Talk about stuck on stupid! Is there a pool going on when Entercom declare bankruptcy and closes RKO?

I agree with Disgusted's email. What is 'RKO going to do? Sell the time for financial services infomercials?

Moe delivered a nice low-key show that was perfect for a Saturday morning. He hit the issues without going overboard. I'm not a sports fan, but I enjoyed listening to him talk baseball.

With Howie's show starting to turn into a snooze-fest, I'm glad I have XM. My only other reason to go to AM now is the WBZ traffic report and that's to see how 93S is. Once I know that, it's back to the satellite.

I hope someone else picks up Mo, too. He was a nice easy-listening host. Reminds me of the late-great Norm Nathan a bit.
Unfortunately, not many like them left. The type that remind you why/how radio once held such sway around the world.

Phil,

I don't need BZ to know how 93-S is, but I agree that RKO is hardly worth listening to anymore.

Hi Brian,

I’ve already posted twice this morning to SAVE WRKO on two other threads then currently opened (“Libtalkers Go Way Overboard Slamming O’Reilly” and “Enterocom Shares Tumble On Negative Outlook”). The latter posting was in response to a note from Charlie who made a nice comment about Moe, posted just about an hour before Moe made the announcement, but Charlie was obviously also unaware of what was coming.

I did send Moe an E-mail to his address given on issues of the day, namely mvl270@yahoo.com. I might mention that to post directly to his Blog, though, one has to have a Google account, which I don’t want to do. (Nor will I ever sign up as a “Talk Insider” to stream WRKO). I hope my flurry of postings this morning reflects my dismay about what WRKO has done.

This is unfortunate. Moe Lauzier is a good, solid talk host. While I don't agree with his politics and could be turned off by his occasional lapses into Bob Raleigh style bombast, I found him quite engaging and listenable. This is another chapter in the sad downfall of a once great radio station.

Funny. I just posted a few hours ago that the only good local talent that WRKO had was Mo and Howie.

I am greatly saddened and damned mad at WRKO for dumping Mo. He was truly appointment radio - every Saturday, my cup of coffee and Mo.

And now these stupid bastards at Entercom fired him.

I honestly wonder if those in top management are secretly working for WTKK. They couldn't have better counter-operatives in place at WRKO.

So will WRKO now broadcast the audio version of an Oreck vacuum cleaner infomercial like the 'BIG' Boston TV stations do on weekend afternoons? After all, bringing in no-cost revenue (read: 100% profit) is a great way to pay for all the high-priced on-air talent that remain on TV and radio these days. Something has to fund the haughty Ed Harding on Ch. 5, or D&C on WEEI.

I can't say I was shocked that Moe got canned...WRKO is a pathetic mess! I will miss his 7am chats with soldiers...one of the few shows that actually engaged with our military men and women. Is McPhee still on WTKK on Saturdays? Why is she still working that shift when she is on Mon-Fri? I never listen to her anymore. Someone here was spot on when they said she is horribly mis-informed on all issues but her former police beat. She just likes to complain about our brave soldiers and doesn't EVER talk about the good things or invite them on.

Wow...I am so curious why Howie's show is so awful these days. I figured he'd make the best of it since he is there for 5 years...I don't listen to him anymore and I don't even miss him now. Would his WTKK show be like this or would he have felt rejuvenated and put on a great show as he is capable of doing? I guess we'll never know.

What are the specifics of Moe's canning?

What is replacing Moe?

Does Dan Kennedy finally get his own show?

Moe was great on Saturday mornings and also did well when he filled-in for Howie Carr.

He'll be missed. Is WTKK willing to take a chance on a guy who's been around in Boston for at least 25 years?

WRKO management needs a double dose of Evercleanse.
Sure gonna miss Moe.

A shame, as Moe was a good host (I also bought his book from his site, etc.) Since WRKO evidently
needs to minimize expense and maximize revenue,
I'm sure they're replacing him with an informercial about how 25-30 pounds of waste
are stuck to your colon's walls like spackle
or paste.

Hi Practical Progressive,

I was glad to hear your reference to Bob Raleigh. It seems a lot of correspondents to this Blog never heard of him. I recall listening to his last show, announnced well in advance, and then he was interviewed on WBZ TV News at 5:00 AM. How unlike what happened this morning.

I once commented to this Blog about David Brudnoy, and how different the departures of David and Paul Sullivan were, and would WRKO ever keep a talk show host for their natural lifespan?

