We still don't know if Gary Null's threats to expose some of Pacifica's many warts are idle, but just as all appears to be well again, Mr. Null's Kumbaya hits another sour note. His long association with WBAI and Pacifica has evolved into an odd love-hate relationship that appears to have more to do with materialistic needs than with any professed noble effort to keep the station on the air.
Earlier this month (December), Mr. Null's show took a rather nasty turn when he burst into a tirade, giving Pacifica/WBAI an ultimatum that had all the markings of a death knell. The next thing we heard was that he was back singing Kumbaya with Berthold Reimers, but that they seem not to have made it to the last stanza, for yesterday hostility reared its two-faced head once more; the Null legal team is poised for action within ten days. Here is Gary Null's countdown to a lawsuit.
If the drama eventually unfolds, I look forward to reading your reviews here.
While it seems to be news to Null, it has been formally stated policy at WBAI since at least late fall 1976 that no one is permitted to discuss internal matters on air without explicit permission.
ReplyDelete~ ‘indigopirate’
How do you feel about that policy?
DeleteI was very much opposed to the policy, which was formalized under Anna Kosof.
ReplyDeleteIt's unconscionable hypocrisy.
~ ‘indigopirate’
Indeed it is, but that's in keeping with everything else at WBAI. Not only should everyone be free to critique the station, even on its air, but some criticism should come from management. That was my policy, and I believe I inherited it—a far more effective way to attract new listeners than to tell them that "we are in the middle of the dial." Of course, nothing works as well as good programming—did anyone ever tell these bozos that? Yes. Did they care? No.
DeleteWe’re in agreement.
Delete~ ‘indigopirate’
I've heard about Kossof's gag order through the years, which I think is even mentioned on the ESB shutdown audio. Any publicly funded station should be transparent to it's supporters, but particularly a Pacifica station, which should practice what it preaches. What's funny, though, is in the 1978-1980 era, there was a fair amount of talk on the air about 1977 and current internal politics, mainly started by callers (like John Stanley or John Newil [sp?] who would bring it up during shows. Once WBAI internals came up, it was off to the races as the new topic of a show.
DeleteAnyway. Now I think we see more secrecy than ever at WBAI and Pacifica, sadly.
I'm curious about something else, and would like to get the story straight, if I can. I have heard that WBAI (or Pacifica?) was willing to allow all the people involved in what we would now call the 1977 "occupy" return if they signed a document that basically said "I won't do it again." Some wouldn't sign and, hence, didn't return. It does seem that the document was kind of forgotten after a while because Fass worked his way back, even though he supposedly didn't sign it. Just curious where the truth is in the differing stories I've heard about this.
SDL
The secrecy grows with the dishonesty. These people have much to hide—lies are compounded in efforts to cover them up. The snowball is out of control.
DeleteI did not hear of the condition for re-entry. If people had the guts to really speak up, and enough of them did so, many of the station's problems would have been avoided. As we so often see (most recently in the case of Sidney Smith), fellow workers will talk about how wonderful and talented someone was, yet stab them in the back with their silence. Bob Fass was an early sample of that—his compassion is feigned.
As for Null, I think it’s safe to say, as has been previously observed, that these people well-deserve one another.
ReplyDelete~ ‘indigopirate’
Null's ability to raise money on the air has undoubtedly helped prolong WBAI's life, but that is rendered meaningless by the fact that he continues to pitch for money long after it has become apparent to all that the station is dead, and long after the programming has descended to a sub plateau of mediocrity.
DeleteI think we're all making a big mistake here in that we over-estimate Null's importance. We talk about the money he brings in, but how much money is it, really? No, it's not $3,000,000 per year that keeps the station out of debt and on easy street. The truth is he makes more than anyone else, but not a huge amount. He's not a savior.
ReplyDeleteI have long questioned how much money Gary Null really makes, not only for WBAI, but for his own business concerns. I think he is a smaller operator than many may think.
Null isn't going to court because he will be in a position to be exposed. Imagine him in an EBT or on the stand? The questions he would refuse to answer and then be forced to answer? I'd love to see it, because he would bury himself when his own truths were exposed.
SDL
I have also long thought that Null exaggerates his accomplishments, his standing as a quacker, etc. He is by no means poor, but anyone who feels such a need to embellish definitely has a problem.
DeleteOK, listened to the newer audio file and hear Null say he was taken off by the PD Tony Bates. So, has Bates officially replaced Jeannie Hopper? If so, how? If I am correct, the GM can't act unilaterally and appoint a PD. Oh, and is it PD or iPD, really? Musical PD chairs...
ReplyDeleteOK, he’s doing the cliffhanger bit, like a soap opera, with the Bates audio. The game is old now, Null. In fact, how many of his listeners even care about the Pacifica/WBAI crap? Look at how few WBAI supporters even vote in the election. It’s so few that the election may not make quorum. I’ll bet most of Null’s listeners go about other things when he does his Pacifica/WBAI tirades. Keep yapping about it, Null, maybe you can drive away your own listeners the way WBAI does.
