It was too beautiful to live. Turns out that the little show that could, couldn't, at least on terrestrial radio.
Too Beautiful to Live (KIROFM m-f, 7-10p) it's the little show that might've. After risking its life 5 days a week for one year and nine months, KIROFM has cancelled the quirky, smart radio world created by Luke Burbank, Jen Andrews, and Sean DiTore.
After a year, and 9 months, TBTL will go to the Internets via podcast-only starting Tuesday. Luke et al will do the podcast from his house, Jen's role at the station is "to be determined," they say. It at the moment the podcasting will come from the MyNorthwest.com site, though we hear Luke owns the TBTL domain, so what happens on-line with the TBTL concept and name will be ultimately determined by him.
TBTL has a large on-line national audience, but maybe Bonneville's shot at a younger than 55+ audience was premature. Terrible station PPM ratings has made TBTL a luxury, the station can no longer afford. It's back to basics for Bonneville: yakkers and familiar voices that raise the oldsters' blood pressure, yet afford little risk.
There will be more news, to catch-up with KOMO AM, who's the only news talker in the top 10 in the market. It's all very boring.
From 7-11p it'll be Seattle Nights which is actually the Frank Shiers Show renamed using the poetry of Salt Lake City. Rumors are they're giving Frank a producer... and also another bathroom break.
We'll have an extry-hour of Frank and Josh Kerns, the chatty newsreader who sounds so expert on so many topics.
Rumor is that Frank will actually get his own producer., a luxury he's been without for lo these many.
Rumors are that Jeff Pohjola, will be rehired as a reporter. after his short shot on The Batchelor.
Stay tuned of course.
This is a huge mistake.
I'm 31 and thus in a demographic that typically wouldn't be caught dead listening to a talk station. TBTL not only got me listening to a talk station, but got me parked on 97.3 FM throughout the day. I listened knowing that at the end of the day I'd get my 3 hours of TBTL.
I draw some amusement from the talking voices on KIRO's morning and afternoon programming, but it was the quirky and entertaining antics of the TBTL crew that kept me listening day after day. These were people my own age, who talked about things I'm interested in, who looked at the world in a similar way, and weren't about manufacturing controversy about the political topic du jour. Without their presence, I won't bother listening to KIRO FM.
Frank Shiers is a nice guy, but ultimately he's just the same as the earlier line-up and that's not what got me listening.
KIRO just lost a listener.
Posted by: Jonathan | September 11, 2009 at 04:15 AM
Fuggeddypuck... I just started listening podcast... One wonders how long the'll be able to hold on their online show...
Posted by: www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=556814031 | September 11, 2009 at 04:51 AM
Lo siento mucho! :(
Posted by: Duffman | September 11, 2009 at 05:08 AM
I think I've said this before, but 'Jen' is the workhorse here and an incredible talent to boot. KIRO should find a place for her (if she desires); perhaps as a producer for an existing or future talent - but definitely keep her on in some capacity.
Posted by: Duffman | September 11, 2009 at 05:37 AM
I am going to miss them to. I remember tuning in to the show for a little while last year. It soon was obvious that I was not the listener they were after.
Good luck to the three of them.
Posted by: chucks | September 11, 2009 at 06:18 AM
I enjoyed LB and the show, but have been disappointed with the lack of news on what is supposed to be "newsadio"
Posted by: Mike Barer | September 11, 2009 at 06:22 AM
I agree that KIRO needs to (in some way) re-energize their coverage of the news.
IMO they can start by replacing Gregg and Jane in the a.m. with some one (or more) who is more objective and serious about the way news is read. G&J are getting so subjective and corny with their comments that it's sickening and I'm sure sending folks searching for other more serious news 'readers'.
Dave Ross seems to me to have retired a year or so ago but hasn't told his employer yet...gives me the impression lately of 'phoning it in'.
Dori is still energetic and charged and stirs up his audience and IS the King of Seattle talk radio. R&D are Okay (sort of) but their time slot is wrong and they too need to cut out the 'corny-ness' in their banter and try to remember the station they represent and that it's drive-time.
Frank Shires...if you've heard him once you've hear him a million times...nothing new and certainly nothing to get excited about.
I would actually like to see a professed liberal-progressive have a show on KIRO and one who is passionate and animated about his/her politics.
