Will LEE Rodgers return to SF radio

[MC]

guess he lives down in Tucson AZ but he went throught the $237k AFTRA got for him when he was fired from KSFO on medical expenses, so he is looking for a gig.

 

[DavidKaye]

guess he lives down in Tucson AZ but he went throught the $237k AFTRA got for him when he was fired from KSFO on medical expenses, so he is looking for a gig.

Do you know this for a fact? Medical expenses. Well, it's hard to feel sorry for a libertarian. As the libertarians say, he should have planned for his future and not be a burden on society. I wonder if he supports Obamacare now?

I do find it odd that you'd have such inside information, though.

 

[MC]

Here's the info: $237k aftra settlement http://richliebermanreport.blogspot.com/2010/07/lee-rodgers-gets-237g-from-citadel.html

rodgers says he was in hospital and almost died:

http://radiorodgers.com/

says he might come back to radio

http://richliebermanreport.blogspot.com/2010/02/lee-rodgers-out-at-ksfo-veteran-sf.html

why would he have the blog if he didn't want to comeback to radio?? He also finds a handfull of ex listeners that pay to go on cruises with him.

 

[beachguy3b]

I seriously doubt it. He's fed up with the biz, and was not exactly paid poorly while he worked. I suspect he managed his finances well.

 

[1069_KIFR]

No.

 

[MC]

Someone went on one of Rodger's cruises, but he did not show up. I think the cruise organizer gets a discount or a free cruise, so Rodgers can stretch his retirement dollar.

"I stopped taking callers because they just wanted to listen to themselves talk" Rodgers, like a lot of talk show hosts, does not really like his listeners. At one of the cruises he went on, he was at the welcome party, but that was it, he did not seem to like the listeners that went.

Even with medicare medical bills ad up. Five heart surgeries and 5 1/2 months in the hospital? You are talking millions unless you can sue the doctors for the "complications." So the copays add up.

Why would Rodgers who bashed Unions for all of his radio career go hat in hand to his Union to get a paltry $237,000? (assuming Rodgers is as wealthy as is aledged)

from his blog:

"Two years ago this month, after complications following a quadruple bypass resulted in four more surgeries and 5 1/2 months of hospitalization, a half-dozen doctors told my wife my condition was hopeless."

Glad he had the good insurance he got through his UNION.

 

[DavidKaye]

"I stopped taking callers because they just wanted to listen to themselves talk" Rodgers, like a lot of talk show hosts, does not really like his listeners. At one of the cruises he went on, he was at the welcome party, but that was it, he did not seem to like the listeners that went.

That last thing on earth I'd do is book a cruise with a bunch of talkradio listeners. Having done a couple years of talkradio I was shocked and amazed at the lack of social skills those people have. (I'm talking commercial talkradio here, not the kinds of people who call/listen to NPR programs such as "Talk of the Nation" or "KQED Forum".)

Commercial talkradio listener profile: A lonely person who bought their home in 1965, which they've packed with so much junk and so many cats that the home is impassible. They listen all the time, never get out of the house except maybe to shop, and basically have no lives.

Why would Rodgers who bashed Unions for all of his radio career go hat in hand to his Union to get a paltry $237,000? (assuming Rodgers is as wealthy as is aledged)

Because it's easy to bash until you discover that your own ox is being gored. Then suddenly, they're the "exception".

Glad he had the good insurance he got through his UNION.

Personally, I'm NOT glad because he's done more to help wreck unions than anyone can imagine. Unionization is at an all-time low thanks to people like Lee Rodgers. He's so anti-union, anti-Obamacare, he should be made to SUFFER for his opinions because he's made the rest of us suffer.

I don't usually wish ill on people, but in this case, I'm forced to make an exception. Lee Rodgers was evil and I'm glad he's off the air.

 

[RadioStarOne]

My My David how you do run on! You are such a poor person! Judge all talk radio callers by listening to and meeting just a few? What a poor poor person you are. People are people some poor, some rich, If you had all the money and fame in the world you'd still be the poorest of them all! What a loser you are!

 

[DavidKaye]

My My David how you do run on! You are such a poor person! Judge all talk radio callers by listening to and meeting just a few? What a poor poor person you are. People are people some poor, some rich, If you had all the money and fame in the world you'd still be the poorest of them all! What a loser you are!

All told, I spent about 11 years in broadcasting, 2 of them as a talkshow host. I've also known a number of talkshow hosts. I've shown up at events sponsored by my stations and by other stations and hosts. My synopsis of the typical listener to commercial radio talkshows stands just as I stated it.

My talkradio mentor, Portland's Jerry Dimmitt, warned me "Never get too close to the listeners." He was always very suspicious of the listeners -- their motivations, their intentions, and even their sanity. He was right. Dimmitt did decades of local and some network talkradio. He knew that many, if most listeners are wacko. (Again, I'm talking about commercial stations here, not the kind of people who listen to the non-comm talkshows, which are a different breed entirely.)

Am I being unfair? I don't know. What I do know is what I've gathered from personal observations and those of other folks who've done commercial talkradio.

