What's up with 97.1?

[radiojohncmh]

I'm not trying to be a hater but I found this board and it seems like a good place to bring this up.

My question is "does anyone actually like Mix 97.1's morning radio lineup with Alan Kable, Kate, and Matt?"

Alan is just not funny and is painful to listen to at times. Kate is simply obnoxious and doesn't add anything other than drama and lame stories and Matt is quiet and boring.

Again, I'm not trying to start crap here but I just can't believe that these guys are still on the air. I challenge anyone to listen to the morning zoo on WNCI or the morning guys on the Blitz for 1/2 hour and compare that to 1/2 hour of the Alan Kable show. It's just so obvious that they lack the same talent.

What do you guys think? With a new morning show 97.1 would be my favorite station.

P.S. I also get sick of the endless Mix 97.1, 80's 90's now contest and Buzz Fitzgerald constantly pimping his "Buzz Cuts".

 

[SeanMGilbow]

John, from the time Clear Channel flipped AM 1230 until WVKO went on the air, Mix 97.1 was where my radio was set most of the time. When I wasn't listening to day-old podcasts of Stephanie Miller and Ed Schultz, I was into the mix.

I've met Kate and Matt. I'm especially grateful for their support of events in the LGBT community. I don't find Kate obnoxious at all, and Matt is anything but boring. I will admit, however, Alan Kabel is not J.T., which may be just as well since J.T. had some moments where he pushed the envelope to the dismay of the PD at the time. Keep in mind that Kate and Matt also worked with J.T. mornings.

But what the morning show has in comparison to the others you mention is a longstanding desire to help people, as exemplified by "The New You." I doubt there is a morning show in Columbus that has helped so many people in such a short period.

As for the contest...Trust me. You wouldn't be sick of it if you won $1,000.

But if you're looking for something with a little more substance on the morning commute, tune in to Bill Press on 1580 AM, especially right after 6:30 a.m. for "Crap You Haven't Heard."

 

[LocalGuy]

I will admit, however, Alan Kabel is not...

If you were to place the resumes of all of the people mentioned in this subject side by side, you would conclude that Alan is the most accomplished of all. To imply that he is a lower-level talent is just wrong.

...J.T. had some moments where he pushed the envelope to the dismay of the PD at the time.

The only way you could make that claim is if you cornered or got through to the PD and complained to him, yourself. First of all, that's odd. Second, suddenly finding himself stuck in that situation, the PD would be working to get rid of you as quickly as possible, and the easiest way to do that is to discern your view and level of emotion and then mirror that view back to you while seeming to crank his own emotion up one notch past yours so you're sure to "buy" the idea that he "got it." It looks like it worked. ;D

 

[SeanMGilbow]

I will admit, however, Alan Kabel is not...

If you were to place the resumes of all of the people mentioned in this subject side by side, you would conclude that Alan is the most accomplished of all. To imply that he is a lower-level talent is just wrong.

...J.T. had some moments where he pushed the envelope to the dismay of the PD at the time.

The only way you could make that claim is if you cornered or got through to the PD and complained to him, yourself. First of all, that's odd. Second, suddenly finding himself stuck in that situation, the PD would be working to get rid of you as quickly as possible, and the easiest way to do that is to discern your view and level of emotion and then mirror that view back to you while seeming to crank his own emotion up one notch past yours so you're sure to "buy" the idea that he "got it." It looks like it worked. ;D

For the record...J.T. and I corresponded periodically. I liked listening to him, and I wish him the best wherever he is now.

I could, however, fill you in on one particular time in 2004 where a sting operation was staged on behalf of a listener to find out if her spouse was cheating. Fortunately, while her suspicions were correct, the couple ended up reconciling. It could have gone very disastrous, and Kate and Matt could have found themselves on the unemployment line.

That was then.

As for now...For you to accuse me of implying that Alan is low-level talent is absurd. He, Kate and Matt are doing a fine job at getting the audience that finds The Morning Zoo too crazy and Dino and Shawn too tame.

 

[radiojohncmh]

Good discussion guys. I wanted to get some opinions.

To your points. I am impressed that Alan and sidekicks take on such a dedication to charity. That is certainly a good thing although let's not forget that it helps them promote themselves as well. No big deal though because they are doing good but it does get old hearing the same promo run all day when they hook up someone with a dentist for free.

I will say this, I do like Alan better than JT. I can't remember too much about JT other than I really really disliked his on-air personality. I must not have been alone because obviously ratings must have taken a hit and he was released. Kate and Matt seemed to have less of a role with him too because he wanted the limelight.

In the end I guess it's all about demographics and differences of opinions. I can respect/understand how someone would find the Zoo too crazy for their taste and enjoy listening to a more mellow group. I am 28 and fairly mature for my age but just find this show boring. Alan really seems to try to hard at times to make a joke that ends up not being that funny. He might be a great guy with a lot of radio "experience" but that doesn't mean he is a great talant. Kate seems nice also but again I find her to be nagging and obnoxious at full of dramatic stories about her life that are really not that interesting. Matt is my favorite. My only issue with him is that he just doesn't talk as much and seems like he's off in the distance. He has been more vocal lately but I wish he had a greater role in the show.