Just my 2-cents on it...used to be a big KVI fan...and now somewhat of a fading KIRO fan.
Posted by: Duffman | September 11, 2009 at 06:36 AM
This so-called "show" has been on life support from the first day it aired. The fact that it took this long to be pulled off is testament to the idiocy that is the "new Bonneville".
Try running the place like you did the FIRST time you owned it and maybe, just MAYBE you'll actually get decent ratings on your stations.
Posted by: RobP | September 11, 2009 at 06:39 AM
Thank goodness..... This show was really bad.
Posted by: Leeroyski | September 11, 2009 at 07:08 AM
TBTL grew on me...I was sad to hear the news of their cancellation last night. I will NOT listen to Frank Shiers. He has had a show before, and it was lame-why are they going there again? I think R & D should have been cancelled, if anything. I agree than Greg and Jane are becoming increasingly corny with their banter, mainly because Greg's "jokes" are so stupid, and Jane has to "fake laugh" at them...I have to switch it to NPR in the am because it is truly nauseating.
Posted by: dissappointedlistener | September 11, 2009 at 07:52 AM
That 'show' was great!!!!
I echo Jonathan's comment above. I'm in the same demographic and was shocked to find something on talk radio that didn't make me want to throw up.
Posted by: matt | September 11, 2009 at 07:59 AM
If TBTL is going to be podcast only I hope Luke Burbank can find some advertisers that are of specific interest to people who podcast. Maybe he could do spots for cool iPhone apps that gross enough to afford an advertising budget. I'm not joking.
My favorite part of TBTL was awesome/not awesome and other personal commentary. My least favorite part was listening to someone make macaroni and cheese on the air, or the TBTL theater players whatever that was. I go to radio to feel connected with the world and those bits made me feel cut off from the world, sanity.
I'll miss the show and I'm thinking of listening to the podcast version but I doubt Luke Burbank will generate enough money with it to pay the bills unless he can come up with some very creative advertising.
Posted by: AuthenticAndrew | September 11, 2009 at 08:30 AM
I'll miss the show. As a 38 year old I think I was on the upper end of their demographic, but I can't stand the rest of the so called news talk on the station. If I want news I'll listen to a real news station (KUOW) instead of KIRO.
I don't listen to the radio anymore. When I'm not in my car I listen to podcasts. In my car I listen to the "Cars" soundtrack over and over and over again at the insistence of my son.
Posted by: Scott | September 11, 2009 at 09:09 AM
Hey I'm 57 and found myself tuning into TBTL. At first I thought how stupid but then little by little they grew on me. It was a great relief from the same old crap from most of the talking heads on the station especially Dori he should go, he has had his time and he is sickening to listen to him think he is the perfect talk show host, perfect husband, perfect dad (with a perfect family), perfect pet owner etc etc.. Bottom line he is an idiot! Ron & Don again provide variety and that I like. Frank Shiers! Come on the guy is boring and just plain is a rehash of everything during the day that is why TBTL was right for the spot.
It would appear now KIRO should just change the format to music because they have done nothing with this change to improve.
Posted by: Kent | September 11, 2009 at 10:22 AM
what a shame.
at 56, i'm not in the show's desired demographic, but i listen to two shows on KIRO – Dave Ross and tbtl.
now there is one less reason to stay on 97.3
Posted by: carmen | September 11, 2009 at 12:04 PM
Dave (at times) CAN be a TBTL. (Too Boring To Listen to)
Posted by: Duffman | September 11, 2009 at 12:07 PM
Dave Ross hasn't had any substantial opinions about anything lately, he muttered something about teachers and charter school, his point was poorly expressed and he had little else to add. He's definately coming across as a guy who's resting on his laurels. He even said "I've been teaching you critical thinking for 31 years." He talked about how his daughter is fully grown and totally awesome. I think he feels that he's done, no longer a participant in the great struggle for which he's paid to observe and opine. The talker and listners are detaching.
Posted by: AuthenticAndrew | September 11, 2009 at 12:48 PM
Duff - Spot on with your take on Frank Shiers and Dave Ross being a TBTL, B for boring.
