Regular Guys fired after Yogi and Panda lawsuit

Here's a case where two talk radio hosts really took their show to the toilet

For the second time in about three years, Clear Channel Communications Inc. has fired Larry Wachs and Eric Von Haessler, better known as The Regular Guys Show, from the morning slot at 96Rock (WKLS-FM). The termination follows a lawsuit filed by fellow morning DJs Juan Tapia and José Carias, who co-host "Yogi y Panda por la Mañana" on Clear Channel's WWVA-FM Viva 105.7, a Hispanic Top 40 station.

In their Oct. 17 lawsuit, the pair claims Wachs and Von Haessler made several offensive on-air statements about their sexual orientation, race and nationality, and that Clear Channel "largely ignored" their complaints about the Regular Guys' behavior.

On. Oct. 9, the suit claims, Wachs followed Tapia and Carias into a restroom at Clear Channel, where he recorded their conversation and "certain offensive sounds while they were utilizing the facilities."

The next day, the Regular Guys played the recording during their show, according to the suit.

Wachs confirmed The Regulars Guys show has been canned again on his personal blog.

allaccess.com, October 24, 2006

Omaha Pols Demand Apology From KFAB Over Parody

Afterall, "it's safer than Bagdad"

The OMAHA CITY COUNCIL is taking up the matter of whether it should demand an apology from CLEAR CHANNEL Talk KFAB-A/OMAHA for a commercial parody by host TOM BECKA that parodies the "Discover NORTH OMAHA" tourism spot and highlights the gang violence in NORTH OMAHA. Councilman FRANK BROWN has placed the issue on next week's agenda, complaining that BECKA's version of the "Discover NORTH OMAHA" spot has caused damage to the community.

BECKA's parody invites listeners to "discover miles of mayhem. Discover drive-bys. Discover gang violence... We've got a real sense of community here. When there's a shooting, we all stick together and don't rat on the suspects.... Arson, abductions, assaults. Everything that makes a community exciting. Discover NORTH OMAHA. After all, it's safer than BAGHDAD."

The station has removed the parody from its website and apologized "to any listener who found the parody... to be insensitive or offensive. KFAB does not condone violence. We have decided to remove (the parody) from our website. The parody was meant to draw attention to some of the growing problems in NORTH OMAHA, however we do not want the parody we created to be the focus of attention. What needs to be the focus of attention is finding a solution to the problems of NORTH OMAHA."

AllAccess.com, October 13, 2006

Shreveport Newsman Enters Not Guilty Plea In Sex Case

Another day another radio guy get's busted for a sex offense

Former CLEAR CHANNEL/SHREVEPORT newsman MICHAEL SIEVE entered a not guilty plea to sex-solicitation charges in federal court WEDNESDAY. SIEVE was indicted by a grand jury last month on three counts of attempting to solicit a minor for sex on the Internet after being caught in a sting by an undercover officer posing as a 14-year-old girl; SIEVE was arrested at SHREVEPORT's COLUMBIA PARK, where he had allegedly arranged to have sex with the girl, as well as a 12-year-old girl and 16-year-old boy. He remains free on $25,000 bond and home detention.

October 12, 2006, All-Access.com

Former KFI Talker Is Arrested on Ship

This former right wing talk show host may have outdone Republican Congressman Foley by taking on two 12 year old boys in a hot tub, rather than just exchanging x-rated emails with a 16 year old Congressional page.

Roderick "Rod" Bernsen, a former Los Angeles police sergeant who became a well-known reporter on KTTV's Fox 11 television news for more than a decade, was arrested Saturday in Long Beach after returning from a cruise, FBI spokeswoman Laura Eimiller said Monday.

Bernsen was being held without bail at Long Beach City Jail for "a crime that occurred aboard a cruise ship," Eimiller said. She would not disclose the nature of the alleged crime.

But law enforcement sources with knowledge of the arrest said Bernsen, 58, was suspected of molesting two 12-year-old boys in the ship's sauna. One or more of the boys' parents confronted Bernsen and notified a ship investigator, according to the sources, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly about the case.

From late last year until May, he filled in as a host on KFI-AM (640), Los Angeles' most popular talk radio station.

Los Angeles Times, October 10, 2006