Rover's Morning Glory
| File:RMG logo (new).PNG Show logo | |
| Other names | RMG |
|---|---|
| Genre | Hot-talk/comedy |
| Running time | 5 hrs (weekdays, 6–11am) |
| Country of origin |  United States |
| Language(s) | English |
| Home station | WMMS Cleveland, Ohio |
| Starring | Rover (Shane French) Duji (Susan Catanese) Dominic Dieter Dumb (Shaun Street) Chocolate Charlie (Mike Toomey) Rob Garguilo Jeffrey LaRocque |
| Created by | Rover (Shane French) |
| Executive producer(s) | Rover (Shane French) |
| Original release | March 24, 2003 – present |
| Opening theme | "Antichrist Superstar" by Marilyn Manson |
| Website | roverradio |
.PNG){kind=link}
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]
History
WXTM Cleveland
In March 2003, radio personality Rover (Shane French) joined Cleveland modern rock station WXTM (92.3 FM). It was here that French created Rover’s Morning Glory — the name itself was thought of just days before the show's premiere and is widely believed to a double entendre for morning wood. In March 2005, the show began to syndicate with then-rock station WAZU/Columbus (now WNKK).
WCKG Chicago
In October 2005, CBS Radio announced it had selected Rover's Morning Glory to fill several vacancies — mostly in Midwestern markets — soon to result from Howard Stern's move to Sirius Satellite Radio.[2] In January 2006, Rover's Morning Glory moved to Chicago rock station WCKG (105.9 FM); new affiliates included WAQZ/Cincinnati, WKRK-FM/Detroit (now WXYT-FM), WMFS/Memphis (now WMFS-FM), WZNE/Rochester, and KPNT/St. Louis.[2] WXTM/Cleveland continued to carry the show as an affiliate, but also changed its callsign to WXRK and branding to K-Rock. Meanwhile, the previous carrier of the WXRK callsign — Stern's former flagship in New York — adopted the callsign WFNY-FM.
The move to Chicago was broadly considered a misstep both on the part of Rover and CBS Radio. 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.
K-Rock Cleveland
Rover’s Morning Glory left WCKG/Chicago in August 2006 and moved the flagship back to Cleveland at WXRK (formerly WXTM). Memphis and Rochester were the only stations to remain show affiliates following the return to Cleveland. The station itself changed its callsign twice during the show's return: first, to WKRI, as WXRK went back to its former New York station; and then to WKRK-FM, the same callsign used by Rover's former Detroit affiliate. The station continued the K-Rock branding through both changes.
WMMS Cleveland
On February 15, 2008, Rover reportedly informed CBS management that he had signed a contract with cross-town rival WMMS. 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-FM/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. 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]
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]
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.
Events and special projects
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.
RMG Golf Outing
An annual golf outing event held during the summer to end of the summer.
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.
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.
Controversies
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]
Anti-gay comment
On April 27, 2012, show contributor Dominic Dieter replied to a listener email on air. The email was from a father who had recently seen his teenage daughter kissing another girl. Dieter stated, "You should get one of your friends to screw your daughter straight." Various media outlets have characterized Dieter's statement as advocating corrective rape, and GLAAD has called for Dieter's suspension.[13]
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.
Awards and recognition
- Nominated Radio & Records[14] Morning Show of the Year, 2005[15]
- Winner Best Morning Radio Show Cleveland Scene 2004, 2005, 2007[16]
- Winner Best Morning Radio Show in 2007 Cleveland Free Times Reader's Poll[17]
- Rover named one of Cleveland's Most Interesting People by Cleveland Magazine, January 2007[18]
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. Retrieved February 23, 2012.
- ^ a b "Infinity Announces Howard Stern Replacement Strategy". FMQB.com. Friday Morning Quarterback Album Report, Inc. and Mediaspan Online Services. 2009. Retrieved 17 February 2010.
- ^ "Rover's Morning Glory Comes to WMMS". WOIO-TV. 2008-03-18. Retrieved 2008-03-18.
- ^ "DJ Rover leaving WKRK for WMMS". Cleveland.com. Cleveland Live, Inc. 2008. Retrieved 17 February 2010.
- ^ "Clear Channel's newest "Gen X" hits format is in Columbus, at 106.7". Radio-Info.com. June 29, 2010.
- ^ Baker, Bob (2003-05-26). "The Merry Pranksters of the Air". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2007-11-08.
- ^ a b "Radio Station's Floating Cat Story Copies Cleveland Stunt". TheDenverChannel.com. 2003-05-05. Retrieved 2007-11-08.
- ^ "Cleveland News Channel 5 Noon News". Retrieved 2012-04-22.
- ^ a b "WXTM/Cleveland's "War On The Shore" A Real Hit". FMQB. 2005-07-22. Retrieved 2007-11-08.
- ^ "Crime scene photograph from school shooting makes way to internet". WKYC. Retrieved 2007-10-15.
- ^ [1][dead link]
- ^ "Cleveland cop used cell phone to snap photo of dead Asa Coon". Cleveland Plain Dealer. 2007-10-19. Retrieved 2008-05-28.
- ^ Broverman, Neal (April 27, 2012). "Ohio DJ Says Man's Gay Daughter Should Be Raped". Advocate.com. Here Media, Inc. Retrieved April 28, 2012.
- ^ radioandrecords.com
- ^ "R&R - Radio & Records, Inc". Radioandrecords.com. Retrieved 2012-04-22.
- ^ Gallucci, Michael (2012-04-18). "Cleveland Scene". Clevescene.com. Retrieved 2012-04-22.
- ^ "This Web site coming soon". Freetimes.com. Retrieved 2012-04-22.
- ^ "Our Most Interesting People 2007 | Article Archives | Arts & Entertainemnt | Cleveland Magazine - Your guide to the best of Cleveland". Cleveland Magazine. Retrieved 2012-04-22.