Bubba the Love Sponge Returns, Settling Old Scores

One of the hazards of covering Bubba the Love Sponge Clem: You may end up as part of the show.

As I type this, I'm sitting in the shock jock's custom-built studio in Tampa, complete  with leather covered couches, beer-filled soda machine and a torture rack. We're about 90 minutes into his return to terrestrial radio -- broadcast now on 102.5 The Bone -- and already he's insulted rival jock Todd "MJ" Schnitt, interviewed Howard Stern and compared your truly to portly American Idol judge Randy Jackson. (These top two photos were taking this morning by crack Times photog Ken Helle; click on them to enlarge)

A host of local media has crowded into Clem's cramped broadcast studio, including reporters from WTVT-Ch. 13, WTSP-Ch. 10, WFTS-Ch. 28 and Bay News 9. NBC affiliate WFLA-Ch. 8 also sent a camera and the Tampa Tribune is expected to show soon.

Clem kicked off the show at 6 a.m. railing about a column by Florida Family Association head David Caton, the area activist who consistently complained to advertisers about the content of his show when the shock jock was on air in the Tampa area.

Now, he's shaking up the local radio scene in a historic arrangement, offering a morning show on 102.5 The Bone in Tampa and a Cox Radio station in Jacksonsonville and presenting a more explicit evening show for Sirius radio on satellite. These days, he gets up at 4 a.m. -- though Clem admits nervousness got him up at 2:30 a.m. this morning -- and expects to get home around 8 p.m.

"I feel good that Bubba's making a living...(but) I hate like hell that he's got to do two shows a day,"  Stern said, calling into the show from his New York studios. "At least, you know your marriage will last."

Later, Bubba told Stern that both Cox Radio and Sirius have demanded that he refrain from talking about the other company during his shows -- a rule backed by cash fines. But when Stern decides to call in, rules go out the window. As I write this now, Clem has welcomed friendly rival Orlando from WLLD- FM, interviewing him on air about their combined competition with Schnitt, and appearing on WLLD's air with Orlando moments later.

"It's a party...we're welcoming you back," said Orlando. "To see you come back is a good thing for us."

Schnitt and Clem's former employer Clear Channel emerged as the butt of most jokes this morning, amid claims that Schnitt betrayed his former on air partner B.J. to emerge as the sole star of his WFLZ-FM morning show. But Clem has managed to keep it relatively clean, no strippers, sex humor or boar killing involved.

"I got to apologize -- the regular shows won't be this cumbersome," Clem told listeners. "But I got a ton of media here, and I'm feeling like I got shot out of a cannon. I'm a little nervous, but we're back."

Comments

[Bob]

Bubba has the worst show I've ever heard. All he does is steal bits from Howard stern and that guy Manson is the worst. I can't stand the yukkedy yuk fake radio voice and made up language Bubba loves to use.

Talking about a "BUBBA ARMY" how gay and unoriginal is that. It seems every wannabe morning shock shock has to have a army to claim their listeners belong to. Even Howard never claimed to have his own personal "Army". I can't wait until Serious gets rid of him for better talent. Ned's the only funny part of the show.

[Buzzy]

Oh, goody! More 8th grade toilet humor and crotch and bodily function jokes. Can't live without the word "bitch" used forty times an hour either. How did society get so mean?

[0.0]

0.0 a true radio find and FM is lucky to have them

WFNY/WXRK Morning Ratings
Winter 2006 - Fall 2007

Winter '06 1.2 (David Lee Roth's Show)
Spring '06 1.9 (Includes one month of David Lee Roth - O&A premiered 4/26, 18th place)
Summer '06 2.2 (17th place)
Fall '06 1.6 (21st place)
Winter '07 1.8 (18th place)
Spring '07 2.5 (13th place)
Summer '07 2.1 (19th place)
Fall '07 2.3 (15th place)

Blazing the FM dial

[0.0]

"O&A were the first show of its kind to both make the jump to satellite AND make a deal to air on both satellite and terrestrial, things neither Bubba or Howard "I'm a trailblazer" Stern can say."

