CUMULUS Talk WBMQ-A/SAVANNAH and host BEN BENNETT have been sued by a CHATHAM COUNTY (GA) politician for defamation. County Commissioner HARRIS ODELL JR. claims BENNETT (real name ANTHONY CRYSTAL) slandered him on the air and wants in excess of $10,000. for damage to his reputation and emotional distress. ODELL claims that BENNETT charged him with not paying his property taxes, based on an audit flag slapped on ODELL's law practice for a since-corrected problem.
-
Get involved.
We want your input!
Apply for Membership and join the conversations about everything related to broadcasting.
After we receive your registration, a moderator will review it. After your registration is approved, you will be permitted to post.
If you use a disposable or false email address, your registration will be rejected.
After your membership is approved, please take a minute to tell us a little bit about yourself.
https://www.radiodiscussions.com/forums/introduce-yourself.1088/
Thanks in advance and have fun!
RadioDiscussions Administrators
Whoopsie...from allaccess
- Thread starter SquiggyFM
- Start date
> CUMULUS Talk WBMQ-A/SAVANNAH and host BEN BENNETT have been
> sued by a CHATHAM COUNTY (GA) politician for defamation.
> County Commissioner HARRIS ODELL JR. claims BENNETT (real
> name ANTHONY CRYSTAL) slandered him on the air and wants in
> excess of $10,000. for damage to his reputation and
> emotional distress. ODELL claims that BENNETT charged him
> with not paying his property taxes, based on an audit flag
> slapped on ODELL's law practice for a since-corrected
> problem.
Ha. I wonder why "Tony Crystal" isn't good enough for an air name....
> sued by a CHATHAM COUNTY (GA) politician for defamation.
> County Commissioner HARRIS ODELL JR. claims BENNETT (real
> name ANTHONY CRYSTAL) slandered him on the air and wants in
> excess of $10,000. for damage to his reputation and
> emotional distress. ODELL claims that BENNETT charged him
> with not paying his property taxes, based on an audit flag
> slapped on ODELL's law practice for a since-corrected
> problem.
Ha. I wonder why "Tony Crystal" isn't good enough for an air name....
B
barneyb3
Guest
While the commissioner is in his sueing mode he ought to add the Savannah Fox TV affiliate to his suit...That station simulcasts the 8-9 am hour of the Anthony Crystal Show....in fact I flipped by it this morning and Anthony was laying it on the commish. Called him a big baby.....and other things.....I don't know the whole story between Anthony and the commissioner....but just guessing..I'm betting that commissioner is one of those evil democrats....I don't think Anthony likes those left wingers....considering he spends all four hours of his show...bashing those folks....I often wonder what little Anthony would do if the there were no liberals....what would our little clean cut....buffed up little conservative talk about?
Little Anthony Crystal has alot of talk show talent....the only problem is he falls into that Limbaugh and Hannity trap of conservative talk...instead of doing something unique...and different...little Anthony just does a local version of what those two are already doing. He goes by the name of Ben Bennett on the air...and he follows the Bill Bennett show.....isn't that cute.
> CUMULUS Talk WBMQ-A/SAVANNAH and host BEN BENNETT have been> sued by a CHATHAM COUNTY (GA) politician for defamation.> County Commissioner HARRIS ODELL JR. claims BENNETT (real> name ANTHONY CRYSTAL) slandered him on the air and wants in> excess of $10,000. for damage to his reputation and> emotional distress. ODELL claims that BENNETT charged him> with not paying his property taxes, based on an audit flag> slapped on ODELL's law practice for a since-corrected> problem.<P ID="edit"><FONT class="small">Edited by barneyb3 on 07/06/05 04:07 AM.</FONT></P>
Little Anthony Crystal has alot of talk show talent....the only problem is he falls into that Limbaugh and Hannity trap of conservative talk...instead of doing something unique...and different...little Anthony just does a local version of what those two are already doing. He goes by the name of Ben Bennett on the air...and he follows the Bill Bennett show.....isn't that cute.
