T-Man and shock radio: 'ho, ho, ho!'

He calls himself The T-Man, and claims the "T" is for "toilet" which is apt enough, but In reality he's Rob Tepper, 40, morning shock-blabber on KUBE FM  (m-f, 6-10a). Recently, he stirred up the poo by calling Native American women "ho's" on the air.

(photo: Rob 'T-Man' Tepper)

Although we're sure it was pithsome, we're not sure what the context was -- the station won't release the audio. Tepper's a durable but cheap, local imitation of Don Imus, who caught all manner of shit when he called some black women of color "nappy-headed ho's."

I mus is a role-model for broadcasters like Tepper, and In shock-jock circles this is what's considered brave outspokenness, heroic strength of conviction and speaking truth to power. T-man brags about himself on his website:

Has a voice as memorable as his verbal assaults on the state of current trends in society.  You think you’re quick witted? Get ready to bow. He has an opinion on everything and it’s a strong one. He questions authority. Actually, he has no regard for it, and that suits him and his listeners just fine!

Misogyny is his schtick, and the object of all this is, of course, to get his name in the papers, and titillate the post-adolescent boychiks who listen to him.

But these remarks nearly went without notice.

The station and Clear Channel (the faceless mega-corp who owns T-Man) ignored complaints at first, and this would have been but flatulence in the morning zoological windstorm if it weren't for the Tulalip Tribe threatening with their casino ad dollars.

"As a major advertiser spending over $2 million a year with Clear Channel we will evaluate our advertising strategy." thundered a spokeshole for the Indians.

The toothless Human Rights Commission then wrote a letter to say it was "appalled."and added that Tepper's show also recently aired a comment "about the economy being so bad that 'Mexicans are swimming back across the river.' "

Then and only then, did T-Man's boss, Michele Grosenick, CC's Seattle Market Manager, called Tepper's remarks  a "verbal slip," and gave him a one-day suspension, the requisite sensitivity training, and promised 100 PSA's about violence against Native American women and women in general. They say they'll run a one-hour community affairs program celebrating Native American cultural heritage.

(photo: Grosenick)

As dubious as is The T-Man's talent or contribution to the human race is, his over-paid presence on KUBE is the brightest spot on the dimming music station. With KUBE's slide in the ratings in the last year, he won't be fired any time soon.

He's actually a needy little jerk with a skin problem whose power is all in his microphone, and the caffeine he absorbs from the Red Bull he drinks.

There's more on his shock-jock résumé, as Robert Jamieson remind us:

In August 2001, a 26-year-old woman was threatening to jump from the Interstate 5 Ship Canal Bridge during morning rush hour. The drama backed up Seattle traffic. On his show, Tepper poked fun at her plight, peppering the live broadcast with splashdown sound effects. His on-air buddy joked about having "a crazy Asian" ex-girlfriend -- a potshot at the woman on the bridge, who happened to be Asian.

Such crudeness no doubt egged on stuck motorists, who, in a display of mass incivility, yelled at the suicidal woman: "Jump, bitch, jump!" She did -- but survived the 160-foot plunge into Lake Union.

"We do what we do," said Tepper, when I interviewed him after the bridge episode.

Age 31 at the time, he claimed he was doing "a public service" by focusing on the suicide attempt but was apologetic about the sound effects.

"It was a 'kerplunk,' " he said. "I'm not claiming this is the most sensitive show in the world. Absolutely not."

Ho-hum -- another predictable pro forma battle of press releases between the King Kong of corporate media, and the Godzilla of the gaming interests. For T-man, it's another fly swat he's ducked; for the Indians, a display of muscles they have to flex, and for Clear Channel it's just a another example of why they should divest themselves of radio.

Who is the biggest ho in all this grubby posturing? It's definitely not Native American women.

Comments

[Phil]

T-man is a cretin.

[Lesbian Teacher]

So you cant call women a ho anymore? Is whore ok? How bout crack ho? And thanks for this Michael, you dumb fuck... "some black women of color"

[sparky]

Parents these days are not doing a very good job of raising their sons to respect women.

[KS]

Parents aren't doing a very good job raising their sons and daughters. In general, they are too self-absorbed and the kids can see right through it.

With that said, T-Man is no role model. He dares to be politically incorrect, which raises the hackles on the progressives and also the religious right for a different reason. Has he weighed on the war on Christmas yet ?

[AA]

Here is the T-Man response to the Seattle P.I. article as per the newspapers website:

This is the T-Man. I doubt this response will get much further than this small area of this P.I. website but I must say that it is typical of this author to fabricate untrue accounts of my show. The timing is also ironic since this is an event that happened two months ago and I've just begun an extended holiday vacation and have no opportunity to defend myself other than me writing this quick retort from out of town.

