Author Archives: Hearne Christopher Jr.
Hearne: Scribe Ponders the Grisly Side of Suicide
The suicide of Robin Williams has left Craig Glazer in a pensive mood… “Have you ever thought about committing suicide?” he asks. “How would you do it? I think most people probably think about suicide. Like when you’re cornered and you don’t see a … Continue reading
Posted in Hearne_Christopher
17 Comments
Hearne: Lefsetz vs H.C. on ‘Why Things Don’t Last’
Why things no longer last? Let’s let entertainment and media overlord Bob Lefstez get things rolling: 1. Channel Overload Used to be there were 5,000 albums a year and only a few got on the radio and if you didn’t … Continue reading
Posted in Hearne_Christopher
Tagged Bob Lefsetz, East Hills Mall St Joe, Future Islands, Howard Stern, Lady Gaga, Lizzy Caplan, The Jezabels
6 Comments
Hearne: Lefsetz Unmasks Twitter, Laments Passing of Shared Knowledge
Like many of you, I’ve got friends who swear by Facebook and Twitter… I’ve also got friends who haven’t a clue. Stomper?. And like me, many of you probably passed through those portals a few years ago – I’ve got … Continue reading
Posted in Hearne_Christopher
Tagged Bob Lefsetz, Culture Club, Facebook sucks, Ferguson, Gengnam Style, JayZ, Johnny Carson, Michael Moore, Missouri, MTV, Tony Stewart, Twitter, Twitter sucks
17 Comments
Hearne: Predictable ‘Rush to Judgment’ by Osterheldt, Star
Here we go again… When it comes to race, you can count on the usual suspects to lay down the usual judgments. Take the Kansas City Star‘s hastily conceived editorial condemning Ferguson, Missouri police and citing unconfirmed details of the shooting as fact. Details … Continue reading
Hearne: New Media Passes, As Old Media Gorges on Ferguson, Lefsetz Says
Sign of the times? According to media and entertainment curmudgeon Bob Lefsetz, most online and social media could care less about the mainstream media story of this past week; the riots in Ferguson, Missouri, a St. Louis suburb. So while everybody from USA … Continue reading
Posted in Hearne_Christopher
3 Comments
Hearne: Lefsetz Calls Out Amazon, Corporate America & You
Seems like only yesterday microscopically small Rainy Day Books was fighting the good fight against the corporate bad guys… You know, Borders, Barnes & Noble. To do so, Rainy Day owners Vivien Jennings and Roger Doeren brought out the big guns. Heavy hitters like Martha … Continue reading
Hearne: The Dark Side of Robin Williams & His KC Connections
How many times must we see our so-called heroes unmasked before we learn our lesson? To separate actors like Robin Williams from the characters they play in movies and on dumbed down appearances on the Tonight Show. To remove them from the pedestals they may or … Continue reading
Hearne: Scribe Greenlights Royals for Post Season Play & Beyond
They’re up, they’re down – they’re down, they’re up… And given the Kansas City Royals decades long track record it’s all but impossible not to fear the worst. Even now, with the team in 1st Place for the first time in … Continue reading
Posted in Hearne_Christopher
Tagged Craig Glazer, Cy Young, Dan Glass, Danny Duffy, Eric Hosmer, George Brett, James Shields, Kansas City Royals, Moustakas
13 Comments
Hearne: KFKF & Country Continue to Slip in July Radio Ratings
If there’s one thing Kansas City hates, it’s being branded as flyover hick country… Which made the reign of country station KFKF (94.1 FM) atop local radio ratings a little unsettling perhaps. And when combining the ratings of KC’s three competing country stations … Continue reading
Posted in Hearne_Christopher
Tagged Channel 19, Johnny Dare, KCFX FM The Fox, KCPT, KCUR FM, KQRC FM, KYBG The Bridge, KZPT The Point, Mix 93.3 FM
19 Comments
Hearne: Lefsetz Calls Out Daily Beast for Bad Music Journalism
I’ll let you guys in on a little secret… A very little secret, because many of you already know or suspect what former Kansas City Star reporter Jim Fitzpatrick and I understand but seldom talk about. And that’s that news reporters are not … Continue reading
Posted in Hearne_Christopher
1 Comment
Hearne: The Empire Strikes Back — Entercom Ignites, Wilks Wilts
Think historic… A changing of the guard was in play in the July 2014 radio ratings as the once almighty Entercom became once again almighty. In a nutshell, Entercom’s The Point beat Mix 93.3, The Wolf beat KFKF and Q104 and The Rock and The … Continue reading
Posted in Hearne_Christopher, Uncategorized
Tagged Entercom, Johnny Dare, KFKF FM, Lazlo, Mix 93.3 FM, WDAF The Wolf, WHB, Wilks Brodcasting
5 Comments
Hearne: Are ‘Storm Chasers’ Just Money Grubbing Morons?