Posted by: KS | September 11, 2009 at 12:59 PM
Hiring Luke Burbank is the equivalent of putting an astrologer on the radio. He will attract an extremely loyal hardcore group of folks who care about astrology readings. Unfortunately, he will also alienate 90% of the potential radio audience.
Posted by: mrogi | September 11, 2009 at 03:22 PM
Perhaps KIRO is leaving the door open for Frank to leave by calling the show "Seattle Nights".
Posted by: AprilMayJune | September 11, 2009 at 03:29 PM
I have a suspicion that Shiers works almost for free. I'm constantly asking myself why they would pay for such poor quality programming and then I consider how Shiers seems to love the sound of his own voice so much. You'd think he would do radio for free like as a hobby or a labor a of love. I get that he's trying to replicate Monson's success, and I respect replicating success, but he doesn't have the pomp of Monson. Shier's has the excessive pride but he doesn't have genuine pomp. Monson has a big game. When I hear Shiers I think "who is this little smarmy man and why does he think he matters?"
Posted by: AuthenticAndrew | September 11, 2009 at 04:01 PM
You blew it again KIRO. Time to switch my radio button from KIRO to KPLU.
Posted by: Jkdrummer | September 11, 2009 at 04:21 PM
If Shiers is willing to work for free, Bryan Styble would pay KIRO to allow him on the radio. Styble worships the sound of his own voice. If Styble got paid by the word he would be richer than Bill Gates.
Posted by: mrogi | September 11, 2009 at 04:40 PM
as a 50 year old who really loved TBTL I find this the reason to take KIRO off my presets.
Posted by: Don | September 11, 2009 at 08:41 PM
Frank - yuck! I'm done with KiroFM or whatever they are called.
Posted by: Jo | September 11, 2009 at 08:47 PM
i am also in my fifties like kent and carmen and was a loyal tbtl listener from the car. Now that kiro is on fm, anyone can quickly hit the the fm button on the car radio and go to their other fm presets during the over the top commercial load. the mormons are taking an industry leader down the tubes and alot of good people with them. frank shiers is dull as dishwater and rehashes dori's postion on most topics. don seems to be kind of a dori wannabe lately too. its back to cds and music radio for me also, or kjr 950 sports that my younger employees have me listening to. i hope the kiro advertisers ask for their money back for the ratings this station obviously never had.
Posted by: Dave (not dave ross) | September 11, 2009 at 10:08 PM
I will go berzerk on shiers. Utilizing highly 1337 voip techniques i will find my way past uncle salty and troll him relentlessly. A storm is coming shiers. I'm not the only one. Hack this hack.
Posted by: Berzerker | September 11, 2009 at 10:18 PM
I'm another 50-something who listened avidly to TBTL with my entire family, including our 11 year old. Good times, and plenty of demographics to choose from for advertisers.
We will not be listening to Dori-clone Shiers or anything else on KIRO except for Dave Ross. This is a huge mistake for KIRO. Shiers is one of the most annoying personalities I've ever heard on radio, and he won't be any better in an earlier slot. Why does he deserve one?
Posted by: Johnny | September 11, 2009 at 10:25 PM
Mr. Burbank, you offended me, and you offended my country.
Posted by: Tommy008 | September 11, 2009 at 10:57 PM
GAWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWD..NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
This was the only thing cool on Seattle airwaves...other than Shelly Hart's slot on KNHC way back in the day...
Is KIRO FM going totally conservative? Why cancel the only thing that reached the younger audience from their programming schedule?
Posted by: blehboi | September 11, 2009 at 11:21 PM
Shiers just announced that they are signing on Alan Hunt from 11 to 1 after Shiers mon-fri. Huny had a national weekend show on ktth and he's just moved to weeknights. This is the hillbilly-voiced southern dipshit who runs a religion-based talkshow and says "blessings on you" or some such crap when he ends a call.
Posted by: Tommy008 | September 11, 2009 at 11:34 PM
so at 11 p.m - the jackass will make way for the dipshit.........
Posted by: Tommy008 | September 11, 2009 at 11:41 PM
@Bezerker
Don't troll Frank Shiers. He had nothing to do with the decision to cancel the TBTL broadcast. You'll just be venting at a decent guy who had no say in the decision.
Send a polite, well-written email to Rod Arquette ([email protected]). Yelling at him will not accomplish anything. Then be done with it, and support the TBTL podcast.
