The Press and Tower

Hi Joel,

Actually, Chuck and Brenda are the 4th incarnation…For about 3 years (from approx 1997-2000) the Breakfast Club was anchored by the late Cosmo Rose…a very funny and nice guy who was taken from us at a much too young age.

Thanks Jim, for the correction…can’t believe I forgot Cosmo.

Forgot about Dana Boles. Whatever happened to him?

Having worked with Dana in Jamestown, NY in 1980-81 and also at the time of Mix 103.7 (1991-1992) or so, his last name is actually spelled Bolles.

I know about 4 years ago he was working at WWCB in Corry for a brief time in middays. No clue where he is now.

So Joel…where are your comments?

Sorry about that max…Friday turned into Monday on a busy working weekend. Here’s my impression of the Breakfast Club.

Positives:
• strong show prep…they knew where they were going
• tight board operation
• very positive and up sounding show
• good basics: time/temp/song ID
Negatives:
• Breakfast Club “dish” bit was weak; duped Indonesians don’t really relate to hurried Erieites
• “Fifth Caller” contests were missed opportunities to make listeners the stars by not doing some sort of game, or even putting their thankful voices on the air.
• No takeaways, nothing here that I would repeat later at the watercooler

There’s a lot to like with Chuck and Brenda, they are smooth, professional and play a good variety of music. What are missing are the non-tangibles that make a morning show “appointment radio;” where the listener feels like if they don’t listen, they’ll regret that they missed something.

Noticed a story in the Times this week featuring Celleste Bolles, Dana’s wife. She’s a 5th grade teacher at Erie Day School. I’d imagine then that Dana is still in the area.

What Erie radio lacks is a morning show that entertains.
I give you the example of a former Erie radio personality who now dominates Columbus morning radio, Dave Kaylan.
The NCI Morning Zoo as it is know incorporates three hosts, plus sports and newscasters. Usually, Dave and another co host remain in studio while, Jimmy Jam is out doing some crazy bit or contest “live” via remote. The group knows how to keep a drive time audience tuned in and yes, they are usually the topic of discussion at many central Ohio watercoolers.
I once heard Dave riding a COTA bus (the same as EMTA) He had one side of the bus singing with the other joining in to the tune Row Row Row your Boat. But here are Dave’s lyrics…

Ride ride ride the bus off to school or work.
If you don’t ride a COTA bus you’re a stupid jerk!

He also placed a thousand Glad stick ups in the waste to energy plant to elliminate the stink.

What Erie needs is an owner to invest in morning radio.
And yes, that includes a dedicated news person.

Last I heard Dana was working in the Islands, get this, as a tropical plant buyer for a local flower and plant business. Given his love of certain….plants…sounds like a fitting gig!

Thanks John

The WNCI Morning Zoo is also syndicated in a number of large to major markets. Dave Kaelin actually worked in Erie, first as ‘Sean Collins’ at Ron Seggi’s WSEG (Now Z102.3) and later Jet FM 102 with a stop in St. Marys in between as I recall.

RRR: I can’t believe that anyone still listens to that kind of sophomoric “Morning Zoo” stuff, much less admits it at work.

My dearest “Erie Blog Watch”,
Yes it is true. Many people actually turn to radio to be entertained in the morning, as well as informed. Since very few Erie radio stations are informing listeners with anything more than “rip and read” headlines from a morning co-host, then perhaps “entertaining” would be a logical direction for program directors to pursue.
Give my best to Bob Edwards, Michelle Norris and Robert Seagull.

Matt in the Morning on Country 98 was great at writing songs about stuff that was going on in Erie and regular day stuff. I miss his songs even after 2 years. ANyone know where he is?