View Full Version : Digital Radio Mag: Ron & Fez - Sirius XM's Worst Kept Secret
mikeyboy
11-11-2009, 04:28 PM
Article here (http://www.tss-radio.com/drmag/2009/11/ron-and-fez-sirius-xms-worst-kept-secret/)
Tucked away rather quietly on XM 202 The Virus channel with heavy weights Opie and Anthony, and perhaps often ignored and out of the spotlight of Howard Stern fans who may flip through the dial on SIRIUS 197, sits the “The Worst Kept Secret In Radio”: the Ron and Fez show broadcasting Monday through Friday 11am -3pm ET.
The “buddies” as fans call them, are led by former stand-up comedian and cigar connoisseur Ron Bennington. Ronnie B, aside from having a cupcake which bears his name, managed Ron Bennington’s Comedy Scene in Clearwater, Florida in the early 80s and is credited for discovering comedian Jim Breuer. It’s Ronnie B’s quick wit and fast one liners that fans of the show sit on the edge of their seat waiting for…regardless of whether the show topic is a fan calling in, the current topic of the day, or the misadventures of one the of the shows Co-hosts. The atmosphere is carnivalesque, and Ronnie B takes center ring as head barker.
Ronnie B is joined by sidekick Fez ‘Marie” Whatley. If Ron is the consummate comic straight man, it is poor Fezzy who assumes the role of comic relief. Check that. It is Fez who fits perfectly into the sympathetic role of psycho-I’m seeing a shrink daily-my life’s a mess-I suffer on air-heart attacks-fans confuse me with a homeless person-and I have a sexual secret-I may reveal on air soon. Most listeners buy in and sympathize with Fezzy and join the Whatley Posse. Others grab sticks and join the fun in poking at Fezzy’s miserable life. After all, even Fezzy’s own cat hates him.
Fez’s most recent show contribution was trimming his mustache Hitler style, and wearing a diaper through the streets of New York. His “Baby Hitler” look was all the rage. He currently has a shaved head while sporting a fashionable toupee and roams the SIRIUS/XM studios displaying his “hair system”.
Other characters in the Ronnie B carnival of the absurd are East Side Dave and Black Earl. At all times the listener is aware of the comic genius of Ronnie B. The show is not produced or scripted. Mr. B, as sidekick ESD sometime refers to him, knows exactly when to pull the strings to get his staff and interns to chime in and open their wide mouths wide enough to insert their feet. It is like a “work” in wrestling, or an old carny trick. He only feigns interests in these guys comments because he knows they will set him up for one of his killer one liners.
East Side Dave, for the record, has actually been suspended by SIRIUS/XM for on-air stunts. Black Earl, who worked at WNEW-FM during the Opie and Anthony years, is now back after quitting on air. He earned his name, not because he his African American, but because he wears only black and prefers rock music to hip-hop.
For new listeners tuning in, it may take awhile to get used to some of the “inside” jokes, running bits, and the plethora of regular callers that provide the backdrop for Ronnie B to provide his biting social, cultural, sports and news commentary. But then the Ron and Fez show is just a bunch of friends or “buddies” sitting down and just shooting the breeze. The daily “Ichibon” is when listeners call in with their breaking topic of the day. There is even “Twitter Gossip”, a segment where fans of the show report what other fans are saying or doing on Twitter. “Hayseeds” are what Ronnie B refers to callers who live outside the New York area. “Ham and egger’s” are the fans who work 9 to 5 jobs.
If you are bored of listening to radio shows talking about radio shows, give Ron & Fez a listen on XM 202 SIRIUS 197 (With Best of XM). The show airs 11am EST to 3pm EST and replays 1am to 5am. And if you are on Twitter you can follow @202Friends or go to the Ron & Fez fan website. More related Twitter accounts for the show are East Side Dave @rfeastsidedave, Earl Douglas “Black Earl” @edouglas528, and of course Fez Whatley @fezwhatley.
Written by RC.