The answer to the above question: yes and no… It’s one I had to ask myself for like the zillionth time after reviewing that new twister flick that opens today, Into the Storm. I’ll get to the movie review a little later. … Continue reading
Posted in Hearne_Christopher, Uncategorized
8 Comments
Hearne: Cinetopia OP on Ropes Against AMC’s Town Center
Things are getting uglier… The three month-old war between Kansas City based AMC Theatres and newcomer Cinetopia soldiers on. And unfortunately for south Johnson County moviegoers, AMC appears to be pulling ahead. Far ahead, of late. This past weekend for example, AMC’s Town Center … Continue reading
Posted in Hearne_Christopher
Tagged AMC Town Center 20, Cinetopia Overland Park 18, Let's Be Cops
4 Comments
Hearne: Lefsetz Laments Decline of ‘News’ Media
Ever wonder why almost everything that generally passes for news disappears every time there’s a missing or downed Malaysian airliner, Ebola outbreak or Israeli insurrection? It’s not quite that simple, but it sure does seem that way at times, given television news penchant for beating dead … Continue reading
Posted in Hearne_Christopher
Tagged Beats, Bob Lefstez, Chris Anderson, Daily Beast, Jay Z, Jenna Marbles, John Lennon, Napster, Netflix, Rupert Murdoch, Spotify
9 Comments
Hearne: Does ‘Size Matter’ When it Comes to Stereotypes? Ask Jason Whitlock
Here’s a topic that’s always long on human interest… Penis size. While I was wrapping up a column about former Star scribe Jason Whitlock‘s failed recent attempt at courting mega controversy – the one about Canadians like KU one-and-doner Andrew Wiggins … Continue reading
Posted in Hearne_Christopher
Tagged Andrew Wiggins, ESPN, Jason Whitlock, Jeremy Lin, Kansas City Star, Kim Jong-Il, Lebron James
11 Comments
Hearne: Whitlock Riles Canucks with Bigoted ESPN Diss
Hypocrisy thy name is Jason… For a dude who made something of a name combating African American stereotypes, former KC Star scribe Jason Whitlock sure plays fast and lose when it comes to other ethnicities. Anybody remember Whitlock’s failed attempt at humor … Continue reading
Hearne: Westport “Kid” Problem Pulls Disappearing Act
You got ’em, you card ’em, you don’t got ’em… It’s looking like Westport’s effort to nip its “urban” issues in the bud may be working. As reported first on KCC this past April, the youthful crowds of African American youth … Continue reading
Posted in Hearne_Christopher
12 Comments
Hearne: Lezak Calls Royals Game, Weather & Forecasts Chiefs Season
In another life KSHB TV weather wonk Gary Lezak might be knee deep in a sports media career… As evidenced earlier this month by his play-by-play radio cameo during a Kansas City Royals – Detroit Tigers baseball game at Kauffman Stadium. … Continue reading
Posted in Hearne_Christopher
Tagged Craig Glazer, Gary Lezak, Kansas City Chiefs, Kansas City Royals, KSHB TV
5 Comments
Hearne: Stanford’s Hire Chef, Books Opening Headliner
This just in from the coming-soon Stanford’s comedy club at 119th & Metcalf… All systems are go, but construction delays have pushed back the grand opening of the new restaurant and comedy club at Rosana Square in Overland Park to the second … Continue reading
Posted in Hearne_Christopher
Tagged Craig Glazer, Flower Pot Bread, Rosana Square, Stanford & Sons, Stanford's Comedy Club
3 Comments
Hearne: Layoffs Fever Sweeps Kansas City Star…Again
So much for a nice, calm, body bag free year at the Kansas City Star… Return with me now for a moment to my July 8, 2014 column about the somber state of affairs at 18th and Grand. “There have been no … Continue reading
Posted in Hearne_Christopher
10 Comments
