1/22/2015
So. The
final show has been nixed.
I got an
email Tuesday evening informing me that WBAI is really really super quite
double extra jolly well done with me. “We wanted to give you another two shows
to say goodbye to your listeners but that does not seem to be in the best
interest of the station.” I wrote back asking if I might be given a reason.
That was two days ago, and still no response, so I guess it ends with a whimper,
Kids. No farewell show and no archives of my last. I imagine at some point I’ll
be glad this happened. But right now gratitude is not what I’m feeling.
Except
for you. Thank you to the producers, program directors, and WBAI staffmembers
who’ve encouraged me through this. A special thanks to listener Lisa Sabath for
launching the petition to keep me at ‘BAI, and thank you to all who’ve signed
it. Many deep-dish thanks to the listeners who’ve supported Thump and Growl on
WBAI for more than four years, even as that became increasingly difficult to
do. And to those who’ve energetically fought the show’s cancellation? Oof. I
can’t thank you enough. Those who’ve posted, messaged, and emailed me in recent
weeks have made me laugh, made me cry, have blown sunshine up my skirt when I’ve
felt beaten down, and told me things I wish I’d known sooner (!). Some of you
have applied poetry, philosophy, and psychiatric expertise to the situation (who
knew I had so many therapists and MSWs listening?), and a couplefew of you have
already contacted me about bringing Thump and Growl to your stations. Thank you
to the folks who followed me to ‘BAI from WPKN, and especially to the weirdos
who’ve been following me since my years in commercial radio.
I can’t *not*
do radio. I’ve tried. Chasing people in the street and forcing my earbuds into
their noggins is unsanitary. And not as welcomed as you’d think. But this is a busy
time (in my non-radio life), so it’ll be weeks before I can begin to sort out
where to take the show. After doing radio for a good chunk of the last 20+
years, there are things I’ve always wanted to do but have never been able to. 1)
Do shows in my undiepants, and 2) selectively but freely employ the Carlin
words which pepper my off-air conversation and musical choices. So I may be
looking for a new gig with these noble aspirations in mind. Or not. Dunno.
If you’d
like to be notified when I land somewhere, you may wanna join the Thump and
Growl Facebook group and/or send your email address to thumpandgrowl “at” gmail
“daght” com and I’ll make an email list.
I was
looking for a photo on my phone this morning and ran across this one, the last
one taken in that studio, shot a couple of weeks ago. This is what I saw when I
looked up the email informing me the 27th would be my last Tuesday
morning with you. Is it me, or is this pic an absolute Beatles album of
symbolism? Maybe it’s just me. But it’s hilariously apt, no?
Thanks
for everything, Peeps. I love the fuck outta yuzz. Stay tuned.
~ Kimberly