September 5th, 2010 
joel College football began it’s regular season this past weekend with wins by Penn State and Notre Dame, along with Gannon, Edinboro, and Mercyhurst, and a loss for Pitt. Kickoff Weekend for the NFL launches this Thursday night as the Minnesota Vikings fly south to the Super Dome to take on the World Champion New Orleans Saints.
When you mix the start of the grid game and school starting, along with the end of summer vacations and school starting, I think mentally and emotionally this time of year might as well be call New Years more than January 1st.
It’s also time for the new fall TV season to start, often accompanied by new looks in graphics or sets or personalities.
It’s also a good time for our producers of news and entertainment to redouble their efforts after a very enjoyable summer to bring us their best as they communicate their craft and facilitate our community’s unity. That sound too flowery for you? How about we double check our facts, we put a little extra finesse into the package, do a little more show prep for the shift, make sure all of our links go to the right places.
It’s a new year.
Freely converse about all things Erie media and beyond on this open forum:
- Comments accepted in the box below
- Email: joel@nataliemedia.com
- Twitter: @pressandtower
Embrace the chaos!
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Let me preface my observations of the MDA Labor Day Telethon on WJET by saying first that I am reluctant to comment because anything that raises money for neuro- muscular research is worth it, whether it is bad TV or not.
Ok…Here goes, and please feedback is welcome.
The 20 minute “live” local breaks are painful, period. The Mike Gallagher vignettes are pre-produced but all look alike whether its a child struggling with the disease or shamrocks at a convenience store. The formula is as follows:
-SFX music up and under
-Shmaltzy narrative
-sound bite
-badly shot stand up bridge
-SFX music up and out (usually with slow motion video)
cue Paul Anka “Good morning yesterdaaaaaaaay!”
I guess I’m wondering just how many times Mike can work his own family into the schtick (similar to the midmight mass when he repeatedly thanks his family for allowing him to be away for such a long grueling time to prepare for such a broadcast extravaganza!)
Assigning a good producer for the telethon might prevent it from becoming the Gallagher Show (no watermelons were smashed during filming)but we all no that Nextstar won’t do that (spend more money) … but what about MDA?
I will say however, that Jerry Lewis was extremely emotional this year and it makes you wonder just how long he’ll be with us.
Thoughts?
I have always enjoyed watching the MDA telethon. However, when it comes to the local breaks I turn the channel. I just cannot tolerate watching them any longer. I wish someone would tell the individual in question that it is never about himself? But that wont happen so I’ll just move on.
I hope he is around longer but I would think Jerry doesn’t have much time left on this earth.
Couple questions…
1. WTWF/93.9 The Wolf has been around for several years now. Are they ever going to stop saying “the new 93.9 The Wolf”? I can see a year but this long into it, come on.
2. Why did Connie Media rebrand US-93.9 to “the Wolf” and change call letters. They didnt change formats. They didnt change people. They didnt change owners. Same music so why a new name? I know its been several years but I have always wondered since the change.
It was when Rambaldo owned 93.9 that the change from US 93.9 to The Wolf occured. So they did change owners before the switch. US was more classic country based mixed with new country while The Wolf plays more current titles as 90′s – Now or “Young Country.” The station has become the country station in Erie over Country 98 who should mix in more classic titles & go after some older demos while The Wolf skews younger.
Hey K104Ever, I agree with you. Rebranding a station lends itself to the idea that we need to make money by making something new… case in point, Country Fair Roaster’s Choice Coffee… still tastes the same, still looks the same… but it costs 30 cents more for each 20 oz. cupful. Also, everyone loves something new! Bob was NUMBER 1, but now, it’s number 4… same as another station that comes to mind (sorry, certain grudges are hard to part with).
Anyhow, I loved 70s radio when the Star was a “K” and Jet used to have music other than small bumper snippets. I get down on my knees every night (i do), and pray that WJET will return to it’s musical roots. Even with the top notch Barry and Jim Erie In The Morning Show, I think Jet should have music. Starship’s We Built This City comes to mind at this point. I also have thoughts of Liv Tyler in That Thing You Do screaming when she heard a favorite song on JET.
I tell ya, getting rid of those computers and replacing them with live human enthusiasm would help, don’t ya think?
@K104Ever: “The New 93.9 The Wolf” means we play new country, not look at us we are new!
