WTKK’s Core Problems: Can They Be Fixed?
by Brian Maloney, November 6th, 2009 at 03:45pm
In recent months, I’ve heard from so many frustrated would-be or one-time WTKK listeners who don’t understand Greater Media’s Refusal To Succeed Syndrome (also known as WOR Disease).
Clearly, there is pent-up demand for an issues-centered local FM talk station with compelling programming, but dysfunctional WTKK has never been able to meet the need. The result: a dismal fifteenth-place showing.
Many of WTKK’s weaknesses have been discussed here before, but one item in yesterday’s Herald hammered home a biggie: a general lack of buzz generated by its key weekday hosts.
Why are we again reading about one of its weekend talkers, a credibility-challenged cartoon character with one foot out the door as he seeks public office? Hey, it’s not his fault, he’s managed to get into some kind of a tiff with fading talk fossil Don Imus.
Part of the problem is the controversy-adverse nature of Greater Media’s top management. They aren’t willing to make waves. Hosts who try to generate attention tend to get their necks chopped off.
Another key issue: a longstanding inability to connect with the average talk radio fan.
Working people in distant suburbs? As far as the company is concerned, they’re chumps. Unfortunately for Greater Media, they also represent the backbone of talk radio listenership.
To these frustrated taxpayers, the re-election of Mayor For Life Menino in Boston is a distant and curious oddity, not a cause for celebration. Rather than ready to reward Martha Coakley for doing absolutely nothing by handing her a US Senate term, they’d prefer to check out the candidates, Republicans included.
Unless the listener happens to work in Boston itself, the city is little more than a place to catch a ballgame, flight or perhaps a quick visit for an occasional cannoli run. Weekends are tied up with soccer games and running errands.
City politics? They couldn’t care less.
Beacon Hill? It’s home to crooks, not a place for elite social events.
Until Greater Media makes a commitment to grasp these basic concepts, this is about the best WTKK can do.
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44 Comments Add your own
1. stonecutter | November 6th, 2009 at 4:42 pm
Wow one time I actually agree with Imus, “That Guy” is like listening to the cheap windbag at every coffee shop who only glances at the headlines of the papers and thinks he’s an expert up to date on todays news.
I rarely go to Boston and could live my life happily if I never heard from or about Menino again. Bostonians voted him in, they deserve him.
Seems to me that TKK’s talent is not very talented. Not only are the shows very repetitive in themselves but they run nearly the same topics all day. Much like my computer has replaced newspapers and the evening news, I don’t have much use for local talk that doesn’t offer new information or any really clever insight to the stories.
I know I’ve said this before but I’d rather listen to a good national show then a crappy local show.
2. Dr. Quincy, M.E. | November 6th, 2009 at 4:47 pm
Off-topic but:
Representative Lynch:
I urge you to vote “No” on H.R. 3962, the so-called “Affordable Health Care for America Act.”
This bill includes changes which empower the I.R.S. to monitor Americans’ health insurance coverage and to fine those individuals who opt to be without said coverage. This is unconstitutional and must be defeated.
I have voted for Democrats, including you, in the past, but President Obama is taking our country in the wrong direction, as many remain unemployed and his administration appears rife with corruption. We wanted change after the Bush Administration, but not a neo-Marxist agenda prevailing in the White House and Congress.
I look forward to your “No” vote on H.R. 3962. Thank you for your attention.
Sincerely, (Voter’s name)
3. Dr. Quincy, M.E. | November 6th, 2009 at 4:58 pm
Isn’t WTKK earning enough revenue from those who pay to put their show on the air in order to do their own selling of ads to air during their show or to promote their own product/service (e.g., Mel Robbins, Rick Shaffer, Phantom Gourmet, The Sports Huddle, The Prime Time Car Hour?)
I assume Ligotti either pays for his air time or he works gratis so he can self-promote… Uggghh.
4. piratetoby | November 6th, 2009 at 5:03 pm
What is this, Doctor? Did you draft it? Stephen Lynch is not my rep. anyway, but what’s with the “neo-Marxist agenda” lingo?
Doesn’t the IRS ask about insurance coverage on your tax return? No, I’m wrong, it’s the MA DOR that asks.
Yeah, I don’t want the IRS to go poking into tax returns. I’m not feeling good about this health care plan. If there’s no public option, in my opinion, throw the whole damn thing out.