really.so i guess Sean Hannity,Bill O,and the countless other talk radio hosts who've done Terrestrial/Sattelite simulcasts where also ripping off the kings of morning zoo hack radio too

"hoo hoo we invented Terrestrial/Sattelite simulcasts opie"

Tell em Jimmy...eh nevermind no one listens anyways"

ZERO POINT ZERO

[Jeff]

Bubba didn't HAVE to go crawling back to FM like Opie and Anthony did. If you have the time and the offer is right, why not take it and boost your audience? It's basically one big ad/teaser for Sirius. Besides, now he gets to put a huge dent in the audience of MJ "Look, doing crotchety old man bits clearly stolen from the Jerky Boys for over a decade is highly original!" Schnitt.

Opie and Anthony aren't even pimples on Bubba's mammoth haunches. Howard was doing it for decades before them and Bubba for years (hell, O&A came into Howard's studio for the Win Jackie's Money game when Jackie Martling bailed. Pioneers those two, coming in to beg for a job under the guy they supposedly dwarf in talent and fame!). Bubba isn't necessarily a trailblazer but compared to those has-beens he's Meriwether Lewis.

For the idiot who thought his big contribution was to suggest XM, what are you going to do if the merger goes through???

[Duncan Hunter '08]

And since we all have to be spelling whizzes here or risk being slammed, I misspelled "satellite" in my previous post. I acknowledge my error, I'm writing this all from my cell phone which isn't very easy.

[Duncan Hunter '08]

Wait, was't Bubba one of the people who said Opie & Anthony went back to terrestrial because they were failing on satellite? So using that very same logic, that means Bubba was failing on satellite too. And what, all the alleged "millions" of listeners Howard's channels has, Bubba has to go back to terrestrial? Why? Maybe because the Howard's channels just doesn't have as many listeners as he endlessly boasts about? Or maybe Bubba isn't getting paid very well and has to take on a second radio gig while his boss Howard rakes in his absurd half-a-billion dollar paycheck? Perhaps both? And to call Bubba's terrestrial-and-ratellite deal groundbreaking or trailblazing is either extremely uninformed and/or indcative of your favoritism toward Bubba and probably toward Howard and Sirius too. O&A were the first show of its kind to both make the jump to satellite AND make a deal to air on both satellite and terrestrial, things neither Bubba or Howard "I'm a trailblazer" Stern can say.

[W0.0W Spread the Void]

bubba,lets see if you match O&A's monumental terestial rating of 0.0 in vegas

[Rodger]

Here is a thought, everybody shut up and play some music. doesnt matter what station were talking about.

[Jb]

just waiting for him to get fired,"again",until then,see ya 102.5(losers)

[egr2golf]

Bubba was the worst I ever heard on radio, therefore I virtuall never listened and was happy when he was removed... Now the airwaves are going to be filled with his ignorance, immaturity, and chauvenistic vulgarity. Put Bob & Tom on, promote it, and they'll climb mighty fast - and yes they do push the broadcasting envelope, but in a manner that's humorous, not degrading. If Bubba isn't degrading someone or some group of people with excessive vulgarity,he wouldn't have a show.

Get a life Bubba, then perhaps a brain, but I sure wish you weren't back on the air.

[Tonka]

It's not Ron and Ron on XM. It's Ron Bennington and Fez Whatley. It's the Ron and Fez Show. Ron Diaz is on with Ian Beckles on 620 WDAE every morning from 9-12.

If anyone's curious, I found a cool website - www.95ynf.com

I'm 26, so I used to listen to that all the time in the 80's when I was a little rascal heading down to Bucs games with my dad. I don't remember much about it except Fez singing songs about the Riviera Deli!

[Ol Gravey Leg]

I dont get why he went back to FM radio in the first place. My friend Fred told me that Sirius was the future and a revolution. I wish my buddy Fred would tell me again. Who and I mean Who Who wants to be censored by the FCC Maaaannnn?? We want strippers and hookers "EVERYDAY" Damnit! I want my Morning Djs to be just like it was in the late 80's early 90's. Like the time that stripper came in and then they......Snnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnrrrrr.

