Skip Murphy and Co. discuss firings of Nanette Lee and Wig during “Real Talk”
Categories: African-American, Dallas, Media
Written By: Shawn Williams
I had my radio locked on 104.5 this morning because I knew that Skip and the crew were scheduled to speak to their audience about the station's decision to fire Nanette Lee and Wig. Murphy called the segment Real Talk, and in teasers leading up to the discussion he promised to get the real story out on what really happened.
One of the reasons Mr. Murphy offered for the need to make the info public was negative phone calls, emails, and letters regarding new cast members Lady Jade and MoZan. He said that many of the communications accused him of "bending the truth" in regards to why Nanette was let go. Skip said that his intent was not to mislead the public, but to keep from having to trash Nanette on the air. Skip and the rest of the show then proceeded to trash Nanette and Wig for the better part of the next 25 minutes.
As far as Ms. Lee goes, the reasons offered for her dismissal were failure to follow the "plans and policies" of the station. They went on to add that Ms. Lee was "constantly late and unprepared," even a day after a meeting discussing her tardiness. I wonder how KKDA's HR department felt about the terms of Ms. Lee's termination being broadcast over the airwaves? According to this mornings account, the members of the show voted to remove Ms. Lee after this final incident.
As for Wig, he was reportedly fired for failure to adapt to the stations "Hip-Hop" format. As the show's producer, Wig was in charge of spinning the tracks, and his selections went against what the station wanted. "If the boss wants hip-hop, you've go to do what they tell you," someone chimed in. The station is apparently targeting 18-24 year olds, which seems like a strange direction for the A.M.
This morning's show had tone of someone who is afraid of Mr. Charlie. Since I don't listen, I couldn't tell Fly Ty from Junebug, from T-Mac, but I was halfway expecting one of the dudes to say "he pay us this good money, he give us this good job, you bet not sass Mr. Charile," and I guess they did say it in so many words. "If they pay you a million dollars, why wouldn't you do what they tell you?"
In the end, Skip told the audience not to feel sorry for Nanette because she was still getting hers. Sam Putney asked the audience to stop blaming Lady Jade, MoZan, and the rest of the crew because none of this is their fault. They then asked their listeners to accept the "new family" because they were family for life, regardless of who is sitting in the seats.
There's the problem right there
The show has been billed for all these many years as a family, and in the end you can pick your friends but you can't pick your family. The K104 family has loved on Skip, Sam, Chris, Nanette, Wig, and Throwdown for all these years to the nth degree. What would make anyone think that they wouldn't have a little hate to spew when the family breaks up, regardless of who's fault it is.
Sending threatening letters to the new crew is extreme, but I would expect nothing less than loyal listeners to voice their displeasure with the turn the show has taken. It's up to the station and it's executives to manage the fallout, not Ms. Lee. How many times have we heard promos over the year of listeners voicing how much they loved the family and how much the Morning Team has meant to their lives?
It's a shame that the principles of the show chose to handle "Real Talk" in such a way this morning. If their purpose was to defend Jade and Mozan, then it could have happened without bad mouthing Nanette and Wig, it just wasn't right. I'm not even sure of the legality of such behavior. Yeah everyone should move on, but ain't no drama like family drama cause family drama don't stop.
June 14th, 2007 at 12:55 pm
Good insights Shawn.
Ricky Smiley has been doing so much good, that if I listen to the fm in the morning I turn to 97.9 the beat.
June 14th, 2007 at 4:57 pm
I have not listened since the Wig left. It does not matter why they are gone or how much money they were making. What matters now is that the ratings are down,and they know as well as we know that Nanette and Wig are instant ratings and so for 25 mins today they had ratings. Listen now because the whole crew “except for Chris” will be replaced eventually and that is sooner than later. Have you seen the ratings?
June 15th, 2007 at 12:06 am
Hey….I really enjoyed real talk!
I was a fan of Nannett and Wig and really miss them as do a lot of other people in the metroplex. I appreciate Skip and the team setting the record straight. I think anyone can understand if someone is not doing his/her job, then the end result would be voluntary or involuntary termination (the later in this case).
I think as “Family”, the listeners were not Immediately given any information on what happened and this made for a lot of speculation, resentment for the new members. I think there was a lot of misdirected anger at the the new members because there was a lack of communication to the listeners as to what happened to two of our family members. Communication is the key. I think the negative backlash of this situation is because of that. I am wishing the morning team all the best and hope the show will rise back to its prominence.
PS. I do have a couple of question for Skip and the morning team. Skip mentioned that the shows/stations rating has been slipping for sometime now. What does he attribute this too and what does he think will get the ratings back up?
Also…you as parents, what do you personally think about the music that K104 plays (or any other hip-hop/urban radio station for that matter)? With the recent events in news about racist and sexist comments directed towards African-Americans in our news and media outlets, how much responsibility do you think radio stations have in playing a music format that seems to support what we as a community are trying to stop? Which is self-hatred and self-degradation.
