Posted on 02/18/2010 9:26:02 PM PST by Roberts
Veteran KSFO morning personality, Lee Rodgers, has been let go at the Citadel-owned, right-wing talk station, it has now been confirmed. Weeknight host, Brian Sussman will replace Rodgers. KSFO is the sister station of KGO radio.
Attempts to reach station management were unsuccessful. On KSFO's web site, Rodgers is not listed on its weekday schedule, and an independent source close to the station, told me, via e-mail, that Rodgers "was out."
It is not known why Rodgers was 'shown the door, although his hefty financial contract may have contributed to the sudden decision. His ex co-host, Melanie Morgan, left the show late last year to work for the Washington Times radio show. Morgan recently revealed she was battling thyroid cancer.
Attempts to contact Rodgers were unsuccessful. He has been at KSFO since 1995 and also spent many years at KGO. His contract status was unclear, but many high-profile Citadel/KGO/KSFO personnel have been laid off and/or given severance buyouts at the financially-beleaguered broadcast company.
Sussman is improving but still a lightweight. Often talks about stuff that he has no clue about an gets in over his head. He also sounds like he thinks the audience is make up exclusively of hard core Christians. I was glad when Melanie left/was let go. Sometimes she sounded like she was on more than a little too much caffeine and seemed to have a poor on-air chemistry with Lee Rodgers.
I miss Mel. I like her jawy voice and her slight ditziness. She was a great foil for Lee, and I think the show got a little dry, sometimes a lot dry at times without her influence. I also think Lee has gotten a little tired of the game after so many years. It should be remembered, he has been a steadfast conservative voice for just about as long as Rush, in the 20-year zone, and that’s saying something in SF loonyland. I very seriously doubt he makes 1/25th as much as Rush. I have no opinion as to whether station mgmt thought he became too expensive for his yield or whether he simply decided to retire or to take an extended leave. I flat out don’t know. None of those possibilities would surprise me.
I’ll still listen to KSFO in the early am. It’s my source of Rush/Hannity/Levin.
Sussman I can take or leave. He’s not bad, but he doesn’t especially float my boat as a radio personality. I respect him for his conservative views, I know he’s a nice guy and he’s smart...but there are only so many hours in the day.
The Penninsula Press Club is reporting that Rodgers retired.
-PJ
Yes, Lee and Melanie were great together. She round-off his sharp edges. The show wasn’t as good after she left. OV move into her slot and the show didn’t have the same chemistry. I still listen because of Lee’s interviews. He would get great conservative guests and would hold their feet to the fire. Sharp as a tack. He may be close to retiring because he was off every Monday. Brian is good, but more like a Hannity-type. I wish Melanie would come back to work with Brian.
Well, it happened to our Kirby Wilbur - one of the best conservatives in the country - at KVI 570.
Bring Back Kirby!
Bring Back Lee!
Rogers is a very good interviewer, and KSFO has had many interesting guests over the last few years, no doubt due in part to his being there. But I can’t say I’ll miss him. “Crusty old b*st*rd” doesn’t begin to describe him! I can well do without his sometimes sophomoric humor.
Mickey Luckoff can...
Sussman’s response to everything is “my goodness”
I for one like Sussman. Lee Roger’s voice gave me the creeps.
They should bring back Al Collins :-)
That’s Al “Jazzbeaux” Collins.
Naw - when Hillary runs again, Savage will be brought back to caricature conservatives as right-wing maniacs.
I liked Brian when he was a weatherman, finding out he was a conservative was a great surprise. I love his show.
I’ll miss Lee, though.
I’m glad to hear about the change. Love Sussman. Rodgers seemed always on edge — bitter, volatile, and angry tirades. Sussman’s style is much more to my liking.
My sentiments exactly. I love OV, but when he's on with Sussman, he almost disappears. Sussman seems to suck up all the airtime. I really think they should just let OV take it himself.
This is really sad news. I'm going to miss Lee's stories.
My sentiments exactly. I love OV, but when he's on with Sussman, he almost disappears. Sussman seems to suck up all the airtime. I really think they should just let OV take it himself.
This is really sad news. I'm going to miss Lee's stories."
Mrs. Neanderthal will be devastated. She loves Lee Rodgers and claims that most of the interesting ideas she hears from Rush she hears first from Lee.
All I can say is $hit. Now who can I listen to in the early mornings? I’m certain Sussman is a nice guy, however much too much of a lightweight to fill those shoes. I never listened on Monday mornings as he is just too boring.
Down here in southern Utah Lee Rodgers was a bright part of our mornings.
There must be someone else in the same league as Rodgers.
Any suggestions? Someone as bright as Levin?
That sucks. I have listened to both and Sussman has a fraction of the knowledge and talent of Rodgers. I did not miss Morgan much because to be totally honest I thought there was not much between the ears.
I also liked listening to Lee back in the KGO days, and for quite a number of years after the new KSFO launched. He’s been phoning it in -literally and figuratively - for a while, though. The big name guests have largely carried their own interviews. Armstrong & Getty - funny, but their political analysis is hopelessly superficial. As for Sussman, a nice guy, undoubedtly conservative, but not especially gifted, and boring. On the other hand, compared to Eric Hogue at KTKZ, he sounds like a brain surgeon.
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