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KFI 640 IS SOUNDING REALLY STALE - Gary and Shannon sound like an old married couple

sdwulfdawg

sdwulfdawg

A couple of months ago, it dawned on me that what was "more stimulating radio" is really sounding old and as stimulating as skim milk.

Gary and Shannon sound like they have gotten way too comfortable -- almost like Edith and Archie Bunker...sitting in their old kind of worn comfy recliners wearing Dearforms slippers. KFI really got a lot of attention when they bumped Rush Limbaugh off for local programming for a "fresh sound" several years ago, but the two have become really predictable and uninteresting.

John and Ken still sound interesting, and Tim Conway, Jr. is also not sounding bad these days after some seven years later. Bill Handel is still Bill Handel, but he also seems to be kind of tired sounding.

What doesn't help is that Neil Saavedra sounds really condescending and "know it all" and whenever he comes on these days, I hit the "off" button. Dean Sharpe's show is nothing to write home about either. Both of these guy's sound like they are talking "AT" the audience vs. talking "WITH" the audience and having a conversation.

Thoughts?
 
I have to agree with you. I can't stand Neil Saavedra either. I don't mind Gary and Shannon, I think they are still interesting most of the time. But Bill Handel has been stale for so long he is beginning to crumble. They really need to get a fresh new sound in that spot. I like when Wayne Resnic fills in for him.
I was disappointed when Monique Marvez said she was only going to be on pod-casts and last night was her last live show. They are expanding the "Dark Secret Place" and that is another sore spot with me. This show has a host who clears his throat constantly, stutters all the time, and takes twice as many commercial breaks as any other show. He takes 15 minutes to get to the point he said he would make an hour ago.
Not the same radio station any more.
 
3cats5 said:
I have to agree with you. I can't stand Neil Saavedra either. I don't mind Gary and Shannon, I think they are still interesting most of the time. But Bill Handel has been stale for so long he is beginning to crumble. They really need to get a fresh new sound in that spot. I like when Wayne Resnic fills in for him.
I was disappointed when Monique Marvez said she was only going to be on pod-casts and last night was her last live show. They are expanding the "Dark Secret Place" and that is another sore spot with me. This show has a host who clears his throat constantly, stutters all the time, and takes twice as many commercial breaks as any other show. He takes 15 minutes to get to the point he said he would make an hour ago.
Not the same radio station any more.
Click to expand...

You just pointed out what is also wrong with KFI lately.

I'm really disappointed to hear about Monique Marvez. Bryan Suits when he doesn't stutter, doesn't clear his thought constantly, hang on the last part of his sentence when he is trying to come up with something more to say is not all that bad. KFI got in trouble for the lack of diversity of program hosts 2-3 years ago. So as their "apology" they brought on Mo Kelly and other "non-white" to host while the spotlight was on the controversy. Now they are scaling back on that and bringing back more white male program hosts not that they are not under scrutiny.

I don't think it is a good idea to have someone who is "Assistant Program Director" basically take over the station attempting to be an "expert" on everything.

As I've said, John and Ken make you feel that they are talking with you....Saavedra is always talking "at" the audience.

One way of freshening up Gary and Shannon would be to replace a couple of times during the week either Gary and Shannon with a good guest host with either one of them. Then use the host not in the studio in the field.
 
Sad to hear Ms Marvez is being exiled to podcast land, she is an entertaining host. Handel is phoninig it in! Conway never had it to phone in. You are right though that now that the "heat" is off they will revert back to an all white broadcast staff like before. I remember seeing a pic of their on air personalities back then and it looked like a bag of marshmallows. Mo' Kelly's numbers look good so they have to keep him.
 
KFI used to be "More Stimulating Talk Radio", but ever since the Whitney incident, they have changed to "(sort of) right wing talk radio approved (and censored as necessary) by leftists."
 
Monique is the only personality to really make me laugh out loud, for real. I agree Brian Suits is not all that bad, if he would just GET TO THE POINT! He takes so long with the back story, and side story, that you loose interest by the time he is ready to give you the main story.
I thought I was the only one ready to turn the dial.

BTW, what is the Whitney incident?
 
Last edited:
3cats5 said:
Monique is the only personality to really make me laugh out loud, for real. I agree Brian Suits is not all that bad, if he would just GET TO THE POINT! He takes so long with the back story, and side story, that you loose interest by the time he is ready to give you the main story.
I thought I was the only one ready to turn the dial.

BTW, what is the Whitney incident?
Click to expand...

This is the video of John and ken's reeducation.

https://youtu.be/LNq3AcZjCYo
 
3cats5 said:
...I was disappointed when Monique Marvez said she was only going to be on pod-casts and last night was her last live show. They are expanding the "Dark Secret Place" and that is another sore spot with me. This show has a host who clears his throat constantly, stutters all the time, and takes twice as many commercial breaks as any other show. He takes 15 minutes to get to the point he said he would make an hour ago.
Not the same radio station any more.
Click to expand...

Have to agree with you - 100% - particularly regarding Monique Marvez. Is her departure her decision, or the station's. If it's the latter, they really have no clue what they are doing...
 
Bill Handel show -- I used to be a devoted listener, not so much John and Ken, they hate everybody;; But Handel in the Morning is 10 minutes of talk in the first half hour and 10 minutes of talk in the second half hour. UNLISTENABLE ---- TOO MANY freaking commercials, and do they need to repeat the news highlights so often? Talk radio is so passe now Yikes and all of them have too many commercials. I know they gotta pay for that HUUUUGE 50kw tower. No thanks my time is much too valuable to subject my ears to that stuff
 
SuperRadioFan said:
I know they gotta pay for that HUUUUGE 50kw tower. No thanks my time is much too valuable to subject my ears to that stuff
Click to expand...