5. Dr. Quincy, M.E. | November 6th, 2009 at 5:13 pm
pirate: I modified a template letter and sent it to my U.S. Rep., Stephen Lynch. The “neo-Marxist agenda” language I believe is commensurate.
http://www.defendyourhealthcare.us/images/THE_NEW_HOUSE_BILL_HR_3962_1_.pdf
The more oppostion that President Obama and Sen. Reed/Rep. Pelosi (and their allies)experience in general, the more difficult it will also be for the President to grant amnesty to illegal aliens.
6. Cap'n Spackle | November 6th, 2009 at 5:17 pm
Ligotti is seeking public office!?!? All a potential opponent would have to do is point to one of his videos and it’s Campaign Over.
Quincy, good job! This government expansion has to be stopped.
7. Cap'n Spackle | November 6th, 2009 at 5:24 pm
Quincy, the hard-left isn’t comfortable with your terminology. I love how they come up with euphemisms like “public option”. The “option” is that the government “opts” to step in and compete directly with insurance companies, except the government uses “its” money (taken from you and I by force) and uses it to drive insurance companies out of the health insurance business by offering prices that no company can compete with, and pretty soon there’s only one health insurance company left: ObamaRx. Yeah, some “option”.
8. New York Pizza | November 6th, 2009 at 5:49 pm
Even though it’s his shtick, Imus is correct about Ligotti. The guy just gets work appearing because of his agent and the fact that time needs to be filled where he appears.
9. Karl from Malden | November 6th, 2009 at 6:45 pm
radio to me should be entertaining first and foremost. I seek my news and info from other sources…not from opinions on talk radio. I like the big guy’s show on the weekend, it doesn’t try and be pretensious like some of the weekday shows. It’s 2 guys chewing the fat (bad pun) on a variety of issues and having a few laughs doing it. That’s all…I don’t watch Transformers expecting Schindler’s list…but I like them both for vastly different reasons.
10. Marco | November 6th, 2009 at 8:01 pm
Brian Maloney is spot on with WTKK’s problems. Michelle McPretend to be the pulse of Boston was practically orgasmic on Boston’s Mayoral election eve. You know WTKK’s producers pumped her up for that show egging her on as the “feet on the street”. She ran the gamut from saying there was voter fraud on a large scale to (with an hour left) saying that Flaherty’s camp is calling the vote a dead heat. Picture a horse race announcer calling a turtle race and trying to make it exciting.
Her calling in from a static laced cellphone while people yelled in the background while she breathlessly tried to make this appealing to people living outside of Boston was really bad theater.
Liggoti? Trying to parlay his viral/nasty rantings on YouTube into a radio career? Now he is “the big tough guy with the soft heart”. Pathetic. I understand that radio personalities do put on some sort of persona but these hosts all seemed forced and the fake/phonyness seeps right through the radio speaker. No wonder the ratings are in the toilet.
11. piratetoby | November 7th, 2009 at 1:01 am
My turn for off topic:
Don’t know if it’s the end of a shitty week, but the Fort Hood tragedy has hit me especially hard. The sadness I feel is unspeakable.
Well, for s few short minutes my sadness was replaced by sheer joy. Anyone familiar w/Boston rock will remember the Pixies. Just when they seemed to “make it”, the frontman Frank Black went out on his own. That was the end of the band, or so I thought until tonight. The Pixies were on Conan O’Brien singing “Here Comes Your Man”. What a sheer delight. And God knows, I needed it.
I’m sure someone here remembers the Pixies. Yes?
Good night my cyber friends. Tomorrow is a new day and I wish you all your own personal “Pixie” moment.
12. bob | November 7th, 2009 at 7:15 am
Dear WTKK,
Boston needs a great rock station with real people on the air, not some formatted, corporate, adolescent Worcester crap like WAAF. So, why not save the frequency and your reputation for being “excellent broadcasters” and deliver the goods? Toss the failed TALK format!
My fear is that a rock format in the hands of programmer Buzz Knight will be about as exciting as the current talk lineup. Must be something in the water on Morrissey Blvd!
13. Charlie | November 7th, 2009 at 8:02 pm
What could be more fun than watching two failing-to-be-funny radio blobs going at each other?
The Fat Guy From Boston is an empty shell of where a human ought to be. “Joe & Huggy” couldn’t be any more unlistenable if it were Menino reading Shakespeare.
Imus lost his fastball years ago. He used to be funny, but the marriage to the insufferable “expert on everything and hotter than you” Diedre emasculated him. Or maybe it was the vegetarian diet she forces down his gullet.
The “nappy headed hos” incident brought him to full castration. He’s just not funny anymore. And neither are his affirmative-action comedians.
