Straight From The Mouth
The Morning Mouth's January Interview with Wank & O'Brien
(Reprinted by permission; Copyright © 2006 Talentmasters Inc.)
First a little background on Ed Wank & Dave O'Brien:
Ed Wank: Stand-up comic from '87-'92. Opened for Drew Carey, Dennis
Miller, Ray Romano. Decided I wanted top billing, so I started radio in
Syracuse. Worked in State College/Johnstown/Altoona, Pittsburgh, Indy and
San Jose. One wife, one kid, two dogs. Just wrote a book, "The Hockey Dad
Chronicles," published by Emmis Books. 14.95 retail. Makes a great gift.
Dave O'Brien: Started in college radio in '85 at the University of
Virginia. Thought it would help me with the ladies. 4 celibate years later I
graduated, went to work at WWWV in Charlottesville. Then on to Roanoke,
Virginia, where I did score with a lady (my wife -- hope she's not reading
this); then Indianapolis where Wank and I met up; then San Jose and finally
back to Indy where I continue to score with that lady from Roanoke.
What was shifting from Rock to Country like?
Ed: Actually, we've done Rock, Alternative Rock, CHR, AC -- geez, we've
done everything except Latvian Polkas. Country is closest to rock, though --
but the listeners give you the freedom to post stuff up without too much
complaint.
Dave: Country is as close to Rock as anything I've done before or since.
When you look at it, the Eagles were Country and Big and Rich are Rock,
right?
Given the edginess of Rock, was it difficult having to pull back on
content that may be a bit over the top on Country?
Ed: We weren't the kind of show that did a lot of stuff that the
12-year-old in the car couldn't hear to begin with. We'd already morphed away
from the T&A show we did on Alternative.
Dave: We have always used the model of doing the kind of show that a mom
or dad could listen to with their kids in the car. There may be an occasional
comment that makes the parent blush a little but never anything that will
make them reach for the dial. We try to make our show work on two levels,
like the old Warner Brothers cartoons. I mean, Bugs Bunny in a dress is funny
to kids and adults for two very different reasons. (Mental note: Wank in a
dress=ratings gold).
Give us a snapshot of your typical day?
Ed: I get here about 4, the show starts at 5. On a good day I'm out by 2,
a bad day by 4. Prep is split right down the middle between me and Dave.
Dave: I teach a Pilates class at 10:20 every day. You do the math.
How is a Hank morning show different than a Jack?
Ed: Hank has a morning show -- an actual, honest-to-God, people-talking
morning show. Jack has nothing more than attitude liners, at least here in
Indy.
Dave: We're less about copping some sort of manufactured attitude and more
about being two regular guys who are having fun.
Okay, you're in a market with Bob & Tom, Dave Smiley and other top
morning shows. What kind of stuff do you resort to in order to stand
out?
Ed: We can be local throughout the course of the entire show. From a pure
numbers standpoint, our biggest competition besides B&T these days comes from
the WFMS morning show, the heritage country guys. They're very, very
conservative. That's where our rock edge comes in handy.
Give us a few of your all-time favorite bits? The ones listeners
still talk about?
Ed: Our intern Bobo stood on a street corner offering anyone who walked by
50 bucks to wet themselves. A woman then offered Bobo 50 bucks if he'd do it
himself. The kid did. Peed himself. Right there. Bobo also had my
second-favorite moment -- we dressed him as an NFL ref and had him whistle
pedestrians for various penalties we simply made up: "Vaguely Homosexual
Hat!" "Fake Designer Bag!" Simple bit, great audio, including the victim's
reactions.
Dave: I find that listeners frequently talk about the stuff I thought flew
under the radar -- some of the simple, conversational character-building
discussions that go on between me and Ed. Some of my favorite bits though --
getting hit with a taser (I do not recommend this); pranking Wank into
thinking he was interviewing the Prime Minister of Jamaica during a Spring
Break broadcast while I acted like an ass to the guy; and Intern Bobo going
around town asking people if he could spread the "ashes" of his dead
grandmother in their businesses. Nothing's funnier than hearing the clerk at
an hourly-rate motel ask "This place was special to your grandmother?" and
then allowing Bobo to sprinkle some "ashes" on an already stained mattress.
Is there anyone's show that you follow more closely than
others?
Ed: I dig Tim & Willy, KNIX, Phoenix. Funny show.
Dave: JohnJay and Rich in Tucson, Ace and TJ in Charlotte, Dave Ryan in
Minneapolis, MJ in Tampa -- all make me laugh. Bert at Q100 in Atlanta does
the "relationship" stuff very well.
