, line producer, coordinating producer all have different responsibilities. With National Lampoon's distribution I have no doubt people all around the world will buy, rent, pay for view this movie. Tommy G and his brothers will be laughing all the way to the bank while others are still sitting here typing nasty jeolous comments. Congratulations to our leader of the late night Tommy G !

Nice DVD cover !!!


http://www.amazon.com/National-Lamp...ef=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1252029840&sr=8-1
 
With all this talk of "Robodoc" I decided to go over to IMDB to check out some reviews and stuff. Well, there are only two external reviews posted on the site.

Here is an excerpt from the FIRST review:

"I was lucky enough to be one of the first to see RoboDoc last Saturday in Orlando. Let me tell you this movie is hysterical. The entire theatre was laughing from the first reel to the last."

(I'd take those comments a bit more serious if the review was by someone OTHER than Tommy's producer SPANKY.)

Here are excerpts from the Orlando Sentinel, which gave Robodoc 1 out of 5 stars:

"Robodoc never gets off comic life-support."

"This feels like a failed sitcom pilot circa 1988, one the producers would have to clean up to put on the air after Married With Children."

"Every movie that makes it to the finish line -- a theater -- is something of a miracle, and a real triumph of self-promotion and persistence. But in this case, all that effort seems misguided, even delusional. Was this ever funny, even as a script?"
 
I still ordered it and I'll judge for myself. I never read or believe reviews and neither does my girlfriend. Most of the time we pick movies based on who's in it and the subject matter. Many people rent or buy movies this way as it's normally spur of the moment especially as a gift. With worldwide distribution by National Lampoon they'll be making money off this movie for decades. It's still an accomplishment that most people don't ever do and they'll be laughing all the way to the bank.
 
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