We were inundated for another day with hits, inquiries and comments about Allan Prell, the former 9 to noon KIRO talk host that everyone hated until he suddenly went missing.
Loyal reader Umo suggests, "If the number of people posting about the firing of Alan Prell actually listened to his show...he would still be on the air."
We were never very nice to Prell around here. He had the smell of death about him from the beginning. We knew he was the disaster he turned out to be. We weren't happy to see a disaster for KIRO, the only talk station in town with local liberal talkers.
Something's definitely odd about the suddenness of his disappearance...A reader says he called Prell's producer Ann who claimed she had no idea what happened to him.
One of Prell's former KIRO colleagues writes, There's something going on here they're not saying."
The Seattle Times had a blurb in their A&E brief on Tuesday, with a little new information:
Prell was dropped because of unsatisfactory ratings, listener and advertiser feedback, as well as a style and views that KIRO general manager Dave Pridemore called "jarring" in comparison with the station's other content.
Prell could not be reached for comment. Pridemore said the station will name a permanent replacement for Prell within the next few weeks. Don O'Neill is filling in temporarily.
Formerly a longtime Boston radio personality, Prell never seemed to gel with Seattle listeners. In recent months, he had alluded on-air to difficult feedback.
Meanwhile, New York Vinnie has been shuffled without fanfare into Tony Ventrella's 6-9p slot, a seat he's occupied many times before. We only knew that because readers alerted us to Vinnie's page on the KIRO website where down in the penultimate graf of his bio, it says he's featured on the New York Vinnie Show (who thought up that clever name?) 6p-9p weeknights. No announcements, no promos. Vinnie just started doing the show the night after Ventrella said buh-bye. (It's about sports, BTW.)
Prell's picture was torn out of the website even before anyone knew
he was gone. Another reader calls these seamless disappearances and
replacements, "Soviet-style."
That may be hyperbolic, but
these are examples of how secretive radio traditionally has been.
They're not used to having a BlatherWatch looking over their shoulder
and informing listeners what's going on behind the curtain. Listeners
don't usually have a place to air their complaints when changes are
made. They send letters to the management that no one answers.
It doesn't have to be that way. Listeners can be dealt in. As much as we hate to say it, conservative, KVI has done it right for years. KVI should be the role model for KIRO and Air America's KPTK for how to build a radio community of loyal listeners. You've heard us bloviate about this many times before. Drivetime jocks Kirby Wilbur, (m-f, 5-9a) and John Carlson (m-f, 3-6p) have a listenership that's not only some of the highest rated in town, but loyal enough to do their rightwing political bidding. It's a wonder in a disgusting, troubling way.
Part of the reason for that is because, over the years when changes had to be made, KVI took it to the listeners. Like when they fired Carlson for campaigning on-air for the anti-affirmative action initiative (he was on the payroll). Or when they fired Mike Siegel for allowing Norm Rice to be slandered on his show. Or when Carlson quit to run for governor. With any big programming change, former PD Paul Duckworth, and whoever was station manager, came on the air, explained whatever was going on and faced the music with callers.
They made their top-down decisions seem bottom-up.
KIRO's putting the cart beforse the horse. They sent around a survey to their Gold Club members asking which station you listen to the most. For how long? What do you most listen to, Morning News, Dori, Dave Ross? What stations have you listened to in the past week? They asked if you'd follow Ross or Dori to another station? Prefer Ross in the morning or afternoon. They asked how you liked Rush, Carlson, Al Franken and Sean Hannity. Listen to KOMO? for Mariners or News? They asked for comparisons of KIRO, KOMO and NPR; which do you trust the most, turn to for breaking news, local news, national news, most credible, best anchors, best reporters, weather, traffic, etc.
They asked, are you listening to KIRO more or less lately? Why?
We agree with regular reader David: Too bad they didn't ask before all this mess happened.
Don't kid yourself, they don't care about these survey answers. Also they think NPR is KIRO's competition. How stupid is that?
Posted by: club | September 29, 2005 at 06:30 AM
You might actually want to listen to Vinnie's show. Sounds to me like its not sports at all. Take a shot at getting your facts straight before you take a shot at people. Might give you some credibility.
Posted by: shpankboy | September 29, 2005 at 10:00 AM
It wasn't a shot, Shpanky--when I listened to him last night, he was deep into, I think, a Hawks conversation. I admit, I didn't stay long...we write about political talk here.
Posted by: blathering michael | September 29, 2005 at 10:29 AM
Stangely obvious that you libs make no mention of Michael Savage on your pitiful website and yet the 3-6PM host is number 3 or so nationally. Then you claim great gains for Air America which is total BS. They are forced to buy their airspace just like a 3AM infomercial! Not only this, but you could not debate him on any issue to save your lives. You are true cowards and need to stay out of the way when America takes itself back! Don't like free speech? Thats what this is. Eat it!
