Talk radio taking over the airwaves
(CNS): While Caymanians have long had the opportunity to vent their spleens on the airways every weekday morning and lunch times, they have not had the opportunity to rant during the evening. That is about to come to an end with the announcement by Rooster’s Crosstalk team that Walling Whittaker will be hosting an afternoon version of the phone-in show between 4 and 7 pm. The former director of Employment Relations and independent candidate for George Town in the last elections says Crosstalk PM will be about solutions.
Following the announcement on Crosstalk’s breakfast show, Whittaker said his afternoon show would be different as he would be focusing on resolving problems. The plan, he said, was for people to call in with their issues and he would attempt, without calling names, to find a solution.
Die hard fans of phone-in shows can now enjoy almost a full day of talk radio with Rooster’s two shows now sandwiching Radio Cayman’s long running lunch time talk show Talktoday.
According to a release from Hurley’s entertainment the new show starts on Tuesday 10 November and describing Whitaker as a rookie broadcaster Randy Merren, owner of Hurleys Entertainment, said whatever lack of experience he had as a broadcaster he made up for with his knowledge of government, politics and business in Cayman.
"I am enthusiastic about the opportunity to expand social commentary and explore contemporary issues from a different perspective," said Whittaker. "Crosstalk PM will not only examine current issues but more importantly we will also try to look for solutions to problems."
The show will be going out in the slot previously taken by the Big Kahuna but Hurley’s did not comment on what would happen to that show or whether the comedian would continue working with the station.
Category: Local News
Don’t know bout y’all, but I’d rather hear Sam Puk Puk anyday………….
This afternoon show has to be better than the morning hate fest. Everytime you hear someone explain that they have nothing against a group of people and then spend the next 2 hours bashing them, it makes you wonder.
The expats are easy targets, you don’t hear the hosts going after fellow Caymanians though because they can bite back. Ellio got bashed and walked in on the radio show and set the record straight and no one said a word about it but there were apologies made. In contrast, all the Caymanian business partners on the island are left untouched in their daily attacks.
I was thinking that you could listen to that radio show and tune back a month later and you would hear them sing the same bitter song .
Wally’s a terrific expat basher – at least in private. We shall see.
There are many happy people in this country who would prefer to listen to the Big Kahuna and his kind flavor of country music than suffer another public "call-in and complain about stuff" program.
Will he have a co-host? Talking for 3 hours alone will not be easy.
Let Sandra Catron get her show back, that’s show all the men!!! We need a woman’s voice and opinion and we need it now.
Congrats Wally.
We look forward to your perspective on Cayman’s current events and politics.
We already know there is a political agenda so dont try to seperate yourself from it or you will appear disingenuous.
There is no need to be a centrist, on the fence all the time.
You are not a government employee.
Just give us the facts and your opinion on the facts and you will build a respectable following.
Good luck!
Of coure he has a politial agenda, but being a bit freindlier should be a reqirement of a "wuld be" politician. His attittude needs much improvement!
"His attitude needs much improvement".
So true Sun 15:01!
I don’t know what it was like in the private sector (although I have heard it wasn’t wonderful) but in Government it was simply terrible.
I saw Mr. Whittaker at the UDP dinner (via facebook pictures) no doubt he will be another PPM basher.
Now I’m convinced the management at Rooster is anti-PPM. Sad sad sad sad ….
PPM … I feel sorry for you guys now! He’s going to be another Ellio.
Who is his co-host? Will he even be temperued at all?
Well done Wally. I am sure you are going to bring to the table some freshing ideas with a good debate and solutions.
I am not so sure we need another talk show, but lets see how it goes, I wish you all the best.
LD
With more and more talk shows coming on line, Cayman’s productivity is going down the hill. We need a programs to get people to work not people to listen to. Also, sadly, this host is not a moderator and he comes with a political agenda.
Do we really need another talk show on the same station? I think dms missed out on an opportunity here! Too bad for them really. Clearly that’s where the audience is – with talk radio.
Whooo… looks like Mr. Whittaker has some haters on here.
As an aside, I am surprised no one has mentioned the passive-aggressive first sentence of this article. It is implying that there is some law that only Caymanians are allowed to call in to talk radio shows & that all every caller does when they have the floor is "rant." I am no ‘die-hard’ fan of talk radio as some people seem to call in just to hear their own voice rather than make viable points due to the level of repetition. And no, this is not unique to Caymanians alone.
Interesting the lengths Rooster will go to avoid playing local music…
You all really are PATHETIC! Instead of being glad for another oppurtunity to express your views,maybe learn something you didnt know before or best yet, have another chance to keep our power-hungry, name-plate seeking politicians in check, all of you here have something negative to say. Unreal!!
I agree with olecuz @ 15:35 – this site has just as many hate mongers as you blame the talk shows for.
I love what Cayman Crosstalk has brought to radio! Great job Austin & Gilbert for keeping us all informed. Best of luck Walling – I for one look forward to what you and your new show will have to offer.
Really? Good for you. Thats the beauty of free society. Anyone can listen to whatever crap they like. I have noticed that there seems to be a lot less "Open Mic" time on Talk Today recently and a lot more religious banter. A sign of things to come from the new Dictatorship in which we live, perhaps.
It would be interesting to time the hosts monologues vs the amount of time given to callers. The hosts seem to believe their views trump the views of the callers, strange opinion in a call in show unless you are running for the LA.
The shows WILL become another one way rant of hate just like the morning show because of the fundamental lack of free speech and fear of persecution which non-Caymanians sense in this country.
very well said. cns is the only place you can get a free open debate due to it’s annonymous comments. ….. you can’t cancel the work permit of mr./mrs. anonymous!
