TAKE 5:BEHIND THE MIKE; TOP BAY AREA TALK-SHOW HOST READY TO SIT IN KABC'S HOT SEAT.Ronn Owens Ronn Owens (born October 17, 1945 in New York City), is an American talk radio host. Owens is the top-rated talk radio host on KGO in San Francisco. Owens began his career in broadcasting in 1968 after graduating from Temple University. , the Bay Area's top talker, isn't worried about winning over a new audience when his radio show debuts in Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. on Monday. In fact, he's looking forward to the challenge of moving into the time slot Continuously repeating interval of time or a time period in which two devices are able to interconnect. of longtime L.A. airwaves fixture Michael Jackson Noun 1. Michael Jackson - United States singer who began singing with his four brothers and later became a highly successful star during the 1980s (born in 1958) Michael Joe Jackson, Jackson . Owens, whose program on San Francisco's KGO-AM draws nearly 500,000 listeners each week, says talk-radio fans are the same everywhere. ``It's true that San Francisco San Francisco (săn frănsĭs`kō), city (1990 pop. 723,959), coextensive with San Francisco co., W Calif., on the tip of a peninsula between the Pacific Ocean and San Francisco Bay, which are connected by the strait known as the Golden itself is far more liberal than Los Angeles, but that's just a small part of the Bay Area,'' he said. On Monday, Owens takes over the 9-to-11:45 a.m. weekday shift on KABC-AM (790) held until recently by Jackson. Jackson moves to weekends due to less-than-spectacular ratings against Rush Limbaugh Rush Hudson Limbaugh III (born January 12, 1951) is an American conservative radio talk show host and political commentator. Born in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, he is a self-described conservative, who discusses politics and current events on his program, on cross-town talk rival KFI-AM (640). In the Bay Area, Owens has beaten Limbaugh for the past two years. It's the only city where Rush gets the bum's rush bum's rush n. Forcible ejection from a place. . ``It might have something to do with longevity,'' he said. ``I've been in the area for a long time and people have grown up with me. Plus, Limbaugh is a one-trick pony, and I'm far more eclectic.'' Owens, a self-described moderate, explores everything from politics to pop culture, crime, personal issues and gossip on his show. He will alternate hosting his show from studios in Los Angeles and San Francisco on a weekly basis. When he is not in town, Owens will be simulcast from news-talk KGO KGO Knight Grand Officer , which, like KABC KABC Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children , is owned by ABC Radio ABC Radio is a broadcasting unit of Citadel Broadcasting Corporation.[1] ABC Radio was, from 1945 until 2007, the division of the American Broadcasting Company (ABC) focused on AM radio and FM radio broadcasting. . ``I love the electricity and excitement of L.A.,'' he said. ``The best part of this is I get to spend two weeks each month down here.' As for taking over the spot Jackson held for 30 years, Owens says he has nothing but respect for the man he's replacing. ``Michael Jackson is a legend in this business,'' Owens, 51, said. ``I'm being put into that time slot to do the best I can.'' ?13- Fred Shuster Fans, here's `Loving Lucy '97' Before Roseanne's wisecracking ``domestic goddess'' or Mary Tyler Moore's hard-working single gal, there was Lucy. Constantly scheming, off-key-singing, celebrity-hounding, Desi-imitating, Ethel-befriending Lucy. Audiences loved Lucille Ball. ``I Love Lucy'' (1951-57) was the first sitcom to be a hit, the first show to be No. 1 in ratings three years in a row and the first to reach an audience of 10 million. It was also the only show in history to leave the air while still No. 1. And although 46 years have passed since the first episode aired, fans still love the pratfalling redhead - so much so that a convention of Lucy fans in the Valley this weekend is expected to draw no less than 1,500 people, some traveling to Burbank from as far away as Switzerland and Australia. ``The