Genre | Alternative music afternoon drive program |
---|---|
Language(s) | English |
Home station | The Drive 101.7 & AM 830 |
Syndicates | local show only |
Hosted by | Mikey Esparza |
Recording studio | The KFMB Station Studios. |
Original release | 2017 – present |
Audio format | FM Stereo |
Website | mikeyshow |
The Mikey Show is an afternoon drive program currently airing in Tucson, AZ. It recently was on hiatus from 2012 to 2017.
Prior to its reboot, it was a controversial shock jock morning drive program syndicated across the Southwest.
The Mikey Show earned its name from show host Mikey Esparza. He worked in radio his entire adult life all over the country, from Rochester, New York; to Dallas, Texas.
The Mikey Show was once syndicated, having aired on KSJO in San Jose and KEGL in Dallas, Texas but was let go from both stations after creating a controversial parody song.[ citation needed ] Esparza did the evening slot on KIOZ from 7:00 p.m. to 12:00 am from the late 1990s until 2004, broadcasting to both San Jose and Dallas via satellite.[ citation needed ] His stint in the evening slot ended a week after he started broadcasting the morning drive in early 2004 and was fired for a stint he did about kidnapping victim Erica Pratt.[ citation needed ] His return to San Diego came on the heels of Howard Stern’s departure for satellite radio[ citation needed ] where he quickly established a loyal fan base known as the “P-1s” (Priority One)[ citation needed ] and became the highest rated morning show in San Diego.[ citation needed ] The show aired on KIOZ until late December 2009 when it was announced that Esparza would not be given a chance to renew his contract.[ citation needed ] His former cast remained at KIOZ to and continued their own show now entitled The Show on January 4, 2010.
On January 12, 2010, it was announced on mikeyshow.com that The Mikey Show moved to 94.9. [1] The Mikey Show debuted live on February 1, 2010.
On March 7, 2012, it was announced that The Mikey Show was no longer on 94.9. FM 94/9's senior V.P. and general manager Rick Jackson announced March 7 at 8:00 a.m. via a taped statement that its morning-talk Mikey Show would no longer be a part of the station's morning drive-time lineup. [2]
On March 9, 2016, Jay Isbell stated on his podcast that there were hurt feelings behind the scenes on the Mikey Show while it was on the air. These feelings divide Lauren and Woods from working with Mikey at this time. [3]
On July 24, 2017, it was announced that The Mikey Show would be airing on the afternoon drive on San Diego's KFMB 100.7. [4]
In July 2019, it was announced that Mikey and KFMB were parting ways. It was later noted that Mikey's contract was not renewed by the station.
On August 5, 2019, Mikey announced that he was moving to Tucson, AZ and would be doing the drive-time broadcast for a new radio station, The Drive 101.7.
The Mikey Show was criticized for its potential to harm children, some going as far as charging that it engages in the "sexual exploitation of children to gain an audience." [5] The Mikey Show set off a storm of criticism when, in 2004, Esparza jokingly gave kidnapping tips to listeners following the kidnapping and subsequent escape of 7-year-old Erica Pratt. [5] [6] The station subsequently fired Esparza for the gag. [7] [8] Esparza has also been criticed for simulating marijuana smoking on the air [9] and producing a parody song about artist R. Kelly's legal troubles, specifically being accused of statutory rape. [7]
After arriving in San Diego the show became more mellow due to Esparza's embrace of Christianity, with a billboard campaign advertising his contrasts labeling him both an addict and a Christian. Esparza often spoke of his love for Jesus and spoke openly about his past problems with substance abuse. [10]
The new show on FM94/9 San Diego's KBZT had a cast of four: Mike Esparza (Host), Steven Woods (Sports), Jay Isbell (Producer), and Lauren O'Brien (Assistant Producer). On July 13, 2011 KBZT conducted mass layoffs which included Mikey Show News girl Sienna Feerrar
Mikey was in radio for over 20 years. In December 2009 after a very controversial breakup of his former show, Mike was left to build a whole new team on his own.
