Access Atlanta > Entertainment > Radio Talk > Archives > 2006 > October > 10 > Entry
10/9: Why Barnes is gone
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I’ve gotten at least a dozen emails few days from folks wondering: what happened to Steve Barnes on Dave FM? I’ve been directing them to my Sept. 13 blog item about his departure but for those who are still wondering and missed the news three weeks ago, he and Dave FM parted ways. His ratings were poor and Dave wanted to go in a different direction, focusing more on music in the mornings while keeping Holly around. Barnes was just finishing up the second year of a three-year contract. From what I can ascertain he’s now being paid for a full year without having to work. He is going to pursue his film career in the interim and hasn’t ruled out seeking another radio job.
Interestingly, 99xwatch.org has posted some updated info on Barnes’ lawsuit against 99X and members of the morning team for copyright infringement and defamation. In the defamation portion, Barnes noted that Fred Toucher on his Web site removed alleged defamatory statements (that Barnes was a retard, that he was “Captain Back Acne” and a photo a person with back acne might have been Barnes), but wrote commentary Barnes deemed as “smart aleck.” Here is Toucher’s response to Barnes’ letter asking him to remove the statements. Jim Voris, the head of 99xwatch, provided [the correspondence at this link](
In the meantime, any fresh thoughts on the new 99X morning show now that it’s been on seven days?
Comments
Commenting is now closed for this entry.
By Brian Strickland
October 10, 2006 11:17 AM | Link to this
Barnes is a piece of garbage and likes to eat raw cabbage. He is a horrible excuse for a human.
By bud
October 10, 2006 11:22 AM | Link to this
He’s getting a years salary to go to auditions in hollywood. Must be nice to be able to fall upwards.
By Jealous of Barnes
October 10, 2006 11:29 AM | Link to this
Barnes is a lucky, lucky man getting paid for another year for doing nothing. DAVE really swung and missed on thinking he was going to draw an audience with his show. 99X’s new show you ask? It’s early but…I don’t like it. I don’t find myself seeking it out (Whip/Buzz, 96 Rock/Reg. Guys Rude/680 is the rotation) There’s nothing horrible about it but this was the best they could do?
By john
October 10, 2006 11:54 AM | Link to this
I like the NMX much better than Toucher. Erggh.
However, I haven’t really like the bits, and keep turning back to TRG, hoping to catch a News Jog (the only thing I have found on any radio station that I enjoy listening to in the mornings, other than music)
By Zachary
October 10, 2006 11:59 AM | Link to this
I don’t think the new 99X morning show is all that bad. They’re playing more music, a better variety of music (for the station…thanks to Steve Craig?), Sean Demery is a smart guy and a good DJ (he does stray from the mic every now and then), and the rest of the cast falls into place well. Sean and Leslie have a better chemistry between them than any of the previous casts, one of (seeming) respect and not some “how crazy can we get” mentality. It’s got me listening again…temporarily.
The other morning they were playing a new band and Sean (accurately) referenced Jeff Buckley. Not that they would ever play Jeff Buckley, but just hearing that someone there even knows who Jeff Buckley is proves to me that the show is already better than before.
By Dan
October 10, 2006 12:07 PM | Link to this
Barnes is a douchbag and it’s nice to hear he’s gone. It’s too bad that his sorry ass continues to get paid for another year. I like the NMX. The first week was off to a bad start but this week is better.
By LHK
October 10, 2006 12:16 PM | Link to this
The New Morning X hasn’t really captivated me — I still mostly listen to CDs in the morning, though if I do want to get a traffic report or just hear some banter, I’m less scared to see what’s on 99X. Before, I couldn’t bring myself to tune into the Leslie/Axel trainwreck. It was painful to listen to because they knew it was bad, and you could hear the unease in their voices. I was a Toucher/Leslie/Jimmy show fan for a while, but by mid ‘05 I was tired of all the arguing. Getting mad at what someone says on a radio morning show is not how I want to spend my (short) drive to work.
So, yeah, I’ll definitely be tuning into the New Morning X every so often, but it’s not a must-listen show.
By Debbie
October 10, 2006 1:05 PM | Link to this
The new morning show on 99X is horrible. I think this is the worst morning group the station has ever had. Why is Leslie still there????
By abc
October 10, 2006 1:06 PM | Link to this
What, Barnes is not any more idiotic than any of the other talking jokes on other stations. Steve and especially Vicki’s incessant giggling at themselves isn’t exactly great radio, and the Regular Guys are STILL morons — well, Eric could be interesting if not roped into their stupid format. Good thing for them that there are lots of moronic and mean-spirited rednecks to comprise an audience for them around here. At least Holly has an interesting voice, kinda threw the baby out with the bath water IMHO. I’ve been listening to CDs instead, which I’m probably better of doing anyway.
