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karel/jack swanson
Charles "Karel" Bouley, San Francisco's lone gay voice on KGO-AM (810) talk radio, was fired Tuesday afternoon, a week after some profanities went out on air when he thought his microphone was off.
"They silence the most prominent gay voice in the Bay, right as Prop 8 passes. How lovely," said Karel in an email.
Karel said Swanson told him "it got too big."
It's a sad day for Bay Area talk radio. Karel was a colorful figure, and, in his 40s, the youngest talk host on KGO, which has little else to attract younger listeners. Karel played disco and house music, but is surprisingly sharp in a range of topics. He could take apart a car engine, for example, and talk at length about cars and technology and economics.
He had the qualities that make for great talk: he wasn't a party line guy; he wasn't affiliated with the knee jerk groups you might expect; and his show was always a surprise. Not to mention that he was flamboyantly gay and honest about it, something you never hear in the media in San Francisco, the capital of all things gay.
Swanson hasn't yet returned my call, but I've dealt with him long enough to bet that he will say that the company was worried about the fines that such irresponsible behavior could incur.
The real reason, I'd also bet, is that general manager Mickey Luckoff, an old school guy, didn't get Karel and didn't like his schtick. Swanson and Luckoff supported another loose cannon, Michael Savage, and watched him rise from a Marin County wack job to the top of the national radio heap. Radio folks are less inclined to take such risks today.
Let's not forget, Luckoff passed on Rush Limbaugh early on....which he later said was the biggest mistake of his otherwise successful career. I put this one in a similar category.
But I have no doubt that Karel will end up on the air somewhere, just as Savage had his biggest success after he left KGO sister station KSFO for KNEW and syndication by Mark Masters' Talk Radio Network.
In his defense, Karel says that he was told by the engineer, who left the studio to use the bathroom, that his microphone was off. The engineer was also told, he says, to make sure it is off during breaks because Karel talks to his chat room during the breaks, saying things not appropriate for the air.
"Weekends are cheap and they were using a cheap engineer for my show," he said. "My show shouldn't have had an inexperienced engineer for my show, which is done remotely, and in which the host doesn't have an on/off switch on his mic They put an inexperienced driver in the seat and the show crashed."
James Dobson entrance to Radio Hall of Fame draws gay protest
Prop. 8 battle gets theatrical
Comments
This is so sad, but it's KGO's loss. Best of luck to Karel, he'll end up #1 again on another station. And I"ll be listening.
It's notable how demagogic and narcissistic Karel's parting message is. Good riddance! (BTW, KGO has bent over backward to cater to the gay community with their one-sided opposition to Prop 8--to the complete exclusion of any opposing point of view.)
It's notable how demagogic and narcissistic Karel's parting message is. Good riddance! (BTW, KGO has bent over backward to cater to the gay community with their one-sided opposition to Prop 8--to the complete exclusion of any opposing point of view.)
This is sad and wrong. It got too big because Jack Swanson made it so. KGO - you are plain wrong and will never admit it. After 47 years, it is time to change the station. Karel - I know you will rise to number 1 at whatever station is lucky enough to have you on their programming. KGO - you blew it, you let one mistake lead to the biggest of mistakes. However, this one was in your control, and the mistake that got Karel off the air was not. Shame on you KGO. Karel - only the best. I hope you know your fans are behind you and wish you to fly and be free to climb to even bigger and better heights.
This is sad and wrong. It got too big because Jack Swanson made it so. KGO - you are plain wrong and will never admit it. After 47 years, it is time to change the station. Karel - I know you will rise to number 1 at whatever station is lucky enough to have you on their programming. KGO - you blew it, you let one mistake lead to the biggest of mistakes. However, this one was in your control, and the mistake that got Karel off the air was not. Shame on you KGO. Karel - only the best. I hope you know your fans are behind you and wish you to fly and be free to climb to even bigger and better heights.
This is sad and wrong. It got too big because Jack Swanson made it so. KGO - you are plain wrong and will never admit it. After 47 years, it is time to change the station. Karel - I know you will rise to number 1 at whatever station is lucky enough to have you on their programming. KGO - you blew it, you let one mistake lead to the biggest of mistakes. However, this one was in your control, and the mistake that got Karel off the air was not. Shame on you KGO. Karel - only the best. I hope you know your fans are behind you and wish you to fly and be free to climb to even bigger and better heights.
This is great news! There is no place for hate mongers in our society!
