Rover's Morning Glory
.PNG){kind=logo} Show logo |
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| Other names | RMG |
|---|---|
| Genre | Hot-talk/comedy |
| Running time | 5 hrs (Weekday mornings, 6–11am) |
| Country |  United States |
| Languages | English |
| Home station | WMMS Cleveland, Ohio |
| Starring | Rover (James French) Duji (Susan Catanese) Dominic Dieter Dumb (Shaun Street) Chocolate Charlie (Mike Toomey) Rob Garguilo Jeffrey LaRocque |
| Creators | Rover (James French) |
| Exec. producers | Rover (James French) |
| Air dates | since March 24, 2003 |
| Opening theme | "Antichrist Superstar" by Marilyn Manson |
| Website | RoverRadio.com |
Rover’s Morning Glory — abbreviated RMG — is a syndicated hot-talk/comedy radio show airing weekday mornings on Cleveland rock station WMMS (100.7 FM). Hosted by radio personality Rover (Shane French), the show first began at cross-town rival WXTM (92.3 FM) in 2003, quickly becoming one of the top-rated shows in the Cleveland radio market. The show briefly moved to Chicago in 2006 to serve as a regional replacement for The Howard Stern Show, mostly in Midwestern markets, following Stern's move to Sirius satellite radio.
Since the move to WMMS in 2008, the show has been syndicated via Clear Channel Communications. Rover's Morning Glory is contracted to air on WMMS through 2017.[1]
Contents |
[edit] Show history
[edit] WXTM - Cleveland, OH
Rover joined WXTM (92.3 FM/Xtreme Radio) of Cleveland, Ohio — now WKRK/Radio 92.3 — in March 2003. It was here that Rover created Rover’s Morning Glory, a name he thought of just days before the show's premiere, widely believed to be a double-entendre for morning wood. The show began syndication in March 2005.
| Show affiliate | Callsign | Frequency | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Big Wazoo | WAZU | 107.1 FM | Columbus, OH |
[edit] WCKG - Chicago, IL
CBS Radio announced in October 2005 that it would use Rover's Morning Glory to fill some of the morning vacancies created by Howard Stern's move to satellite radio.[citation needed] In January 2006, Rover's Morning Glory moved its flagship station to WCKG of Chicago, Illinois; new affiliates included stations in Cincinnati, Detroit, Memphis and Rochester.[2] WXTM/Cleveland, Rover's former flagship, adopted the K-Rock brand and took on a new callsign: WXRK, which continued airing Rover's Morning Glory, though now as an affiliate.
The move to Chicago was broadly considered a misstep both on the part of Rover and CBS Radio.[citation needed] The talk format of WCKG skewed more to an audience of 35 years or older, while Rover’s show targeted persons between the ages of 18 and 34, thus the show never gained ratings traction.[citation needed]
| Show affiliate | Callsign | Frequency | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 97.3 Everything Alternative[2] | WAQZ | 97.3 FM | Cincinnati, OH |
| The Big Wazoo[2] | WAZU | 107.1 FM | Columbus, OH |
| Live 97.1 Free FM[2] | WKRK | 97.1 FM | Detroit, MI |
| 93X[2] | WMFS | 92.9 FM | Memphis, TN |
| K-Rock Cleveland*[2] *former flagship as WXTM: 92.3 Xtreme Radio |
WXRK | 92.3 FM | Cleveland, OH |
| The Zone[2] | WZNE | 94.1 FM | Rochester, NY |
[edit] WXRK, WKRI, WKRK (all formerly WXTM) - Cleveland, OH
Rover’s Morning Glory left WCKG/Chicago in August 2006 and moved the flagship back to Cleveland at WXRK: K-Rock Cleveland.[citation needed] The station changed its call letters twice during the show's return: first, to WKRI, as WXRK went back to its former New York station; and then to WKRK, ironically the same callsign used by Rover's former Detroit affiliate. The station continued the K-Rock branding through both changes.
Memphis and Rochester were the only stations to remain show affiliates following the return to Cleveland.[citation needed]
| Show affiliate | Callsign | Frequency | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 93X | WMFS | 92.9 FM | Memphis, TN |
| The Zone | WZNE | 94.1 FM | Rochester, NY |
[edit] WMMS - Cleveland, OH
On February 15, 2008, Rover reportedly informed CBS management that he had signed a contract with cross-town rival WMMS.[citation needed] Rover's Morning Glory was subsequently barred from airing during the remainder of their contract with CBS.[3] On March 17, 2008 Rover formally announced he would move the show to WMMS; the move was considered "a big blow" to WKRK/K-Rock Cleveland and "a coup" for WMMS.[4] Rover's Morning Glory began broadcasting the show from WMMS on April 1, 2008.