 

[radiorodgers]

I'm not sure whether I should be amused or alarmed that 2 1/2 years after I last uttered a word into a microphone, I'm still an object of curiosity -- and attacks by a sorehead who's used this forum before
for quasi-political lies. He is one sick puppy.

I have neither the need nor desire to return to radio. I am NOT anti-union; as I've often stated, I'm anti-GOVERNMENT UNION and one need only look at the California budget deficits largely created by them to understand why. This sick clown has been playing this same note for years. Perhaps he'd be more successful in his own career if he focused on his work instead of his obsession with someone long retired.

I have never been a no-show at any cruise event, nor do I hold (most) listeners in contempt. Fact: Some of my best friends are people I've met on the cruises I sponsored. I fail to understand why anyone, even my sickest critics, would feel a need to simply make up such lies. Message to him:
You're a liberal, I'm not. Live with it.

Yes, I went through a serious illness. $907,000 worth of serious, to be exact. Insurance paid most of it, but like every AFTRA member, I PAID for the insurance.

I find the morbid curiosity about my finances just plain sick, but if you must know, the $237,000 settlement was simply pay for the last four months of my abrogated contract. Do the math. Since my earliest years in radio, I've known it was an unstable business and I'm still surprised I ended my career with 25 years at one company -- ABC. Nevertheless, since my rookie years I have always had outside business interests that often were more financially rewarding than broadcasting.

The simple-minded might wonder, "Why did Citadel Broadcasting want to drop the show if it was still profitable?" -- which it was. One might simultaneously ask, "What kind of 'management' mentality would cause them to drive the company into bankruptcy?" Some suspect it was deliberate, since the CEO walked away from his devastated stockholders with multi-millions.

I was approached by several broadcasting companies about continuing in radio, among them, Rush Limbaugh's syndicator. I did not -- and do not -- have any interest. Don't need it, don't want it.

I live happily in a mountain valley in Arizona where I built a house a dozen years ago, planning to retire then. I postponed retirement because I was enjoying what I was doing, but I shed no tears when it ended.

One word of advice to any young person in the (fast-shrinking) world of radio: Save your money and invest wisely, thereby reducing your dependency on what is inherently an unstable business. No party lasts forever.

 

[MC]

I went on a talk radio cruise with my mom once (had no interest myself, but she had no one to go with) and the old people on the ship were very nasty, I think it was a Jim Eastland cruise. He, however, was nice to the people that booked the cruise including my mom.

I don't think it is nice to bash corporations, they try to do a good job for investors and consumers, after all they are people, check out this letter:

http://www.examiner.com/article/con...red-and-told-to-speak-postively-about-muslims

Limbaugh, Savage, Jerry Doyle, Dr Laura, in their 60s and on radio and George Putnam, Paul Harvey were on Radio, what into their 80's?? So I can understand the bitterness of having one's career cut short and how one can try to stay relevant by trying to write a blog.

 

[MC]

But nothing is impossible? Seems to be keeping the door open.

"Rodgers said he doubted he would get back in the radio biz, “but nothing is impossible.” Indeed, even Swanson said, “never say never.”"

http://blog.sfgate.com/nov05electio...he-station-was-forced-upon-me-with-no-notice/

Guess Swanson claims he tried to keep Rodgers on. Let's face it, ad revenue took a hit and stations had to adjust. Engineers, doctors, attorneys et al all have seen income drop in many cases. So a "morning drive guy" might have been asked to take a cut, what is the big deal about that?

 

[JEREMIAH]

Lee:

Glad to see you're doing ok and living the life you want.
Good memories of working with you at KGO. I'm not politically aligned with you but that crap doesn't matter to me.
I remember your coming in at 10 in the morning to prep for your 7 pm show on KGO.
I also remember a lot of reallly funny shit you did on the show.

When you were PD in Miami and I was in Orlando you sounded me out about joining you but I was about to go the (old) Golden West KSFO.

Stay happy.

Jerry Gordon Jack B Show Salem radio network and V.O. guy

 

[radiorodgers]

Thanks to Jerry Gordon, one of broadcasting's great talents, for the kind words.

Some childish soreheads will doubtless be surprised to learn that I've always gotten along well on a personal level with some of the ultra-liberals with whom I've worked, including Bernie Ward, with whom I did both radio & TV debates for years. And nobody greeted me more effusively when I returned from a one-year Seattle sabbatical than Ray Taliaferro.

As for why I write the daily blog, there are two simple reasons:
1.- Many longtime listeners asked me to do it.
2.- I still have a great interest in the future of this nation and if I can influence a few folk, it's a plus.

And no-no-no ... I am NOT keeping a door open.

It appears a handful of disgruntled California leftists -- likely with unfulfilled radio ambitions of their own -- just can't control their hatred of a conservative who came to the epicenter of liberalism and not only survived, but thrived, for a quarter century. Get a grip and grow up, lads!

 

[MC]

Actually it seemed that the conservatives were often fighting amonst themselves out at KSFO and KGO when they were talk staions. I think some of the talk stations were trying to reach a younger demographic which was not enabled by having the stereotypical "old angry white male" rant about liberals for 3 hours.

