Tommy B. Live from Florida. This is News?
By Brian Lambert
Big shock here: I'm no longer part of the Tommy B. KQRS Morning Crew demographic. (Too old. Too tired of the music. Already heard most of the jokes.) But even I am not as out of it as those "loyal listeners" who still think Barnard does the show from the KQ studio in Dinkytown.
Doesn't everyone know he has a studio at his house, and this time of year he does a lot of shows from his other place in West Palm Beach? Apparently not, judging by the notes I got and the "radio insider" chatter over on RedandNater.
As I understand it, Tommy had some kind of surgery on his nose recently (no doubt making it more pert, something like Sarah Silverman's maybe), so in addition to his ISDN line failing this past Thursday morning ("a bad loop" I'm told), he was also in a bit of pain as he tried to carry on via cell phone.
I reiterate, I did NOT hear any of this. But a KQ spokeswoman confirms the Florida ISDN problem and Tommy's nose issue. Nevertheless, various KQ listeners have professed outrage at Barnard "phoning it in." It goes without saying that Barnard's long, "colorful," and remarkably successful career has created both admirers and enemies. The latter are of the opinion that this "remote broadcasting" shtick is an outrageous fraud.
Those people might want to get out more. Or at least read The New York Times.
Personally, I could not care less where he or any other broadcaster is physically located unless he is trying to fake Minnesota-in-February presence from under a palm tree, which is what a few of his accusers are charging. Since I didn't hear any of the veiled references they point out, I'll stop short of my usual harsh, rash judgment. ... Other than to say ... if it is true Barnard is trying to gloss over his Florida location, he ought to rethink that bit.
I mean, why bother pretending? What percentage of Minnesotans are either in Florida this time of year or wishing they were? I'd think it'd be a pretty good running bit, playing up the piña colada stains on my Rash Guard swimwear while my knucklehead compatriots are kicking slush off their Uggs.
The KQ spokeswoman argues that Tommy B. in Florida is "no different than doing a remote." Well, when Dan Barreiro is out on the deck at Maynard's, he says so constantly. I get the feeling Tommy isn't exactly copping to his Florida "remote."
But if anyone ever hears him say to Bob Sansevere, "Bob, a sperm whale washed up in front of the house here last night, and it looked better than you on a good day," shoot me another note.
© 2008 MSP Communications, Inc. All rights reserved
Sounds like Tommy has learned some things about spin from his pal Governor Pepsodent.
LAMBERT: I do believe they are quite close. Quid pro quo and all that.
Posted by: Rob Levine on February 8, 2008 at 5:02 PM
Are things really this slow?
Posted by: Jim Leinfelder on February 11, 2008 at 10:22 AM
Why do I think that if Don Shelby did this with his radio show it wouldn't be news? Or if it were newsworthy, would you refer to him as Donny?
LAMBERT: Has 'CCO ever marketed Don as "Donny S."?
Posted by: Bob on February 11, 2008 at 11:03 AM
Color me old fashioned, but I always liked the idea of a morning show/zoo/a.m. drive team all in one studio yucking it up as a team, ala Stern, Imus, Mike Morris at KFAN and so I always thought, Tommy B. and sycophants. That said, I haven't listened with any regularly in at least 5 years...I had no idea he actually did it from his home? For how long? Given the vibe their show throws off - or at least the vibe I got when I listened to the show - just by way it sounds, and I mean this as a compliment, it sounded like a bunch of folks all in the same room, having a good time doing what they do.
I feel...violated.
LAMBERT: Don't take it too personally. There could be valid HR-related issues for keeping "The Crew" separated.
Posted by: essar1 on February 11, 2008 at 11:12 AM
Remote hosting of his show? meh. I'm more intrigued at how he's continued to prolong the "I'm just a regular guy like you" vibe to the lemmings. I mean, we all have second homes in West Palm Beach, no?
Posted by: Dave on February 11, 2008 at 11:45 AM
KQ doesn't market him as Tommy. People who want to belittle him call him Tommy.
LAMBERT: Really? KQ never refers to him as "Tommy B"? I am SO out of it.
