We'll miss goldy

Goldy's story is up on DailyKOS, and has gone viral. Read it here:

Here's an open letter to KIRO for Goldy's release, prepared by the venerable NW Progressive Institute. Please sign it. .

The David Goldstein Show was a hit & run mess: a conglom of smart-ass, east-coast Jew-boy shrugs, non-sequiturs, and one-liners. David's voice was annoying; his views not always the liberal boilerplate some prefer; he was politically incorrect; and loved getting up to his ears in arcana like Oregon politics or Eastern Washington city council races; or down and deep in the weeds of tax levies and economic policies.

But we couldn't stop listening. Those who didn't love him at first, learned to at least like him later. There was nothing like it on the radio in Seattle. The David Goldstein Show was the root of the next week's buzz for the Puget Sound political class, who -- right or left -- listened in every weekend. It annoyed many the wife and significantly others whose weekend evenings needed to be shared by Goldy and his snickering band.

He was always fair, let his opponents make their arguments... and who the hell else could score  Governor Christine Gregoire on a Sunday night?

A total radio novice, Goldy got better and better. He built an audience; and a community that used the mighty platform that is his blog; and the mightier one of DailyKos. (... 'spect KIRO's hearing from a few hundred million KOSsacks as we speak.)

Josh Feit News Editor at The Stranger said: "This is bad news for radio. When it came to local issues, David's show was always three steps ahead. He had a dialed-in sense what issues were important. And obviously, his obnoxious left wing wisdom offered a great counterpoint to the dull conversations in this town."

KVI's longtime conservative talker John Carlson whose The Commentators (m-f, 3-6p) with Ken Schram counters the KIRO's doltish Ron & Don every day, agrees with Feit: "I wish he was still on the air. His voice makes for a more robust marketplace of ideas."

(DID YOU KNOW? Kirby Wilbur (KVI m-f, 5-9a) grand old man of morning conservative radio (and the only local political talker left in morning drive) encouraged Goldy to get into radio and wrote him a letter of recommendation).

Goldy's dismissal was puzzling -- he's ahead of the curve on a road Bonneville is desperately trying to climb up on. He's helped create a local on-line community and is part of a much larger one built around news talking. The company has been actually putting money where their mouth is with new media. They just launched a new website; bought lots of consulting; hired a "new media" director. Why in hell would they fire the only talker already nationally triangulating his on-line platform with his show, and bringing thousands of earballs to their station?

Feit says, "[Goldy's] show was just KIRO's Old World attempt to tap into what he's already laying down on-line."

Thats what we thought too. Unfortunately, they weren't willing to tap down much further.

He bought NPR listeners to AM talk, the wet dream of any Seattle programming director. We're certain that if given some help, a little promotion, and been allowed to work his way up and in, he could have delivered many more of those NPR types to a better time slot.

We get it. Radio has to change and get a wider audience. Ron & Don, the dumbed down, drivetime goof balls seem to be doing just fine. Too Beautiful to Live, we believe, will make radio history pulling in new and younger people.

These shows are nearly bereft of news and issues wider and deeper than celebrity gabbing, sports gossip; sensational crimes; Hollywood jib-jab, vagina dialogs, weather, martini culture wisdom, 90's nostalgia, TV trivia, and like all talk radio shows, penetrating host narcissism. R & D aims at an older crowd than TBTL, but they're both for those who don't want anything more complicated than an E! channel without the pictures.

We get it. Radio has to change, but what's the hurry? Is KIRO so sure of their new tabloid programming that they can start dumping the large Boomer audience, and the politics & issues crowd who have defined talk radio for so long?  Does changing your audience necessarily mean that you must dumb it down? 

Weekends are the end of the food chain on radio. (that's a bad visual that makes us think of Bryan Styble for some reason). It doesn't earn much, doesn't cost much. Hell, KIRO kept the forgettable Phil the Junkie Show for a reason that surely had nothing to do with revenue.

We're depressed; the future for radio has never looked more drear. Although we've always championed innovation, we don't think tabloid radio will work ultimately, nor will stooopid radio. Lowering the content IQ in the information age is counterintuitive.

Erica Barnett, Stranger ace reporter says: "...  Mostly, I'm bummed that Annie Wagner and I won't be able to have our highly anticipated Obama vs. Hillary on-air catfight."

But we're revived when Josh Feit reminds us: "Fortunately, we can still read David on his obnoxious blog."

Comments

[Nevets]

This has Joanie all over it.

[mark]

tuesday night should be interesting at the Alehouse...

[Duffman]

Simple! If John Carlson really feels that way he should petition KVI to replace Schramm on 'The Commentators' with Goldy -period!
I would then even listed to the show for more than the 5-minutes I may from time-to-time now.
Come on Carlson put up or shut up!

[Duffman]

s/be 'listen'...sorry :)

[PugetSound]

hey nevets
spot on. that would be joanie-ish behavior.
if you want to see something that is funny, catch olberman's special comment. he was literally frothing at the mouth. he had spittle on his lower lip as he railed against -surprise- W.

