TABLETALK YEAR END PROGRAM FOR 2016

 It has been a miserable year on all counts===artists who passed away, democracy receiving some hard blows, certain radio stations caving in to the vanity of their new management and , hypocritically , supporting those  that were once termed "annoying", and other stronger terms---OK I was that person's co host for over 22 or so years===and the original comments above are more than correct.   Shakespeare was wrong.   "Vanity thy name is woman"-----not so----it is former co-hosts on radio and management (the  head honcho of late)

TAB;ETALK PROGRAM FOR WEEK OF 12 21/16 ----12/30/16

My thanks to the Capitol Steps.   www.capitolsteps.com for allowing  me  to continue to present their quarterly specials on my various sites----and, I believe, to an amount of listeners equal or more than WFDU----AND no fund raising requests

Enjoy!

TABLETALK PROGRAM AND PLAYLIST F0R 12/15/16

Below is this week's program and also the playlist (my most  meaningful for 2016)

ALEX KARAS	The Third Man (theme)
JOHN FLYNN	Backstage With The Devil	Mercy	John Flynn Records	www.johnflynn.net
JIM KWESKIN / GEOFF MULDAUER	Penny's Farm	Penny's Farm	Kingswood Records	www.jimkweskin.com
MARCI GELLER / DAVID BUSKIN	Only Love Matters	Square Peg	Ind	www.marcigeller.com
ROBIN GREENSTEIN	Hineni	Tears & Laughter
SPOOK HANDY	Quite Early Morning	Keep The Flame Alive	Akashic Records	www.spookhandy.com
TIM GRIMM	Woody's Landlord	Tim Grimm	Single	www.timgrimm.com
HUXTABLE, CHRISTENSEN,
GATHERING TIME	Who Know Where The Time Goes	Keepsake		www.gatheringtime.com
LARA HERSKOVITCH	Will The Circle Be Unbroken / The Flame	Misfit	Ind	www.laraherscitch.com
THE LUCKY SISTERS	Let The Mystery Be	So Lucky	Patio Records	www.theluckysisters.com

A BRIEF UPDATE ON MY DEPARTURE FROM WFDU

Recently there have been ever so many more changes to the programming at my former station.

To set the record straight regarding myself.    I sort of soft pedaled the involvement of the new Mgr.   (Barry Sheffield).   My mistake.   The buck always stops with the head honcho.   That is not to negate my feelings about my former co-host--Ron Olesko.   Biblically speaking he is my very own Judas who has hoped for this for years (and did his best to bring it about--in a most subversive way.

I know that fund raising efforts at public stations is a necessity and so it is with WFDU.   The station has had many overly generous donors over the years----some have passed on to where donors go---and I hope they are rewarded properly since their generosity and their aims have been subverted for many reasons---mostly personal by mgmt(because they can).  

I have recvd. some truly touching mail from long time (now former as they say) listeners to wish  me well and---one in particular---cannot abide Traditions anymore without, he states, the humor and entertainment being replaced by the vanity and constant pedagogy of Ron Olesko.   He goes on to say that the constant announcements of his Presidency of the Hurdy Gurdy and the longevity if Traditions
are very annoying---along with his choice music.

Not to cause any issues w/ staff I do want to thank the staff (former--a lot---current--a few) for their kind thoughts.   I shall miss you as well.

PLAYLIST FOR TABLETALK 12/8/16

ALEX KARAS	The Third Man (theme)
HARRY CHAPIN	Flowers Are Red	Living Room Suite
HARRY CHAPIN	Sunday Morning Sunshine
JOHN PRINE	People Puittin' People Down	Souvenirs
LARA HERSCOVITZ	Will The Circle Be Unbroken	Misfit	Ind	www.larahersovitch.com
GIGI LOVE	Yellowstone Wind	National Park Centennial Songs	Ind	www.gigilove.com
THE FOREMEN	Peace is Out	The Best of The Foremen		www.royzimmerman.com
MALVINA REYNOLDS	From Way Up Here	Malvina Reynolds
MALVINA REYNOLDS	We're Glad To See Them Go	Malvina Reynolds
JOHN FLYNN / KELLY KRISTOFERSON	Help Me Make It Through The Night
KEVIN ROTH	I Am	Reawakening	New World Multmedia	www.kevinrothmusic.com

TABLETALK FOR 12/8/16

 My weekly program (shortened version) which have been on WFDU until they decided that my former co-host (and his pedantic ways) were better suited for the ever declining listeners of  this, sadly declining station .

