Bubba the Day After: Questions Remain

Since I only had a limited amount of space for today's Bubba the Love Sponge Clem story, I decided to come back with a few extra questions and comments:

Bubba had a press conference today to catch up local media on his new gig. About 30- people packed into a condference room in Cox Radio's St. Petersburg offices, including WTVT-Ch. 13, Tampa Tribune, WFLA-Ch. 8 and WFLA-970 AM radio.

I didn't hear anything new, but Mike "Cowhead" Calta was there to show his support, along with Bubba's sidekick Spice Boy, longtime producer Brent Hatley and assorted Cox Radio executives. Bubba did note that both Cox Radio and Sirius wanted to sign exclusive deals, and that his boss in satellite, Howard Stern, was concerned about the workload he would be taking on.

The best line of the day: In explaining the show's 10-second delay -- Bubba's producers and Cox Radio will each control a "dump button" allowing them to cut audio -- the shock jock noted "I can say, like, 16 f-bombs and it'll all get caught. I may even try that the first day."

Then Cox executive Jay O'Connor spoke up, jokingly -- "No, he won't."

This is going to be interesting.   

Regarding competition: Is this really going to be a fight between Bubba and Todd "MJ" Schnitt, or a competition with Bubba's old home, 98 Rock, where Buckethead does mornings?

Strange bedfellows: When Mike "Cowhead" Calta tried using his nickname as a radio handle after leaving Bubba's show as a producer, Clem sued Calta, saying he owned the rights to the name. Now, even though Clem's arrival has pushed Calta into an afternoon drive slot, Bubba says the two have reconciled and are now teammates.

Bubba wasn't going along with a comparison to fellow shock jock Don Imus, who returned to radio  last week after his firing in April. "Don Imus is an asshole," Bubba said Monday. "I don't think he can change. We're still relatively young. We only have ourselves to blame if we shoot ourselves in the foot."

Bubba's production company, which retains ownership of all his shows, even from the 98 Rock days, now employs 18 people besides Clem himself, including merchandising, Web operations, and a burgeoning video operation he hopes to expand.

The only other jock Clem will give props to from Tampa's morning scene -- besides Cowhead -- is WLLD-FM's Orlando, who he said Sirius tried to hire back when Bubba first debuted on the satellite system.

Cox Radio regional VP Jay O'Connor says Bubba can be funny without being dirty: "The FCC and the Cox policies are both very specific as it relates to what you can and can’t talk about. You cannot talk about explicit, or graphic items. You cannot speak about sexually explicit or graphic situations. Anything that might be regarded as overly titillating to the audience – those are areas that are off-limits...We won’t be giving any milk enemas on the air, that’s for sure."

David Caton, executive director of longtime Bubba critics the Florida Family Association, was not surprised to hear about Clem's show on Cox Radio -- I even mentioned the possibility when I last wrote a substantive story about him. He was, however, surprised to hear that Clem was staying on Sirius, too -- seemingly assuming that a move to Cox meant he had failed on satellite.

"We’re definitely going to be listening, taping every hour of his programming," Caton said. "We’ll not only be contacting his sponsors. We’ll be recording every hour and reviewing the content. We’ll have certain people listening live. We’ll be pretty hands on particularly in his first week."

Comments

[Ben]

The world is safe with Dave Caton looking over Bubba's shoulder....what a tool.

[Dave]

Thank the lord! I can't listen to MJ anymore, just too much ego there. His cast is funny and entertaining, but he isn't. The only reason he's number one now is because Bubba was let go.

Canton, get a life. There are bigger things to worry about than some guy on the radio who's views you don't agree with. I don't agree with you, but Im not going to waste my life following every move you make.

[Mike]

Ned was funnier than Bubba, is he back?

[brian]

Glad to hear that radio in the area is going to be getting good again. With Bubba in the morning and Cowhead in the afternoon the local stations are seeing what actually sells and gets folks listening to standard radio again. Glad to hear Bubba and Cowhead finally back together. Canton great job on support the show before and comes on and Bubba appreciates the ratings in advance from you and your other listeners.

[blade]

isn't Cowhead on 102.5 "the bone" in the mornings ?

[Damien]

Haha -- NED. I certainly hope Bubba brings back Ned.

I've pretty much gotten over MJ -- it's been a long time since we've had a good jock on the mornings. Even when Cowhead tried, and failed, on 98 Rock, I can't say the Buckethead show was any better. MJ was the only choice for a while, but not now!

Welcome back, Bubba.

[bob]

this FFA isn't funny - check out their website - they want to control the content of the internet, satellite radio, and cable television, as well as ban the sale of magazines they don't like at circle-k - yikes!

[Bill]

If you are going to rip images from a website like siriusbuzz.com for your article make sure you give them credit.

[Bruce]

Bubba the Love Sponge is 40 something punk. Calling Don Imus an assh*le is in line with Howard "Dirty Mouthed" Sterns. He wishes he was and will last as long as Don Imus.

This report is only relevant if you follow this idiot on radio (Bubba). And I live in Florida.

Don Imus lost his job for an offensive remark but no fine was imposed by the F.C.C. Now back on Radio and TV Don has shown his class, where the "Sponge" is just a fat slob wannabee. Please get a life and go to Alaska where they need announcers like you.

[JUANITA]

Bubba, welcome back. i'm one of your biggest fans. I'm a middle age black women married for 28 years and my husband & kids no i love you and my co-workers. i have all the women and some men doing the no-panties thursday you wouln'd beleive the response they get from ther spouse. i've been waiting on you to come back for soooo long and congradulations on your marriage.

[nate]

Go Get'EM Bubba! ...and yes, Ned's on Bubbas Sirius show, channel 101. If u don't have Sirius, it's like not having cable t.v. in your house. You're seriously missing out. I can't bear to listen to the "cookie cutter" BS they broadcast around this area after having satellite radio. You need to get it. If you thought his show was funny then, you need to hear it now, un-edited!

Good Luck Bubba & Crew!

[Eric Deggans]

Aplogies for the art mixup. I assumed those were Sirius promotional pictures.

[The Carl]

This thing will blow up by Easter. Either Bubba and Cowhead will do something to piss the other off, or Bubba will yet again get jammed by the FCC. THEN maybe 102.5 will bring back John Boy & Billy! (P.S.: Bubba only calls Imus an "a**hole because Howard tells him to.)

[Holley]

Ned is Mike Waters, the creative producer on the show and the picture of Ned is Mike's father in law...wow the suckers out there

[Mike]

I'm thrilled this is happening. I'm amazed at the amount of people who claim that they hate Bubba. SOMEONE was listening. He was blowing everyone out of the water with his ratings, including MJ. I believe he was pulling in almost a 20 share. But no one listened, right? I'm a Bubba mark, and I'm not afraid to admit it. And I don't live in a trailer. I think Eric is a bit of a mark too, if I'm not mistaken! Ha Ha.

[Mike]

I'm thrilled this is happening. I'm amazed at the amount of people who claim that they hate Bubba. SOMEONE was listening to him during his previous stint. He was blowing everyone out of the water with his ratings, including MJ. I believe he was pulling in almost a 20 share. But no one listened, right? I'm a Bubba mark, and I'm not afraid to admit it. And I don't live in a trailer. I think Eric is a bit of a mark too, if I'm not mistaken! Ha Ha.