Thanks,
Wife of Carlos
June 15th, 2007 at 12:33 am
I heard from some friends that K104 is now having a segment that they call “Real-Talk†(I really do not tune in anymore) but I gave it a listen this morning because they discussed the Wig and Nannette Lee departure.
It was actually great to here Skip Murphey, Sam and Chris finally put the truth out there and let the rest of us know what happened to them. For those who did not listen…they pretty much admitted that they were fired. The reasons they gave were legit reasons as to why people would lose their jobs. From what I gathered, Nannette continued to be late most of the time as well as being defiante to rules of the station. The “WiG†apparently did not adhere to the Program Director’s music/talk format and played pretty much what he wanted to play.
I think we as listeners, all we wanted to know was the truth. As supporters for the show, we were left out in the cold. Like the rug was pulled from beneath our feet and no explanation given.
Skip and Sam went on to let us know that June Bug, White Gary, Lady Jade and that other lady (I did not know they added anyone else)were not trying to replace Wig and Nannette and we should give them their own chance to shine. They also went on to say that change is good and inevitable. I agree that change is inevitable but not necessarily good in all cases. In this case, time will tell.
I know Skip, Sam and Chris are making good money at the station and I can’t really blame them for sticking around. But for mature men…I wonder what their personal feelings (not business decisions) are about the direction the station is going as far as adult content.
They can’t continue to act like teenagers forever. As for me, I am an adult, a father with a pre-teen and a teenager and I WILL NOT act as if I am anything less than that.
I guess a radio station can always change with the times but as I mentioned above, change is not always good.
I urge everyone to invest in a good satellite radio.
Peace and Love,
Carlos
June 18th, 2007 at 11:33 pm
I think it’s sad that people who should focus on the future, can’t help but dwell on the past. But I guess when the past held the ratings, maybe that’s where you really want to be.
June 20th, 2007 at 6:33 pm
Nanette is a mediocre comic at best.She did her little Harriet Tubman bit every Febuary and that was about it.She also uses the wrong verb 99% of the time.In other words,her grammer is terrible.The show has lost its luster and Lady Jade and the new comic are annoying.
June 21st, 2007 at 8:26 am
HELLO, SKIP,CHRIS,LADY JADE,SAM,JUNEBUG, AND THE REST OF THE CREW, PLEASE FORGIVE, IF I MISSED YOUR NAME, THIS GOES TO YOU AS WELL
KEEP YOUR HEAD UP….THINGS WILL GET EASIER, I REALLY DON’T OR DID LISTEN TO K104 THAT OFTEN, BUT EACH TIME I (DO OR DID), I ENJOYED IT…SO DON’T LET WHAT OUR LISTENERS SAY, BREAK YOUR SPIRIT, THINGS HAPPEN FOR A REASON. BUT CONTINUE TO KEEP WIG AND NANNETTE IN YOUR PRAYERS, CAUSE IM QUIET SURE, THEY DOING THE SAME FOR YOU…..REMEMBER IT WAS AND STILL IS A FAMILY AFFAIR.
June 21st, 2007 at 10:29 am
I listen to the show every morning on my way to work and I enjoy it most of the time but they are too silly sometimes. They go to extremes when laughing about stuff that’s not that funny. I think the reason for Nanette Lee termination was very appropiate and the way the real world works. But the reason and way they did it was tastless. The only reason why the story was told was becasue of the commiments being made about the new addition to the family not because the viewrs wanted to know. So I really think they could have done a better job about the way the story was told. I adore June Bug and think he is so funny but as far as Mozan(who is not funny and can’t hold her own) and Lady Jade;they need some more work. Those two compared to Nanette and put together, still won’t be as funny as Nanette.
June 21st, 2007 at 10:37 am
Change is not always good but is rarely accepted by the masses right away. Job performance issues, even if you work in the public eye, has to be dealt with. Yall know most of us cannot show up at work when we get ready consistantly. Those of us who listened regularly knew that Nanette was often late. She and Wig knew what their ‘job’ resposibilities were. That came first before the ’show’. This new crew is less entertaining. But they do deserve the respect and chance…… Myself, I’ve switched to 97.9. It is very entertaining. I kinda expext Nanette Lee to show up there. Her and Rickey would be a great morning show togeather! Plus he brings God to the show every morning. That’s why his ratings are blessed already.
June 23rd, 2007 at 9:54 am
Thank you for finally telling the truth. I loved the show while I was in the DFW area and can hear it sometimes where I lived. I had stopped listening full time because it was just a little too silly. However for a family to loose members and handle it the way this was handled surely it was expected that there would be some negative talk. Ms. Lee is a professional and she will be seen again on the scene. Change is good, never just excepted especially when someone as loved as Ms. Lee was did not even get to say good bye to the fans. Being late and unprepared should not be accepted, long term leave without pay, or something else should have been done. The ratings tells the entire story.
