As the WBAI Summer fund drive plows on, Berthold Reimers, the brain-dead radio station's ne'er-do-well, credulity-defying "GM" continues to pound it into the ground.
Following two failed fund drives, he offers what is left of the station's audience more of the same: over-priced digitalized revisions of black history by two recently departed con men, fictional tabloid-like "documentaries", possibly fatal "cures", and whatever else the resident or imported flimflammers can foist upon the gullible. They still call these dubious rewards "thank you gifts" and while credit cards are guaranteed to be tapped, delivery of the products is a game of chance.
Apropos games, the team of players remains the same. In fact, most of this round's infomercials are recycled non-fulfillments, some going back a year or more.
Whether it is a manifestation of panic or a new masks-off approach, the live presentations have deteriorated to a point where the distinction between an open microphone and an assault weapon is almost as obscure as a Reimers sighting.
Somehow all that came together Tuesday morning when announcer/board operator Reggie Johnson presented an extended version of his "From the Soundboard" show, now in its eighth year. Looking back, this offering has often been uncharacteristically worthwhile, with the host's enthusiasm compensating for his lack of preparation, but Mr. Johnson is letting loose these days, and that does not serve anyone well.
Tuesday's guest was percussionist/producer Jeff Haynes whose production, "The Storm King" is a wonderful two-volume CD release featuring an eclectic musical "score" written around a narrative spoken by the late Pete Seeger. Reggie Johnson showed excellent judgement when he chose to focus a program on this remarkable product, but he did not do it or Mr. Haynes justice as he rambled on in a most annoying, repetitive manner. The four CDs, offered as a premium for $120, are available elsewhere with swift, guaranteed delivery, but such information is never revealed on the "truth and justice" station. As Johnson hammed it up, repeated himself, and took side trips down Ego Lane, one began to feel sorry for Mr. Haynes, an accomplished intelligent man who showed remarkable tolerance throughout the ordeal.
One also had to wonder what went through the gentleman's mind when the agony of a well meant but ill advised and shameless pitch was heightened by a surprise visit.
Apropos surprises and the imbecile at the helm, you may recall that Berthold Reimers did not include Gary Null in this fund drive. The two have a long history of an off-again, on-again relationship that entwines Null's lawsuits and Reimers' banishments. Given that both are averse to telling it like it is, their game is often difficult to follow. When the latest round began with the "GM" leaving the "Guru" off the fund drive schedule, and given the perceived (possibly true) notion that Mr. Null has the Midas touch, some thought this move on the part of Reimers to be suicidal.... but wait.... there's more! Another reconciliation brought Null back yesterday.
This produced a widely distributed incredulous e-mail from Null friend and apologist, Stephen Brown:
Following two failed fund drives, he offers what is left of the station's audience more of the same: over-priced digitalized revisions of black history by two recently departed con men, fictional tabloid-like "documentaries", possibly fatal "cures", and whatever else the resident or imported flimflammers can foist upon the gullible. They still call these dubious rewards "thank you gifts" and while credit cards are guaranteed to be tapped, delivery of the products is a game of chance.
Apropos games, the team of players remains the same. In fact, most of this round's infomercials are recycled non-fulfillments, some going back a year or more.
Whether it is a manifestation of panic or a new masks-off approach, the live presentations have deteriorated to a point where the distinction between an open microphone and an assault weapon is almost as obscure as a Reimers sighting.
Somehow all that came together Tuesday morning when announcer/board operator Reggie Johnson presented an extended version of his "From the Soundboard" show, now in its eighth year. Looking back, this offering has often been uncharacteristically worthwhile, with the host's enthusiasm compensating for his lack of preparation, but Mr. Johnson is letting loose these days, and that does not serve anyone well.
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| Highly recommended, but buy it elsewhere. |
One also had to wonder what went through the gentleman's mind when the agony of a well meant but ill advised and shameless pitch was heightened by a surprise visit.
Apropos surprises and the imbecile at the helm, you may recall that Berthold Reimers did not include Gary Null in this fund drive. The two have a long history of an off-again, on-again relationship that entwines Null's lawsuits and Reimers' banishments. Given that both are averse to telling it like it is, their game is often difficult to follow. When the latest round began with the "GM" leaving the "Guru" off the fund drive schedule, and given the perceived (possibly true) notion that Mr. Null has the Midas touch, some thought this move on the part of Reimers to be suicidal.... but wait.... there's more! Another reconciliation brought Null back yesterday.
This produced a widely distributed incredulous e-mail from Null friend and apologist, Stephen Brown:
Breaking news. It appears that Berthold contacted Gary and they have arrived at a mutually satisfactory agreement by which Gary will pitch and a portion of the money he raises will go to fulfill backlogged premiums and new premiums. You will have heard his pitch for the retreat today, in his 2nd hour. That should raise $30,000. If enough people respond, he will do a second week for a second $30,000. (100 responded in first 20 minutes; if all are accommodated, that could mean $50,000. However, that was only the first 20 minutes; I don’t know how many more responded.)
Stephen M Brown
And so it goes....
Reimers sounded like a loon.
ReplyDeleteSorry to say, but Reggie has become an obnoxious bullshit artists in my book. I guess he needs the engineering job.
