SPOOF ADDS SPICE TO STATION’S AD BAN

Bill Fox, the crusty general manager of KCST (Channel 39), won’t let bygones be bygones.

Ever since his former anchorman, Paul Bloom, joined the staff of XTRA-AM (69 XTRA Gold) in January, Fox has refused to accept any commercials promoting Bloom’s new assignment as co-host, with Irv Harrigan, of the oldies radio station’s morning show.

“Ages ago, Bill took the position that he would not accept any advertising from radio stations like ours that broadcast out of Mexico and are operated by American licensees,” XTRA general manager Tom Jiminez said.

“Similarly, he has always refused to buy time on our station. He’s entitled to do what he wants, but frankly, his policy makes no sense at all--especially in the 1980s, when the Mexican and American cultures are closer than they have ever been.”

Fox didn’t want to comment on any of Jiminez’s allegations, saying only, “I won’t discuss either Channel 39’s advertising policy or any of our former employees.”

But a former Channel 39 salesman, who asked that his name not be used, confirmed Fox’s longstanding policy of not accepting any advertising from Mexican radio stations.

“That’s been a standard with Bill for years,” this salesman said. “I used to go head to head with him on that, but he always gave me a flat no. He just refuses to accept anything that’s Mexican.

“That’s unfortunate, because many Mexican radio stations employ Americans--and most of the money they earn comes right back to San Diego. But Bill is a very narrow guy who knows little about sales.”

Some local radio observers, however, believe that’s not the whole story. Several times during his weekday morning radio show, Bloom has poked fun at his former boss by making comic announcements like, “Attention, Bill Fox: Your hair is on backwards.”

On the Bloom and Harrigan show’s imaginary TV station, KSNT (Channel 43), one of the recurring characters is a wimpy-voiced general manager whose preposterous editorials, some say, spoof Fox’s own nightly appearances on Channel 39.

Bloom, however, insists that’s not the case--at least, not quite.

“Our fictional general manager is a takeoff on all the dimwitted, nimble-footed jerks who manage TV stations around the country,” Bloom said.

“And Bill Fox is just so quintessential that I can understand why comparisons might be drawn.”