The F-List
by Brian Maloney, July 5th, 2007 at 01:37pm
In recent days, I’ve been hearing a lot of grumbling about the quality of this summer’s fill-in “talent”, particularly in Boston. It seems just about anybody with a pulse and functioning vocal cords has been summoned to plug schedule holes.
At first, I didn’t think it was any worse than in the past several years, but a couple of particular situations have me rethinking that stance.
For one, some were chuckling over WRKO running a “best-of” Finneran show yesterday. I’d hate to be the guy in charge of finding Tommy Tune Out’s “best” segments. Give him a raise!
Sadly, this is a nationwide problem and certainly not new. Because the radio industry isn’t forward-thinking, there isn’t much of a talk “bench” waiting in the wings to take over. During holiday periods, this weakness becomes especially apparent.
And in Boston, a rigid and provincial media environment is especially damaging, as it means we’re saddled with the same people shuffling from one station to another. Because some have been recycled so many times, the results are unlistenable.
In particular, we’ve seen some downright ancient voices of Boston’s past, including long-forgotten DJs and others taking shifts. How did the standards fall so low?
Maybe it really does get worse every year.
Entry Filed under: General
3 Comments
1. Slotto | July 5th, 2007 at 2:52 pm
It could be worse: they could hire Scott Miller to fill-in. “Been there, done that” — and that would REALLY, REALLY be bad radio.
Fake Latino and Indian accents only get a host so far, after that their abject lack of talent leaks through like sunshine through a sieve.
I am waiting for the resurrection of Pat Whitley.
But I do need to give a shout out to Mariellen Burns: she is good and drop-dead gorgeous!!!
2. Chris | July 5th, 2007 at 9:53 pm
WEEI used Tom Caron on its mid-day show…he of the irritating, nasaly voice heard on NESN. And if he wasn’t irritating enough, Tom decided to flex his ‘media hack’ muscles and step all over callers and his co-host. Unlistenable radio at its worst.
3. THE REAL NOT AN RKO EMPLOYEE | July 6th, 2007 at 5:55 am
I HEAR B1 BOB DORNAN IS AVAIALBLE FOR FILL IN WORK ANYTIME ANYWHERE.
HE WOULD BE A NICE SALVO TO THE ULTRA LEFT WING
SUBVERSIVVE ELEMENT THAT IS LIKE A CANCER INSIDE THE 5th ESTATE.