Geo’s Media Blog. (Designated Survivor) New 7/15/19

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Being a Centrist, I was very excited when I heard that “Designated Survivor” starring Keifer Sutherland, was going to be on Netflix for a third season. The series, which was on ABC previously, is about a man who had to take over as president of the United States when the whole government except him, was wiped out by a terrorist attack. Now he’s running for reelection as an Independent, mainly because the Republicans nor the Democrats want him as their leader.
The only difference between the first two seasons and this one on Netflix is now they swear. However, the Hollywood writers just can’t help themselves, can they? Even though the President is a declared Centrist, the writers have his new running mate be a Mexican/American who replaced the former Vice President who was a black woman. She quit the office because the President wasn’t liberal enough. The Vice President’s secret service agent is a gay black man, the speaker of the house is a woman, as is the director of the CIA. Heading up the Department of Justice is a black lady, and another one runs the Navy. Oh, and the deputy chief of staff is a Puerto Rican woman.
As I said, the President throughout the series, continually refers to himself as a Centrist, but the only projects he seems to be working on is, the LGBTQ’s, Illegal Aliens, and the rebuilding of urban communities as he tries to bring down big business. Hmmmmm.

GEO’S LIFE-LINES

If America is so bad, how come folks aren’t leaving it in droves like they’re leaving Mexico and Arab Countries?

Back home in Canada, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers remain undefeated and continue to have the best record in football. Go Big Blue!

I really think Nielson is very vulnerable at the moment and in fact if I were Eastlan, I’d take them on. Not only are their rating estimates wrong, they underestimate morning listening, and overestimate the rest of the day but they’re probably cutting corners too, now that they’re for sale. Hey, and I’m not even bringing up the price games they play with their clients.

What do liberals find so appealing about Mexicans and Arabs?

The US Women’s soccer team who just won the World Cup only has to ask themselves one question. Is the revenue the same as it is for the Men’s division? If so, then they deserve equal pay, if not, then they have to beat the men.

Speaking of World Cup, I’m pretty well Rapinoed out.  

Kindle, will never be quite as hip as having a hardcover version of your book published.

Do the standards of a country rise or fall with more immigration?

Why doesn’t the airlines develop a space-plane that could fly straight up for 62 miles and then just sit there until the destination it wants comes around at a 1000 miles an hour? 

Politics should be learned not inherited.

Who’s scarier, Politicians, Businessman or Priests?

How come in movies, a woman or a black person is always in charge, but not so much in real life?

So the new ratings are out in Boston and WROR is the new #1. The way they chose to celebrate their achievement was by firing their longtime morning man, the legendary Loren Owens. Hey, but as they’ve always said, it doesn’t take brains to buy a radio station, only money.

COMMENTS
Paul Cavenaugh: Hey, George! First of all, Political Correctness isn’t difficult at all unless your heart has something to hide. Take it a step further…Although I can’t afford it anymore, I still hang out with boating people. Is it a sign of prejudice or intelligence? When is the last time you heard about a drive-by shooting at the Yacht Club?
As for Jesus, I don’t think it was Mary and Joseph…It was Maury and Josephine.  Do you really think an innkeeper was going to rent a room to a laborer and his pregnant wife who suddenly showed up with a donkey and no reservations? It was a business decision!
Geo: Thank you for your comments, old friend. I’m just waiting for a comedian like Bob Newhart do a one-sided phone call as the night clerk calling the manager from the hotel where Mary and Joseph tried to check in. Can’t you just hear him trying to explain to him just what was going on out in the manger? (Happy Hour)

Bill McDonald: In the fifteen years, I spent working alongside Chuck Blore and Don Richman, some of the most talented people in the world graced our studio. Among them, Chuck Riley. He had a voice kinda like Ernie Anderson, kinda like Danny Dark – and that’s where Chuck found his niche – right in the middle of two of the best in the business. He was some kind of special. Extra special. Talent and a friend. I remember, after his first session with us, he and I went out for a drink to celebrate the Hollywood “arrival” of Chuck Riley. I ordered a shot of Suntori, a Japanese whiskey. “Best whiskey in the world,” I told Chuck. Two days later, a case of Suntori was delivered to me compliments of Chuck Riley. Like I said, Chuck Riley … extra special. (Whatever Happened To My Old Friend Riley?)

Katy Dante: (Riley) What a beautiful tribute to your daughter, Candis, no proud Dad here!!! I thoroughly enjoyed this blog. I loved that you wrote it to Nathaniel. (Hey There Nathaniel)

Charlie “Foxx” Ferguson: I ran into Jack McCoy when KQWB -AM in Fargo, ND bought “The Last Contest.”  I’d been pounding on the owners to upgrade the audio processing with the all-new BL-40 ModuLimiter.  When we met with Jack, I asked if the station should get one.  Jack got up, went out to the rental car, and brought one inside!  It got installed that night, and we were off to the races with the new audio processor, a “rubber clock” with only select times to announce – to coincide with Arbitron time credits – and The Last Contest……DAMN, it was a FUN Time in Radio!
Geo: DAMN, it sure was Charlie.(My Friend Jack)

