WRKO’s Phony “Examination Of Issues”
by Brian Maloney, January 30th, 2008 at 08:42am
Don’t be fooled by WRKO’s sudden concern for on-air ethics, reputation and integrity. If any of these mattered to Entercom, The Felon never would have been hired in the first place.
It’s simply a way to provide an easy excuse for an exit that was likely already planned.
Here’s Coffee sounding concerned:
WRKO brass are taking a hard look at Tom Finneran’s new lobbying gig and whether it will “negatively” impact his role as the news talk station’s morning-drive host.
“We’re examining all of the issues implicated by Tom’s potential lobbying activities to ensure that his effectiveness as a talk-show host has not been and will not be negatively impacted,” WRKO (680 AM) Program Director Jason Wolfe said in an e-mail last night.
Finneran set up the firm because he knows he’s leaving, not to create any conflict of interest. And even if he did remain on the air, what would be the difference? It was already a Beacon Hill suck-up fest even before the new racket was cooked up.
All of this is about creating a face-saving exit strategy for both Tom Finneran and David Field, the Entercom CEO who forced the corrupt former speaker onto the airwaves.
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8 Comments
1. bjd | January 30th, 2008 at 9:10 am
AM Drive with Reese or Claprood. Better yet, put them together and watch the ratings soar!
Ratings driven radio I tell you!
2. Barbara | January 30th, 2008 at 9:37 am
Claprood makes my ears bleed, Reese is too hyper, yep, that would make excellent radio!
Does anyone know how Claprood is doing, last I heard she was pretty ill.
Has anyone heard the promo lately for the felon and his trip to Alaska in June. I don’t remember when I heard it last, maybe last week?
3. Jim from Boston | January 30th, 2008 at 10:18 am
I heard a promo this morning (1/30).
4. Skunky | January 30th, 2008 at 12:10 pm
The Felon is a total disgrace…I just can’t wait ’til he goes…and I don’t even listen to boring WRKO anymore. WTTT was the FIRST station to really show me highly intellectual radio…I used to like to listen to “Eagan and Braude” ’til I found Dennis Prager…then I realized how fluffy and devoid they are (Braude is VERY good at what he does…Eagan is a moron and I wonder how some wishy-washy know nothing can have TWO careers…perhaps I should ask Mike Barnicle?)…but now that is gone for me in Boston. It sucks!
Why was the re-introduction of Claprood and Whitley (re-introduced a few years back) so short-lived?
Michael Graham is the only big local radio show I thoroughly enjoy. I just can’t get into Rush even thou’ I like him. When The Felon goes it will just be some vapid, crap show in his stead. I am thinking of listening to NPR again…yes, I dislike their political leanings, but at least their entertainment pieces are VERY interesting.
5. BigBish | January 30th, 2008 at 12:58 pm
I can only hope for a glass smashing incident, although I’m sure they would love to usher his ass out the door.
6. Barbara | January 30th, 2008 at 1:16 pm
Skunky I think the Whitley/Claprood resurrection fell by the wayside because Claprood was always taking the day off, remember they were only on Saturdays for a few hours and there were stretches where she wasn’t around,,,,not sure if that’s when she became ill.
7. Jim from Boston | January 30th, 2008 at 1:47 pm
Hi Skunky,
I totally agree with you about Dennis Prager (and add Hugh Hewitt). I am so bummed about WTTT. In the early morning I would bounce between Coast to Coast on WRKO if it got too weird, and Steve Leveille of WBZ if he got too much into “happy talk,” and Mike Reagan on WTTT if he got too pompous.
Fortunately, if you can, the WTTT hosts are online with up to date archives at http://www.townhall.com.
Finally, my recollection is that the Clapprood / Whitley Saturday reunion was just last year, or does time really fly when you’re having fun? I still LOL at a post sometime ago that Whitley’s Restaurant Show appeals to older ladies who think Hearth and Kettle is fine dining, but man, I sure would have liked to have gone on that Queen Mary Cruise. BTW, does any one remember the Sunday afternoon travel show, by Garber Travel I think, that WRKO had on Sundays? It was long before even Spencer Hughes.
8. John | January 30th, 2008 at 8:39 pm
The fact that Finneran is lobbying should come as no surprise. In late 2006 - the day Finneran was hired - he appeared on the Howie Carr show. This was the infamous exchange where he brought a hatchet into the studio so they could metaphorically bury it. In this interview Howie asked what sounded to be a soft ball question asking Finneran if he would pledge to stop lobbying while on the air at WRKO. Finneran responded that he would consider all opportunities presented to him and not lock himself out from anything - or something similar. Howie seemed shocked by the answer and asked again. Finneran again said that it would not be out of the question.
No surprise. He mentioned it on day one of his employment by Entercom.