Baumann out at DVE
Pittsburgh:It appears that Randy Baumann has left the 'DVE morning show. The station's website has no mention or picture of him. But Tuesday morning some observers noticed that it's "Jim Krenn and the DVE Morning Show." Turns out that after a decade, Clear Channel opted not to renew Baumann's contract.
(UPDATE: 1/20/10) The Post-Gazette is reporting that neither party has offered an explaination as to why Baumann isn't on the air. Val Porter and Mike Prisuta have taken on further on-air roles with morning show banter.
Readers’ Forum
I was listening on the way in to work and I noticed just Jim and Val talking, they threw to commercial and Jim said “Jim and Randy…oops”.
Dave - January 19, 2010 at 12:23 pm
I noticed Jim kept omitting Randy’s name throughout the show and kept referring to the show as “It’s your DVE Morning Show”. I also heard him say “Jim and Randy…oops” as they cut to commercial just before the 8:30 sports.
Mike - January 19, 2010 at 1:37 pm
It’s DVE .. Why should anyone else care about a station seems to have “Free Bird” on a continuous loop?
rick - January 19, 2010 at 3:53 pm
Is DVE and/or Clear Channel hoping that Jim can do it on his own? Dont get me wrong I think Jim is a very talented comedian, but going solo might be tough, even for him. He kinds of needs a musical-type partner to balance him out. Right now he just has the two “straight men” of Val and Mike P. I was more of a Paulsen guy myself, but Randy was ok. He could be annoying and super hyper at times, but he seemed to balance the show out for the most part.
Dave WL - January 19, 2010 at 4:23 pm
Maybe they can get Scott Paulson to return. WDVE would be better, WEAE would be better.
I always thought Randy was pretty funny. They should have kept him around.
Bruce - January 19, 2010 at 5:54 pm
I wonder if he was let go due to cost cutting (we do know that DVE is now owned by Cheap Channel) or was it for something else? Reminds me of another Cheap Channel move in another city where they broke up a perfectly good morning team due to cost cutting. Eventually the station changed formats soon after that.
John B. - January 19, 2010 at 8:35 pm
DVE’s morning show had become the perfect example of everything that is wrong with broadcast commercial radio today. Crude just to be crude even if not funny… same stale songs over and over and over and…
Truly, the only reason to listen was for Mike’s Steelers coverage one day a week a few weeks a year.
Paulsen should be glad he’s out of there and doing such a great show on WEAE... DVE’s time has passed.
Woody - January 19, 2010 at 10:37 pm
Yep, and that’s why DVE has a 10 share.
Seeing Eye - January 20, 2010 at 01:27 am
Bob Smizik has a blog at the Post Gazette website. In the comments section about the new sports talk format at 93.7 someone poised a question about Baumann leaving DVE and Smizik said “Bauman apparently is through at DVE in a contract squabble”. Some other interesting comments in the same article state that on the 18th Scott Paulsen (who co-hosts ESPN’s The Drive with Logan and Crowe)said that it was his last day. Then yesterday Ken Laird filled in for Paulsen who was “out sick”. Is Paulsen ready to make a move, or was he just making a joke? FYI I checked 1250 ESPN site and Paulsen is still listed as being on there.
Dave WL - January 20, 2010 at 08:50 am
The DVE morning show was one of maybe 2 morning shows of recent memory that were actually somewhat enjoyable to listen to. No wacky stunts (Bubba that means you), and generally just a fun time.
Dave - January 20, 2010 at 2:38 pm
Jimmy Krenn will NEVER be able to do the show by himself. I’m done with dve
Jaci - January 20, 2010 at 3:14 pm
Wellsir, I’ve given this matter a lot of thought, and though I really like Jimmy Krenn, he just seems to be more at home as the second banana, and I just can’t imagine him headlining the morning show. He is very funny, but Randy really shouldered the bulk of the show..
Bruce - January 20, 2010 at 5:01 pm
Amazing, Clear Channel strikes again. The fact that this company remains in business is beyond belief. They think they can run a station with a fixed play list and no DJs and they wonder why their ad revenue is plummeting. Pittsburgh was one of the few lucky CC markets that had a decent morning show, I guess they had to nip that in the bud.
Velvet Jones - January 20, 2010 at 6:04 pm
With the fan loyalty that ‘dve has you would think that they would have the guts to tell the listeners that Randy was not returning. I listen almost evey morning, but now this kinda rubbed me the wrong way. If he left on his own terms ok but if clear channel let him go, i’m done listening to ‘dve, and maybe that is why they do not want to tell the listeners
kris - January 20, 2010 at 8:06 pm
The listeners are not stupid. In this age of instant communication and social networking, Randy’s departure will be known by everyone, quickly.
Bob Smizik and others have alluded to a “contract squabble.” Whether Randy chose to walk rather than accept CC’s offer, or whether CC made no offer at all, I cannot say.
