Week One at WDAY in Fargo
Christopher Gabriel | Jun 13, 2009 | Comments 15
One week in the books and what a week it was. Being a daily talk radio host is tantamount to doing what I did on stage for 26 years: You’re out there for all to see. Some like you, some don’t. Some sing your praises like a brilliant chorus, others insist you’re in the wrong business at the top of their lungs.
No matter where opinions fall, it’s all good. The very essence of talk radio is opinions. I’ve got one on most everything. So do listeners, emailers and all the folks at other stations. Bring it on; the more the merrier!
Prior to going on air, the week began with an article on me in the The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead. Very nice piece basically setting the table for the kind of program I’d be bringing to Fargo. At that point I had done five “tryout” shows on 970. Shortly after the article was published, the fun began. Reader comments ran the gamut, from people saying WDAY made a strong move hiring me to others referring to yours truly in less-than-flattering terms.
Having been cheered and trashed in stage reviews by major newspapers from London to Los Angeles, there isn’t anything good or bad I’ve not read about myself. It comes with the territory. And quite honestly, I’ve agreed with the negative reviews on more than one occasion.
Regardless, life couldn’t be better behind the microphone at AM 970 WDAY. I work with people who understand and embrace the reality there’s life beyond politics. That there really are people in this country who would like to turn on a radio talk show and go in a direction other than the left bashing the right, the right bashing the left or both sides bashing themselves.
I mention that because it’s been said to me on more than one occasion, i.e. “You’re NOT a political talker? WHAT? Well…………what the hell you gonna talk about?” Exactly.
Pick any 10 people on the street and ask them their favorite flavor of ice cream. Odds are you’ll get 10 different flavors. My favorite depends upon which company we’re talking about. Ben & Jerry’s: Coffee Heath Bar Crunch. Baskin-Robbins: Chocolate Chip. Hagan Daz: Butter Pecan.
It’s the same with radio. You have your favorite stations and your favorite talkers. In Fargo, it’s no different. But one thing that’s decidedly different: Us. WDAY. We play the game a little differently than the others. We have the idea that a burger can be more than mustard and ketchup. It can be blackened, have some sauteed onions and mushrooms, maybe some fresh bleu cheese and just for good measure, a little roasted garlic spread on the bun. My talented colleagues, Ben and Tracy at 5:30 am and Jay Thomas at 2:00 pm…they’re anything but basic condiments.
Week One for me was everything from my good pal James Denton from ABC’s Desperate Housewives to our own morning news anchor on WDAY’s First News, Chastity Walberg, to North Dakota State Softball coach Darren Mueller to pediatric ophthalmologist Dr. Seth Silbert from Hennepin County Medical Center. And in between all of them, we talked about insane immigration laws (the insanity of trying to deport an 11-year-old girl back to Poland over something she had no control over), tobacco legislation, Lefse, homelessness, wind and our “beyond the fringe” segment we call Top Five at 10. Throw in the One Minute of Your Life You’ll Never Get Back and a host of things designed to give you a laugh…or a chuckle…perhaps a smirk…at the very least, an internal smile you don’t have to outwardly admit to….and we think we’ve got a pretty good foundation for something really interesting, definitely different and quite welcoming for everyone.
We’re going to enlighten, inform and entertain. And we’re going to do it our way. Every day. The Christopher Gabriel Program is the 11,463rd Most Popular Radio Talk Show in the World. And with your help – your phone calls, your emails and your willingness to take only short naps during the program – we’ll catch lightning in a bottle and skyrocket into the top 10,000…
Soon. Very soon.
Filed Under: Christopher Gabriel • Fargo • Media • North Dakota • WDAY • Writing
Well, we (myself and some others in Washington D.C.) think that you are doing a great job, Christopher. WDAY and you specifically, have become our daily listening routine during your show.
It’s a breath of fresh air to listen to a mix of talk radio that doesn’t lean too far left or to far right.
Keep up the good fight my friend, and know that you are gaining an audience here on Pennsylvania Ave.
Adam Shake
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Fargo and WDAY are very, very lucky to have you! You are WITHOUT A DOUBT the hardest working guy I know, now that Jay has retired. ;D Minneapolis misses you, but we are listening to you on WDAY, and we love the program! I can’t believe this was your first week. You sounded like you’ve been on the radio your whole life, and I guess in many ways you have. Continued success, Christopher!
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Hagan Daz: Butter Pecan. Now I know we’re kindred spirits.
Congratulations on getting week one under your belt! I’m going to be honest and admit that life prevented me from tuning in at all this week, and that makes me sad. But I have the whole next week off work and you can bet I’m going to be listening in and cheering you on!
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All I know is that I’m going to miss the bitching about lack of peanuts on my desk…
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Adam and Jennifer, thanks a million! It’s wonderful to know WDAY and my program are finding their way to the east coast.
- Adam, I know what you’re saying about not leaning too far left or right. Fact is – and I feel very strongly about this – I’d rather dare to be different than simply get in line with everyone else.
- Jennifer, though I love Fargo, WDAY and the people I work with, I miss Minneapolis daily.
- Terri, please…no worries! Life interrupts life on a daiily basis. When you have a moment to listen, you’ll listen.
- And Bruce, no one bowled peanuts quite the way you did. They were always fresh, crunchy and plentiful. I’ll just continue to whine about them in emails.
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I thought you kicked much butt this week, my friend. And I know stuff, so you should listen to me. Cheers to you, Christopher! – Bethe
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We’re #11462! We’re #11462! We’re #11462!
Hoping to have more time to listen this week. Not so easy when I have to be in the office and at the computer to do so.
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I was listening to the show on the computer today with Mike when he called in. Interesting topic… Mike was saying how the look of the building had a lot to do with it. If it’s all glamorous with flashing lights, of course kids are going to look at it and wonder what is in the building. But, if the building just looked ‘normal’ without flashy advertising or ginormous billboards nearby, they wouldn’t take a second look at it. I kept telling him he should call in, but when he did he didn’t say all of this.
I think he got nervous. We’ll tune in again!
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Thanks for the update and jolly nice work! I was too tired to stay up late to listen, but I’ve been thinking antipodean* thoughts about you all week. Best regards to you and yours. P.
* From Greek antipodes ‘having the feet opposite’. But of course you know that…
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Glad I got to tune in today. For some reason, my streaming radio at the office wouldn’t work for some reason. I don’t know if they block stuff like that or what. I was pretty upset. I had today off, though, so I made sure I tuned in. I like what I hear. Very refreshing. I’ll definitley be tuning in whenever I can.
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Mike – thank you for the kind words. It was great having you call in! Do so anytime – you’re always welcome!!
Paul – we’ll make you a listener in Melbourne!! It’s the expressed goal of this program…well, one of them!
Jules – Nothing for Mike (or you) to ever be nervous about when calling…notice I said “When,” Jules.
Remember, it may be a radio program but ultimately, it’s just you and me having a conversation. That’s all. Waiting to hear your voice….hint.
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Ben, Jay and I, “Talented?”
Did I mention how nice it is to have you here? (As delusional as you might be?)
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Tracy, I could not have hand-picked a better group of people to have the privilege of coming to work with every day.
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You’re not very interesting and neither is WDAY. Seems like a perfect fit to me.
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Christopher Gabriel Reply:
June 30th, 2009 at 7:41 pm
So you’re saying…we’re made for each other? We walk hand-in-hand? Two peas in a pod?
Hey, I always appreciate the feedback. Thanks for stopping by.
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