How Do You Replace Gary Burbank?
So how do you replace Gary Burbank after he joins Gilbert Gnarley at the St. Pia Zadora Golden Buckeye Retirement Community at the end of the year?
Darry Parks, WLW-AM operations director says he's "definitely looking at entertainment" to fill the 3-6 p.m. slot. "WLW is much more based in entertainment than political ideology," he says. But you've got to remember that he considers Bill Cunningham an entertainer.
So here's my question today: If you ran WLW, who would you put on afternoons after Burbank retires Dec. 31?
Would you move Cunningham there? Or Scott Sloan?
Would you launch a new comedy show? Who could do it? Doc Wolfe? Eddie Fingers? (He used to fill in for Gary.) Bob the Producer? Michael Flannery (he's available!)? Jay Gilbert from WEBN? Chris O'Brien from WGRR? Jerry or Jene Galvin? Pair one of these guys with Duke Sinatra?
Or would you switch to sports talk, risking trashing ratings on sister station 1530 Homer? Would you move Lance McAlister from 1530? Alan Cutler? Bill “Seg” Dennison? Tim “Big Dog” Lewis (former WBOB sports talker now doing overnight news on WLW-AM)?
Who else? If ran WLW, who would do afternoons? You tell me.
71 Comments:
Scott Sloan fo'sho....He RULES!
Bob the Producer is not funny and whiny..Fingers? Meh!
Jay Gilbert would be the best --- got that Midwestern sarcasm
I would go with Duke and Flannery.
I think that keeping this slot for comedy and hijinx makes sense. Sloan, Cuttler, et al, and going to another sports show runs the risk of losing listeners to FM talk, as well as hurting Lance and his show.
Besides, Duke and Flannery would be a pleasant way to spend time in I75 gridlock!
Scott Sloan, is the only choice. He is extremely creative, and original.
Duke must go. He is not funny. He has drug down Gary for since Doc Wolf left.
Tim Guthrie
Kiese,
How about extending McConnell from 12:30 - 2 (after noon news) for a local show, followed by Cunningham 2 -6 (with Seg)? No new people, no extra salaries. Question, will Earl Pitts still appear daily?
How 'bout bringing back Mojo Nixon to the airwaves? The show could be incredible.
Sensible Don would be well worth listening to.
Not Rob or Duke, they are more annoying than entertaining.
My vote would be for Doc Wolfe, Mike Flannery, or Chris O'Brien.
It's going to be hard to replace the voices and music of Burbank.
Please, no more Mike McConnell!
Since his syndication and divorce from his wife, Mary, he has become a boring, nasty, know-it-all!
No more hate talk, so therefore, no Scott Sloan. He's not a comedian, just another blowhard cynic who revels in ridicule on a nightly basis.
Flannery is an interesting name. Or maybe we can convince Bob Shreve to come back from the beyond.
Ok...As an older, long time listener...I think there is no replacement.
I realize smear channel will go on but any entertainment will be TOTALLY crass, mean-spirited, hateful and like all the other morning zoo crap I have NEVER found funny.
but again, i like originality..and I still enjoy Gary.
I will probably give up WLW altogether since I only do Paul harvey noon news and 'sometimes' willie...depending on his mood ..he can be fun but other days, gotta turn him off.
Frankly, I can' THINK about Gary being gone...after 24 years...hard habit to break.
i am sure the young kids on here will like whatever since many are fans of Stern and such.
Just my two cents
Soph
in fairfield
Would Heywood Banks consider settling down from life on the road? He's both musical & fresh.
I still wonder why my Thanksgiving turkey has an ostomy bag in it...
how about david rose? if he gets what he deserves, he'll be looking for work soon.
of course, if you're not already a tv insider, you wouldn't know that from reading kiese's blog.
seriously, are you kidding me? you have a juicy, high-profile hot-topic about someone who actually works in television... and instead you're posting this schlock?
guess we're all starting to get a really good idea of just how much channel 9 is controlling their relationship with the enquirer.
john kiesewetter: bastion of the first amendment...or corporate lackey protecting an embarassment of an anchor? prove us wrong, kiese....please!
I'm sure Gary is a very nice person, but I couldn't listen to his show for more than a couple minutes. The story says he started in Louisiana in 1964? His comedy sounds like he's STILL in Louisiana in 1964.
If they replace him with more "entertainment," they need to make sure it's something that would appeal to those under age 50.
Despite what D. Parks might say, the dollar will rule the choice of Burbank's replacement, not entertainment.
The "true" radio entertainers either: will not work for the measly $$$$ that will be offered or they are dead (JFPO, Rich King, etc).
Let's be honest, Burbank is doing Cheap Channel a favor by "retiring". How much of a pay cut do you think he would have had to accept to stay at WLW? Scott will be next.