REST-UP MOE, AS THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER. ALWAYS A PLEASURE LISTENING TO "THE MOE LAUZIER SHOW". THE CALLS WILL BE COMING IN SOON IF THEY HAVEN'T ALREADY.
BOSTON AND THE REGION WILL ALWAYS NEED THE INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE THAT WE ALL LOVE. THANKS FOR MAKING SATURDAY MORNINGS INTERESTING AND CERTAINLY BETTER THAN THE WEEKDAYS ON RADIO. A CLASS ACT--ALL THE TIME! ALL THE BEST TO ALL THE LAUZIER FAMILY.

Is that CHRISTY the 7-11 guy? Don't they have lowercase characters on those convenience store cash registers?

Jim, I thought Moe was one of the better broadcasters in the area, especially during the weeks after 9/11. Sorry to see him go.

Moe said,

"Do I have any regrets? Actually only one and I hope this doesn’t ring of sour grapes. The management of WRKO I’ve loyally served in all its interests for all those years could not see fit to inform me personally of their plans to make these changes."

Doesn't that just say it all.

While I didn't always agree with the way Moe interacted with listeners, I always enjoyed listening to him, even more so over the last year since he introduced the 1/2 hour talk with one of our soldiers, it was always informative and enlightening getting the story right from the horses mouth. I am disgusted with RKO for doing this, Moe was the only show worth listening to on Saturday mornings, why don't they get rid of the likes of ellen o'brien or maryellen burns,,,,,what a waste of air time, but alas, I digress, I'm sure they will replace Moe with some stooooooooopid paid advertising for colon cleanse or vitamins or perhaps they will bring back that clown that was on recently,, you know,, the on air yoga guy, yeah that's the ticket,,,,OR even better, maybe they have decided to give Judge Moses and or that other clown who got caught in drag up in NH, yeah, pair the both of them together, hell, let's throw in that other fool, you know, the one from deVIL's administration who got caught in FL in the steamroom with a fifteen year old boy,,,yeah, the perfect trio,,,,,perverts in the morning,,,come one come all, we'll explain why we let rapists and perverts outta jail.....AND, you won't be able to call in and comment, they'll just do a three hour rant on how perverts and rapists should be given a second chance......oh Lordy, DO NOT get me started!

Whoever made the "evercleanse" and financial service infomercial prognostication...I think you're at least partially right. I bet the wretched infomercials will now continue to at least 7am on saturdays...what an atrocity. Is there ONE person who listens to radio infomercials???

One symptom of having your credibility go to zero? Crooks are impersonating you, knowing that some people will buy the spoof. How will we now be able to tell the sleazebags from each other? From the 'RKO website:
"Alert: We have received reports that someone is calling people (cell and home phones) claiming to be from WRKO. They claim to be conducting a health survey and/or offering to register people to win prizes from WRKO. Please note that WRKO has no involvement in these calls. WRKO does not make blind phone calls for survey participation or to register people for contests. We recommend that you refuse to participate and strongly advise you not to provide any personal information to anyone who makes an unsolicited call to you claiming to be from WRKO. If you have any information that could assist us in determining who is making these calls, please contact the WRKO Promotion Department at 617-779-3500."

I happen to have Moe's home phone number and I am trying to resist the temptation to call him at home and personally thank him for the many weekend mornings when I was out and about and he was there to keep me awake and thinking. I think this proves once and for all that WRKO sucks. The stock is falling, the programming is horrid, can you blame Howie for trying to jump ship?

Neither Jason or Julie had the professionalism to stick the knife in him in person.

I hope Moe can enjoy time with his family, I for one will not be listening to WRKO on saturday mornings anymore.

Good for Mo for putting the finger on who whacked him...Wolfe. I think Mo may unload on him further in upcoming blog entries.25 years on-air and canned with NO WARNING!!! Unreal..these Entercom sleaze are really first division scumbags

He claims that he never took any money for promoting specific advertisers that paid him off; but didn't he once shill for a weight-reducing product? I haven't seen pix of him lately, but at one time he was a behemoth.

I wonder if Moe felt a symbolic need to "turn off the lights" as he walked out of WRKO this morning?

This is just stunning, though when you think about it long enough, it isn't. I'm actually surprised he has lasted this long with the current regime. It is also sad, as I think Moe is one of those hosts that bring the character of Boston to life, the way Jerry Williams, David Brodney and even Howie did. It looks as if WRKO is working hard at failure. They certain are headed that way with giving Moe the door.