SDL
I don't think Bates has been appointed PD, but thats probably coming.
DeleteThe "Haitian All-Stars" crap came on at midnight. No redeeming value, but they got reverb.
Ever wonder where Null learned to throw his tirades? Well, here's an old film clip of A Null Family Christmas.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6cYZXyh7y6I
Jeez, I was just about to ask if you think the Haitians will realize they have a three hour show. As soon as I typed that, they said they would be on for the next two hours. Now the question is whether Raggie will be ready an hour early or get surprised again.
SDL
Do you think Kathy is a sub for the departed Divine?
ReplyDelete"What's this??? I asked for a transcendental transformation into a spiritual affirmation!"
ReplyDeleteKathy is too calm. Now, Mimi... Oh, Mimi would have been the perfect ham actress for John Waters!
SDL
I can see Mimi in "Hairspray," wearing an afro wig and Kiwi.
DeleteThese Haitian No Stars are really popular. Listen to all the calls pouring in! They are like watching a car accident. I was no fan of Dancy, but, at least, she was a real DJ with a certain amount of professionalism, rather than just rambling shout-outs all over the place.
DeleteSDL
These guys came from another station, you know what I'm sayin'? Whatever that was, they must see WBAI as a step up, you know what I'm sayin'? All the stuff they play sounds the same, you know what I'm sayin'?
Delete"The little island of Haiti" is fantasy, you know what I'm sayin'? It's not even half an island, you know what I'm sayin'?
I think you know what I'm sayin'.
HAHAHA! Actually, did they come from a radio station or an internet station, which is what I thought I heard, you know what I'm sayin? Why don't they call this show You Know What I'm Sayin, you know what I'm sayin?
DeleteThese clowns really are mind boggling, you know what I'm sayin? Oh, jeez, just put Hopte in this three hour slot, you know what I'm sayin?
SDL
I hear you, bro! I think they do come from an internet station, you know what I'm sayin'?
DeleteNow, I see. Hopper brought this crap on. It makes me wonder where Null comes up with the Bates as PD taking him off air Stuff. They seem to have had a laugh at Dancy, which makes me really curious about the story behind all this.
DeleteSDL
It may be Hopper's way to buy some Reimers job security. If Dancy is on two commercial stations, she's.where her type of show belongs, and not to be pitied. Know what I mean?
DeleteI agree on Dancy. In fact, I congratulate her for getting paying gigs on stations more fitting to her format.
DeleteSDL
Yup! I wish her well.
DeleteBTW Reggie is playing some good music. His time slot is apparently nomadic these days. He is going to pay tribute to Simon Loekley this morning, so I think I'll stay tuned. Reggie has his fumbling moments, but he is an honest and good guy" Sad that his smartphone was "disappeared."
Why do I get the feeling Reggie may soon be on the chopping block? I hope not, but seems to be some odd situations surrounding him these days.
ReplyDeleteYou know what I notice about these boombox based music shows, like Rebel Diaz and Haitian No Stars? The hosts are acting like street trash hanging out somewhere just howling and being loud all over each other without any idea that they are actually supposed to be doing a radio show.
SDL
The boomboxes may be street trash, but I think it is more likely that they are trying to appeal to street trash. The Diaz duo, for example, is not a pair of dummies. Imagine a Marcel Proust essay read in Ebonics.
DeleteReggie is being shuffled around, but they need him because he know how to operate the board. That, of course, may be somewhat questionable, considering the crappy equipment they have to work with and the general disorganization. We used to have a traffic manager who made sure that programs were in place when needed.
Today I took a look at the program schedule on the station's site and found that it is still hopelessly outdated. Dead hosts, dead programs, wrong time slots, etc. The so-called "site manager" is a relative of Andrea Katz. He is listed as "management," but I don't think he does a damn thing. I hope he isn't getting paid.
Rebel Diaz, the two new drag queens, the "Haitians" (from the Bronx), dummy Daulton, the "Burn, Baby, Burn" relic, et al are awful and embarrassing. You know what I'm sayin'?
Too late now, but they should have been told to hip hop outta there a long time ago. I believe it will happen sooner than they think.
rebel diaz , burn baby burn ,surely two of the worst in a long line of bad progamming.
ReplyDeleteI don't know which one is worse .
Who calls cops pigs anymore , and plays "music" that is as loud or louder than your voice
for the whole show . Talk about annoying ,to mention insulting . You know what i'm saying. haha.
I, for one, know exactly what you are saying, you know what I mean?
Delete"Burn, Baby, Burn" is, as its name implies, an outdated show in every respect, although DJs of that bygone era knew the basics of operating an audio panel. This relic is stuck in time and seemingly unaware of it. Though unintended, his extraordinary technical ineptitude serves us well by drowning out his racist inarticulate utterances.
Needless to say--but I can't resist--this neo Uncle Tom has been allowed to waste and pollute WBAI's air for a very long time.