Thou dost jest, dost thou not? KFI's strategically located transmitter tower has been rebuilt three times since its original erection over 80 years ago, but is hardly the station's biggest expense. Talent plus first rate engineering and news departments along with 24/7 traffic and cross-agreements with non-iheart broadcasters are all factors. But the biggest reason for the seeming commercial load is "none of the above." It is the need to generate cash flow to help service the parent company's crushing debt.

I have to agree with those who applaud the talent of Mo Kelly and Monique Marvez, but am not in agreement with the critics of the House Whisperer and Brian Suits. Their programs also have value, as do Wendy Walsh and Leo LaPorte. The only host I find an "odd fit" for the weekend is Ric Edelman, whose topic matter seems better suited for sister station KEIB, but apparently is willing to pay for his time.

I do wonder at KFI's continuity rules on commercials, allowing (for instance) two competing injury attorney firms to share sponsorship of the same traffic report. Such conflicts were simply not permitted in the old days under Earle C Anthony.
 
Art Landing said:
Thou dost jest, dost thou not? KFI's strategically located transmitter tower has been rebuilt three times since its original erection over 80 years ago, but is hardly the station's biggest expense. Talent plus first rate engineering and news departments along with 24/7 traffic and cross-agreements with non-iheart broadcasters are all factors. But the biggest reason for the seeming commercial load is "none of the above." It is the need to generate cash flow to help service the parent company's crushing debt.

I have to agree with those who applaud the talent of Mo Kelly and Monique Marvez, but am not in agreement with the critics of the House Whisperer and Brian Suits. Their programs also have value, as do Wendy Walsh and Leo LaPorte. The only host I find an "odd fit" for the weekend is Ric Edelman, whose topic matter seems better suited for sister station KEIB, but apparently is willing to pay for his time.

I do wonder at KFI's continuity rules on commercials, allowing (for instance) two competing injury attorney firms to share sponsorship of the same traffic report. Such conflicts were simply not permitted in the old days under Earle C Anthony.
Click to expand...

Also car dealers back to back at any time;;; The "parent company's crushing debt" is not my problem haha. They made their bed, now they gotta sleep in it. How many more listeners will tire of hearing so many commercials especially when there's so much competition from other sources and platforms that are commercial-free or almost? The content is not THAT compelling where it's appointment setting listening. And BTW it WAS a "jest" about the tower and it's expense.
 
SuperRadioFan said:
How many more listeners will tire of hearing so many commercials especially when there's so much competition from other sources and platforms that are commercial-free or almost? The content is not THAT compelling where it's appointment setting listening.
Click to expand...

Name the popular talk show hosts who are commercial free. If commercials are such a problem, KPCC should be top rated.
 
TheBigA said:
Name the popular talk show hosts who are commercial free. If commercials are such a problem, KPCC should be top rated.
Click to expand...

I don't give a crap, Big A. However, I have "tuned" in to Handel's podcast SANS commercials. I have "tuned in" to Mark Levin SANS commercials. It's really no problem to find content without commercials. If one doesn't mind not hearing it live. The same for TV.
 
SuperRadioFan said:
I don't give a crap, Big A. However, I have "tuned" in to Handel's podcast SANS commercials. I have "tuned in" to Mark Levin SANS commercials. It's really no problem to find content without commercials. If one doesn't mind not hearing it live. The same for TV.
Click to expand...

So you really didn't answer my question. Handel & Levin are subsidized by commercials. If the commercials go away, they will be forced to charge membership like Beck, and you see how that's working for him. In the meantime, enjoy KPCC. Lots of content without commercials.
 
RE: the comments above on commercial continuity - as in two personal injury attorney ads back to back. I didn't realize that continuity in this regard was even a consideration in modern media. Non-continuity is rampant on TV and has been for a long time. BMW commercial followed by Lexus commercial. Two bank commercials in a row. I've also seen some real "WTF?s" like an add for a Big-Pharma prescription drug follow by an ad for attorneys doing a class action against Big Pharma.

So I doubt KFI or iHeart are alone in that regard.
 
TheBigA said:
So you really didn't answer my question. Handel & Levin are subsidized by commercials. If the commercials go away, they will be forced to charge membership like Beck, and you see how that's working for him. In the meantime, enjoy KPCC. Lots of content without commercials.
Click to expand...

First of all I don't see a question mark here, it's called a 'command': "Name the popular talk show hosts who are commercial free." SO to answer your "question" I'm guessing there are no "popular talk show hosts" who are commercial free. OK, are you happy?? And BTW if I have listened or tuned in to KPCC at all in the last TEN years, you can count the number of times I did on one hand and still have fingers leftover (assuming one still has all five). So IF I want to hear Handel I can listen to his podcast. Let someone else (the advertisers) pay for him. Like I said I don't give a crap anymore haha. Luckily, the advertisers still feel it's worth the $500-$700 spot rate so there.
 
SuperRadioFan said:
Let someone else (the advertisers) pay for him. Like I said I don't give a crap anymore haha. Luckily, the advertisers still feel it's worth the $500-$700 spot rate so there.
Click to expand...

And the reason why advertisers still feel its worth it is because, unlike you, the majority of the listeners don't "tire of hearing so many commercials," as you put it.
 
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