John Young, that voice you hear on RTV 6

Recently, results of a Harris Poll were released that I found particularly interesting.

When it comes to advertising, is a male or female voice more effective to sell a product?

No real surprise, the respondents said it really depended on the tone and content of the ad. In other words, what feels right.

Here at RTV 6, since the mid-80’s, one voice has felt right for us. 

Since 1986, John Young has been the man who has done the talking for Channel 6.

He has recorded thousands (maybe tens of thousands) of commercials, news and station promos, radio spots and news opens for RTV 6. If you call the TV station, John has even recorded the greetings on our station phone system.   

I’ve had the good fortune to have worked with John for over 20 years! He’s a terrific, hard-working talent. I thought it might be fun to reveal the man/voice behind the TV station.

PAUL: Okay John, do you remember when you became the Voice of Channel 6? 

JOHN YOUNG:  I not only remember, but I’ll never forget.

It was in the mid 80s, and I fell in love with Indianapolis years earlier working summer jobs at a radio station, long gone, called WFIE between my high school senior year and college freshman year. We were on Meridian in an all glass studio. And just  down the street was channel 6.

Coming to WRTV was a thrill. It is a rare and amazing time line that I’m still there but more a tribute to the focused management style of WRTV. They aren’t distracted by sideline issues but stay very intent on spending time thinking about what matters. I’ve had a real desire to never let them down as their loyalty is rare for today’s tv world, but internally they have a similar story. People have worked there for decades.

PAUL: How did you get started doing voice-over work? 

JOHN YOUNG: It was an accident.

I was happily managing a popular radio station in Atlanta. Just down the street was Ted Turner’s operation (WTBS, the local TV station that eventually became TBS, the cable Superstation.) They assured me I could get everything they needed done in a 1 hr a day recording session. 

That happened only because I work fast. But the training was priceless. Being on a tight budget Ted didn’t have lots of voices. He had, well, ME. That meant my 1 hr session might have Andy Griffith and the Braves promos, followed by a Wrestling promo (he owned the WCW).

We’d have a kids promo for the Flintstones and perhaps a Charles Bronson action weekend thrown in. I never knew until the next producer walked in what to expect. It forced me to find different moods and approaches.

Soon I began picking up more stations leading me to have to make a decision about my future. I wasn’t looking at the income as much as what I enjoyed doing, so I feel very fortunate that the opportunity presented itself.

PAUL: You are represented in a number of markets around the country, doing voice work on both TV and radio stations. What other cities might we hear your voice?

JOHN YOUNG: I have to think. Since I sit in a room all day I don’t focus on market size or location but on reading what’s in front of me. 

Louisville has been a long relationship. Nashville, Memphis, Cleveland, Buffao, Syracuse, Ft Wayne, Peoria, Montgomery, Richmond, San Francisco, Detroit, Atlanta, Augusta, Kansas City, Austin, Fresno, Los Angeles, Pittsburgh. There are more but that is a good start. I do radio promos for the Klove network which adds 100 or so cities.

Since I seldom hear my work I don’t get carried away with details because everyday brings in new needs for that day.

PAUL: Okay…you can be heard all over the country. So just how the heck do you do what you do? In other words, what is a typical day like for an announcer?

JOHN YOUNG: It takes a real commitment. I know it probably seems melodramatic as many would think “all you do is sit and talk.” But since the requests are time sensitive I have to remain focused and concentrate with few distractions.

I start reading around 8am and finish at 6pm. I have the convenience of working from my home (John has a studio in his house) so I don’t lose travel time. But I also go some days without anything but coffee.

Every client gets the best service I can give. They don’t need any excuses and I give them service with minimal vacation days. I don’t remember when I had a sick day.

Every station is doing more with less and truthfully, each person I work with is working longer and harder than me so I can not let them down. The staff at WRTV is especially gifted. The hours the marketing team devotes has paired me with some of the best looking work I’ve ever done.

PAUL: You’ve been doing voice-over work for a while. What’s been the biggest change you’ve seen in your business?

JOHN YOUNG: More competition. Both at my level and with cable tv offering a variety of choice.

At the end of the day however, for me, more doesn’t mean better. I often joke that I pay for all those cable channels and only watch the same ones over and over. From Lost to 20/20, the View, GMA, and yes even Dancing with the stars, I’ll sit at night and usually start with ABC and most often stay there. The big networks still have the best shows. 

But with cost of business and competition it’s a challenge. Advertisers know however, that to still reach the most people effectively, television and radio still deliver the most people at the best price. So I can only pray if we all do our job better than the next guy, we’ll have a job tomorrow.

PAUL: Finally, if someone wanted to do what you do, what kind of advice/guidance would you offer to get into the voiceover world?

JOHN YOUNG: Be very patient and try really hard not to take anything personally.