June 28th, 2007 at 12:24 pm
If family comes first and we all know that K104 is known for that saying, then the situation would not have been handled as inappropriately as it was. First and foremost, you blatantly lied to family/listeners when Wig was let go and not to learn from that mistake-you did the same thing with Nanette. We as listeners deserved to know that Nanette was no longer a part of the show; not that she was ill/leaving to write a book/cookbook. The choices that you chose to make in both Wig’s and Nanette’s situations is the reason why your ratings have dropped significantly. Now you have taken someone’s misfortune and aired it, regardless as to why Nanette was let go-her personal business did not have to be broadcast for all to hear. Maybe if you are hard up to increase ratings, then yes, you will sell out a sister/friend/co-worker/babygirl; which is the way the Morning Team described Nanette before this happened. Now you act as if there was never a friendship, and you use every opportunity to degrade and make a mockery of her. I no longer have any respect for anyone on the Morning Team and WILL NOT listen again. Not only do you degrade, mock and make fun of her on the air-I attended Skip Murphy’s birthday celebration at Hyena’s in Arlington (a copycat version of Nanette Lee’s Phat Tuesday) and Nanette was the brunt of all jokes from June Bug and MoZan; behavior such as this should not be tolerated and shows the caliber of people that the Morning Team now consists of. I think it is a blessing that Nanette was let go, because God don’t bless mess and the Morning Team,that I know today is Mess! Christian men and women is what you display on air-if that is what you truly are, all of the recent events would not have transpired as such, as you would have let God lead. God does not gloat when someone is suffering or lost something of importance-Nanette will survive….will your ratings?
July 2nd, 2007 at 9:54 am
Wow, I agree with Mrs. Williams. You don’t treat “Family,” like this. Skip you have no true “God” in you to let things go down the way they did regarding Nannette. If that was ALL of you all’s “Friend” as you say you would have stood together to let her have a proper sending off. She would have left in a mature way, that’s MS. LEE. Her mama and daddy didn’t raise no fool.
June BUG what a way to bite the hand that fed you a** when you were trying to get in the business. You not truely funny and won’t last.
What up Skip (trying to be Hip-Murphy).
Lady (joke) Jade…go back to school, your looks and putting ya self off on the higher ups to get ahead only lasts so long chick.
Holla
July 14th, 2007 at 7:23 am
JUST TAKE A LOOK AT THIS. GO TO DALLAS/FT.WORTH MARKET. http://www.arbitron.com/radio_stations/home.htm
July 16th, 2007 at 8:42 am
I, too have stopped listening to k104
since Wig was let go. Nanette’s firing
just confirmed the decision. I love Mrs
William’s post, it put everything in
perspective.
I heard Skip announce his departure this
morning. He couldn’t have picked a better
time to leave, he knows it’s a sinking
ship.
I had NO idea that they trashed Nanette in
that way! I now listen to 97.9 in the am.
So much for my theory that they were all
waiting out their contracts and surface
together on a new station.
As far as June Bug’s country butt, he will
get his in the end. I can remember
stories of Nanette taking care of his
ungrateful self. What a sell-out! You
all are a right on, it won’t last.
July 20th, 2007 at 5:26 pm
k104 has went down the drain.. Lady Jade is country. Skip C is not funny at all. I use to wake up to the morning team every morning now I don’t care if I listen are not.. I do like Mozan,Sam and Chris.
August 19th, 2007 at 12:40 am
I agree, every since Wig left the show has not been the same. Although I wasn’t a ‘huge’ Nanette fan, she did fit in with the rest of the family vwry well. I have also switched to another station b/c the new crew, the “Playground” just sucks. Skip C. is so immature to be such a grown a** man, June Bug is sooo not funny, Lady Jade is a big mistake, her voice is so annoying and she never has anything to say that makes sense, MoZan, girl stop letting them pick on you for being a big girl, especially ghetto Lady Jade. Chris is cool and doesn’t hold back, he keeps the team in their place, SAM, SAM, SAM, move on and get your own show. You are funny as hell. Maybe you and Charlie Rock-n-Roll can do something together, you’re the only thing funny on the entire show.
I agree with Ms. Williams as well, June Bug is a see-out, I thought Nanette was the one who got your foot in the door. Lets not even talk about being G-Syle, don’t you drive a Mustang?? *wink, everyone knows what type of guys drive Mustangs.
I dislike the new morning show so bad that I’m forced to listen to Pugs and Kelly on Live 105.3 and I’m a sista. That’s bad.