Seeing Eye - January 20, 2010 at 9:29 pm
This is total BS. I will miss Randy and DVE has lost me as a long, long, long time listener.
It sure as hell wasn’t the music they’ve continually regurgitated over the past 20 years that kept me listening! I wanna find the person/people that actually call up to hear “Copperhead Road” everyday, 2-4 times a day and kick them in the teeth.
Yet somehow they’ll manage to keep Michelle Michaels on the 10-3 slot until she is 85. She needs to GO! I’ve had it with her corny repitoire and her fake sense of humor and everything Pittsburgh!
FCKCHEAPCHANNEL&DVE - January 20, 2010 at 9:43 pm
Just such a shame. One of the great things about Pittsburghers is the loyalty they show to things they consider synonomous with the city… such as the DVE Morning Show. I loved that Jim and Randy had been a “familiar” staple on my morning drive. Just seems like whoever is responsible for him leaving could have at least mentioned it to the “loyal listeners” htat have made it #1 in the ‘burgh.
HGirl - January 20, 2010 at 11:08 pm
If Randy’s out and Paulsen is in…would this be akin to the Conan & Jay fiasco? And I thought Pittsburgh was on it’s own kind of 7-second delay. At least Randy got 10 years instead of 7 months. Big mistake Clear Channel. Best wishes Randy wherever you may land!
Over DVE - January 20, 2010 at 11:23 pm
Seriously – Krenn is not really that good. He is so annoying when he tries to “relate” about the sports that Prisuta is reporting on. He is just awful. Now that Randy is gone, who I agree carried 75% of the weight of that show, the show is gonna tank.
Enough of Sally Wiggin too….
I used to listen to DVE, but now I’d rather take DUQ or Larry & John on 1020. It’s not that I am older, it’s just that DVE has been stagnent for years.
MaynardWaltrip - January 20, 2010 at 11:37 pm
Today’s show at least sounds a lot more upbeat than yesterday’s, but Krenn is really not able to carry the show on his own and while Prisuta and Val are good at their jobs, they don’t provide the balance that Randy and Scott did.
I would be stunned if Scott Paulsen returned to WDVE’s morning show. He left, in part, because he was tired of waking up at 3:00 a.m. for work and opted to be unemployed rather than renew his contract. Granted, that was ten years ago, so it is possible that the last ten years of being a radio nomad has mellowed his feelings towards working mornings.
As far as “akin to the Conan & Jay fiasco” goes, that’s a significant over statement and looking for parallels that are not there. Paulsen was/is/whatever on a successful show on WEAE, so there’s no reason to believe that CC got rid of Baumann on purpose. The opportunity to do that existed in the past, several times, and CC did not take the option.
medievalcook - January 21, 2010 at 07:32 am
So it’s been 3 days and not a word from DVE or Clear Channel on what happened with Randy? I agree with a previous post-the listeners are not stupid, we know Randy is gone-address it already. Even if (Cheap)Clear Channel just relasease a 1 sentence press release, fine. Same thing with Ellis Cannon, who disappeared from 104.7 a few weeks ago and, again, no reason given or acknowlegement?!
Dave WL - January 21, 2010 at 08:22 am
Dave (and anyone else): Send an email to the PD/GM over on Greentree Hill ask what happened and state your disappointment. Chances are you’ll get at least some of perfunctory repsonse.
Just Ask - January 21, 2010 at 2:15 pm
This is a sad week for morning radio in Pittsburgh. Randy was really the energy that kept that show moving. I like all of the other people, especially Jim Krenn, but it seems like Jim gets worn out trying to stay interested in the sports and news segments. The group dynamic with Randy is what was engaging. Sigh. It bums me out when Pittsburgh loses talented people, and even more if it is because some radio conglomerate is cheap.
trogdor - January 21, 2010 at 11:40 pm
I haven’t listened to WDVE since the “Jimmy & Steve” years (but I’m sure the music is still the same), so I don’t really care one way or another about Randy Baumann, but I always felt that it was a disservice to all the listeners when radio stations just drop someone with no explanantion, no good-byes, and no final show for the host to wrap things up with the audience. I truly wish radio stations would change their policies about things like this.
There is a good explanation in today’s Post Gazette that explains why they “Erase” away their personalities . . .
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10022/103..
. . . and I agree with the article, they are not fooling the listeners one bit.