I will have my show here on weekly basis----a whole new world of broadcasting

TABLETALK CONTINUES ON MY BLOG AND NOT ON THE UNLAMENTED WFDU AND ANNOYING CO=HOSTS

aLL YOU TO DO IS CLICK WEEKLY FOR THE LATEST PROGRAMS----NO MORE PLEADING FOR DOLLARS THAT BENEFIT A PAID STAFF===THESE ARE ON ME THANKS TO THIS NEW WORLD OF COMMUNICATION DEVOID OF OFFICE POLITICS
 E MAIL W/ THOUGHTS AT TABLETALK@YAHOO.COM

An update for the future of my Radio programs & what happened

For those of you who wonder and care to know I shall give you the inside poop--yes, much like dog or cat excrement.    Suffice it say the mgmt (now in the hands  of Barry Sheffield) had issues that could not be not be resolved in a civil way and much had to do with the deference to Ron Olesko.  More on that later.   In the meantime my show will continue on You Tube once we get rid of some glitches that I created  in my Luddite mode when it comes to computers.     Below is a link to where you can now hear my  programs---soon on YouTube but now go to SoundCloud ----- https://soundcloud.com/bill…/brunch-with-bill-october-9-2016    

more to follow---no fund raising, no office politics, just topical entertainment

Now, for those who want the inside poop mentioned:

 =Many people have said that no one leaves FDU on good terms. Now I have to agree. While I thank you for all your years (and mine) of a good relationship and support (save for one time (thanks to Ron) it has been much appreciated. I believe the final moments were over the top for whatever reasons you had in your comments to me.

Specifics now. Comments about errors (open mic.---as you have also done), disrespect by commenting to Rich S, and ,my trainwreck of a show (I suppose in comparison to all the other “quality” programs on the world wide voice of …...

This brings me to Ron and why he is CCd. For years you have criticized him and his persona along w/hit fundraising (compared to mine---not Important to me) yet when I suggested shaving his hours or (I did not get to it) going back to the old alt week sched. You said he cannot be changed or moved and, or course that went for all. Who got cancelled----me. Who got moved? Lynn.

One last thought to clear my slate of issues. Ron truly is a disloyal person. It is obvious in his voice (which I never listen to as most FDU shows --- save Mr Wills ---was the reason we had our (and Carl's) confrontation a few months back when he sent you an e mail addressed to me from a nasty listener---if it were U S mail I could pressed charges against Ron/ too bad no one even listened to it since it was nothing worthy of an issue----except Ron who had other issues-

That's it. Slate clear and since I see how happy dear Ron sounds I shall stick w/NPR and programs of interest to me

ANOTHER FOLLOW UP

If you came here because I suggested it; welcome.   The reason you came here is to see what really transpired that led to my departure (after 26 years )w/WFDU and hosting some 4 programs over the years.

Unfortunately I accepted the chore of hosting Sunday Simcha many years ago.  The show was named by me since the former program(hosted by Norman Laster) was cancelled by station management for myriad and proper reasons.   I was urged(very strongly) to take it over and was also hosting TRADITIONS alternate weeks,  as well as TABLETALK on a monthly basis.

Enough  of this now and on to  the reason you came here.

For many (26 by my count)years I co-hosted TRADITIONS (Ron Olesko  had asked me to join him) alternate weeks, as many of you will recall.  Now,  jump ahead some years and arrive at the fairly present time.  The station and the various programs  had some disappointing  results   in our fund raising efforts and some changes had to be made.  The station also had a new Program Director , Barry Sheffield, who has been there in another capacity for many years.In all those years he and I always  had a very good (so I thought)  relationship..   That now changed when he felt that my program(s) did not bring in enough revenue  I understood that and offered various alternatives..   One was to shave 1 hour off Traditions  and replace it with  my 1 hour Brunch With Bill.  Another thought was to go  back to the earlier programming where I alternated weeks  on Traditions and (according to Barry Sheffield ) was more effective at fund raising time. 

No way was the new P.D.  going to change Ron Olesko's hours (stated Mr. Sheffield) and, also, no one on Sundays will be cancelled.   You see how truthful that was . 

 As in most cases there are more details and sides but this is the basic outline save for PD's claim to have been personally offended by me for something he found on Facebook (agreeing w/an ex host he despises).

     As you read before I was not to be trusted on air (after all the years I was trusted) so, in aa few days check You Tube for my final BRUNCH WITH BILL----the show that wasn't     There will be more You Tube to come in this new world of alternative means of communication

A FOLLOW UP

a follow up to the last posting that I did  not seem able to edit.

SOME HISTORY AND COMMENTS-----POSITIVE & NEGATIVE

Well, its been a while but I hope you will find this interesting.  You may know that I have hosted a few radio programs on WFDU (www.wfdu.fm)  and have a page on Facebook  (BRUNCH WITH BILL). .   Now for a bit of history that will fill in some of the items I left out of my comments on the Facebook posting for the privacy of some of characters not mentioned by name there.

