Access Atlanta > Entertainment > Radio Talk > Archives > 2009 > January > 08
Thursday, January 8, 2009
1/9: 790/The Zone’s new sports babe, end of WGKA’s local early morning show
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Cayci Johnson is the new “sports babe” at 790/The Zone for Mayhem in the A.M. She replaces Sandra Golden, who wasn’t called “sports babe.”
Johnson, 30, is a St. Louis native and a “guy’s gal,” the daughter of college basketball coach. “I love sports,” she said. “I’m quick. I’m sort of raunch in my humor. I have a locker room mentality. That’s where I grew up.”
She was a reporter at a CBS affiliate in Illinois. She then had a boring job as a consultant at an insurance company after she moved to Atlanta six years ago. Then she went to culinary school and did a radio show on a small Sandy Springs radio station. “I got the radio bug,” she said. When this job came up, she felt she’d be good at it.
The final three included two former cheerleaders. Cayci? Not a cheerleader. “When I got into the studio with the guys. I was really comfortable,” she said. “They are amazing men. My dry wit and dirty sense of humor went hand in hand with them. That’s me!”
She did her first “grind” Thursday morning and had a great story about porn leaders wanting to apply for a bailout. She also talked about “Rock of Love.” “My challenge is to find a way to bridge the gap between the super girly world of Hollywood gossip and make it more focused to the men of the world,” she said.
Her take on each guy:
Steak Shapiro: “I love that he’s a foodie. I have a culinary degree. I love that he’s 100% personfied. The ham of what he is. He’s like a cartoon of himself in the best possible way.”
Chris Dimino: He’s all about sports stats and facts. He’s so knowledgable! He gets so upset with Steak when he talks about food and pop culture.”
Nick Cellini: He’s a bit of a mediator. He brings it all together. He talks a little bit about pop culture, then brings it back to sports.”
She can talk sports, though she said she couldn’t match the trio in knowledge. “The Atlanta Falcons are very very dear to my heart. I can root for the Braves as long as they aren’t playing the Cardinals. And I love NCAA basketball.”
She said when she was six years old, she did a March Madness bracket with her dad and his buds. She won $500. She’s been hooked ever since.
-Joel Aaron, who had an early morning talk show (from 4 to 6 a.m.) last year before Bill Bennett on 920/WGKA-AM, lost his show at the end of 2008.
He said although the show had fans, he was also the promotions manager and the station decided to have him focus on that job.
“I hope to do it again,” he said. “We’ll see.”
His boss and producer Jeff Davis also expressed disappointment the bosses above him nixed the show.
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1/9: Casting calls for gospel singers, parents with unruly teens this Saturday
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I got two casting call requests this week, both for Saturday. One is for BET’s “Sunday Best,” a gospel singing contest that is going to be produced this year in Atlanta. (As we now know, BET loves Atlanta!) The other is a “Supernanny” spinoff in which producers are seeking Atlanta families with unruly teenagers and families willing to take them temporarily.
Here’s first the first on the “Supernanny” style show:
The producers of Supernanny (ABC), It’s Me Or The Dog (Animal Planet), and The Real Housewives of NYC (BRAVO) are searching for Atlanta area rebellious teenagers and families who want to host a teen for a brand new cable series.
Producers are hosting an open casting call for the show on Saturday, January 10th from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM inside Underground Atlanta (50 Upper Alabama St., Atlanta, GA 30303) in front of the information booth which is located directly across from the food court.
Teens - are you rebellious? Are you tired of your parent’s rules and restrictions? Ever thought about what it would be like living with really strict parents? If you would like a short vacation from your parents and are up for the challenge; the casting team wants to hear from you! This is an opportunity for teens to go live with another family and trade in their parents for a new set for almost an entire week. Interested teens may apply from anywhere via www.americasstrictestparents.com. They can also call 888-41-TEENS (1-888-418-3367) or email teens@ricochettelevision.com for more information.
On the other side, the casting team is also searching the United States to find the best parents in the country from every type of background and culture to take part in a social experiment exploring the world of the 21st century teenager matched against contemporary, tried-and-true parenting styles. Producers are seeking parents with unique interests; parents with strong family values; conservatives; farmers; parents with devout religious beliefs; academics; eco-friendly parents; and parents who have ordinary or extraordinary circumstances.