Don’t expect too much, too quickly. Don’t do it thinking it’s an easy way to make money.

I run into so many folks dying to do this. But producers who have a lot riding on efficiency do tend to depend on people who get the job done. Don’t we all? We buy products we know and trust. This kind of career is a slow build. It takes more references to be given vs someone running slick ads bragging on themselves.

I’d recommend a person be a student of the business. I watch more commercials than programs. No one can talk to me when commercials are on. I study the reads. I have coaching even after all these years. I know I can do better and work at being my best. If a person wants to do this, go to agents websites and listen to commercials. Read out loud everything, from the Bible to a magazine ad. Make it interesting. Learn to find the hot words in a sentence immediately. Remember your job is to get someones attention without yelling, to convince them without arm twisting, and that at the end of the day you’re representing someone bigger than you.

RTV6 was doing well before I came along, and it will continue after I’m gone. From Coca Cola, to Ford, Delta Airlines and other commercials I do and have done, THEY are the star, they are the product and I’m just telling someone about it. It’s not about me.

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Well put. Thanks John, for all the wonderful reads! You can obviously hear John’s work literally every hour on WRTV. Good stuff.

BTW, I am going to be taking Spring Break with my family. So have a great week.

Be back with a new post on March 26 or so.

I love watching the Oscars. The big night is this Sunday on ABC and RTV 6. 

Even more fun than watching is trying to predict the winners! So here are my humble picks!

BIG RATINGS:

My first prediction is that this year’s ceremony will have one of the biggest audiences in years. Because this year’s Academy Awards ceremony offers something for everyone. In particular, this year’s Best Picture race actually has nominees that a large number of people will have actually seen!

No offense against small, important, independent films, those are important. But these smaller, lesser seen films have dominated in recent years. The Oscars are about selling and marketing the movies to the world. So this year, Hollywood has finally put some POPULAR movies up for the big prize. That means viewers will have movies to root for, movies that they may have actually seen! In particular, “Avatar,” “The Blind Side” and “Up.”  

Plus, look at the Acting catagories…real stars, people we know! Whoo-Hoo!

Finally, I thought Steve Martin did a terrific job as Oscar host a few years ago. Teaming him up with Alec Baldwin is an interesting choice that should be fun to watch.

BEST PICTURE:

Let’s get right to it.

There are ten nominees. Avatar, The Blind Side, District 9, An Education, The Hurt Locker, Inglourious Basterds, Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire, A Serious Man, Up, and Up in the Air.

My Pick: Avatar.

Sometimes ya just gotta go with the game-changer. ”Avatar” is big. And in 3D, it is one of those movies that has literally changed how movies will be seen. I know “The Hurt Locker” is getting alot of attention. It’s good, but if its not “Avatar” I wouldn’t mind seeing “Inglorious Basterds,” a truly original movie take the prize.

BEST DIRECTOR:

James Camerom, Kathryn Bigelow, Quentin Tarintino, Lee Daniels, Jason Reitman

My Pick: Kathryn Bigelow

Cameron’s won before. He says give “Avatar” Best Picture but give his ex-wife Bigelow the Director prize. He’s right.  BUT…I think Tarintino is so original, talented AND he wrote his own movie in “Basterds.”  I really wouldn’t mind seeing him win this catagory.

BEST ACTOR:

Jeff Bridges, George Clooney, Colin Firth, Morgan Freeman, Jeremy Renner.

My Pick – Jeff  Bridges. Haven’t seen “Crazy Heart” but I really like Bridges. So this year, “The Dude” brings it home. Cool too to have Clooney (who won a supporting actor statue a couple years ago back.)

BEST ACTRESS:

Sandra Bullock , Helen Mirren, Carey Mulligan, Gabourney Sidibe, Meryl Streep

Got to go with Sandy. But Meryl is probably more deserving.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR:

Matt Damon, Woody Harrelson, Christopher Plummer, Stanley Tucci, Christoph Waltz

My Pick:  Christoph Waltz

My friend Sandwich saw “Inglorious Basterds” when it came out. He told me then that Waltz deserved the Oscar. I’ve seen ”Basterds” too. Sandwich is right. Waltz owns this one.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS:

Penelope Cruz, Vera Farmiga, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Anna Kendrick, Mo’nique

My Pick: Mo’nique

Another lock.

Other awards I see…

Tarintino will get his writing recognition again for BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY for “Inglorious Basterds.”  Jason Reitman and Sheldon Turner will get BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY for “Up in the Air.”  

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY will go to “The Hurt Locker.”

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS will be “Avatar.”

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE will go to Pixar/Disney’s very deserving “Up.”

Live Red Carpet coverage starts at 6PM this Sunday on RTV 6!