comedy is still as funny today as it ever was,'' says Thomas J. Watson Thomas John Watson, Sr. (February 17, 1874 – June 19, 1956) was the president of International Business Machines (IBM), who oversaw that company's growth into an international force from the 1920s to the 1950s. of Sherman Oaks, organizer of ``Loving Lucy '97.'' Watson was Ball's publicist from 1985 to 1989. ``There's a whole Lucy revival going on,'' he says. ``A lot of young parents have rediscovered it. They want something their kids can watch that isn't smutty smut n. 1. a. A particle of dirt. b. A smudge made by soot, smoke, or dirt. 2. a. Obscenity in speech or writing. b. Pornography. 3. a. and violent, and `Lucy' fits the bill.'' The convention, headquartered at the Burbank Airport Hilton and Convention Center, kicks off at 7:30 p.m. Friday at the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences in North Hollywood with a screening of Lucy ``bloopers'' and the presentation of a 1964 TV special Ball hosted with Bob Hope. Saturday's activities include panel discussions with actresses Mary Jane Croft Mary Jane Croft (February 15, 1916 - August 24, 1999) was an American actress best known for her role as Mary Jane Lewis on The Lucy Show and Here's Lucy. Croft was born in Muncie, Indiana. (Betty Ramsey on ``I Love Lucy'') and Doris Singleton Doris Singleton (born September 28, 1919) is an American actress who is best remembered as Lucy Ricardo's nearsighted neighbor, Caroline Appleby, on I Love Lucy. During her long and distinguished career, Doris also guest starred on several other television shows including (Lucy's nemesis Caroline Appleby), actor Keith Thibodeaux (Little Ricky) and writers Madelyn Pugh Davis and Bob Carroll Jr. An auction of Lucy memorabilia also is planned. The convention wraps up Sunday with a one-woman tribute by Lucy impersonator Suzanne LaRusch. Watson credits the new wave of Lucy interest, in part, to Nick at Nite. The cable network plays ``I Love Lucy'' reruns from 8:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. on Tuesdays and at 10 p.m. on Saturdays. The reruns are among Nick at Nite's highest-rated shows, says Rich Cronin, president of Nick at Nite's TV Land. ``I have four kids and they have all become Lucy fans,'' he says. ``I've asked them why and they say `because she's so funny.' Lucy is a universal character. Her physical comedy and her incredible talent appeals to people of all ages and all walks of life.'' Anyone planning to attend the convention should call for reservations. Space is filling up quickly, says Watson, and some events are almost sold out. For schedule and price information, call (818) 981-0757. ?13- Janet Weeks Test your knowledge of wacky redhead So you think you love Lucy? Test your Lucy IQ with the following trivia quiz, provided by ``Loving Lucy '97'': 1. What was the address of the Mertzes' apartment building in New York City New York City: see New York, city. New York City City (pop., 2000: 8,008,278), southeastern New York, at the mouth of the Hudson River. The largest city in the U.S. ? 2. Name the tonic for which Lucy did a TV commercial. 3. What movie was Ricky Ricardo originally supposed to make in Hollywood? 4. What was Lucy Ricardo's maiden name? 5. Where was Ethel Mertz born? 6. What was the name of Lucy and Ethel's women's club? 7. What Hollywood star did Lucy hit with a pie at the Brown Derby? 8. What was the name of the movie Lucy hoped to make in Italy? 9. When the Ricardos and the Mertzes moved to the country, in what town did they reside? 10. What were the two names of Ricky Ricardo's nightclub? Answers: (1) 623 E. 68th St.; (2) Vitameatavegamin; (3) ``Don Juan''; (4) McGillicuddy; (5) Albuquerque, N.M.; (6) The Wednesday Afternoon Fine Arts League; (7) William Holden; (8) ``Bitter Grapes''; (9) Westport, Conn.; (10) The Tropicana (1951-56) and Club Babalu (1956-57). CAPTION(S): 2 Photos, Box Photo: (1) A convention of Lucille Ball fans in the Valley this weekend is expected to draw no less than 1,500 people. (2) OWENS Box: Test your knowledge of wacky redhead (See text) |
|
||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion