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10 Questions with ... Maureen Langan
July 18, 2006
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NAME:Maureen LanganTITLE:Morning Co-Host, "The Radio Ritas"COMPANY:GreenStone MediaMARKET:National
BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
Comic (winner of Bud Light Ladies of Laughter Funniest Woman Contest), Actress, reporter/producer (WWOR-TV, WNYW-TV, WNET/New York), morning co-host at WPDH/Poughkeepsie, commentator for Bloomberg TV and Radio (WBBR/New York). Won Cable ACE Award, Magee Award.
1. You've gone back and forth between careers- reporter, commentator, comic, producer, radio host. Why radio, and why now?
I don't see them as different careers; they are all related and entwined.
I began as a producer, which lead to on-air TV and radio reporting and hosting. As a host, I was able to be irreverent and funny when I wanted to be. I did celebrity interviews, provided commentary, and satirized world news. That's where I found my "voice." When the station changed to an all business format (W-B-O-R-I-N-G), I was offered a beat covering stocks and bonds for retired people. That's when I found my "voice" again and said, "I'd rather stick pins in my eyes."
I then began performing standup comedy. My goal was to combine my journalism background with my humor to land a "personality-driven" talk show. Nearly 10 years ago, those jobs weren't a dime a dozen, unless of course you were a middle-aged white guy yelling at people to be a Republican. Now mind you, I'm not philosophically opposed to middle-aged white men; I'm married to one. I just don't like them yelling at me.
There were a number of radio offers: as the giggle chick, as the sidekick/news gal to a male lead, but I was interested in being a host, or at least an equal co-host. I was hired as a co-host at a morning zoo. Me and two guys. Shockingly, they liked interviewing the strippers. I have nothing against strippers - I just didn't want to risk catching a sexually transmitted disease at 6 in the morning. My co-host arrived stoned every morning, spewing chunks of Egg McMuffin across the console, and waiting for Bambi and Bubbles to show up. I had to go.
It wasn't until Cory Kahaney, my co-host and fellow comic, introduced me to Edie Hilliard and Greenstone Media that I realized my dream job could actually exist. I'm extremely grateful to them.
2. What are you passionate about?
On a professional level, I'm passionate about my work - broadcasting, comedy and writing. On a personal level, I'm passionate about my marriage, my nieces and nephews, good food, red wine, reading, and exercise.
3. What are you offering on your show that hasn't been available before on radio, especially as it relates to female audiences?
What we are offering has never existed before on radio. We are the prototype. There never has been a network like this for women and men. We're offering the chance to hang out with your best friends: the fun ones, the ones you tell your real secrets to, the ones who tease you mercilessly about your weight, lover, kids, sex life (or lack thereof), the fact that your husband wears a Speedo, your inability to get to the point. We have a good time. We make you laugh. Occasionally, we make you think. We're not shouting at you. We're not judgmental (ok, we're judgmental, but only toward people who deserve it).
4. What was the best interview you ever did? The worst?
John Cleese – fabulous. Hysterical. Cyndi Lauper – very real. Meat Loaf – same thing. Fabio – As cheesy, or fake buttery, as it sounds, he was a lot of fun to interview. I lambasted him and he went with the flow. We had dinner once, and the wait staff couldn't fawn over him enough. I could have been choking on a chunk of steak, no one would have noticed. Millicent Fenwick, former NJ Congresswoman who has since gone to God. She was an icon. An honor to interview her at her home, even though she opened the door and said to me, "It's a real bother, but do come in." At the end of the interview she said, "I'm often told I can't have life on my own terms. Well, why not? If not on my terms, than whose?"
Worst: Martin Short – obviously there was some place else he would have rather been.
5. What makes you laugh?
Sarcasm, spontaneity, emotion. Letterman, with his dry wit. The original Candid Camera kills me. So does Johnny Carson's interviews with animals. Kids crack me up.
6. What do your current on-air partners bring to the table to complement you? What do you like most, and like least, about each of them?
They don't bring a damn thing. I'm exhausted.
They bring so much. They are both smart, sharp, funny people. The three of us come from such different backgrounds, socially, religiously and economically. You got a WASP, a Jew, and a Catholic. You put the three of us in a room and it's a blast because any topic is bound to get one of us going (don't bring up immigrants in crates to Cory, or talk about kittens in a wood chipper to Nelsie.)
What I like least? Are you kidding me? I'm not telling you a thing. We have a multi-year contract. You can wait for the tell-all book.
7. Of what are you most proud?
My education. Being the first in my family to go to college.
My husband, Pete McDermott.
8. What do you do for fun?
Isolate.
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: Success requires training and discipline and hard work and perseverance. But if you're not frightened by these things, the opportunities are just as great today as they ever were.
Worst advice: the countless people who have been happy to tell me all the reasons why something can't work. Drives me crazy.
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