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KEELER IS ON THE AIR!Keeler Radio Show Launched on January 8th at 6am on 97.9/105.5 KISS-FM
This is a summary of the happenings the brought us to current
This is a summary of the happenings the brought us to current
OCTOBER 18, 2007 6:00 am
Keeler in the morning debuts on 92.7 FM.
OCTOBER 12, 2007 1:00 pm
Keeler is informed by Clear Channel that his show has been cancelled, effective immediately. The Keeler/KISS chapter has officially ended. Bill announces later in the day he will start on WXUR 92.7 FM on Thursday, November 18th at 6:00 am.
OCTOBER 11, 2007 6:00 am
Keeler reads Observer Dispatch story announcing his move to WXUR on November 1st. Bill contends that because he pays for the time, and his show is a paid program, he can talk about the move.
OCTOBER 10, 2007 6:00 pm
Keeler releases press release announcing that a deal was cut with WXUR to move his show there starting November 1.
AUGUST, 2007 8:45 pm
Keeler informed by Clear Channel that show will be cancelled when sale goes through to Galaxy. Keeler forced to negotiate new deal with Roser Group, who will eventually own station. Sale expected to finalize by Nov 1.
JAN 15th, 2007 8:45 pm
BTW , hard to believe that chick from American Idol won a Golden Globe. NONE THE LESS, the studio construction continued today with professional painters...could it mean the end of studio contruction is near... We all hope so. One note: Angie the Phone Screener was violently ill this morning and didn't make it in. She was rushed to the hospital via ambulance (not sure if she insisted on Kunkel) and was dehydrated. After an IV...they sent her home. She's not expected in tomorrow. ALSO...big trouble in the building. Building owner Jim Brock was pissed because the dumpster was overfilled with Keeler's constrcution debris. Finally, Bill announced this morning he's looking to hire 2 new sales executives plus possibly part time production (Radio and TV) for the morning hours. ALSO, word is that Mayor Tim Julian is looking to appear on the show to reply to Sal Piazza's rant and announcement on Monday Morning. Piazza, called Julian and "idiot" and a "Liar" and said he was running for Mayor of Utica. It was a killer moment.
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JAN 14th, 2007 8:45 pm
The weekend meant OFF air for the all new Keeler in the Morning Show...but the building was packed all day Saturdayt and Sunday. Bill is still not happy with the studio look on TV and more changes are underway. I'm not sure that the studio will ever be completed. A new paint job is underway...Bill's studio control board area was completely revamped over the weekend because he said he wasn't at all comfortable with the equipment or the placement of the controls. When he left Saturday night, Bill said "For the first time, I'm comfortable at the board." He said that the "sound" needed to be flawless this upcoming week. Meanwhile, the look of the studio is still being altered. Mari9o has done an amazing job. It does not look like a radio show...but Bill is tough to please. A third color of paint is being applied...not done as of tonight. Word behind the scenes...ANGIE is pissed that the studio is such a mess and unfinished. She wants it done! We'll see what this week brings. As for the show...even with the flaws last week...there's no doubt...this radio show is needed in CNY! How great it was to hear Keeler and it seemed that he picked up...right where he left off 4 years ago. Great guests...great phone calls...definately excited to hear Vito from Sopranos on tomorrow morning. ALSO, be sure to read below...there are tons of things you can read about the"goings on" leading up to the launch last week. There are pictures...links and more.
I'll keep posting as time goes on...
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JAN 6th, 2007 10:45 pm
It's coming right down to the end! The studio is being painted tonight...equipment being added...everybody gets their own studio space...and tech problems. The screening phone doesn't work. It won't be replaced until Tuesday or later. That means disaster for Keeler as he'll be unable to tell who is on the phone before he answers it. Keep in mind, this is a special $500 phone, made in Ohio, and no other phone can be used. You gotta love the drama. Bill had plans for a family celebratory dinner tonight...cancelled! There's no time. Worok on the studio ended this morning at 4am, and evrybody was back here at 9am. It will continue 'round the clock tonight...through launch time Monday morning at 6am. Other problems...sheet rock dust all over the studio...it's a wreck. Dust everywhere! I'm actually going back in to help...more updates coming. REMEMBER- live studio test tonight at 2AM on 97.9/105.5 KISS-FM. This broadcast will be looped sometime Sunday morning on MOVAradio.com. It will not be broadcast live on the internet...
We're on the air tonight! Check out the TV PROMO.