Jim Wood: I had a unique experience working with Both Jack McCoy and George Johns in Los Angeles. They helped me get hired at the ABC station that later became KZLA. One of my greatest memories is of driving down Sunset Blvd, in the heart of Hollywood with Jack at the wheel, George in the passenger seat and me in the back as Jack & George sang at the top of their lungs, Willie Nelson’s, “Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain.” It was incredible. BUT…How many of you can remember and still define “Reticular Activation System” (I am not sure of the spelling, but I can tell you what that meant) and how many of you bought the hardbound “Chapter One” rating analysis books or RAM Research especially the perceptual version…. or remember not only “The Last Contest” but also “MAGNUM ONE?”…I am lucky to have known and worked with and for both Jack and George. They changed my life, and I will forever owe them for any success I have enjoyed…Proudly their friend, Jim Wood.
Geo: Jim, I’ll never forget my first visit to the radio station, Jim. The Sales Manager picked me up in a fire red Ferrari, and I found myself thinking, “Now this is the kinda radio I’ve got to get involved in!” (My Friend Jack)

Tom Hoyt: George, as you well know, Jack and I traveled throughout the USA selling the promotions he designed that made our client stations lotzo money, that’s why they kept coming back. Some of Jack’s genius came from how he pitched it, and If the light weren’t on in the prospect’s eye, he’d wrap it up and walk.  I would usually hang back, get some feedback on how to follow thru as that was something he didn’t want to do, and then do my best to close the deal. But it all started w’ Jack’s pitch, he knew it was good, and he knew that they knew it too. We laughed a lot and developed the friendships we share to this day. As I look back on my years in the radio biz, those were the most unforgettable days.
Geo: Tom, I still remember the time I hitched a ride with you guys in Jack’s plane to visit some of my clients which were in a lot of the same markets.
Unfortunately, Jack had Vertigo, so he had to hang onto one of us until we could get him into the radio station. However, once seated in the station’s conference room, he was as magnificent as usual. When I asked him what was up with all the Vertigo stuff, he told me that he’d quit drinking recently so the Demons were now whispering in his ear, “If you don’t take a drink soon Jack, we’re gonna tip you over.” (My Friend Jack)

Bruce Walker: Love the comments, George. I can clearly see that you found the answer to the second most important day in your life, “Why you were born.“ It is apparent that your love of the business, the friendships you have made, and the hard work ethic that you developed has made you well respected throughout your career. Well done mate.
Geo: Thank you for your kind comment, Bruce, but know this, I still cherish the time we spent together on stage “rockin’ the joint,” those many years ago. (Comments From Geo’s Media Blog)

Bobby Rich: I grew up in a small town 120 miles from Spokane, WA. KJRB (which was morphed from KNEW when those calls moved to San Francisco) was THE station on the East side of the Cascades. Big sister KJR took care of Seattle and the West side of the state. About the time I was starting to hang out at my hometown station, Jimmy Darin was doing mornings at KNEW (or KJRB?), and Larry Lujack was on at night.  I was drawn to the radio every time I heard Jimmy’s hysterical theater-of-mind bit called, “The March to the Garbage Cans.” I recall it was some (classical?) music bed with clanging and crashing sounds of cans and Jimmy singing or yelling at the cans to get lined up at the curb because today is garbage day. Inspiration comes in strange ways. I would’ve given anything to work with Mr. Hilliard.
Geo: I was lucky Bobby, when I started in radio, my head was empty, but Jim, who was my first radio boss, filled it up with some pretty neat stuff.(Jimmy Darin 1962)

Candis Johns: What a cool dad I have…   🙂 (The Evolution Of The Jury)
Dad: I doubt Cami thinks the same way, Candis. 🙂

Geo’s Media Blog is an inside look at Radio, Music, Movies, and Life. For a sneak peek at some upcoming Blogs or to see some that you may have missed, go to GeorgeJohns.com. On Twitter @GeoOfTheRadio. Sharing and commenting is appreciated.

 

 

 

 

 

3 thoughts on “Geo’s Media Blog. (Designated Survivor) New 7/15/19

  1. George,

    Congrats on today’s read… I love it when your politically incorrect side comes out…
    as the the song goes “Don’t go changin'”

  2. Designated Survivor…
    Reminds me of a time in the late 70’s when Ron Chapman got the entire on air staff (none of which lived in Ft. Worth) in a 10 passenger van and drove us to Fort Worth to “tour” Fort Worth in order for us to familiarize ourselves with the “other half” of our huge KVIL audience. (KVIL was the first ‘Dallas’ station to not only acknowledge but engage and marry Ft Worth while other ‘Dallas’ stations ignored it or made fun of “Cowtown”.) We spent all day going by and getting first hand observations of the city Dallas radio forgot about. The effect was tremendous as we all now had so much more awareness of our area and diverse lifestyles and audience to talk about and to.
    It was on the way back Ron finally turned the radio in the van on KVIL and some part time weekender was filling in with instructions to play it cool and keep it simple. The first break we all heard was a blown break. At that point, Ron said, “you know guys, if a truck hits this van and wipes us all out, that guy is the new morning man and the station is toast!” That got quite a laugh – as it was so very true!

    • We were the only radio station that was designed for the new DFW rating book Steve. AS I recall we were #3 in the Dallas only book and #5 in Fort Worth’s which made us #1 in DFW’s.

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