Steven Woods and Mikey crossed paths when Mikey was in Dallas on the Eagle. Woods and Baumann were two characters often on KIOZ's Mikey Show that Eddie and Mikey did the voices for.[ clarification needed ] Baumann was an older gentleman always trying to teach "The Kid" (Woods) some class about high priced suits, expensive cars and proper etiquette.
Jay is a former employee of Clear Channel Communications. He was the promotions director until January 2009 when Clear Channel had a massive budget cut and laid off 9% of their staff, Jay was part of that 9%. From there Jay went on to create his own promotions company, named Isbell Production. He was hired to do the 28hr show 2009 for KIOZ's Mikey Show.
Lauren is a stand-up comedian and was discovered by Mikey when he found her on YouTube. She offers a lot of character voices and has a dry, sarcastic sense of humor.
When the Mikey Show aired on San Diego's KIOZ it had a cast of five: Mikey, "Boston" Rob, Eddie, Ashlee, and Sky. Up until early 2009 the show had a sixth cast member by the name of Sean, he was laid off by Clear Channel due to budget cuts.
No immediate information was given as to the cause of the layoffs.
Professional American Football Player Jeff Garcia went to high school with Mike.[ citation needed ] Jeff appeared (via telephone) on the show. Mikey attributed Jeff's success to Mikey's bench-warming, and Jeff in turn mentioned that Mikey was busy watching the girls. Jeff also acknowledged that Mikey was "DJing back then, telling it like it is!"
Talk radio is a radio format containing discussion about topical issues and consisting entirely or almost entirely of original spoken word content rather than outside music. They may feature monologues, dialogues between the hosts, interviews with guests, and/or listener participation which may be live conversations between the host and listeners who "call in" or via voice mail. Listener contributions are usually screened by a show's producers to maximize audience interest and, in the case of commercial talk radio, to attract advertisers.
XETV-TDT is a television station located in Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico, broadcasting programs from Canal 5 and NU9VE. Its terrestrial signal also covers the San Diego, California area across the international border in the United States. The station is owned by Grupo Televisa, and its technical operations and transmitter facilities are located at Mount San Antonio in Tijuana.
KGB is a commercial AM radio station licensed to San Diego, California. It is owned by iHeartMedia and airs a sports radio format. Most of the evening and weekend programming comes from Fox Sports Radio, along with San Diego Gulls hockey, San Diego State Aztecs college football games and Los Angeles Lakers basketball. Local sports shows are heard weekday mornings and afternoons.
KNX-FM is a commercial radio station in Los Angeles, California, United States. The station is owned by Audacy, Inc. and airs an all-news radio format in a full-time simulcast with KNX. The station has studios at the intersection of Wilshire and Hauser Boulevards in the Miracle Mile district of Los Angeles, and the transmitter on Mount Wilson.
The DSC Show, formerly The Dawn Patrol and The Dave, Shelly, and Chainsaw Show (DSC), also known simply as Dave and Chainsaw, was a long-running morning radio show in the San Diego, California area. Broadcast on weekday mornings on San Diego's famous KGB-FM, the show is named for its main hosts: Dave Rickards and Cookie "Chainsaw" Randolph, known as the "Dean of American Sportscasters". The show originated on April 1, 1990, with Shelly Dunn as a member of the trio; she retired from broadcasting in July 2018 and was replaced by Emily Jane Maguire, the show's then-producer.
KGB-FM is a commercial radio station licensed to San Diego, California. It is owned and operated by iHeartMedia and broadcasts a classic rock music format. KGB-FM's studios are located in San Diego's Kearny Mesa neighborhood on the northeast side, and the transmitter is located in East San Diego east of Balboa Park.
KOGO is a commercial AM radio station in San Diego, California. The station airs a news/talk radio format and is owned by iHeartMedia, Inc. The station's studios and offices are located in San Diego's Kearny Mesa neighborhood on the northeast side.
KLSD is a commercial radio station in San Diego, California. It is owned by iHeartMedia and broadcasts a talk format branded "The Patriot AM 1360". The radio studios and offices are on Granite Ridge Drive in the Serra Mesa neighborhood on the northeast side. Nationally syndicated shows heard on KLSD include Glenn Beck, Jessy Kelly, Dana Loesch, Mark Levin, Chad Benson, Red Eye Radio and America in the Morning.
