Hearne: Rumored KMBZ Radio Format Change Could Backfire, Experts Say

Posted on December 16, 2014 by Hearne Christopher Jr.

homer_simpson_doh_pic-300x204It took nearly four years for Entercom to admit it made a mistake…

To confirm that blowing up adult contemporary powerhouse KUDL (98.1 FM) in order to simulcast News Radio KMBZ (980 AM) on the FM band to try and attract younger listeners was a failure.

That deal went down in March 2011.

However if the word on the street is correct – and Entercom and KMBZ officials aren’t returning calls on this one – and come January KMBZ AM and FM are divided into two different, competing radio formats, it will be an admission by station management that its three and a half year plus “experiment” with simulcasting was a failure.

For several reasons.

For starters, the combined ratings for KMBZ AM and FM actually went down, even though Entercom reportedly raised its ad rates by 20 percent.  Continue reading →

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Hearne: Don’t Miss KC Confidential’s Christmas Wilding Wednesday @ Stanford’s

Posted on December 15, 2014 by Hearne Christopher Jr.

april_macie_l_762c8d14850214d54c1c95b520912533_MvfcNi5.sizedBrace yourselves…

This year’s KC Confidential Christmas Wilding is about to unfold. Better and badder than ever, btw, in part because we’re shedding our in-town ways and holding the shindig in South Johnson County.

That’s right, in the land of milk and honey where propped up two-income families glide about their business in late model Lexus, Mercedes and Jaguar automobiles. Where the politics are (allegedly) clean and the mega churches packed on Sundays…and in the lair of the Scribe otherwise known as “King of Sting” Craig Glazer.

The blessed event goes down at 5 p.m. this Wednesday at the spanking new Stanford & Sons comedy club in Rosana Square at 119th and Metcalf. Continue reading →

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Glazer: Reveling in Mediocrity, Chiefs Win, Remain in Hunt

Posted on December 15, 2014 by Craig Glazer

XU264592_2__2716957bYesterday’s Kansas City Chiefs looked looked like the team of November…

And they played very much like the team that was 7-3 before the fall to 7-6. Oakland looked helpless. All the Chiefs name players had good games. Alex Smith passed for just under 300 yards. We haven’t had a 300 yard passing game in two years. Still no wide out caught a TD pass, but the Chiefs dominated Oakland in every department.

De’Anthony Thomas had a nice return run for a TD. Travis Kelce led the Chiefs in receiving and caught a touchdown pass. Dwayne Bowe showed up and had a solid game. Tamba Hali and Justin Houston each had a sack.

So in short,  everyone got well.

Now the Chiefs have two real tests ahead of them.

A road game with a good Steeler team coming up. It’s likely the Chiefs will need to win  their two remaining games – the Steelers there and Chargers here. If they want to get into the playoffs, that is.

So there is still a chance.

In fact a 9-7 record could get in if all the also-runs keep losing. Continue reading →

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Valentine: Celebrating Hate & Craig Glazer

Posted on December 15, 2014 by Mark Valentine
Glazer

Original art by Mark Valentine

I was driving by the new Stanford & Sons comedy club on 119th Street the other day…

And it made me appreciate that Stanford’s owner Craig Glazer is an entertaining sports writer. Every week he makes us ride his own personal emotional roller coaster as he alternately loves then hates the Kansas City Chiefs, the team’s coaches, its fans and sometimes the city itself.

As the football season wound its way down, Craig would modify his rants and appear on his own comedy club stage.

This one’s for you:

The Chiefs can technically still make the playoffs…

“Technically” is what Craig says when asked if he’s still a Chiefs fan.

Craig got an invitation to a big wedding. One of The Chiefs is getting married next month…

So Craig is pleased that at least one Chief will get a ring this year.

Timing is everything.  It is what puts the “eek’ in losing streak Continue reading →

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New Jack City: “Birdman’ Tops 48th Annual KC Critics Awards

Posted on December 15, 2014 by Jack Poessiger

001_BM_SG_00665.JPGThe 24 members of Kansas City’s Film Critics Circle have spoken…

Representing local and regional radio, television, newspaper and on-line media outlets— they  voted Sunday for The Best On Film for 2014.

And the KC’s Critics Circle’s top pick this year was “BIRDMAN” for BEST PICTURE,

BEST ACTOR: Micheal Keaton

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR: Edward Norton

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY: The groundbreaking film “BOYHOOD,” for which Richard Linklater was named BEST DIRECTOR while Patricia Arquette won BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS honors.

