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When your favorite traffic reporter was off (but you wish he/she weren't)

I

ixnay

I put this on News/Talk since that's the format I listen to the most.

The thread title speaks for itself. And my condolences to whatever victims were involved in whatever accidents get mentioned.

I'll start with what I hope will be an example. This morning there was a bad oil truck spill at Routes 1 and 452 in Philadelphia's western suburbs, shutting down that intersection. It would've been nice to hear Sam Clover (the normal doer of traffic in KYW's morning drive) speak on this, but instead we got Brian Ramona.

ixnay
 
I'm kind of surprised anyone would have a "favorite" traffic reporter. I don't need a traffic reporter to have a personality or be funny or anything. I just need them to give the traffic information about delays or whatever and speak clearly.
 
For me, memories of WCBS pioneers Neal Busch and Lou Timolat are indelible.

On the television side, whenever someone fills in for Alex Denis on WCBS-TV, reports seem to hit a traffic jam. For some reason, channel 2 no longer retains the services of Alex Lee (Ali Leberfinger) as a substitute traffic reporter.
 
Kemosabe said:
For me, memories of WCBS pioneers Neal Busch and Lou Timolat are indelible.
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I miss Neal Busch, especially his "let's set the delays" when describing the morning's delays getting to the GWB from NJ where several routes converge at the toll plaza. Though Tom "Still on the Road? Easy Does It" Kaminsky (sp?) has done a perfect job of filling his shoes.

ixnay
 
PaulKTF said:
I'm kind of surprised anyone would have a "favorite" traffic reporter. I don't need a traffic reporter to have a personality or be funny or anything. I just need them to give the traffic information about delays or whatever and speak clearly.
Click to expand...

If my commute absolutely depended on traffic reports, I might think the same thing. But I live in a rural area (albeit one where I get KYW, WCBS, WTOP, WDEL Wilmington [where Robin 'jughandle at Tybouts Corner' Bryson does AM drive and PM drive traffic], and WBAL [though I've never been impressed with their traffic reporting staff]) and commute 15 minutes through farm country to my job at the edge of a small town, so I listen to traffic reports from those stations during my commutes mainly for entertainment (and my own mental mapping).

The luster came off WTOP's PM drive today with the retirement of Bob Marbourg, although I hope he enjoys his retirement. After 40 years I'm sure it was time.

ixnay
 
ixnay said:
The luster came off WTOP's PM drive today with the retirement of Bob Marbourg, although I hope he enjoys his retirement. After 40 years I'm sure it was time.
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Yes, Marbourg took the luster with him. I find Dave Dildine to be bland. I like Jack Taylor in mornings, though.

And as for my WBAL, I retreat from it somewhat, for I enjoy Jim Rust.

ixnay
 
IMO traffic reporters become *a part* of a certain daypart if they're heard regularly therein, whatever their personality.

Which is why this morning, KYW "church drive time" is missing some of its luster because it sounds like smooth-voiced Malcolm Poindexter III (grandson of a long time KYW-TV reporter and a fellow who should get his own weekday daypart, maybe replacing Sam Clover when he retires) is idle today.

ixnay
 
Amazingly enough, Knoxville TN still has a helicopter traffic service and Pete Michaels or one of his employees is on almost every station.
 
ixnay said:
Yes, Marbourg took the luster with him.
Click to expand...

Some of that luster consisted of his references to I-95 going north towards "Marshall Airport" and Baltimore, a city ringed by what he called "the real I-695" (the District has a short I-695) or "downstream" towards Fredericksburg.

ixnay
 
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