Seattle misses the imus-ing of radio

As if they needed something else to drag it down, the radio industry is quaking once again over the public outrage, and the prospect of the disastrous consequences of more Imus Eruptions.

Two new tremors have shaken and stirred the radio world-at-small: a couple of FREE FM/New York's JV & Elvis and their producer were canned last week after prank-calling a Chinese restaurant on-air and ordering "flied lice," and other such hilarities.

This on the heels of splatitudes wracked by those rascals, Opie & Anthony on XM Radio, who interviewed a homeless guy on the street who fantasized outloud about having rough sex with Condoleeza Rice, Laura Bush, and Queen Elizabeth- all to the glee of the boyz. They're the jocks who were fired from CBS radio in 2002 for getting two listeners to have on-air sex in New York’s St. Patrick’s Cathedral.

"We don't know what to expect," an FM morning radio person told Blatherwatch. "We've toned it down for sure- problem is, nobody knows where the boundaries are."

But many don't want to know, and would rather walk the edge of political correctness abyss because the shock value material plays well with a much sought-after demographic- young males.

Rush Limbaugh, knows that his mostly white, middle-aged male listeners tune in to hear what he gets away with saying. He hasn't always gotten away with it- he lost his job as color commentator on ESPN football in 2000 for controversial remarks he made that many judged as racist.

But that hasn't stopped him- lately he's been playing a song called Barack the Magic Negro, to the tune of Puff the Magic Dragon; at, which some have taken offense, but so far it's only gotten some welcome headlines for Big Pants.

Obama, who was not offended by the parody, was recently given Secret Service protection after threats appeared on white supremacist websites. (That's the danger with this kind of racially-charged talk- it gives permission to those proud bigots among us; and sometimes they act out non-verbally).

In liberal Seattle, we don't have such bad boys as Bubba the Love Sponge, arrested in 2001 on charges of animal cruelty after he and two hunters slaughtered a live pig on air. Or Liz Wilde on WRXK in Fort Myers, Florida who has "Blow It Out Yer Ass" Fridays with men vomiting on interns. Mancow has gotten listeners to eat cat food on the air; and faked his own death in 1996. In 1993, he blocked the westbound lanes of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge during rush hour while his sidekick got his hair cut.

We apparently aren't up to that level of fun, our radio shocks are pretty tame; there's KIRO PD (a Bonneville VP) Rod Arquette saying things in the work place he'd never allow on the air, such as his "KOMO homos" remark last week.

(After we reported Arquette's insensitive remark last week, Bonneville suits have, we're told, made blabbing to Blatherwatch a fireable offense. We've heard this incident really shook them up in the new post-Imus world; they're not used to being scrutinized in any real way).

What we do have in Seattle are mean-talking libertarians like Dan Sytman (KTTH m-f, 5-9a) or Dori Monson (KIRO m-f, 1-4p) whose shock-jockery goes no further than scorning the homeless, or mocking hippy peace demonstrators which is pretty safe considering neither group has any power- anyone can kick them around and do. They also fiercely ream the liberal powers that be, such as County Exec Ron Simms or the Seattle City Council who are so tediously entrenched, they must enjoy enjoy the diversion.

There's Ken Schram (KVI, The Commentators m-f, 9a-12p) the "liberal," who's as controversial as it gets here in nice Seattle. His idea of shocking listeners is to agree with his radio partner, buttoned down conservative John Carlson. (As  someone once said about Al Gore, John Carlson is an old person's idea of a young person).

We also have the dull, and unconscious: such as Mr. Styble, the talk host who lives in the KIRO attic, appearing like Boo Radley late each Sunday night to deliver his lectures to the empty night. In one of those spooky lectures, he famously (famous thanks to us) claimed that Africans were better off kidnapped and enslaved in America than if they'd been left back home in Africa where they could be killed by the savages). Nothing ever happened to Bryan Styble for that specious and grandiose revisionism, but then again nobody listens to him.

Comments

[Duffman]

What I can't understand is why Rev's Jackson and/or Sharpton don't organize and go after Rush's sponsors like they apparently did with Imus? Why do they let HIM off so easy? It would seem to me that they could have clip after clip after clip of 'evidence' against him? Why is HE spared their wrath?
Is it that they feel his listenership is so vast that it would be ineffective? Confounds me!