By Corey Feldman
October 10, 2006 1:31 PM | Link to this
Hey Barnes, if you are itching to get back into the Hollywood thing again, I know a slew of B-list actors like myself that are looking for work! Can you say No Witness II?
By Lumpy Rutherford
October 10, 2006 1:39 PM | Link to this
Captain Back Acne is dead. Long live Captain Back Acne.
The NMX show is striking in how it sounds so much like one of those insulting NBC commercials that is supposed to be a morning show team talking about that night’s line-up of must-see TV. I mean every time I tune in, that is what it sounds like. Is that an insult? I don’t know. Its not for me.
By CR
October 10, 2006 1:47 PM | Link to this
Morning X is virtually unlistenable. I’m a fan of 99X so I’ve tried. I’ll return in about 6 months to see whether they’ve gelled as a team, but they’re only ever gonna be the sum of their parts. Makes me miss Toucher. He was so quick and had an interesting twist on everything. Sean Demery has an interesting twist on nothing, so far…
By Rock
October 10, 2006 3:11 PM | Link to this
The “new” show sounds like more of the same old thing. Worst of all they still have not gotten rid of Leslie.
By Aint Misbehavin
October 10, 2006 3:29 PM | Link to this
I really like Sean and Leslie and I do want this show to work, but I don’t see myself rushing to tune in, if anything I have to remind myself to turn to them in the mornings as I’m usually set on NPR…still much better than the adolescent-crapfest that was the Toucher/Jimmy/Leslie show.
By AtlantaRadioSux
October 10, 2006 3:58 PM | Link to this
It’s unfortunate that dirtbag Barnes gets paid to do nothing for the next year, but really, he was doing nothing the last 2 years while ON Dave-FM. What did PD Michelle Engel think she was getting when she hired him? A breakthrough DJ? The guy has no talent and loves to hear himself talk about himself. Here’s hoping we never have to listen to him on Atlanta’s airwaves ever again. As for the acting career, give us a break!
By Aaron
October 11, 2006 8:45 AM | Link to this
What’s going on over at Star?
By bleeding ears
October 11, 2006 9:10 AM | Link to this
The NMX is hands down the worst show on the air! It is insulting to listeners. Leslie’s contract is up soon, how long are the other contracts? Please don’t say longer than a year, give me hope that they could be released.
By Save Leslie
October 11, 2006 9:20 AM | Link to this
Wouldn’t it be great to be the boss and get rid of everyone around you who makes you look bad and build a team of the same BORING STALE people. Makes Leslie not look so bad. Wait, did I say that, help, I’ve been brainwashed by bad radio!
By Terrell
October 11, 2006 10:05 AM | Link to this
The new Morning X show doesn’t do much for me. Toucher had charisma that the present show lacks. Jenners seems to be the guy that people go to for humor but he just isn’t working for me at this time. As someone mentioned above there is no urgency to listen to the show. The Adam Carolla Show and Toucher and Rich are great shows and easily take up an entire work day from 9am to 6pm.
By Dan
October 11, 2006 10:29 AM | Link to this
So Steve McCoy’s (Star94) real name is Phil Teranna?
By lou
October 11, 2006 10:56 AM | Link to this
Not digging the new X/old X —whatever they are trying to be. Thank goodness Dave kept Holly. More music in the am seems to be the only thing left in this town, and I think her voice is sexy. Eric and Larry- only good in tiny, and I mean tiny spurts. Steve and Sickie.. can’t do it, blah blah Bert. Help us all.
By Jim
October 11, 2006 11:27 AM | Link to this
Wow, not good. It’s just empty talk. Maybe they need to be on some Top 40 station. I’ll stick with Whip and the Regular Guys. I don’t have to agree with them but at least they are entertaining. People didn’t have to agree with Toucher either but he was entertaining.
By Theodore 'Teddy' LaRoi
October 11, 2006 5:43 PM | Link to this
Lordy, I loved that Friday Night 80’s! Pull out the spandex workout suit, my headband complete with 5 colors of glitter, and my purple leg-warmers. Let me you tell you, girlfriend - I’d have a time!
By Mary
October 12, 2006 10:15 AM | Link to this
Now get rid of Holly…she is just as bad!!
By Todd
October 13, 2006 11:56 AM | Link to this
When is 99X going to get rid of the anorexic Leslie Fram? When the show was good the other personalities completely carried her. I’m I the only one in Atlanta that sees this problem? What does she have on the 99X management? I’m getting sick at my stomach just thinking about it!!!
By me too
October 17, 2006 11:29 AM | Link to this
Todd, she is management!
By MissnToucher
October 18, 2006 4:44 PM | Link to this
Barnes gone - good. NMX - Bad. I agree w/the comparison to the bad NBC tv show commercials. What little I’ve been able to listen to it (and yes, I have tried to give it a chance) is boring. At least Toucher had an opinion and an original thought in his head most days. If any of this crew does, I have yet to see it.