If the author had done any research into this matter he would have known that the comment on October 24th 2008 was a text message from a listener that I read on the air. And it was not about Native Americans. It was a comment regarding women from India. I read it because I'm fond of the first amendment and think most thoughts are less dangerous when vocalized and then discussed as opposed to being censored. I quickly dismissed the thought from the listener as untrue. I continued by saying that women, more and more, are acting increasingly liberal with their bodies but it crosses all race, religious and economic boundaries.

A listener misunderstood the text message as an insult to her community and informed the tribal casinos. They asked for an apology which was given by the station to not threaten the advertising dollars that the casinos spent with the company.

The reference in the P.I. article about Mexicans is completely without any merit whatsoever. No such comment in any form was made on my show and my jaw literally dropped when I read it.

Being a devout liberal person myself, I am very sensitive to stereotyping and relish the diversity that our Seattle community embraces.

The 2001 references are also revisionist history by the author and I will give my side upon request but will refrain in this response in lieu of it getting too lengthy.

In conclusion, I will step down if the author can prove anything I've written is materially inaccurate . If he cannot and therefore can't support this slanderous, inflammatory article written against me I would ask him to resign his post. I will produce tapes of any show in my possesion and authorize Clear Channel to do the same as long as the author accepts these terms in advance.

I believe that the Seattle P.I and its editors owe it to their readers to provide less shoddy journalism especially at a time when increasing media choices allow for better quality coverage.

Sincerely,

The T-Man

[biracial_bigot]

Damn this is getting confusing. He calls himself a 'devout liberal' (like Imus) yet he spews this racially-charged banter (like Imus).

I had thought sure that the right-wingers like Limbaugh, Beck, and OReilly were the racists. I thought guys like T-man were had exemptions, just like Chris Rock, to spew racist blather. Theyre just keepin it real, they're bros, right?

But now if a writer of color like Jamison is offended, maybe I should be offended too.

aaarrrgh. How do I sort this stuff out?

[AA]

Imus is nor never was a liberal.

[Duffman]

So much ado about nothing. Absolute rubbish.

[Nevets]

So funny, just tried to post a question and guess what. The Beasts original name has been banned. Sparky got her way again.

[chucks]

Are you saying that G*3 G%$y got punted?
Say it ain't so Michael.
Bla'm does not ban lightly. I know, I'm still here.

[sparky]

And he doesn't take requests, nor does he ask any of the rest of us about it. I didn't, nor have I ever requested anyone to get the boot.
Not that I wouldn't like to, sometimes, but it is easier just to ignore. Steven, I have told you that before, so if you want to continue to believe I have magic powers, that is your problem.

[Duffman]

Aaah yes, the two school-marms are the salt of this blog but I sincerely doubt they would influence the host even if they could. :)

[Otherwise I'd like been history many moons ago...ha]

[Coiler]

You were banned once

[Duffman]

You're wrong Einstein...as Bla'M as stated many times, I've never been banned...warned, admonished, belittled...yes may be, but never banned O Wise One. haha

[wild bill]

WHO CARES?
TBTL IS DELICIOUS RADIO GOODNESS, LIKE A FRIED EGG AND SALAMI ONION DISH, as far as T Man, don't listen to the station, never have, could care less. People say things all the time, other people say things back, some people take great offense, some people chuckle, some yawn, and some drive off the road and burst into flames....in the end what fu*king difference does it make when your goiter finally withers? In the meantime, enjoy the crunchy, crisp, lightly battered tbtl

[wild bill]

with a fine buttermilk, dill dipping sauce mmmm mmmm tbtl

[Puget Sound]

GG banned...wow.

[Nevets]

C'mon Sparky. Your fingerprints are all over this one too.

Sparky, check this out.

The program provides a unique environment for learning and teaching by sending kindergarten through college-level teachers to sea aboard NOAA research and survey ships to work under the tutelage of scientists and crew. Then, armed with new understanding and experience, teachers bring this knowledge back to their classrooms..

Maybe you'll bump into Roz and you two can have some hot cider as he explains how to read a temperature gauge.

[joanie]

I remember Audioslave being banned for using too many aliases. Who knows? The only people I think should be banned are those who use the names of current posters. If that was Gary, he should be banned. My name has been used several times and I complained. If it was Gary, good riddance.

It will be interesting to see how many times my name will appear on SP. I'm sure sputs will apprise us of each and every appearance - having nothing better to do with his time.

[Rudy]

I Became aware of his departure, damn! why did take this long?

[Big Boi]

T-man is awesome, you idiots are too easily offended.

[MoterCity Man]

Boi, looks as if you’re sending a subtle message.

[Cheezey Smegma]

I'll love the sound of pissing on his grave.