The Bopst Show

As 2003 draws to a close, let's take a look back at some of the more memorable moments in radio this year as compiled by Corey Deitz. January 6, 2003

Enrique Santos and Joe Ferrero from WXDJ-FM 95.7, a Spanish-language salsa station in Miami, call Venezuelan President, Hugo Chavez, pretending to be Cuban President, Fidel Castro. Chavez is not amused. January 18, 2003

Key 103, Manchester, England held an on-air sweepstakes where listeners could win money if they correctly predicted when convicted murderer, Myra Hindley, would die. January 25, 2003

A Birmingham, England, station, BRMB, challenged listeners to sit on blocks of dry ice to win concert tickets. Three contestants wound up in the hospital for 10 weeks recovering from skin grafts. Dry ice is -172 degrees Farhenheit. February 7, 2003

Rick Roddam and an intern from Fresno Rock station, KRZR-FM, delivered a blow-up doll to the office of Assembly Member Steve Samuelian, who had been picked up in a red-light district. Pictures were taken and audio was recorded. April 1, 2003

Shelby Mitchell and Kane, two Mobile, Alabama Radio personalities from WKSJ-FM suffered broken ankles in a celebrity lawn mower race. April 1, 2003

Brainerd, Minnesota, Radio personalities, Troy Shannon and Riggs from 98.1/"KISS FM", were arrested for creating a public nuisance after they announced a fake Eminem concert at the local "Big Lots" parking lot. 13 police cars had to break up a riot. April 9, 2003

Cleveland DJ Shane French got a lot of attention when he told his audience he had tethered a cat to helium balloons and it was flying out of control through the sky. Faked "reports" from listeners added to the mayhem. The cops showed up and shut the fun down after two hours. About a week later, a Denver DJ pulled off the same stunt, inspired by French. June 18, 2003

Enrique Santos and Joe Ferrero of WXDJ-FM come back with a new prank as they fool Fidel Castro on the phone, pretending to be Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. Castro got pissed. July 6, 2003

In East Dublin, Georgia, thousands attend the 7th Annual Redneck Games, sponsored by Country formatted, WQZY-FM which included: Bobbin' for pigs feet, hubcap hurlin', and belly floppin' into a mud pit. July 8, 2003

Miami talk show host, Neil Rogers at WQAM, 560-AM, informed his audience that Congresswoman "Katherine Harris is dead!". Nope. While he was reporting it, she was live on CSPAN. Stunt? Hoax? We may never know. Rogers refused to comment on it after it was pointed out she was still breathing. July 9, 2003

"T-Bone" (aka Dennis Jordan) from 98.9 "The Rock", in Kansas City, taped 100 Powerball lottery tickets to his body and then stood in the median of a local highway. He then encouraged listeners to stop and take tickets off him. He was arrested for public nudity and disorderly conduct. August 1, 2003

Shock Jock "Fat Boy" from 105.5 in Jacksonville, North Carolina resigned after a stunt went sour. He sent a show member known as "Waffleman" covered in mud to ring doorbells at the homes of rich folks, requesting permission to use their shower. The cops got involved, residents complained, the station wanted to suspend him but "Fat Boy" just took the black capsule.

The radio industry certainly doesn't lack for imagination when devising new means to attract listeners. It is a constant struggle for DJ's and morning hosts to keep their audiences interested in their shows as the above list dully notes. Radio is in a constant struggle to keep you tuned exclusively to their respective stations and in the process, the results of this continual need to attain higher ratings points show to what extremes some folks will go to keep you tuned in.

The most interesting prank perpetrated on the airwaves this year was committed by those loveable media assassins from Concord, California known as Negativland at the expense of broadcasting behemoth, Clear Channel. Negativland, known for their media-critiquing music collage and culture jamming hoaxes and pranks, outed KJR-FM in Seattle, Washington on charges that it played at least 114 different songs from the early to mid-1980's, despite marketing themselves as being a "Just the Greatest Hits of the '60's and '70's" radio station. The members of the group decided to point all this ridiculous deception by sabotaging the public's perception of the station. Apparently, the song that pushed Negativland into action was the station's inclusion of "Kokomo," a 1988 hit by The Beach Boys to their programming.

To debase the station and its false advertising, the group created an online web site rebuffing Clear Channel, KJR-FM, and KJR Program Director Bob Case, in a tabloid-style internet magazine parody, complete with damning evidence and scathing audio commentary. Negativland created a factitious, over-the-top media journalist they affectionately named Jack Diekobiscz to hide their true identity in order to call out Clear Channel for what they deemed as the company's controlling hand in the homogenization of the nation's airwaves.

Best of all, the timing of the prank added injury to insult as Negativland launched the assault August 10th on the eve of a massive promotion by Clear Channel to improve KJR's continued poor ratings. Popular local celebrity Pat Cashman, well known across the country as the co-star of Disney's "Bill Nye the Science Guy," was poised to make a much-publicized debut as KJR's new morning announcer when the group leaked their revealing URL on Cashman's web site. Within minutes, visitors to the site began contacting Clear Channel as instructed by "Jack."

