It just gets weirder around Eastlake. Long, long days of what's next? Everyone knows that something's gotta give, must change, and change majorly at KIRO and KTTH.
The ratings suck, the programming needs major boots in the ass; management needs to go and come. Most employees have been through similar--even less dire circumstances--at other stations. They know it's upcoming, the staff's uneasy they know the tectonics are as inevitable as Labor Day.
But nothing happens. We thoroughly reject the notion we hear frequently that it's to spite BlatherWatch that Bala Cynwyd's so slow moving.
The author of the disaster, program director Tom Clendening takes a vacation, which the help thinks is like the captain of the Titanic taking a nap.
Meanwhile, there seems to be indecision and confusion. There's been no replacement for night time news editor Ed Schmacher, so Lan Archer keeps pulling doubles which gives him something new and seemingly endless to talk about.
Reporter Jim Valley had a major meltdown in the newsroom that was just short of throwing things, which stirred everybody out of their ennui for a few days.
The big guys: Dave Ross and Dori Monson take their annual vacations and Frank Shiers, the former voice track guy from KBSG fills in--he's becoming the voice of KIRO. This hasn't made this unexperienced guy who won't talk to anybody around the station very popular. People resent that he gets all the fill-in time. Folks around the office were almost beginning to wish ol' Dori were back. It's just a sign, we guess, of the distractedness of the management.
Then there's the guy who replaced the vacationing overnight jock, Lou Pate, whose name is Styble, (rhymes with "bible" he keeps telling us over and over). He makes Pate seem reasonable and liberal even. We found ourselves laying awake at 4:30am wishing Pate would burst into the studio brandishing a blunt instrument to drive out the interloper.
Even the dulcet tones of Frank Shiers would have been welcome at that point. We're afraid that if something competent doesn't happen down there soon, this Bible Styble may get a drive-time slot.
Readers keep wondering why all these people seem to be vacationing at the same time--they read the direst of scenarios into the absences and the 2nd rate replacements. But this is par for the course in August--in and of itself doesn't mark the beginning of the changes that are sure to come.
Don't touch that dial...
now, why would a facist bad ass tough big city new yorker guy with a name like "Weiner" live in san francisco for? you don't think "Weiner" likes a little chains n leather in the castro dist. do ya? then again, he turns his name from "Weiner" to "savage" maybe his new nick name should be "the saveage Weiner" is dori still on the air? i have tuned to "am" 1090 long ago and get my traffic on komo. and someone please do something about frank shiers stammering problem!
Posted by: mndcrm | August 23, 2005 at 10:16 AM
You forgot to mention how much Mr. Styble's favorite hobby is "propagating conversation at the speed of light".
Yeah, he totally sucks - and I'm not a big Pate fan (I'm amazed with how much Pate hates Seattle, yet here he is, 4-5 years later, still hating it...).
Posted by: Willis | August 23, 2005 at 01:52 PM
Throughout all the drama, year after year after year, 710KIRO-AM remains undefeated as the #1 news/talk station in the city of Seattle.
Posted by: umo | August 23, 2005 at 05:01 PM
I figured it out!
Umo is really Erin Hart!
Posted by: sparky | August 23, 2005 at 05:27 PM
funny how you guys never mention ny vinnie. he sat in for ross for a week and did a great job. he also filled in for ventrella but that doesnt count does it? he also may be one of the only liberal sports guys around. maybe he should be getting a shot...he used to be pretty high profile on kiro....now they sure aren't doing much else with him.
Posted by: spanky | August 24, 2005 at 10:21 PM
The best thing KIRO can do for NY Vinnie is introduce him to Jenny Craig.
Posted by: umo | August 24, 2005 at 10:48 PM
I'd rather listen to bryan styble than erin hart. He's a better radio talk show host.
Posted by: mac tyler | February 05, 2006 at 04:51 AM
Bryan Styble is the freshest talk radio idea that has come to Seattle since Lou Pate! Seattle overnight radio has a winner with Styble. Kiro has shot itself in the foot when it stopped airing Bryan Styble on the 1a-5a overnight!
Posted by: Edmonds Steve | October 15, 2006 at 05:53 AM
KIRO made a stupid move to not air Bryan Styble.The new nationwide syndication suks.Let s get Bryan back!
Posted by: Cory Johnson | November 18, 2006 at 02:56 PM
The least they could do is have him fill in for Shiers, instead of Turi Ryder.
I'd like to see him tactical the evening format.
Posted by: Liz | November 18, 2006 at 04:02 PM
Styblehead radio program is more than just bad it's PLAN WRONG !
Posted by: Brian | May 04, 2007 at 07:57 AM
Is there any truth to the rumor that Bryan Styble may replace Rosie on 'The View'?
Posted by: sage | May 04, 2007 at 08:01 AM
Actually I think that rumor has been squelshed because when Styble was interviewed and told that he would occassionally would have to use the word crap on the air - he backed out in a fit of rage.
Posted by: fuzznuts | May 04, 2007 at 08:12 AM