Did either of you have a radio mentor?
Ed: That Marconi dude was a real trendsetter. Actually, Jon Quick from
WIBC (our sister AM) has been pretty encouraging.
Dave: I've had more of a sounding board for the past 13 years. My wife did
morning radio for ten years and is one of the most creative people I know.
She always manages to twist some idea I have and make it better.
If you could choose one person in radio to critique your show, whom
would it be?
Ed: Our GM after the third Grey Goose martini. Actually, we had a month
off when 97.1 went from AC to Hank. I got to listen to the whole market, in
my car, just like a commuter. Real eye-opener as to what kept me as a
listener
Dave: Actually, I'd be happy to find one person who doesn't critique our
show.
Best advice you ever got?
Ed: 'Don't get into radio.' - Big Mike Fiss, Y94-FM, Syracuse, 1992.
Dave: "Talk to your listeners like you do to your friends - except for all
of the profanity." GM Mike Slenski, WROV, Roanoke, 1992.
Best idea you ever picked up at Morning Show Boot Camp?
Ed: 'Get drunk and sleep with your news chick.'
Dave: I can't remember what it was called but sometimes it still itches.
What's the most bizarre thing you've ever done in your studio that
listeners weren't aware of?
Ed: We enjoy the Today Show's Smucker's tribute to those who've made it to
100+ years old. If perchance, we notice it's on while we're in music, O'Brien
adds voices to the photos while we're watching with the sound down. My
favorite: "I smell urine!"
Dave: I enjoy our daily deep tissue massages and full buffet.
The CMA's went to New York last year. Some believe it was to
motivate New York radio into getting a Country station on the air there.
Would you add anything to this appeal (how would you lobby New York
broadcasters)?
Ed: Have any one of them follow any random chick who just bought a
Gretchen Wilson disc. She's going to get in her SUV and drive out to her
middle class home in the Jersey 'burbs groovin' to 'All Jacked Up.' There's
your audience. Now market the product to that group.
When I posed this same question to a friend of mine, he told me that
New Yorkers could already get Country on satellite. Do you see market voids
like this on terrestrial radio helping to send listeners to
satellite?
Ed: No. I see a lack of programming creativity sending listeners to
satellite.
Dave: Satellite, iPods, CD's, the Internet, the Walkman -- they've all
been radio's "boogeyman" in the past. Compelling radio has always kept people
from turning to the other choices.
Speaking of satellite, let's get the predictions for 2006 going.
Next year this time, where do you see Howard?
Ed: He'll do okay. Just okay. His problem: I have a feeling the show will
be so dirty that it'll be like watching hardcore porn instead of Cinemax or
something. (And believe me, I know my porn.) Instead of titillating, it could
become very boring.
Dave: I see Howard buying a bunch of Sirius receivers to keep those
numbers growing for Wall Street. I also think you'll see increased
eyebrow-raising at the FCC with some possible attempts to regulate satellite
more closely.
New format radio will see in 2006?
Ed: Latvian Polkas, 'Ivan-FM'. All S&M audio, 'Spank-FM'. No wait, that's
Howard on satellite. All Bobby Brown & Whitey Houston, 'Crack-FM'.
Dave: "Jill-FM" (80's & 90's based Pop/Modern/Dance); new truer
Alternative -- not the Active Rock it has become, and (gasp!) radio stations
with real live DJ's!
The one thing I'm going to quit doing in 2006?
Ed: All that pesky heroin.
Dave: Less bitching and moaning and more action and results.
The one thing I'm going to definitely do in 2006?
Ed: Trust my instincts more. I've been second-guessing myself way too much
lately on and off the air.
Dave: Be #1 12+. And the new owner of ABC Radio in 2006 will be... (Hank
is owned by Emmis)
Ed: I know who it is but I can't divulge that information. For a complete
list of my stock tips, send 20 bucks to me with a S.A.S.E. care of 97.1
Hank-FM, Indy.
Dave: SuperMcRadioHutMart
The thing about terrestrial radio that scares me most?
Ed: All-uh-them 'lectrical equipment-type thingies. And the FCC.
Dave: How unsure it is of itself right now - throwing everything at the
wall to see what sticks. Terrestrial radio needs to get a backbone, believe
in what it's doing and stop being scared of the boogeyman.
The thing about my partner that scares me most?
Ed: O'Brien has a wicked temper, man. Seriously. You should see what he
did to our last producer. Ugly.
Dave: Wank shaves his entire body. Is that weird to anyone else?
Read previous Morning Mouth interviews.
Return to Menu
Copyright © 1989-2009 RADIO ONLINE ®
|