Continue reading →

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Glazer: Lawrence Strip Club Cop Stop & This Weeks Picks

Posted on December 13, 2014 by admin

Screen Shot 2014-12-13 at 1.09.56 PMLawrence strip club Allstars sent a limo to take me and comic Trevor Moore and his Whitest Kids U Know crew to Lawrence last night…

Stanford’s had featured the playmate appearing at Allstars on our pod cast Wednesday so they invited us to come to their Christmas party.

We got there a bit after midnight – I’d been there once before – but both times got yanked over by cops checking for DUI”s.

It’s the big thing these days – the big money play – and boy are they out there.

Hey, we were even in a limo and still got pulled over.

Nobody was drinking – although we could have been. Finally the cop let us go after questioning us about what we planned to do and needling us for no reason. But I mean seriously, a limo pullover?

Aren’t you supposed to have a professional driver if your group is drinking?

Oh, well. Continue reading →

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Leftridge: KC Takes “No Room for Improvement!” Approach at Winter Meetings, Apparently

Posted on December 12, 2014 by Brandon Leftridge

morales_kendrysHot off of their first World Series appearance in almost three decades (when I stop and think about that, it still freaks me out and doesn’t feel quite “real”), the Kansas City Royals headed into Major League Baseball’s winter meetings with three holes to fill: a starting pitcher capable of replacing the departing James Shields, a right fielder better than Nori Aoki, and a designated hitter with more oomph than Billy Butler.

Here’s what they did:

  • Signed relief pitcher Jason Frasor to a one-year deal worth $1.25MM.
  • Signed woodsman/failed starter/good reliever Luke Hochevar to a two-year deal worth $10MM.
  • Signed recently-terrible DH Kendrys Morales to a two-year deal worth $17MM.
  • Probably had some delicious food.
  • Probably enjoyed being in San Diego in early December.

Continue reading →

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Donnelly: Sporting KC Overhauling Roster After Disappointing Season Finish

Posted on December 12, 2014 by Matthew Donnelly

Sporting Kansas City spent the second half of the 2014 season on an epic slide that finally and mercifully ended with a first round playoff loss to the New York Red Bulls.

There’s a lot of blame to go around, to be sure.  Injuries, for one.  National team call-ups.  Fatigue from playing in so many different competitions. Poor goalkeeping.  Lack of continuity from constantly juggling the lineup.

So it’s no surprise that Sporting has been cleaning house over the last few weeks, addressing their failings from 2014 and rebuilding the roster.

Let’s do a recap: Continue reading →

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Glazer: The Indisputable, Awful Truth About The Kansas City Chiefs

Posted on December 12, 2014 by Craig Glazer

JonBaldwinUpsideDownWhy do our Kansas City Chiefs fall short of the mark every year?

Simple, we’re one of the NFL’s worst drafting teams of all time. We’ve not had a franchise quality quarterback since Len Dawson in the 1960’s and early 1970’s.

That’s the simple answer.

But yes, you can add in a poor front office, poor coaching and bad moves of every sort over the past 30 years. All of which have led to zero Super Bowls the past half century.

This year is coming to an end and once again Kansas City fans have been hoodwinked by the long term contract for Alex Smith, and soon another one for Justin Houston and “Boy, Andy sure is a Dandy.”

Hey, even I got suckered earlier this season.

Why? Because like most of you I wanted to believe we had something (even though deep down, I knew we really didn’t).

Football is a modern game based on passing and we don’t have that. Continue reading →

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Star beams: P&L Red Light Zone, Bill Cosby, NASA & Making Whoopi

Posted on December 11, 2014 by admin

amsterdam05The historic Power and Light Building will be renovated with some apartments going for as much as $3,500 a month.  If you’re a woman you can make that money back quickly via that giant flashing red light.

                                                           *******

A NASA spacecraft just awoke from hibernation and will begin to photograph Pluto.  The craft fell asleep in the 1970s after a date with Bill Cosby. Continue reading →

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Jack Goes Confidential: Chris Rock Hits With ‘Top Five’

Posted on December 11, 2014 by Jack Poessiger

Top-Five-1-Chris-RockYou’ve gotta give Chris Rock a lot of credit… 

After a period of involving himself with—shall we say—less than stellar movie parts, all of the sudden he’s turned edgy again.

Rock wrote, directed and stars in his own motion picture which Paramount picked up for distribution following its triumphant debut at this year’s Toronto Film Festival.