Stephen Brown isn't a Null apologist but a Null propagandist.
SDL
I agree with every word, SDL.
DeleteI am increasingly convinced that Tony Bates is the biggest BS'er on the air these days--his idiotic glorification of dead con-artists Clark and "Dr. Ben" is a crime whose victims are black, the very people this scumbag professes to be "liberating" with the "truth." People of his, Reimers', Haskins', Ron Daniels' ilk are shameless, morally bankrupt opportunists.
Tony Bates is a second rate huckster. That's why he's on WBAI pitching.
DeleteSDL
Knowing Berthold as I do, Berthold hates Gary Null as he hated Robert Knight and Elombe Brath. But he knows as much as he hates Null, the station will soon die without his help. He has to swallow his Haitian pride, put away the voodoo dolls and pins and bring back Null.
ReplyDeleteThat would not surprise me, but Reimers himself hasn't a drop of pride to swallow, Haitian or otherwise.
DeleteYou really have to wonder about how much Paul Robeson these WBAI listeners can jerk off to. The only thing WBAI has succeeded in making me feel about him is that I never want to hear his voice again.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, here is the very prophetic parody Elderly Man River by Stan Freberg and Daws Butler - an early warning about PC pinheads.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLlTlYfqQV4
SDL
I'm glad to hear about the deal with Null. I have said before that we should cut a deal with Gary Null or cut him loose. This constant back and forth is hurting everyone especially the people who ordered Gary Null premiums through the station who haven't received anything for months. Having said that, I wonder how firm this deal is.
ReplyDeleteOne can't cut a deal with people like Null and Reimers, who both suffer from chronic ambivalence.
DeleteReggie Johnson is the King of "Malapropisms". I have never been able to stomach his atrocious delivery of the English language. Enough of the standard fair of "Ebonics" at the soon to be demised WBAI.
ReplyDeleteDoes Johnson board op his own show? If yes, he needs to learn how to actually do it. I couldn't hear 99% of what Reimers was saying. And he's on in the #1 market in the country?
ReplyDeleteReggie Johnson is on the payroll as an engineer/announcer and, as yo have heard, years at the station has not taught him squat about either. The same can be said for Michael Haskins. They would not have lasted a week in that job when I was managing the station.
DeleteSteve Post held the same position, but it only took about 3 hours for me to teach him how to operate the board and—as was required in those days—maintain the transmitter log.
The other two people holding this position at WBAI, Shawn Rhodes and Max Schmide are good at it—so was Sidney Smith, who Reimers set up, falsely accused of pornography, and fired. Reimers never faced Sidney, nor did he have the guts and courtesy to speak to him. He is a despicable coward who never ought to have been given the GM job.
That's probably the nicest thing you ever said about Steve Post.
DeleteThe question is also how well the equipment works.
SDL
Oh, you mean to tell me that the equipment's ability to maintain a bearable audio balance is dependent on time? That it goes bad during certain shifts... Like weekday mornings?
DeleteJust heard Precod declare that she only has nine Robeson sets left. If only they could use the same trick to freeze those mounting bills!
Guess they underestimated the extent to which all that mindless programming has dumbed down the shrinking listenership.
Steve Post? You are probably right, I haven't found much positive to say about him since he was caught stealing WBAI Mail, drenching an allegedly factual book in self-serving fabrication, and--worst of all--stabbing people in the back.
Maybe the equipment is haunted? I do find it odd that the audio seems to change even during the same engineer's shift.
DeleteMaybe Prescod has dyscalculia?
SDL
Even if Null brings in money to help clear up some of the premium backlog and deal with other expenses, that's still a horrible position to be in. Your survival literally depends on an egomaniac.
ReplyDeleteIt seems, Chris, my concerns about the PNB taking a mortgage were premature. According to Tracy's blog, Lydia ignored the PNB decision and used most of the money to pay the election vendor instead of paying for the 2014 audit. As a candidate, I obviously want the election to proceed but not at the expense of not paying for the audit. The network and especially WBAI needs that audit released as quickly as possible. That's just 2014. We still have more audits before we can requalify for CPB funding which is supposed to be the main goal here.
ReplyDeletePacifica has a long history of unprofessional governance and seriously warped priorities. That's why I wholeheartedly agree with your conclusion that nothing but a clean sweep—from top to bottom—can spark any realistic hope for survival. As I have said before, put that in the past tense—even such an enema would be useless at this stage of WBAI/Pacifica's deterioration.
DeleteI am listening to Michael G. Haskins and Earl Caldwell from an ancient "Caldwell Chronicles" show hawking copies of this book:(https://www.amazon.com/New-Orleans-Louisianas-heroic-revolt/dp/0964459507). I wonder if they even have 2 copies of the book sitting amidst all the other premiums that have never been mailed out to donors? This station becomes more surreal by the hour.
ReplyDeleteI am listening to the same, embarrassing rerun. If you check with Amazon, you will see that this book really does not exist. It's a scam and Haskins should be ashamed to perpetuate it. He is a moron, Caldwell is in some stage of senility and the whole bunch of these con artists need to be exposed.
Delete