Goodbye bob, hello...shudder... frank?

Evening listeners to KIRO can quitcherbitchin'.

You won't have to put up with the amateurish smart-ass, Bob "mama-calls-me-coo-coo" Van Dyne any more. He's changed his name back to DJ No Name, and is returning to The End (107.7) as the mid-morning DJ in the 10a-2p slot according to The Stranger's Slog.

Van Dyne had never been actually given the old Mike Webb 9p-1a spot and had been doing one of those permanent fill-ins favored by the station in the last year.

The bad news is, we're now stuck with Frank "Shudder" Shiers for 7 days a week- unless they give his weekend shifts to David Goldstein (Sundays 7-10p). PD Tom Clendening won't say but he's assured us that the evening shift is not Frank's to keep, though he would not comment on when the blandmare would end.

(Will Shiers start having actual guests on his show? Will he begin laughing only something's funny? Will he stop speaking so condescendingly to listeners? Will he turn off the passive aggressive smarm? Can he be less patronizing? Will he ever be anything but a talk radio version of USA Today?)

Comments

[marvingarden]

Shit!

[Rich]

Ditto's

[AprilMayJune]

That is unfortunate. He reminds me of a Dori-in-training; too much "I-me-my" and stories about his coddled child. It is a good thing that Gene Burns & Bernie Ward on KGO provide some real professional talk radio.

[Rick]

frank is unlistenable

[KS]

Better than Van Dyne and maybe also Coast to Coast on KVI. Frank is a bit too enamered with himself at times but not as bad as some of you say & if you think he is so bad why do you bother listening to him ? My listening to KIRO has dropped off sharply since early this year.

If Goldstein's politics weren't so likeably left, most of you would rate him mediocre. At least he says what he is and doesn't pretend to be independent. However, Democrats are becoming known as Dhimmicrats to the Islam world.

[KS]

I like Gene Burns.

[ray]

You would, he's on his last meal ticket in radio.

[sparky]

you forgot one question Bla'M:

Will anyone get a tuning knob for their radios so they are not FORCED to listen to KIRO anymore??

[Ryder]

Everytime I hear Frankie I keep expecting Little Eva to break out singing THE LOCO-MOTION. Okay, thats okay. I like the song. But it seems like BUILD ME UP BUTTERCUP is more likely. Everytime I hear that song I have a deeper understanding why so many middle easteners hate us.

[The Anti KIRO]

This is a clear example of the "dumbing down of America". KIRO was once a premium news, information and discussion source.

Now it's full of simpleton ex-DJ's and sportscasters...Shiers, Don and Dumber, Dori Monson...

It is remarkable that the ratings do not reflect this...perhaps Seattle is lacking in sophisticated, intelligent talk. Can we not get an intellectual or somebody with a broad based political or economic background?

Enough of these garbage talk show hosts full of verbal diarrhea.

[sparky]

Anti...Thom Hartmann, 1090 am from 9-12

[Tommy008]

The ever condescending Shiers pablum-spooned the Van Dyne situation to us tonight, and insulted our intelligence by making it sound like Van Dyne's return to The Edge after being swatted out of KIRO with his tail between his legs after a trial run as a talkjock was some sort of promotion.

[sclub]

Which washed-up D.J. will turn up on KIRO next? Pathetic.

[joanie]

This is getting pretty funny! At least we know where Van Dyne went . . . he didn't just disappear like so many KIRO hosts do.

And I think Frank is pretty funny. He can't control himself. He has so much pent-up angst resulting from a controlling father that even when he tries to be nice, he fails at it.

Keep trying, Frank. There's hope for everyone.

[joanie]

Dori's Thursday quote of the day: All art is garbage.

What an plebeian!

[spambutcher]

Bob wasn't bad - kind of liked him.

It seems like he started losing the path a bit when he got excessively campy though (the little gimicky things, call me cocoa, etc)

Frank however sucks. He's like Dori Monson except a lot less likable (and that's saying something).

