July 8

Radio AM to FM: July 8, 2005

Bonaduce Leaves Star

Jamie and Danny are no more on Star 98.7. KYSR management decided not to renew Danny Bonaduce's contract, so he was shown the door after last Friday's morning show was over.

Station manager Brad Samuel told industry newspaper Radio and Records, "Danny has been a valuable member of Star for years, but we've chosen to go in a different creative direction."

Whether that direction means actually having an entertaining morning show remains to be seen. Jamie and Danny, like Jamie, Frosty and Frank before it, consistently set new lows both in quality and entertainment value. I actually had to remove Star from my car stereo presets so I wouldn't accidentally tune in during morning drive and ruin my entire day hearing mere seconds of Jamie White's obnoxious drivel. Many readers have told me the same thing.

What White does behind the scenes to keep her job must be monumental. In fact, now that Bonaduce's gone, if they'd just follow through and get rid of White, the Jamie and Danny show might be tolerable.

No such luck, unfortunately. As of July 5th, the new morning show is known as Jamie, Jack and Stretch ... White, board operator Jack Heine and producer Mike "Stretch" Roberts. Same show, different male partners, both of whom sound just like Bonaduce. Still the worst show in all of Southern California.

If history repeats itself, Bonaduce will go on to become bigger and better: when Frosty Stillwell and Frank Kramer left KYSR to join Heidi Hamilton on KLSX, lo and behold, "Heidi, Frosty and Frank," aka The Triplets, actually became a good show. Bonaduce, paired with someone talented, may make a good partner. Doubtful, as he definitely has a voice for newspapers. But possible.

Rolling

XM Satellite Radio announced last week that another 640,000 people subscribed to the subscription radio service. That brings the total to 4.4 million.

Clap for the Wolfman

Uncle Ricky's Reel Top 40 Radio Repository this week features a tribute to Wolfman Jack, produced the Liberty Radio Network after his unexpected death on July 1st, 1995. Hard to believe it's been 10 years already.

Check it out at www.reelradio.com.

The Legend Continues

Competition is supposed to make things better, right? If two companies compete, quality is supposed to go up while costs go down.

So why does KLOS sound so much better ever since the demise of sole format competitor Arrow 93 a few months ago? Is it some sort of renewed spirit on the parts of the jocks, staff and programmer Rita Wilde? Is it having Joe Benson back on the air? Or is it ... something else?

Regardless, I'm giving credit where credit is due. KLOS, you're sounding great!

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