Musings, observations, and written works from the publisher of Eckhartz Press, the media critic for the Illinois Entertainer, co-host of Minutia Men, Minutia Men Celebrity Interview and Free Kicks, and the author of "The Loop Files", "Back in the D.D.R", "EveryCubEver", "The Living Wills", "$everance," "Father Knows Nothing," "The Radio Producer's Handbook," "Records Truly Is My Middle Name", and "Gruen Weiss Vor".
Friday, April 03, 2015
Funny Tweet
why isn't humanity extinct yet pic.twitter.com/F8sfcYUjfP
— Quad (@QuadPiece) April 2, 2015
Is the Iran Deal a Good One?
It's a long and thorough analysis of a pretty difficult-to-understand situation. The headline says it all: "This is an astonishingly good Iran deal"
I hope he's right.
Et tu, Netflix?
Scratch Netflix from that list.
Their latest proposed series is a "Full House" revival.
Elliott Harris
When I saw another "Cubbie Blues" contributor (Brian Bernardoni) post this tweet yesterday, I feared the worst...
My friend @elliottharris wrote the hardest & most beautiful piece about fatherhood & love. http://t.co/TGGMBrBxxq
— B.A. Bernardoni (@BrianBernardoni) April 2, 2015
Elliott's daughter (only 36 years old) passed away. Elliott wrote a gut-wrenching and heartbreaking tribute to her. You can read it here.
My deepest condolences and prayers go out to Elliott and his entire family.
Only in Germany
Thursday, April 02, 2015
Wrigley Construction
Wrigley Field construction then and now. 1937 bleachers 2015 videoboard #TBT #WrigleyField pic.twitter.com/0PDn1vxLlA
— Wrigley Field (@WrigleyBlog) April 2, 2015
Another update. First things first...
Budweiser sign now up in Right Field #WrigleyField #WrigleyRenovations pic.twitter.com/SX95RmA285
— Wrigley Renovations (@WrigleyRenovate) April 2, 2015
Doing the Impossible
Roberto Garza Leaving the Bears
According to a Chicago Tribune report, the Bears are releasing their long-time offensive lineman Roberto Garza.
It's a Good Thing I Didn't Go To Law School
I'm still not 100% sure I understand what is says. I think it sounds like a reasonable fix, but I can't be positive there wasn't some sort of loophole inserted.
Legal-ese really makes my head hurt.
Julian's Tribute to his Mom
Wednesday, April 01, 2015
RIP Cynthia Lennon
Sad news, delivered by her (and John's) son Julian.
Cynthia Lennon has passed away at the age of 74.
Her story and John's treatment of her is actually pretty tragic. It's hard for me to reconcile John the man (who treated his wife so terribly) and John the artist.
Eddie V
I spoke with Eddie Volkman about his new podcast, the current status of his relationship with Jobo, and his plans for the future.
You can read it here.
Joni Mitchell
She has since regained consciousness, but as of this morning, she was in intensive care. Sending positive vibes to Joni--I hope she fully recovers.
I met Joni back in 1985 when she came to Champaign-Urbana for Farm Aid. Our radio station had a party the night before the concert, and she was one of the artist who came to say hello. She was super nice and gracious to us. (I met most of the others backstage the next day at the show--and trust me--they weren't all that way)
She's probably best known for "Woodstock", but to me, this one is her masterpiece...
We're #10!
Three CBS all-newsers are in the top ten (at #4, #7 and #10). And you’ve already read about Hubbard’s #2-ranked WTOP Washington DC. So here’s the BIA/Kelsey top ten list - #1, iHeart CHR KIIS Los Angeles ($65.9 million). #2, all-news WTOP at $63.5 million. #3, iHeart CHR “Z100” WHTZ New York at $51 million. #4, CBS Radio’s all-news WCBS New York at $49.2 million. #5, iHeart hot AC KBIG Los Angeles at $42.9 million. #6, iHeart adult contemporary “Lite” WLTW New York at $41.5 million. The #7 rank is a tie between two CBS-owned stations in New York - all-news “1010 WINS” and all-sports WFAN-AM/FM, both at $41 million. #9 is CBS Radio’s alternative rock KROQ Los Angeles at $40.2 million. And #10 hails from Chicago – CBS-owned all-news WBBM (780/105.9 FM) at $39.2 million. Once upon a time, if a Chicago station made the national top-ten list, it was Tribune’s talk WGN. Now we see the muscle of all-news.
Tuesday, March 31, 2015
Harvey Weinstein Accused of Groping
Again, it shouldn't matter. I just wonder.
It's also important to note that Weinstein hasn't been charged with anything. He was only questioned by police.
The Next Live Musical?
I would like to point out, however, that The Wiz was never good.
