The Overnightscape Underground

your late night radio trip

Thursday, October 1, 2009

The Rampler ends its run on WFMU

Though I was hoping to continue the show, The Rampler was not picked up for the Fall 2009 – Spring 2010 WFMU schedule.

There are two episodes remaining – I’ll do the show this Friday night / Saturday morning (October 3 – my birthday), and next week, October 10.

The reason for the cancellation, as I understand it, is twofold. First, it’s a very competetive schedule – a lot of very talented people want to get on the air on WFMU. Secondly, The Rampler really is on a very different “wavelength” from the other programming on the station, and so has been having a hard time “fitting in”.

I do think that given time, The Rampler may have been able to be a success at WFMU – but I understand it’s very hard to give a show like mine that kind of time, considering how many other shows are clamoring to get on.

So while I am disappointed, I do understand the decision and I think it may be for the best. Can only bash a square peg into a round hole for so long before it becomes tiresome for everyone involved.

I’ll remain on good terms with the station, and I may be back on the air in some capacity in the future.

With this, my sole remaining “radio” outlet will be The Overnightscape Underground (onsug.com) – which I do plan on continuing (and it’s been going great, and is better than the WFMU show anyway).

posted by Frank at 3:39 pm filed in News  

18 Comments »

  1. Hang in there Frank, I think it was a great experience for you, and for it to be on during “theovernight” was great. Finally where a show like yours should be, I can only imaging the experience of driving through the night all alone finding this voice on the radio. Your lonely companion as I ride down that dark road.

    Comment by chris200 — October 1, 2009 @ 4:00 pm

  2. Sorry to hear it but glad you’re at peace with the decision – I look forward to the continuing evolution of the onsug conduit!

    Comment by Brendan — October 1, 2009 @ 4:05 pm

  3. You know, the more I think about it, the angrier I get. On your recommendation, I tried to listen to other shows on the station, “Night People”, in particular. I got through about 10 minutes of that program before turning it off. The amateur broadcasting quality was horrendous.
    You offer a vastly superior and compelling show than is currently being aired on that station. I am certainly curious to see what the replacement will be. I am sure it will be sub-par dreck.
    I don’t know of any broadcaster that would have recorded and aired their initial reactions to being cancelled the way you did. It was gut-wrenching, compelling, and real which is a rare thing to find in broadcasting today. Don’t ever lose that quality. It is what makes you stand head and shoulders above the rest of the crowd.

    Comment by J. Wiz. — October 1, 2009 @ 4:11 pm

  4. Sorry to hear that, I will miss listening to the Rampler while I mow my grass over the weekend.

    I will just have to replace it with new onsug audio continuum.

    Take Care.

    Bob

    Comment by Bob LeMent — October 1, 2009 @ 4:29 pm

  5. FRANK!!!
    Listen buddy, that station has some of the worst broadcasting I’ve ever heard. You brought to it however, a quality not heard in live radio in probably decades. I know I’ve introduced alot of people to that station from Canada who WILL not listen after your last show airs.
    Listening to your show, I felt as though I’ve known you for years, and while we have a bit of a history through the AK stuff, I still feel like I was listening to an old friend.
    WFMU does not know what they are losing, and if your followers could change the outcome I know all of us would have made the valiant attempt to keep The Rampler on the air. I will continue to listen through onsug and the rampler.com, and when I come to the big city I still want a tour of where Frank Edward Nora records his many obscenity filled, hilarious shows.
    Oh yes and as someone posted before me; To have recorded your reactions to being cancelled and airing it the way you did, was compelling. I do feel bad that this avenue ends, but I know out of it you have gained a bigger following, and have gained some insight into yourself, and the people you entertain weekly.
    It’s a crying shame Frank, but you will still have your fans. You don’t need WFMU to be the great radio legend you already are.

    BG

    Comment by theBG (Brandon from Canada) — October 1, 2009 @ 6:09 pm

  6. Father forgive them (WFMU), for they know not what they have done.

    Comment by Mannythemailman — October 1, 2009 @ 6:50 pm

  7. F’M anyway.

    Comment by Neal — October 1, 2009 @ 9:02 pm

  8. Sorry to hear it’s over but I think you would have burned yourself out over time so it may be a blessing in disguise.I agree with other comments that the shows on the station are pretty poorand god awful presenting.Keep your head up you still have the rampler.

    Comment by hootie1233 — October 1, 2009 @ 9:44 pm

  9. Did any other show have such a varied audience? your the best at what you do and your destined for bigger and better stuff. although maybe you should have gone the Howard Stern route and got a couple of buddies with you and some naked chicks……….?

    Comment by dale — October 1, 2009 @ 9:59 pm

  10. This is no near the end – nay – but a loophole in time – back step once for a full two forth and multiply. FMU will be begging at your feet for forgiveness.

    And this show is way better anyway 😀

    Comment by eddie — October 2, 2009 @ 5:13 am

  11. I have a feeling I wasn’t on WFMU at all in the original timeline, the original version of 2009.

    Comment by Frank — October 2, 2009 @ 6:37 am

  12. Frank,

    The station is the losing party here. I’ve also tried to listen to other shows since you’ve been broadcasting there, and I’d have to say it’s just mediocre. Bland. Formulated and typical. I can’t believe that producers continue to allow the same template to be spewed out again and again whether it’s on network TV or the radio. You are interesting without being outrageous, and clever without being lewd.

    Watch Howard’s Private Parts tonight and get back on the saddle 🙂

    Ken

    Comment by Ken — October 2, 2009 @ 7:28 am

  13. Frank,

    I’m sure that I am one of many who was first exposed to your radio magic via WFMU. I’ve always enjoyed going along for the ride with you on your commutes and other adventures and hope to continue doing so. Best of luck with whatever is next and hope that the negative and positive energies surrounding your relationship with the station will balance each other out so that you can gain some insight from the whole experience. I would be glad if it is a door that can remain open for you if only because you sound like you are having so much fun playing around in someone else’s studio.

    I also was a bit blown away with the raw honesty captured in Eliminator. Rejection is such an ugly emotion to try to deal with. It was pure audio ponderousness with the hypnotic city noise droning in the background. Well done for just airing it all out (warts and all). If listener loyalty is a goal of yours, just wanted to let you know that you have mine.

    Comment by Raj — October 2, 2009 @ 8:58 am

  14. Agree with RAJ and others, the raw honesty captured on yesterdays program was amazing. It is a testament to the emotional power of audio and your dedication to keeping it real. Its easy to forget that how good this medium can be, when it is done with honesty and passion.

    Comment by chad bowers — October 2, 2009 @ 10:27 am

  15. I actually was getting worried that you’d dedicate too much time to WFMU and less to the underground…i loved your WFMU show, but there is something magical about the content that comes out on the underground….as long as you have some kind of “conduit” out there, I’ll be a listener! WFMU was a great experience for you and may serve you well in the future.

    Comment by Chris Lahren — October 3, 2009 @ 3:42 pm

  16. Very sorry to hear the news. Your programme was a great addition to the wfmu schedule and I find it hard to understand why they should not have let it run through the winter to allow it to bed in.

    What about a one hour programme on wfmu.

    Comment by Steve — October 5, 2009 @ 11:27 pm

  17. well, poop.

    Comment by DirtyDingo — October 7, 2009 @ 12:34 pm

  18. Wfmu is for babies, need I say more,

    Comment by Jonny from Canada — October 7, 2009 @ 6:52 pm

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