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JAN 5th, 2007 8:00 pm
If it could go wrong, it did go wrong on Thursday and Friday. Equipment NOT coming in. An interview on WKTV today and the studio was a disaster! There's much to be done and we're burning the candle at both ends. REMEMBER...2 AM Saturday night/ Sunday morning...Keeler and crew are going live to work out the kinks. I'm told they're doing an actual hour or two hour show and making adjustments. We'll see.
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JAN 3rd, 2007 8:06 am
Phone lines are going in today and the word is that the new Keeler In The Morning call in line will be 315.732.1680. This could change, but that's where we seem to be. Also, here's a copy of the "Countdown Promo" airing on TV this week. A daily Countdown. Check it out...it's short....
play
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JAN 2nd, 2007 8:06 pm
Disaster area. A Sign on the door that claims "construction is underway...enter with care!" Six days to go and counting...the studio construction is still way behind and the Keeler Show debuts. It's causing a bit of a controversy through the building. Sheet rock dust, saw dust, and debris all over the hallways and elevator at Jim Brock's building at 1900 Genesee Street in Utica. "He's pissed", said Mark Piersma of the Keeler Show, speaking of building owner Jim Brock. "BUT, we have to get this done!" He's upset because the mess in Keeler's 3rd floor studio is being spread through the entire building. "We'll have this done and he'll be happy as can be," added Bill Keeler. For now though, it seemed as if nothing was accomplished today. It was all little things...equipment coming in from Fed Ex and UPS...equipment being fine tuned...software being installed. Meanwhile, another Keeler staffer has the flu! Chris Ford, who is one of the production work horses is out with the flu at a time that he's needed most. Keep in mind...everything must be done by the weekend for a debut at 6 am Monday morning on KISS. On the programming side...Senator Joe Griffo, Ryan Nobles, Mayor Tim Julian have all been booked for Monday's debut. That promoted Keeler to bark out in a meeting: "This is an entertainment show...let's make sure there's some balance...remember the elections are over!" Executive producer Bobby Miller seemed to storm out of the meeting and could be heard complaining about long hours and only a few days 'til the launch. He did tell me that he has a special guest planned for the show that should make the debut program NOTHING BUT entertainment! He added a little rip on Keeler saying that "he just expects us to know what he wants...he expects to go back on and immediately be #1 again and we have to know how to book this show. I spent more time today cancelling guests for the first week than I did booking new ones. There's no doubt, he will be #1 because he won't accept anything less." A funny aside, Bill has been doing morning radio since 1989 and he's only had a handful of on-air partners (one of them he ended up marrying); however, since 1989, he's been through more than 60 producers. It's rumored that his exectations are so high...most producers couldn't handle the pressure. Knowing all of this, Miller said he's not at all worried. "I'd rather take the pressure and be on a top rated show than slide and suck," he added. The television programs were on the topic of meetings today. Before you see it anywhere else, here's the new schedule starting January 8th: The Keeler Show, a comedy TV 1/2 hour program will air Saturday nights at 7:30 pm on WKTV. A second run of the show show will also air twice through the weekend on WKTV. "Keeler Radio", a TV show featuring clips of the Keeler radio show on KISS will air daily on CW11 at 11am and 12:30 Monday through Friday; and late nights after Saturday Night Live on WKTV. Also, the Star Chef Cooking Show airs Sunday mornings at 11am on WKTV. Keeler's home improvement/real estate show returns to WKTV in March. Remember anything big that happens on the radio show...will end up on TV either on WKTV or CW11. Finally, there was talk about contests and giveaways. Dove Laser Center will be giving away Laser Eye Surgery in January, on the Keeler Show. An American Idol type contest debuts in late January. Battle of the Bouncers, bouncers from local bars, will box in a benefit boxing event at the Utica Boxing Club in late January. The bridal spectacular is January 14th at Harts Hill Inn with Me's Me's formals in Utica. And that's just for starters. When I'm at the studio...I'm all ears and I'm keeping you posted as the countdown moves on.... __________________________________________________________________________________________________
JAN 1st, 2007 11:06 pm
With one week until the On The Air sign is plugged in, studio construction continues at a hurried pace for the return of Bill Keeler to local morning radio. The conference room is gone which once greeted visitors to David Todd Productions offices. On Saturday, as we previously reported, contractors began dismantling walls and doorways. On Sunday, a window was cut for the office where a call screener / producer will sit during broadcasts/telecasts. By 10AM, next, a door was hung, walls were shifted, and the desk that will house a majority of the radio broadcast equipment, monitors, phones, and the like was cut down by a foot or so. This is where Bill will be seated. Exact locations of where other staff members will be placed wasn't disclosed to me. Much of the time I observed the contractors at work, seating posibilities, as well as lighting schemes were being tried out. On Sunday, New Year's Day, I stopped in the office at noon and was surprised to see the stage for, as it was explained to me, guest to be seated on or live performing bands was begining to take shape. Carpet was also brought in to cover the stage. However, during my visit the carpet hadn't been placed. The clean up crew had been on hand for the past 3 days swiftly removing the small mountains of sheetrock, wood and othjer materials. For sure, the new studio has taken on a personality. Windows, photographs, curtains, other eye candy necessities are piled in a corner of the studio and are expected to begin to be hung sometime Tuesday.