Ron & Ron 12 till 3 on Xm 202

[Rich]

That was no Reverend typing. Nice quote from the bible, but it is nothing to hope for anyone.

[jimmy tide]

i like turtles

and if elected, i promise each and every american a turtle
and a dress
and lip gloss

even bubba the hack sponge

JIMMY TIDE '08

[Ronreddog]

Two letters to remember and focus on, XM!

Bubba the douche sponge, what a total LOSER! Yes, I can spell!

[Joe]

funny how many comments say they don't listen, or his show is not worthy, Rev.Ireland stuffing his religous BS in our face. You people are no better. you got to understad, people do things to make a living everyday, and we don't judge them. If you look at our own govt. it should be clear that, you don't have to like it, but your gonna live with it. Bubba bring back the swamp ape (CoaCoa), and Brent, watch out for the five toes of furry. can't wait to see your next match. Love ya guy in a non-F------_ way

[0.0]

became a big bubba fan when he came to sirius,tuned in a little bit for his FM broadcast...just not the same as the sirius show

i could never go back to testical radio again..its horrible

[moore]

Bubba's show on free radio will be a shadow of its former self. It will be so sanitized, the old fans will think it's Nancy and Mike or Mason. I truly believe that I will be disappointed. He cannot push the envelope like he did before. It will be vanilla Bubba.

[Rick]

Thank you 102.5 for getting bubba back on the air for free ,I have canceled my sirius raido .If they can pay howard 100 mil and can't pay bubba i will support you channel

[StevieD.]

I second the Ron & Ron motion!

[Evil Eye 6567]

Welcome back Bubba & The Gang.I missed all the crazy bits.What up NedSon!I could'nt afford Sirus;thought I'd never hear you guys again.Dreams do come true.What up Spice/Fatty;still w/your high maintanence B-otch?What up Brent;still w/the 4:20 anger management program?I'll be tuning in 6am sharp!

[BUBBA ARMY RADIO NETWORK]

Welcome back Mr. Clem
listen to the B*A*R*N
www.barn.podomatic.com

[N2]

Glad Bubba is on, O & A suck, I hate hearing them bunch of dopes. I would rather listen to IMUS then O&A, They both suck!

Bubba has balls. MJ show sucks I was tired of hearing about exclusives like only he knows!!! What an Idiot~ I never forget my Sirius, I got them in Both my vehicles now!

[Kurt]

MJ obscurity? He's been #1 or #2 for over a decade. Get a clue.

[Holly]

Humbled my butt! This guy a jackass!

[Dave]

Bubba's back, yay! Now MJ can go back to obscurity. Bubba would have some real competition if he let Fester, Hurricane, and Joey B run the show, but until that happens, there is no substance. Just rehashed TMZ/Drudge/Fark RSS feeds.

[Beth]

Just what we need, Another racist pig on the radio.

[NG]

This is not news worthy.

[NG]

This is not news worthy. I don't even listen to that station so I really won't.

[0.0]

teabag the religious right bubba

learn how to work kid!

[Jamie]

All these religious idiots who say this is bad for your "soul" or such crap should just tune elsewhere. I'm sick of the religious nutjobs trying to rule everything in this world. go read your ridiculously fake bibles and leave everyone else alone. I can't say I like the Bubba show, but if it riles up these religious idiots then I say GO BUBBA!!!

[Ron R]

Bring back Ron & Ron in the mornings!!!

[Tonka]

I love seeing comments on here from Reverends - who probably touch little boys," and O & A fans who can't correctly spell the word "loser."

People need to realize that this sort of show is what pulls ratings. This is a Man show. No men sit around talking about Lohan, Spears, etc., except to say that we want to bang them. That, or that they have enough cottage cheese brewing to make for a Sara Lee infomercial.

Ron and Ron pulled huge ratings back in the 80's doing taser stunts and having bikini-clad women all around them. Cowhead was rising in the ratings, and he's a Bubba disciple.