> CUMULUS Talk WBMQ-A/SAVANNAH and host BEN BENNETT have been> sued by a CHATHAM COUNTY (GA) politician for defamation.> County Commissioner HARRIS ODELL JR. claims BENNETT (real> name ANTHONY CRYSTAL) slandered him on the air and wants in> excess of $10,000. for damage to his reputation and> emotional distress. ODELL claims that BENNETT charged him> with not paying his property taxes, based on an audit flag> slapped on ODELL's law practice for a since-corrected> problem.<P ID="edit"><FONT class="small">Edited by barneyb3 on 07/06/05 04:07 AM.</FONT></P>
> Ha. I wonder why "Tony Crystal" isn't good enough for an
> air name....
>
Hey Mr. Crystal is a great guy, he just didn't want to use his real name on the air because of all the crazy people out there. (I guess the cats out of the bag now). From what I was told (a while back) the old PD at BMQ came up with the name, playing off of his middle name "Bennett" long before they put Bill on the air at BMQ. BTW, long time listeners of BMQ may remember Anthony Crystal as "Shark" doing the sports in the morning on "Open line Savannah" with Doc Washburn circa 1998
> air name....
>
Hey Mr. Crystal is a great guy, he just didn't want to use his real name on the air because of all the crazy people out there. (I guess the cats out of the bag now). From what I was told (a while back) the old PD at BMQ came up with the name, playing off of his middle name "Bennett" long before they put Bill on the air at BMQ. BTW, long time listeners of BMQ may remember Anthony Crystal as "Shark" doing the sports in the morning on "Open line Savannah" with Doc Washburn circa 1998
<font face=arial><div align="justify">"While the commissioner is in his sueing mode he ought to add the Savannah Fox TV affiliate to his suit... that station simulcasts the 8-9 am hour of the Anthony Crystal Show"
The commish has no chance of winning this suit so there is no point in amending it to add WTGS. It's hard to win a defamation suit, but even harder for a public official to win a defamation suit against an air personality as the Savannah Morning News story notes. My guess is he filed it to get some cheap publicity. I hope that if I am ever similarly defamed, damage to my reputation will be worth more than a lousy ten thousand dollars!
"..I don't think Anthony likes those left wingers....considering he spends all four hours of his show...bashing those folks...."
You are surprised that a conservative talk host bashes liberals? That's like being surprised when a sports talk host talks sports. Ever heard of Air America Radio? What do you think they do? They bash conservatives all day long of course.
"Little Anthony Crystal has alot of talk show talent....the only problem is he falls into that Limbaugh and Hannity trap of conservative talk...instead of doing something unique...and different..."
He does have talent but I think he's improved in the last few years. He's developed some of his own schtick and relying less on Limbaugh's. But, he is quoted in the Savannah News story as saying he sometimes "demonstrates absurdity by being absurd". That is a quote directly lifted from Rush Limbaugh who authored it and says it often.
The was one thing Crystal aka Bennett used to do that I thought was incredibly dumb when I lived there (perhaps he's stopped by now) He would talk a lot about how he's from New York, loves the Yankees and not the Braves. It's bad enough to be self-indulgent but sacrificing your audience just to indulge yourself is dumb.
He may have been careless in misinterpreting the audit flags on Harris O'Dell but I give him credit for doing local stories to begin with. The worst thing local hosts do, after insisting you have to have local air personalities, is talk about national stories all day.
One more thing about Air America. [This is a repeat of something I posted on another board]I am not liberal but as a talk radio enthusiast, I think it would be cool to see Air America succeed. What I heard on Morning Sedition recently made me realize they have a long way to go before they can get and keep Southern liberals: "Dateline.. the South.. Dixie.. a distinct area with its own unique heritage of cuisine, and idiocy... " mp3 file here (330kb, 21 seconds)
>
> > CUMULUS Talk WBMQ-A/SAVANNAH and host BEN BENNETT have
> been> sued by a CHATHAM COUNTY (GA) politician for
> defamation.> County Commissioner HARRIS ODELL JR. claims
> BENNETT (real> name ANTHONY CRYSTAL) slandered him on the
> air and wants in> excess of $10,000. for damage to his
> reputation and> emotional distress. ODELL claims that
> BENNETT charged him> with not paying his property taxes,
> based on an audit flag> slapped on ODELL's law practice for
> a since-corrected> problem.
