What Happened To 95 Triple X Nights and Afternoons?

[Modlucsp]

Quote from: BenKarlow on August 10, 2006, 10:57:28 pm
Any move that unseats Ben Hamilton is okay in my book. Say what you will about him as a programmer, but as an individual through my experience, he is an arse and a half.

I would have to agree. I have only heard about him, but what you say falls in line with things I have heard. I also think the station has been moving downward also.

1) they had a really decent night guy on there. Kannon. This kid was not amazing, but he was a good jock. He kept the music moving, he wasn't annoying, he was smooth, and in all honesty brought nights back to sounding as they did when Sweet Pete was running the show. He did not shy away from being blunt and real. So this kid leaves. But the part I do not understand...who does ben put on nights to replace a strong show? A guy who was let go by Clear Channel Burlington??? He had been doing their morning show; Jag. If Clear Channel Burlington lets go of someone, you know they have to be terrible. You can even read blogs from his former superior, Corm. No one in that building liked the kid and somehow he made it onto 95 Triple X? What happened to Kannon?

2) Does anyone know what happened to Melissa Moran? I enjoyed her show. It was a nice change of pace from JT. She came with a lot of prep, and a great sense of humor. Why is she no longer at 95 Triple X?

 

[MassMusicMan]

Quote from: BenKarlow on August 10, 2006, 10:57:28 pm
Any move that unseats Ben Hamilton is okay in my book. Say what you will about him as a programmer, but as an individual through my experience, he is an arse and a half.

I love how this gets bumped after a year.

I would have to agree. I have only heard about him, but what you say falls in line with things I have heard. I also think the station has been moving downward also.

Not sure about that. I love to bash the X as much as anybody on R-I, but the music on CHR has been as good recently as it's been in years. I'm only up there on the weekends, so that's all I can really evaluate until Ben "that's how you lose jocks" Hamilton puts the station on the Internet. Funny, people still leave in droves.

That said, time to put Garabedian out to pasture. After all these years, it still amazes me that Hamilton can't come up with a better solution for weekend night programming than corny jokes from a 70-year old man, especially considering that they've broadcasted from the same club for six years on Saturday nights! For a station that pays garbage, there are actually plenty of working professionals that apply for jobs there, not to mention the fact that there are three colleges in town. It's not hard to staff that station. Yet, complacency is the X way.

But the part I do not understand...who does ben put on nights to replace a strong show? A guy who was let go by Clear Channel Burlington??? He had been doing their morning show; Jag. If Clear Channel Burlington lets go of someone, you know they have to be terrible. You can even read blogs from his former superior, Corm. No one in that building liked the kid and somehow he made it onto 95 Triple X? What happened to Kannon?

Again, I love to bash Burlington radio people as much as anybody, but this is downright asinine. Jenny Foxx was let go by CC/Burlington. She's not at all terrible. Are you legitimately taking Steve Cormier's word at face value? Honestly? I've traded messages with Jag. He's a very nice man, and appreciates what he has. I'd like to see him do well in broadcasting.

I don't know what happened to Kannon, but the better question is whatever became of Kobe?

2) Does anyone know what happened to Melissa Moran? I enjoyed her show. It was a nice change of pace from JT. She came with a lot of prep, and a great sense of humor. Why is she no longer at 95 Triple X?

You're not trashing JT, are you? That guy has more talent in his pinky that most in the game have in their entire body. Somebody must like him, because he does middays in Seattle, and does plenty of imaging for other stations as well. I'm very proud to have worked with him back in the day. As for Miss Moran, why did she leave? I'll let the O'Jays answer the question..."money money money money...monnnayyyy..."

 

[Dr.Pepper]

I have to echo the previous poster's sentiments.....


Plenty of talented people have been let go by CC....Jenny Foxx one of them.

Don't player hate on Jag...he's got talent. He's a young dude...he's got time. Plus, he is in a much better situation now. I have a feeling he does not miss hanging out at Clear (the) Channel.....

 

[Modlucsp]

JT was and is fantastic. He is in Seattle for a reason. This was not my point. My point is that 95 Triple X seems to have been lowering their standards, at least Ben Hamilton as its leader. Bringing Jag in on nights was not an upgrade. Will, I'm glad you have traded messages with Jag. I've heard much more negative than positive about the kid, and I can't stand listening to him on the radio. Most my friends loved listening to Kannon. Since Kannon bounced that is not the case. Bringing Melissa in for JT, also not an upgrade. Anyone else know where Kannon and Melissa went off to?

 

[CreativeServicesGuy]

I worked at the X for two years, I thought it was a fantastic place to work.

I think Kannon left radio, and moved to Boston. Melissa went to WFLZ in Tampa.

 

[Modlucsp]

I guess I answered my own question...did a websearch: http://www.therose.net/page.php?jock_id=1686&page_id=7703

Kannon apparently is on 96.3 The Rose on Cape Cod. Looks like the same guy. Anyone able to confirm? Did he leave the X or was he let go? Still puzzled why and how Ben Hamilton could be so stubborn to replace a talent like Kannon with Jag; JT with Melissa; Michelle O'Dell on middays rather than bringing in Sweet Pete caliber talent.