SUNDAY SIMCHA started over 12 years ago at the request of the management of WFDU due to the exit if the producer of the prior program (not named Simcha) .His exit was ordered by station mgmt for breaking all the rules about political guests. The exact date eludes me but I want to thank the  loyal listeners wh0 have welcomed the program into their mornings each Sunday and let me know that---e mail. In honesty---not financially(that did create a problem since listener keeps non commercial radio viable).    If you think back a bit to this program  we have had some amazing talents on the show----not the things you might have yearned for in a traditional sense.   We played Cantors, Liturgical pieces,Holiday celebrations, and tried to widen the interest of  my audience.
Some of the guests---Zalman Mlotec, Fyvush Finkel ,
 Mike Burstyn, and many more.They were all a joy to meet and get to know.

Unfortunately, while there many letters of love for the program, there was not much financial support.( listeners --the word "schnorers) I give credit to the management of FDU (its current Program Director) for suggesting a change of format and not a cancellation---which he would have  been justified in doing.(stick with me the nasty parts are coming)

I'll just list the programs I have done for historical continuity :   TABLE TALK  ---interviews with authors, artists, and performers of note
                                                                                                       SUNDAY SIMCHA--noted above and, basically, insisted by mgmt.that I take over from the previous host who was disliked by the current mgmt.  That host was also guilty of not following station policy regarding comments and  guests
                                                                                                       TRADITIONS--I'll spend a bit of time on this. It was founded by Ron Olesko some 41 yrs ago and , at his request, I came  on board in 1994.Not much more to say on that subject other than in later years I do believe Ron felt like Dr. Frankenstein who created the monster .  Perhaps that is why he now never mentions my involvement in the program just  says he has done this alone for 41 yrs (except for someone named Susan years ago).  It's an interesting self promotion every 3 songs or so---I'm Ron Olesko----this the longest running whow on WFDU----true.   Annoying self promotion---true (but better than a commercial)
                                                                                                         BRUNCH WITH BILL--Finally the Finale.   Now we get to the name of the current Honcho.  Barry Sheffield.  The show I created after he suggested to do away with Sunday Simcha. As said earlier--"suggested".   We had a recent fund raiser and we did not do well( to say the least) and  allowing for  the newness of the program Barry Sheffield (baryrs@fdu..edu)(tellhim how you feel) decided on cancellation.   Sadly, it had nothing to do w/ numbers.  It did have to do  with his perception of disloyalty when I concurred w/ someone w/ a different opinion.    Two days earlier (in e mail I was a saint)   Next day---you figure that out.  My answer--Vanity   &  hypocrisy on the part of (as I now like to  call him) THE BARRY (right along in truth deptmt) w/ THE DONALD 


I hope to be back with you shortly in this new world of electronic wizardry via a podcast. Stay tuned.

Topical and And Radio Program((s) Thoughts

Sorry to say  I have been remiss in publishing  the page in a while---"publishing"---sounds awfully pretentious.   Keeping up with matters that matter to me and hopefully to you is more honest.

To begin with---radio.   As you may recall I have hosted a number of programs over the years on WFDU/www.wfdu.fm (or the historic way 89.1 fm)   Traditions,Tabletalk,Sunday Simcha,

A brief history and then some thoughts that you can chime in in---sort of like a folk concert. Also, a bit of personal history(gossip, if you will)that you may enjoy---it is surely not the crap on Reality TV(TMZ?)

TRADITIONS started in 1980 (by Ron Olesko---then a student at FDU.  The longest running program on the station.    I am in debt to Ron for asking me to come aboard ( we both like nautical music)and for some 25 or so years these Sundays have been a joy to me. TRADITIONS continues--- also in being a gem.

SUNDAY SIMCHA started over 12 years ago at the request of the management of WFDU due to the exit if the producer of the prior program (not named Simcha) .   The exact date eludes me but I want to thank the  loyal listeners wh0 have welcomed the program into their mornings each Sunday and let me know that---e mail. In honesty---not financially(that did create a problem since listener keeps non commercial radio viable).    If you think back a bit to this program  we have had some amazing talents on the show----not the things you might have yearned for in a traditional sense.   We played Cantors, Liturgical pieces,Holiday celebrations, and tried to widen the interest of you -my audience.
Some of the guests---Zalman Mlotec, Mike Burstyn, and many more.They were all a joy to meet and get to know.

TABLETALK---for this program I must give credit to Barry Sheffield (current PD) and Carl Kraus (former PD).  I approached them with an interview I had done with a talented artist that did not fit into TRADITIONS and they suggested a one time spot to air it ----that evolved into Tabletalk.   Frankly, the most  intersting erience in my many years here   Think of it----conversations with brilliant authors like Daniel DaSivla,  Elizabeth Swados, Michael Oren, Israeli Ambassador and many more

Finally , a personal note of:appreciation

RON OLESKO====for his   original invitation
BARRY SHEFFIELD/ CARL KRAUS --PDs past & present