Superstars
In an earlier article on the Specs Howard site (written by someone other than me) www.specshoward.edu, local radio guys, Deminski & Doyle were referred to as WAY COOL SUPERSTARS of the former WKRK.
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you know that our superstars are not on the radio at the moment, having been unable to agree to contract terms with CBS in December.
With such a massive listenership, Deminski put up a blog site for the show and it can be found here: www.deminskianddoyleshow.com/
Thanks Jeff. We never spoke – only left messages on each others voice-mails – but based on their new blog, and past correspondence I received from both Deminski and Doyle, I have come to the conclusion that they are NOT superstars! They are just regular guys like you and me, just doing a show (at least they USED to). They happened to hit on a chemistry that was good enough to survive eight years on Detroit radio. Being regular guys as they are is part of that success.
Jeff’s former colleague, Gregg Henson (www.gregghenson.com), whom I’ve mentioned before, has been out of town for a couple years. Gregg, however, has kept in touch with Detroit radio as well. Gregg has been Program Director and host at KVET in Austin, Texas, but he is ALSO now off the air, although he promises to do more podcast shows “just for fun.”
In the past, Henson managed to reunite for at least one podcast show with Michelle McKormick (his former on-air co-host from his WKRK days). Our friend, Art Vuolo has even been a guest on Henson’s podcast, revealing that he doesn’t like “dirty radio,” but variety is also what makes radio go ‘round (that's what I say!).
Gregg, apparently likes it all, as long as the hosts’ name is not Jay Towers! Best of luck, by the way, to the Henson’s on their new business, a “Jungle Java” franchise in Austin, Texas. Henson still needs to be back on the radio, however, along with Jeff and Bill. There’s way too much mediocrity on radio these days. It needs all the talent it can get.
If they all just want to do podcasts from home, we’ll listen to whatever we can get.
Can’t wait for Ted “The Bear” Richards’ return to Detroit radio February 1. Ted will be doing afternoons on WOMC 104.3. The promos that have been running on the station are great! I love the one where he’s trying to convince someone at the airport he really is who he is and the person doesn’t believe it… so he does his CKLW delivery, followed by one of the old jingles. If you were around back then, and that doesn’t make you smile, nothing will! Ted was one of my many heroes way back. In fact I have his CKLW publicity photo signed to me in 1983. I was doing a jazz show at Eastern Michigan University’s station when Ted was still on the air on The Big 8. My program director at WEMU said I sounded too “commercial.” Thank you Ted for that influence!
Catch you all later…
Bob
