Month: October 2025

I look to self-publish my media memoir “Raised on the Radio” in 2026. Here’s a tease of items that’ll be in it.

Radio bits to entertain the listeners was a constant.  Here are some of the more infamous ones:

 “Animal Stories”- The benchmark bit for Larry Lujack and Lil Snot Nosed Tommy.  And lots of fun!

“The Cheap Trashy Show Biz Report.” Writing words for Lujack to read on the air was a favorite thing for me to do… And a major thrill that quickly became business as usual.

“Stupid Ass Move of the Weekend.” Folks called in to the Miller & Howell show on WCKG and fessed up to the dumb things they did during their weekend.

Uncle Lar’s “Animal Stories” was full of goofy facts and lots of laughs.

“What’s in Ramblin’ Ray’s Mouth?” A US*99 bit we tied in with restaurant clients. It was always food, but which food?

“Embarrassing Moments”, Crazy tales from Murphy listeners, always ratted out by their family and friends and well played by Murf.

“Guess the Whoopie” Listeners of Robert Murphy’s show on Q101 got to learn when was the last time a singled out individual danced the dirty hula.

“Danger Dan’s Missions”- Nobody played these on-air pranks and scams straighter or better than Danger Dan Walker.  I was with him for many of  these bits and it was a fucking riot!

“Silicone or Her Own”, Which famous women got their chests enlarged by the good folks at Jiffy Boob?

“Hair or Bare” Who are the famous men with fake hair?

“Vibrator Olympics.” Until this bit started at Q-101 I never knew how popular personal pleasure devices were.  Sisters are doing it for themselves!

Robert Murphy’s show was a blast to be a part of. Here’s a 1990 publicity photo of the morning team. That’s me holding the magazine and sporting hair that has since turned very gray.

Next Blog- Two famous who people set the standard.

Being “Coldplayed” is a term that was born this past summer.  We all remember the mid-July viral video clip of a man and woman seen at a Coldplay concert. This cozy couple was spotted in a luxury suite by the kiss-cam snug in each other’s arms.  A full stadium of fans witnessed the pair as their image was shown on the jumbotron. 

As soon as the couple realized they were on full display the woman put her hands over her face and turned her back from the crowd and the camera.  The man   dropped himself low to the floor and out of sight.  The odd reaction prompted Coldplay lead singer Chris Martin to say from the stage, “Oh, look at these two. All right, c’mon, you’re okay.” 

Bashful?   Nope.  Just a married couple, only married to other people.  Oops!  Busted, popped, nailed, caught and yes, “Coldplayed.”

More consequences than red faces ensued.  The man was a CEO for a big company and his skybox cuddle girl was a co-worker.  Jobs were left, families were thrown into upheaval and well, you know the rest.

THE COZY COUPLE BEFORE AND AFTER THEY GOT “COLD-PLAYED.”

This whole scene and its fall-out reminded me of a concert I attended back in the fall of 1992.  It was an invitation only TV taping at the WTTW Channel 11 studios to see legendary rocker Neil Young perform a solo acoustic concert.  Young was promoting his recently released “Harvest Moon” album but he played tracks from his entire career, even opening the night with a slow and steady reading of “Mr. Soul” from his days with Buffalo Springfield.”

Here’s how the “Coldplay Incident” comes into this story.  There were only about 100 people or so at this special show and chances were good that folks in the audience would be shown on camera during the taping which would eventually be broadcast nationwide.

So, before Neil Young came out, as we all were seated in the studio, an emcee came out to explain the whole “You might be seen on camera during this show” situation.  Then the guy said something to the effect of, ‘So if you’re here with someone you should NOT be seen with you might want one of you to move to a different seat AWAY FROM YOUR DATE.’  Everyone kind of chuckled at this warning that cheating couples could inadvertently be busted. They could end up being “Coldplayed,” over 30 years before that term ever became part of the American lexicon.

NEIL YOUNG PlAYING AN ACOUSTIC SET AT THE WTTW STUDIOS.

I have no idea why this emcee’s warning was given; maybe in the past, some folks at Channel 11 show tapings got busted, so it was a fair and safe heads up.

One thing I know for sure, in 2025, cheating couples should be careful where they go and how they behave in public.  The whole world is wired with cameras, kiss cams, security cams, cell-phones that record video, etc.   You all have been warned. Act accordingly. Don’t get “Cold-Played.”

NEXT BLOG- Radio bits from the past.