Peter Smyth’s ‘Tell’
by Brian Maloney, October 20th, 2009 at 11:25am
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Whether Peter Smyth is a decent poker player is unknown, but in the game of broadcasting, he’s just given away his hand. The Greater Media CEO is quoted in today’s Boston Herald as saying he won’t take another stab at bringing Howie Carr to long-suffering WTKK.
That’s a classic “tell”: making it clear he’s not going to invest the time and energy it takes to finally bring success to the struggling FM talker. Peter’s clearly given up.
Smyth’s stubbornness has held back the station for a decade as his own personal programming preferences trump what’s best for the station. When his friends (Mike Barnicle, Don Imus, etc) are bumped from the lineup, it’s usually because a (suddenly endangered) lower-level manager put up a fight and won.
There’s little doubt he despises Carr’s conservative stances, but was temporarily convinced Howie was needed to save the station from ruin.
From his political contributions (and love for Barnicle, etc), one can see that Smyth is a firm believer in our state’s corrupt ruling political establishment. Until he’s out of the picture (most likely never), WTKK probably doesn’t stand a chance.
There are other Peter Smyths in broadcasting, executives who try and fail at force-feeding unpopular talk programming to an unwilling listenership, but he’s a great deal more secure in his position than the others, who often eventually fade from the scene.
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Entry Filed under: Howie Carr, Uncategorized, WTKK
40 Comments Add your own
1. Cap'n Spackle | October 20th, 2009 at 1:02 pm
I think they should change the name to Worse Media.
What genius decided that they should take their best conservative host completely off morning drive and stick him on midday when his audience is working, and at the same time put the unlistenable Two Chicks Dishing on in morning drive?
2. piratetoby | October 20th, 2009 at 1:26 pm
Cap’n: There is NO way on earth you can be referring to Michael Graham Crackers. I had his show on for a bit this morning. He is just a complete and total lunatic. And he’s really taking on a very creepy vibe with his lame attempt to bring anything sexy into the discussion. He is sounding more and more like a closeted perv. The whole discussion about the tree-house guy……me thinks Graham Crackers doth protest too much.
3. bob | October 20th, 2009 at 3:27 pm
Smyth has become his money. Sad.
You’d think he pull his head out from so many Dem butts, but it’s further proof that liberalism is a mental disorder. Smyth has become one of the “beautiful people” as Howie would say. Maybe he should go buy the Globe. it’s right next door. He could make Barnicle editor in chief. How fitting.
Sad thing is, he probably thinks that would be a great idea! democrats!!! bahhh!!
4. stonecutter | October 20th, 2009 at 4:16 pm
Brian I think you’re 100% correct , this new schedule is going to be the end of talk on 96.9 . There wont be enough listeners left to salvage the brand in a few months .
5. Hoss | October 20th, 2009 at 4:31 pm
Toby - I agree Graham is awful. But I think Cap’n Spackle’s overall point was that moving a conservative to a time when most are at work (and/or listening to Rush) is not exactly the best move.
6. Cap'n Spackle | October 20th, 2009 at 5:03 pm
Hey Pirate, to each his own. I agree with our 41st president that the lib-talkers are “sick puppies”, so we aren’t going to see eye to eye on this.
That said, I haven’t heard MG since they moved him to the later slot. Even before that I didn’t catch more than the first few minutes unless I was running late and flipped on 96.9 at 9 AM after that idiot Imus was over.
7. Anti Brian | October 20th, 2009 at 5:42 pm
Oh Brian you are so right. Peter Smyth, who runs one of the most profitable private radio groups in the country, is a liberal who lets his personal beliefs program one of his radio stations. Therefore, it is no surprise to anyone that WTKK broadcasts more than 80 hours a week of far right wing radio.
The problem with WTKK is Sevrin, Graham and the women with a face for radio and voice for newspapers. Not your fantasy that Smyth lets his political views dictate what gets on the air.
I have known Smyth since he was the GM of WMJX. He is foremost a broadcaster and a businessman not a political propagandist like yourself.
