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Personality ProfileAn
Interview With
The BOB Breakfast Club
By Scot Giambalvo
Rarely do I interview the hosts of a radio show and feel like a
spectator. As a matter of fact, during the interview of Tod Jeffers, Nancy Ryan and BOB
Breakfast Club show producer Mike Carlisle, they were having so much fun I left the room a
few times and I don’t think they ever even noticed. But seriously, when asked the big
question… Why BOB? Their answers set the tone for the rest of the interview. Nancy
Ryan said "It was better than Bert." Mike Carlisle said "I have no
idea." Remember, he’s the producer. And quiet little Tod Jeffers, almost at a
loss for words, said: "I agree with them." So there you go. Each did know how to
properly turn their knobs to BOB… and let’er rip.
I had to be honest with these folks right out of the gate by telling
them I just can’t stand country music. After the enraged beating, they told me that
if I hadn’t listened to country on BOB, then I just haven’t developed an
appreciation for it yet. "Everybody likes country music," says co-host Nancy
Ryan, as she points directly at producer Mike, and says "Even him." Mike
blushes, and says "I gotta tell you, if anybody was going to hate working for a
country station, it was me, but BOB is different. It’s NEW country, and it’s got
a great sound that everyone can like. It’s a station you can leave on in your office
and NOT fall asleep listening to."
I asked the Breakfast Bunch how much they prepare and rehearse for each
morning’s show. Again, after the roaring laughter died down, Tod Jeffers said
"We start preparing about 20 or 30 minutes into the show. But seriously, being the
computer junkie that I am, I’ll bring in some notes and things I’ve downloaded
off the Internet, and if they work into the conversation, we use them. If they don’t,
away they go." Nancy commented that the synergy between her and Tod is so incredible,
that often they’ll finish each other’s sentences, and almost always see a prank
coming down the pike. "We just work together so well," Nancy says, "and
we’re not even married." Tod shakes his head wildly, in a ‘bachelor for
life’ kinda way.
When asked if Nancy ever felt like a den mother to Tod and Mike, she
looked at both of them and commented "I’m the voice of reason when these two get
out of hand." Meanwhile, Tod is in the background mumbling something about marriage
and Nancy’s newlywed husband and the phrase ‘poor helpless bastard.’ Nancy
ignores him.
I asked each of the crew what they like most about being on BOB in the
mornings. Nancy said "It’s fun to make people laugh. So many people have jobs
they don’t like, so if we can make them smile, it makes us feel great." Tod
bursts in with a "I’m about the hurl." Mike comments "I thought I
would hate it, but its great. BOB blasts every stereotype about Country Music there is.
And after ponderous thought, Tod finally gets serious and says "You know what I like
most… I can tell you in two words: PAY-CHECK!" The frustrated stand-up comic
busts out laughing and drifts back off as the conversation gets serious again. Then like
Mt. St. Helens, Tod kicks back in with "Back in the 70’s lyrics were written by
poets. They meant something. In the 80’s there were no lyrics. Now for the 90’s
all the poets are writing Country hits. Check it out, you’ll see."
These guys know what they’re talking about. Every weekday you can
hear ‘em ranting and raving about something on Harrisburg’s new Country
station… BOB 94.9 FM. |