[Brian]

On Frank Shiers, We found out yesterday, That Frankie's ratings are in the bucket , right next too the Styblehead radio progam (it's more than just bad it's plan wrong) Frank tell's us every night at least 5 or 6 times, thru his show he was a school teacher , you would think after finding out how BAD thing's (Or As Vinnie would say TANGS!) are in Frankie radio Land , He would Learn! to change somethings
around and get something going , Now I see why he is not teaching , and from what he talked about last night ,
( Again Fast Frankie thinking on his feet !! got behind the MIC on KIRO 710 am. And started talking about Yep ! you Know the drill, Fast Frankie , talked about , What David Boze, Dave Ross, and you Guest it!!!! What Ron And Don talked about on there show . DUDE! Frankie ! Whats up the writing is on the wall and your still standing there with your pants down looking for better T/P paper on the ferries and not working on your show PREP

[joanie]

What? Ron and Don were warmed over Ross and Boze? Well, now I'm mad. :)

Hey, Duff, if they pick on everybody then nobody will pay them any mind. If Obama isn't offended, well, what can you do?

[BruceB]

Rush was a commentator at ESPN, not Monday Night Football.

[Duffman]

Yes joanie, I suppose you're right. May be he would be mad if he weren't running for Pres...doesn't want to miss out on any chance of votes.

Lets make Mrs. Clinton our candidate!

[joanie]

Mrs. Wall Street you mean? Mrs. Nafta, Mrs. Cafta? I'm putting my dinero on Obama, thank you.

[cowpotpi3]

I think its the audience that controls things: if you don't cross their lines and there are enough of them you can get away with racism, hate or whatever you want practically. See Rush Limbaugh and Howard Stern.

I found it really telling that the conservative jocks talking about the two firings brought up many other examples but left Limbaugh alone. I guess it goes to show you that they are much more willing to ignore blatant racism if one of their "boys" is doing it.

[rev]

Duffman, if Sharpton called for Limbaugh's sponsors to drop him, it would only create more support from Limbaugh's core audience.

It's like the story I've heard about some conservative member of congress taking great joy when Jim McDermott made one of his extreme statements: one of his colleagues had to explain that in McDermott's district, his support goes up every time he castigates the Bush White House. Any time Sharpton criticizes Limbaugh, Limbaugh's audience figures that's one more reason to believe their guy.

Please, let's not get side-tracked into a discussion of McDermott's politics. I'm using the story to make a point about Limbaugh.

[Duffman]

Gotcha rev; makes sense.

[Lets make Mrs. Clinton our candidate!]

[Duffman]

cnn: news flash
"CN-- Televangelist Jerry Falwell is being given CPR after being found unconcious and taken to a Virginia hospital, Falwell assistant Ron Godwin says"

[Lets make Mrs. Clinton our candidate!]

[Andrew]

I hate truely that promo spot where the lady "I started listening to Dave Ross when he went to Qatar. And Jerusalem?"

And I wish they would stop snipping out the breathbetweeneveryword! I take pleasure in knowing that must be tedious soul crushing work for the poor bastard charged with the task.

[Andrew]

Oh no! Jerry Falwell is dead!

[Duffman]

...and CNN further reports that he has died.

[Lets make Mrs. Clinton our candidate!]

[Andrew]

Chalk one up for the good guys!

[drack]

Wonder if he'll rise up in 3 days?

[cowpotpi3]

I guess Jerry is going to meet his maker. For his sake I hope he isn't judged for his deeds on earth because Jerry is in for a long hot eternity if so.

[David Tatelman]

I was thinking the same thing about Falwell. Maybe he'll have to spend eternity at Regence University or whatever that school is called.

[mercifurious]

"We don't know what to expect," an FM morning radio person told Blatherwatch. "We've toned it down for sure- problem is, nobody knows where the boundaries are."

Enter: Orbusmax with his giant Anti-Goldy boner (ie, "KIRO Talk-show host behaving badly" alerts)

He's worried about the sunset/dusking of WingNutRadio. Orbi tries to exploit these non-existant boundaries (any means necessary) in order to chase-off progressive talkers. Get his freeper goons to call-in and complain en-masse *

In other words, make a big stank about the 2nd Amendment, but always forgets the 1st... (not to mention Bush/Gonzo's least favorite: the 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th)

* Note: When Orbi sends out his Anti-Goldy marching orders, I send an email to KIRO (PD, etc) alerting them about mass-emails from Orbi's boys.

[mrogi]

99.9% of all radio talk show hosts do "safe" programs. Only .1% are even remote courageous enough to run the risk of being fired by pushing the limits. Seattle radio is populated by Dave Ross types who are even less controversial than lukewarm tapioca.