8. New York Pizza | October 20th, 2009 at 6:24 pm
That is definitely one creepy forced smile Peter Smyth is expressing in that pic above.
It seems quite compatible with Braude’s constant, haughty facial expression of smelling something foul, along with Braude’s beady apple seed-like eyes (please put some eyeglasses on, Braude) and his excessively long what’s-left-of-his hair (get a haircut please, Braude.)
“Let’s see: I’m losing my hair, so I’ll grow what’s left of it longer, even though it will look like fungus from a distance. If Chuck Todd having a goatee that looks like a ring of fungus around his mouth is acceptable, then this should be, also.”
9. piratetoby | October 20th, 2009 at 6:50 pm
That is a creepy smile.
Braude’s hair can easily be fixed. It’s not that it’s too long, it’s too heavy. What he should have Alfred do is keep the length, and thin it out by layering it. The layers will be wavy, rather than kinky, and he’ll be fungus free.
Let’s see if the Big Guy takes my suggestion.
10. Burlgurl | October 20th, 2009 at 6:55 pm
Toby - youre right about Grahams creepiness - hes become as sleazy as Jay Severin used to be. Check out what he has on his blog:
What’s wrong with “teens” or “boobs?”
In fact, when you put them together, they’re great!
Doesnt he have a teenage daughter? I feel sorry for her.
11. piratetoby | October 20th, 2009 at 7:58 pm
Yes! I heard that, too, BG!! The “teen” “boob” thing. I was shocked, and I don’t shock easily. I couldn’t believe my ears……and the whole time he’s complaining about the tree-house guy being a creepy perv! Hey, Graham Cracker…..look in the mirror. There’s one creepy perv for ya!
12. WRKO Staffer | October 21st, 2009 at 7:03 am
I have long called Graham kind of creepy on this board. Magpie once even made fun of his behavior during the little chat transition from E&B to Graham’s show. They were talking about Graham appearing at some event or something where he would be with women and Magpie said something like, “are you going to go jamming your tougue down their throats”
However, ultimately the worst thing about Graham though is his show. How many times has he done the elderly driver topic. Ok, when it was front and center in the news, I guess it was good for a day or three yet Graham still does elderly driver shows. Also, his delivery is so hyped up. I mean, I will say that he is not McPhee bad but he is getting there.
13. bob | October 21st, 2009 at 7:09 am
Hey Anti Brian,
If Smyth is such a great broadcaster and businessman, why has TKK always been in the toilet? Why has it never gotten off the ground and become a player? There’s no doubt Smyth’s political views have gotten in the way of TKK’s efforts to win a decent share of the market.
A great broadcaster and businessman would be able to develop a winning strategy and FIGHT for his share of the pie with innovation, clever marketing, and most of all, creating an excellent product. Smyth failed at all 3. So now (like most Democrats) he’ll blame the failure on someone or something else.
14. Cricket | October 21st, 2009 at 7:32 am
I am with staffer, Graham has gone downhill because of his delivery. Stop yelling already! Calm down.
I miss the Imus show because of the national discussions and the guests. I am still listening and do like E&B but not in place of Imus.
15. Cricket | October 21st, 2009 at 7:36 am
uh oh…I wonder if Jimmy Myers will continue his support of this bum. Did any of you hear the show when Jimmy had him on? This news makes me happy.
“Albert Arroyo, 46, was charged in federal court with fraud involving his applications for accidental disability pensions, the U.S. Attorney’s office in Boston said Wednesday.”
16. swami | October 21st, 2009 at 9:31 am
Michael Graham has a girly voice, which seems to be a requirement to work in the Boston radio market(see: WEEI midday).
17. piratetoby | October 21st, 2009 at 10:48 am
Imus? National discussions? Imus does nothing but bitch about his staff, talks about his cancer and blathers on and on about some Deidre or Wyatt related story of no interest. Oh and the music. Van Morrisson, Levon Helm…..yeah, we get it Don. You like them.
The only discussions I hear on Imus’ show is Imus discussing himself. Old, cranky self-absorbed, self-centered and mean.