Is it me or is Boston talk radio going further down the toilet. Howie is not as good as he used to be. I can't stand listening to Jay Severin anymore. Michelle McPee is unlistenable, along with Reese. I don't touch the Felon or Imus with a ten foot pole. WTTT is gone. I'm finding myself listening to music much more. I even find myself listening to WBZ more often as well.

Now that Moe is gone how long do you thing Rush will be on WRKO?

My best to Moe. I hope he lands at a better station.

Are comments still subject to approval?

Someone must listen to them, or the company that peddles that s**t, oh, I mean produces those infomercials, wouldn't keep buying the time on the station.

That having been said: Moe was one of the best. There is no way he should have been let go, never mind be as unceremoniously kicked to the curb, as he was.

Yes, indeed, this business does s*ck.

I keep reading that it's the radio business that sucks. No it doesn't. But people like Wolfe and Kahn suck! The business is a powerful, wonderful medium when it's programmed properly by smart people who care about delivering a quality product. Sadly, the Wolfes and Kahns of the world think they know better than any "pesky" programmer. Hey Mo...you're free from their destructive ways! They don't deserve a guy like you!! I'll miss you.

Hi Barbara,

Thanks for providing that quote from this morning. Even though I was half listening, when I realized what Moe was saying, I was struggling just to understand it. It was so shocking, yet he sounded gracious. I just remember at about 8:56 AM him saying something like we have these last few minutes together, as if he was trying to squeeze a couple more calls in.

I wonder when he found out and what kind of deal was struck to at least let him do the last broadcast.

Looks like 'SAVE WRKO' is a tad overdue for re-naming itself "R.I.P. WRKO".
A very sad day indeed.

I knew that they would come for Moe one of these days. It stands to reason. Here we have a decent host with an established audience and a track record of success. He probably was paid reasonably which made him even more of a target.

Other than Brinker, Moe was the last man standing on the weekends on WRKO. I'll miss him.

Someone asked how long until Rush is gone. I predict Rush is off in 90 days. They will drop Brinker within 4 months. Then John and Jeff or the Covered Calls Hucksters will replace Coast-to-Coast. Within one year WRKO will be a Spanish Language religous station.

.............www.wrko.org.........

Even though Moe backed the wrong sports teams, the Sox and Patriots, as a Yankee and GIANTS fan, I usually enjoyed his show.

The best thing that can happen now is for Moe to land an AM drive spot and give RKO's management a lesson in programming.

I'd certainly listen. Anybody know a station that needs a very good host for AM drive?

Is it any surprise that Coffee Boy sent an emissary to let Moe know he was being canned rather than do it himself? It takes an adult to properly fire someone. You have to be man enough to look them in the eye when you tell them you are letting them go. You can't hide behind a flunky to do your dirty work for you. Coffee Boy, you would be a better man if you retrieved your testicles from the jar on Julie's desk. You are a pathetic excuse for a man. Moe deserved far better than to be fired by the likes of you. WRKO sucks and you are the reason why.

Al,

Good calls on the likelihood of John and Jeff replacing C2C and the odds of reconquista programming taking over. WRKO is soon to be the radio version of what happened to WHLL(Channel 27)about 20 years back...

I just left Jason Wolfe a 6 minute 48 second voicemail message. I suggest you all do the same.

I listened to Moe when he was on the RI station, then throughout his entire career on RKO. I have "known" Moe for half of my lifetime.

The morons at RKO have done it again. There is no reason left to tune them in. I don't like syndicated talk, won't listen to infomercials, think Reese is a ratings whore, and I can live without Howie or listen on AM 830. Ditto for Savage.

Since the Felon has been on I've tuned into BZ till 9. Now it's TKK for much of the day, and BZ at night.

Worst of all was the ugly way in which Moe was told the show was cancelled. Jason is clearly being p-whipped by the Empress, who lacked the you know whats to do it herself.

RKO has come to a pathetic end. Taking it out of my pre-sets. That means I won't be listening to their advertisers or buying their products. GET IT FOOLS!

If all the talk shows on WRKO were viewed as Three Stooges episodes, Mo's shows were the Joes.

And Howie's veering into Shemp territory.