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Speaking of the Red Carpet, the Oscars Red Carpet show at 8pm that leads directly into the Oscar telecast at 8:30pm has announced three hosts that have me scratching my head.  

Here is the release from ABC:

“The View” co-host Sherri Shepherd teams with Jess Cagle and Kathy Ireland to serve as hosts for the 82nd Academy Awards® pre-show, “Oscars Red Carpet… 2010,” telecast producers Adam Shankman and Bill Mechanic announced today.

Okay, Sherri Shepherd, is the co-host of ABC’s “The View” and has a role in the Oscar nominated-film “Precious.” I see the connection to the Academy Awards.

Jess Cagle is the managing editor of Entertainment Weekly.  He did a decent job last year. Okay…

But what does ex-model Kathy Ireland have to do with the Oscars? I loved her in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue so many years ago. But on the Oscars?

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Finally, you will NOT hear performances of the Best Songs this year. They have eliminated that part. And I’m fine with that. 

Enjoy the show! I’ll have my popcorn ready!

Jason and Molly getting married March 8 on ABC and RTV 6!

For only the second time ever,  the hit show “The Bachelor” will celebrate a wedding on ABC! Jason and Molly from last year’s edition are getting married! 

(Okay, technically, this is the FIRST wedding for the Bachelor. The other wedding was the pink themed extravaganza with Trista and Ryan from “The Bachelorette.”)   

Jason and Molly, from last year’s edition will tie the knot in a two hour televised ceremony on ABC and RTV 6 on Monday, March 8. 

You remember Jason…he’s the one that picked Melissa Rycroft then rejected her on the follow up show, admitting he made a mistake. Jason then added insult to injury and went for his #2 pick, Molly.

Jason was crucified by fans for his approach to telling Melissa Rycroft that it was over on national TV.

But ultimately, it appears his decision has worked out for everyone!

Within a week of the rejection, ABC sensing an opportunity, invited Melissa to join ABC’s other hit reality show, “Dancing with the Stars.”

Melissa did get a "a happily ever after" after all

Not only did Melissa shine, finishing in the top three, she was invited to join ABC as a Good Morning America special correspondent. She even worked Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve. And the best news…she got married herself to an old friend/boyfriend late last year.

But the big question I have…will she be invited to the Jason and Molly’s wedding?     

Stay tuned!

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UPDATED: ABC’S OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE with more details!

ABC CORDIALLY INVITES YOU TO THE WEDDING OF JASON MESNICK AND MOLLY MALANEY, ON “THE BACHELOR: JASON AND MOLLY’S WEDDING,” MONDAY, MARCH 8

“The Bachelor” Couple Will Celebrate Their Union with a Spectacular Event

Jason Mesnick and Molly Malaney, the first “Bachelor” couple to ever walk down the aisle, will share a dramatic new chapter of their love story with millions of viewers when ABC televises their much anticipated wedding on “The Bachelor: Jason and Molly’s Wedding,” MONDAY, MARCH 8 (8:00-10:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network.

The couple, who announced their engagement in October, will let viewers in on all the exciting festivities – from Molly’s dress fitting for her dazzling custom-made gown to Jason and Molly planning the big day with their wedding planner and event designer. Then it’s on to their bachelor and bachelorette parties, and the next stage of their romantic journey with a beautiful wedding ceremony in the perfect location.

Past “Bachelor” and “Bachelorette” couples, stars and participants (to be announced at a later date) will be on the guest list to help the couple celebrate, along with their families and friends.

Jason and Molly have had a rocky road on their way to happily ever after, which makes this momentous event that much sweeter for them. Jason’s journey goes back more than a year, when he was one of the final two bachelors on DeAnna Pappas’ edition of “The Bachelorette.” Although ultimately rejected by DeAnna, he was the overwhelming fan favorite and the first ever single dad on “The Bachelor” to try his luck at finding love again. He proposed to Melissa Rycroft in the finale, only to find that he had a change of heart. In a heartbreaking and shocking “After the Final Rose” special, he broke up with Melissa – and hoped it was not too late to beg Molly to give him a second chance to win her love. Good thing he took the gamble – despite the intense scrutiny from fans and media, his risk was rewarded. The couple took slow and steady steps to build their relationship, including Molly’s building a bond with Jason’s son, Ty, as they saw their connection develop into a real, lasting union.

Hosted by Chris Harrison, “The Bachelor: Jason and Molly’s Wedding” is a production of Next Entertainment in association with Warner Horizon Television. Mike Fleiss and Martin Hilton are the executive producers.

The Golden Globes were handed out over the weekend.

Generally the Globes are not necessarily a great predictor of the Oscars (coming in March this year due to the Winter Olympics in February.) But I’m hoping “Avatar’s” nomination and win for Best Drama might be accurate.

