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10 Questions with ... Bill Carroll
May 22, 2007
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NAME:Bill CarrollTITLE:Morning Drive HostSTATION:CFRBMARKET:TorontoCOMPANY:Standard BroadcastingBORN:ScotlandRAISED:Toronto
BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
26 years ago, CJTT New Liskeard in Northern Ontario as News Director. Many other stops include CJBK London. CHEX TV Peterborough. Q107 Toronto. Now at CFRB and do daily comments on Global TV Network where I just won the RTNDA TV commentary award.
1. You started in radio as a news director without prior training- how did that happen, and what made you want to be in radio?
I fell in love with radio in high school. Leacock CI had a full time TV program and radio club. I was that stereotype shy kid who came alive in a basement studio away from prying eyes. Guys like Mike Myers, and me, came to this school from miles around to learn the biz and get a head start on the college grads.
I became news director when I couldn't get a DJ gig. I just lied about my news experience and then read every broadcast journalism book I could find. Thank God it was a long train ride from Toronto to New Liskeard. I had time to read three text books. My final exam was the job interview.
2. About what are you most passionate these days?
My very sexy French Canadian wife, two year old son and baby daughter.
3. CFRB is a heritage station and the morning show's only had three hosts in something like 60 years, yet you're quite different in style from your predecessors- how difficult has it been to maintain your own personality and style while cognizant of an audience used to the CFRB of old? How has it been working out so far?
I managed to scare off old people faster than a bird flu outbreak in a seniors home. I'd be back in New Liskeard already if I hadn't also been lucky enough to replace each pair of old ears with a pre-hearing aid pair under 54. I've been trying not to over-think any kind of style change. I let my mood flow with the early hours. More fun and punchy in the first hour or so and then I start hammering away at our socialist mayor by 8am. It's a little like doing my old 9 to noon time-slot, but upside down.
4. Unlike some other popular culture areas like TV, there seems to be more of a divide between U.S. and Canadian radio- Americans aren't really aware of who and what are happening north of the border, and with exceptions like Howard Stern and Dr. Laura, Canadian radio is its own world as well. But you know what both are like- what would you tell American radio people about what Canadian talk radio's like- is it more or less confrontational, polite, caller-driven, interview-driven, local, national? And would you ever entertain the possibility of someday doing radio in the States?
Canadian talk radio is very local. People in Vancouver couldn't care less about what people in Toronto are thinking or saying. National politics don't make the phones ring either. I think American talkers would be shocked to hear so many local hosts on each station in every major city. Syndication just doesn't happen here. At the recent Talk conference in L.A. I had to contain my laughter when I'd talk to medium and even large market PD's and they'd brag about putting together a talent line-up by choosing five or six national shows. Try finding five or six new and unique local talents and see if you can get a three share!
The Imus story is funny to me too. All these national magazine articles about gagging talk radio. We've been working under tighter regs than you guys since radio was invented. The challenge for American talkers now is to find a way to provoke and entertain and not get fined or fired. That's what we've been doing for years. We've been finding ways to compete with a huge, government funded competitor (CBC radio) without losing our licenses. Talk radio in America will have to learn to adjust to the new climate, but the good hosts will rise to the top, as they always do.
I'd love to take a crack at Talk radio in a big market in America. I think I could piss off audiences big time with an outsider's point of view on issues. You guys just don't see yourselves the way the rest of the world does. As a Canadian, I can see how earnest you all are about bringing democracy and American values to the world but you never stop to pick up the cigar butts you leave on our sidewalks.
5. Who are your influences or the people from whom you've learned the most about doing talk radio?
Because we don't have the big national hosts here like you do, you have to learn to do talk radio your own way. Walter Sabo in New York has really helped me focus my skills and our PD Steve Kowch is pretty helpful too on the day I don't want to kill him.
6. You also teach broadcasting at Seneca College- why? What's the most rewarding thing for you about teaching?
Teaching keeps you sharp on the air. You are reminded about the skills and techniques that work for you and that forces you to use them more consistently. That and the fact that your students start to air-check you to make sure you actually do the things you try to teach.
7. You do radio, TV, write, teach... what do you like to do the most when you get some rare down time?
8. Of what are you most proud?
Bouncing back from being fired in the 90's so the station could use my salary to pay for Stern on Q107. I'm still on-air in Toronto and he's not.
9. Fill in the blank: I can't make it through the day without _____________.
10. What's the best advice you've ever gotten? The worst?
Best advice was "don't read complaint letters." Worst advice: "read compliment letters."
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