> <P ID="signature">______________
Jerry
"Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not his own facts" - late Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan</P>
The commish has no chance of winning this suit so there is no point in amending it to add WTGS. It's hard to win a defamation suit, but even harder for a public official to win a defamation suit against an air personality as the Savannah Morning News story notes. My guess is he filed it to get some cheap publicity. I hope that if I am ever similarly defamed, damage to my reputation will be worth more than a lousy ten thousand dollars!
"..I don't think Anthony likes those left wingers....considering he spends all four hours of his show...bashing those folks...."
You are surprised that a conservative talk host bashes liberals? That's like being surprised when a sports talk host talks sports. Ever heard of Air America Radio? What do you think they do? They bash conservatives all day long of course.
"Little Anthony Crystal has alot of talk show talent....the only problem is he falls into that Limbaugh and Hannity trap of conservative talk...instead of doing something unique...and different..."
He does have talent but I think he's improved in the last few years. He's developed some of his own schtick and relying less on Limbaugh's. But, he is quoted in the Savannah News story as saying he sometimes "demonstrates absurdity by being absurd". That is a quote directly lifted from Rush Limbaugh who authored it and says it often.
The was one thing Crystal aka Bennett used to do that I thought was incredibly dumb when I lived there (perhaps he's stopped by now) He would talk a lot about how he's from New York, loves the Yankees and not the Braves. It's bad enough to be self-indulgent but sacrificing your audience just to indulge yourself is dumb.
He may have been careless in misinterpreting the audit flags on Harris O'Dell but I give him credit for doing local stories to begin with. The worst thing local hosts do, after insisting you have to have local air personalities, is talk about national stories all day.
One more thing about Air America. [This is a repeat of something I posted on another board]I am not liberal but as a talk radio enthusiast, I think it would be cool to see Air America succeed. What I heard on Morning Sedition recently made me realize they have a long way to go before they can get and keep Southern liberals: "Dateline.. the South.. Dixie.. a distinct area with its own unique heritage of cuisine, and idiocy... " mp3 file here (330kb, 21 seconds)
>
> > CUMULUS Talk WBMQ-A/SAVANNAH and host BEN BENNETT have
> been> sued by a CHATHAM COUNTY (GA) politician for
> defamation.> County Commissioner HARRIS ODELL JR. claims
> BENNETT (real> name ANTHONY CRYSTAL) slandered him on the
> air and wants in> excess of $10,000. for damage to his
> reputation and> emotional distress. ODELL claims that
> BENNETT charged him> with not paying his property taxes,
> based on an audit flag> slapped on ODELL's law practice for
> a since-corrected> problem.
> <P ID="signature">______________
Jerry
"Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not his own facts" - late Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan</P>
B
barneyb3
Guest
Just tuned into to Little Anthony....he isn't talking about the bombings in London....but he railing on the liberals for the state of the education system in Chatham County...As usual I know nothing about the topic....(I am a sports guy) so I don't know if he is right or wrong. It is interesting to me....that he isn't talking about the London situation...I guess its hard to blame that one on the liberals..and yes I now that London is not a local subject..