WMFS, the show's Memphis affiliate since January 2006, abruptly flipped its format and dropped the show in May 2009. On January 7, 2010 Rover returned to the airwaves in Columbus, OH at WRXS after negotiating with the station for more than a year.[citation needed] Rover's stint in Columbus proved to be unsuccessful as WRXS would change to a gold-based 90s format that June 28th, canceling Rover's Morning Glory in the process.[5]
| Show affiliate | Callsign | Frequency | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Zone | WZNE | 94.1 FM | Rochester, NY |
[edit] Stunts
Rover purportedly tied helium balloons to various objects to see how many it would take to lift them off the ground. One was supposedly a kitten, "Jinxy the Cat", which escaped on a 45-minute flight, followed closely by Cleveland television stations and prompting 911 calls from concerned listeners.[6] The stunt was copied by radio stations in Philadelphia, Denver and in New York by Nick Cannon.[7] Rover later said "No, there was no cat out there. It was all theater of the minds." [7]
[edit] Dare Dieter
Dieter began work on the show as a phone-screener. When a full-time on-air position became available, he volunteered to start a segment called Dare Dieter, in which he would do any stunt or dare submitted by listeners every Friday. Dieter said if he ever turned down a dare he would go back to phone-screening, a promise that was often held over his head during the segment by listeners. The feature was ended by Rover and CBS Radio management after Dieter suffered a serious injury and temporary paralysis during a stunt involving a barrel roll on July 13, 2007.[8] Although it is not certain whether the segment will return, an on-air conversation between Dieter and Rover on April 1, 2008 suggested that Dieter may attempt to bring it back.
[edit] Events and special projects
[edit] RoverFest
An annual beer-drinking festival and concert to celebrate all-things-Rover.
The first RoverFest was held June 20, 2008. West 6th Street in the Warehouse District of downtown Cleveland was closed, a large stage was built, and food and beer vendors were present. A competition for girls to be in Rover's annual Miss Morning Glory Calendar was conducted as well. Approximately 10,000 people made their way through the festival, surpassing expectations.
RoverFest 2009 was held July 24, 2009 at Voinovich Park in downtown Cleveland. The event again featured a search for girls to be in the 2010 Miss Morning Glory Calendar, along with comedian Jim Florentine, Darryl "D.M.C." McDaniels from Run-D.M.C. and the band Saliva. A television special was taped to air on MavTV in October 2009. The event sold out with over 10,000 people attending.
RoverFest 2011 was held August 13, 2011 in Eastlake, Ohio at Classic Park. Sick Puppies, Saving Abel, and Coolio performed as main acts, as well as local bands. Comedian Jim Florentine co-hosted the event along with DJ E-V. As usual, the calendar search was held, as well as skits related to the show.
[edit] RMG Golf Outing
An annual golf outing event held during the summer to end of the summer.
[edit] Miss Morning Glory Calendar
In 2003 Rover produced his first Miss Morning Glory Calendar (for the 2004 calendar year). The show conducts a search for local, non-professional girls to be in the calendar and offers cash and other prizes to the girl who is crowned Miss Morning Glory, who gets to be featured on the calendar's cover. A large party is held for the release of the calendar (usually in November or December), which usually has all 12 girls in the calendar and everyone from the show on hand to autograph copies of the calendar.
[edit] War on the Shore
On Saturday, July 16th, 2005 Dieter fought professional boxer Eric “Butterbean” Esch in a bout billed as “War on the Shore”.[9] Months earlier Dieter called Butterbean a fat slob on the air, and the two got into a fight in the studio. Over the next couple of months Dieter trained with a professional fight instructor for his first boxing match.
Rover worked with the City of Cleveland to shut down a street in the downtown area, had a ring erected in the middle of the road and brought in beer-vending trucks. Rover told the city he wasn’t sure how many people would attend, but guessed 750. Police estimated over 12,000 people came out to see the three-round fight, forcing the fight to start almost an hour early because of crowd control concerns.
Butterbean knocked Dieter down a number of times during the fight, but each time Dieter was able to get up before the ten-count. It ended in a unanimous decision for Butterbean on all judges’ scorecards, while Dieter suffered a broken rib.[9]
Afterwards Butterbean expressed a great respect for Dieter’s ability to withstand the punishment given by a professional fighter, and the two became friends. Butterbean has since been in-studio and participated in other events with the show.