So I'm sure you are wondering why I listen if I don't really like the show. Simple, I flip around in the morning and usually get stuck on 97.1 during a song. I tend to listen out of morbid curiosity after that!

 

[inradio]

Good post radiojohn. I'm the same as you when I'm driving to work in the CBus, I flip around alot. I think it's great with the 97.1 New You, but after that, the show isn't very good. I can remember when Alan first started and told everyone they were going to call George Clooney the next day. If I remember correctly, they never had Clooney's cell number and it was an April Fool's Joke. After that, I never really gave the show a chance.

I will even take it a step further by saying Sue Leighton is annoying. The minute a song ends and she cracks the mic, I turn the channel. It was great last week hearing Amy Dunn filling in.

Off topic a bit, but 99.7's morning show is fairly tame for a rock morning show and usually holds my attention till commercial.

 

[Nu_Roo_2]

I've bit my tongue on this for several years now, but after reading this thread I'm finally caving.  I really dislike "so-and-so sucks" type posts.  But there is one, and only one, Columbus DJ who is so gut-wrenchingly bad that it is painful to try to listen.  It's someone on 97.1 who hasn't been mentioned in this thread (and I have no intention of naming names).  No one else I've heard in twenty years, in any market,  comes even remotely close to being this aggressively bad, and in too many ways to enumerate.  97.1 could pluck a person off the street at random and be virtually assured of ending up with a better DJ -- even if they were mute.  I keep thinking that at some point they'll announce that it's all a big joke, but it's been going on for years now.  I swear, this person must pay the station a pretty sum for the privilege of getting airtime -- or maybe is a relative of the Wolfes?  I just don't get it...

 

[late1]

I'm sure I know who you are talking about. I've tired to listen but gave up. Every once in a while I check in and hit load is still keeping the air chair warm. I don't care for the morning team at all.

I thought they had a great station when it relaunched then they went down the 'chatty cathy' format. I was trying to listen and work and I get my thought processes run over in a sea of Sweepers, Stingers, Bumpers, Teasers, Promos and Id's.

 

[SeanMGilbow]

My only guess is that the voice in question makes it hard for people to fall asleep if they listen to 97.1 and work on third shift.

But doesn't he also work an 11-hour shift on Sunday night/Monday morning, and with no days off? That is sure to have an effect on anybody's voice.

I'm also guessing the best voice on the station, David Greer, makes as much per hour as an attorney as his entire pay per week on 97.1. :

And I like Sue Leighton. But not as much as Stephanie Miller. ;D

 

[Nu_Roo_2]

My only guess is that the voice in question makes it hard for people to fall asleep if they listen to 97.1 and work on third shift.

But doesn't he also work an 11-hour shift on Sunday night/Monday morning, and with no days off? That is sure to have an effect on anybody's voice.

The painfully bad voice is just the tip of the iceberg here. Or ICE-BERRRRGGGG as we say it in back in my hometowwwwwn. That's ICE-BERRRRGGGG! Okaaayyyy? ICE-BERRRRGGGG.

That's an example of the kind of "entertainment" this person provides. Frankly, that example is more entertaining and literate than 90% of the patter. That's why I keep thinking it has to be some kind of SNL-type put-on. Just be glad there is no audio attached to this post.

Maybe this will really get the point across: Listening to 93.3's music for 40 hours would be more bearable than listening to this person speak for 4 minutes on 97.1.

 

[SeanMGilbow]

My only guess is that the voice in question makes it hard for people to fall asleep if they listen to 97.1 and work on third shift.

But doesn't he also work an 11-hour shift on Sunday night/Monday morning, and with no days off? That is sure to have an effect on anybody's voice.

The painfully bad voice is just the tip of the iceberg here. Or ICE-BERRRRGGGG as we say it in back in my hometowwwwwn. That's ICE-BERRRRGGGG! Okaaayyyy? ICE-BERRRRGGGG.

That's an example of the kind of "entertainment" this person provides. Frankly, that example is more entertaining and literate than 90% of the patter. That's why I keep thinking it has to be some kind of SNL-type put-on. Just be glad there is no audio attached to this post.

Maybe this will really get the point across: Listening to 93.3's music for 40 hours would be more bearable than listening to this person speak for 4 minutes on 97.1.

Well, Roo, we could send them a demo of my voice from my commercials on WVKO.

Granted, it doesn't sound the same as if I said: Mix 97.1--80's, 90's, Now. Rhianna wants you under her "Umbrella...ella...ella...eh...eh...eh"

I think I'll shut up now. :-X

Or should I say "Shut Up And Drive." ;D