10 Questions with ... Tim Andrews

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

Tim is a former food service manager and part-time cart jockey who made his way to Atlanta in 1996. He began his professional radio career by hanging banners with Atlanta’s WZGC-FM and eventually found himself as the promotions director for Atlanta heritage rock station, WKLS-FM (96rock). It was there he met The Regular Guys and his career trajectory changed.

1. First of all, how and why did you end up in radio? What attracted you to radio?

I’ve been interested in radio for most of my life. When I was four, my great-grandmother gave me a Charlie Brown transistor radio and I fell in love with radiowaves. Throughout my childhood I listened to Casey Kasem, Dr. Demento, Dan Ingram, Larry King and more. Local heroes from Elmira, NY included, Steve Christie, Trevor Joe Lennon and Jay Flaherty (WHEN Syracuse).

2. You transitioned from basically a producer and character voice guy to more of a foreground position, first with The Regular Guys and now with Eric's show. Was moving from behind-the-scenes to a primary on-air position always part of your plan, or did that just evolve? What WAS your plan?

I never expected to get “on air” doing character voices or otherwise. It was by chance that the 96rock afternoon guy (at the time) Christopher Rude, asked me to do an Al Gore impression and that led to me doing Phil Hendrie-inspired characters on The Regular Guys morning show. Once I was bitten by that bug I knew my career path wasn’t promotions, it was on-air comedy.

3. You (and Eric) moved from what was an entertainment show with politics secondary to a more political talk show that also covers other things. For you, how has that transition gone -- are you feeling more comfortable with the political stuff as you move forward?

As the Regular Guys Show began to unravel I found myself between caring more about politics and less about contemporary pop culture. I still LOVE pop culture, but I’m blissfully unaware of most reality TV and things of that ilk. The Von Haessler Doctrine is unique in that we rarely take a position or push a narrative; we simply point out the ridiculousness of constant battle between “team a” and “team b” (Democrats / Republicans). I’m very comfortable with making fun of that.

4. You co-host a podcast about pop culture, and I suppose the question is what can listeners expect from it and what YOU expect from doing a podcast- is it for fun, for career, or for some other reason? And with Eric showing that a podcast can spawn a broadcast show, is there any thought in your mind about taking Radio Labyrinth towards broadcast radio, or are you comfortable with it as a podcast?

I’ve been doing Radio Labyrinth since December of 2015. At first it was just to keep me sharp while unemployed, but it evolved into a fun show. It’s me and a few friends and we talk TV, food, movies, podcasts; whatever we’re into at the time. I do some voices, a few characters, and take the lead. We never expect it to make money but we have some dedicated Patreon patrons! I don’t think Radio Labyrinth will evolve into a radio show, athough some aspects of it may were I to go that route.

5. You just got married - congratulations! - to another media person (Fox 5/Atlanta's Kaitlyn Pratt), and as someone who also married within the media, my question is how much you guys talk about work/media stuff off-hours or whether you try to avoid shop talk. And what do you do to avoid too much shop talk when turning on the TV or radio has a high probability of someone you know or something you deal with at work popping up?

We talk about it a lot! I don’t know much of her world and same for her in mine. We don’t avoid anything. We watch Fox 5 News and WSB News! I’m certain I’m the only one who listens exclusively to talk radio.

6. Who have been your influences, inspirations, and mentors in the business?

My influences are the radio personalities from my childhood; local and syndicated. There was a time when you knew there was a live connection between yourself and the person coming out of your boombox and for some reason I always dug that. Howard Stern and Phil Hendrie are the funniest men in the business, inimitable. My mentors are few and far between. They know who they are.

7. Of what are you most proud?

Creating memorable characters that people still ask me to do, being a part of the Regular Guys (especially the Justin Bieber stunt, but also a lot more) and finally landing a job at WSB.

8. Back in the early days of you on the Regular Guys, you were the liberal in the room with the conservative Larry and libertarian Eric. Has working with those guys and working now with Eric changed your political outlook, or do you think your outlook has affected your cohorts?

I think my age and a little wisdom have broadened my political views. Everyone is so proud of themselves for the littlest accomplishment and so injured when confronted with a contrarian view. I’m pretty much a Libertarian but you won’t see me dancing in a diaper at their “Convention”.

9. Fill in the blank: I can't make it through the day without _______________.

...coffee.

10. What's the most important lesson you've learned in your career so far?

Nobody cares. Shut up and work.