Fearing negative publicity over the clear programming deception presented by the station, Clear Channel quickly pulled all 80's songs off the stations play list in less than 12 hours.

Clear Channel is no stranger to the muck raking of Negativland. When invited to contribute audio material to a massive microradio invasion of the Seattle airwaves as part of "Reclaim The Media," an event sponsored by the Seattle Indy Media Center that was scheduled to take place at the 2002 National Association of Broadcasters Convention being held at the Washington State Convention and Trade Center in Downtown Seattle over a year ago, the group produced a convincing 24-minute recording that simulated a telescoped version of KJR's format utilizing the stations own canned liners and jingles. The recording, featuring the ranting and raving Jack Diekobiscz against the false broadcasting claims of KJR, was broadcast on six pirate radio stations with some of the stations airing the 24-minute loop for seven hours at a time. Despite an abundance of bad press and angry calls and e-mails, Clear Channel didn't remove the songs until the events of August 10.

For more information on Jack Diekobiscz and to hear Jack's microradio attack on KJR, go to: http://www.negativland.com/listenhere/

Recently, The FCC has come under fire by pro-family groups The American Family Association (AFA) and Parents Television Council (PTC) after issuing a controversial ruling regarding the use of profanity on the airwaves. After U2 singer, Bono responded on the Golden Globe Awards show that receiving the treasured honor from the industry was, to quote, ""This is fucking great." the FCC issued the following ruling.

To view the entire ruling go to: http://www.fcc.gov/eb/Orders/2003/DA-03-3045A1.html

The Commission defines indecent speech as language that, in context, depicts or describes sexual or excretory activities or organs in terms patently offensive as measured by contemporary community standards for the broadcast medium.

Indecency findings involve at least two fundamental determinations. First, the material alleged to be indecent must fall within the subject matter scope of our indecency definition葉hat is, the material must describe or depict sexual or excretory organs or activities. . . . Second, the broadcast must be patently offensive as measured by contemporary community standards for the broadcast medium. The Bopst Show

Thursdays and Fridays, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., on WCLM 1450 AMSign up for Bopst Show Reminders: Click Here: As a threshold matter, the material aired during the "Golden Globe Awards" program does not describe or depict sexual and excretory activities and organs. The word "fucking" may be crude and offensive, but, in the context presented here, did not describe sexual or excretory organs or activities. Rather, the performer used the word "fucking" as an adjective or expletive to emphasize an exclamation. Indeed, in similar circumstances, we have found that offensive language used as an insult rather than as a description of sexual or excretory activity or organs is not within the scope of the Commission's prohibition of indecent program content.

6. Moreover, we have previously found that fleeting and isolated remarks of this nature do not warrant Commission action. Thus, because the complained-of material does not fall within the scope of the Commission's indecency prohibition, we reject the claims that this program content is indecent, and we need not reach the second element of the indecency analysis.

Hot on the heels of Nicole Richie, star of the Fox TV reality show "The Simple Life," using the words "cowsh-t" and "f---ing" during a live version of the Billboard awards show last week, these self appointed moral crusaders are more than a little hot under the collar about allowing what they deem as profanity to be allowed on the airwaves. "This latest assault on American families is just another indication that the FCC does not take its job seriously," said Tom Minnery, vice president of public policy for Focus on the Family stated over the simple use of words that he and his group feel are offensive. Now, Republican Congressman Doug Ose introduced a bill last week that would punish TV and radio broadcasters if they aired any of eight specific words and phrases to save us from our dirty mouths and minds. One group, the Parents Television Council, a group that monitors television/radio broadcasts and whose celebrity advisers include Pat Boone and Jane Seymour, have filed more than 85,000 (!) complaints about broadcast indecency and obscenity at the FCC this year.

Man, do these people need to get a life or what? Personally, supposed dirty words (you know what they are) don't offend your ever-so-humble radio show host and columnist in the slightest. It never ceases to amaze me that people can work themselves into a righteous lather over simple vocal sounds. My life is pretty damn X-rated, thank the lord, and I wouldn't have it any other way. I find it offensive that someone or some group has the gall to think that they should determine what the rest of us can hear or watch. Of coarse, they time and time again bring up what these sinful words and phrases will do to the impressionable minds of children if they hear them. Well, you know what will happen if they, our nation's precious children, hear such blasphemy? NOTHING! No one has ever died or committed a crime because of these taboo words. It is the stuff of grand comedy to hear these blowhards tell us that continued use of these words is somehow ruining our country. Of all the things to worry about in this world, this has to be the most ridiculous charade of moral outrage there is.

I never use what some want to call profanity on my show. Even though I proudly use these prohibited words and phrases on an hourly basis, I find it silly when people on radio think they are being "edgy" when they talk about sex or other touchy subjects. Honestly, I find that to be boring in the extreme and the obsession of diminished minds. Even though I feel that way, I would by no means ever think of trying to get these shows dedicated to the shallow end of the pool off the air. I mean, damn, if you don't like what you are hearing or watching, then by all means, TURN IT OFF.

