What's the Secret to Don Bleu's Longevity???

[LKellerIII]

I hadn't tuned in Don Bleu for quite a while. The last time I actually recall was the switch from K-101 to Star 101.3, and that's probably years ago. So I wanted to check out his show on the "New 103.7." While I was listening, he was asking people to call in with their nominations for currently overused catch-words and phrases that they're sick of ("baby bump," "viral," "end of the day," etc.). He dragged out this bit between songs way past the point of boredom, IMO.

I remember hearing Bleu in 1981 on KYUU and finding his show tiresome, after awhile. IMO, his material is typical of most run-of-the-mill morning shows: latch onto something fluffy and inconsequential in the news, like stupid criminals, misbehaving celebrities, annoying catchphrases, etc. - then ridicule and make fun of them for at least an hour.

Throw in some form of prerecorded and heavily edited prank phone-call, and voila, you've created a Morning Radio Show. This kind of material has been the life-blood of decades worth of middle-brow morning shows that have come and gone - I remember being amazed that "Cammy and (Whoever)" managed to last for well over a decade doing this stuff, while the more edgy and truly funny morning shows (Mancow, The Doghouse) seem to either flame out or leave town after awhile.

So I have to ask - how has Don Bleu managed to last over 30 years in Bay Area radio? I thought Bay Area audiences were supposed to be sophisticated.

 

[1069_KIFR]

I agree!!

I too remember him on KYUU. He would refer to K-101 as 'K- One -oh-wimp'

Never could understand someone being 'Bloopered' (Bleupered) To me, a blooper is when someone makes a mistake. But to have some blooper you, it's not a Blooper, its a prank. Other morning shows call them 'Phone Scam', 'Prank calls', etc but not bloopered (bleupered)

 

[NoMoreLurking]

I'm with ya. Consider that the prank phone calls can now be had as syndicated pieces, probably for as little as a 30 second spot a day from some barter outfit. So there's another morning show staple that the local talent can download instead of create.

 

[LKellerIII]

I'm with ya. Consider that the prank phone calls can now be had as syndicated pieces, probably for as little as a 30 second spot a day from some barter outfit. So there's another morning show staple that the local talent can download instead of create.

Funny. Are they done so the local DJ can edit in his own voice doing the "prank?"

In the mid 60s, I recall that interviews with rock stars (Mick Jagger, Paul McCartney, or whoever) could be purchased by Top 40 radio stations. The interview with the star would be pre-recorded, but the individual stations would edit in their own DJ asking the questions. It was pretty slick, but you could tell if you listened closely. First, the star never greeted or addressed the DJ by name, and the edits were often kind of clunky, so the pauses between the questions and answers were sometimes odd.

 

[recto101]

I liked Mancow, Doghouse and Rick Chase as long as it lasted.
Bleu I thought sounded too corny for KIOI.

 

[Domino Rippy]

Blooper calls are paid for bits that are sold to radio stations because it is VERY illegal to put anyone live or recorded on the air without their permission. The people on calls are all actors hired by the service that provides the audio.

It's old and outdated....no such thing as live "Punking" on radio anymore.

 

[LKellerIII]

Blooper calls are paid for bits that are sold to radio stations because it is VERY illegal to put anyone live or recorded on the air without their permission. The people on calls are all actors hired by the service that provides the audio.

It's old and outdated....no such thing as live "Punking" on radio anymore.

Even though the DJs will run the prank calls in a way that lets you think they are live, I have always assumed that they weren't, for the reason you state. I've always assumed the morning DJ and his staff do them after their air-shift, then run them the next day - assuming the "punk'd" victim approves.

But there's a difference between doing your own prank calls (even if prerecorded), and buying prank calls from some syndicator.

 

[SFStatic]

Bleu does his own, they are not purchased. He does them the day before, gets permission from all before airing. Sorry folks, but he's a very talented personality. I have to point out that NONE of you are or ever were in the target demo of K101/Star. 25-54 females, with an emphasis on 25-49. What Don did worked quite well for years on the station...got good ratings in the demo and made mountains of money for the company.

 

[DJBigOne]

I agree!!

I too remember him on KYUU. He would refer to K-101 as 'K- One -oh-wimp'

Never could understand someone being 'Bloopered' (Bleupered) To me, a blooper is when someone makes a mistake. But to have some blooper you, it's not a Blooper, its a prank. Other morning shows call them 'Phone Scam', 'Prank calls', etc but not bloopered (bleupered)

Real phone pranks were some of the greatest radio every created. Did you ever hear Rick Dees do "candid phone"? He once called "from the body shop" to tell a guy his car was cut in half. The guy almost started crying. Good radio! It's a shame that's illegal. Radio used to be the greatest theater of the mind. With VT-ing, and consolidation, those were the days...

 

[TomJF]

In the mid 60s, I recall that interviews with rock stars (Mick Jagger, Paul McCartney, or whoever) could be purchased by Top 40 radio stations. The interview with the star would be pre-recorded, but the individual stations would edit in their own DJ asking the questions. It was pretty slick, but you could tell if you listened closely. First, the star never greeted or addressed the DJ by name, and the edits were often kind of clunky, so the pauses between the questions and answers were sometimes odd.

I don't know that this has ever stopped; I have a few CDs of artist interviews, the most recent from 2002, and I think I have a digital one from about 2006. My impression was that these were promotion pieces sent by labels to radio stations, and weren't "purchased" ...but maybe in the '60s, interviews with Mick, Paul, et.al., were such hot items the labels could get away with charging for them.

 

[NoMoreLurking]

Bleu does his own, they are not purchased. He does them the day before, gets permission from all before airing. Sorry folks, but he's a very talented personality. I have to point out that NONE of you are or ever were in the target demo of K101/Star. 25-54 females, with an emphasis on 25-49. What Don did worked quite well for years on the station...got good ratings in the demo and made mountains of money for the company.

So how long have you worked for the local CC cluster?

 

[LKellerIII]

Bleu does his own, they are not purchased. He does them the day before, gets permission from all before airing. Sorry folks, but he's a very talented personality. I have to point out that NONE of you are or ever were in the target demo of K101/Star. 25-54 females, with an emphasis on 25-49. What Don did worked quite well for years on the station...got good ratings in the demo and made mountains of money for the company.

So how long have you worked for the local CC cluster?

It doesn't matter if Static works for CC or not - it's good of him to put in a strong word for Don, who he obviously respects. It's obvious he is right, and Bleu has been successful - that was the point of my question - what's his secret?

I have always found his show run-of-the-mill, even 30 years ago when I was in the target demo...OK, not a female, but in that age group. For example, I recall that he stayed on 99.7 for awhile after the switch from KYUU to X-100 - then left...for K101, I guess. But I found the two morning teams that replaced him on 99.7 much funnier and more entertaining - first Peter B. Collins & Michael Knight, then Kelly and Kline.

And I freely admit that all this is just my opinion.

 

[SFStatic]

I do not work in the ugly brown building on Townsend at the CC cluster, but did at one time. I agree on Kelly & Kline, not so much on Peter B...sorry Peter...Peter is much more cerebral than funny most of the time. He sounds good so far on his KGO weekend show, btw.

Funny is great, and I like a funny morning show, but that's not the only way to succeed in morning radio. As one former manager 4 or 5 back said, "Don touches people." Having managed both funny and non-funny morning people in this market, I agree with that. The key is touching the listener, day after day- making them feel you are their friend to the point that they want to hang out with you, even if vicariously through the airwaves every day.