@David: If the Boston Store studios were on the 6th floor you would never know the difference between a computer or “live human enthusiasm”
Tommy, I’m sorry. I think you have me mistaken for the average listener. The average radio listener is in the dark as to what they are hearing and/or seeing.
I LOVE ERIE RADIO!!! Can I stress that any more emphatically? I am a great admirer of ERIE radio and the local talented broadcasters who make it great, and I have been for years! I grew up with JET 14 (of the Top 40 format days) and WRIE 1330 and WCCK (K104). I had the wonderful opportunity to be in a radio studio with other people, and learn from them.
In my very humble opinion, Barry Dain Steinhagen and Captain Dan are 2 of the greatest professional broadcasters on the Erie radio airwaves, and they are still here in Erie! We, as the listening audience, are very fortunate. Either voice could easily be heard in major markets like New York, or Los Angeles or Boston. I know for a fact that Barry was, at one time, a news reporter at WWWE in Cleveland while working an Erie shift. I have seen him come into a studio with a pile of newspaper clippings covered with yellow highlighter markings… the man is educated and he does his homework. What it must be to have them as teachers… one can only wonder or quite possibly dream!
So, you see when Mr. Richard A. Rambaldo, brought radio, visual radio, to the Boston Store in 2001, I was overcome with enthusiasm. You can’t get a true genuine human emotion like enthusiasm from a computer. It was Mr. Ramblado who invited us to come see his wonderful stations and the people inside the studios and get to know them on the human being level. My only regret with Mr. Rambaldo’s efforts is that he did not have the foresight to see his stations 10 years into the future.
I am reminded of the interview question, “Where do you see yourself in 5 years?” I look at those studios, not just pass by them as everyone does, but I see the lost potential and it really, REALLY, REALLY bothers me. Sell the three experiments inside and put more of a focus into the headliners out front if you have to save some bucks, but I see empty studios and I visualize “Space Available” signs in the not too distant future.
This thought would come to mind even if I were on the 6th floor, and I would be, because you can’t stop me from visiting those windows! You just can’t!
I wanted to thank Steve Gorman, GM of Waldameer and David Belmondo for taking time to come to my daughter’s school today. She is in 2nd grade at Iroquois Elementary school. Last year her class had a book published called “Fun at Waldameer”. Well, today, the GM of Waldameer came in for a special presentation. The kids read the book to him and gave him a gift copy. I think it was very nice to take some time from his busy schedule to do this. Also, David Belmondo covered the story and was very good with the kids. Both of them were kind enough to stick around and sign autographs in the kid’s books.
Also thank you to Mrs. Zukowski and Dr. Urban for making it possible.
My daughter was very excited!
Thank you!!!
As a former co-worker of David Belmondo’s, I’m happy to read this.
David treated me like one of his own sons when I worked there and he’s one of the few true professionals left in television news.
He does the job well and he does it right.
Belmondo rocks! A gentleman and he always knows how to treat the grunts right. Glad to see Dave getting the props he deserves.
Dave is one of the good guys. Though he was a competitor I always felt he was good competition.
From Lou Baxter’s Facebook page….JET-TV’s Kim Thomas has been named the new co-anchor of Action News 24.
Former weekend sports anchor Craig Smylie has been promoted to Sports Director and weekday sports anchor. And veteran news anchor Sean Lafferty has been named Managing Editor of Action News 24 and FOX 66. Congrats on all the promotions!
Those are some good moves on behalf of Channel 24. Kim Thomas at the Anchor desk is a no-brainer. She won’t bolt after 18 months like someone else. Craig Smylie is very competent as a Sports Anchor and the best move of all, naming Sean as Managing Editor. They knocked it out of the park this time. Almost too easy on their part, and makes the other competition look clueless.
I, too, was a coworker with Mr. David Belmondo. I was always impressed with his passion and dedication to his work. A top notch act to be sure. I don’t know how he achieved the world record title of most durable DJ…but he did it. I love his many trips down Route 35 and 24. I also knew about his escapades from climbing a radio tower. After reading the framed newspaper article, I said to myself…. “Wow, that man had passion!” Erie media is definitely fortunate to have that passion and attitude among it’s resources.
good deal
Jet is about to return to its news powerhouse of old. Look out for more adventures soon!
Does this pertain to Jet TV or Jet Radio?