Posted by: Eric Johnson | September 30, 2005 at 11:27 PM
I'm so upset about Allan Prell being gone on the morning slot @ KIRO!!! I looked forward every morning to hearing him and enjoyed his quirky sense of humor. I think KIRO needs to bring him back with a BIG apology!!! Allan.....if you're reading this.....WE LOVE YOU!!!!
Posted by: sara | October 03, 2005 at 09:42 AM
Methinks Eric has his Beer Goggles on for that Keg in the Closet 'cause
he's Ready For the Party!
Just love that moral country music!
Posted by: sparky | October 03, 2005 at 02:53 PM
Who's Michael Savage?
Posted by: chris | October 03, 2005 at 03:05 PM
really miss the morning humor
will miss prell
Posted by: jenny | October 03, 2005 at 06:33 PM
really miss the morning humor
will miss prell
Posted by: jenny | October 03, 2005 at 06:36 PM
Allen prell brought a side to the morning that was needed. I liten to kiro all day from 8 am to 4pm and Allen Prell made the morning perk up.....I agree that he should be brought back, as we all know he really didnt care what management thought, which is what this town needs....him and Dori made kiro morning and afternoons great
Posted by: john | October 04, 2005 at 08:18 PM
Funny...I thought Allen was in Baltimore not Boston all those 16 years. Just goes to show that you can't believe everything others post as factual! That aside, I always found that I could not get to the Prell show's humor fast enough when he was a 'BAL. KIRO come to your senses...
Posted by: Joe Lancione | October 04, 2005 at 10:21 PM
I can,t speak to all that's taken place in Seattle but Alan Prell was a hoot in Baltimore. I remember making root beer, Friday's yard sale, and Alie Elf. We'll take him back in Baltimore says this conservative. He is a free thinker.
Posted by: Ron Sturdivant | October 05, 2005 at 01:42 PM
Just out of curiousity and nothing else, how did all you fans from Baltimore find your way here all of the sudden?
Posted by: Andrew | October 05, 2005 at 02:00 PM
I listened to Allan on the Net and when he came up missing, googled BlatherWatch which is the best talk radio site I've seen. It was linked to a Baltimore Sun article about Allan getting fired and linked to a TV station's site
Posted by: sync | October 05, 2005 at 03:32 PM
Allan was the only really good thing on KIRO. Where ever he goes, I hope they stream him on the internet. I can't wait to hear him once again.
I am now in mourning......
Posted by: Bill | October 06, 2005 at 11:26 AM
I missed Allen when he left Wbal--he was on the air there for 17 yrs. He always keep the morning show very entertaining from his off the wall antics and his personality. Wish he would get back on the air somewhere soon.
Posted by: Cris Williams | October 07, 2005 at 09:35 AM
Allan Prell was a plus host for KIRO. He is greatly missed and no one is buying the reason for his disappearance. I have been listening to KIRO for 20 years. I learned a lot from this man and I wonder why KIRO is so afraid of him.
Larry
Posted by: Larry DeVaul | October 07, 2005 at 11:18 AM
Some of these comments P*ss me off. Speaking of Allen Prell's termination like it was inevitable, due to a lack of public interest. His show was as
entertaining as Howard Stern and I'm sure the people who disliked him were in the minority. Kiro fired him because he was too much of a success. He told the truth, and woke people up. Conservatives were listening and calling in to agree with him. Sometimes they disagreed. But the fact is they were listening. The ignorant Dori fans who still believe Saddam Hussein was responsible for 9-11, Post bull s**t comments presuming the whole world is as stupid as they are. Every other dj on that station is a chump. Dori is obviously sold to the right. corporate intrests, Republican politics. Does he really believe the crap he spews? Dave Ross is sold to local democratic polititions. Selling exactly what they would have him sell. Frank shires sucks and so does Vinny. Sisco and Tony seem to be alright guy's. F.U.KIRO.
Posted by: cabdriver | October 09, 2005 at 10:57 PM
I challenge KIRO to prove that the rating's for ANY of their host's have improved since they fired Allan. I'm hearing the entire station is going down.
Posted by: Diane Smile | October 10, 2005 at 09:08 PM
Allan Prell was refreshing, something very lacking in radio today - he had my ear and made me laugh - another thing lacking in America today - KIRO made a big mistake and will probably live to regret it - Don - Lake Tapps
Posted by: Don | October 16, 2005 at 11:09 PM
I miss Allan's very individual style and his take on the affairs of the world. KIRO is really boring now, I can't stand Dori anymore, he is becoming more obnoxious by the day and he is clearly a racist (I am white, BTW)and his lack of sophistication means a lot of jock talk,never anything at all to do with the arts, what is the last book he read, anyway? He has a big chip on his shoulder because he had to
work his way thru college (Oh NO!)and he needs to stop thinking he knows everything because that truly makes him a class A BORE.
Posted by: chris cantu | October 25, 2005 at 07:51 PM