Yea!! It is not a surprise that this idiot is finally off the air. My problem with Karel has always been that he opens his mouth before he thinks. Not that there is much going on up there anyway. He cuts off or talks over anyone that disagrees with him. Basically his show was a inane rant. Bye bye Karel, you won't be missed.
This happens all time on radio and TV. KGO wanted to get rid of this guy and in this climate i would too.
KGO's decision is just wrong. Karel made a mistake and immediately apologized for it. I didn't always agree with Karel, but loved his show. I look forward to hearing him on the air again soon!
BTW, I am one of KGO's younger former listeners.
Karel broke FCC rules and regs, and as such, should pay the price. Whether or not it was intentional is not the issue. He forgot the #1 rule of broadcasting: always assume the microphone is on. His failure to accept responsibility for his actions, by stating in essence "it's the other guy's fault" is immature. I'm glad he's gone.
i've listened to Karel since he was on KFI with his hubby andrew, i always enjoyed him but i did notice he would get on rants and explode on the air-i thought due to him being a intense scorpio, that was his nature - but it eventually sealed his fate - he will find work iam sure on satelite radio
thank god karel is finally gone to call for someones death on the air bye arsehole you and bernie ward same mind set sick
bye katie former listeners you probaly like sicko bernie ward also
Thank God Karel is gone....He wasn'r very good.
* abrasive
* irrational
* self-absorbed
KGO can do much better. Stay in So-Cal.
Mr. Kava,
Do you think maybe you could, you know, prevent your ignorance, biases, disrespect from surfacing in your writing:
quote: "Karel played disco and house music, but is suprisingly [sic] sharp in a range of topics."
Essentially you're saying that your shallow view of this stereotype of a homosexual, which by proxy you apparently believe all gay men that listen to house music are stupid and shallow, surprised you by actually having some depth that, apparently, you don't actually possess.
When Gene Burns leaves, KGO will officially be history. He's the only remotely balanced one these days. Ronn Owens is a phony with a phony, fake forced laugh.
KGO is a little two faced here: they allowed Michael Savage on the air -- and he was and is a hate monger like none other. And Jack Swanson allowed his wife Melanie Morgan to spew hate-filled speech for years. KGO is losing it as I see it.
I am sorry KGO fired Korel. He was a bright beacon on your station. Suspension would have been sufficient.
I am sorry KGO fired Korel. He was a bright beacon on your station. Suspension would have been sufficient.
THANK GOD!! Bye Bye.
Brad has the analysis all correct, IMOH. Personally I didn't care for Karel's act, but it was good for KGO for all the reasons Brad mentions. Gene and Mickey both disliked Karel, and you can here the glee in Gene's voice discussing the subject tonight.
That said, 'every mic is hot' is the most basic rule in any studio. And it's hard to believe a "pro" like Karel wouldn't have / demand / create his own kill switch, especially considering his show originated from a backyard shed at the end of a phone line in LA. Blaming the board op (or anyone else) is the definition of a hack.
Sad to hear Karel was fired. I enjoyed listening to him. Hope he finds great success in radio elsewhere.
So, now, KGO "WEAKends," leave us with two hours of worthwhile listening. Brian Copeland's Sunday program, from 9 - 11 is it...case closed.
could take apart a car engine and talk at length about economics? who were you listening to? i'm glad he's gone, though not due to this incident, his ego was in the way of every phone call received. i initially liked him, but at this point i can't stand listening to him and am looking forward to an interesting replacement. don't get me wrong, he was an interesting personality, kinda like a cartoon character
ps must be because he's a scorpio. lol.
WAIT. are you saying mickey luckoff had the option of allowing LIMBAUGH onto kgo? and refused and says it was the biggest mistake of his career? if this is what you are saying you have ZERO credibility, i hope i am misunderstanding. someone, please help clarify
WAIT. are you saying mickey luckoff had the option of allowing LIMBAUGH onto kgo? and refused and says it was the biggest mistake of his career? if this is what you are saying you have ZERO credibility, i hope i am misunderstanding. someone, please help clarify
I can't believe Karel is gone. KGO made a big mistake by firing him. I have no reason to listen to 810 at night now.
GOOD RIDDANCE! Maybe KGO can find gay talk show host who lives in the San Francisco Bay Area, who does not use obscene language and make threats on the air...
Good. Glad he's gone. 1) unprofessional 2) self-centered 3) Andrew has been gone for seven years. He's dead. Get over it and move on. 4) cuts callers off 5) everyone who doesn't agree with him is either an idiot or a moron. 6) Doesn't know his subject matter and gets his facts wrong. I called up the engineer several times to correct blatant errors on dates, facts, correct names, and so on. Karel didn't care and never corrected himself 7) every phone call has to be about KAREL. For ten days BEFORE his b-day we had to hear that it was his b-day coming up. Every night. So what. Mention it once and move on. I don't care. 8) I DO NOT want to hear the specifics of your sex life. 9) When Karel was on it was not Talk Radio it was Karel pontificating.