The execs at RKO are running that station into the ground. The only program worth listening to is Rush when he is not fauning over himself. Wolfe and Julie remind me of the Wall Street geniuses who just lead the country into the credit morass. They really think that they know better than everyone else...RKO has already lost so much of its value because it lost so many listeners and is now in a downward spiral to a crash...With two World Series won, Sox fans will not be as fanatic as in the past and listeners will fall off for Sox broadcasts as well.

I'm a 27 year old guy that can relate to Moe and his politics. . . since I was much much younger I've been listening to Moe. This is a sad day, and yet another nail in the coffin of wrko

I'm writing them, informing them of my continuing boycott of their station. I'm also going to write to sponsors and make them undertstand that the company in which they do business. . . has very shady and downright pathetic business practices.

This really shouldn't come as a major surprise. Although he was a fairly good fill in host for Jerry Williams 20 years ago (although Williams would complain to Mel Miller that when he took a vacation and Moe would fill in it would take him a week to get his audience back. Williams wanted out of market fill ins like Mike Segal from Seattle)

Over the past few years Moe had really lost his fast ball. He became very forgetfull. Last week while promoting an upcomming segment on the Jerry Williams book he couldn't remember the name of the book. Yesterday he couldn't remember one of the authors name. I heard him tell the same old story about having to take his 80 year old grandfather to vote when there were no candidates on the Republican ballot atleast 3 times in the last couple of months and for some reason he recently started to talk a lot about former Gov. Ed King who served 1 term 30 years ago.

I didn't like the way he would regularly just pull facts out of the air like the morning he said that Fall River was a very safe community.

It actually ranks in the top ten of total police calls in the state. When someone called to dispute his claim about Fall River he got very upset with the caller then during the next call he admitted that Fall River was presently haveing a serious problem with home invasions.

Up untill recently he never seemed to have a guest. I found his weekly chat with a serviceman nothing more than propaganda since the people he interviwed were chosen by the military and he never had anyone on who opposed the war.

About 3 years ago, then PD Mike Elder, sat down with Moe and told him they needed his time slot to develp new younger talent and he was cut back to 5a to 7a. Moe was a good soldier and thanked RKO for their communication about the matter and said he looked forward to spending more time with his family.

When Sunday garden show host Paul Parent was replaced, Moe sat in with the new garden show host until he could manage the show himself. And when Todd Fienberg got the weekday evening slot Moe was given 3 more hours on Saturday.

Although, I wasn't a fan he did have a loyal yet older audience and his show was better than listening to those get rich quick scheme hucksters. And after 25 loyal years to the station he deserved more than having a weekned part time producer fire him. The way he was dismissed was really low class. 25 years and what 5 PD's is a good run. Not many hosts can say they have done that.

I doubt you will see him pop up on TTK or BZ.

My prediction is RKO will move eithier Eileen Burns or the other woman Eileen McNamara up to mornings and run infomercials later in the day.

What they should do is run a couple of hours of the Howie Carr show on Saturday mornings.

Given their recent sucess finding new hosts I am not expecting much.

I stand corrected, Moe was let go By Executive Producer Tom Shattuck not his part time weekend producer. Before being named Executive Producer Tom Shattuck served as the Entercom Boston lobby receptionist.

The Herald reports that they may go to all day infomecials on Saturdays. Great way to build an audience.

Moe is a man of integrity and class.

I can't understand RKO's managment of his firing. How low class can you be? Sending a lackey to do the dirty work.

I hardly listen to the station anymore. Just in the past few years we've seen how NOT to run a business and how NOT treat employees.

The sacking of John D., the crap treatment of Scotto, the absolute disrespect they gave Todd and now the classless treatment of Moe.

Let's see how long Reese carries the station.

Wow, the list of cut loose talent is certainly growing at WRKO:

Moe Lauzier
Scott Allen Miller
John DePetro
Peter Blute
Todd Feinburg
John Batchelor
Spencer Hughes

Add in the other losses and it's really staggering:

Matt Drudge
Howie Carr (Defacto)
Pat Whitley
Jerry Williams

Add in the easily replaced by infomercials and soon-to-be gone and it becomes alarming:

Michael Savage
Rush Limbaugh
Bob Brinker
Coast to Coast
Jerry Doyle
Bill Cunningham

Factor in the slimy no talents remaining and it's time for the barf bag:

Mariellen Burns
Ellen O'Brien
Felon Finneran
Reese Hopkins
Steve Bailey
Bill Kelley's Scam Senior Citizens Program
Endangering Your Wealth Show

WPRO, WABC, and KFI stream and Podcast.

