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

[hazy]

Who needs an ad campaign....Bubba didn't have any promos for sirius.....and he was still second most listened to personality on all of satelite radio....as for cox not promoting him......for a month now.....every form of media in this area has covered him......why dish out money for someone who's going to get better coverage than they could ever pay for. hazy

[Wayne]

102.5 just lost another listener in morning drive.

This guy is the true meaning on SCHLOCK.

[Marc Benjamin]

The media is covering the media.
It's a non-story. If Cox Radio thought this was going to be a long lasting money making proposition, where's the Ad campaign telling the public he's back? No one knew he was back this morning except the media. I like Bubba but Cox has demonstrated their lack of commitment with their lack of promotion. He's doomed to fail.

[Joe Pearson]

Welcome back Bubba. Love him or hate him, Bubba has "moxie".... and we all need "moxie....."

[Ned Mark]

Buy Sirius ... its better

Jim, I'd love to hear your opinion on how Bubba "makes you think". How exactly is he challenging your mind, by imagining how many donuts you can fit in your mouth?

Ugh. Between him and Schnitt I think we can officially mark terrestrial radio as "dead". Good riddance.

[hoshi]

Oh god he's back!!! King exploiter of women and shock. Sure didn't miss this one.

thank god he's back!!!!!!!!

[jim]

yes finally something better to listen to inthe morning, no extreme ego hear, and no lame 30 yr old and his side kick wonder boy who are just doing the same crap day after day. its nice we will be having someone back who pushes the envelope and makes you think in the morning instead of falling asleep during a commute. plus littel man syndrome at 93.3 is so old.