As for a replacement. Forget Sloan, no entertainment value there, and most of the other names mentioned couldn't fill the bill.
Burbank will be very tough to replace, but Michael Flannery is an interesting choice. He would have to (somewhat) separate himself from the On Your Kids Side image and go back to comedy club Michael, but that might work. And he would have a great avenue to continue charitable work for various groups.
Definitely move Lance from 1530 to WLW. I listen to him more than I do Burbank anymore.
I have to agree with 12:18 on this. This David Rose stuff stinks to high heaven, and the WCPO GM's word is taken as gospel.
Sorry, but behind-the-scenes web maintenance affecting only one show on which an anchor acts so goofy he's removed from the set? What are the odds of that????
I hope it really was just illness, because if other factors are involved in the on-set behavior, there are bigger questions like how he got to and from work that morning. Hope he wasn't behind the wheel of a car.
And here we are with yet another lame Gary Burbank post.
I liked Drew Hayes on 55, before Jacor bought the station. I liked Jeff Katz on 1530, but he had the same problem. I wonder if Gary would have lasted as long if Jacor/CC hadn't bought out all the competition?
I loved Burbank for the first couple of years, but the same old bits got old for me long before 1990.
Of the current WLW staff, Darryl Parks is the only one that I would like to hear in the afternoon. I blame him for a lot of the clutter on the station, but he's a great host. After listening to shows on Sirius & XM, it's tough to go back to the heavy spot/promo load on CC stations.
Duke and Rob ride the coat tails of Gary. Besides that they both have whiny non-radion voices. Move Scott to the afternoon and Sterling to the 9p-12a time slot. Both are deserving.
Beg Gary to stay!
I really don't think you can replace Burbank. He's a throwback-a true radio entertainer with creativity and personality. I remember as a kid, he once allowed me, my aunt, and my brothers to come sit in the studio with him-it was 17 years ago, but I'll never forget it. As kid's, he was one of our idols.
The really great thing about him though, is that he could appeal to just about anyone. I love sports, but many people don't. The rest of the 'personalities' on WLW tend to spout nothing more than ultra-conservative drivel...the last thing I want to hear. But everyone could laugh at Burbank-regardless of sports or idealogical affiliation. We'll truly miss him.
What's up with the David Rose comments? What did he do? Sorry -- I guess I just don't watch enough TV. Inform me, please.
Jay Gilbert, he sucks! (like the kid always says on EBN)
Eddie Fingers, that might work!
Bob da Producer, maybe!
Doc Wolf with Duke Sinatra - that would be best! The Duke & Doc show gets my vote!
Where is the Doc these days?
Me, it should be me.
The obvious choice for ClearChannel is Gary Burbank's son, just like Thomas and Brennaman, and Scot Fitzgeral, Jim Scot's son. Since Gary's son hasn't been born yet, if his daughter doesn't want the gig, use his adopted son Doc.
Um, 232
Gary DOES have a son who is not in show biz.
bmurdock--
good choices for burbank replacement...
have to disagree about the "get a life" comment, tho..
anon 12:36 has excellent point. how did rose get to work? and even worse, how did he get home? did channel 9 managers just pour this guy into a car and put him out on the road?!?
you're right..kiese can write about whatever he wants, but this needs investigation.
i've seen the tape and the only KIND word for rose is "impaired."
i know kiese can't just make stuff up..but even if you don't have a tipster who will give you the tape.. you can at least call the media library and buy a copy of the show. You need to see this for yourself before you blow it off.
just one of the many highlights:
david rose is reading a story about a dui checkpoint, slurring almost to the point where you can't understand him, and he says they were pulling over anybody who wasn't dressed as an elf.
swear to god.
i'm gonna go out on a limb and say the producer didn't write that in the script.
do what you want with it, kiese, 'cause everyone's right.. this is your blog.
but if you don't jump on this story with both feet, don't ask us to blast other anchors in the market. remember the sheree/talk radio/fiesel incident? what does that make you? a hypocrite or a sexist?
Talk ex-TV5er Tom Sussi to come back from Orlando. He's controversial, knows the city, and is funny as sh--!
Saw this am fri am that is that it was matarese in for rose and kettler in for nero
Doc and Duke. But cut down on the sports crap. Seg and Cunningham and everyone after Gary provide enough of that.
Doc and Duke (or Duk and Doke)can do lots of neat production stuff, and there's more to Duke than has been heard.
Wow! Now I'm intrigued about this David Rose thing too.
If 9News won't let us watch it on their website, maybe someone out there has it available for Youtube.com? I would love to see what all the fuss is about.
Who would I replace Burbank with?
Well, after careful consideration the only replacement I can suggest is: - Me.
