It's a sad day, my friends... For today marks the official death of talk radio in Los Angeles. Today at 5pm, CBS will be pulling the plug on KLSX - better known as 97.1 FM TALK. Adam Carolla, Teresa Strasser, Frosty Stilwell, Heidi Hamilton, Frank Kramer, Tim Conway Jr., Danny Bonaduce, and that bastion of integrity Tom Leykis will all cease to be heard on LA radio.
The business of radio is not always kind to the people whom it employs - it feels like it was just yesterday when KYSR's Jamie White, Jack Heine and Mike Roberts (aka Jamie, Jack and Stench) were conspicuously yanked off of 98.7's airwaves with no explanation. No goodbye. No "best-of" wind-down series for the affiliates. No contract buy-out for the talent. Nada. Ouch.
Unlike Clear Channel, CBS has been classy enough to give the talent two days to say goodbye to the listeners, and I've been faithfully plugged in listening. Yesterday, Leykis took the opportunity to thank his fans for their continued loyalty for more than 10 years, and, in a surprising show of humility, he exalted the brass at CBS as Great Employers who have always looked out for him - and have subsequently taken care of him nicely... Quite nicely, or so he alluded.
...And just how nicely are they taking care of good ol' Tom? Are they doing so well by him that the whole radio station went down in flames as a result? Could 97.1 have been saved if it weren't for the greediness of Tom Leykis?
Yes, if you ask Frank Kramer. In a gloves-off broadcast this afternoon, the second 'F' of Frosty, Heidi, and Frank blasted the misogynistic afternoon-drive host, saying
Tom Leykis KILLED this radio station. We were all asked to take a pay cut, and *everyone* said 'Ok, we'll bend. We'll follow in the footsteps of Barack Obama and do our part. We'll all take a pay cut to save this station.' And guess who WOULDN'T. So when you listen to his last two hours tonight about how much he loves the listeners and all that bullcrap, just know - he doesn't care about them; he never did. I don't care WHAT he says - that man killed this station. He is responsible.
Forgive me if you were also listening and find that what I've written here isn't 100% verbatim Frank's quotes - it's hard to transcribe when three people are talking at once - but this was the sentiment, the gist, the overall feeling of anger and hatred that poured out from the stereo speakers. He was serious. This was no radio shtick; no silly-DJ banter on the last day. Frank. Was. Pissed. For their part, Heidi and Frosty did their best to steer Frank back on the 'hey, we're on to better things' bandwagon - though they did divulge that they agreed to take pay cuts to save the station, as would Carolla.
For what it's worth, Frank eventually broke down in tears over the death over their show and station, and called everyone (Tom included) "family." ...But wow. Just plain wow. I guess if this is true - and the station could have had a reprieve if Leykis would've agreed to a pay cut - then that makes him the selfish, neglectful and arrogant father of the "family." And if it's *not* true, then Leykis will have a chance to clear the air and defend himself at 3pm.
I worry for the future of radio.
**UPDATE**
At 3pm, Leykis took a moment to address Frank's accusations, and his defense can basically be summed up in two words: "prove it." Tom ended it by musing that maybe Frank was just "jealous" of his contract and security in life, and then condescendingly offered Frank the opportunity to use his bandwidth for the FHF podcast, in exchange for "working on [his] ranch planting tomatoes and possibly grapes." Wow.
23 comments:
Tom has some explaining to do.
But it makes me wonder why nobody else would have brought up this issue.
In show business, and in the corporate world in general, money and the prospects of future employment and ass kissing play too big of a role for anyone to really really show their true colors.
Which leads me to wonder what was Frank's motivation today. Was he just drunk off his ass to care or did he not know any better and couldn't find a better way to express himself amidst the hurt and frustration that is job loss.
Tom Leykis was at Tim Conway Jr's show last night along with a what seemed like a ton of other radio personalities from KLSX. Frosty was there briefly as well. It didn't really seem like other people shared the resentment that Frank had for Tom. I would think if that Frank's account were true, most people would not be able to stand the sight of Tom.
Which again brings up my point of corporate politics, money, and the prospects of future employment and business really clouding up any chance of people acting the same way as they feel.
My point of view: I've always known Tom Leykis was a scumbag. The thing with these radio talents and a shock jock like Tom Leykis is that they know what they are getting into and doing when they preach that they are there to help and they want to be a father to young men and educate them so they won't make the same mistakes they did.
In the end money is all that matters. Remember how much Tom used to brag to his callers how much he'd make. Just a couple weeks ago, I remember him talking over boorishly over a woman who disagreed with his ideals at his seven figure salary and that it's guaranteed over the next two years.
I would have been less saddened if just Tom Leykis was the only one to get the boot from the station.
I do really think for him, it's all about the money. What he says, his treatment of his callers, his so called philosophy, all a calculated repertoire that he developed over his vast experience at how to sucker in the greatest amount of not so bright people into thinking he is the "professor" or the "father/dad" and get the ratings while he rakes in a big salary.
Oh well, I guess that's the American way.
I'll miss Tim Conway Jr. the most on that station. Followed by FHF.