GregoryJoseph
11-11-2009, 04:29 PM
Ha!
Fantastic!
midwestjeff
11-11-2009, 05:18 PM
Awesome for "the buddies", as us fans call them.
A few questions though:
1. Fez's secret is sexual?
2. Black Earl is back?
3. No love for the Golden Orphan?
Fucking insensitive pricks.
They even took a shot at him by saying the show isn't produced.
Way to kick a guy while he's down.
Judge Smails
11-11-2009, 05:22 PM
http://cannell.org/blog/files/johnson-navin-r_2.jpg
instrument
11-11-2009, 05:25 PM
How'd they not mention al dukes monthly call?
Dogfather
11-11-2009, 05:51 PM
wait Earl is back! http://i810.photobucket.com/albums/zz30/GoonIntelAgency/emot-catdrugs.gif
mikeyboy
11-11-2009, 05:51 PM
wait Earl is back! http://i810.photobucket.com/albums/zz30/GoonIntelAgency/emot-catdrugs.gif
No. They got that wrong. Earl was just in while Mr. Tanley was off.
SLCRagu
11-11-2009, 05:58 PM
This is nice, just too bad it came from a Sirius promotional site and not an independent reviewer. There are a few of these sites that act like blogs but are just advertising tools for this this retailer http://www.tss-radio.com/ and they all basically have the same content.
Jughead
11-11-2009, 06:00 PM
http://www.ronfez.net/gallery//watermark.php?file=3805&size=1
jauble
11-11-2009, 06:02 PM
http://cannell.org/blog/files/johnson-navin-r_2.jpg
Someone should give smails a medal.
Sloppy2nds
11-11-2009, 06:16 PM
Why is she telling everybody :glurps:
Death Metal Moe
11-11-2009, 06:25 PM
I don't even care that they got stuff wrong, it was awesome.
Space Edge
11-11-2009, 06:28 PM
This is nice, just too bad it came from a Sirius promotional site and not an independent reviewer. There are a few of these sites that act like blogs but are just advertising tools for this this retailer http://www.tss-radio.com/ and they all basically have the same content.
It's actually not a Sirius Promotional site, it's run by TSS radio they sell both Sirius and XM receivers and have a pretty cool messageboard. It's not a advertising tool that is used by Sirius/XM. It was written by a fan of the show and the site is run by fans of Satellite radio.
The name of the board the guys from TSS radio run is called Digital Radio Central and they cover all forms of digital radio not just satellite.
http://www.digitalradiocentral.com/forum.php
TSS radio is the Sirius equivalent of My Radio Store
Matt from Cincinnati
11-11-2009, 08:01 PM
http://cannell.org/blog/files/johnson-navin-r_2.jpg
:lol: :thumbup: :lol:
SLCRagu
11-11-2009, 08:06 PM
It's actually not a Sirius Promotional site, it's run by TSS radio they sell both Sirius and XM receivers and have a pretty cool messageboard. It's not a advertising tool that is used by Sirius/XM. It was written by a fan of the show and the site is run by fans of Satellite radio.
The name of the board the guys from TSS radio run is called Digital Radio Central and they cover all forms of digital radio not just satellite.
http://www.digitalradiocentral.com/forum.php
TSS radio is the Sirius equivalent of My Radio Store
Ok, so it's a promotional tool of tss-radio which sells Sirius/XM equipment and post's mainly Sirius press releases. It was a nice to see and I'm sure they have a great community but it's not necessarily independent.
Suspect Chin
11-11-2009, 08:19 PM
Ok, so it's a promotional tool of tss-radio which sells Sirius/XM equipment and post's mainly Sirius press releases. It was a nice to see and I'm sure they have a great community but it's not necessarily independent.
It is either an inside job or written by someone who obviously listens to the show regularly. Will the real RC please stand up?
mikeyboy
11-11-2009, 08:27 PM
One thing though -- how is it the worst kept secret? That makes it sound like Sirius XM is trying to keep the show a secret but is failing miserably. Usually "best kept secret" is the compliment -- meaning that it's a hidden gem that most people don't know about.
