It was quite a tough weekend, a sleepless one as I responded, as much as possible, to the mass of emails from the understandably upset listeners. I wish I could tell you that was the one and only preemption, but I never lie to you and don't plan to start doing so. Radio Classics 164 is scheduled for at least one more Saturday night preemption. The reasons why are detailed in my previous post.

I hope it will not continue beyond this Saturday and I am cautiously optimistic that will be the case, but I have not been told for sure. I will tell all of you as soon as I know.

So here is an updated schedule for this current week RadioClassics Grid 2008-09-01 Wk-Landscape.xls (28.50 kb)

And here is next week's schedule, which does not reflect any preemptions because I have not been told there will be any. I am trying to be positive.

RadioClassics Grid 2008-09-08 Wk-Landscape.xls (26.50 kb)

If I am later told about any additional preemptions, I will let you know.

 Greg.

Okay folks,

I pride myself in personally answering all the emails sent to me, but there is no way I'll be able to answer all of your questions and comments about the preemptions on Saturday night for sports coverage. It is 1:30am in the morning and my fingers are fatigued from typing.  

I totally understand and agree with your frustration on this one and I promise you that I will keep doing all I can to avoid this, but this is out of my control.

That is why the message about it that ran all week on the channel and played while it was off the air indicated you need to email talkprogramming@xmradio.com  I'm not trying to pass the buck on this one but that email address makes sure your comments get directly to the folks who made this decision.

A little clarification; this Saturday night (and probably next Saturday evening) was a "perfect storm" of sporting events with multiple college football games being played at the same time as a number of Major League Baseball games, so there was a strong need for additional audio bandwidth to make sure all the games could play. That is why it was borrowed from 164 and 4 or 5 other channels. It was for 5 hours from 7pm ET to Midnight ET and 164 came back on.

I am trying to look on the bright side of things and I hope you all can do so as well. 164 is still on the air one hundred and sixty-three hours per week and with the repeat structure in place by the time it airs on Saturday night the specific episodes are in their 5th repeat or so. Also, a number of resourceful folks indicated they used their recordable XM devices, Inno, MyFi, etc to record earlier in the day and play the shows that night. I realize that doesn't replace the frustration you all feel, but again it is out of my control.

Again please send your comments about this decision to talkprogramming@xmradio.com

Greg.  

Okay first of all, if you are a "Man of Steel Marathon" fan a new Superman storyline is running over the weekend. It begins Friday at 8pm ET 7 CT then on late Saturday night for all of you West Coast folks (or really late night East Coasters) it will air at 11pm Pacific Time (2am ET) - then again on Sunday morning 8am ET and finally on Monday Labor Day at 2pm ET (11am PT). After the 90 minute special I have added a "new" episode of The Chase. 

Clayton "Bud" Collyer - Superman/Clark Kent                Jimmy Stewart 

Okay a new schedule is ready for the first week of September and it is attached right here in Excel format.

RadioClassics Grid 2008-09-01 Wk-Landscape.xls (28.50 kb)

Highlights include a Lux Radio Version of Winchester '73, "new' episodes from Alan Young, Frank Race, The Chase, Richard Diamond, This Is Your FBI, Suspense, Inner Sanctum, Mysterious Traveler, etc.

You might really enjoy yet another new show known as Behind The Mike. Just like it sounds you'll learn about actors, sound effects, transcription vs recording and much more from this program that first aired back in 1940.

Greg.  

Here is the schedule for next week in Excel format 

RadioClassics Grid 2008-08-25 Wk-Landscape.xls (27.00 kb)

Highlights included a "new" Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar Marathon and a "new" Superman - Man of Steel Marathon leading into Labor Day Weekend. There are also more new series introduced including The Whisperer, Meet the Meeks, The Alan Young Show and Crime & Peter Chambers.

Greg.  

My mother and her friend recently visited Jack Benny's hometown and took a couple of photos for all of us.

There also is a Jack Benny Center for the Performing Arts and a Jack Benny Middle School located in Waukegan, a suburb of Chicago.

Greg.  

Next week's schedule -   RadioClassics Grid 2008-08-18 Wk-Landscape.xls (26.50 kb)

Hey gang,

Okay so we are already into the week and many of you have long known what is playing but it bears mentioning once again. Three series are introduced this week (with many more to come over the next few weeks or so); The Chase, The Adventures of Frank Race and The Judy Canova (seen below) Show.

The genius of movie thrillers, Alfred Hitchcock was born 109 years ago Wednesday (August 13th 1899 - Died April 29th, 1980), so I'm bringing back two of his films adapted for radio. Up first it's a one hour Screen Director's Playhouse version of Spellbound, with Joseph Cotten filling in for Gregory Peck and Mercedes McCambridge in for Ingrid Bergman. After that, I am playing a half-hour Screen Guild Players version of his 1940 Best Picture winner, Rebecca. Again a couple of fill-in actors though, Loretta Young for Joan Fontaine and John Lund for Laurence Olivier.

NOTE: Different browsers format the pictures differently so; instead of a regular caption we have this - (Below) Joseph Cotten, Mercedes McCambridge, Loretta Young, John Lund (with Olivia DeHavilland), Alfred Hitchcock.

Also born this week, Cecil B. DeMille (August 12th, 1881 - Died January 21st, 1959) and he will be heard hosting Lux Radio Theatre's 1939 episode of the 1937 comedy motion picture, The Awful Truth starring Cary Grant with one more fill-in actress as Claudette Colbert steps in for Irene Dunne.

(Below) Cecil B. DeMille, Cary Grant, Claudette Colbert.

Finally, by very popular demand, George Stewart's story of the survivors of a devastating worldwide plague, Earth Abides will again be heard on Escape. It features John Dehner, Peggy Webber, Parley Baer and Michael Ann Barrett.

(Below) Earth Abides paperback cover, John Dehner, Parley Baer. Sorry, I couldn't find good pictures of Peggy Webber or Michael Ann Barrett.

Greg

Here is an advanced link for the August 11th to 17th, 2008 week.

RadioClassics Grid 2008-08-11 Wk-Landscape.xls (27.00 kb)

Greg.

Here are a number of faces to go with the voices of the folks heard on Radio Classics  Ch. 164.   Greg. 

   

The combined satellite radio has a new name - Sirius XM Radio Inc.

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aG2RUc1qIpXY&refer=home

In more specific Radio Classics Ch. 164 news;

Here is next week's schedule fresh off the presses.

RadioClassics Grid 2008-08-04 Wk-Landscape.xls (26.50 kb)

Next week includes a "new" Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar Marathon; Bogie & Bacall in Bold Venture and a centennial birthday tribute to radio star Wally Maher.

Wally Maher in Maisie-NYT.pdf (291.92 kb) (Wally is on the right).

Greg.

By a 3 to 2 vote, the FCC approved the merger of XM Satellite Radio and Sirius Satellite Radio last night (Friday). Here is a link to the story.

 http://money.cnn.com/2008/07/25/technology/sirius_xm_approval.ap/index.htm?postversion=2008072522

As to how this impacts your favorite channel (and MINE), I have absolutely no idea. I certainly am confident that it's popularity and loyal listenership will keep it safe from any negative changes.

If I learn anything in the near future, I will let you know here on the blog and on the air as well.

Greg.