To look on the bright side - at least they're not giving radioactive rainman a day position (yet...)

[Brian In Lacey]

Its a real bummer about Big Bobby no name , So what do you think Kiro is going to do , about the lowest rated talk show in KIRO talk radio History , The one the only over baked brain of the over night The Styblehead its not funny its just really bad radio.
Some body help us out there !

[drool]

Yesterday Brian Suits was reading comments off from blog on the air. Blatherwatch has made the big time!!!

[Tommy008]

Frank, quit with the "I'm the son of a lawyer, son of a judge" crap. Ooooh, we're impressed. I'm the son of a PhD. in mathematics, who is an Ivy League honors graduate, with honors,. But i'd never mention it except to counter your asininity. I'm sure there are other Blatherwatch members as well, with more illustrious Dad's or Mom's than yours.

[Tommy008]

just to clarify- my Dad is the Brown grad, not me.

[sarge]

my dad is Bryan Suits but he won't return my calls

[sparky]

lol

[Mark]

great- now KIRO has some bogus club to join to get their commercial free podcasts. assholes- NPR here I come...

[joanie]

There's nothing here that indicates Van Dyne was fired . . . maybe he wanted better hours. Apparently he was welcomed back. Who knows . . . Wouldn't Frank just love to have a full-time spot?

[Tommy008]

Despite his protestations to the contrary, Frank is furious he doesn't rate a five day a week show on KIRO. He wants to get the show and then do the neener neener to us at Blatherwatch, who he has a boiling rage for. Did you here the time last week when he said, about us Blatherwatch folks,"I wish I could take those little-" and then he cut himself off, as if he didn't want to say something that would get him in trouble.

[joanie]

I really don't listen much so missed it . . . but isn't that just so in keeping with his pent-up angst? This son of a judge is so judgmental and is probably his own harshest critic inside. If he just liked himself enough to lighten up and be authentic, he'd probably do fine.

You need therapy, Frank.

[blathering michael]

You're right, Tommy. Frank really wants that job. He's a 2nd tier talker and probably will stay that way unless he gets a personality transplant and a hairpiece. He's been passed over many times for the next permanent slot- even CoCo who wasn't very good at talk radio was plugged into it over Shiers who'd had months of practice. (Van Dyne wasn't fired from KIRO- the GM at The End really wanted him back and he has a beloved rock music fanbase over there).
And you're right, Tommy- he really despises us all. Blatherfolks have been unkind- but Frank has a facile gooey-ness that really irritates people who are independent and smart enough to eschew condescension. Put that together wih his politics- sneakily conservative- (probably too conservative for this station and daypart) and you've got a losing public dynamic for a broadcaster.
Perhaps he should spin oldies over at KTTH. I know it's not a music station, but he could be loved- lubing the menopausal and giving the coots the poitics they wanna hear.
You'd think Frank would catch on and move on like Procaccino did.
I've tried reach out to Frank Shiers several times, he's never responded. BlatherWatch is not going away, Frank- and I'm here to help.

[Tommy008]

Frank just took the cheese set for him in the "moron trap". He's complaining tonight about a former Democratic Party official who wrote an odious, hateful column that nearly all Democrats wouldn't support. He is continually calling the guy a former "Democrat Party" official. This is a little insult tactic that Republicans have used for years- deliberately using an incorrect name for the Democratic Party. When you hear someone say "Democrat Party", especially when you know that they are reading from a newspaper article that is printing the name correctly (Democratic Party) but the reader is taking it upon himself to change the name, as in Shiers case, you know you are in the presence of a true, authentic moron and jackass. Their asinine rationale is that they don't want to call the party "democratic" because that would be some sort of compliment that carries an implication that Republicans don't believe in democracy. It's really just an annoying,disrespectful pinheaded, thing that the moron wing of the Republican Party has done for years. Frank, it's called the DEMOCRATIC PARTY. Got that Frank, you jackass- it's the DEMOCRATIC PARTY. DEMOCRATIC PARTY. DEMOCRATIC PARTY. say it Frank- DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

[sparky]

I would say many of us here dont even listen to Frank....sorry Frank.

