KCRW Fires Loh Over Obscenity

LA Times ^ | 03/04/2004 | Greg Braxton

[BurbankKarl]

Sandra Tsing Loh's commentaries on KCRW-FM (89.9) bear little resemblance to the overtly outrageous routines that led to Bubba the Love Sponge's firing last week. But after she uttered a four-letter obscenity on the air Sunday, Loh joined the Florida shock jock in the ranks of radio personalities who have had their shows yanked off the air.

Loh, an author and actress whose monologues have been a fixture on KCRW for six years, was terminated for using a strong obscenity during her prerecorded segment that aired twice Sunday morning. The decision puts the public radio station better known for news and adventurous music programs incongruously in company with commercial radio powerhouse Clear Channel, which dropped shock jock Howard Stern from six stations last week.

The station's General Manager Ruth Seymour called Loh on Monday to inform her that she had been fired, effective immediately. In a phone interview Wednesday, Seymour said the use of the curse word violated federal broadcast law and the station's policy on language.

Seymour also said Loh's firing was a precautionary measure to show the station has distanced itself from Loh in case the FCC investigates the matter. Federal officials had not contacted KCRW as of Wednesday, Seymour said.

The fact that Loh used the word during a taped segment — as opposed to a live broadcast — made it "much more egregious," Seymour added.

[BurbankKarl]

I guess the folks at NPR thought they were above the fray. Ba-bye!

[Wright is right!]

Which, exactly, egregious four-character word didst she utter? I don't feel like giving the LASlimes any hits today.

Michael

[BurbankKarl]

I printed this article and handed it to the resident liberal in our office. She said she heard it, and she was doing some stand up comic routine that she re-sells as a radio monologue.....it was something about she wanted to "f her husband."

Of course, then I hear about how "this is taking things too far" and "it is the station's fault" blahblahblah for about 10 more minutes after that.

[Izzy Dunne]

using a strong obscenity during her prerecorded segment that aired twice Sunday morning.

Seems like the station DESERVES some blame.

[my_pointy_head_is_sharp]

I say we should ban any FReepers who post obscenities. I had the AUDACITY and the NERVE to hit the abuse button on 3 obscenity-spewers here at FR. What did I get for my troubles? -- I got my posting privileges suspended for a night!!! The mods said I was "spamming the abuse reports". I guess obscenity is now allowed on FR.

As I've always said, nowhere else do I read obscenity but here on FR. If FR got hit with a $500,000 fine each time someone posted an obscene comment, JR would go out of business.

[BurbankKarl]

for those that aren't familiar with KCRW, it is located on the campus of Santa Monica Community College, and is THE NPR outlet for West LA and the LA Dummycrat establishment.

KPCC, which is located in Pasadena, has been taking market share away from them after its purchase by Minnesota Public Radio a few years ago.

(yes, there are even battles in Public Radio)

So, the fact that this author also works for their competitor and their highly-successful Marketplace program (which is produced at USC), they could have been looking for a reason to drop her.

[steplock]

Spoken like a true liberal hooked on the nanny-state mentality.

Whine to those in charge so you won't have to take the responsibility yourself to:
1. Not read it
2. Tell the "offender" how you feel - nicely
3. Discuss openly like adults.

[DentsRun]

she was doing some stand up comic routine that she re-sells as a radio monologue.....it was something about she wanted to "f her husband."

She should have said she wanted to "hump his bones till his fillings fell out."

[OldFriend]

We would all be better off if YOU went out of business. Go play at DU........

[50sDad]

Never thought I would say this, but what constitutes obscenity? Is a d@mn offensive? Or does it require the C-word, the S-word or worse? I have no problem with a d@mn, but a GD would be offensive to me, although giving Dems a little he!! I have no problem with. There is a difference between what Gentlemen would use discussing politics in private in the parlor over port and cigars a hundred years ago, pre-Sufferage, and what a rap "artist" uses to degrade women. Cursing is a spice that should be used most sparingly, but that does punctuate the strongest of arguements for emphasis when big boys get together.

[50sDad]

Although I give you maximum bonus points for a) not being a New Chum with today's sign up date, and b) DOUBLE MAXIMUM bonus points for having the Declaration on your About page. Good deal!

[my_pointy_head_is_sharp]

How can I not read it when it suddenly lurches up out of nowhere? Once you've read it, it's too late.

If I was looking to read it, that would be one thing. But here I don't have a choice. As I said, it just lurches up out of nowhere, in the most unexpected threads. I guess wherever you have guys, you have smut.

And I'm not a liberal, I'm a conservative. I don't want to read smut. And I don't want to read it here. And I don't expect to read it here. So I hit the abuse button so the offending smut can be removed. You obviously have a problem with that. I don't.

I think posters who deliberately post offensive material should be banned. Not the one who complains about it. That makes no sense at all. What is this place turning into?

[my_pointy_head_is_sharp]

Oh, you ARE the funny one. DU is a foreign country to me. I'm a conservative.

[my_pointy_head_is_sharp]

Oh, so if I complained about obscenity AND I was a newbie here, that would make me a disruptor? I see.

[Ku Commando]

For your inspection folks......

[ContemptofCourt]

Oh, your virgin eyes! Tell me, just what is obscene? God forbid I would offend you.

[my_pointy_head_is_sharp]

I've actually been here longer than my 11-07-00 sign-up date. I had another name in the years prior to that.

[mhking]

Which, exactly, egregious four-character word didst she utter?

Loh's commentary centered on a Bette Midler concert at Staples Center in which Loh's husband, a musician, performed with the singer.

With her characteristic jerky style of rushed speech and emphasized words, Loh said she was so excited to see her husband so close to Midler that she wanted to have sex with him.

'Nuff said.

[kenth]

(I'm gonna hit the abuse button when I read an obscenity on FR - you got a problem with that?!!)

Hell no, got no problem with that.

[my_pointy_head_is_sharp]

I thought the things that I hit the abuse button for were obscene. But that's just me. If you want to know what they are, I'll privately email you. It was just Sunday night when I got suspended, so it's still fresh in my memory.