Welcome to the radio world While. Now While, no Government bashing I do not need to hear that three times a day. I need free consultation. May our Creator be with you. Hope THE BIG KAHUNA will still be on sometime in the week. kk
re – Thurs 14:44
Hi Val – you may get a chance to be on one of these – you obviously loved your job as host.
Val you were one of the best.
now we can listen to expat bashing for breakfast, lunch and dinner!
can’t wait to hear the fresh, new exciting discussion on why ‘so many’ degree qualified caymanians can’t get jobs
One only needs to listen to these moaners for 2 minutes to understand why with their attitude problems no-one wants to employ them.
I heard that the afternoon host THE BIG KAHUNA got fired today as well. Coincidence? Maybe someone like DMS will start a country radio station since Rooster seems to be only interested in politics! I listened to Rooster for the music not the talk.
Is that all you hear? Maybe you should listena bit more…how about calling in and contributing something constructive to combat this so-called negativity. I am sorry you feel so targeted, but in some cases …not all, these concerns are legitimate. This format of expression is open to everyone!!!
expats can’t call in because of the fear of retribution with their work permits…. it’s a pity because expats are some of the most educated intelligent people on the island
Oh Boy……..now we will have to hear Lana Mae, Jeffrey, Reba, Esme, Rupert, Steve, Frank, Dennie, Billy, Lil Mac and all the Jr. Fries for the second time every day!!
0h, and you forgot those Bracers. THE ONE AND ONLY, also Barrie and Miss lorna. Also from Cayman is George Cholette, Deidre and Sandra. I think we have them all now.
Maybe the evening talk could be dedicated for the prisioners. They seemed to have captured the hearts of the listeners recently. The talk shows are dividing the Community even further. We Caymanians need more action and less talk. Talk is as far as it goes. I notice that while we are talking the expats are moving and working.
Just thought I’d point out that talk radio in Cayman originated in the evening time. Doren Miller hosted "Open Line" for years on Radio Cayman at 7:30 pm (later hosted by Ken Smith). Then when "Talk Today" premiered in 1998, there was an evening version called "Talk Tonight" hosted by Norma McField.
Well, of course, I know I am a dinosaur and not part of the new Cayman. But I much preferred the old talk shows Val refers to where civility ruled and the hosts actually were able to answer sympathetically some of the idiots who called in but at the same time firmly, pointing out there was another side of the argument. Val was especially good at that. He would never have said, as one talk show host said a month or so ago in response to a bitter anti-expat comment, "yeah, I hear yuh" (ie "I agree with you").
I agree that the standards set by Val have deteorated and that instead of calming the flames of discord some radio talk show hosts seem to enjoy fanning the flames of disharmony.
To not identify xenophobia and ignorance at least is to support it and the associated problems that will accompany such ideology. It divides the society into groups instead of bringing us together.
One sure tell of a xenophobic caller is when the preface their comments with," Now I have nothing against XXX but…"
So, we have an ex politician – wanne be LOGB – Gilbert on in the Morning;
And at night we will have an ex Director of DER – ex Human Resources Manager – wanna be politician – Wall E – on at night;
Either these talk show host make a lot of money, or these guys are trying hard to follow in Elio’s shoes.
Oh well – soon we’ll have Chuckie, Ozzy, Lucille etcetera start a jerry springer show.
Only in Cayman……………………
Rumor has it that Joe Blow Expat and Limette England will host a show on Z99 starting at 2.00 Pm in a few weeks………now that should be some fun and stir up the pot real well!!!……………LOL!!!
this is great at least i can catch up on the daily news….
I hope Mr Whittaker will bring to the talk show subjects that are obvioulsy close to his heart and stand for the plight of small business’s on the island struggling with their cash flow in such economic challenging times, made more difficult with bad debts. A small claims court to be able to effectively and economically chase these culprits would be a start as the current system does not.
Is Rooster now the soup kitchen for failed or wannabe politicians? What’s next? DJ Chuckies late night love songs?
Seems alot to do with the chicken, Rooster, soup, Chuckie (eggs)….:)
1. Install CD player in vehicle
2. Tune radio to alternative station
3. Call randomly spouting regular obcenities and libelous claims to force cancellations of the "Complaints Shows"
4. Withdraw advertising from any and all stations transmitting said complaints shows.
5. Get a job which doesn’t allow you enough time to listen to this crap.
Install CDs? why dont you also get a job, looking for a fight arent you. Oh the pathetic rhetoric of you hate mongers, my, my. I would rather listen to a good talk show any time than listen to some of the c**p that the other station plays at those hours. make sense to me, dont go spouting off any blarney just good commonsense, like what is your pet peeve of the day etc.
I for one am happy that Mr Whittaker will be hosting a talk radio show as I have heard him before and he is a level headed individual and not given to sensationalism as can be found in the mornng version of that format.
Contrary opinion in the morning is met with stiff response so the name Cayman Crosstalk only applies if you agree with the hosts. If not you are bashed without an opportunity to respond and subsequently bashed further with impunity by later callers, especially if you are an expat, one of the targets of choice on that program.
It is interesting because I have followed the evolution of Cayman Crosstalk before the current hosts back to Barrie. The tenor of the program changed when Ellio realized he could use the show as a political springboard into politics. The show lost its objectivity and the hosts became very defensive when presented with contrary views. It his harder now and contrary opinion is really not sought after nor respected.
I hope this critique is helpful as you do not need to be born in the Cayman Islands to care about the welfare of the people and the country.
Oh Boy! We will not get to hear Willy Nelson and Dolly Parton anymore!
Lordy Lordy.
Since this UDP Government start ruling even country music is in jeopardy.
My first issue, Wally…too many talk shows…what is the answer?
I have a "solution"…..click