John & Gordy's Media World, Rumors, Movie Clips, Ursula, and Clair.

 Here's another little slice of the show featuring the rumor of the week, a few movie clips and short reviews, Ursula Understands, and radio caller Clair. 

John & Gordy's Media World, Gordy at Large: To Art, or not Too Art?

 A rare "Gordy at Large" segment featuring a Willy St. couple of artists. 

John & Gordy's Media World Baraboo Rap fishing song.

 Fishin' musicians, this is for you...The Baraboo Rap:

John & Gordy's Media World O'Bros Theme Tribute

I had to include the entire O'Bros song for Media World, which was a takeoff of Spooner's Mean Old World. I will always regret not making this the alternating theme intro for the show:

John & Gordy's Media World Francois Fox and Cow Chip Competition

This is a special show for me, because to some small degree I get to live out my dream job; hosting and talking to children's show puppets. Fox 47's wise cracking Francois Fox adds commentary to our other guest's uniquely Wisconsin event, the Cow Chip Throwing competition. 

John & Gordy's Media World The Onion's Scott Dikkers

Here's a rare appearance of one of the Onion's founders and cartoonist Scott Dikkers, back in the early days of the paper:

John & Gordy's Media World full episode Rick Murphy and Johnny Danger.

 Another full episode of previously posted interviews. Happy Cowboy Rick Murphy and Johnny Danger.

John & Gordy's Media World Full episode Heinen and Reichenberger

This is a full show, unedited, of previous posts featuring Neil Heinen and Joel DeSpain, along with Visions owner Al Reichenberger.

John & Gordy's Media World, Visions revealed

Never a cable show to shy away from controversy, we got a lot of back history on Vision's, Madison's strip club, from owner Al Reichenberger. But times changed... 

Isthmus: There’s a criminal class in Madison now. Bad actors walking around with guns and drugs,” says Reichenberger. “We didn’t have to deal with those people before.”

Reichenberger says it’s a problem at every nightclub, not just the ones for gentlemen. “Visions didn’t change,” says Reichenberger. “The world did.”

John & Gordy's Media World, Ursula Understands

Who could forget the Ursula Understands advice columns in Isthmus and the Capital Times. Without her advice, is it any wonder why we're more confused today than ever?

John & Gordy's Media World, Tour Capital City Distributor of Comics

As a Silver Age superhero comic book reader, not a collector, I was so thrilled to have taken a tour of the Midwest's biggest comic book distributors, Capital City Distributors (Capital Comics). The company loved superheroes, and even published their own comics for awhile, like Nexus, Badger, and Whisper.  

Below my video tour is a Wiki short summary of how 200 people lost their jobs when Marvel decided to distribute their own comics.

1995 saw a major restructuring of the direct market distribution system, caused by Marvel Comics's late-1994 purchase of third-ranked distributor Heroes World Distribution and decision to distribute its titles in-house.[7][8] Faced with the loss of one-third of its business (Marvel's market share) Diamond reacted by outbidding Capital City for exclusive deals with Marvel's main rival DC Comics; and despite intense efforts on the part of Davis and Griepp,[9] Dark Horse Comics and Image Comics as well.

Capital City reacted by suing Marvel for the loss of their business, resulting in a settlement allowing them to continue distributing Marvel product until October 1995[10] (for everyone else, Marvel went exclusive with Heroes World starting in July).[11] In addition, Capital City was able to sign exclusive deals with Kitchen Sink Press, TSR, and Viz Comics—as well as acquiring the Gary, Indiana-based distributor Friendly Frank's.[12] Nonetheless, by 1996 Capital faced the choice between bankruptcy and selling out.

In July 1996 Capital City was acquired by Diamond. At the time of sale, Capital had over $150 million in annual sales.[2] The purchase price was not disclosed, but the acquisition brought an estimated $50 million in sales revenue to Diamond,[13] and effectively awarded Diamond complete control of the comics distribution system.[7] Most of Capital City's 100 employees in Madison and another 100 in Sparta lost their jobs in the deal,[14] though a few key staff members, including co-founder John Davis, joined Diamond's staff.[15]

John & Gordy's Media World, Rich Murphy's Happy Cowboys

The late radio legend and historian Rick Murphy gave Madison so much, including his own music as a member of the Happy Cowboys. We still miss his stories and creativity.