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DEC 30th, 2006 11:06 pm Soon to be 8 days left!
Some additional updates from the day. Phone lines were installed on Friday. When you call the Keeler Show you'll call a special number and NOT the Kiss FM number. I don't have that number yet but I will. I do have an update; however, on a very special broadcast. I'm told that on Saturday night/Sunday morning January 7th at 2:00 am, the entire "starting cast" of the Keeler in the Morning Show will be on the air for a special "test run" on air from their new studio. Although details are very sketchy...they will be doing an entire one hour show...I think with music...to test their phones...and make sure everything in their studio is connected with the Kiss studio. If I'm correct, everybody will be there...even Angie who will be serving as a producer and phone screener. Additionally, Bobby Miller has been named the executive producer of the Keeler radio and tv shows. This was a position that was advterised and the dirt around the office is that an intern was up for the position...but something went down and that process came to a hault. Shortly thereafter, Miller was named to the position. Miller will also be on-air in the studio along with Mark Piersma. Another question that has been asked about is past members of the Keeler in the Morning radio show. There are plenty...Joe Load, Kay Howland, Linda Murphy, Matt Barbuto, Craig Heiss, Scott Carr and plenty of others that filtered through the system. We know Frank McBride is out...and I can only say this...I have not heard any word from Bill about any of the previously named people. Bill won't even confirm Miller, Angie or Piersma...he told me just yesterday..."there are no staff announcements right now...I'm concentrating on getting the studio built." I can tell you that I will still be doing weekly call-ins to the show and I will have my own weekend program on MOVAradio.com. On the personal side...Mark Piersma and Bobby Miller are both down with the Flu. Miller seems to be getting over it...Bill's family has had it...and Piersma was running a temperature...and was sent home on Friday because he was hacking up a lung. The thought was - Let's not spread it! Mark said, "I'm glad I'm sick now...so I can get it out of the way." Mark must have been sick...his paycheck is still on Angie's desk! One more sticky situation, everyone was given the word today that we are referring to the radio station incorrectly. We seem to be calling it by the wrong name...I think after today's memo...that will change. As you can tell...it's been a quiet weekend and most everybody is off for the holiday. The count continues...the debut is one week from Monday morning! That's all for now...I'll do my best to uncover something for New Years Eve. Later!
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DEC 30th, 2006 6:06 pm Soon to be 8 days left!
The Keeler studio is under full contruction and the mess continues. Soooo, we've shown you the studio mock up by designer Mario Virtucci...now, here's what the studio looks like now! Can you believe it? Only 8 days left and they're on the air. I have no idea how in the world they'll be able to get it all done and ready to go on the air by January 8th. Here's one more sneak peak...here's a video of an animated version of Mario's studio design. Check it Out! This studio will be amazing...IF....they can pull it off! When I have more...I'll report it! The countdown continues... __________________________________________________________________________________________________
DEC 29th, 2006 8:06 pm Soon to be 9 days left!
The Keeler in the morning show will be streamed every morning on KISS FM's website, and at MOVAradio.com, a new streaming website contracted with the Keeler Show. MOVAradio.com will be the official streaming website of Keeler's show...streaming it live...and then streaming the show's re-broadcast through the day. Additionally, on weekends...the previous week will run all weekend long. And...that's not all. Original programming will start to run over MOVAradio.com. This will include other shows, local and beyond...original Keeler shows....and more. Beta testing started today. It's a brief preview, but worth checking out. click here to stream
Here's one more cool thing. The studio construction is underway. Check out Mario's "mock - up" design of what the studio will look like. If it even comes close to this, it will be amazing. click here for preview
That's all for now. The countdown continues...as we enter the new year with one week to go!!!!!
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DEC 27th, 2006 10:30 pm Soon to be 11 days left!