And guests? What guests? His guest list evaporated when he was fired. He’s gone way beyond his time. He loses his train of thought and is just painful to listen to. Awful.
18. Cricket | October 21st, 2009 at 10:51 am
hey sunshine…who DO you like to listen to? bitch bitch bitch
19. piratetoby | October 21st, 2009 at 11:48 am
Who do I enjoy listening to? Anyone who makes it easy for me to poke fun at, including you.
Imus and national discussions. Yeah, that’s a good one. You’re a laugh riot, Cricket.
Maybe I’ll tune into Shaughnessey and find out what day of the week Brady and Giselle are allowed to have sex, per Belichek’s (sp?) orders.
Wait…..you must know already, right?
20. Cricket | October 21st, 2009 at 12:03 pm
I don’t think you will find Shaughnessy discussing Brady’s sex life. He is not obsessed with such issues the way you are desperado!
Laugh riot? I will add that to my list of stupid sayings. I bet you also say “ummm…k” as well? And then there is “me thinks Graham Crackers doth protest…”
poke
21. Jim | October 21st, 2009 at 12:24 pm
piratetoby are you really a chick?
22. piratetoby | October 21st, 2009 at 12:40 pm
“ummm….k”? I don’t even know what that means, never mind say it.
Don’t you have some smiley faces to go along with your posts?
By the way, where has your alter-ego “whatever” gone? Figures you’d chose the #1 most annoying word/phrase in the English language as a moniker. No one over the age of 13 uses “whatever”….. me thinks you’d be better off on some “tween” blog. I’m sure you’d feel right at home there AND you’d be able to find something better than my deplorable “laugh riot” to add to your list of stupid sayings.
Oh, and those little tweens just love smiley faces!!
23. Cap'n Spackle | October 21st, 2009 at 12:43 pm
17. piratetoby | October 21st, 2009 at 10:48 am
Dittoes.
24. piratetoby | October 21st, 2009 at 12:44 pm
Jim: I don’t have any feathers attached, so the answer is no.
25. WRKO Staffer | October 22nd, 2009 at 9:16 am
I can’t see E&B’s brand of issues orientated fluff doing well with morning listeners. It will be very intersesting. Anyway, I think Toucher and Rich got the funniest morning show. Listening to E&B try to be funny (i.e. “The Jewish Hammer”) is very sad.
26. Cricket | October 22nd, 2009 at 11:23 am
It’s the “Hebrew Hammer”, and still not funny. I did enjoy hearing Ron Insana on the program this morning.
27. Dr. Quincy, M.E. | October 22nd, 2009 at 6:19 pm
BREAKING WTKK NEWS: Jay now gets to voice an ad for some “Green Light” procedure that cures male “frequent urination.”
28. Dr. Quincy, M.E. | October 22nd, 2009 at 6:29 pm
I AM glad Shaughnessy has a radio show now on 98.5.
There’s been too much Theo (Dude looks like and has hands like a lady) Epstein a_s kissing in this market. Maybe Giselle could take lessons from Theo on how to feminize her face.
Danny From Quincy could do a better job talking sports than most of these guys on the radio.
“The Danny From Quincy and Mustard Show?”
29. Dr. Quincy, M.E. | October 22nd, 2009 at 6:31 pm
Hey pirate: Did you say you are a dog?… What breed?
30. Karl from Malden | October 22nd, 2009 at 7:23 pm
I though the Hebrew Hammer was funny, but then again I’m Jewish with a very juvenile sense of humor.
31. WRKO Staffer | October 22nd, 2009 at 8:34 pm
Jewish Hammer…sorry about that one. Still not funny either way. I don’t know, Magpie seems kind of groggy at the early hour. The show kind of seems a little off kilter and unsure of itself in its new time slot.
32. piratetoby | October 23rd, 2009 at 10:46 am
Dr.: How kind of you to lure me back in. Really. This site is losing it’s sense of “joie de vivre” for me. Not too long ago, the original Celtic Frost posted on other sites associated with hate, disgusting terms used to describe Obama, women, shooting and violence against others. He also went by James Huberty and Dwight Mann.