 

[MassMusicMan]

The Kannon you found on the Rose website is indeed the same guy.

As for the new people at the X who have replaced the old guard, I can't really evaluate their talent. One thing I always admired about the X (even I give credit where it's due) was that the jocks actually say something interesting once in a while, not just "check out the last 10 songs played at kiss.com."

It's hard for me to say that anybody is better than Jessica/Jeff Thomas/Jamie/etc, because I worked with those guys, so in that sense, I'd have to agree with you. However, from what I've heard of the new school jocks, it seems like they try too hard to be funny in every break. The humor I hear doesn't really seem to appeal to anybody over the age of 19, which doesn't really work when you target 18-34. I understand where Jag would use this type of schtick to appeal to his night audience, but I've heard jocks in other dayparts tell jokes or run phoners that are juvenile and/or vapid. Even the sweepers are cheesy. I don't believe for a second that these jocks did this type of radio before they got to Malletts Bay Avenue. They've been coached by Ben Hamilton into being edgy and silly, because that's what he finds funny. The guy is 40-something going on 16, and has been since I worked there.

For a market that lacks young people, 95 Triple X's presentation is decidedly non-adult, much to their detriment. I understand they won't make as much money as WOKO or Star because of their signal (which doesn't matter as much anymore thanks to the internet), but that station has always seemed to underachieve in terms of billing. The market needs the hits (as every market does), but they can be presented without juvenile humor. Look at 92 Pro FM. Look at WNCI. Both are successful heritage hit stations in medium markets that are successful without running sweepers with dick jokes or female passion sounds. Both of those markets are far more similar to a smaller city such as Burlington than New York is, yet Hamilton uses Z100 as his almighty barometer for what's right and wrong in hit radio.

 

[MassMusicMan]

I worked at the X for two years, I thought it was a fantastic place to work.

I'm guessing that you were a production director, meaning that you didn't directly report to Ben Hamilton. Explains perfectly why you don't have a negative impression.

 

[cooper]

AFAIK, EVERYONE on Triple-X(including prod dir and CSD) report to Ben Hamilton.

 

[valhallafred]

CHR in general is not an "adult" format, so why would Triple X attempt to be a station that appeals to them? XXX is still calling itself CHR right?

 

[MassMusicMan]

CHR in general is not an "adult" format, so why would Triple X attempt to be a station that appeals to them? XXX is still calling itself CHR right?

No, but it can lean adult, as with the two stations I cited as examples.

 

[MassMusicMan]

AFAIK, EVERYONE on Triple-X(including prod dir and CSD) report to Ben Hamilton.

When I worked there, the production director reported to the sales manager and to Goldman.

 

[Modlucsp]

All in all, sounds like Ben runs the show and everyone else, the owner, the sales manager, just do what he says. You all described him as immature and even as a theif (I saw he steals his programming straight off Z100). In fact, I recently learned from a friend that it was a Clear Channel Burlington employee that recorded the infamous clip of 95 Triple X that was aired on Z100 by Elvis Duran. Would it not be hysterical if the person from Clear Channel now working at 95 Triple X was the person that did this? Thoughts.

 

[MassMusicMan]

All in all, sounds like Ben runs the show and everyone else, the owner, the sales manager, just do what he says.

He does wield great influence, which has everything to do with the fact that his boss is clueless and in the building only half the day.

You all described him as immature and even as a thief (I saw he steals his programming straight off Z100). In fact, I recently learned from a friend that it was a Clear Channel Burlington employee that recorded the infamous clip of 95 Triple X that was aired on Z100 by Elvis Duran. Would it not be hysterical if the person from Clear Channel now working at 95 Triple X was the person that did this? Thoughts.

It would be an amusing coincidence, but it would hardly matter at this point. Hamilton is cavalier and unscrupulous, but he's no dummy. I'm certain that he's fully aware of the consequences of what he does, but doesn't care. He doesn't have to care. Unlike most PD's, he doesn't work for stockholders.

 

[Modlucsp]

The station was fun to listen to. not anymore. It just does not sound fresh like it used to. Ever since JT, Kannon and Jamie left it's just been a downward spiral in terms of listenability. All that is left that is even worth listening to are afternoons with Sweet Pete.

 

[MassMusicMan]

The station was fun to listen to. not anymore. It just does not sound fresh like it used to.

I agree with this. For example, I haven't listened to Mike and Chantal in years (which has everything to do with, again, not being able to hear any of their show on the internet! It's 2007! At least upload the audio of Kaiser eating dog food!)

That said, I enjoyed the show a lot more when they focused on homespun features such as "Melrose Man" (a caller who discussed "Melrose Place" every week, with the novelty of a male perspective on a female targeted show - get somebody for "Desperate Housewives!") or the "Chantal Gets Hypnotized" bits from several years ago (which would still be endearing to this day.) Mike Czarny is a very talented man, and one of the nicest people I've ever worked with. He has an impeccable sense of humor, which is somewhat hindered by Hamilton's desire to force Z100 down everybody's throat with crank calls every day. Features like that are supposed to be a flavor. Even Stern doesn't do "Phony Phone" every day. Because of this, the call that Sal and Richard made to "Talkin' Yankees" was that much funnier.