Well, that will do it for me this week and always remember that it is my continued sincerest hope that you can find the time to give my radio show, The Bopst Show, a listen airing Thursdays and Fridays from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Solid Gold Soul, WCLM 1450 AM, the Heart & Soul of the City. The request lines are always open and you can either leave your requests here on The Bopst Show discussion forum or by calling (804) 231-7685 during show hours. Don't be shy.

Until Next Time,

Stay Clean LAST TIME : Welcome to the world of radio ... The Bopst Show Set List from Thursday, Dec. 11, 5-8 p.m.

1. Upside Down: Fela Anikulapo Kuti & Africa 70 with Sandra Akanke

2. Linus & Lucy: The Vince Guaraldi Trio (The Bopst Show Theme)

3. Fairytale of New York: The Pogues (Christmas Request)

4. Dopey Joe: Slim & Slam

5. Panther Power: Paris

6. Whipping Post: Corntooth

7. 54 46 Was My Number: The Maytals

8. Murder My Sweet: Roy Webb

9. Some Weird Sin: Iggy Pop

10. I Believe (When I Fall In Love It Will Be Forever): Stevie Wonder

11. Dangerous Woman: Mississippi Jook Band

12. The Bilbao Song: Cal Tjader

13. Mr. Pharmacist: The Fall

14. Dance of the Sugarplum Fairies: The Jingle Cats (Christmas Request)

15. Raspberry Beret: Prince

16. Must Have Been High: The Supersuckers

17. Winter in America: Gil Scott-Heron (Call In Request)

18. Hot Butter: Skokian

19. Keep On The Sunny Side: The Whites

20. Everything Turns Grey: Agent Orange

21. Somebody Already Broke My Heart: Sade

22. Suicide City: Lee Morgan

23. Puppet Master: Rabih Abou-Khalil

24. You're Gonna Get Yours: Public Enemy

25. Come Up To My Place: Mandy Patinkin & Judy Blazer

26. Bomb Baghdad: Bill Hicks

27. Fite Dem Back: Linton Kwesi Johnson (LKJ)

28. Hit That Jive Jack: Nat King Cole Trio

29. Pledging My time: Bob Dylan

30. Mix Up Matrimony: Lord Beginner

31. La Strada: Nino Rota

32. Powerhouse: The Bobby Hammack Orchestra

33. Homeboy: Mr. Wiggles

34. Little Girl Blue: Nina Simone

35. Get Down Moses: Joe Strummer & The Mescaleros

36. Beware: Al Green (Call In Request)

37. Check Your Bucket: Eddie Bo

38. Chicken Diction: Negativland

39. Hot Lips: Bill Brown & His Brownies

40. Outer Space: The Upsetters

41. Pusherman: Curtis Mayfield The Bopst Show Set List from Friday, Dec. 12, 5-8 p.m.

1. The Big Takeover: Bad Brains

2. Linus & Lucy: The Vince Guaraldi Trio (The Bopst Show Theme)

3. It's a Jam in the Streets: John Holt

4. The Outskirts of Down: Jerry Van Rooyen

5. Know Your enemy: Dead Prez

6. Psycho Brahmin: Bert A. Shefter & Pawl Sawtell from the Russ Myers film, "Motor Pyscho"

7. Cosmik Debris: Frank Zappa (Call In Request)

8. A Sailboat in the Moonlight: Billie Holiday

9. Sea Captain's Daughter: Cordero

10. (We Gotta) Bust Out of the Ghetto (Part 1): Moody Scott

11. Sugar Baby: Dock Boggs

12. The Perfect Cut (11 Minutes): Negativland

13. Boy's Life in America: Cody Chestnutt

14. Serenade to a Jerk: Spike Jones & His City Slickers

15. Coconut Water: Desmond Dekker

16. Highlife: The Westland Steel Band

17. Come to Mama: Ann Peebles

18. Minor Goes a Muggin': Tommy Dorsey

19. Gods of Rapture: Meshuggah

20. Cold Cold Ground: Tom Waits

21. Be-Bop: John Coletrane & Milt Jackson

22. U Mama Uy Ajabula: Babsy Miangeni

23. Let's Make Believe We're Sweethearts: Light Crust Doughboys

24. Bitchin Fissure: Rah Bras

25. Thandi Hawayen: Lata Mangeshkar

26. Teenage Riot: Portuguese Joe

27. Clive Buckledown: Plasmodium

28. Four Women: Nina Simone

29. Don't Believe in Christmas: The Sonics (Call In Request)

30. None Shall Escape The Judgment: Johnny Clarke

31. Trout Quintet Third Movement: Scherzo, Presto: Zeus Ensemble (Schubert)

32. Let Them Talk: James Brown

33. Fall Out: Johnny Burt

34. Worried, Unhappy, Lonesome & Sorry: Merle Haggard

35. Ol' Man River: Cootie Williams & The Rug Cutters

36. Don't Look Back into the Sun: The Libertines

37. Turn Off The Lights: Teddy Pendergrass

38. Babarabatiri: Machito

39. Coffee at Senor Roody's: Up, Bustle & Out

40. Diamond Head: The Ventures

41. Sawney Bean: Snakefinger's Vestal Virgins (Chris Gallo Birthday Request)

42. Sweet Sister Funk: Ramon Moris