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| In the spotlight.... |
 Paul & Young Ron WBGG Miami www.paulandyoungron.com http://www.big1059.com/morningshow/index.html - Interviewed by Steve Harmon
Paul: I was a
fired out of work DJ in Birmingham, Ala in 1989 and desperate to get
back to Miami. I knew that mornings were wide open, because the heritage
rock show in the market, Herman and McBean had been let go, and there
was no Stern. The pd, Brian Krysz told me about this "stiff" doing news
for the station, that turned out to be Ron, and how he thought we might
have some chemistry. So, Brian made me actually jump through hoops to
get the gig, he made me drive down from Alabama, and then said, "sorry,
come back next week, don't have time". I was pissed, but I did. I met
Ron, we all went for dinner and drinks, and by the time we were half way
through dinner, we had everybody in the room cracking up.
Harmon: Describe the show and cast. How
long together? How you found each other...
Paul: I'd describe the show as 2 funny guys, hanging out on the radio,
living the South Florida Lifestyle. A couple of guys you'd wanna have a
few beers with. That attitude seems to work for us. (EXECUTIVE): Tommy Owen. We stole him from Bob and Madison in Raleigh, and I hope they forgive us. He is brilliant, organized, "gets it" and has a funny southern accent that we get to make fun of. We sometimes call him Ham Steak.
(Associate): Jenners. Started out as an intern, and is a rising star in
the business. He wanted to be a comedy writer for SNL, but we got him
first. Great bits, and a great sense of humor for a guy in his
early 20s. He is in charge of all audio for the show. Harmon:
How long in your market?.
Paul: I am lucky, I grew up here and have been on the radio in
Miami since 1984, I left for a few years in 86 and came back at the end
of 89, when Ron and I hooked up. This is our 15th year together. He was
a lot younger then. Harmon: What time do you get to the
studio?
Paul: I make sure I am at my desk at 5 am. Ron does his news prep
at home and slides in around 5:30. Jenners is here at 4, and Tommy has a
home office and does his morning prep from his house.
Paul: My freaking weight is always an issue. I knew you'd bring it
up. YES, I eat during the show, and it's brutal, since we are all
talk, I have to play a parody song to shove down an egg white omelet or
a Steak.
Paul: The negotiations were a nightmare. They wanted us to leave a
heritage station that we had been at for a decade to come over to the
station that Howard was on. We wanted some assurances, that our audience
would know where to find us. We knew it was the right move, I will be 45
next week (just in time for gifts at BFD!) and Ron is almost 70. (Ok,
49!), we were on an alternative station. There comes a time where you
don't want to be the oldest guy at the party. We were headed in that
direction. When we moved to the classic Rock station, our audience was
thrilled. Bob Rivers, by the way, you were right (he told me this
would happen). Cool thing: We stayed in our studio! They moved the
station for us! Paul: There are some shows that we have done recently, where you
got off the air and felt, "Damn that was good". One day last week: We
pulled a stunt thanks to Dave Sposito and his great Brokaw bit, we got
hung up on by Victoria Gotti, joked around with George Foreman, and spent
an hour with comedian John Pinette. It was a helluva show. But as far as
actually being everywhere: 2 years ago, when the Florida Marlins won their
2nd World Series, they were having a unique parade on the river, where all
of the players arrived on boats. This culminated with the presentation of
the WS trophy, Ron and I were the MC's for the event, and it was carried
live by every single TV news station and every radio news and sports
station. It bugged the crap out of everybody that we were hosting it. I
really felt larger than life that day. By the way, the following week, I
was offered a TV gig on the ABC affiliate! (true) Harmon: How do you use the internet in marketing your show? Paul: Listeners love a lot of the funny sound clips we use, and
we make them available to them on
www.paulandyoungron.com . We also are selling our cd, Livin' in the
Cone of Death, Vol 27 on the web, to make it somewhat easier for them to
get. Paul: We are a male targeted classic rock talk show, that has great female numbers. I know we need to talk about sports, and I do this constantly, the challenge is to make it funny and entertaining enough so that the women don't tune out! That and getting thin for BFD.
Paul: When it was an ok show, the interns will say, "good show" I will feel "all right" about it. When it's a "good" show, the sales geeks will be sniffing around, "good show buddy!"
Paul: How can you answer that? I have been a card carrying
Bitboard guy since it was Banana COM! How long is that, 10 years? I always
liked the 3 eyed turtle bit, oh wait.,...that was mine! Harmon: Wish more people on Bitboard would....? Paul: Come to the convention! There is nothing better. Pay for it
yourself, it's a write off. Harmon: When the room's tense how do you break the tension? Paul: I leave
Paul: I get to have breakfast with Harmon, see Lisa drunk and I once made out with Bill Michaels and TJ. Weird. previous spotlight shows:
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