The Monsters in the Morning
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The Monsters In The Morning is a popular radio show on WTKS Real Radio in Orlando, Florida USA and XM Radio Channel 152. It is a morning show that runs from 6-11 EST.
The Monsters consist of Russ (Triple R) Rollins, Dirty Jim, Bubba "Whoop-Ass" Wilson, Rev. Daniel Dennis, Blackbean, Tuddle, Drunky The Bear, and Tiffany.
History
Russ Rollins made his first foray into radio by paying for airtime to promote his party rental business on an Orlando AM station. After his first show with his buddy Bo Rhodes, they brought in Russ's then brother-in-law Dirty Jim.
The Russ & Bo Show with Dirty Jim was on Saturday Mornings, when they were offered the evening timeslot at WTKS. The show picked up the Sexy Savannah, Jeff Howell and The Musical Genius Bubba Whoop Ass Wilson.
When Ed Tyll departed WTKS for greener pastures on the west coast, The Russ & Bo Show with Dirty Jim moved to the Middays. Bo Rhodes, Russ' longtime friend was asked by WTKS to enter rehab for an alleged drug problem. Bo refused and left the show.
Before Bo left, the show was renamed The Monsters In the Midday. With Bo gone, Bubba took up the slack and the show became a midday favorite in Orlando. It was during this time that the show picked up Daniel Dennis (formerly with the Drew Show) and Blackbean (an intern) as producers.
When Howard Stern was removed from Clear Channel stations, The Monsters took up the morning slot. The Monsters in the Morning had a rough start. In its first year in the morning timeslot it had rough ratings. In January of 2005 Jeff Howell announced that he would not be returning to the show as the early mornings were too rough for him to adjust to and that he wanted to spend more time with his son. Later in the year the Sexy Savannah unexpectedly left the Monsters for the Shannon Burke Show.
The show searched for new talent: Drunky the Bear replaced Jeff Howell, and it seems that contest winner Tiffany has succeeded in replacing Savannah as "the Monster Chick".
Format
The show is a mix of current events, comedy, and stunts. Discussions involve the serious to the total bizare. Guests include comedians visiting the local improv comedy club, local celebrities, and sometimes national celebrities. Stunts have involved Sky Writing, hanging a Monsters banner on a local eyesore, Getting Married, to blowing oneself up with firecrackers.
Segments
- The 6 things you just knew we'd talk about - A Monday morning bit in which callers try to guess the six big things that happened over the weekend that Russ deemed "segment worthy."
- Drunky the Bear's one minute of comedy - Drunky the Bear mumbles his way through a "minute" (more like ten) of comedy, usually complaining about married life with his wife Elizabeth Longhair. Drunky's segment is hit and miss, and is always a point of argument among fans. The actual "one minute of comedy" refers to the fact that no matter how long his segment is, it supposedly contains at least "one minute of comedy," something questioned by Russ's bosses Kathleen Brown and Linda Byrd. Fans are still trying to find the "one minute of comedy". Drunky is a modern day Foster Brooks
- Correct me if I am wrong - Bubba's daily rant on the world as he sees it. Occasionally, this segment is used to introduce new songs into the Monsters' Songbook, and is then referred to as "Correct Me if I am SONG."
- Movie Dork - Unscheduled rambling diatribes on film by Black Bean. Sometimes he gets so worked up they have to calm him down. He claims that part of his knowledge comes from being a subscriber to imdbPRO. Slightly lisping and indignant, especially after Jarhead fell short of his expectations, when the other Monsters called him a "movie citizen"- a term to describe the less informed movie-watching public.
- Street Beat - Now defunct. Segment in which Dirty Jim would do some bad comedy and occasionally weep.
- Prize Hoopty / Drunky's Prize Cave / Tuddle's Fanny Pack - The presentation of the prizes are awarded to local listeners in the local area, but there are many XM Radio listeners that are not eligible for the "Hoopty prizes". Seeing there are many listeners on satellite radio the Hoopty prizes should be avaliable to all, not just Orlando, Florida listeners.
Cast
Russ 'RRR' Rollins (or The Commissioner)- A graduate of Edgewater High School, Russ Rollins got into radio as a way to promote his party rental business. Russ is the mastermind of the show using the rock group Kiss as a model. He pays very close attention to the quality and branding of the Monsters. Russ is very involved in wrestling, has wrestled matches for the WCW, WWE, and TNA Wrestling. Often times you can see the scripted nature of wrestling come through into the show. Russ Rollins was engaged to former Monster Savannah. Russ has recently become engaged to his current fiance Kate, whom he met on the show as a possible contestant in a stunt.