TOP FIVE is a star-studded adult comedy romp, complete with an irresistible romance while digging deep under the surface of the television and movie business and the media in general. Oh, and let’s not forget politics—all while being black and famous in America.

TOP FIVE tells the story of New York City comedian-turned movie star Andre Allen (Rock) whose screen fame consists of starring in the Hammy The Bear action-comedy trilogy—of which he is damn tired.

So he’s made a new beginning in his film career with a dramatic telling of the 1791 Haitian revolution called UPRIZE. And he’s making the media rounds, talk shows and junket sessions in the Big Apple to promote his new movie.

Trouble is, his audience isn’t buying it – they want more Hammy the Bear!

That’s when Rosario Dawson falls into Rock’s life. She’s a reporter for the New York Times assigned to do a feature story on him and—-well, let’s just say things go into some weird directions. Continue reading →

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Lefsetz: What Goes Around Comes Around — The 1960s

Posted on December 10, 2014 by Bob Lefsetz

Screen Shot 2014-12-10 at 1.32.46 PMThis is how the sixties started…

We’ve been told to trust Big Brother, that the government and the corporations know more. That the rich are smart. That we should be thankful we’ve got flat screens.

Hogwash.

They’ve scared you. Frightened you into believing your life is at risk from external forces only they can protect you from. If the government doesn’t scan your phone calls and your e-mails, doesn’t break every law in the Constitution, our whole nation will go under and you with it.

The truth is it has. We’ve lost our country and we’ve got to take it back.

There’s a fiction that musicians will lead the way. But they’re usually last. It’s the abused, those unjustly affected by the system, who revolt first.

That’s right, the sixties began with civil rights demonstrations. Which is why high-paid NFL players protest the chokehold but no musician with millions of Twitter followers has written a song about it… That’s what’s wrong with this nation, all the individuality, we’re only powerful when we come together. Continue reading →

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New Jack City: Holiday Air Travel Tips—Read ‘Em & Don’t Weep!

Posted on December 9, 2014 by Jack Poessiger

c-travel-dog-airplane_49625_600x450A few holiday angst travel avoidance reminders…

With the legacy carriers all booked to the brim during the upcoming holiday peak travel period, here are a few last minute tips that may keep you from experiencing a ruined Christmas trip.

First off, bear in mind that the carriers have reduced their capacity on practically all routes—yet are experiencing more demand than ever.

What that means for you?

Many prime time flights are overbooked, so if you arrive to the check-in counter late there’s an even greater chance of being bumped—whether you’re holding a confirmation or not!

And since the next flights to that same destination are probably fully booked as well, good luck getting a seat even later that same day.

RULE NO. 1: GET TO THE AIRPORT EARLY! Continue reading →

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Glazer: Life in the Bermuda Triangle of Football

Posted on December 8, 2014 by Craig Glazer

why-we-suckThe Chiefs season ended in Arizona…

And Missouri’s football team didn’t belong in the same city as Alabama’s, but somehow they got there. Kansas State kinda showed up, but Baylor had no trouble beating them.

All three teams – as always – just can’t win the big one.

To be fair Missouri has become a really good program. They went to back to back SEC title games, losing both. K-State on the other hand has never really beaten anyone who mattered at the end of the year, so they’re not really on a par with MU.

K-State is just a nice little team and Mizzou is trying to be a big boy.

Missouri at least seems to have a shot – but K State doesn’t.

Because when coach Bill Snyder leaves, say goodnight.

Which brings us to the Chiefs… Continue reading →

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Lowe: Bermuda, History Triangle Claims Local Navy Man

Posted on December 8, 2014 by Chuck Lowe

bermudatriangleIt went down 70 years ago, on December 5, 1945…

Three months after the signature end of World War II, five TBF Avengers Torpedo Bombers thundered down the runway of the Naval Air Station in Ft. Lauderdale and lifted into the air for a training flight into what is known as the Bermuda Triangle.

One of the pilots – a fresh young face needing hours to maintain his Navy Pilot status – was Navy Ensign Joseph Tipton Bossi. Bossi was to turn 21 on Christmas Day later that month. However there would be no celebration.

Because what was about to happen would become the genesis for the Bermuda Triangle mysteries that continues to this day. Replete with monsters, time travel, aliens and endless conspiracies from which movies, books and careers have been made and lost.