Rob Bartlett is the only bright spot left, but I’m no longer willing to listen to the endless series of ads and un-funny schtick to wait for him.
Imus should have paid attention to Johnny Carson as he went out on top of his game and learned the lesson.
14. Joe Perry | November 8th, 2009 at 1:28 pm
How long had Dennis Miller been on RKO? I am listening right now and the signal is quite good. Put him on during the week LIVE and I will listen.
15. Mr. Pragmatic | November 8th, 2009 at 2:40 pm
So much for the letter to Rep. Lynch, huh? I guess one could take solace in the fact that he voted differently on the amendment re: abortion than the rest of his MA brethren.
On to the Senate for more fun and hijinx.
16. Dr. Quincy, M.E. | November 8th, 2009 at 4:50 pm
And to compound his hideousness, Ligotti apparently is not wearing an undershirt in the pic above. It also looks somewhat effeminate. I NEED to see the bare skin above his cleavage? Ligotti claims to have a “special needs” child but I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s a fabrication as part of his “character development.”
So, Obama allows G.W. Bush to visit the survivors of the Ft Hood massacre before he does as Pres? Obama was too busy lobbying undecideds for Obama Care instead of visiting the victims?
17. susan mcbride | November 8th, 2009 at 5:41 pm
the whole ligotti thing is lame,,,,,,,he is a fat slob………….but michael graham is nuts, and sounds like he is on meth.,
18. susan mcbride | November 8th, 2009 at 5:43 pm
imus is so oldllllllllllll he is so,,,,,,,,,,,,,yesterday
19. Jim | November 8th, 2009 at 5:57 pm
Dr., an undershirt? Who still wears undershirts? I will have to take note on my commute tomorrow.
20. piratetoby | November 8th, 2009 at 6:47 pm
Susie Q.: hi sweetiepie- I always agree with your succeinct posts.
Good Gawd, Jim and Doc. Ligotti’s lack of a tee shirt is the LEAST of his problems in that picture. Combat fatiques? Doesn’t standing in front of the American flag suffice for his apparently intended “patriotic” message?
And where in the world is his neck? Look at the size of his jowls? What’s he hiding in there, the Lindburg baby?
I happened to hear him for a few minutes this weekend. He is a sloth who revels in his own disgusting pigishness.
Cigar chompin’, lb. of bacon eatin’, faux enlightened, political wannabe, lucky to be workin’, head perfect to place a cocktail on doin’ his “Pope of Grennich Village” routine in the North End.
Speaking of pigishness, did anyone know this past weekend we had a “beaver moon”? Does that tickle anyone else’s funny bone, or just juvenile, dirty minded me?
And Jim here thought I was a chick. Do any chicks here get a giggle out of a “beaver moon”?
21. Cap'n Spackle | November 8th, 2009 at 6:56 pm
Quincy, Zero was too busy pushing the Beltway bandits to pass their sneaky Saturday night Economic Destruction Act of 2009. The MA contingent was reliably socialist and ran the table. Screw them all.
22. Marco | November 9th, 2009 at 6:40 am
I caught a little bit of Piglotti’s show this past weekend. Of course they had to have Dave Andleman call in. Andleman went right into his pitch that Ligotti is “everywhere” these days. “from his feud with Imus to Fox Business channel, to the possibility of him running for office”.
This is kind of scary as WTKK (due to poor ratings) may be looking to chop a head or two and put this giant gas bag in one of those slots. Either that or pair him up with McPhee. Then they can call the show “Two Pigs Dishing”.
Seriously, how do you screw up the most proven formula in the last 20 years (conservative talk) of radio? Doesn’t WTKK understand that their radio personalities are so fake and phony and can be seen through to the point that they are in 15th place? It’s not the time slot, length of commercials, or calling the news “Boston’s Big News”. It’s the force feeding of these light weights (No pun intended to McPhee or Ligotti) as “hip, connected to the soul of Boston or being wild, crazy, chick magnet and Rock n Roll Loving Libertarians”.
23. Karl from Malden | November 9th, 2009 at 8:14 am
I listened to the big guy’s show this weekend and i thought he handled the Imus thing with a lot of class. He was honest and open talking about his weight problems and struggles and basically said he was more offended being called stupid. Don’t get me wrong, some of his videos are just plain drivel but I think on the radio he’s come a long way. I think their weekend show is actually pretty decent…compared to the predictable weekday crap. There’s a lot of hate here towards a guy whose actually tried to better himself than be just a tow truck driver (i think that’s what he does)? Once again, sometimes I like a slice of pizza and sometimes it’s filet mignon…I don’t tune into their show expecting a filet.