Posted by: Bob on February 11, 2008 at 1:28 PM
Why does it matter where Barnard broadcasts from? He hasn't said anything new or of consequence (other than insults or ordering another pizza) in well over 10 years.
LAMBERT: Hey, in a backhanded way I'm at least giving him credit for still doing it live.
Posted by: A Son of Mississippi on February 11, 2008 at 1:58 PM
Is it fair for you to post this story knowing your feelings toward him? I have no problems with the story being told I just question the agenda you might have behind it. Here is a different example: Jim Souhan, who could possibly be the worst columnist in history, recently wrote his opinion on the Twins trade of Johan Santana. Given that he actually gets a paycheck during the summer from the Twins, is it any wonder that he defended the trade? Is it fair for him to even comment? Is your biased against Tommy B your reason to print this story. Be honest.
LAMBERT: What are my feelings toward Tom? We had a pleasant lunch last fall and pretty much put the past behind us as far as I'm concerned. (Tom's LaTour was excellent.) I'm serious about this. I do not care where he does his show from. But if he or the station are being "cute" about it, I gotta ask, "Why?"
Posted by: twinkie on February 11, 2008 at 2:37 PM
I keep seeing comments "what's the big deal?". To many of us the big deal is he pretends that he is just a regular guy ... grew up on the north side of town ... member of several unions ... (where he moans that the insurance he has won't pay for anything)etc. He has a huge blue collar listener base. Would they change there opinion of him if they knew that he lives in a multi-million dollar home on a lake in Golden Valley & has one in Florida as well? The fact that he is so covert about it makes me think that is certainly a consideration. Do I begrudge him his fortune. No ... only that his ego is so big that he has to try to hide it. My guess is it has been more then two decades since he has had to worry about a paycheck and he sure doesn't want the "lemmings" to know. Thanks to essar1 for the lemmings reference. As it is, I am down to only listening the 4 minutes a day that the Mike Evans report is on. That is, when they get to it on time.
LAMBERT: One of the ironies about Tom is that he'd actually make a pretty good mainstream talk show host -- screw all the low-brow BS -- especially now after years of getting the heavy schmooze from politicos.
Posted by: eljay on February 11, 2008 at 7:40 PM
Just for a little self abuse, I tuned in Barnard this a.m. just in time to catch him reading some weather wire reports, and he says something about it's going to be 20 tomorrow, which makes for a pretty nice day, Tom opines, you know, if it's not too windy. And now that I know he's down in West Palm sweating into his cruise wear, it made me want to say, "Yeah, right, #*&% YOU, BARNARD." But then, that's how the show usually affects me. So, I guess I still don't care that he's in Florida.
LAMBERT: For all I know he could be back in town now. But that's sort of my point. Does research show that his being in Florida for a few days/weeks is such a liability with his audience he has to be coy about it?
Posted by: Jim Leinfelder on February 12, 2008 at 9:31 AM
What a bunch of classist / elitist envy we have!
Posted by: bertram jr on February 12, 2008 at 1:50 PM
You know, Brian, I had just recently been thinking that Tom would be a good mainstream host. I find it difficult to listen to KQ's morning show anymore, but if Tom was to work solo or just with a good producer, I think he could be very successful. Just my $.02.
LAMBERT: I agree. the guy isn't dim, and the "bad boy shtick" has to get as old for him as it does for anyone who actually keeps up with the news -- as opposed to KQ's target demo. But the anxieties and biases of those people have made him wealthy.
Posted by: SanD on February 18, 2008 at 12:06 PM
Barnard performing remotely is a pretty good feat. I must say, for the listener you can't tell-- which is quite an accomplishment for which they should be congratulated.
I am one of those loyal listeners and I'll tell you this, morning radio in this town is full of a lot of "fake", but I'm afraid most of it is performed in town.
And what of the Star Tribune editorial board? The way they write, you'd think they were filing their columns from Berkeley half of the time.
LAMBERT: But then there's those syndicated columns they drop in, which as I read them, I think really are being written from Bob Jones University.
Posted by: Chris on February 19, 2008 at 2:00 PM