(Weekend Edition)
I understand Pandora's need to broaden its entertainment menu - but comedy? Comedy has worked on radio before but only when offered in small doses. Did anyone ever listen to the comedy channels offered on airline flights? I get using music as an alternative to a movie you're already seen, but if you ever did a study on how many fliers listen to comedy it wouldn't finish in the top 3, 5 or 10. Out of 10 categories, it's a good bet that comedy would anchor all other categories of audio entertainment. Yet Pandora Founder/CEO Tim Westergren is sold on the idea, according to Radio Online: "Pandora is about creating a great, personalized radio experience. Comedy is a natural part of that experience, and it's something our listeners have been asking us to deliver for a while. We are delighted to give people a mix of familiar and new comic material that they love to listen to." ...
Supplying comedy for Pandora is a team of Comedy Genome Project analysts who are sifting through thousands of performances to capture content and comedic style. Additional comedic material is being analyzed daily. Apparently, listeners will choose a favorite artist or genre as a seed to start a station and then give either a thumbs-up or thumbs-down to personalize their individual taste...
This is not to suggest that Pandora won't be successful by adding comedy to their menu, just about everything else has worked for them so far. I'm sure Pandora has looked into it, but are comics paid for their material when played on the internet and satellite radio like singers are, or are they paid by joke? And if no one laughs does Pandora get a refund? Just asking...
Timeline Memories:
1903] The rivalry begins: It all started with this game. Boston faces off against New York for the first time as the then-Pilgrims beat the Highlanders (pre-Yankees) 6-2 at the Huntington Avenue Grounds in Boston. Bill Dinneen is the winning pitcher and Hobe Ferris homers (5/7)...
1915] Bambino blast #1: Babe Ruth hits his first home run (as a Red Sox pitcher) against the Yankees. Same date, 3 years later, he hits one against the Y's as a position (first base) player (5/6)...
1937] Oh the humanities: The hydrogen-filled German dirigible Hindenburg crashes and burns in Lakehurst (NJ) killing 36 of the 97 aboard in one of the most vivid scenes ever captured on film (5/6)...
1954] Run a mile in my shoes: Roger Bannister becomes the first runner to finish a mile in under 4 minutes (3:59:59.4) (5/6)...
1969] Number one on this date: "Aquarius/Let The Sunshine In" - 5th Dimension (5/8)...1977] "When I Need You" - Leo Sayer (5/8)...1988] "Anything For You" (en Espanol)- Gloria Estefan (Miami Sound Machine) (5/8)...
1970] Released on this date: "Let It Be" (LP) - Beatles (5/8)...1972] "Rocket Man" - Elton John (5/6)...
1970] Limping to victory: Willis Reed limps out on the court and inspires the Knicks to join the Mets & Jets as world champions of their sport (in the same season) with a 113-99 win over the Lakers to wrap up the NBA title (5/8). This was voted the NBA's Number 3 Top Playoff Moment...
1978] Guilty as charged: David R. Berkowitz aka Son of Sam, pleads guilty to 6 murder charges in Brooklyn. He continues to serve a lifetime term (5/8)...
1978] Last Triple Crown winner: Affirmed captures the Kentucky Derby, a first for jockey Edgar Prado (5/6). Affirmed will also win the Preakness & Belmont Stakes in '78...
2004] Friends no more: An estimated 51.1 million viewers watch the final episode of "Friends" on NBC-TV (5/6)...
"Happy Birthday...happy birthday": (5/6) Martin Brodeur (39), Lindsay Brough (39), George Clooney (50), Roma Downey (51), Tom Bergeron (56), Tony Blair (58), Bob Seger (66) & Willie Mays (80)...(5/7) Robert ("Epstein") Hegyes (60), Thelma Houston (65), Jimmy Ruffin (72), Babe Parilli (82), Dick Williams (82) & Jim Lowe (84)...(5/8) Adrian Gonzalez (29), Enrique Iglesias (36), Melissa Gilbert (47), Philip Bailey (60), Toni Tennille (71), Jerry Moss (76), Don Rickles (85) & David Attenborough (85)...
Timeline Countdown: 1 day until The Kentucky Derby, 2 days until Mother's Day & 24 days until Memorial Day...
