...The cast of characters have changed some over the years on the Chrisman Show but Howard Smith was there from the start and sidekick Rodney, loincloth and all, joined the show that very first year. Other favorites early on were everyone from Mr. Rogers to President George Bush and my all-time favorite, President Ronald Regan. Leonard, the typical housewife from Faxon, Andy Rooney and Dwayne Dumple have all been around for 25 years and still make appearances.In 1987 – thinking I would return to Miami – I was lured away from the Twin to the new 102.7 KISS-FM and all of a sudden the Chrisman Show could be heard outside of Newberry. The big lure to leave the Twin – owner Al Dame called and told me “your career is dying over there – get out while the getting out is good.” So I did. And with me came all the characters including Cousin Harry, Elvis Smeal and a year later KC – Kathy Collins – joined the show as a co-host. With more new regulars like the Farmer from Mansfield and the Man from Muncy, we took the Chrisman Show Live – a 2 hour comedy/music variety show –on the road to perform to live audiences for 11 years. The shows played everywhere from Knoebel’s to the CommunityArtsCenter stage. We gave the show a rest in November of 2000 and are planning to finally bring it back to the live stage sometime in 2007 – I promise! Really! Of course I’ve been saying that for 5 years. Actually, the live shows played to thousands in Central Pennsylvania and are some of the proudest moments of my career. So yes, they’re a lot of work, but we’re coming back. Possibly as early as this spring.In the fall of 1997 when KC fled to Hollywood to be closer to her true love – actor Sam Elliott (it was rumored that she was pregnant with Sam’s baby) the morning show went on a talent search for her replacement and the winner hands down was Gail Bair. It’s hard to believe that it’s been almost 10 years. Gail’s great laugh and fun personality have been a big part of the show’s success recent years. Always a good sport, she’s not only had to put up with the Boy for the last decade but she’s also done everything from twirling fire in her bra and panties for volunteer firemen (she’s a former state champion baton twirler from Jersey Shore) – to French kissing Clyde Peeling’s big snake.It’s now hard to believe that it’s been nearly 20 years since I first hit the air on KISS-FM in April of 1987. At the time I was also doing a nearly 4 year stint on WNEP TV’s ½ hour nationally syndicated show PM Magazine. When that ended, I kept my hand in television and my love for doing play by play by starting Cable Sports Productions. Cable Sports, now in its 20th year, produces the Fairfield Auto Group TV Game of the Week – seen Sundays at 10 am and Mondays at 7 pm now on the new Comcast Channel 71 locally. My good buddy Babe Mayer joins me weekly during the fall and winter as we televise and do the play by play of the top high school football and basketball game each week. We also do select LycomingCollege games. So that’s my story for now - and I’m sticking to it!! We’re into our 20th year on KISS and the bottom line –it’s still fun, still challenging –and every day we talk to great listeners on the air who unbelievably aren’t shy about telling us everything about their lives. I liked the woman who was living with her ex – and her current husband – in the same house. She slept with the ex when the current hubby was out of town – and then back with the husband when he came back. And as you can imagine – these guys hate each other! Imagine the great conversations at the dinner table – “pass the mashed potatoes before I shove them up your nose.” You can’t make this stuff up.Well, that’s it for now. Thanks for being so loyal. Thanks for being part of the largest morning radio audience in Central Pennsylvania. See ya, tomorrow a little after 5:30.