Jerry, here are some questions..Are Anthony's feelings and stands truly authenic? are they exaggerated for radio purposes? and if so to what extent?I have always wondered about all these left and right wing talk show hosts...do they really feel as strongly as they speak.....and how much of it is an act.....Having worked in radio..I know I have my act or schtick..that I do.....I try to be edgy..and stir it up...but I don't do serious subjects...politics and etc....Why? for one thing I don't think I am knowledgeable enough to have an opinion on this subject for mass consumption....and two I don't want to brainwash people with my thoughts...I think everybody is allowed to have an opinion and shouldn't be put down just because it is different than mine....I often wonder if these advocate talk show hosts consider these things when they do their show.How much of little Anthony's act is the result of station encouragement? If he were ever to moderate his opinions would he be called into the office for a little behavior modification?These are questions I have always had about this type of radio but I have never heard discussed. I think it would be interesting for right wing radio listeners to learn that alot of what they listen to is contrived radio schtick.>
"While the commissioner is in his sueing mode he ought to> add the Savannah Fox TV affiliate to his suit... that> station simulcasts the 8-9 am hour of the Anthony Crystal> Show"> > The commish has no chance of winning this suit so there is> no point in amending it to add WTGS. It's hard to win a> defamation suit, but even harder for a public official to> win a defamation suit against an air personality as the> Savannah Morning News story notes. My guess is he filed it> to get some cheap publicity. I hope that if I am ever> similarly defamed, damage to my reputation will be worth> more than a lousy ten thousand dollars!> > "..I don't think Anthony likes those left> wingers....considering he spends all four hours of his> show...bashing those folks...."> > You are surprised that a conservative talk host bashes> liberals? That's like being surprised when a sports talk> host talks sports. Ever heard of Air America Radio? What do> you think they do? They bash conservatives all day long of> course.> > "Little Anthony Crystal has alot of talk show talent....the> only problem is he falls into that Limbaugh and Hannity trap> of conservative talk...instead of doing something> unique...and different..."> > He does have talent but I think he's improved in the last> few years. He's developed some of his own schtick and> relying less on Limbaugh's. But, he is quoted in the> Savannah News story as saying he sometimes "demonstrates> absurdity by being absurd". That is a quote directly lifted> from Rush Limbaugh who authored it and says it often. > > The was one thing Crystal aka Bennett used to do that I> thought was incredibly dumb when I lived there (perhaps he's> stopped by now) He would talk a lot about how he's from New> York, loves the Yankees and not the Braves. It's bad enough> to be self-indulgent but sacrificing your audience just to> indulge yourself is dumb.> > He may have been careless in misinterpreting the audit flags> on Harris O'Dell but I give him credit for doing local> stories to begin with. The worst thing local hosts do, after> insisting you have to have local air personalities, is talk> about national stories all day.> > One more thing about Air America. [This is a repeat of> something I posted on another board]I am not liberal but as> a talk radio enthusiast, I think it would be cool to see Air> America succeed. What I heard on Morning Sedition recently> made me realize they have a long way to go before they can> get and keep Southern liberals: "Dateline.. the South..> Dixie.. a distinct area with its own unique heritage of> cuisine, and idiocy... " mp3 file here (330kb, 21 seconds) > > > > > > > CUMULUS Talk WBMQ-A/SAVANNAH and host BEN BENNETT have> > been> sued by a CHATHAM COUNTY (GA) politician for> > defamation.> County Commissioner HARRIS ODELL JR. claims> > BENNETT (real> name ANTHONY CRYSTAL) slandered him on the> > air and wants in> excess of $10,000. for damage to his> > reputation and> emotional distress. ODELL claims that> > BENNETT charged him> with not paying his property taxes,> > based on an audit flag> slapped on ODELL's law practice> for> > a since-corrected> problem.>
Jerry, here are some questions..Are Anthony's feelings and stands truly authenic? are they exaggerated for radio purposes? and if so to what extent?I have always wondered about all these left and right wing talk show hosts...do they really feel as strongly as they speak.....and how much of it is an act.....Having worked in radio..I know I have my act or schtick..that I do.....I try to be edgy..and stir it up...but I don't do serious subjects...politics and etc....Why? for one thing I don't think I am knowledgeable enough to have an opinion on this subject for mass consumption....and two I don't want to brainwash people with my thoughts...I think everybody is allowed to have an opinion and shouldn't be put down just because it is different than mine....I often wonder if these advocate talk show hosts consider these things when they do their show.How much of little Anthony's act is the result of station encouragement? If he were ever to moderate his opinions would he be called into the office for a little behavior modification?These are questions I have always had about this type of radio but I have never heard discussed. I think it would be interesting for right wing radio listeners to learn that alot of what they listen to is contrived radio schtick.>