Frank Shiers doesn't offer what drew me to KIRO. Neither will I listen to Alan Hunt if he's following along. While he's better than the tedious radio of Phil Hendrie, no way.
Posted by: Jonathan | September 12, 2009 at 01:43 AM
Don't even mention Styble. That nightmare is over, for good I hope!
Posted by: Rich | September 12, 2009 at 07:21 AM
Finally someone woke up @ KIRO. Luke, is talent but not strong enough to carry a show for 3 hours, Jen didn't belong on the air or hosting a show it's too bad she's losing her job cause of this. I have 1 basic rule as customer of a broadcast product-Inform & entertain, TBTL did neither.
Posted by: www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1198450166 | September 12, 2009 at 10:33 AM
I'm a 48-year-old who'll also really miss this show. I was such a loyal KIRO listener for years. Used to love Dori but that was back when he had more of his Cashman influence still lingering and had some "never know what's next" fun appeal. Now he's just a political mouthpiece and it's boring. I also used to like Ron & Don (when they were doing weekends at KJR) but they too are now unlistenable. (Ron's actually good -- it's Don that's the problem.)
I did happen upon KOMO last night and it was great to hear Gary Burleigh (formerly known as KJR's Gary Shannon) doing the news. He was very engaging and it reminded me of when he and Norm Gregory were doing Levity Limelight back in the day.
I'm just really tired of all the political back-biting destroy-each-other crap and wish that radio would just fucking get it out of its system. I'm pretty pissed at Bonneville.
Posted by: David M | September 12, 2009 at 12:27 PM
Talk radio wasnt a big deal until the 80's when Rush got the ball rolling. Looking at the ratings, maybe this was only supposed to last a generation, and radio will go back to music, news headlines and the weather/traffic.
Posted by: sparky | September 12, 2009 at 01:09 PM
I enjoyed TBTL. Everything else on Seattle radio basically sounds the same, Luke's show stood out. Apparently not in a good way for an older audience, but I thought it was interesting. Has to be difficult doing a night radio show when most people are watching TV.
Maybe one of the NPR stations will pick up his show. That seems like a better place for it.
Overall, I think KIRO has become a station that's easy to dismiss. And the Gregg and Jane combo is dull.
Posted by: NoBS | September 12, 2009 at 02:12 PM
I suspect that Luke was dead man walking after the Priceless Granite folks demanded a penalty of peine forte et dure against him.
Posted by: woody held | September 12, 2009 at 04:30 PM
Don't know if you saw the show last nite (on web-cam), but it appeared they were drinking something other than soft-drinks.
If it were my station THAT w/have been their last show...period, even if it wasn't predetermined. There would be NO drinking on any station that I ran or owned.
Posted by: Duffman | September 12, 2009 at 06:02 PM
As a gen x political junkie; being forced to listen through three hours per night of this absolute drivel of nightly weigh ins and the such was without question a fate worse than death. We the civic minded thoughtful people of Seattle would like our KIRO radio station back on Monday September 14 please.
Posted by: William J Harrison | September 12, 2009 at 06:04 PM
This is so depressing. TBTL was refreshingly different. Now, F Shiers? They lost me.
Posted by: kittymunch | September 12, 2009 at 08:05 PM
Bring back Goldy.
Posted by: mark | September 12, 2009 at 09:59 PM
TBTL was such a putrid radio show it was painful. KIRO performed a mercy killing and put Luke Burbank out of his misery.
Posted by: mrogi | September 12, 2009 at 10:50 PM
^^^ it's still produced as a podcast you illiterate dumbfuck
Posted by: AuthenticAndrew | September 13, 2009 at 05:02 AM
Man, I had dropped off the face of the earth for half a month, and I come back and TBTL is gone!
I was a lazy ten. Sorry, but without an mp3 player, podcasts are too much work. I miss TBTL. Listening at night, I'd frequently leave KIRO on the radio, and get the great morning news show. I'd always turn off Dave Ross at 9 though. Maybe he should retire and they should let TBTL take the golden spot on radio.
Posted by: Papa Ford | September 29, 2009 at 04:47 PM
I was in newspapers when they were dying. This reminds me of that. Others will rise.
Posted by: sid | October 07, 2009 at 10:00 PM