[edit] Controversies
[edit] SuccessTech Academy School shooting
After the SuccessTech Academy school shooting on October 10, 2007, the "Rover's Morning Glory" website leaked a crime scene photo taken of the gunman after his suicide.[10] A Cleveland policeman, Walter Emerick, was later found to have taken the picture using his personal cell phone camera.[11] Rover stated on the air it was his intent to show kids the real final result of a school-shooting (the perpetrator lying dead).[citation needed]
Steve Loomis, president of the Cleveland police union, claimed the picture could have been taken for legitimate evidentiary purposes.[12]
[edit] Television projects
- Rover was a Cleveland Browns pregame reporter for CBS affiliate WOIO-TV Cleveland for two seasons. He would roam the stadium parking lots partying with fans prior to the game.
- Rover was a commentator on Rover’s Fightfest TV, a mixed-martial-arts fighting program that aired on the SportsTime Ohio network.
- A pilot for a reality-TV program based on Rover's Morning Glory has been filmed and produced. It was shown at the Miss Morning Glory Calendar Release Party in 2009.
[edit] Awards and recognition
- Nominated Radio & Records Morning Show of the Year, 2005 [13]
- Winner Best Morning Radio Show Cleveland Scene Magazine 2004, 2005, 2007
- Winner Best Morning Radio Show in 2007 Cleveland Freetimes Reader's Poll
- Rover named one of Cleveland's Most Interesting People by Cleveland Magazine, January 2007
- AIR Award: Best Show, 1999
[edit] References
- ^ Yarborough, Chuck (February 21, 2012). "Rover and WMMS Agree to a Contract Extension That Will Keep Him on the Air Through 2017". Cleveland.com. Cleveland Live LLC. http://www.cleveland.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2012/02/rover_and_wmms_agree_to_a_cont.html. Retrieved February 23, 2012.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Infinity Announces Howard Stern Replacement Strategy". FMQB.com. Friday Morning Quarterback Album Report, Inc. and Mediaspan Online Services. 2009. http://www.fmqb.com/article.asp?id=137561. Retrieved 17 February 2010.
- ^ "Rover's Morning Glory Comes to WMMS". WOIO-TV. 2008-03-18. http://www.woio.com/global/video/popup/pop_playerLaunch.asp?clipId1=2299390&at1=News&vt1=v&h1=Rover%27s+Morning+Glory+Comes+to+WMMS&d1=108133&redirUrl=www.woio.com&activePane=info&LaunchPageAdTag=homepage&clipFormat=. Retrieved 2008-03-18.
- ^ "DJ Rover leaving WKRK for WMMS". Cleveland.com. Cleveland Live, Inc. 2008. http://www.cleveland.com/tv/index.ssf/2008/02/rover_reportedly_leaving_wkrk.html. Retrieved 17 February 2010.
- ^ "Clear Channel's newest "Gen X" hits format is in Columbus, at 106.7". Radio-Info.com. June 29, 2010. http://www.radio-info.com/news/clear-channels-newest-gen-x-hits-format-is-in-columbus-at-1067.
- ^ Baker, Bob (2003-05-26). "The Merry Pranksters of the Air". Los Angeles Times. http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/340279451.html?dids=340279451:340279451&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=May+26%2C+2003&author=Bob+Baker&pub=Los+Angeles+Times&edition=&startpage=A.1&desc=THE+NATION%3B+COLUMN+ONE%3B+The+Merry+Pranksters+of+the+Air%3B+Some+radio+deejays+will+do+almost+anything+to+stand+out+from+the+crowd.+But+not+everyone+is+laughing+as+hoaxes+and+stunts+backfire.. Retrieved 2007-11-08.
- ^ a b "Radio Station's Floating Cat Story Copies Cleveland Stunt". TheDenverChannel.com. 2003-05-05. http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/2180253/detail.html. Retrieved 2007-11-08.
- ^ Cleveland News Channel 5 Noon News
- ^ a b "WXTM/Cleveland's "War On The Shore" A Real Hit". FMQB. 2005-07-22. http://zfmq.fimc.net/article.asp?id=102679. Retrieved 2007-11-08.
- ^ "Crime scene photograph from school shooting makes way to internet". WKYC. http://www.wkyc.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=76168. Retrieved 2007-10-15.
- ^ http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2007/10/22/12556apohschoolshootingphoto.html
- ^ "Cleveland cop used cell phone to snap photo of dead Asa Coon". Cleveland Plain Dealer. 2007-10-19. http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2007/10/cleveland_police_officer_used.html. Retrieved 2008-05-28.
- ^ R&R - Radio & Records, Inc