[DT]

In case anyone missed it, David Goldstein himself made a comment in this blog, correcting Michael Hood, saying " I find it hard to believe that Dori had any input in the decision to dump my show."

[PugetSound]

I'll be honest, I never thought Goldy was particularly fair to callers with an opposing viewpoint or that he invited guests to come in studio to debate like say a John Carlson would. His guests many times tended to people that basically agreed with him. But to be fair, Kirby doesn't either and he has been fairly successful. So what the heck do I know.
I just think that Goldy would do well in a format in which he was allowed to counterpunch with worthy opponents in full/frank discussions.
And for a radio novice, Goldy became better over time. Although he took some shots on his voice, I actually thought it made him stand out a bit.

[sparky]

Puts, I dont know how much right wing radio you listen to, if any, but have you ever heard a conservative host feel guilty or apologize for "offending" the left? When ever I read, here and elsewhere, that leftist radio is not "fair", I always wonder where the cons are with their "apologies" for not being "fair"....
Do Rush and Orally anguish over cutting off callers with whom they disagree???

[DT]

The blame for Goldstein losing his show rests with liberal progressives who did not tune and listen on a regular basis. Shame on you.

[PugetSound]

I don't really listen to more than a few minutes of Rush and O'reilly on radio is nothing I would care for. Same with the Savage types.
I do listen to Carlson but I think he is reasonable and willing to give callers/guests a shot. Same with Medved -especially when he is doing his history shows. For current events, Medved actively brings on authors, etc he disagrees with and debates them. He does give them the respect of reading their book ahead of time and it can make for good radio.
It's not about saying sorry for cutting off callers. Goldy can do that all he wants or bring on people that he agrees with into his studio. It is his show.
I find it not particularly entertaining or enjoyable albeit someone from the right or the left.
I would offer that if Goldy wants to get people like me -and maybe he doesn't give a rip- in the middle he should study Carlson or give Ronn Owens of KGO a listen. Well read, local, and a good debater. Goldy is well read, local, and can be a good debater. He just has to find someone willing to give him a shot.

[DT]

As far as I can tell, the people who listen to local talk radio tend to prefer listening to hosts that anger them, more than listening to hosts who think like them. Why do so many people who hate Dori Monson's politics and views turn in to listen to him? If they stopped, and listened to Goldstein, instead, David would still have his show, and Dori would be off the air.

[Gay Gary]

Jenn Andrews is hosting TBTL tonight as Luke is out of town.
She is having a round table with all the female producers but Phil isn't involved. At first I thought it was a UTI, but Jenn clarified he was "playing basketball with Dori". WTF?

[PugetSound]

Spot on DT.
Isn't that the ironic part, I'll bet Star is happily wagging his tail tonight on the Burke Gilman Trail.

[Duffman]

So, GG what do you think of Jen?

[Gay Gary]

She seems like a nice girl with a voice made for print. Goldy sounds like Art Bell compared to Jenn.

I've said it before, Board Op Sean has the most perfect radio voice on KIRO, if not Seattle.

[Duffman]

TBTL is rockin tonite...s/be called 'The Producers II'. These ladies were just discussing ways to NOT get on the air when you call and two definite NO NO's are:
1. Don't refer to them as screeners
2. Don't say 'are you the girl that answers the phone'
Luke...where are you; the show NEEDS you. :)

[PugetSound]

a nice article on this from Sound Politics that kind of sums up the departure of Goldy. i think it was done a little more classy than how Goldy treated Sharkansky over the waitress mishap.

Shark'sBlog

[SeattleJew]

Mike

I posted some questions about KIRO finances over at HA. Can yu answer these?

Does KIRO make a profiut or it is tax loss/capital appreciation device?

What afreits real costs? Put anotyher way, if they lost their liscence and its capital value, how much would it cost in capial and what would the operations cost be?

Put another way, I am curoious if the operational costs today are very high. I somehow bet most of the cost is in serviceing debt.

[sparky]

ok Puts, I take that as a "no"..you have never heard a conservative host being told to tamp it down a bit so as not to offend liberal listners.

I haven't either.

[DT]

Sparky, you've never heard of any conservative talk radio hosts being fired for offending liberal listeners? I could give you a list of conservative hosts who were fired for either not being politically correct, or offending liberal listeners, but I don't feel like doing the research. Just Google it.

[sparky]

I said nothing about them being fired.

My point, which you missed, is that I never read about any of Bill o'Reilly's or Rush's listeners suggesting that they be more polite to callers who disagree. I have never read about any Cons in politics wringing their hands over needing to be "nicer" to Dems.

It applies to those who were suggesting that Goldy do this or that to make himself more "listenable." Goldy announced from the very beginning that he is unabashedly liberal. Just like Rush being unabashedly conservative. The only difference is, none of his dittoheads tells him to be anything but who he is.

So, your laziness toward providing links is moot.

