The program dealt with the
primary mission of the station, which was technology news and stocks. I was brought in to lighten the format a bit
and make it play to a broader audience
In my first three months there, the ratings improved dramatically ,
proving that I was doing what I was hired to do. I was the highest rated
segment of the day. It was about that
time that I was told that my show played too much to the average person and
that I had to be more serious and play to the “internet professional”. I was
told to cut back on my approach. It was then that the station disappeared from
the ratings, never to return. Being a
good employee, I did what they said, but in spite of that, the powers that be
at CNET (the dot com side, not the broadcast professional who hired me) felt I
was in their words “too much of a personality”. They weren’t radio people.
I am. It wasn’t a good fit.
Play-TV (Play
Incorporated) TV Talk Program
This was one of the more
experimental times in my life. Being
very much into new technologies for communication, I teamed up with a friend
who was the CEO of Play Inc. and started an Internet broadcasting network. We were live 12 hours a day from various
locations from my place in San Francisco to a home in Revelstoke, British
Columbia using a state of the art system that replaced an entire TV studio with
a box and a computer. My show was
2:00pm to 4:00pm PST Monday through Friday.
It came to an end due to the bankruptcy of the parent company.
KITS (Live 105), San
Francisco, California – 6 to10am
This was a two-part
employment where I was let go and brought back again. It was also the most successful of my San Francisco career. It was here that I maintained the most popular
non-news morning show in the bay area.
The program could be best described as an entertainment show and
featured comedians (the first show in the country to do so on a regular basis),
big names in show business, musicians who would perform, authors and
newsmakers. In addition it had a live
studio audience and on special occasions a live orchestra.
It was a real moneymaker and
was responsible for about 50% of the station’s billing. I was replaced in July 1997 when CBS bought
the station and wanted a home for Howard Stern. I continued to get paid for the remainder of my contract.
January 1989 – April 1990
WIOD, Miami, Florida - 2 to 6pm Talk Format
This was a quickie in order
to keep working during my hiatus from KITS.
KQAK (The Quake) 6 to
10am Modern Rock/ Talk show
This job was good news and
bad news. The good news was that I
became the top paid talent in the market.
The bad news was that the person, who owned the station, handled the station
finances questionably. After about two
years, the station was sold up to its ears in debt. The format was changed to one that I couldn’t fit. I had a clause in my contract, which gave me
full control over the content of the program.
They either had to play or pay.
They chose to pay. KITS came
along and the GM, taking a cue from football deals bought me out for half the
contract’s worth, while KQAK’s successors still paid the other half.
KMEL San Francisco,
California – 6 to10 am CHR/ Talk show
It was here that the
prodigal son returned home to San Francisco.
I played some music, but most of the show was guests and myself. The show became the #1 non-news morning show
in San Francisco. I left for
considerably better money offered by KQAK.
1977-1980
An experimental
period. References upon request.
1972 – 1977
WPLJ (ABC), New York 2 to 6am
Here I did a similar program
that I did at WMCA (see below) and it became the #1 overnight show in New York
for several years. It included drop in
guest like John Lennon, Stevie Wonder and Jack Nicholson along with the
political radicals of the time.
1970 - 1972
This was a weekly program
about technology where I did a segment that dealt primarily with consumer
electronics. The segment was called
“User Friendly” and it attempted to make technology accessible to everyone
through the use of easy to understand concepts and a lot of humor. My work here garnered me an EMMY for
“Outstanding Achievement: Talent – Programming”.
“Bay To Breakers Special
Did a segment and won my
first EMMY for a group effort in sports.
1985 - 1989
“Comedy Tonight” - Host
KQED-TV (PBS Network) San
Francisco, California
A series of comedy programs
featuring sets by then up and coming comedians like Whoopie Goldberg and Dana
Carvey. Nationally syndicated to PBS
Stations around the country. I was the
host for 4 seasons.
Other Stations prior to New York:
60’s
WIND, Chicago,
Illinois DJ
WLOL, Minneapolis, Minnesota Talk
KILT, Houston, Texas
DJ/Talk
KGMS, Sacramento,
California Production
KFIV, Modesto,
California DJ
KLAD, Klamath Falls,
Oregon DJ
KTIM, San Rafael,
California Everything. (my first radio job)