I'm funny as all get-out and politically edgy. I write all my own s**t and have a very quick wit.
I ain't lying, man.
What about a WOMAN on the radio in Cincinnati for a change? Bring back Robin Wood. Let some young woman take the stage. I, for one, am sick to death of white guys yammering on the radio all day long. There ARE women in this city, you know, and my hunch is that they aren't loudmouths like Bill Cunningham/Mike McConnell (PLEASE, spare me from them) or bigots or racists or airheads like most everyone else on the radio.
Hey Cincinnati...about HALF of us are women. Isn't it time the air waves pay attention to US????? Heck, I'll volunteer....Liberal Woman Who Isn't Afraid to Tell It Like it Is show.
Before going over to WGRR Janeen Coyle used to fill in for Burbank, too so how about Chris O'Brien and Janeen, since they have been working together for all these years. Of course I'm sure all the people mentioned as replacements have contracts so it wouldn't be easy to do it unless they are coming up for renewal.
How about Duke, Flannery and you, Kies???? I do know that Burbank is a big fan of yours.(From when you were NOT covering TV-he said so on the air-)They were talking about dumb things heard said and seen on TV/Radio and they were definitely in your corner.....
"...as for David Rose, some people need to get a life."
Um, sorry buddy, but if a new anchor shows up for work apparently three sheets to the wind, and gets yanked off the air shortly thereafter... That's most CERTAINLY not only newsworthy, but worth discussing in a blog about local media.
With all of the other crap that gets posted on here about every OTHER station in town, don't suddenlyget all bent out of shape when someone from the Enquirer/WCPO family gets called out in a public forum.
And you are better than everyone else on this discussion board how?
We'll probably never really know what happened that morning. But if you ever get to see that infamous tape (which I certainly hope shows up on YouTube!) you'd know why folks are chatting it up.
Its pretty clear that there is no intention of getting to the bottom of David Rose's erratic behavior here. A phone call to the WCPO General Manager is not true reporting or fact-gathering.
There are now serious questions about the credibility of WCPO, and this is going to be a dark cloud over the station until some real answers are made available.
Bill Fee is dreaming if he thinks people will believe that its not strange for just one newscast to be affected by web maintenance, and it just happens to be the one newscast on which a main anchor has some sort of meltdown. I for one am not buying it.
Let's also point out that WCPO.com's video archive page for the morning in question says:
This Wednesday's Good Morning Tri-state (3/7/07) has been removed.
REMOVED
That sounds purposeful, not accidental. If it was affected by web maintenance, why wouldn't the station simply upload it back to the website?
The link to the video page:
http://wcpo.com/video/
C'mon, John. It's time to hold some feet to the fire. The evidence is staring you in the face.
I believe Doc Wolfe would be able to retain Gary's listening audience. He could keep the Sport or Consequences Show going too.
Rob Scott
I have no inside info but I will be SHOCKED if Cunningham doesn't get the gig. I would imagine that Sloan would take Cunningham's slot and Sterling would take Sloan's but I'm not as convinced of that. I DO think Cunningham will be on from three to six starting in 2008.
I would move Sloan to the afternoons and bring back Bill Boshears to host 9-midnight.
spill it on the david rose stuff...i really like him in the mornings.
Bill Boshears and the Sci-Zone...could you imagine that!
who cares!!
Does anyone have an update on david rose?
Its time for Gary to move on. His show is getting to be a repeat of the same. I have however enjoyed him over the years.
As far as a replacement. Heywood Banks I think would prove a good replacement and gets my vote. The ones associated with Gary's show now offer nothing to the listener.
I also think that there are times when you should bring in someone fresh and new. AM radio is an experiment these days anyway. High payed talent goes to satellite. AM radio and FM needs to be creative.
I say have a local talent search .
OFF TOPIC
i just noticed that timw warner has added reality tv to the digital lineup on 131 but what did they get rid of any one got the answer
Anonymous said...
OFF TOPIC
i just noticed that timw warner has added reality tv to the digital lineup on 131 but what did they get rid of any one got the answer
3/12/2007 4:51 PM
They Dropped Americas Store
A side question: What ever happened to Pinkard and Bowden? They were a staple on Burbank.
Also.....
DON'T kill Stump the Band! Pure laughter and entertainment.
MOVE LANCE OVER FROM 1530 TO 700
I think Duke is funny as the HOMELESS Detective, and "Marge" calling in from Heaven (IF he would STOP the excessive coughing gag--pun intended--gotten way old and lame...If they got rid of the cough, that would STILL be a fun bit)
I enjoy Stump the band as well and wish they would have it on more often.
Pinkard and bowden had a falling out years ago if I recall correctly...or for whatever reason, no longer tour together.
Sophia
fairfield
1. Scott Sloan
2. or steal John Corby from 610 in Columbus!!!
