Show’s over: what’s next for the big names of breakfast radio?
From the unsociable hours to the fame, glory and great pay, Jason ‘Jabba’ Davis looks at faces of breakfast radio past and present and asks, where are they now?
So is there life after breakfast radio? The answer for most showbiz identities would appear to be yes.
Andrew Denton and Amanda Keller have gone on to long and successful careers, as has Wil Anderson. Wil’s peers, including Dave Hughes, Meshel Laurie, Mick Molloy, Tony Martin and Adam Spencer, have also successfully juggled early morning starts with stand up and television.
On the flipside, life after brekkie radio hasn’t been so bright for too many names to mention. Occasionally I lie awake at night and wonder what the fuck happened to Ugly Phil O’Neil, Dave O’Neil, Peter Moon, Greg Fleet, and Wendy Harmer.
None of those mentioned in this article need get out of bed. 3AW’s Ross and John are so far ahead of them they should be embarrassed.
nice piece Jabba
Good read – nicely done Jabba.
Very interesting @Jabbatron
A lot of people will disagree with you about commercial radio’s quality but then they are either into alternative music or people like Keith who never bother switching over from AM. Comparing Merrick and Rosso to Ross and John is pointless – completely different target markets and broadcast styles.
I’m forced to listen to 3AW every day at work – it’s great for keeping track of the news, useless if you want light-hearted entertainment aimed at under 25s.
There is a difference between being a music fan and being a music snob. But then, I’m probably a TV snob; Housos must be the dopiest piece of trash to ever hit our screens.
Steve why would you say I never “switch over from AM” ? How would you know my listening habits ? A study of available research will show a large percentage of the Ross and John audience turn from FM to listen.
Working in commercial Radio scars you. Hence I listen to ABC RN, in much the same way as another might watch TV. I Can’t stand to hear Music Radio, let alone commercials.
Try Regional Radio. Broadcasting from Townsville to most of Qld and pretending to be where you’re not. As they sold it to us.. “Broadcasting from Nowhere to Everywhere.”
AS for your playist being decided at 4PM? 4PM the day before would be more like it where I worked.
Truth be told, I became Jaded when I saw a guy find out he was unemployed as the Network PD announced the new Hot AC Stream – Line-up. He couldn’t help but notice his name wasn’t there.. Oh yeah, and neither could the 130 other people crowded around the whiteboard.
Really well written!!! Good job! xxx
What the fuck happened to me?
Well, I have a successful career in writing books for kids, teenagers and adults and have sold more that 600,000 translated into ten laguages ( just about to go into China). My kids series was made into an animated series shown in 50 countries.
I now am editor of The Hoopla – my new daily online mag for women.
This year I was guest speaker at 3 book festivals and the Walkleys. In the past few months I have regularly appeared on Sunrise, Paul Murray Live and The Circle.
I made a 4 part doco for the ABC called “Stuff: a couple of years ago and am involved in a new series on ABC TV next year.
With Angela Catterns I take over the 702 breakfast shift for five weeks from next Monday (and have done for the past three years), as well as fill in for Jon Faine and Red Symons on occasion.
So,don’t lie awake at night wondering what happened to me, Jabba. I’m doing just fine.
Wx
PS: I think you’ll find Fleety is managing OK too. Breakfast radio was never meant to be forever.
Hahaha… oooooooooooooooooh SNAP!
Hi Wendy!
I miss Wendy harmer from radio and am glad she’s coming back, even if its just for a little while.
Love, love, love The Hoopla! Keep up the fab work Wendy. You’re rockin’ it.
“No true music fan could seriously work in commercial radio and say they were there for the tunes.”
Let me guess – you’re an alternative music fan? White guys with jangly guitars music as I like to put it. What is it with alt music fans being so snobberific about their genre? It isn’t ‘how music should be’, its just another genre of music. Pop music has its bad moments, but every genre does, including alternative music.