And here’s what I got from BET about “Sunday Best.”
*BET’s national talent search for America’s next top gospel singer, SUNDAY BEST returns for a second season and this time we’re doing the entire production out of Atlanta. Our returning host gospel great Kirk Franklin and judges multi-award winning siblings Erica and Tina Campbell of Mary Mary and Grammy Award-winning BeBe Winans will all be in Atlanta for the first round of auditions being held at the Georgia World Congress Center on Saturday, January 10th from 9 to 5 p.m.
Online info is otherwise sketchy. Call the “Sunday Best” hotline at: 1-866-405-BEST (2378).
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1/8: Rumor mill about NeNe Leakes
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I’m going to link this because it’s juicy gossip.
Mediatakeout.com reports that NeNe Leakes will be getting her own spinoff show and will leave “Real Housewives of Atlanta.” That wouldn’t surprise me. She is certainly a fascinating enough personality to go though it will be interesting how that would work.
Also heard that Dr. J’s wife might be her replacement. Julius Irving, the Hall of Fame basketball player, told me at Frank Ski’s party that he moved to Atlanta in August and owns a golf course here.
No response yet from NeNe or the Bravo publicist. NeNe was none too pleased with last month’s story about her moving out of her home late last year after an eviction notice was filed. Her own show would definitely help her financial picture, for sure.
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1/8: Man vs. Food focuses on Atlanta, DeAnna Pappas teased on “The Bachelor”
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Travel Channel’s Adam Richman, an Emory grad, checks out “America’s biggest pigout spots” and goes to his former home of Atlanta. The show aired last night and will be repeated multiple times, of course. He hit three spots:
-Gladys Knight and Ron Winan’s Chicken & Waffles. Shanga Hankerson, the CEO, gives him a tour of the food, along with co-founder Gladys Knight. “I gave you the music. Now I give you the food,” Knight told Richman. She makes him chicken & waffles by herself, bringing a Harlem-based treat dating back to the 1930s. As he sings along with Knight, he says, “I’m a white Pip. I’m a whip!” This clearly makes me want to go there — NOW!
-{The Vortex](http://www.thevortexbarandgrill.com/). This is one of his old college haunts. This place has been known for years for its burgers. And they are goooood. The Vortex has been around for 17 years. He notes they offer 20 different burgers. His favorite: the blue shroom burger, which includes blue cheese and three strips of bacon. “Best kind of homecoming there is,” he said before he bit into it. “Some go to wine tastings,” he said. “I’m now in the sophisticated art of burger tasting.” e.g. the Elvis burger: Bacon, peanut butter and fried bananas & the Double Bypass Burger eight ounce patty, three eggs, four ounces of cheese and three slices of bacon and two grilled cheese sandwiches.
-Big Pie in the Sky at 2090 Baker Road, Kennesaw. This is truly the big one. He takes on the Carnivore New York style pizza challenge. The 30 inch, 11 pound pizza has be eaten in one hour by two people. 400 people have tried. 400 people have failed. He warms up with a crunk dance class. He then shows how the pie is made: six pounds of pizza with five pounds of meat. His partner is Drew Middlebrooks, someone who attempted the pie before but his first partner couldn’t do it. Drew starts looking a bit sick halfway through. “I’m getting a little pizza drunk,” Adam says. Drew leaves the premises and throws up. It’s over at 44 minutes. Awww…
-Newnan’s own DeAnna Pappas will be returning to the “Bachelor” series, based on the teases from Monday night.
Jason Mesnick, who Pappas rejected this past summer in favor of Jesse Csincsak, is now “The Bachelor” and the series opened strong with 11 million-plus viewers. Clearly, women like the Kirkland, Wa. single dad.
It’s not clear when she shows up or what her intentions are. She apologizes to him and the teases imply she wants to revisit their relationship. Hmm… naturally, the new women are jealous and unhappy with her presence. Could this be why she broke up with Jesse? Based on interviews he’s made so far, it’s doubtful Mesnick decided to get engaged to Pappas but obviously, the producers figured the return of Pappas would add a new level of intrigue to the show.
I will be talking to Pappas next week when she shoots intros for the Lifetime show “Get Married,” which she ironically became a cohost. What should I ask her? Give me some suggestions!
