Radio Listener Misses Old Quality and Style

Rhoda Harrison Tuit’s regrets about the firing of Roger Barkley at KABC (“Barkley’s Firing Is, Sadly, a Sign of Our Times,” Calendar, Sept. 30), bring to mind the declining quality of radio programming since the last time Roger Barkley left a show just over 10 years ago. As astute Los Angeles-area radio listeners can tell you, that was the end of the Lohman & Barkley program on KFI.

What do we have on the radio now? A lot of talentless, no-taste people who have substituted a radio microphone for the psychiatrist’s couch. Recently, I was listening briefly to the host of a show I’d never heard before (I didn’t catch his name, but it doesn’t matter because I don’t plan on listening again), and for the entire 10 minutes I listened, all he did was talk about how his wife badgered him after discovering his collection of pornographic video tapes. Intermixed in this boring drivel, he did manage to mention the numerous times he’s interviewed porn stars on his show. Since when is anyone interested in what a porn star has to say?

It’s too bad that just because radio “personalities” have the right to say anything they want (within FCC guidelines), they feel it’s important to push the line of what is, or was, widely considered to be decent and respectful.

Yes, Roger Barkley is, as Tuit says, a “refreshing delight,” and I too hope he will continue his radio career with another, more deserving station. If this were a perfect world, that would mean a revival of the great Lohman & Barkley team. Finally we’d have a reason to turn on the radio for more than an incomplete and depressing traffic report.

BEN STUART

Placentia

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Re “KABC’s Eric Tracy Gets the Final Word: Goodbye” (Calendar, Oct. 7): Thank you, Eric Tracy, for not only taking the time to let us, the listening audience, know that you enjoyed being the “everything” guy, but for not biting the hand that just smacked you. I know there is a radio station out there in L.A. just waiting for a real “radio guy.”

As for KABC-AM, I guess it is asking too much for a radio station that is supposedly serving the public interest to consider that public when “axing” on-air personnel. Wouldn’t it make more sense to appear listener-friendly and let the Eric Tracys and Roger Barkleys at least say goodbye/see ya to their audience?

Would that radio executives try polling us listeners before changing formats or personnel. If we tell you not to cancel a show or program in sufficient numbers, listen to us! If you don’t start paying attention to those you supposedly serve, maybe you might listen to your advertising clients when your audience boycotts them as well as you stations!

JULIE T. BYERS

Temple City