"While the commissioner is in his sueing mode he ought to> add the Savannah Fox TV affiliate to his suit... that> station simulcasts the 8-9 am hour of the Anthony Crystal> Show"> > The commish has no chance of winning this suit so there is> no point in amending it to add WTGS. It's hard to win a> defamation suit, but even harder for a public official to> win a defamation suit against an air personality as the> Savannah Morning News story notes. My guess is he filed it> to get some cheap publicity. I hope that if I am ever> similarly defamed, damage to my reputation will be worth> more than a lousy ten thousand dollars!> > "..I don't think Anthony likes those left> wingers....considering he spends all four hours of his> show...bashing those folks...."> > You are surprised that a conservative talk host bashes> liberals? That's like being surprised when a sports talk> host talks sports. Ever heard of Air America Radio? What do> you think they do? They bash conservatives all day long of> course.> > "Little Anthony Crystal has alot of talk show talent....the> only problem is he falls into that Limbaugh and Hannity trap> of conservative talk...instead of doing something> unique...and different..."> > He does have talent but I think he's improved in the last> few years. He's developed some of his own schtick and> relying less on Limbaugh's. But, he is quoted in the> Savannah News story as saying he sometimes "demonstrates> absurdity by being absurd". That is a quote directly lifted> from Rush Limbaugh who authored it and says it often. > > The was one thing Crystal aka Bennett used to do that I> thought was incredibly dumb when I lived there (perhaps he's> stopped by now) He would talk a lot about how he's from New> York, loves the Yankees and not the Braves. It's bad enough> to be self-indulgent but sacrificing your audience just to> indulge yourself is dumb.> > He may have been careless in misinterpreting the audit flags> on Harris O'Dell but I give him credit for doing local> stories to begin with. The worst thing local hosts do, after> insisting you have to have local air personalities, is talk> about national stories all day.> > One more thing about Air America. [This is a repeat of> something I posted on another board]I am not liberal but as> a talk radio enthusiast, I think it would be cool to see Air> America succeed. What I heard on Morning Sedition recently> made me realize they have a long way to go before they can> get and keep Southern liberals: "Dateline.. the South..> Dixie.. a distinct area with its own unique heritage of> cuisine, and idiocy... " mp3 file here (330kb, 21 seconds) > > > > > > > CUMULUS Talk WBMQ-A/SAVANNAH and host BEN BENNETT have> > been> sued by a CHATHAM COUNTY (GA) politician for> > defamation.> County Commissioner HARRIS ODELL JR. claims> > BENNETT (real> name ANTHONY CRYSTAL) slandered him on the> > air and wants in> excess of $10,000. for damage to his> > reputation and> emotional distress. ODELL claims that> > BENNETT charged him> with not paying his property taxes,> > based on an audit flag> slapped on ODELL's law practice> for> > a since-corrected> problem.>
<font face=arial><div align="justify">
"It is interesting to me....that he isn't talking about the London situation...I guess its hard to blame that one on the liberals..and yes I now that London is not a local subject.. "
Since no Savannah station except for WRHQ streams, I can’t hear him from where I live but it’s probably a good thing not to talk about the London bombings much. I’ve been listening to KFI Los Angeles all day and they’ve talked a lot about it, but there is precious little information other than the depressing body count updates.
”Jerry here are some questions..Are Anthony's feelings and stands truly authentic? are they exaggerated for radio purposes? and if so to what extent?”
I don’t know Bennett at all but I’ve never met a talk host who wasn’t passionate about his beliefs and I’ve met a ton of them. Why else would you do this kind of show? The fabulous pay? (smirk) To be a low watt celebrity? (credit Conan O’Brien for that self-description) No, they are passionate partisans. That’s what makes most (not all) local talk show hosts, both liberal and conservative, awful. They hear Limbaugh rant and they think that’s the essence of what he does. If you put a timer to his show, you’ll find that Limbaugh does surprisingly little ranting as compared to his reputation. But when he does…! There is far more to his show than people give him credit for. The amount of show prep he and his staff do must be incredible. In fact, I’ve found that his critics include other conservative talk hosts who speak of him in the same derisive tone indie rock fans use to discuss mainstream musicians.
” How much of little Anthony's act is the result of station encouragement?
Probably none. I’ve been associated with 4 talk stations and my bosses were all over the place politically. Only ONE ever tried to impose personal political views on the station. (She is a liberal who despises Dr. Laura.) And even she did not order her off the station, only encouraged me to do so. The ratings were good and I stuck with her show. The man who introduced me to The Rush Limbaugh Show and encouraged me to begin carrying his show on WBMQ in 1988 was the liberal owner from Boston. I’m libertarian and carried Alan Colmes on WBMQ when he syndicated the first time around in the late 80’s. David Field is CEO of Entercom and has a lot of conservative talk stations and only one lib talker. He is a Democrat but I only know this because publicly available records reveal substantial donations by him and his wife to multiple Democrats and no Republicans. Owners and managers are much more pragmatic and apolitical in their business decisions than outsiders give them credit for. I am done working in radio and could expose them if they were politically motivated but they aren’t. The only broadcast company that looks more like a movement than a business is Air America, but I’m not even sure about them.