24. raccoonradio | November 9th, 2009 at 9:23 am
Miller has been on since the summer, weekends only (I remember tuning in to a bit of him while chowing down on fried clams @ the Clam Box). Often pre-empted for sports. I can’t see them running him live (10a-1p; they have Ingraham and Rush)….tape delayed till 7 pm? Nope, Savage supposedly gets good ratings. 10 pm? They run Doyle instead (maybe they have to run Doyle as part of a deal to run Savage and/or Ingraham)
Enjoy a bit of DM myself when I can, such as when I go to VT via WVMT. “The soup of the day is…”
25. WRKO Staffer | November 9th, 2009 at 9:54 am
The Joe and Huggy show won’t make it another year. Just a prediction. If it does, then I see “Huggy” being put to pasture.
I’m listening to AG Coakley on the J&M show and I think it provides evidence as to some of WTKK’s problems. The AG’s segment is complete softball b.s. They allow the AG to parse things into oblivion, there is lots chummy vibes which indicates to me that it is nothing more than an ass-kissing session. J&M have bought right into the establishment they are supposed to be holding to the fire. Pathetic.
26. WRKO Staffer | November 9th, 2009 at 10:01 am
Also, how can we expect Magpie to put on her “journalist” hat during the upcoming Senatorial debate on the J&M show? It is clear she is completely in the tank for the AG.
27. clarky49 | November 9th, 2009 at 12:15 pm
Ligotti is unlistenable at any weight!!! What an ignorant jerk!!
28. Karl from Malden | November 9th, 2009 at 12:38 pm
I guess I’m the lone one that likes the show. Last time I checked I wasn’t fat or stupid either…hmm maybe I should look again?
29. philw1776 | November 9th, 2009 at 3:20 pm
Fat Joey ‘offended’ at being called stupid? Stupid is as stupid does. UNLISTENABLE.
Although he’s a dyed in the wool moonbat liberal I like Braude’s sense of humor and ability to make a coherent arguement for his positions. But even though his natural liberal ideology is to support incompetents like Coakley and Patrick, he’s a complete softball sellout on those ass kissing segments.
30. Marco | November 9th, 2009 at 3:29 pm
Karl from Malden. Ligotti is nothing but a phony. He isn’t from Boston but rather Hingham. Though his stage act may lead you to believe he’s a salt of the earth/gets his hands dirty type of guy he has a hack job that he got from his hack job father. His old rants on YouTube are not “drivel” but rather highly offensive rants that have no factual basis and are instead designed to be Andrew Dice K. in nature to call attention to himself (the whole act was stolen by a guy called the “kid from Brooklyn”).
Since he got his gig on WTKK, he has softened his approach/act and is now playing the “big gruff but soft-hearted guy from Boston”. Another fake, phony, fraud being sold as something else on the joke of a radio station known as 15th place WTKK.
31. Marco | November 9th, 2009 at 3:38 pm
Just caught a little bit of Severino’s show. He was arguing the point that had all of the soldiers been carrying side arms, this shooting wouldn’t have been as bad. he then alluded to Obama being President as one of the reasons that they weren’t armed. He then went on to say that “during his visits to Army bases way back when all soldiers were armed”. This is a classic example of another fake. phony, fruad, host being perpetuated by WTKK.
Does anyone out there actually beleive that Severin has been anywhere near an Army base ever in his life? If he had, he would know that on base domestically that only officers and military police carry side arms on base. Can anyone even remotley take this station and its hosts seriously? Complete bullcrap is being shoveled out of your radio speakers when tuning in to this failure of a station.
32. Cricket | November 9th, 2009 at 3:51 pm
I thought Jay’s dad was military?
33. susan mcbride | November 9th, 2009 at 5:25 pm
oh……………….pirateboy………………..sigh……………giggle.
34. piratetoby | November 9th, 2009 at 5:34 pm
Polo…I heard a bit of that “arms carrying” logic from Ms. Jay last Friday. Missed it today.
This was the point in the column I referenced earlier today in the Globe regarding the Fairness Doctrine. If Ms. Jay and the rest of the right wing wackos want to spew their inflammatory spin, bringing every friggin’ issue or problem back to Obama, FINE. It’s their right. They can lie, agitate, spin- all in the name of their love for the US.