GOOD RIDDANCE
BTW I'm a gay man and I couldn't stand the little Hitler.
Good. Corral had one big problem....his lack of IQ or tolerance. It's my way or the highway was his motto. Agree with me or I'll cut you off. Hopefully this will be the end of a lackluster career by another talentless jerk.
Meanwhile, the Fascist Freak on the weekend, "Dr." Strangelove, continues his dumb@$$ show, and the daytime guys bore us to death. Luckoff apparently has just been "lucky," no judgment, pal.
Can't control your potty mouth? Stay home and vent to someone who cares...not interested in bigot's like this...keep them off the air, no one deserves to be poisoned by their crap...gay or not...no victim here, just another idiot from S.F.
What a twisted freak! He just doesn't get it. He explains that he meant his demand for Joe the Plumber's murder to be heard only by those who he wanted to carry out the order, not the general public or police officials. In his twisted state of mind ordering a death in private conversation makes it OK.
Carry on, Obamathugs.
GOOD! He deserves to be fired!!! Stop playing the victim.
It's NOT a sad day for talk of any kind. I personally filed a complaint with the FCC over this asshat and his comments, and asked others to do the same. I accept his firing as a personal victory. You open your mouth, you accept responsibility for what comes out of it, period, end of story. Bye, Karel. Good riddance.
Carol.....he didn't rant because he is an intense Scorpio. He ranted because he was a jackass of the highest order. Imagine if you will if Rush or Hannity said something similar pertaining to Lord Obama "off the air by mistake." Would you excuse it due to their sign??? Hell no. You excuse him because he is a loon like yourself.
Awwwww...
Is he gonna cry?
Your article seems to be a bit one sided. Interesting how your readers generally don't agree with your tone/content ...seems to be a pretty good reflection of your writing ability... that encourages people who don't agree with you, to read what you write.
Wouldn't it be refreshing if the First Amendment protected press would do their job & write a story that is free from the bias' & prejudices of the author. Never happen!
I am so glad to hear this. I am one of the many people who filed a complaint with the FCC. Who does this man think he is, making death threats like that? (And against a private citizen, who's never done anything to him?)
But you know what? It's even more disgusting to see this article paint him as the victim. How about printing what he said so that the readers here can get the full story? People this will walk away from this thinking he's just another heroic voice silenced by the enemies of freedom. Spare me.
This man got what he deserved. This type of behavior cannot be tolerated.
Hey liberal Examiner journo, instead of covering for this guy, why don't you tell your readers EXACTLY what he said, rather than obfuscating the facts. It wasn't the profanities, IT WAS THE DEATH THREAT.
Typical liberal journo, obscuring the inconvenient facts. Go join your fellow journos at Time Inc. and LA Times on the unemployment line.
blaming others for things HE said?
He made death threats. Damn skippy he should be fired. And he's no "victim" here either. It's his own fault. Good riddance.
Even though gays all across California are threatening people with death and arson and government intrusion and turning on blacks and Hispanics with ugly racial epithets, I know there are non-violent gays out there. Karel can be replaced.
Let us not mention that he was a “flamoyantly” gay and....
Brad Kava double gaiting - misspelling and whining at the same tine about the departure of Karel, the lunatic radio broadcaster.
As a former Broadcaster in Palm Springs,
I can tell you that one night on our
ABC-TV affiliate station, our sports
guy (who went onto some fame as a game
show host) dropped the F-bomb on-air.
All that happened to him and the sta-
tion was he apologized the next night,
the station ran an apology in the paper
and that was it. No public outcry, no
threats of major fines from the FCC.
Ever since the station cut Bernie Ward
loose, they've pitted Karel against
Christine Kraft, unwilling or un-able
to name either one as the permanent
10p-1A host(ess). Think this was just
a lame excuse by indecisive KGO
management to cut him loose. COWARDS!
The Rightwing Rage Machine has taken revenge for its loss of the Presidency.
Karel's message to Bush & his Neanderthals:
......................./´¯/)..........
....................,/¯././............
.................../..././..............
........./``/´¯/'---'/´¯¯`¸.......
......../'/.../..../......./¨¯.......
.......('(...´...´.... ¯~/'...').....
.........................'...../.......
.........................(.............
......................................
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