”I think it would be interesting for right wing radio listeners to learn that a lot of what they listen to is contrived radio schtick.”
When I used the word “schtick” I did not mean it in the disparaging way you seem to. I was referring not to the political content but to its presentation. If you want to hear dry political commentary, without a unique presentation style, see if you can find some old airchecks of Mario Cuomo. Or listen to an interview with William F. Buckley! (Yawn)
It appears to me that <u>your</u> bit is calling Bennett “Little Anthony”. Since you’ve been in radio, surely you know that fake names are the norm. You don’t think Don Scott, Brad Kelly, Mark Robertson and Jerry Rogers are using their real names do you? On the other hand Gator 106.9’s Mike Miller is going by his real name!
<P ID="signature">______________
Jerry
"Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not his own facts" - late Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan</P>
"It is interesting to me....that he isn't talking about the London situation...I guess its hard to blame that one on the liberals..and yes I now that London is not a local subject.. "
Since no Savannah station except for WRHQ streams, I can’t hear him from where I live but it’s probably a good thing not to talk about the London bombings much. I’ve been listening to KFI Los Angeles all day and they’ve talked a lot about it, but there is precious little information other than the depressing body count updates.
”Jerry here are some questions..Are Anthony's feelings and stands truly authentic? are they exaggerated for radio purposes? and if so to what extent?”
I don’t know Bennett at all but I’ve never met a talk host who wasn’t passionate about his beliefs and I’ve met a ton of them. Why else would you do this kind of show? The fabulous pay? (smirk) To be a low watt celebrity? (credit Conan O’Brien for that self-description) No, they are passionate partisans. That’s what makes most (not all) local talk show hosts, both liberal and conservative, awful. They hear Limbaugh rant and they think that’s the essence of what he does. If you put a timer to his show, you’ll find that Limbaugh does surprisingly little ranting as compared to his reputation. But when he does…! There is far more to his show than people give him credit for. The amount of show prep he and his staff do must be incredible. In fact, I’ve found that his critics include other conservative talk hosts who speak of him in the same derisive tone indie rock fans use to discuss mainstream musicians.
” How much of little Anthony's act is the result of station encouragement?
Probably none. I’ve been associated with 4 talk stations and my bosses were all over the place politically. Only ONE ever tried to impose personal political views on the station. (She is a liberal who despises Dr. Laura.) And even she did not order her off the station, only encouraged me to do so. The ratings were good and I stuck with her show. The man who introduced me to The Rush Limbaugh Show and encouraged me to begin carrying his show on WBMQ in 1988 was the liberal owner from Boston. I’m libertarian and carried Alan Colmes on WBMQ when he syndicated the first time around in the late 80’s. David Field is CEO of Entercom and has a lot of conservative talk stations and only one lib talker. He is a Democrat but I only know this because publicly available records reveal substantial donations by him and his wife to multiple Democrats and no Republicans. Owners and managers are much more pragmatic and apolitical in their business decisions than outsiders give them credit for. I am done working in radio and could expose them if they were politically motivated but they aren’t. The only broadcast company that looks more like a movement than a business is Air America, but I’m not even sure about them.
”I think it would be interesting for right wing radio listeners to learn that a lot of what they listen to is contrived radio schtick.”
When I used the word “schtick” I did not mean it in the disparaging way you seem to. I was referring not to the political content but to its presentation. If you want to hear dry political commentary, without a unique presentation style, see if you can find some old airchecks of Mario Cuomo. Or listen to an interview with William F. Buckley! (Yawn)
It appears to me that <u>your</u> bit is calling Bennett “Little Anthony”. Since you’ve been in radio, surely you know that fake names are the norm. You don’t think Don Scott, Brad Kelly, Mark Robertson and Jerry Rogers are using their real names do you? On the other hand Gator 106.9’s Mike Miller is going by his real name!
<P ID="signature">______________
Jerry
"Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not his own facts" - late Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan</P>
- Status