Idol & Oprah Withdrawal As The 100 Days of Summer Begin

Jimmy Carter in his homebase Nashville.

Summer is here ...The May book for TV ended with a huge "Oprah" and "Idol" bang! The TV doldrums begin and run until mid-September. Country Music was all mixed up in it ... From "Idol" to "Apprentice." From "The Voice" to the morning and late-night shows. Country was the king format choice for TV Sping 2011.

Rating the radio trades this week ... Even heard some radio bigwigs this week show concern for clutter. Imagine that: Commercial blocks that run longer than a Grateful Dead concert. Clutter? Jackass rock jocks on Country stations? Tornados threaten cities and the hits just keep on playing! Imagine anyone showing concern.

Oprah ... first she's gone and left just before the real ratings start to flop. She is a classic ... Got too full of herself and eccentric. Needed to go. She was an important figure in the history of television.

The "Idol" insanity: Lots of crazy radio people popping off and made to look like fools saying what they would or would not do with the new "Idol" singers. Several stars were created this year. They may or may not burn out as fast as they were created. Scotty held up his part with the Tim McGraw duet. Only true haters couldn't compliment the young North Carolina man. "Idol" brings out such emotion! That is the true secret of the show. Somehow they make you care what happens. They disappoint and thrill. They surprise. Radio could take a notebook of lessons from the producer pages of this show. How to make people care about a TV show and it's temporary characters. Ratings up 17% ... 9% in 18-49 demo You love to hate "Idol!"

The Summer concert season going full steam now with Taylor in Omaha for the first of dozens. The Baton Rouge/LSU Stadium Bayou Fest with Tim and Kenny.

The demise of the Georgia Music Hall of Fame this week was sad. It speaks loudly about where nostalgia is right this minute in a bad economy. This generation is ripe to discover great stars of the pasts. Look at that Tom Jones segment on "Idol." Jack Black was grooving to it. Classic cheese ... classic. The Hall of Fames all over are great, but try to get most kids to even think of it.

Shania is still pushing her book ... coming to CMA MusicFest in a few days and right now in Redbook. Sunshy as her hubby calls her (per Redbook) will sign for two hours at CMA/Bridgestone. (Far cry from Taylor's 13-hour marathon)

"The Voice" is rolling along ... If you have missed it, jump on this week. It's not hard to get on at this point. Fun show, different from "Idol" -- good and bad.

The tragedy of Joplin and other twister-torn cities ... The emotions and the loss so hard to even watch on TV. Radio has done its part. The big Alabama concert in Birmingham is June 12th.

Been the week of Lady Gaga and Brad Paisley on NYC-based TV shows. Both were all over. "The View" did a huge Brad setup for one song! Letterman is good for every musical act ... sound was good on my big speakers even on Good Morning America.

I pray the weather is not scalding on CMA week ... nervous already. That week is all about weather and endurance ... it's coming ... rest!