Paul W. Smith moving to middays + other changes at WJR

[thatonedude]

If he wrecks 107one I’ll be pissed. Then again, he did program Dave FM in Atlanta so who knows…

FWIW, Chris (the current PD at 107one) does a brilliant job. Maybe Mr. Wheeler will recognize that and leave it alone.


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[Colonel Flagg]

Incredibly, Mike Wheeler was just promoted (and now oversees Ann Arbor's programming in addition to WJR and WDVD), and some old lady who has been a producer at the station for many years, is now the day-to-day PD at 760.

The last good PD at 760 was Kevin Metheny (since deceased). He might be known as Pig Virus to old school Howard Stern listeners, but he did a decent job shaping 760's sound.

Hopefully Wheeler doesn't wreck 102.9 and 107.1 in Ann Arbor.

To be fair, the "old lady" (Ann Thomas) probably has more "major market" experience than the late Steve Stewart, who was WJR's PD for several years, prior to Kevin Metheny. The only other stations on Steve's resume' were WSPD Toledo, and the station in Marion, OH (his hometown)

Metheny (WNNNNBC!) did a good job. Some would say Al Mayers did a good job too, but as with Steve Stewart, Mayers was not very well liked.

As for Wheeler, other than lining up new infomercials, I am left to wonder, what exactly does he do everyday? These "new shows" are nothing more than the old shows reshuffled to different timeslots. Guy Gordon's AM show sounds clunky, and unstructured.

Maybe Wheeler and the Sloan Brothers can get some more paid shows on tiny WLBY. All broadcasting from downtown Birmingham, of course.

[Steve B]

I looked up Ann Thomas (who has been with WJR since 1982 according to her station bio) in old Free Press articles. In the Detroit Press Club Foundation's Michigan Excellence in Journalism competition (apparently discontinued forever after 2008) she won 1st place in radio reporting in 1986, "UAW-Chrysler Negotiations." 3rd place in 1987 in radio documentaries, "Spring Flooding." 1st place in 1993, radio documentaries, shared with 5 other staffers, "Shifting Gears."

She became a producer in Oct. 1999 with Paul W's show, replacing James Moskus who had held it for the previous 18 months.

[Colonel Flagg]

Mark Hollis, filling in for Paul W.

This guy is so deadpan monotone...more proof that being heavily connected doesn't mean you deserve to have a radio show.

[edj]

How many days does Paul W. get off per year? 100?

[uncleb67]

Only good weekend show is Joe Gagnon.

Believe it or not, I kinda enjoy hearing this show on Apple Podcasts (can’t usually wake up for its normal 6-8am live broadcast on Sunday mornings), but for the last couple weeks, they haven’t posted the podcast, which they usually did by early afternoon Sundays.

[Colonel Flagg]

Chris Alberta in for Paul W today.

He asked Dave Riger how Maui could burn. "Isn't Maui a jungle?!!!!"



Now that's what I call being "In Focus"

[sizzlechest]

Hey, laugh all you want, but Chris Alberta subbing in is way better than what's normally on right now.

[edj]

Chris Alberta in for Paul W today.

He asked Dave Riger how Maui could burn. "Isn't Maui a jungle?!!!!"



Now that's what I call being "In Focus"

Did he study under Roberta Jasina?

[Realist]

Sad thing is that I was in historic Lahaina, Maui a year ago. My wife showed me a before and after pictures from there, with the hotel we stayed at in the center, the waterfront docks near there and the business district there. It’s all been incinerated and is gone.

[Colonel Flagg]

Sad thing is that I was in historic Lahaina, Maui a year ago. My wife showed me a before and after pictures from there, with the hotel we stayed at in the center, the waterfront docks near there and the business district there. It’s all been incinerated and is gone.

In all seriousness, I am not making fun of the tragic losses in Hawaii. Ken Brown has been there too. He was talking about it with Mitch and the crew earlier. It's awful.

Chris Alberta seems to be better solo than with a couple sidekicks.

[Colonel Flagg]

The nonstop yammering of Kevin Dietz was more than I could take this morning. The terrible screechy voice, and sounding so hyper, was off the charts. To my ears, it even seemed like Tom Jordan was getting tired of it. Better try the Decaf.

I know most people like to hate on Mitch Albom, but I truly believe his afternoon show is going to be carrying all of the other deadwood that's on WJR, very soon.

[radiofann]

I can’t stand Deitz. A voice made for the Morse code/ telegraph era.
Albom surprised me by having victor david Hanson on yesterday. A good interview.