Adam Carolla is probably the most talented and intelligent but he's also annoying after a while and his boorishness and racist views become evident and then he just doesn't become so likeable after a while.
Tom Leykis is just a money driven, probably bitter at women (4 times divorced) middle aged monger with a lot of intelligence (and perhaps lot less compassion).
He has to invite friends and co workers over for Thanksgiving because his family doesn't attend. That's really revealing about a person.
-Graham Wellington
Tom never pretended to care about his listeners. He always maintained that he was there for the money.
Danny said something interesting during his hour. He said that he believed that the station had "Too many morning shows!" He clarified by saying that there were too many shows being paid morning show salaries. I think he somewhat indirectly validated what Frank said.
I hope FHF stay together and find a new "Gig!" Somehow I think Vegas might be good for a show like theirs.
I loved 971. I'm on the east coast and had to stream it, but I would immediately put on Carolla when I got to work. Even over my lunch break I would leave the stream connected all day until Danny wrapped up. On my walk home, I would stream Leykis to my iPhone.
Everyone said they had top ratings in their time slot. So why the complete overhaul? It just doesn't make any sense at all.
I heard Frank's explanation today, and it didn't surprise me. I heard Leykis' defense after and it didn't change my mind. Rule #41 (aka the "Prove It" defense), has always been a last resort of the guilty. Did Tom offer an alternate explanation? Something to give us reasonable doubt about his guilt? No. Just "Prove It".
I thought Leykis handled Frank's accusations very poorly also and his whole "last" show was really disappointing - a horrible way for 97.1 to go out. At the same time it revealed what a shallow, pompous ass Leykis really is - Carrying on like a little, bratty, punk kid - "Frank Kramer is just jealous of me. He can come work on my ranch - I could bring charges against him but (I'm so nice) that I won't - nanny-nanny-nanny." What a dork - and then he concludes that he's the character in Joe Jackson's "I'm the Man"?. It was friggin embarrassing. Frank's calling Tom out was some of the most intriguing radio I'd heard in a long time while Leykis really ended up looking like a prize horse's ass.
Ok, first... it's Frank Kramer, not Frank Stilwell.... as for the accusation I totally believe it, and if the only defense that Tom had was prove it, I say that proves it right there... Frank was getting pretty wasted yeah, and so his and anger came through, instead of like everyone else, hiding it. I'm glad Frank said something about it. Tom's an ass, and I wish they would have just got rid of him instead of all the shows.
You're right, it is Frank Kramer... as I posted. Stilwell is FROSTY's last name, as written. :)
To me it was just another example of unprofessional behavior from Frank. Those 3 boozers can't hold a candle to Leykis.
What the hell is wrong with you people? Frank had no class to call Tom out on something as baseless as that right before the last show. That's part of what ruined Toms last show. The other part was they didn't broadcast from Paramount and that created some in studio confusion. When Tom could take calls, it was great. I was listening to FHF on Thursday and there was no mention of this at all. It all has to stem from bitterness from something behind the scenes. Tom had class to not turn his final show into a "he said, he said" argument. Tom showed why he is Tom Leykis and Frank Kramer is part of FHF. If it was about money, how could they still be paying Tom through 2011? FHF was expendable, not to say i didnt like them, but frosty admitted so himself during a think tank earlier this year, with Tom Leykis, and Frank showed no animosity there. Rush hour traffic is when most people are in their car listening and Tom ruled it. If it wasn't for Tom, the station would have went under a while ago. Really crude Kramer, just like Danny on Thursday calling out Carolla because he felt it was wrong to have 2 final shows. Adam called in and explained that if it wasn't that way, Tim Conway would not have had a last show. But before Adam could explain that, Danny took a shot at Adam saying he tried to get him fired. Class act that Bonaduce. And that revealed the whole reason why Danny was pissed in the first place. Danny brought it out on the air, Frank just let it be known he was pissed. At least Danny apologized. Why would Tom lie about being offered a paycut? Its the last show, whats he trying to do, not piss off his audience? C'mon! There is no more show! When has Tom lied on air before? Frank Kramer isn't even his Franks real name! And seriously, how much longer could it have lasted if Tom took a pay cut? CBS wanted to close down the station for months, and the economy gave it an excuse, so dont go blaming it on Tom. Loved him or hated him, you listened.
Hey why would Frank lie about Tom not taking a pay cut?
Why did Frosty and Heidi sit still and not call out Frank and say it was untrue if it was? They were sitting still, Heidi was saying "oh my" and even the editor of the show, the dump guy, seemed to agree with Frank. All of the "on air body language" if you will, seemed to indicate Frank was not exaggerating.
I can totally see Tom not willing to take a pay cut of his 7 figure salary considering that he has to work 7 days a week for that show and the cut was probably considerable (maybe 50% who knows).
He probably justified that he can make the same amount of money before the pay cut at another radio station or TV and wasn't willing to take one for the team. He probably thought that he ruled the roost on that station.
He did, I can't disagree with that. There are a lot of impressionable people in socal who seem to regard Tom as a diety.
However, I can see how Frank was right in that Tom really can care less about the welfare of his own co-workers and his listeners.