I would pay big money and get someone like Bob Rivers out of KZOK in Seattle. Like Burbank, Rivers is exceptional at being funny without resorting to low-brow humor. I hate to see Gary retire... He's special. No one else locally is even close, but going outside Cincy and getting someone like Bob Rivers would certainly provide a worthy replacement.
I forgot about John Corby. He's strong in his timespot and would be worth listening to. But he's been at 610 WTBN for years and may not want to move. 610 also had some lineup juggling (CLEARCHANNEL cuts?) 2 months ago and may not want to jack with there lineup just now. how about Will Sterling 9-Midnight Sloan 12:20pm to 3 and Willy 3to6? one thing about Corby, His will polished show would be a shot in the arm of the Cincinnati market....
You can't replace Gary, but maybe some syndicated guy like Art Bell could fill the gap. You might be able to get me, but I don't come cheap. Dr. Laura? How about this:
Doc Wolfe. Everyday he will call people who are in the news to interview them on the spot. That could be interesting.
I WOULD REPLACE GARY WITH AN INFLATABLE DOLL AND THEN RUN RE-RUNS. THAT WOULD BE THE BEST THING TO DO.
NO one but No one can or ever could replace the Great Gary Burbank. I think Gary has supplied enough material over the years to play the best of for quite some time. The only reason I tune in to 700 beetween three and six is to hear Gary. I would rather you duct tape Gary to his chair and force him to do five more years. Of course I joke... rope is far more durable than duct tape and stands up to moisture much better. LONG LIVE GARY!!!!!!!!!!! You will be missed and please enjoy retirement at the expense of you deciples. Again I joke. Seriously enjoy your retirement and I hope you come back from time to time to keep us all guessing. Thanks for all the laughs over the years. You will be sincerely missed. Thanks Gary!
Really miss Bill Boshears,pretty well the last broadcast journalist that has real information to share.Obviously thats why hes gone.Replaced with fluff and airtime blab about nothing of any value.
Let's face it...the day of the entertainer on AM radio is long gone. Only where there are long-standing personalities (Burbank, Meiners, Corby) could it work. Maybe with a Duo. Suggest Ron Fisher and Mel Rexroat (married) from 'HAS. A good team that needs a permanent time slot, in house (CC) and probably cheap.
Gary has not had a new bit in 10 years, just keep playing show repeats and no one will know the difference...
I just found out about this. How about giving some consideration to "The Greaseman". He has had some controversy in the past but he is talented.
Ron-n-Fez
MY HUSBAND IS A HUGE TALK RADIO FAN. HE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE RON -N- FEZ OR THE JUNKIES ON FOR BURBANK.
Today one of the broadcasting greats of northeast Indiana passed away. Bob Sievers was on the air from the 1930's to 1987 on WOWO. He still could be heard on station promos. Although Sievers and Gary Burbamk are 2 completely different types of radio personalities each can be readily identified with one town or area. Local radio is not dead and it's the only thing worthwhile on radio. People want to know that the guy (or gal) they are listening to is right there in your town and knows your town.
As many others who have commented, I believe Gary cannot be replaced and would be a major loss to any station, as Bob Sievers was to WOWO in '87.Good Luck to find a good replacement. I'll be listening in Fort Wayne to see what happens
Heywood Banks! Best idea ever!
John-
Thanks for giving us a chance to blog our way through this Gary Burbank Crisis. Burbank is irreplaceable ...and certainly not by any of the afore-mentioned so called "personalities" in local radio or tv today. This is the first time we will have the chance to experience what the FCC, Jacor and Clear Channel has created when they bought up every station they could and hooked up "hard drive" jocks just to save money. They still don't realize listeners can and do go elsewhere and they now have no future talent pool to promote from. There are no longer "farm teams" to groom new talent. They've done it to themselves. Who ever they may choose won't even hold a candle to the incredible artistic, comedic and broadcasting talents Burbank has shared with us through out the years and there is not a rookie in the system that could hold Burbank's jockstrap. Thank you Gary!
Just do "best of Gary Burbank"....you've got gold that lasts forever. Maybe have Duke do commentary/narration to introduce each segment.
I think WLW will be losing ground in the late afternoon time period from 3:00 to 6:00. There is NO replacement for Gary. He got better and better as years have gone by. The only solution to all of this is "have you kept recordings of his incredible talent and his characters"?? Good luck with your decision.
Why hasn't anybody mentioned Wildman Walker from WEBN?!? He by far would be the best candidate! Wildman always has something very intelligent to say.
I nearly threw up when I started my car yesterday and heard Rush! Please, no! I hope it was just filler. Doc and Duke sound like a good pair. I do hope they keep Rob around. I was really hoping to stump him with a ROCK question.
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