Jamie was great at creating theatre of the mind, especially with the stunt where he "quit" just before his scheduled vacation. The subsequent stunt where Czarny slid into a pile of manure at Heritage Toyota was a fantastic spectacle, and drew a hearty crowd of spectators. The "Live Free For a Year" giveaway at North Beach, featuring a jousting match between Czarny and Sweet Pete, was a great example of people on the radio doing something fun. Again, I've been out of Burlington (and the X) since 2003, but I don't recall the station doing fun events like this anymore. The only time they really seem to have a public presence is at a remote, or at a concert. I didn't even see them at the fair this year.

JT was a maestro of promos. Most of the promos I hear on Kiss 108 just give me bare-bones information. JT had free reign to create something with some humor, and he ran with it. He took Mark Driscoll's voice, and created perhaps the finest imaging that he has ever been associated with. What really made him endearing was that he was funny without always being dirty, and held himself in good regard while also being somewhat self-deprecating.

While there was much that I hated about my years at the X, one of the things that I truly miss is that everybody was a family. Maybe it's because I was on the inside, but hearing the station back at the turn of the decade, it truly sounded like a team of people that came together to entertain everybody. Even JT put together a promo once that joked about possible prize giveaways, playing an auctioneer selling off a toilet seat used by Chantal. I've never heard any other radio station poke fun at itself like that. This was because all those people worked together for a long time. Most of the old guard is now gone, having moved on to other pursuits, inside and outside of radio. Maybe in time, these new people will blend together, and create something special. But as long as people keep leaving, it will never happen.

 

[Modlucsp]

JT promos were incredible. Even when he left, Kannon did a great job keeping the imaging hot. Not sure if you knew this Will, but Kannon was given the imaging role when JT moved on. In fact, Kannon's imaging was just as good, if not better, at times. I found Kannon at the Rose website, as previously mentioned. I emailed him. He said Jag is doing the imaging for the X now. Again,this is more proof of a leader of a station (Ben Hamilton) just dropping the ball. The kid isn't keeping your nights hot the way they were. The kid isn't keeping your imaging hot the way it was. When JT left, the imaging didnt falter. It was solid. Kannon did hot stuff. When Jamie left, Ben brought in Kaiser. Again, the burlington radio genious screws up. You need to upgrade talent, or at least keep talent equal. 95 Triple X has too great a history to bring in people that can't deliver like those who left. The station is not what it used to be and it is continuing to get worse. Bring JT back, bring Kannon back, bring Jamie back. It's worth the money.

 

[MassMusicMan]

Bring JT back, bring Kannon back, bring Jamie back. It's worth the money.

JT makes Seattle money now. He's not coming back.

Jamie is on television. His career goal is "SportsCenter", not the "Morning Zoo."

I don't know Kannon, but he made a lateral move for a reason.

 

[RazorBladeFun]

A quick look at the numbers will show that "the X" has suffered little damage as a result of its semi-recent turnover.

The notion of brining people back to make up one-tenth of a ratings point is laughable.

Of course, JT will keep his unquestionable talent in a major market, where it belongs.

Kannon probably didn't fit in, and that led to his departure more than anything else. Regardless, nights is nothing more than a voice between records these days, and Jag is doing a fine job juggling the hours and the imaging.

As for Jamie Scavato--- he's the only relic that might be attainable as his attempt at a television career is a joke. There's a reason they hired someone else instead of promoting him when Mark Sudol left a year ago.

However, Mike and Chantel are clearly fine without him, and Hamilton knows how to keep that business running as the inevitable small-market turnover deals him a new hand every now and again.

 

[MassMusicMan]

A quick look at the numbers will show that "the X" has suffered little damage as a result of its semi-recent turnover.

A quick look that anybody who doesn't work for a Burlington station can't make.

The notion of brining people back to make up one-tenth of a ratings point is laughable.

Agreed.

Regardless, nights is nothing more than a voice between records these days, and Jag is doing a fine job juggling the hours and the imaging.

What? Maybe in adult formats, but certainly not in CHR.

As for Jamie Scavotto he's the only relic that might be attainable as his attempt at a television career is a joke. There's a reason they hired someone else instead of promoting him when Mark Sudol left a year ago.

The reason is that Channel 5 is no less of a shoddy small-market broadcaster than any Burlington radio station. Jamie is an incredible talent, and anybody who disagrees with me on this is a poor evaluator of broadcast talent.

However, Mike and Chantel are clearly fine without him, and Hamilton knows how to keep that business running as the inevitable small-market turnover deals him a new hand every now and again.

He keeps it running by countering his vitriol toward his employees with a nice chat when it's necessary, and by stealing all his ideas from Z100. The funny part is that he's probably wildly overpaid to do what he does.