You people write about your freedom of choice, as if it's only a viable option for you. What about MY freedoms? I choose to listen to Bubba because I want to. Does that make me bad? Why don't some of you people look in the mirror? You are the same people who chastized Hulk Hogan for his "lack of parenting" when your daughters are getting cranked down 37 ways from Sundown at keg parties while you're working two jobs to secretly maintain your ever-increasing coke habit.

Oh, and if someone as seemingly educated as Eric can appreciate the fat man's talent, there must be some substance in Bubba's portly cranium. Bubba rules, and he will return to his rightful spot in the local morning radio throne.

[SSfromWA]

Attn Rev Ireland, 500 million dollars and 8 million listeners say Howard Stern, "Bubba's Sirius Daddy" has some form of intelligence and wit, by golly i bet even a few people in your flock of sheep listen to him and/or Bubba.

Are O & A even on a radio station anymore? only heard them a few times

[0.0]

"

Just a reminder: the comments posting rules ask folks to avoid messages which are vulgar and abusive. I just deleted a comment which seemed to cross those lines. I'm sure you guys can make forceful points without using really raw language..."

Posted by: Eric Deggans | January 08, 2008 at 12:47 PM

W
G
A
S

[Eric Deggans]

Just a reminder: the comments posting rules ask folks to avoid messages which are vulgar and abusive. I just deleted a comment which seemed to cross those lines. I'm sure you guys can make forceful points without using really raw language...

[Scot]

Whatever you think of Bubba, he pulled number 1 ratings the entire time he was on mornings in Tampa. The haters may be the loudest but they are certainly not the majority. If you dont like him dont listen. He will still return to number 1 even without you.

[Rob]

If you ingest dirt and the most colorful hue in your spectrum is grey or if you are picking out burial plots, I encourage you to listen to NPR, etc. Fortunately for the rest of you in FL, Bubba is back on terrestrial. However, if you haven't caught him on Sirius, I feel sorry for you in regards to what you're missing from satellite service as a whole.

[0.0]

"What a looser, copying O and A are ya Bubba? The pests are watching you fatty"

copying 0.0?only way he'd be copying 0.0 is if he gets canned for no ratings or no listeners on satelite..a art form O&A have mastered

[dm]

There is virtually zero talent in the Bubba show. There's only so much hay you can make out of objectifying women, running the same redneck topics to death (nascar, ultimate fighting etc). It is ALL old and beaten to death. I'm sure to maintain appearance of being "clean" for terrestrial, he'll replace some of the tired, old sex stunts with going to "war" with local reporters and other jocks. Sadly, this is also something that has been thoroughly beaten to death in the market and completely uninteresting. Yawn. Wake me up when a personality with actual talent and something new to say arrives in FL.

[JP]

If 102.5 is going for the "Bubba" mentality, then it's time to take advantage of my freedom of choice.

[Brandon]

Long live Bubba and Brent!!

[JamesD]

For all of you complaining about Bubba being on the air again. I have some advice for you. If you don't like the show than turn it off. It is a very simple process. You can change to another channel, turn on a CD, or just turn off the radio. I know thinking through on things of this nature can be hard for some of you, that is why I am sending this to all of you.

[Rev. Glenn Ireland]

Todd "Bubba The Love Sponge" Clem is an ignorant, chauvenistic, disgusting pig. I do not listen to the MJ show either but I can state that Todd Schnitt has more wit and intelligence in his little pinky than "Bubba" the ignoramus and his Sirius Daddy figure Howard Stern could ever dream of. Why is this even news worthy? I would love to be there when they stand before our Lord and Saviour when HE says, "Depart from me, I never knew you."

[John Carroll]

If you think this is good radio, try Sirius. It's a hundred times better.

[OA PEST]

What a looser, copying O and A are ya Bubba? The pests are watching you fatty

[Jason A.]

Although I won't be turning off Fisher and Boy on 97X, I welcome Bubba back to the Tampa Airways! I always thought he got shafted by Clear Channel and the FCC. I mean, seriously, if a person was following you around for a month, writing down every traffic violation you committed and then went to the police, they would laugh that guy out of the station. Congrats Bubba and best wishes!

[Laurie]

Thanks for the warning! I'll make sure not to turn my dial down that way.

[Bob]

Thank god for NPR.