Troy - January 22, 2010 at 07:09 am
I’ve been a loyal listener since the late 70’s, particularly to the morning shows…Jimmy (Roach) & Steve; Paulsen & Krenn; Jim & Randy. I am sad to hear that CC apparantly let/made him depart. I found him equally as funny as Krenn (The Pittsburgh Kid)and considerably more talented with his music, singing and song writing skills. I’ve listened this week and found a huge void where Randy belongs. Though I enjoy Mike Prisutta’s wit and sport commentaries, Val can be a bit annoying to put it mildly. The show was killer with Randy on board, without him, it’s milk toast!
zeeman - January 22, 2010 at 08:46 am
FCKCHEAPCHANNEL&DVE well put, and as far as am I am concerned I think Val and Mike are horrible, on occasion Mike can be funny, Val must think she is the queen of comedy but sorry Val you are not funny you are just an annoying laugh at everything second banana – Just like Ed M was with Johnny Carson – Laugh at everything and make stupid remarks. Radio stations should play more music and lose all these morning show clowns. They also need to play a wider variety – how much AC/DC, Pink Floyd, Van Halen, Clarks and Steve Earl do we have to be forced to listen to. Same songs over and over and over. Thank God I work at a place now that I can listen to my IPOD.
Jaycee - January 22, 2010 at 09:38 am
I agree with Dave WL. Is it just me, or has the corporate end of radio lost respect for its listening base when it comes to acknowledging on-air changes? We don’t necessarily need all the details…just wish them well and move on. Short of some kind of publicity stunt, keeping listeners guessing about a well-known air personality that just disappeared will not gain your station or cluster any favorable publicity. Then again, ‘DVE used to be owned by “Secret” Communications!
deerejohn - January 22, 2010 at 11:02 am
I think I have a good idea what happened to Randy. Clear Channel is starting an FM Sports channel in Pittsburgh come February 15th, replacing WBZZ-FM. 99% of what Jim and Randy talked about was sports. I am thinking he is going to be a DJ on the new sports channel, probably hoping to raise the immediate ratings for the channel. And since not too many details have been released on the line up, etc. they are probably waiting to make an announcement until the first broadcasting. Case in point, imaging if you heard “Randy Baumann is on The Fan!” A lot of people are going to listen to that station, hoping to hear where he was been, etc.
It’s probably a long shot, but I wouldn’t be in the least surprised if he showed up there.
Here’s a link with the announcement of the new station:
http://www.mediaweek.com/mw/content_disp..
Sal - January 22, 2010 at 6:13 pm
Sal, you may be right about Randy… I have thought the same may be true for Ellis Cannon. But the truth is I don’t think that either one is necessarily going to the new KDKA-FM and that there’s a lot of coincidence in the whole mess from the last couple of weeks.
PS Sal – I suspect that you just happened to fall in on this story and didn’t read our front page. We’ve heavily reported the 93.7 change this week.
Eric O'Brien (Owner of this site) - January 22, 2010 at 8:38 pm
I did just fall on the story, and decided to post my thought on the topic. And I see the site reported heavily, but CC didn’t say much…
And I’d like to point out what somebody said here… trogdor…another reason that leads me to believe they are shifting Baumann to The Fan, is because he was so engaging and energetic when it came to sports. He really was able to keep the ball moving. 99% of the time, he had the same opinion I had, good or bad, and wasn’t afraid to say it because of what others may think.
I do think it would have been more respectful for the listeners to say, this is my last broadcast here with this station. I am going to blah or I am going a different route. Or even a simple Goodbye Pittsburgh! Thanks for the memories! It would have been better than what they did now. I just wonder why more news agencies didn’t pick up this story, other than PPG. Such a public figure for Pittsburgh…it’s truly dead air in the AM with the current morning show. But I will stick to it, because I really do enjoy the comedians they get to come in. There is just something missing now.
Sal - January 22, 2010 at 9:00 pm
One thing I missed Sal… Clear Channel does not own the current WBZW/future KDKA-FM. CBS does. That’s probably one of the main reasons it couldn’t be discussed.
Eric O'Brien - January 23, 2010 at 12:33 am
It is completely disrespectful to the audience for Randy Bauman and Ellis Cannon to disappear without a trace of explanation or farewell. No further proof needed that these radio owners don’t care about listeners except as a statistic to be sold to advertisers. If you don’t like it, stop listening to these stations. Turn them off, and get your friends to turn them off.
A reader - January 23, 2010 at 04:04 am
This is the end of the ‘DVE Morning show. Maybe a format change is in the works as well. What needs to happen is Clear Channel needs to fail. Break it up.
Couch_Potato - January 23, 2010 at 2:38 pm
I can’t believe people still listein to that crap DVE reminds me of high school except a diffrent am team, why not bring back Jimmy and steve LMAO only in the burgh would that work , I drive all day as a salesman and if I had dve on in my car I would bash My face into the windshield , Freebird like every day at noon and kiss on fridays lol try xm sirius people
LOU - January 23, 2010 at 8:03 pm
I agree with the reader who said to just turn them off. Stop giving them your attention. I stopped listening to the Clear Channel radio stations years ago. Without listeners, They will lose advertisers and wither and die. Then maybe we will get some real radio in the Burgh.