Do not visit the Keeler studios...it IS a mess. Building materials everywhere...walls being moved...junk all over the place. I have no idea how they will be able to pull off this whole thing before January 8th. It will be a miracle. I'm told the planned studio will not be like a normal radio studio and it will be large. Large enough to fit everybody...plus large enough to shoot for the tv show. There IS a vision...you just can't see it all yet. On another note...I've learned that there will be a launch promotion. Over the last month or so, the Keeler TV show has been giving away laser eye surgery. As I understand it...finalists for FREE laser eye surgery at the DOVE LASER CENTER, (this is the place Bill "swears by" for their quality and state of the art technology and procedures) will be announced on the radio. Additionally, an un determined number of additional qualifiers will be added from the radio. The grand prize will be given away later in January at an event planned at the Waterfront Grill in Herkimer. MORE NEWS... how about a neat tidbit... the search has been on for the official "voice" or "announcer" for the Keeler in the Morning Show. I believe they've narrowed it to a few. The "voice" is the "big voice" that brings the show back from commercial, promos, etc. etc. For instance, the "voice" of the Keeler TV show is a guy named Pat Kelly, from Albany (a good friend of Bill's who worked for some time at Rock 107). I'm told the new voice of the Keeler radio show will actually be two guys and maybe even a female voice added in the mix later. One of the guys is from Texas...the female voice is un-named...and the other guy is from Los Angeles who does network television announcing for various television shows, as well as national radio. I'm not sure of his name, but I did come across the demo that was sent to Keeler before the guy was hired. This was the second test demo sent...and I'm told this will be the main "voice" for the show. You're lucky enough to get a sample...click here to listen.
To give you a little insight...a guy like this will be sent "copy" (a script) and he'll read 3 or 4 different "reads" of each line. The "voice" will then be sent off to the production department where these "work parts" will then be edited with tv and movie clips, drops, and sfx
and turned into the promos, sweepers and opens that you'll hear on radio and tv. A "voice guy" like this one will then send updates either weekly or monthly and they will be added into the rotation. As always, my goal is to bring you a peak behind the scenes...what's happening on a daily basis as the Keeler in the Morning radio show 2007 is created for launch on january 8th. Time is ticking! The coundown is on...talk to you with a new update tomorrow.
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DEC 26th, 2006 9:15 pm 13 days left
On the day after Christmas, it was all business at the Keeler studios as plans are underway for the new studio. Sooo, from what I gathered today, digital graphic artist Mario Virtucci has been commissioned to create the studio. Plans were being discussed today and the Keeler TV shows were placed on "Best of" this week to focus all attention on the January 8th launch. "An open air" studio is being planned...I'm told it will be a comfortable setting for guests...room for bands to perform...for guests to become comfortable and feel at home as they go live on the radio. A bump in the road...everybody at the studio seems to be suffering from a "flu like" virus - but there was no time to take a sick day. (Although Producer Bobby Miller did go home befoire noon to recover, and word has it, Angie Biggs tossed her cookies in ladies restroom at around 3 pm. She denies it, claiming she was "removing cookies from her web browser" ; but,
she looked sick as a dog! None the less, Mario was quoted as saying, "the studio has to be effective for radio and eye candy for tv."
On a related topic, what will come of the Keeler TV shows? This topic seems to be "top secret" right now, although Keeler claims he hasn't even made up his mind yet. With 13 days left, I find that hard to believe. We do know this: at the very least, highlights from the Keeler radio show will be seen everyday on the CW Network, channel 11 on Time Warner Utica. Bill was overheard saying, it should be " a raw view of the daily show, as if the viewer was right there in the studio." Additionally, I'm told there will be more opportunities on the weekend "evening hours" to catch the "keeler show" and much of it will feature moments from the radio. Bill says his plan is to bring the Keeler radio show and keeler tv show together. We're told the Star Chef show will continue and so will the home improvement/Real Estate show, Open House. The only other piece of dirt that I can gather for you is the fact that there is a person being considered for the role of producer named Matt. He has auditioned for the spot and the entire staff will be deciding on whether or not he is the choice for prodcuer at a meeting scheduled for sometime this week. That's all I have for you...I will have a preview picture of the studio coming very soon. I'll leave you with this: Utica, NY will be the only city in America that I know of that will have a live daily morning radio show...with a daily tv show mirroring it's antics...and another 3 shows on the weekend. This is all in little Utica NY. January 8th is just 13 days away!!!!!!!! The countdown is on!!!!!