Dirty Jim - Russ's former brother in law. Jim was often a source of tension on the show as his caustic personality often rubbed other members of the show wrong. Jim is often accused of making things up. This is a result of the Catfish incident, where Dirty Jim claimed that Catfish can stab people's hands with their whiskers. His sense of humor is very wry and he is generally seen as the show's resident prick; and or the biggest whiner on the show.
The Musical Genius, Bubba Whoop-Ass Wilson - Bubba is the source of anything musical that comes from the Monsters, including The Monster Band. Bubba has played with many famous musicians throughout his career, and was a member of the allegedly well-known band Clutch. He is able to come up with a song in an instant. He once met professionally with Michael Jackson and is inseperable from his best friend "Everett the Drunken Piano."
Rev. Daniel Dennis - Daniel Dennis started out at WTKS as producer for the midday host Ed Tyll, then moved on to the Drew Garabo Show. Drew eventually made the workplace unbearable for him and Daniel quit WTKS. When Russ heard of the situation, knowing Daniel's talent, he picked him up immediately. Daniel voices many of the colorful characters that can be heard on The Monsters.
Blackbean - Blackbean was an intern who almost missed his opportunity. Russ barely knew who this intern was, when his then girlfriend Savannah insisted that Blackbean join them on an outing. It was during this outing that Russ discovered just how funny Blackbean was. Blackbean is also the voice of many of the Monster characters. Blackbean, Daniel and Russ are very much the creative force behind the Monsters.
Drunky The Bear - A drunk guy in a bear suit. What else can be said?
Tuddle - Former intern turned former stunter turned former Monster turned former Drew Garabo producer turned loser. Tuddle and Drunky the Bear are always in some form of competition for the coveted #1 Stunter Dog Tag and Million Dollar Belt.
Tiffany - Tiffany was introduced to the Monsters in 2005, as a contestant in the Makos/SuperSlow Challenge. The fan response to her during this challenge prompted Russ to ask her to sit in shortly after Savannah left the show. She has become a fan favorite, and is affectionately know as the Monsters "Show Pony". Her laid back nature has helped in making the Monsters fun again.
Characters
Over the years, there have been many characters on the show that weren't neccessarily "Monsters". Some of them are callers voiced by Daniel and/or Bean. Others are relatives, former interns, or super fans of the show.
Buddy
Zombie Auto Mechanic
Chief and Snoogie
Poo Poo Dusty
Bubba's Shoe
Sarah the Meat Lady
El Cheeky Tico
Gay Baby's Daddy
Deathwish Dan
Whopper Junior
Burger
Magwai Guy
Dr. Nigel Bluffington
Glenn the Extreme Monster Fan
Elizabeth Longhair
Pep Talk Dave
Apple Annie
Moose Lee
Sergeant Freezy, the Drill Sgt. Penguin
Orlando Magic General Manager Johnny Davis
Señor Ink
Wendy The Retard
Sir Gary
Fingers the Clown
Darrel and Belinda Motor
Dr. Lex Luger
Infamous black interns ET and E-Two
Fluffy the Gay Producer
Mary Louise Johnson
Taint and Teabag
Dan the Disagreeing Man
Crazy Boot Millionaire
Mark and Greg
Former Monsters
Bo "The Big Man" Rhodes - Lifelong friend of Russ Rollins. Left the show after refusing to enter rehab for an alleged drug problem.
SBK - Soul Brother Kevin left the Monsters to work in another market, he has returned to Orlando as co-host the Shannon Burke Show in the middays following the Monsters.
Jeff Howell - Jeff Howell left the show in January of 05. The official reason is that he was not adjusting well to the early mornings.
Savannah - Left Mid 2005, citing a hostile working enviorment. She is now on the Shannon Burke Show.
Boodreux
Russ & Savannah Relationship
The show has been rocked at times by the timultious relationship of the Host Russ, and the Sexy Savannah. In 2005, citing a hostile work enviorment, Savannah abruptly left the Monsters. The fallout lasted a few weeks, and finally Clear Channel stepped in and asked the parties involved not to discuss the situation anymore.