JR - January 24, 2010 at 01:46 am
Lou, as much as you find it hard to believe that people listen ‘DVE, I find just as hard to believe that people think listening to the station makes them think they’re better than anyone else. I first became aware of Pittsburgh’s Most Overrated Station while in college (mid 1970s, during its progressive rock days) and became instantly turned off by those zealous listeners who would treat you like some kind of outcast if you listened to anything but DVE.
Honestly, I never saw anything in the station. And I never will.
I’d like to see DVE fail just as much as I’d like to see Cheap Channel go under.
Rick - January 24, 2010 at 02:01 am
I really miss The Rock. That was a great station in Pittsburgh.
Sal - January 24, 2010 at 1:02 pm
While I am certainly not sticking-up for ‘DVE (yes, there is a lot more variety of classic rock that they could be playing…I’m sick of “Freebird” and “Copperhead Road” as well), I think it comes down to heritage. Its what they’ve done for years and its still a ratings cash cow. Its a comfort zone that people in this area have gotten accustomed to. A station that doesn’t have “roots” in Western PA might as well be broadcast from Westwood One studions in LA. Without a personal connection to the city or the area, its just too generic for most listeners. ‘DVE still has the market for the “hometown feel.” From their DJs, to the morning show skits, to the liners and bumpers, its Pittsburgh. Like the old, ugly brown Lazy Boy chair, its just comfortable. It could use some freshening-up, but obviously if Clear Channel doesn’t think its broken, they’re not going to try to fix it.
deerejohn - January 25, 2010 at 12:30 pm
Does anyone know if CC has to show what their operating costs/revenue is on a per station basis? My guess is that stations like DVE rake in the cash but CC still cuts people to make up for mistakes/bad investments in other areas. Clear channel operates several stations from the same facility. The cost per station would be far lower than a stand-alone station. If this is the case could/should CC license be put up on the block? Their basically doing a disservice to the community by making the listeners pay for the mistakes of their management. While some will say “It’s their business, they can run it the way they want” that simply isn’t true for a radio or broadcast TV station. They have a legal obligation to serve the communities interest. I honestly wish they never would have removed the restriction on ownership. If it was one station per owner you would see one or two fewer station, but the remaining ones wouldn’t be nothing but tape loops or out of town programming.
Velvet Jones - January 25, 2010 at 9:07 pm
The past month or so I have heard commercials on various radio stations that start out (I am paraphrasing here) “Here is what your radio would sound like without this station” and then they play dead air for maybe 10-15 seconds. The announcer then comes back and says “uncomfortable, wasnt it” then the announcer goes on to say support this station or it might go away,etc. Then at the end—turns out the message was from Clear Channel! I interpret this as CC saying “listen or else we will pull the station off the air”. First they make on-air talent disappear and wipe all existance of them “Ellis who?” “Randy whatshisname” now, in the most p.c. way, they are saying we can do the same to our stations? Two words for you CC: MP3 players. Another option: satellite radio.
Dave WL - January 26, 2010 at 09:56 am
I heard something interesting today on the mid-afternoon show (after the lunch DJ). Well, the guy said “I better watch what I say before I get fired…” I forget what it was in reference to, but it wasn’t anything bad. And the way it was said, was very tongue in cheek, like a little stab to DVE and CC.
Sal - January 26, 2010 at 5:31 pm
I have a better idea: Listen to anyone BUT Clear Channel, no matter how good you think DVE is. Clear Channel is ruining radio as we know it and the best way to stop it is to listen to anything but Cheap Channel. And if DVE’s rating start to suffer, they can forget about ever getting my sympathy.
rick - January 27, 2010 at 10:52 am
I, for one, will miss Randy. He has been the energy behind the show for many years. While I think Jim Krenn is funny, he is a counter-puncher, someone who needs someone else to make the first move. Randy was that person. He ran the boards, had almost every new character for the last decade (I mean, do we really need another Ralph the Cat bit??) and knew the music scene better than any other local DJ I have listened to on local radio. He was ALWAYS promoting local bands, restaurants and establishments. His ability to connect with the guests, whether they be local celebrities, comedians or sports figures, was evident if you listened to the show. He was knowlegable on so much useless crap, that he made listening fun. And the bottom line is, he was funny. He made getting up easier. And while I think Mike is the best sports guy on radio (though I don’t always agree with him) and I have had a crush on Val since I saw her introduce Freedy Jonhnston at Graffitti many years ago, I just can’t see myself supporting a station that unceremoniously dumps a longtime employee who was very popular and then thinks they can erase him from memory and we won’t care! Sorry DVE, you have lost a loyal fan. It isn’t like I am going to miss hearing the same 6 songs you play every morning. Looks like I will be waking up to my Ipod every morning now. Sad. Randy, you will be missed. I wish you the best.
Randyfan - January 27, 2010 at 11:27 am