August 20th, 2007 at 4:56 pm
Yeah I had that the morning team has just about split but all goods have to end some date. I just hated to see Nanette and Wig go they way they did. I heard the other day Wig got married maybe he will be on another station one day. Lady Jade gets on my nerves telling people to shut up. You do not tell grown ass people to shut she needs to respect her elders. She is a mess!!!!
MoZan I think will be okay once she gets use to it. I thought June Bug was a friend to Nanette
October 24th, 2007 at 5:15 pm
nanette and wig will be missed .i will never listen to k104 ever again.
October 30th, 2007 at 3:17 pm
nanette lee——— wig—— where did you go? let us know so we may follow!
November 7th, 2007 at 9:35 pm
The show is still wonderful.
In the real world, people get fired. Radio is part of the real world last time I checked. When Skip Murphy took over for Tom JOyner, people said the same thing. How dare you change what we love?
What most people don’t understand is business? When you look at the target demographic of K104, it isn’t 45-year old women looking for a good laugh. It is the age bracket of 18-24. You need people who reflect who you are trying to reach.
Nannette was not reflective of the target market. Most importantly, if she isn’t doing her job; like myself, she deserves to get fired.
YOu would imagine a person who makes $750,000 a year for 5 hours of talking a day would get there on time.
Over time, people change. To fire someone isn’t to betray someone. YOu must remember, Skip, Jade, Bug, Mozan, Wig, Chris, Sam, Nanette, and Ty are all employees; NOT EMPLOYERS. They work for Service Broadcasting Corporation, they don’t own it. In the end, Childs and Ken Dowe make the decisions on who gets hired and fired.
The show is still great. It just takes time to make an adjustment that nobody can do anything about.
November 21st, 2007 at 10:27 am
I do not agree with love2u.They stated themselves that they”voted” her out.It seems to me you know alot about their salaries and people in HR to just be a ” regular” listener.I will not lie i do not like the show now.Ur seems they are trying to act younger and they are failing really bad at that.June bug and Mozan are not funny at all.The only problem i had was when the put her” Nanette” down on air just to make themselves feel better.
December 18th, 2007 at 3:24 pm
Regardless if she was on time or whatever their “so called” reasons might have been it could have been done better, to belittle her and put her personal business on the air and joke about it was not cool. She helped June Bug when no one else would had the station to give him a chance when the world turned its back on him..and he wants to make jokes about her personal preference..but I guess that’s how you thank someone…that’s friendship for you.. and Lady Jade should have stayed on nights because no one wants to hear her useless, and ghetto opinions early in the morning. All mozan is good for is a food review…she cannot dress, and her jokes are not funny…saw her on “Who’s Got Jokes”, she should have not gotten that far with her bad built self…but in the end if the have not made peace with those they have slighted it will all come to them one by one….
January 2nd, 2008 at 5:54 pm
I stopped listening to the station after Wig & Nanette was dismiseed. I really liked listening to the station in the mornings when I woke up in the morning those guys made me laugh. Once that was gone I was gone as well. Thanks for the good years.
January 8th, 2008 at 12:40 pm
Nanette deserved what she got, if you all listeners really knew what she was about and what she caused and created. She’s the reason she was fired, good riddance to bad rubbish.
Wig, if your reading this, I still believe you were lead along by those sick individuals. I wish it were different.
January 9th, 2008 at 3:24 pm
Ann from the previous entry, you seem to have inside information. Please elaborate further so the listeners can get a better understanding of what happen. Or are you just hating on Nanette?
January 11th, 2008 at 1:06 pm
Yes, but they would not publish the truth, tried already. They must be on the same team
January 17th, 2008 at 1:08 pm
Why is Mozan no longer on the radio? What happened to her? What is she doing now?
August 7th, 2008 at 1:17 pm
The Playgorund is a BUST!! How fitting the name is for such a show full of brats and old farts. First off I hate Skip Cheatum, who is he or what is he supposed to be? Think he has the story but gets it all wrong. Learn how to TALK why don’t ya! Chris Arnold isn’t it time for you to RETIRE? You have been on K104 since K104 started back when. Mr. “I know everything, so I have to correct everybody because I am a history buff, I love history” then go get a job teaching history and you can correct all the kids you want!! Start off with all them girls you just had! Wassup , yo swimmers couldn’t produce any boys? Maybe thats good , we don’t need any more lil Chris Arnolds around. Sam “Old a** Putney” you on the wrong show old man! June-Bug, how fitting is your name! G-Style? Dude come on now! Stop “Hiding in Hip-Hop” Read the book by Terrnece Dean. Lady Jade, why do youcall yourself a lady when you talk so loud and country? What’s Lady about that? Mozan, don’t know you, haven’t heard you because I stopped listening a while back but take some advise and get out while you can if you ever want to advance in your career. Now Skip Murphy on 105.7, wonder why? Guilty maybe???? Hmmmmm…………. The Playground is a mess and needs a clean up on isle 104!!!