Bossi’s niece, Susan Lyons, lives here in Kansas City and spoke with me about Flight 19, the family’s loss and the legend that grew up around the tragedy. Continue reading →

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Glazer: The End is Near (And It Ain’t Looking Pretty)

Posted on December 6, 2014 by Chuck Lowe

459076630Seems like just a few weeks ago the Chiefs, MU and K-State football was just starting…

Now it’s all coming to an end and – unfortunately – the Chiefs are becoming the team we all thought they were, as in not too great.

For whatever reason, the Chiefs played over their heads mid season. However now they’ve gone from 7-3 to 7-5 and are just a loss or two away from bye-bye post season land.

In fact, the Chiefs need three wins just to get to the post season.

Not likely.

They could beat Arizona this Sunday. That team is banged up worse than KC. However we need to find an offense and even a consistent D. Quarterback Alex Smith needs to start running again and find someone to catch a few passes.

Because right now, Jamaal Charles is our only weapon.

And even if we make it to post season, he isn’t enough to win with. As we saw in past years. We are just an O.K. team. And Andy the dandy is just 3-7 against our division in two years…not good. Continue reading →

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Leftridge: I Need a Christmas Tree

Posted on December 6, 2014 by Brandon Leftridge

christmastreecoverLike the headlines suggests, I need a Christmas tree.

Okay, well let me be clear: I need a new Christmas tree. See, I already have one. As I type this, there is a plastic trash bag in my basement that is filled with a disassembled, plastic Christmas tree. The bag is also probably filled with those weird-ass cricket/spider hybrids that some people call camel crickets, and one person I know calls “sprickets.” I could rid myself of these monstershitbugs I suppose, but I’m not sure it’s worth it for this crummy tree. It’s only about 4-feet tall and ragged. It moved with me from Kansas City to Chicago and then back to KC again, but it was only ever meant to be a placeholder, something to stand in the corner until I became a real adult who had an adult tree. At some point, though, it just became my regular-ass Christmas tree.

But I need a new one. Continue reading →

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Hearne: The Pitch Nails American Royal for Failed Tradition, Bogus Bad Deal

Posted on December 5, 2014 by Hearne Christopher Jr.

feature1Stop me if you’ve heard this one…

A picture is worth 60 million words (and bucks). I say that because the photo Pitch photographer Chris Mullins took of the 50 or fewer folks in the stands at Kemper Arena for the American Royal‘s big deal UPHA Championship horse show is a mind blower.

Because out of the 19,500 seats in Kemper – maybe “800 souls” including horses, as Pitch writer David Hudnall characterized the attendance – barely a fraction of that number could be seen taking in the action in the wide angle photo.

Seriously people, more moms show up at those totally lame kiddie soccer games in South Johnson County than were at Kemper for one of the American Royal’s premier events. And they want $60 million taxpayer dollars to tear down Kemper and put up a venue that holds 5,000 people or maybe they’ll move somewhere else?

Why don’t they just hold it at Cerner head Neal Patterson‘s ranch out south and be done with it?

The truly amazing thing is that highly respected businessmen like Patterson and UMB main man Mariner Kemper are trying are actually trying to con the KC Council into dropping 30 large on a new, smaller home for these horse shows.

With straight faces, no less. Continue reading →

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Hearne: 610 Sports Knocks One Out of the Park in Fall Ratings

Posted on December 5, 2014 by admin

810610-235x300We’ll get to the latest radio ratings shortly, but for now the big news is 610 Sports…

Because not only did Entercom’s KCSP AM rocket into fourth place in the overall ratings released in November, its cume rose to just shy of a half million listeners.

Anybody out there think the Kansas City Royals might have had anything to do with that?

No?

Well, just last March – prior to the start of Major League Baseball – 610 Sports was languishing in 12th place with a 2.7 share and a cume of 187,200 listeners.

Now flash forward to the present… Continue reading →

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Star beams: Turkey Pardons, Foil Cars, Flashing Lights & Bill Cosby

Posted on December 5, 2014 by admin

9b032658a023eb8dc569ee636ac33e8fThat’s the last time I attend the mayor’s Turkey Pardoning Ceremony wearing a slutty skirt.

                                                                     *******

The Ford Claycomo plant will begin production of the aluminum-body F-150 early next year.  That’s great news for Kansas City.  Now we can tailgate and roll our extra ribs up in our truck when we’re finished.

                                                                       *******

The ACLU is coming to the aid of a man who flashed his lights in Grain Valley to alert traffic to police radar.  The “hands up don’t shoot radar” protest received very little attention from the press.

Continue reading →

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