-
10 Questions with ... Lex Staley & Terry Jaymes
April 17, 2012
Have an opinion? Add your comment below. -
1) What was your first job in radio?
TERRY: "Loving and Gentle, 95.1 KQLH" ... But my first real job was KTYD in Santa Barbara. Still the greatest time of my life!
LEX: WKUE Green Cove Spring, FL. 92K. Where I learned everything "Not to do."
2) When did you guys first meet and start working together? How did it happen and where?
T: My old PD at KTYD, Roger Mayer, introduced us at a party in Los Angeles. He said "You guys should work together." It happened about eight months later.
L: When I returned to PD job at WFYV, I hired him within a couple of months and we started Dec of 1992
3) How would you describe the show?
T: I believe the show has been able to have such a great run because it has been many things. As we mature and grow as people, so does the show. We are still a TOTAL GUYS SHOW ... but we have a conscious now and it comes through.
L: Terry has gotten more of a conscience and I have gotten less of one. It hasn't changed the show and its directive to deliver unfiltered honesty that can be uncomfortable but funny. I still think there is no other show like it anywhere. There haven't been enough consultants to ruin it.
4) How many stations run the show now?
T: I really don't know. That's been the worst part of syndication. I stopped counting because I hated to get my heart broke when a station dropped the show. But I can honestly say the stations we're on now are the dedicated kind we dream of being on. They are all quality radio stations!
L: That's Terry for you. That is what I love about him. I think we are on 16 currently and XM Satellite Radio Channel 165 Weekdays from 11a to 3p ET.
5) How many people contribute to the show's content. Describe the process and how you come up with things for the show.
T: We have five people who come up with the ideas. Most of the great ideas come during the show when we're just shooting the crap. Someone will say something weird and the next thing you know, it's a bit!
L: Everyone contributes and they have never been short of ideas. It is our job to edit the best ones and implement them. One of our strengths, in my opinion.
6) What do you guys do with your free time? Do you spend time together off-air?
T: We're very good friends and would take a bullet for each other. We'll play golf from time to time, and talk ALL day on the phone like little girls. But we learned that you need to get out and experience different things so you actually have something to talk about.
L: I am training to run in my first half-marathon and have a daughter who competes on a high level of horse jumping. That means lots of after-school trips to the barn.
7) Who is a favorite guest of the show and why?
T: We have so many great guests over the years, it's hard for me to pick out one. But I do what know what makes a great guest. We love the people who come on the show and just fit in to what we actually have going on at that time. Otherwise, it's really not worth breaking down the show just to promote someone's movie. Will Ferrell was just on and fit right in. We we're having so much fun talking about girls drinking that we never really promoted his movie.
8) Who would be your dream guest on the show?
T: I would love to have some of my favorite people on the show, however I'm afraid I won't like them anymore if I meet them. I know this sounds weird, but I'd love to have Howard Stern on.
L: Being a Gator fan, Tim Tebow would be awesome, as high profile as he is right now. President Obama would be cool for a political junkie like me. Just had Arlen Specter on last week. Loved it.
9) Do you get involved in the local community? What events and charities do you enjoy being involved with?
T: YES. We do a yearly motorcycle ride for the Autism Society of America. We also give a lot on a personal level.
L: The Fallen Patriot Fund is also someone we have done charitable things for. They pay bills for families of fallen soldiers.
10) What's in store for the show in 2012?
T: With moving into our own studios and taking over the day-to-day business aspect of the show, I have to admit, it was really scary for about a year. We really like the current staff and KNOW we're right where we need to be. The first part of this year has been a growing time. But everything is falling into place and we feel more excited than ever.
L: New affiliates and some great appearances with some of our current ones. We have a big event in Springfield, MO with Q102 and Carlos Mencia on May 12th.
Bonus Questions
Have you ever had a bit go horribly wrong?
T: Sure, we live for it. Something good always comes from a bit not going as planned. We have the ability to turn it into gold.
L: You mean when a bill collector calls our hotline by mistake and the cops end up kicking in innocent person's door? No nothing like that has happened.
How often has your lineup/staff changed over the years?
T: It changes from time to time. Usually in the News position. We have always been able to quickly identify the new hires' strengths and weaknesses and build their on-air character.
L: The essential contributive core of the show has been intact for some time now. Dee Reed, our producer, Terry and myself are the braintrust at this juncture. It has had others over the years, but Dee has been with us for a decade now.
Is there anything you miss about the early days that has changed since your success and growth?
T: Earlier I mentioned that getting control of our studios and finances was a good thing. I personally still miss being the part of a company.
L: I miss highly talented radio executives being plentiful. The business has sent many of them packing to other lines of work. The talent level has dropped in programming, sales, and management drastically over the last decade.
-
-