John & Gordy's Media World, Nils Lofgren's Valentine

 Here's a long lost 92 WMAD-FM in studio song by Nils Lofgren, Valentine:

John & Gordy's Media World, ABS Tour.

 Gordy's showbizzy tour highlighting the bright side of bull semen.

John & Gordy's Media World, Francois Fox and Pirate Radio

We got our first call from...a puppet, star of the Fox 47 children's show, Francois Fox. We also feature a visual version of WMAD's Pirate Radio, by Jay Rath.

John & Gordy's Media World, Movie Review?

 I wish I could say there was some attempt to review a movie, but...

John & Gordy's Media World, co-host Arny Wheeler and critics Phil Davis and Patrice Wendling.

The tables are turned in this special episode, where Isthmus media critic Phil Davis and Capital Times critic Patrice Wendling trash Media World, their gracious host. Or do they? Actually, they foretold what eventually happened; the demise of local radio in Madison. And someone said it couldn't happen here.

John & Gordy's Media World, Triple M's Mark Elliot and 15 weatherman Gordy's Tonight Show entrance

Those familiar with Media World and the Family Show know getting fired like John has so many times is one of those not so appreciated perks of the radio business. When Triple M's late night guy Mark Elliot got his pink slip, who else would he have called. 

Plus, Gordy's weatherman career hit this feature high note at WMTV 15 with his dreamlike forecast intro:

John & Gordy's Media World, Lugene Chicks sings...

I knew Lugene Chicks as a guest on my WIBA-FM radio show and as a neighbor in my Fitchburg apartment complex. She was a song writer and performer who had a great voice and future. Here's a captured moment from the past: 

John & Gordy's Media World, Top Ten Album picks and Packer Cookbook

 What else can we add to this? Not much but maybe more rambling...

John & Gordy's Media World Last Show

...it was too soon...part 1:

Part 2:

John & Gordy's Media World wins Best of Madison, and Chris Kammer, Rock and Roll Dentist.

Madison's Rock and Roll Dentist Chris Kammer stopped by to promote boxing? Why not.

John & Gordy's Media World Johnny Danger and Greg Behr

The one amazing thing about doing Media World was how we all got along, like competitor and morning show powerhouse Johnny Danger and Greg Behr. It's what made local radio so personal and relatable. Yea, I miss that...

John & Gordy's Media World Joel DeSpain and Neil Heinen.

He just retired, my old friend and Family Show co-creator at WIBA-FM Neil Heinen sits down with John and Gordy, along with former reporter and now public information officer for Madison Police Joel DeSpain. A great trip down memory lane...

John & Gordy's Media World John Kovalic and Jay Ferris

Here's a guest appearance by John Kovalic, cartoonist and publisher of Wild Life and the Dork Tower series, along with John's guest co-host and former WMAD radio guy Jay Ferris, filling in for Gordy. Sadly, Kovalic was given little time to say anything during the program, and we couldn't fix it in editing:

John & Gordy's Media World Doug Moe and Attorney's

Here's another example of having done no show prep whatsoever, one of Madison's best writers Doug Moe came with two of his own guests...and it only got more confusing from there.

John & Gordy's Media World Jay Rath Critiques Nite Owl Movies

 Willing to take the risk, Media World exposed itself to local media critic Jay Rath. It didn't go well...

John & Gordy's Media World's First Show

This is how John and Gordy decided to introduce the Big Sky Theater', featuring the best of the most boring movies ever. Hey, you come up with a better idea, okay.

John & Gordy's Media World hosts Art Paul Schlosser.

 For so many decades now, Art Paul Schlosser's stage has been on the streets of Madison. Here's a look back on Art Paul's career...like Wikipedia says, "Art Paul Schlosser is an artist, cartoonist, comedian, journalist, musician, poet, singer, songwriter, and peanut butter sandwich based in Madison, Wisconsin."