[Nevets]

Gay Gary, thats AWESOME

[DT]

I liked Goldstein's show. I thought he was a good fit at KIRO. That said, I don't buy all that crap about him being unabashedly liberal. Saying you're something doesn't make it so. I think he was a liberal progressive in name only. He was more a republican hater than a true progressive. Tom Douglas was more of a progressive than Goldstein, and he never had to brag about it. I realized that when Douglas devoted an entire show to raising money for charity. If anyone can tell me of one time Goldstein used even ten minutes of his show to raise money for charity, I'd like to hear about it.

That said, I still hope they hire him back. Part of what makes KIRO a great station is having a variety of viewpoints.

[afsadfas]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!

MY SIDES ARE SPLITTING!!!!

just curious, when was the last time blatherwatch actually posted a ratings book?

It's probably been a while, since it wouldn't justify his tinfoil hat anti-dori slant.

Sometimes it all comes down to the ratings. Why keep high priced local talent on the air if you can get the same or better ratings with cheap syndicated crap?

Maybe goldie can get a $300 a week gig as a KIRO producer and a pro-bono show on the weekends like the golden child Phil.

Anyhoo, will the last crazy ranting lib at KIRO please turn out the lights? Thanks.

[Andrew]

I like TBTL, but I also realize it's apeal fits an extremely narrow age group, and that 55 year olds are being dumped in favor of 30 year olds and I feel bad about that, but I think it makes for a healthier station than politics politics politics Frank Shiers politics recap and repeat. You 55 year olds still have your Dorthy Monson and Dave Ross, and you can always podcast them if you want to hear that at night. Honestly I'd rather here Doris' podcast than have listended to Frank Shier's imitation product.

[PugetSound]

”ok Puts, I take that as a "no"..you have never heard a conservative host being told to tamp it down a bit so as not to offend liberal listners.

I haven't either.

Posted by: sparky | January 31, 2008 at 09:38 PM”

That is not what I meant. My fault, I probably didn't articulate it but here goes:
it's boring no matter who does it.
I gave a couple of examples of hosts -on the right- that keep that to a minimum. Carlson/Medved.
The only reason I offered my take as to how his show could get better is that he has solicited feedback in the past.
Hope I am being more responsive to your question.

[abob]

A. Zero.

Q. What is the combined total revenue Goldy, Styble and Jeffers generated for KIRO radio?

[Duffman]

You would, of course, have access to the operating expense reports and pool profit/loss statements and distribution of their audited financial data.

[Duffman]

John Carlson: Come on buddy, back up your words. Make a case for having Goldy on with you on your 'Commentators' show in lieu of Schrammie. No one I know likes the Schram, and you could with Goldy get a 'Point-Conterpoint' thing going like you did in the 'ol days with the late-great Walt Crowley. KVI, I think this is an excellent idea, why don't you give it some thought.
Schram's 15-min of fame came with his 'Town Hall' KOMO show; I actually thought he did quite well on that.
With all of the political activity on the horizon, I think a Carlson/Goldy perspective would be a popular listen. :)

cc: KVI Management

[wutitiz]

I don't think that John Carlson, as a 'big-govt' social conservative would be a good match for Goldy. They have more in common than most would realize, and the things they disagree on, such as abortion, would make for fruitless debates.

The match I would pay to hear would be Bob Williams of the EFF, and Goldy. Both are ideologues but both also very much nuts&bolts guys when it comes to state & Seattle area gov't.

[Duffman]

Sort of agree...but I'm afraid Mr Williams would be too nuts and bolts and detail-oriented to be the 'entertainer' that Carlson is; 'entertainment' has to be the root impetus that drives the talk, ala Rush, Stephanie, Sean, etc, et al.

[Duffman]

"..with his 'Town Hall' KOMO show."

excuse me, that s/h been 'Town Meeting'

[wutitiz]

Maybe Goldy could bring 1 or 2 of his most insane posters to boost entertainment & compensate for Williams' accountant mentality.

Anyway, I think there are lots of listeners who would like a Williams. Novel information, as opposed to worn out talking points, is entertaining.

[chucks]

Goldy can only "should have" as he can't. Remember, he got poofed in the big KIRO implosion.
Though I think he was a liberal moran, he did decent radio and vented the other side for me on the occasions that I listened.

[sparky]

I will answer my own question for you, Puts, because that still isnt what i was saying.
I agree that it is annoying on both sides. My point was that liberal talk show hosts are often criticized for yelling, being closed minded, not listening to oppositional callers. It is often suggested that they take a more fair and balanced view.
However, I have never ever heard any conservative say the same things about The Weiner and Rush. Somehow, they have different sets of standards.

[wutitiz]

If you want the epitome of that listen to Mark Levin. Opposing callers rarely are on for more than a few seconds before being dumped.

I used to like him when he was a kind of talk-radio gadfly. So, I gave his show a chance, but now I hardly turn it on.

[PugetSound]

Okay Sparky, now I understand your question and would agree with you.

Wuttitiz, I would also agree with what you said. At times, Levin is horrendous to listen to. he is much better coming in as a gadfly for small bursts.
The rant on Olberman was one such humerous burst.