Life is slowly returning to normal for us at Eckhartz Press. Tonight we're even having a book launch party...our first one in two years. Randy Merkin and his book "Behind the Glass: Stories from a Sports Radio Producer" are the stars. Come out and see him, meet him, buy his book, and get it autographed tonight November 18, at the Claim Company in Northbrook (776 Skokie Blvd.) Drop by any time 6:30 - 8:30 pm. Dave and I will be there too. We hope to see you there!
Eckhartz Press author Brent Petersen (Truffle Hunt) has a great website, in case you haven't checked it out before. It's called Destination Eat Drink (He has a podcast with the same name on the Radio Misfits Podcast Network). Today's piece is a great one. Here's a short excerpt pointing out that the conventional tourism adage is wrong...you should NOT travel like a local...
Locals get up early every morning and go to a job they hate. Locals are worried about their kids’ school. Locals are eating leftovers for dinner in front of the TV. Locals are paying bills
Meanwhile, tourists are sleeping in at their luxurious hotel. Tourists turned on their “out of office” automatic email reply. Tourists left the kids with grandma. Tourists are eating at gourmet restaurants every night. Tourists put everything on the credit card that they won’t worry about paying until they get home.
Locals don’t go to vineyards for wine tastings or to the top of the Eifel Tower. They’re too busy getting crushed on the subway during their commute.
Locals don’t visit a museum and then have a leisurely lunch at a cafe while people watching. They scarf down a sandwich at their desk between depressingly soul-sucking meetings.
Locals don’t take a sunset cruise complete with hors d’oeuvres and cocktails. They’re answering after-hours emails and desperately trying to get the kids ready for bed.
Happy for Lisa Dent. She was named the new afternoon voice at WGN Radio, according to today's Robert Feder column. Steve Bertrand stays aboard as newsman. Anna Devlantas loses her show, but will remain on the staff as a reporter.
The new WGN lineup is...
6 to 10 a.m. Bob Sirott
10 a.m. to 2 p.m. John Williams (including the Wintrust Business Lunch at noon)
2 to 6 p.m. Lisa Dent and Steve Bertrand
6 to 7 p.m. WGN Radio’s Money Matters (airing early 2022)
7 to 10 p.m. John Records Landecker
Of course, I have previously interviewed Lisa. When we spoke in 2016, she was the morning co-host at US-99.
This week's Minutia Men Celebrity Interview is with actor Dan Butler, ("Bulldog" on Frasier). He's in town for the play "When Harry Met Rehab" https://radiomisfits.com/mmci87/
Lots of good news for us at Eckhartz Press these days. Our latest book (not even released yet) has already been optioned for a movie. From Robert Feder's column this morning...
A new book about the late Chicago White Sox legend Dick Allen has just been optioned for a documentary film. Chili Dog MVP: Dick Allen, The 1972 White Sox and a Transforming Chicago, soon to be published by Chicago-based Eckhartz Press, was written by John Owens and Dr. David Fletcher and edited by veteran sportswriter, baseball historian and author George Castle. (Here is the link to order.) “We look back at this unique time in Chicago history, when the arrival of a controversial slugger lifted the Sox out of a daunting hole and united a fractious fan base during a time when Chicago was going through tremendous changes,” said Owens, a longtime producer and president of the Chicago/Midwest chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. Allen, who missed induction to Cooperstown by one vote in 2014, is on the 10-person National Baseball Hall of Fame’s Golden Days Era Committee ballot. Andy Billman, the former ESPN producer who directed episodes of the “30 For 30” series, optioned the book and will be with Allen’s family in Orlando for the Hall of Fame vote December 5. A portion of the book’s proceeds will be donated to Gilda’s Club Chicago.
NEW: The #2020Census #CenterOfPopulation is near Hartville, a town of about 600 people in central southern Missouri.
— U.S. Census Bureau (@uscensusbureau) November 16, 2021
The #CenterOfPop is calculated every 10 years and helps quantify how fast and in what direction the population is moving.
