KSFO's Lee Rodgers OUT; Brian Sussman In at SF talk station

examiner.com ^ | 2/18/10 | Rich Lieberman

[Dennis From Danville]

I was dumbfounded to learn this morning (Friday, Feb. 19, 2010), that Lee Rodgers has left KSFO. He was my morning companion for years and there is nothing on the dial in the 5-9 AM slot that will satisfy conservative tastes as Lee never failed to do. He brought so much humor, firmness, and general acumen to local radio.

I was on Lee’s show in March, 1985 when he did a nightly broadcast on KGO from 7—10 pm. The topic was comedy, and the magazine I was publishing at the time was the centerpiece. Lee was the only talk show host who responded to the PR I sent to just about all the major hosts in the Bay Area.

When the show was over, Lee said, “You’re taking me to BART.” He was commuting at that time from Walnut Creek, I believe. It was a riot, but a friend had surprised me earlier that evening with a limousine stocked with champagne and chauffered me to the “new” KGO broadcast center like a celebrity. On the way back we talked about a lot of issues, Lee had some champagne, and I noted 6-7 books Lee was carrying under his arm “to prepare.” His eyes were red and he said he was getting little sleep from all the prep work he had to do for his shows and interviews. No one prepared more for his guests like Lee Rodgers.

If there is a way, I hope KSFO will somewhow bring Lee back. No local talk show conservative anywhere in the Bay Area can fill his shoes.

Dennis From Danville

[byteback]

Lee used to wear on me so I stopped listening for a while. I was pleasantly surprised this morning when Brian signed on and relayed the story. Time to get a bit more current. Le would read all the stories that FR had the day before like they were fresh. Brian also has way more local contacts.

[ssaftler]

The Peninsula Press Club is reporting that Rodgers retired.

That makes a lot of sense. I've been listening to Lee since I moved here about 20 years ago, back when he was on KGO back to back with the late Dwayne Garrett. They did a 5 or 10 minute segue between their shows that could be a hoot, since Dwayne was as left-leaning as Lee was right-leaning.

I will miss Lee. He never backed down from a fight with an insufferable lefty, but he was never uncivil to someone merely because they shared an opposing view, unlike some on-air personalities out there.

[Sivad]

One of the best things I liked about the show is the
way Officer Vic and Lee set each other up and played
off each other with some of the funniest stuff since
Dr Don Rose. OV is a very funny and talented guy. Suss-
man just doesn’t display the ability to use him to the
show’s advantage. I hope they figure it out. Otherwise
there is really no reason for OV to stick around and
the show will eventually fall apart IMO.

[Political Junkie Too]

He never backed down from a fight with an insufferable lefty, but he was never uncivil to someone merely because they shared an opposing view...

I love how Rodgers would banish the guests who crossed him by failing to fulfill their commitments, or by being a lousy interview because of hawking their booka.

I recall the blistering tongue-lashing that Rodgers gave to Rich Galen after he failed to show up for a "KSFO Listeners' Cruise." Galen was a regular guest on the show who apparently committed to going on a KSFO-sponsored cruise. Galen never showed, and never told Rodgers that he wasn't going (perhaps Galen thought Rodgers wasn't serious, even though KSFO had regulary cruises for listeners).

Then there was the time that Jed Babbin missed a call. Rodgers' blood was beginning to boil, but Babbin had a legitimate excuse that day and Rodgers let it go.

But there was the time late last year that Rodgers had a guest on to talk about his book, and every answer was "it's in my book... buy my book and find out." After the interview ended, Rodgers told Sherry to never have him on again.

-PJ

[Williamsburg]

Lee is the best local/regional talk show host in the country. Always had big name guests because they knew he was the best and a real pro. I will greatly miss Lee.

[stillonaroll]

Lee did not retire. Lee was fired for not being sufficiently pro-Muslim.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/2456015/posts?page=8

[stillonaroll]

I have no opinion as to whether station mgmt thought he became too expensive for his yield or whether he simply decided to retire or to take an extended leave.

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Neither. Fired for not being pro-Muslim.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/2456015/posts?page=8

[stillonaroll]

The Penninsula Press Club is reporting that Rodgers retired.

---------------------------------------------------------------------

No. He was fired for not being pro-Muslim.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2456015/posts

[Political Junkie Too]

Thank you for alerting me to this.

I've been saying for years that there was a plot to dismantle conservative talk radio. This seals the deal for me.

Conservative Melanie Morgan Cut from KSFO Radio.

NEWS FLASH: Melanie Morgan Cut from KSFO 560 AM - San Francisco

And finally, a paraphrasing of a much earlier (but long forgotten) post on this issue when ABC Radio was first broken up.

However, my larger point is still that the ABCRadio network sale would lead to the dismantling of conservative talk radio. It seems that ABCRadio was the birthing ground of conservative talk radio, given that Limbaugh started out at WABC, and Hannity and Levin are located there, too.

Breaking up the ABCRadio network is a clever way to hasten the demise of conservative talk radio, if it's not possible to do it via the Fairness Doctrine.

Consider this plan:

1. Destroy the affiliate network. (Done)
2. Eliminate local talk radio. (In Progress) This begins the process of de-linking the listener to his/her local station and local issues.
3. Replace local talk radio with nationally syndicated talk radio, but at non-live times. (Also in progress). If only the local origin of a nationally syndicated show is getting the live feed, then the people in other locations, either when driving or elsewhere, will not be able to participate because the shows will have ended by the time they get to listen. This results in people becoming less interested in conservative talk radio as a whole.

Other talk-radio personalities better start paying attention to the business side of things, because the Fariness Doctrine is not their bogeyman right now. Liberals are using their money to buy up the media outlets and then shutting down right-wing talk radio.

-PJ

[Roberts]

Unbelievable. Thanks for posting that.

[GSWarrior]

Sussman is excruciating. I’ll not be listening.

[Amerikan_Samurai]

I’m going to miss Lee Rodgers, his outspoken and bold disdain for liberals is just beautiful.

But the “Suss Man” is also great, this guy also disdains liberals and liberalism and cracks me up. Great change, either way.