Why on earth would you remake that one? An attempted explanation is here.
Van Halen on Jimmy Kimmel
Here's the video of the first take, with David Lee Roth getting taped up off-stage...
Today on JOBC (March 31)
The Cubs plan to honor the late Ernie Banks on Opening Day. Ever wonder how Ernie's stats line up based on modern baseball statistics? The Sun Times did an analysis yesterday. Turns out, Ernie really was one of all-time greats.
Yesterday the Cubs sent Bryant, Russell and Baez down to the minors. All three figure to be in the starting lineup for Triple-A Iowa in April. Javy's situation is analyzed by CSN Chicago.
On JOBC...
How long ago was 1908? Chicago had a Republican Mayor and the wrong "inventor" of baseball was declared. He didn't invent baseball, but he did start the Civil War. Abner Doubleday was the man who led the Union troops at Fort Sumter. All that and the Cubs barnstorming their way back to Chicago at This Week in 1908.
Today's Cubs birthdays include a tongue twister.
Monday, March 30, 2015
Who will replace Jon Stewart?
According to Variety, one of the people being considered as the new host of the Daily Show is named Trevor Noah.
Read about him here.
UPDATE: He was just named new host of the show. So there.
A sampling of his stand up comedy...
Hot Rod Hundley
“Hot Rod” Hundley played eight seasons of pro basketball with the Lakers – both in their original market of Minneapolis (where the name made sense) and then L.A. (where the team became legendary, despite the relative lack of lakes). When Hundley’s playing days were over, he made the difficult transition to sportscaster, working for the Lakers and the Phoenix Suns - then calling the games of the NBA Jazz for 35 years. He followed the expansion team from New Orleans to Salt Lake City in 1979. The Jazz announced over the weekend that Hundley passed away at 80, at his home in Phoenix. He’d been dealing with Alzheimer’s. The Sporting News says in 2010, “the Jazz hung a banner in his honor, and redecorated the press room, featuring a mural with his signature phrase, ‘You Gotta Love It, Baby.”
Johnny B
Westwood One says The Jonathon Brandmeier Show is rolling out on 100 stations today. The 10 to 1 weekdy talk program will incude as affiliates, KABC-AM in Los Angeles, KLIF-AM in Dallas, WWBA-AM in Tampa and KKAT-AM in Salt Lake City. Brandmeier's home bas affiliates is WLS-AM in Chicago. Westwood One’s SVP for Affiliate Sales Dennis Green said, “We are elated to be launching Jonathan Brandmeier on 100 stations. Our affiliates have come to trust the Westwood One team to provide the best talent for stations and Brandmeier will be no exception. The new wave of Talk Radio Unhinged is coming to your market as we feature news as entertainment as only Johnny B can deliver!”
Johnny B could be the first step in syndicated radio's movement away from political talk. Several of those stations he's appearing on used to be 24-hour conservative-talk stations.
Every Cub Ever (Z)
Today Just One Bad Century features EVERY CUB EVER beginning with the letter Z. 12 entries in all–from Zip Zabel to Dutch Zwilling.
What will you find there? Four classic baseball cards, three videos, one manager, three Cubs who played in the first season at Wrigley, a player who was banned from baseball and worked in a speakeasy, Big Z, Bunions, Popeye, and the very last entry in the baseball encyclopedia.
Check it out here.
Spring Break
The Bernstein-Spiegel Apology Tour
Both men apologized profusely on the air already.
Cristal's statement leads you to believe she isn't completely satisfied with the apologies.
The Association for Women Journalists is definitely not satisfied either.
I get what people are saying about the apologies--claiming both men are only apologizing because they were caught. But while I'm not a big fan of the way Bernstein conducts himself on the air (there is no-one who belittles his own listeners more than he does), I also listened to his apology, and it was obvious to me that he was sincere. He knows he absolutely shouldn't have said what he said, and is truly sorry for saying it. Spiegel's apology was even more heartfelt and authentic, in my book. These were not the typical "I'm sorry you were offended by my comments" apologies that blame the offended and not the offender.
I understand why both Cristal and the AWJ are still upset, but I honestly don't think Bernstein and/or Spiegel should have to say or do more than they already have...other than to never do it again.
I'd be shocked if either of them ever did.
On the other hand, it's not too late for sports radio to add more female voices, and more women behind-the-scenes (producers, management, etc.) From that perspective, this can turn into a positive moment. It's about time to end that whole locker room mentality. It's not even appropriate in a locker room anymore. There's no doubt that it exists in sports radio. No doubt at all.
In offices where there are more women around, men simply don't feel comfortable saying these sorts of things. They'll still think them, but at least they'll have the common decency not to say them out loud.
More Cosby Accusers
Two more women.
If this is a conspiracy against Cosby, it's a massive one.