[joanie]

Tommy! Of course he knows that! He isn't a moron - maybe he's a jackass - but he is a fraud. That's my biggest complaint against him: he never, ever tells the whole truth - he omits, spins, or weasels everything he can.

He said a long time ago that he used to be a democrat and I think I remember him saying he voted for Gore? Not sure about that one. I think he thinks his future lies in the Dori camp cause it is so much easier to attract people with negativity and nastiness. Normal, smart people listen to Ross, Reagan and NPR. You have to be really good to go up against them. But, mediocre talents using those tactics might make it with conservatives. Conservatives, afterall, don't ask for much in the areas of integrity or intelligence!

[joanie]

Sparky! Shouldn't you be in bed? Honestly, morning is going to come early in a week or two . . . ugh!

[Tommy008]

bwahahahahaha Frank has obviously read my comments during the break. He's now saying "former Democratic Party official". Let's see if he goes back to "Democrat Party" again.

[joanie]

Tommy, this is reality blogging!

[joanie]

That should read "reality radio blogging"

[Tommy008]

spoke too soon! Frank just put his propellor beanie, his manure boots and overalls back on. It's back to "former Democrat Party" official.

[litlnemo]

Dang, no more Jim Keller doing the lunch shows on the End? Aw. I liked 'em. It was my little KJET flashback every day.

[Rich]

Where is Cindy Bennel of KZAM AM?

[Rich]

Sorry, Bemmel.

[sparky]

you're right Joanie..considering I will have to start getting up at 4:45 am pretty soon, I should be practicing getting to bed earlier! School starts Thursday!

[joanie]

That's going to be tough for both of us! And I don't have to arise until 7:30 at the earliest (usually more like 7:50)! I don't envy you, Sparky. I hope you are a morning person . . .

[joanie]

Where is Cindy Bennel of KZAM AM?

Wasn't KZAM just the best radio station ever? I don't remember Cindy but I do remember Leilani McCoy and Shelley Morrison very well.

I just googled KZAM and got these to hits which are interesting . . . seems like Joni Balter was on air and I didn't know that.

"92.5 FM History"

"KZAM Anniversary BASH Apr 2, 2005"

That station was totally eclectic and fabulous! I grieved for years when it disappeared.

[joanie]

I just reread your post, Rich, and you said KZAM AM. I didn't know there was an AM station with KZAM call letters . . . sorry. I'll read better next time!

[Fremont]

Dori's Thursday quote of the day: All art is garbage. "All garbage is art".---Andy Warhol

Thanks for the KZAM links, Joans. My heart weeps with nostalgia! Yeah, it was the best!

[Tommy008]

actually , to be fair, "Moose" Monson said "most art is utter garbage". So that means he gets promotion from a cretin to a moron.

[joanie]

Tommy, he did not! He said "all." He did. I was listening in the car and that's what he said.

[joanie]

Well, before eating crow, I can always be wrong. But, I heard it as "all."

[joanie]

Fremont, how do you like your laptop? Does the "drag the number" work for you?

[sparky]

School starts at 7:30, kids go home at 2, we can go home at 2:30. Im usually there by 6:30...stay until at least 3, sometimes later.
Im not a morning person at all but its ok, I drive with my eyes closed...

[joanie]

Have you always had such an early schedule? Is that left over from agricultural days or something? I've never had a school start in Seattle before 8 and that was high school as I recall . . . Also, do you have a long commute?

If truth be known, I would welcome a longer day with my kids. I work much harder trying to get everything in the short day we have. An extra hour would actually be easier on my teaching. Part of the problem at my school are the half hours we spend on PTA-sponsored programs which I like also. But, time for core curriculum gets tight.

[joanie]

Tommy, George Lakoff is on CSpan right now talking about the strict father thing. . . I'm thinking that in Frank's family, Judge Shiers was "the decider."

So Bush must be a very comfortable fit for Frankie.