Catch up part 2, more short takes

 

Like many other entities, radio has had to cut back on costs. Layoffs and other moves to economize have actually been a way of life for quite some time with the radio industry. Some recent examples are nonetheless surprising: 

Globetrotter grounded for now: When there was breaking news almost anywhere in the world, I’d always expect to hear Steve Futterman reporting from the scene for CBS News. A month ago, the globetrotting reporter was laid off. You’d like to think someone this talented will be back on the air sooner than later. If nothing else, I hope he’s accumulated enough frequent flyer miles to afford a nice vacation.

(Not) on the road again: A number of sports teams kept their broadcast crews back at home during the pandemic, mostly out of concerns for health and safety. Most teams have returned back to normal, with a couple of exceptions, one involving a local team. The Los Angeles Angels have decided not to send their radio broadcast team to away games, their play-by-play coverage originating from monitors back at Angel Stadium. The Athletic describes how Angels owner Arte Moreno defended his decision:

“We found out that it’s not changing — we love our radio people, they do a great job,” Angels owner Arte Moreno said during a rare press session on March 18. “We just found that the economics — 40,000-50,000 miles is not going to change that experience.”

Moreno added he didn’t see any “tangible benefit” for his radio crew to be on the road. But the decision has led to some criticism from other broadcasters.

Mike Ferrin, a former Diamondbacks broadcaster, said his experience is that covering road games is vital to the profession.

“You want to be able to do the job the right way,” said Ferrin, who now hosts a show on MLB Network Radio. “And if you’re doing it the right way, you’re taking advantage of access you have as a broadcaster, that not even (beat writers) have.”

Calling games solely off of monitors, he said, is very difficult. Aside from potential technical problems that arise, you inevitably won’t see the whole game or its surroundings.

“Then you’re creating a greater disconnect between your fans and the players,” Ferrin said, “which is, in essence, the product that you’re trying to sell.”

The Toronto Blue Jays are the other team not sending their radio crew on the road.

We also previously reported the Angels had significantly reduced their Spanish radio broadcasts. The team now offers half their games on KWKW, with Rolando Gonzalez (a station employee) replacing José Tolentino, the latter having called Angel games for over two decades.

 

laradio.com

More Turner tributes: Rick Scarry worked with Mary Turner at KMET. “A true radio pro with a wicked sense of humor.” Scarry recalled that “somehow she found out my real first name and starting calling me by that name on the air.  We shared some great laughs and stayed in touch right up to Pandemic times.”

Rick Scarry

“She was also heard around the world on the American Forces Radio and Television Network and syndicated on the Westwood One Radio Network, founded by her late husband Norm Pattiz. I was honored to co-host one of the shows, ‘Rock And Roll Never Forgets.’” Scarry was one of the last voices before KMET flipped to “The WAVE” (KTWV) in 1981.

Farewell, Francesca: For some, the name Francesca Cappucci was best known as the character portrayed by Lorena Izzo in the movie “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” late last month.  But for L.A. residents during the 1980s, Cappucci was the source of entertainment news on KABC-TV’s “Eyewitness News.” Local radio afficionados may also remember the KIQQ morning show of “Coffey-Cappucci.” 

“I met Francesca in 1977, she was then a 19-year-old intern,” recalled Jay Coffey. “We became friends right away. She was an excellent interviewer, plus the hippest person – she knew everyone in Hollywood.” Cappucci’s first role at KIQQ was to provide news and entertainment.

Jay Coffey, Jim Carson

It was George Wilson, the station’s general manager, who came up with the idea of teaming Coffey with Cappucci, billing the morning show as “starting your day with ‘Coffey Cappucci,’” the missing suffix “-no” notwithstanding. “Neither of us wanted to do it – for one thing I was a night person!”

Jim Carson was heard on the 100.3 frequency for more than three decades. “We worked together at CHR KIQQ. She was fun to be around, met her family, Mom Beatrice, a lovely lady, brother Raphael, and sister Isabella, who is currently modeling and has appeared in TV commercials.´  Like everyone who worked with her, Carson was shocked at Capuicci’s passing. “We worked together at CHR KIQQ. I loved hearing her name in ‘Once Upon A Time In Hollywood.’” Carson said the audience was well aware of their entertainment reporter. “Research at KIQQ showed she was the most identifiable (because of her name) personality on the station.”

Capucci died at 64 of metastatic lung cancer, though she never smoked. She is survived by her sons Ian and Will Lyndon.

 

 

A ROQ legend: He was known nationally as the VJ of MTV’s “120 Minutes,” showcasing alternative rock on the music channel. But L.A. listeners knew Lewis Largent both as a DJ on the “World Famous” KROQ and the producer of the nightly “Loveline” talk show. The Southern California native was working at a country club during his teen years when he met the GM of KROQ. He started as an intern at the station, quickly moving up the ranks to a full-time position in 1985. Four years later, Largent became KROQ’s music director.

He left local radio in 1992 for MTV, working as both a VJ and director of music programming. By 1999, he moved from the music channel to work with Island Def Jam Records, where as senior VP of A&R he signed artists including as Sum 41 and Andrew WK. He left IDJ in 2004. Afterward, Largent returned to school to study creative writing, eventually earning his Masters of Fine Arts in 2015.

Largent married music executive Julie Greenwald and was a stay-at-home dad for his two children. After a long illness, Largent passed on February 20, 2023 at the age of 58.

Sold!: After two-plus years of operation, Tavis Smiley has completed the purchase agreement for KBLA, his progressive talk radio station. The Radio & Television Business Report offered details of the sale, from Multicultural Radio Broadcasting to Smiley for $6,896,760, somewhat less than the original sale price of $7.15 million. The station continues to offer largely live-and-local programming from their Leimert Park studios. KBLA doesn’t subscribe to Nielsen, though the station claims their audience continues to grow based on listener response and advertising.

What’s next: Those of you who are regular readers of this blog (thank you!!) know that I generally report on current events about radio, plus a bit of nostalgia here and there. I’m still in catch-up mode, but please stay tuned – I’ve a few ideas that may be a bit different than my usual fare, but I hope will still be worth your while.

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