Let's face it what Aftra offers in the way of medical insurance is a "quasi-medical insurance exchange" one can buy into. (sound familiar?)

"Private" insurance? Medicare, Medicaid, VA or miitary hospital are government, the rest IS private. (maybe from a non-profit or a for profit insurance company.)
"Group" insurance is easier to get and keep and pay for than "individual" insurance, so I'm glad groups like AFTRA pressured the GOVERNMENT to MANDATE insurance companies to accept group coverage plans like AFTRA's and that pwoplw like Lee were able to avail themselves of the GOVERNMENT MANDATE.

 

[LKellerIII]

Lee:

Glad to see you're doing ok and living the life you want.
Good memories of working with you at KGO. I'm not politically aligned with you but that crap doesn't matter to me.
I remember your coming in at 10 in the morning to prep for your 7 pm show on KGO.
I also remember a lot of reallly funny shit you did on the show.Stay happy.

Jerry Gordon

When I was a big KGO listener in the 80s, I listened to Lee's evening show frequently, and always found him to be thoughtful, often funny, and stunningly articulate.

A few years later, I would listen to his KSFO morning show on my commute, and found that equally entertaining...with the exception that Melanie Morgan could be a bit too shrill at times. I recall that it was during all the CARB mess when the state was mandating MTBE as a gasoline additive. Opposition to MTBE was one of Lee's causes, and he turned out to be right about that.

For the record - I'm a "California Leftist"...though hopefully more gruntled than disgruntled. Life is too short to let politics get you upset. Having said that, if Romney wins, I'm going to be depressed for days.

But as far as Talk Radio goes, I'd rather listen to somebody I disagree with to stimulate my thinking and get another viewpoint, rather than just nod my head in agreement with some lefty talk host. I always liked Jim Eason, too.

 

[DavidKaye]

But as far as Talk Radio goes, I'd rather listen to somebody I disagree with to stimulate my thinking and get another viewpoint, rather than just nod my head in agreement with some lefty talk host. I always liked Jim Eason, too.

As for me, I've always preferred light to heat, meaning that I've preferred talkshows that tell me things I didn't know, rather than expose me to the opinions of the host. Opinions usually aren't worth much, unless the particular host comes from some kind of experience in the field they're talking about. Most talkshow hosts only know radio. This is why I've never liked Ronn Owens as a host. His experience is broadcasting. Even though I hated Bernie Ward's gloom'n'doom style, he DID work for Barbara Boxer and thus he had inside knowledge about the workings of government.

Given all the talkshow hosts in the Bay Area, I prefer to listen to Michael Krasny on KQED Radio because his show focuses on information, not opinion, and that woman who does KGO's "Crime Time" show around midnight on the weekends, Candice DeLong, again because the show is informative, not opinionated.

 

[weav]

...
It appears a handful of disgruntled California leftists -- likely with unfulfilled radio ambitions of their own -- just can't control their hatred of a conservative who came to the epicenter of liberalism and not only survived, but thrived, for a quarter century. Get a grip and grow up, lads!

Hey, man, I resemble that remark.

 

[LKellerIII]

But as far as Talk Radio goes, I'd rather listen to somebody I disagree with to stimulate my thinking and get another viewpoint, rather than just nod my head in agreement with some lefty talk host. I always liked Jim Eason, too.

As for me, I've always preferred light to heat, meaning that I've preferred talkshows that tell me things I didn't know, rather than expose me to the opinions of the host. Opinions usually aren't worth much, unless the particular host comes from some kind of experience in the field they're talking about. Most talkshow hosts only know radio. This is why I've never liked Ronn Owens as a host. His experience is broadcasting. Even though I hated Bernie Ward's gloom'n'doom style, he DID work for Barbara Boxer and thus he had inside knowledge about the workings of government.

Given all the talkshow hosts in the Bay Area, I prefer to listen to Michael Krasny on KQED Radio because his show focuses on information, not opinion, and that woman who does KGO's "Crime Time" show around midnight on the weekends, Candice DeLong, again because the show is informative, not opinionated.

I don't disagree. While Rodgers could get heated at times, he was not an attack dog talk host, or I wouldn't have listened. And yeah, Michael Karsny on Forum is great - but that's a totally different kind of talk show, in my opinion. Luckoff was widely criticized for dumping Krasny for Bernie Ward, but I could see his logic. Krasny's topics - though always fascinating to me - got into literature, poetry and other esoteric cultural topics. Bernie was always political, and designed to get your blood flowing. My mother in law (a leftist) LOVED getting all worked up into an anti-Republican and anti-Bush froth by Bernie.

That's why Taliaferro was never one of my favorites. His show would just get me worked up - not a good recipe for sleep so late at night. In fact, that's why I've virtually stopped listening to conventional talk radio - who needs to be upset all the time? I do listen to Forum when I have the chance, and also like Dave Iverson.

 

[beachguy3b]

Lee's blog is still the best morning show around. I can hear it in his voice, and laugh because of his humor often. That he's a crusty old guy makes him even more interesting, as far as I'm concerned.

Now if I could just find out what name he went by at WHBQ in 1956...