PapaBear
11-11-2009, 08:30 PM
One thing though -- how is it the worst kept secret? That makes it sound like Sirius XM is trying to keep the show a secret but is failing miserably. Usually "best kept secret" is the compliment -- meaning that it's a hidden gem that most people don't know about.
That's what I was just about to say. An example of a "worst kept secret" is Fez's secret.
Tenbatsuzen
11-11-2009, 08:30 PM
One thing though -- how is it the worst kept secret? That makes it sound like Sirius XM is trying to keep the show a secret but is failing miserably. Usually "best kept secret" is the compliment -- meaning that it's a hidden gem that most people don't know about.
I think the writer basically copy and pasted the Wikipedia page and then re-wrote it. O&A called R&F the worst kept secret in radio (re: their signing) and that's one of the headers in the Wiki page.
PapaBear
11-11-2009, 08:40 PM
I think the writer basically copy and pasted the Wikipedia page and then re-wrote it. O&A called R&F the worst kept secret in radio (re: their signing) and that's one of the headers in the Wiki page.
I hear the writer might be nominated for a Pulitzer.
Fallon
11-11-2009, 08:50 PM
One thing though -- how is it the worst kept secret? That makes it sound like Sirius XM is trying to keep the show a secret but is failing miserably. Usually "best kept secret" is the compliment -- meaning that it's a hidden gem that most people don't know about.
Maybe its supposed be be like TV Guides "The best show you're not watching" shit they do.
mikeyboy
11-11-2009, 08:53 PM
Maybe its supposed be be like TV Guides "The best show you're not watching" shit they do.
I know what they are going for. They just aren't doing a very good job at it.
STC-Dub
11-11-2009, 09:21 PM
Yeah, they totally bombed on the title and the Earl part. The rest was good though.
Death Metal Moe
11-11-2009, 10:49 PM
Yeah, they totally bombed on the title and the Earl part. The rest was good though.
What about the part where they basically called the co-host and one of the guys with his name on the show a "sidekick" and "comic relief." I didn't like that much.
realmenhatelife
11-12-2009, 03:54 AM
What about the part where they basically called the co-host and one of the guys with his name on the show a "sidekick" and "comic relief." I didn't like that much.
But Fez is Ron's side kick, and he's comic relief. He talks in a funny voice, he sings a silly song, he does wacky stunts, he serves topics to Ron. Is there some negative connotation I'm not getting, I think Fez would claim to be both sidekick and comic relief.
Congrats to the "Gay/Straight Duo"!
At least they didn't refer to Fez as a "Charles Nelson Reilly sound-alike" like that local article did when they were on WJFK.
JohnCharles
11-12-2009, 04:52 AM
It seemed a bit a sarcastic.
mikeyboy
11-12-2009, 05:06 AM
At least they didn't use this picture:
http://z.about.com/d/radio/1/0/m/5/RonFez.jpg
How are they the worst kept secret? Did I miss an advertising campaign promoting the "Buddies," as people like I like to call them, to the mass audience? Or is this article suggesting that Ron and Fez are the worst and Sirius is keeping them secret?
In either case, I think the article's key point is false.
Furtherman
11-12-2009, 09:42 AM
Digital Radio Mag: Magazine Media's worst kept secret.
TSS Taylor
11-12-2009, 10:31 AM
The article came about because I like Ron and Fez but don't get to hear their show a lot. So I wanted to highlight them. I asked a R&F fan to do a story on them. That's pretty much the story.
If you guys want to do another story on them I'd be happy to look it over and post it, if it's a good one. But the main point is to highlight things to subscribers that they may not otherwise know about.
Freitag
11-12-2009, 11:09 AM
The article came about because I like Ron and Fez but don't get to hear their show a lot. So I wanted to highlight them. I asked a R&F fan to do a story on them. That's pretty much the story.