Some of these radio personalities have been unemployed for over two or three years. My understanding s Jamie White (not sure if that's the right name) of Jamie, Jack, and Stench has been out of the radio since she got fired a few years ago.
Tom really let his coworkers hang in the wind to dry. He effed them pretty good.
Would people like FHF be crying if they didn't think that they would be in trouble? I'm sure they overextended their liabilities with large purchases on mortgage and they are worried how long before the next gig.
All in all, a sad state in general.
Graham Wellington aka Sanjay Kumar aka Tyrone Washington aka Juan Hernandez
By the way, ever remember the old 97.1 KLSX before it became a talk format?
It was a classic rock radio station playing even more obscure classic rock than 95.5.
I think they used to have commercials like "moon rock" (picture of a rock from the moon) and then play some classic tunes and then say "classic rock".
At least that station had a music platform worth listening to and even in a category of its own.
This new frigging Amp Radio plays that voice-box simulator reggae music crap that passes for hip hop nowadays by people like TI or Young Jeezy or whatever.
GW
Edit...
Actually the picture of the moon rock in the commercial was a rock wearing jeans with the pants sagging a little bit to show some crack. At least they didn't call it crack rock.
Then they'd switch the screen to say KLSX and say "classic rock" with the background music Led Zeppelin, Black Dog.
Jeez that commercial might have been like 15 years old.
GW
I think Frank is a cool dude but he let the cock-sucking, bitch side show on Friday. Tom Leykis is way above him and it shows. Frank is in the unemployment line today and Tom Leykis is cooling his heels taking a break. He'll work again on his terms. All you haters are just a bunch of cunts.
Tom didn't sink talk radio! If Tom's salary was the only problem there was an easy solution - fire Tom and have the rest take a pay cut. This decision was not either Tom takes a pay cut or we turn off the lights. That is just not logical! All the shows had different contracts, and were looked at together and seperately -pure business, plain and simple!
DM
RE: Tom Smothers
Ok it shows you are one of the mindless drones that Tom recruited. You can't even make your point without curse words and name calling. I believe you are the "cunt"
the reason i believe frank is due to the fact that if you listened to the adam carolla show in the morning on the last day, Brian whittman called in and pretended to be tom leykis for one last time on 971. He was mockingly saying as leykis that "i wont have to worry because im being payed out, and i dont care about the rest of the staff etc. rest of the staff should have invested etc" and for all of you talking about tom's 7 figure salarie, its actually 8. ridiculous. Tom is just like the CEOs hes always complaining about himself that took the bonuses after the banks came crumbling. What a douche.
if u listen to kevin and bean, adam carolla called in and took a shot at leykis as well saying he had more than one face (two faced). why would they all jsut gang up on him like that if it wasnt true? again what a douche
why anyone would blame tom is beyond me.adam and tom were the only ones with any kind of ratings on that station.he worked hard for the deal he made and shouldnt have given a dime back.im sure we will be hearing from tom and adam somewhere else soon.frank on the other hand.....FHF,what a piece of *%##.i couldnt listen to that for more than 1 minute.if he made a bad deal and now expects someone to give up their pay so he can have a job is rediculous.he must not have alot of confidence in getting another job.if i worked hard and pulled my own weight,working for a company that couldnt run their business properly,employed people that didnt do their job,and then asked me to cut my pay to keep running id tell em to stick it.run your business right and hire people to do their job and you wont need to cut the pay ive worked for.
Why Frank is full of it:
Tom and KLSX signed a FIVE YEAR NO-CUT CONTRACT. It would have been breach of contract had KLSX asked Tom to take a cut after issuing the contract.
As for whether or not it was Tom's salary that brought the ship down, that would be on KLSX's/CBS's head, now wouldn't it?
DUUUUUUHHHHHH!
is anyone else loving the Adam Carolla Podcast? I cant believe out of all of this, DANNY F*&%#$@ BONADUCE is the only one still on the air. not in the L.A. market, but still... the Duce' man still on air, but not Leykis. That just stuns me. Its depressing to turn to 97.1 and hear that top 40 format... There's already at least 5 of those stations in the L.A. market. At least I have the Carolla podcast.
I doubt that Tom taking a py cut could have saved the station. Most likely, the death of the talk format was the result of someone having a new vision that would catapult the station to a new high in ratings and profits. This would be a difficult concept to sell with a cleanup of an existing approach, hence a revolution was necessary for some unnamed exec to justify his (or her) magnificent new view of 97.1FM's potential
Leykis simply had a better contract that's just the truth the triplets had a 1 year extension on their contract if they had not taken it CBS would have put, Danny Bonaduche in their timeslot
Even if Leykis had taken a paycut the KLSX would have changed formats just like the other free Fm stations. Besides frosty heidi and frank had no choice to sign their contract or Danny Bonedoche would have been in their time slot that is a fact. If you don't believe me just go back and listen to the old podcasts you have downloaded from week after their last birthday bash at KLSX called "one more year". FHF say exactly what I've said here. See how long they have been off the air after they where cancelled from KABC? even Frosty knew that show couldn't get back on regular radio. That is why he quit.
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