Access Atlanta > Entertainment > Radio Talk > Archives > 2007 > July > 09
Monday, July 9, 2007
7/10: Dan Patrick leaving ESPN radio 8/17
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Syndicated sports talk guy Dan Patrick, heard locally on 680/The Fan, is leaving his long-time job at ESPN. His final radio show is August 17. David Dickey, president and general manager of 680/The Fan, said he will see who ESPN’s replacement and decide to go with that or someone local.
“I’m not losing any sleep over it,” Dickey said. “Dan wasn’t there that often. He had so much going on with the NBA and television. He wasn’t a full-time guy, which has been frustrating.” Dickey used Patrick from 2000 to about 2002, then went with Bill O’Reilly from 1 to 3. He returned to Patrick about 18 month ago.
Dickey said Patrick’s ratings paled in comparison to Colin Cowherd, another ESPN syndicated talker earlier in the day; Chris Rude & Perry Laurentino in the morning; and Buck Belue & John Kincade in late afternoons.
More about Patrick’s resignation here..
Permalink | Comments (8) | Post your comment |
7/10: Kimmer update
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I get more emails asking about Kim “the Kimmer” Peterson than any other former talk show host by a large margin.
Here’s an update:
After a long run on the Atlanta airwaves, Kim “The Kimmer” Peterson, 61, was fired from WGST-AM in November, announced his retirement in March and left Atlanta for good in mid-June.
He bought a place with his older brother Gene in western Massachusetts in the Berkshire mountains, where Peterson can play golf and ride his Harley. Given his conservative political views, it’s ironic he’s living in Massachusetts. “I can’t carry my guns in my car!” he said, after shooting a 77 on the golf course Monday.
Peterson also purchased a place in Palm Beach, Fla. to play golf in the winter. “I can’t stop smiling,” he said. “It’s such a load off my back. I used to read stuff and have to write things down. Now nobody cares what I think!”
And being in Massachusetts, “I’m nicely anonymous.”
He will keep his www.kimmershow.com Web site up for a bit longer and still answers emails. “I’m amazed and overwhelmed by the sentiments I’ve gotten from fans since I left,” he said. “I’m a lucky guy.”
Permalink | Comments (21) | Post your comment |
7/10: Changes to ‘Cavemen’
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Clearly, the ABC network honchos didn’t like the “Cavemen” pilot either.
They not only are bringing the trio of cavemen back to Atlanta from Norfolk, Va., but they have dumped the actor playing the easygoing younger brother with another (Sam Huntington, who played Jimmy Olsen in “Superman Returns”) playing a new younger brother, who visits Atlanta after breaking up with his girlfriend.
Here’s a bit from The Hollywood Reporter.
Inspired by the popular Geico insurance commercials, “Cavemen” will continue to revolve around three modern cavemen — Joel, Joel’s younger brother and Joel’s cynical best friend Nick (Nick Kroll) — as they struggle to fit in the human-dominated society.
The ABC Studios-produced “Cavemen” will not launch with the pilot but with another yet-to-be-filmed first episode, which is said to be delving more into the cavemen’s backstories.
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment |
7/9: Kimmel debuts on WSB-TV Tues night
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
A reminder: “Jimmy Kimmel Live” makes his belated debut in Atlanta Tuesday night (technically early Wednesday morning) at 12:05 a.m. His guests will be Nick Lachey, Reggie Bush and the Flight of the Conchords. I did a Q & A with Kimmel that’s here.
His show debuted in January of 2003. Atlanta was the last top 20 market to add his show. WSB-TV management up to this point has said it makes more money airing repeats of “Entertainment Tonight” and the 11 o’clock news. But Kimmel’s ratings have been rising steadily and ABC has been fully supporting the comedian. He’s been given primetime specials, hosts the upcoming game show “Set For Life” (on ABC July 20), hosts the ESPY Awards next month on sister staton ESPN and did a bunch of facetious “dancing” lessons on “Dancing With the Stars” this past spring.
Permalink | Comments (2) | Post your comment |
7/9: Porsche Foxx starts again today
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
V-103’s Porsche Foxx “is back to rock the box” today after a two-and-a-half year involuntary break.
Foxx, nee Stephanie Calhoun, was arrested for a DUI and marijuana possession in December 2004. She initially denied to the AJC she did anything wrong, was subsequently fired by V-103, then pled guilty, agreeing to rehab, a fine and a three-year probation. She laid low for awhile, then announced her return a few weeks ago. She showed penance, saying she has learned a lot, is drug and alcohol free and plans to work hard again on community-service projects.
Foxx was enormously popular while she was on in afternoons over six-plus years, but her departure enabled V-103 to grab Ryan Cameron away from Hot 107.9. Under the current lineup, including Frank and Wanda and Greg Street, V-103 has held on to its solid No. 1 spot in key ratings demographics. But V-103 has been fishing for a mid-day personality with the stature of the rest of its lineup. Management dumped Magic Man after several years of solid work (he has since moved to Grown Folks 102.5) but he never achieved that A list-level power.
V-103 gave Osei the Dark Secret a chance just over a year ago. Osei did fine ratings wise, but clearly, management was seeking an additional female voice and went back to Foxx, who had not found an on-air DJ job during her recovery.
The station, despite plenty of competition, now has a superstar-laden lineup, a virtually impregnable wall of personalities.
But Yalanda Lattimore, editor of urban news site dryerbuzz.com, said she feels V-103 is actually playing it too safe and could use younger, fresher personalities. Do you agree?
