Access Atlanta > Entertainment > Radio Talk > Archives > 2006 > October > 24
Tuesday, October 24, 2006
10/25: More Stallgate fallout
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Chris Williams, interim program director for 96rock, was suspended Tuesday for a week, according to Eric Von Haessler, co-host for the Regular Guys, in the wake of what some folks are terming “Stallgate” in which the show secretly taped restroom conversation of the Viva 105.7 morning hosts. That led to a lawsuit that led to the firing of the Regular Guys Monday. He said he spoke to three people at the station who all confirmed Williams’ suspension. I also got two others who heard the news, too. Does this mean management culpability?
Williams didn’t answer a call for confirmation and his bosses Mike Wheeler and Chuck Deskins also didn’t response to requests for comment Tuesday by email or phone.
Williams is also program director for 105.3/The Buzz and was placed in the 96rock slot temporarily when Buzz Casey, the prior PD, abruptly left over the summer. Casey was there for only a year.
Morning producer Tim Andrews and a guy named Spencer who helped out the morning show were also dismissed Tuesday. Andrews said he’s not bitter, that this is life in radio and he’ll find another job in the business.
I wrote an A1 story about the mess in a broader sense, noting that this type of radio show may not be around for awhile in Atlanta. Here’s the link
10/24: For 96rock, now what?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
After the latest debacle leading to the firing of the Regular Guys, what should 96rock do next? Find a new morning show elsewhere and have them take three to five years to become a big hit (or not). Or bring in a syndicated show like Rick & Bubba and hope it works immediately? (That didn’t work with Bob & Tom or John Boy and Billy). Or just leave it as a “more music” show with no personality?
Here’s the pool of potential local available (if not always compatible) talent: Steve Barnes, Jimmy Baron, Tim Rhodes, Southside Steve Rickman, Eric “Shark” from Dave FM, Gary “Wally” Wallace. Fin will be covering for now. I hear Tim Andrews (known on the show as Porn Czar) is out, too, I hear.
And I have a feeling Larry and Eric won’t be sticking together. Then again, they said in 2004 they’d never work together again after the first dismissal. You have to wonder if either will be able to find a job in the Atlanta market again.
Yogi & Panda’s attorney promised his clients will talk so I’m looking forward to that interview. I presume they’ll have to get clearance of course to talk to me from their boss Chuck Deskins.
Someone has started a petition to bring back the Regular Guys here.
10/24: Wachs responds
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Larry Wachs, who was terminated by Clear Channel Monday related to the Yogi & Panda lawsuit, has responded to the case on his blog at www.regularguys.com.
“[T]he principals on the other side are attempting to distort the facts and smear my reputation as a citizen and broadcaster and, in the short term, withhold my income without review or discussion with us.”
He said the trouble started in the spring when Yogi & Panda were encouraging their immigrant listeners to take the day off in protest of rules against illegals. The Regular Guys invited Yogi & Panda to come on the air with them. They complained to management, according to Wachs. Management defended the Regular Guys at the time. “The complaints continued unbeknownst to me through the year,” he wrote.
On October 9, Wachs said he had a voice recorder with him for a show meeting. He stepped in the restroom. Yogi (Tapia) and Panda (Carias) went into the stalls, he said. He said they yelled insults at him, which “proves they knew I was there, knew I was recording, blowing up their claims of expectation of privacy and that they still had an axe to grind about my on-air opinions going back 7 months.” He said the epithets were in Spanish.
After the bit aired, they complained again. The company, he said, “offered reasonable solutions to satisfy their ongoing and baseless grievances, but, insisting it was about the ‘honor of their culture,’ Mr. Tapia and Mr. Carias went ahead and filed the criminal charge in Fulton County Magistrate Court against me and then filed civil complaints in Superior Court of Fulton County, GA against the company for ‘negligent hiring’ and harassment and invasion of privacy.”
He said he was willing to agree in writing never to talk on air about Yogi and Panda ever again “for the sake of company harmony.” He said he had no real problem with them, that “they serve their audience well and deliver good ratings numbers and revenue.”
In the end, Wachs said, “A case of a humorous prank has turned into a culture clash, a suppression of 1st Amendment rights, and a ridiculous smear campaign against me as well as termination of my income without due process.”
