Item 1: As reported here on OMW, as expected, yadda yadda, you know the drill… it’s indeed Bob Frantz taking the live, local mid-morning talk show slot on Clear Channel talk WTAM/1100 Cleveland, hosting his first show as permanent occupant of the time slot this morning.
Frantz told “Big One” listeners this morning that he was “thrilled, there is something about going home again”, saying “this is home…this is where I am, this is where I want to stay, this is where I’m going to stay.”
In a bit reminiscent of his “Brian Wilson Is My New Head Coach” sports analogy a ways back, he likened himself to a free-agent signing on a baseball team already loaded with talent, such as “lead-off hitter” Bill Wills in mornings, “hall of famer” Rush Limbaugh after him, followed by “clean up hitter” and afternoon motormouth Mike Trivisonno. (No, Frantz didn’t use our usual phrase for Triv. He apparently hasn’t read Ohio law yet…)
As for his former home, there’s no word on if WSPD intends to fill the one-hour local slot it created when new PD Wilson moved Frantz from morning drive upon his arrival in the Glass City. The “Eye On Toledo” show name remains on the station’s website schedule, but it would appear the evening show was specifically created to have somewhere to put Frantz after Fred LeFebvre took over the morning drive slot.
Item 2: While we electronically visit Toledo, our speculation on the matter turns to reality… as Block Communications’ (Buckeye Cablesystem) cable/satellite WB affiliate “WT05” signs a deal to become the Toledo market’s CW Network affiliate in the fall. The move leaves UPN affiliate WNGT-LP 48 with the option of My Network TV, assuming it even survives its current financial problems. Toledo’s Cornerstone Church is said to be the eventual buyer of the station, which is currently in bankruptcy receivership, and may not even keep secular programming on the station.
And though Cornerstone did once operate Toledo secular dance rimshot WXQQ/96.9 Wauseon (now owned by Christian contemporary network “K-Love”), we can’t see them running the steamy telenovelas envisioned by My Network TV.
Item 3: A regular reader of This Space adds to his voicetracking empire. AllAccess reports that Kasper, APD/MD/afternoon driver at Clear Channel Cleveland CHR WAKS/96.5 “Kiss FM” is spreading the Kasper Voice Love to WFMF in Baton Rouge LA, and KKRZ “Z100” in Portland OR.
He’s already heard on WAKS Kiss Sister WAKZ/95.9 in the Youngstown market in afternoon drive, following, we believe, the love of his life, Krissy Taylor…who’s also now heard via voicetracking on CC Akron/Canton Hot AC WKDD/98.1. (If you’re not confused yet, we can do more…)
Item 4: And while we’re electronically in Youngstown, our best wishes for a full recovery for WFMJ/21 weatherman Mark Koontz, who reportedly became disoriented during a newscast and was rushed to a Cleveland hospital. WFMJ’s website reports that Koontz is “undergoing some tests, and his condition is good”. Well-wishers can send him E-Mail via the WFMJ site. He’s a familiar name to Cleveland TV viewers, of course, for his long stint as a weekend weatherman at WJW/8…
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