I don't visit for an afternoon and look what happens. I was shocked at first but then not so much. It all makes sense in WRKO's grand scheme for going all colon cleanser all the time, or so it might as well be.

Moe was getting up there and they had cut him way back but he obviously had a loyal following and probably was making peanuts. He was probably not pulling the demo they want, but would it have really hurt to let him retire gracefully? Let him know PERSONALLY that he isn't pulling what they want and give him the chance to ease out on his own.

It is obvious that WRKO subscribes to Theory X management (if left to their own devices, employees will do the WRONG thing - Theory Y assumes the good in people) I really don't like those people - is that the understatement of the year?

Well, Howie just may get his chance to work mornings at the FM talker in town. The way WRKO is crumbling, there won't be much of it left in a year or two.

I agree that Moe was showing his age and getting a bit stuck in his rut, but he was still a good-local voice in a town that seems to have too few.

Hi Al,

Nice list. It seems you only left off "Talking Religion" and The Gardening Show" on Sunday Mornings (and Pat Whitley and Todd Feinberg also do have Sunday shows still.)

When Jon DePetro and his (?)Producer, whose name I don't remember were let go, a peculiar thing happened on "Talking Religion." That show at 5:00 AM is pre-recorded earlier in the week. At the end, the host usually thanks the producer for his technical assistance. DePetro's producer, referenced above, who usually did the show actually had his named bleeped off the air from the tape. This was at 6:00 AM on a Sunday morning as if anyone would care (except me). Very Orwellian. I wrote the host of the show, via regular mail since she does not have an E-mail address at WRKO, but got no reply.

I copied off all the comments Moe posted on Issues of the Day - 29 pages. I'm sending them on to Entercom. Here's their address in case you would like to do the same.

I'd send them to Jason, but I don't want my "bright white" copy paper to wind up for his a** wiping sessions. After all, he's got to be getting the colon cleanse for free - and he is certainly full of it!

Contact Entercom

Entercom Communications Corp.
401 City Avenue, Suite 809
Bala Cynwyd, Pa 19004
Phone: 610-660-5610
Fax: 610-660-5620

the WEEI Big Show guys made fun of the "recent firing of someone who took stuff on the way out"

I hope they weren't referring to Moe. Although they did seem to take a jab at him, they were mentioning how there should be more headsets considering they won't be using them next door on the weekends. Funny, but even these douches should show Moe some respect.

Of course Ordway was making fun of Moe's misfortune,that fat sack of sh*t is Wolfe's buddy and the most protected specimen at Entercom. WEEI is full of Wolfe asskissers like Ordway, Arnold, Adams.

Andrea, thank you so much for posting Entercom's address, they will be hearing from me! I am going to repost that info on another thread here on savewrko.com

Although I never met Moe, he was like a trusted friend who graced my home or car on a Saturday morning.

I wish him well and I will listen for his return on another station.

i'll miss moe too. he was passionate about the stem cell issue before 9-11.

rko wont dump rush; wttt would pick him up and give the "noontime libs" the boot.

The firing of Moe Lauzier is the saddest turn of events for a once great radio station...I used to listen to WRKO for any version of their morning drive content, followed by the 9 to 3 slot while at the office, some of the 3 to 7 slot and always a 2 or three hour Coast to Coast shift...Sadly I won't be checking in with any of their lineup anymore... Two years ago if Arbitron were to select me for a ratings book survey WRKO would have been the primary place for my ears... I now find myself going over to BZ for the overnight and weekends...

The core audience for this format needs stimulating talk and opinion and it needs to transition from slot to slot without large breaks in format for infomercials. This is how they lost me.

Michael

Too bad about Moe. As a veteran, I loved his 7:00AM talks with the servicemen and women. It shows what type of people we have allowing Jason to "readjust" the paychecks to compensate for the new private sector hack Howie Carr's salary. I hope I hear him on some other station soon as long as being fired doesn't come with a non-compete clause in Moe's contract. I now really enjoy the Saturday morning infomercials on WRKO regarding finances. Maybe Jason Wolfe should listen to see how to really manage money for sound business strategies. Fire the little guy since it is easier than going after the big fish. Thank God that spring is around the corner. I'll now spend Saturday mornings outside without the radio in the CLEAN AIR!

Has Moe landed anywhere yet? Everybody needs to email rko!