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DEC 25th, 2006 10:50 pm
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all! I can't say it any better than Bill has...check out his post on the message board from Christmas Eve... click here to view post
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DEC 24th, 2006 1:00 am
An ON-AIR test is coming. I haven't been able to get this out of Keeler as of yet...and I WILL work on it...but the word from one
staff member today at Keeler's studio...there will be a one hour on air test over KISS FM coming sometime soon. The test will be used to work out the kinks in Keeler's new studio...to make sure everything works correctly in the live feed to KISS's studio. I'm told this will happen sometime soon...in the middle of the night between 1am and 3 am. Now...as of today...I can't imagine any test run because the studio hasn't yet been constructed. BUT- I'm told this will happen...probably between January 3rd and 7th on one overnight. If I get word when...I'll be passing it along. I suggest this should be recorded and aired over the internet. Just a thought. None the less...more updates coming as they come. The countdown is on!!!!
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DEC 24th, 2006 9:50 pm
Okay folks...here's something interesting found on a computer inside Keeler studios. It seems that when the deal was put together locally between Keeler and Clear Channel...corporate officials nationally needed to hear what Keeler's show was like. After all, he's been off radio since 2002. What I discovered was one of the cds that was sent to Clear Channel National as a "demo" of what kind of show Bill produces. I have the link here for you to hear. One thing I love about this...is notice how local callers get to participate in the show...in the bits and with other callers. This is the beauty of having a show like this here. The local people get to make it on air and be a part of the show! Merry Christmas...14 days left as we enter Christmas Day! Play audio clip
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DEC 23rd 2006 9:00 am
Studio construction is underway. This will be a state of the art digital broadcast radio studio with capabilities to broadcast
anywhere around the world. It will be complete with television cameras...and abilities to stream video live as it happens.
No word on staff yet, but it is believed that one Frank Mcbride will NOT be asked to return. You might recall McBride, a
former car salesman, slithered into Keeler's studio back in 2000, and when Keeler was fired...he was the only one to
stay on board. Bill always said, "He was just looking out for himself"; but countless Keeler fans all seem to disagree in the
same direction...he stabbed the one person in the back that gave him the radio opportunity in the first place. Bill still maintains...
there are no hard feelings. None the less, this reporter is willing to stick it all out there on this...McBride will not be
invited to return. More updates coming as the day continues...
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DEC 23rd, 2006 1:00 pm
Last night was the Keeler Crew Christmas party at O'Connor's Alexander Hamilton Inn. Ho! Ho! Ho! There was plenty of talk about the new radio show and how television will be involved. It seems to be pretty official that music will not be a part of the new Keeler in
the Morning radio show. Cranks...calls...contests...guests...crazy stuff. That's how Mark Piersma described it. Piersma, who was part of Keeler's original radio show back from 2000-2002. He joined the Television show during the summer of 2003. Piersma says he will be one of the sidekicks on the show. Will he be the one to hit the streets and do all of the crazy stunts? Only time will tell. He was very tight lipped last night. Other guests at the party included the entire keeler staff, sales people, production people...Dr. Marty Morell and his wife, Attorney Joe Hobika, Ryan and Karey Nobles, even Jim Castellano, who was the sales manager for Keeler's radio show back when he was on ROCK 107. Castellano, who's company has worked with Keeler's for the last two years, provided tons of giveaways. Those prizes included furniture from his newly aquired AFFORDABLE FURNITURE stores. Castellano purchased Affordable Furniture from Carl Vogel back in November of this year. Speaking to the crowd, Castellano said, "You have an opportunity that most broadcasters only dream about."
Both Keeler and Castellano were fired by Galaxy Communications (WRCK - WKLL - WTLB) in 2002. Also at last night's Christmas party, Mrs. Bill Keeler who seemed equally excited about the new radio launch. Of course, she is no stranger to the radio business, she was Bill's producer from 1997 until 1999 at WRCK.
Attorney Joe Hobika was in the house and noticably excited over the radio launch. Angie Biggs, Keeler's office manager who has spent cameo time on the tv shows, was talking as if she will be involved in the radio launch. The way she was speaking last night, she'll be there every morning during the show and will play a role ON-AIR! If you've seen Angie on the TV show...she is made for comedy and will fit right in on the radio. Bobby Miller, one of Keeler's television producers was in rare form last night. He too claims to be playing a role on the radio show each morning.
Overall, it was quite a night with great food and drink, prizes, limos, some local celebs and much anticipation for what the new year will bring. My belief is this: Central NY radio is yearning for something to listen to in the morning. There's been nothing like the Keeler in the Morning radio show in this market...and since he exited in December of 2002, there has been a major void. This program will be welcomed with open arms and my hat goes off to Brian Delaney of Clear Channel who helped broker this deal and bring quality compelling radio back to a market that deserves better than what it has right now! 16 days and counting....more updates coming when I have 'em.
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