However, it is only FAIR that those who oppose, question, beg to differ, etc., be allowed to express themselves. Pose a question and expect a reasonable answer. Not a condescending, snarky response. Not a typical and nasty “you must be a liberal” retort.
This never-ending conservative talk radio is just spoon feeding people what they want to hear. Hey, it’s gotta be true, Rush said it, right? I heard Jay Severin on the radio, he’s the man, it’s gotta be gospel, right? What a bunch of idiots we have in this country. Best and brightest…..my ass.
Then ask one of them for the basis of what they “think”. Forget it. They can’t answer. They have NO BASIS, because they’re just repeating what they heard.
Look no further than this very blog.
I enjoy a debate based on facts. I love nothing better than to have a debate with a conservative who can make a valid and factual point. THAT’S HOW WE LEARN.
But I will be damned, it’s tough to find anyone respectful enough, and informed enough to engage with. And, to be fair, I have looney left friends who do the same thing. And I refuse to debate with them, too. God forbid if I mention a disappointment in Obama around them. They give me the “Patrick Henry” treatment.
Ok….I’m getting too far off topic……what is the topic?
35. Marco | November 9th, 2009 at 6:02 pm
“Spoon feeding them what they want to hear” its the simplest money making formula in talk radio and yet WTKK screws it up.
36. Marco | November 9th, 2009 at 6:21 pm
One day, Jay’s dad is in the military, the next he was working at the NHL’s headquarters where, as a child, Jay met Gordie Howe, etc. then the next day, Jay’s father was marching for civil rights in the 1960’s. His fathers fake bio is almost as colorful as Jays. I have no idea how Jay manages to keep all the lies straight.
37. Dr. Quincy, M.E. | November 9th, 2009 at 7:13 pm
Those (men) who prefer to avoid a sleazy look, protect their clothing, and realize more comfort still wear (100% cotton) undershirts.
Has President Obama praised and visited Officer Munley yet for subduing Hasan (Fort Hood) or is he waiting for the best time to say “Officer Munley acted stupidly?”
Since Hasan is still alive, President Obama can invite him to the White House to have his a_s kissed just like Professor “I’ve made a career out of acting oppressed” Gates.
If there’s no rule against it, why didn’t our President order (post-massacre) that the flag immediately be flown at half-staff at all relevant locations instead of announcing the order the following day? He’s waiting until tomorrow to visit the victims?… Our current President (w/ or w/o the Texas Governor) should’ve been there before G.W. Bush.
And Gen. Casey (whether or not he’s forced to acquiesce) is more concerned about “diversity” than the integrity of the army? WTF country am I living in?
38. Dr. Quincy, M.E. | November 9th, 2009 at 7:24 pm
Rep. Stephen Lynch seldom fails to disappoint:
1) Voting for T.A.R.P. (the “Bailout”) 2) Voting for “The Stimulus” 3) Voting against defunding A.C.O.R.N. 4) Voting for Obama Care
39. Tokyo rush | November 10th, 2009 at 9:38 pm
That BOOB pretty much sums up wtkk !
40. Anna Keppa | November 11th, 2009 at 11:48 am
Piratetoby has been sitting on that peg for far too long.
If he wants to counter “rightwing” commentators he need only call Braude or Jimmy Myers . For that matter he could call Severino or Graham and take them on.
But no, Piratetoby’s his idea of “fairness” is to FORCE those shows to change their format and tone to suit him. Sorry, me lad, but you have no right to compell anyone (show hosts or audience) to listen to you.
And hey, if you wanna buy a radio station here in Boston and do your own show, I understand you could probably get on reaaaal cheap. You might try calling your show “Air America”.
41. Joe Perry | November 12th, 2009 at 12:21 pm
Piratetoby hated Jim and Margery until they were switched to 7-10. Now he misses them. He need not buy a station, he should be a program manager.
42. susan mcbride | November 12th, 2009 at 5:32 pm
pirateboy, you rule.,,,,,,,,,,,,
43. susan mcbride | November 13th, 2009 at 5:00 pm
I never listen to jimmy anymore, but, i was just changing channels, and he said……….
that as a child he used to be a star………he used to dance and appear in all kinds of venues………..
oh my god, is there no end to his lies, and crazziness?
44. Marco | November 15th, 2009 at 1:50 pm
Susan-I can one up you. I caught a few minutes of Michelle McPhony’s show the other night and during one of her signature manufactured rants she proclaimed that “the day after 9/11 I would have signed up for the Army except I’m dead in one ear.”
Is there no shame to these frauds that WTKK gives airtime to?
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