Anyway, I find this intolerable. Cricket here also posts regularly on another site where this kind of talk is acceptable, however she uses another name. It was posted here and I followed up on it (really easy) on line.
Anyway, people like her suck the fun and the life out of a good blog. Yet she continue to post. Why? Who wants to converse with someone who blogs with racists? Not I.
33. Cricket | October 23rd, 2009 at 11:39 am
I suck the fun out of this site because I have a differing opinion than yours? Wow who knew I had such power! Grace
34. piratetoby | October 23rd, 2009 at 12:52 pm
A differing opinion from mine has nothing to do with sucking the fun out of a site. You suck the fun out of this site by posting inane, stupid, fact-less bull**** and never back up your “opinions” and then blame others when they call you out on it.
You blog with people who call Obama racists names, then come here and post how annoying it is for you to be thought of as racist.
You call me Grace when the only thing “Grace” had to do with you was post your screen name way back when.
Don’t kid yourself- you have no power. You’re just an annoying pest, d-nozzle, with nothing to contribute. Your life must be so unbelievabley boring to feel compelled to post here. Get a life you loser. Serial blogger with NOTHING to say. Go and hang with the racist garbage and stop pretending you’re not one of them by posting here. Pathetic loser.
35. Jim from Boston | October 24th, 2009 at 7:44 am
On October 22nd, 2009 at 7:23 pm,
Karl from Malden wrote:
“I thought the Hebrew Hammer was funny, but then again I’m Jewish with a very juvenile sense of humor.”
Great screen name! That movie was pretty funny. I liked the part where the leading lady asked the Hammer to talk dirty to her.
36. piratetoby | October 24th, 2009 at 12:15 pm
What movie, JFB?
I have a true life story about a man we nicknamed “The Hammer”. Yes, he was Hebrew, and his last name began with the letter “H”, but the reason he for his nickname was: if he wanted to see you (fly to NY), or if he was coming to Boston to see you, it was clear what the outcome would be- The “Hammer” pounded the nails into your methphorical coffin. Quite simply, a request to see the Hammer meant you could begin to clean out your desk.
37. Jim from Boston | October 26th, 2009 at 7:03 am
Hi piratetoby,
“What movie, JFB?”
From Wkipedia:
“The Hebrew Hammer is a film that was released in 2003. It stars Adam Goldberg, Judy Greer, Andy Dick, Mario Van Peebles, and Peter Coyote. The plot concerns a Jewish superhero known as The Hebrew Hammer who must save Hanukkah from the evil son of Santa Claus who wants to destroy Hanukkah and make everyone celebrate Christmas. The film parodies blaxploitation films; and features Melvin Van Peebles in a cameo as “Sweetback”. Director Jonathan Kesselman has jokingly dubbed it the first “Jewsploitation”, or the first Jewish exploitation film ever.”
BTW, Karl from Malden. I mentioned your screen name to three people this weekend, two of them from Malden, and I had to explain it to all of them. Do I need to get a life, or do they?
38. piratetoby | October 26th, 2009 at 10:03 am
JFB: thanks….I just looked it up on IMB. Sounds v. funny. I’ll have to rent it and watch with a friend. A Jewish friend.
And, here’s a tip: never talk about screen names or mention time spent here or any other on-line blogs to “lay” people. They may not say it, but you can see it in their eyes, “get a life”. I consider it a guilty pleasure and keep it to myself.
When it comes revealing information about yourself to others and doing your own thing, here’s some words to live by: “Never complain and never explain”.
39. Jim from Boston | October 26th, 2009 at 10:20 am
“When it comes revealing information about yourself to others and doing your own thing, here’s some words to live by: “Never complain and never explain”.”
I’ve heard this quote attributed to several people, including Benjamin Disraeli and Katherine Hepburn. The first time was the funniest though when this was the response of Henry Ford II when he was asked about being caught with hic mistress in a traffic violation.
40. piratetoby | October 26th, 2009 at 11:03 am
Add Wallis Simpson and Joseph P. Kennedy to that list.
Considering Henry Ford II’s reputation, do you think he was the first who “did it” in the backseat?
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