One of the great things about local radio are the advertisements (I know Sac Rag author runnergirl1971 agrees with me). Specifically, the advertisements that are read (usually in real time) by the actual local radio personality. Sports 1140 really has this nailed down. From the Rise Guys to Grant & Mike in the afternoons, if you want to refinance your house and then add a home theater system with your new found riches, you’ll get honest info from these guys whose voices you trust.
From time to time, however, I’ll hear a spot that really makes me scratch my head. And, no, I’m not talking about Whitey‘s fake conversations with Steve Moskowitz, the 1 (888) TAXDEAL guy. Seriously, how come no one in the studio ever calls him out on that? It’s a comedy show, right? But I digress…
No, I’m talking about Mike Lamb’s recent spots for Equifax. He begins with a discussion about Harrison Ford’s new movie “Firewall” which involves identity theft apparently. This leads to the plug for Equifax where you can pay a monthly fee to have your credit monitored, or something, who the hell knows. It’s the last part of the spot where Mike really tests your intelligence, and I quote:
“Take it from me, if it can happen to Harrison Ford’s character in the movie ‘Firewall’ it can happen to you!”
Not to put too fine a point on it (I dare you to read that line and NOT finish it with "say I’m the only bee in your bonnet"), but isn’t identity theft a real enough problem as it is that associating it with a fictitious character in a movie only serves to lessen the credibility of both the company and the endorser?
The Sac Rag 
“Mike Lamb”, “intelligence” and “credibility” all in the same article. Heh.
About a year ago, Lamb was arguing with some guy about the new Kings arena (or lack thereof) and the guy brings up affordable housing as something we might lose by dedicating money to an arena. Lamb, who apparently hasn’t paid attention to political discourse since “Licensed to Ill” was a number one record, actually called the guy a “communist.” I swear to god I am not making that up.
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I want more ads for Maita Toyota/Honda/Etc featuring spokesperson extraordinaire Lauren Maita. Her California accent is so strong she pronounces the word “hi” with four syllables.
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The only thing worth listening to on KHTK is the Don and Mike Show.
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Don & Mike, radio gods! Did you ever go to any of their Las Vegas Style shows? We went to the one at Memorial in ’99, then to the Marysville / Sleep Train / Autowest Amphitheatre in ’01. Those were out of control in a good way. “Where else would you rather be than right here, right now!”
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I’m sure other radio stations have intelligence insulting local advertisements, too. And I’m also sure those radio stations have personalities that are not worth listening to as well.
For a Don & Mike discussion please to point your web browser to:
http://www.radiogodsforum.com/
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