If you guys want to do another story on them I'd be happy to look it over and post it, if it's a good one. But the main point is to highlight things to subscribers that they may not otherwise know about.
As I helped construct a large portion of the R&F wikipedia article, I could help, if interested.
Ron Marie Douglas
11-12-2009, 11:11 AM
No link to Ron's blog in the last paragraph?
TSS Taylor
11-12-2009, 11:15 AM
As I helped construct a large portion of the R&F wikipedia article, I could help, if interested.
That sounds great. We won't post another article on R&F right away since we just did. But I can imagine in a month or two we could do another one. Plus the site now doesn't have a ton of traffic as it's new. But it would be better to have another one highlighting the show from another persons angle later on. The point is to get people interested in the show.
TSS Taylor
11-12-2009, 11:19 AM
No link to Ron's blog in the last paragraph?
Just give me the link and I'll edit it.
Rob Cross
11-12-2009, 11:39 AM
I don't like any type of promotion for the show.
It's supposed to be ironic. Get it?
The article came about because I like Ron and Fez but don't get to hear their show a lot. So I wanted to highlight them. I asked a R&F fan to do a story on them. That's pretty much the story.
If you guys want to do another story on them I'd be happy to look it over and post it, if it's a good one. But the main point is to highlight things to subscribers that they may not otherwise know about.
Oh hello there noob. :thumbup:
Contra
11-12-2009, 01:21 PM
No link to Ron's blog in the last paragraph?
Just give me the link and I'll edit it.
We are going to eat this guy alive
Mitch&Murray
11-12-2009, 01:28 PM
That sounds great. We won't post another article on R&F right away since we just did. But I can imagine in a month or two we could do another one. Plus the site now doesn't have a ton of traffic as it's new. But it would be better to have another one highlighting the show from another persons angle later on. The point is to get people interested in the show.
Freitag is ok but the guy you really want to ask for is Tenbatsuzen. He's the real deal.
Meataball23
11-12-2009, 01:40 PM
Awesome the buddays got some pub!:clap:
Serpico1103
11-12-2009, 01:43 PM
http://www.ronfez.net/gallery//watermark.php?file=3805&size=1
It looks like two hideous gay couples getting married.
WTF with Paul O's smile?
Tenbatsuzen
11-12-2009, 03:20 PM
It looks like two hideous gay couples getting married.
WTF with Paul O's smile?
Look who is directly behind him.
Serpico1103
11-12-2009, 03:40 PM
Look who is directly behind him.
FM Jeff?
Tenbatsuzen
11-12-2009, 03:48 PM
FM Jeff?
What the hell is wrong with you?
Serpico1103
11-12-2009, 03:51 PM
What the hell is wrong with you?
It would be too easy to say all assholes look alike.
Sorry, I think it looks like FFB, but I don't know.
Tenbatsuzen
11-12-2009, 04:11 PM
It would be too easy to say all assholes look alike.
Sorry, I think it looks like FFB, but I don't know.
You should have gone with your first instinct then.
Serpico1103
11-12-2009, 05:25 PM
You should have gone with your first instinct then.
Who is it?
ElSeed
11-12-2009, 05:32 PM
No mention of Ron's fantastic interview skills?
moochcassidy
11-12-2009, 05:42 PM
You should have gone with your first instinct then.
cocksucker
Serpico1103
11-12-2009, 06:02 PM
cocksucker
Who is it?
Death Metal Moe
11-12-2009, 06:20 PM
Look who is directly behind him.
Brian Johnson with AIDS?
deliciousV
11-12-2009, 06:22 PM
http://www.ronfez.net/gallery//watermark.php?file=3805&size=1
Has PaulO always looked like the white guy who was married to the black woman on the Jeffersons?
tanless1
11-13-2009, 06:46 AM
Is it zman or billy mays, can't tell.
tanless1
11-13-2009, 06:47 AM
Who's the blond w/ the thumb nose ?
Freitag
11-13-2009, 07:11 AM
cocksucker
Me or him? Stop posting drunk.
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