Learn more: https://t.co/MKjoqqUX8e pic.twitter.com/V3wtGRu1ut
For the next two weeks we have a sale (while supplies last) of my EveryCubEver book (2021 edition) at Eckhartz Press. It's 50% off until the end of the month. The new 2022 version (at full price) will be coming out in December. Click here to order.
This is tremendous https://t.co/PEOlhoh1Kh
— Rick Kaempfer (@RickKaempfer) November 10, 2021
Sorry to hear about this. I thought Williams did the best show on MSNBC.
Born OTD in 1897, Harvey Hendrick. Gink, as he was known, was a utility man in the big leagues for eleven seasons, including one year with the Cubs-1933. Sad ending for Gink. Just a few years after his playing career ended, he shot himself to death at the age of 43. #everyCubever pic.twitter.com/rUyP5aOnVE
— Rick Kaempfer (@RickKaempfer) November 9, 2021
Looking for something to do tonight? This will be a fun virtual event at the Glencoe Library. I'll be on-line checking it out. Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/.../reg.../WN_P2-K0OSASDiam84YtwzZoA
The discussion on FOX about the Rodgers situation
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) November 7, 2021
Jimmy: "I'm disappointed in his selfish actions."
Howie: "Possibly putting your teammates in jeopardy is selfish."
Terry: "Let me give Rodgers some advice, it be nice if he came to the Navel academy and learn how to be honest." pic.twitter.com/O9rT6kDNXm
Come for the Tom Waits story you have to hear, stay for West Bank Story @MinutiaMen https://t.co/E3yZNuygvC
— Rick Kaempfer (@RickKaempfer) November 7, 2021
To borrow @wgnkingjohn’s line - ‘HOKEY SMOKES!’ - looky what @WGNRadio did on their web site! Thank you @1stieman & everyone else at the station! Oh, & @SteveBertrand - when you least expect it, there might be pizza 😁🍕 https://t.co/wsAfrsbNrN
— Roger Badesch (@TeacherRB) November 6, 2021
Thanks to everyone who came out to Elgin on Saturday to meet Eckhartz Press author Jim Baumann (Grammar Moses). Jim sold a lot of books while managing to stay safe and follow protocols. He also had a great time.
Here are a few reviews...
“As a new talk show, finding the right executive producer is vital to a show’s long-term success. I can say that the Waddle & Silvy Show has been successful over parts of three decades due, in part, to Randy Merkin. After his sweaty first interview with Waddle, our PD, and me in 2007, Randy quickly established relationships with A-list guests, a trust with Chicago teams, and a quick wit on the air.
Merk is much more than an executive producer & is one of the best storytellers I know. I’ve enjoyed watching him creatively navigate booking the best guests in the business. And, if he’s booked them once, they continue to join us thanks to Merk establishing a trust that few other producers earn. Merk is a pro’s pro, a lifelong friend & radio brother.”
“Randy is an incredible radio talent. His vast knowledge of the business and bottomless pool of contacts are unmatched. I’ve learned a lot about the business from Randy. His talent is only exceeded by his loyalty and integrity. Randy is the best!!!”
”In our years together I saw Randy go from green to whatever the opposite is when it comes to experience. I also saw him go from black to grey (now I’m talking hair), maybe from having to deal with us! But when it came to guest booking, I’ve never been with anyone better. My partner, Bob Berger, and I would marvel at his naivete when it came to his guest pursuits, and what he said he could deliver, until he actually DELIVERED! What a great joy it was for us to have those conversations, thanks to Randy’s passion and ‘never take no for an answer approach.’ He was the best!”
“After more than 40 years in radio, I can tell you that Randy’s the best. There’s nobody better at booking guests! If there was a Hall of Fame for producers, Randy would get in on the first ballot. The list of those he somehow convinced to come on radio shows is a who’s who’s of the sports world and beyond. I was lucky enough to be in front of the microphone for many of those interviews.”
“While we cherish champions in the world of sports, we cheer louder for champions in the game of life. Character, integrity and honesty matter. That sums up Randy Merkin.”