KMYI is a commercial radio station in San Diego, California, airing a hot AC music format. It is owned by iHeartMedia. Its studios are located in San Diego's Kearny Mesa neighborhood on the northeast side, and the transmitter is located in La Jolla. It broadcasts from the KGTV Tower, shared with several other San Diego FM stations and KGTV. KMYI is the oldest continuously operating FM station in the San Diego metropolitan area.
KBZT is a commercial radio station licensed to San Diego, California. Owned by Audacy, Inc., the station broadcasts an alternative rock format. Its studios are located in San Diego's Stonecrest area, and the transmitter is located in La Jolla.
WXDX-FM is a commercial radio station that is located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Known as 105.9 The X, it airs an alternative rock radio format and is owned by iHeartMedia. The studios and offices are located in Foster Plaza on Holiday Drive in Green Tree, Pennsylvania, but use a Pittsburgh postal address. WXDX is the flagship radio station of the Pittsburgh Penguins hockey team.
KOME was a commercial FM radio station in San Jose, California, broadcasting at 98.5 MHz. KOME was on the air from 1971 through 1998. Currently, the 98.5 FM frequency is home to KUFX "K-Fox," a classic rock station.
KHTS-FM is a top 40 (CHR) radio station that is licensed to El Cajon, California and serves the San Diego market. The station is owned by iHeartMedia, Inc., through licensee iHM Licenses, LLC, and brands as "Channel 9-3-3". The station's studios are located in San Diego's Serra Mesa area, while the transmitter is located in Chollas View, which is east of Balboa Park and west of Emerald Hills, sharing facilities with KLSD. The station is available in HD Radio; the HD2 subchannel airs an LGBT-leaning dance hits format, carrying iHeart's Pride Radio network.
XEPRS-AM is a commercial radio station licensed to Playas de Rosarito, a suburb of Tijuana in Baja California, Mexico. It broadcasts a sports/talk radio format, branded as "The Mightier 1090". The station is heard across the San Diego-Tijuana, Los Angeles-Orange County, Riverside-San Bernardino areas of Southern California.
KIOZ is a commercial radio station that is licensed to San Diego, California. The station is owned by iHeartMedia, Inc. and broadcasts an Mainstream Rock music format. KIOZ's studios are located in San Diego's Serra Mesa neighborhood on the northeast side, and the transmitter is located in La Jolla.
KDGE is a commercial radio station licensed to both Fort Worth and Dallas, Texas. It is owned and operated by iHeartMedia, and broadcasts a mainstream adult contemporary radio format, switching to Christmas music for much of November and December.
KEGL is a commercial radio station licensed to Fort Worth, Texas, and serving the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex. It has a hot talk and sports betting radio format, known as "97.1 The Freak," and is owned by iHeartMedia, Inc. The studios are located along Dallas Parkway in Farmers Branch.
Rick Roberts is an American conservative talk radio host currently on WBAP (AM) in the Dallas/Fort Worth market. He can be heard on air immediately following the nationally syndicated Rush Limbaugh Show, from 2pm to 5pm. He was formerly on KOKC AM and later KTOK AM in Oklahoma City during morning drive, 5am to 8am.
KTMQ is an active rock radio station that serves the Temecula Valley and Inland Empire areas. The station is owned by iHeartMedia, Inc.
XETRA-FM, branded as 91X, and sometimes identified as XTRA-FM, is an English-language radio station licensed to Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico. It airs an alternative rock radio format. The studios and offices are on Cornerstone Court in San Diego's Sorrento Valley neighborhood. The station is one of three Mexican outlets programmed by Local Media San Diego LLC, along with XHITZ-FM and XHRM-FM, in which an affiliated company owns a 49 percent non-voting stake; LMSD also owns KFBG. It is Mexico's first Alternative radio station, and has influenced other radio stations to create the Spanish-language rock radio format in 1994.