That’s not to say I think “Avatar” is the Best Picture of the year (though it is certainly is a contender.)

But I am hoping the Academy shows the blue people some love for the sake of the Academy itself. The last time a James Cameron blockbuster was up for Best Picture (back when a little movie called “Titanic” was king of the world) the Oscars recorded record ratings.

With “Avatar” an obvious audience favorite, it would be great to see the popular movie in the competition. Why? Because it gives the TV audience a recognizable movie to root for. And that’s good. Because while the Oscars are an opportunity to salute the Best movies, it’s really about celebrating and ultimately about promoting the movies in general!

Movies are a multi-billion dollar a year business. The viewing public are the customers. So give the customers what they want. Movies they know and love that they actually SAW. Last year, Hollywood passed on some legit, commercial contenders (like “The Dark Knight”) that were also widely seen.  

The Academy knows over the past few years they’ve spent too much recognizing ”art” when it comes to the Oscars and not enough on celebrating success and some of the most popular movies. Is “Transformers 2″ the best movie? Course not. But it was THE MOST SEEN MOVIE of 2009 (with the possible exception of “Avatar.”)

 This year could be a watershed year for the Oscars. In addition to “Avatar” the hugely popular
The Blind Side” will and should also get some Oscar love. (“The Blind Side” is a movie that has tremendous word of mouth, especially for families.)

Big ratings for the Oscars because of the success of “Avatar,” “The Blind Side,” and “Up” will also help the smaller “art films” (like “The Hurt Locker’) that deserve recognition by putting them in front of so many more eyeballs at the Oscar ceremony.

Look for the Oscars Sunday, March 7 on ABC and RTV 6.  

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How’s this for a headline…”Susan Lucci in HD.”

Beginning Wednesday, February 3, ABC and RTV 6 will begin broadcasting “All My Children” in HDTV/Stereo Audio.

The show recently moved from it’s old New York City studios to new facilities in Los Angeles that feature HD production.

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My son peeks behind classic model kits

As a kid, I used to love building plastic model kits. Spaceships. Monsters. Cars.

My eight year old and I were in a hobby store over the weekend (picking up gear for our annual Scout Pinewood Derby cars.)

I checked out the model kit section, just to see if they still make them. 

Boy, talk about a blast from the past!

I’m not sure kids like to build model kits these days, but its obvious the model manufacturers are targeting baby boomers like me.

I saw dozens of model kits that were popular when I was a kid – the original U.S.S. Enterprise model from the original “Star Trek” TV series; The Seaview submarine from “Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea;” Robby the Robot from “Forbidden Planet.”

They even had a series of model kits from the seventies that feature the Universal monters like “Frankenstein” “The Wolf Man” and Bela Lugosi’s “Dracula.” 

Many of the models even feature the original packaging! The only thing that wasn’t original…the price. The Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea model kit cost $90!

Whoa!   

That’s a lot of cash for a plastic model kit. But even at that price, the kits sure look tempting.

She is one of the most amazing, influential women of all time.

But is Oprah still relevant?

Last week the New York Post ran a story that asked it this way: “Has Oprah lost her mojo?”

Whatever you want to call it, people are not watching the queen of daytime television like they used to. 

The New York Post reported:

” TV’s reigning queen is losing viewers at a rate that hasn’t been seen since “The Oprah Winfrey Show” was launched 23 years ago. Winfrey’s ratings for the July 4th week, were her lowest since 1983 — the latest in an alarming slide that’s been going on for the last five years. The ratings for “Oprah” since 2004 are down by nearly a third, 32 percent, records show.”

 That trend is showing in Indianapolis too.

For the latest July ratings, Oprah is now number two at 4pm show, running a full rating point+plus behind a surging “Judge Judy” on RTV 6. ( Judge Judy really DOES rule at 4pm!)

So what’s wrong with Oprah?

I asked three women, each a fan of the show, what they thought was wrong with Oprah.  

One complained that the show seems to have a more tabloid feel to it. The topics are a little more salacious. My friend says she always liked the more spiritual aspects of the show and didn’t feel it was as focused anymore.

Another complained whenever she tuned in, it was a repeat. It’s not surprising as Oprah only produces about 26 weeks worth of episodes each year. That means half the time you tune in, it likely will be a repeat!

And the problem with that is the show misses so many current events.

Witness this, the summer of Michael Jackson’s death. Oprah famously interviewed the King of Pop for ABC many years ago. Wouldn’t a show about Michael be appropriate right now? I’d like to hear what Oprah thinks about all the mania surrounding his passing. But you won’t see it, at least until this fall when the show goes back into production.

The third woman I talked to didn’t think there was really anything wrong with Oprah…my friend just didn’t make the time to watch the show like she used to.

Does that mean Oprah is still relevant?

Sometimes.

But does it also mean it’s okay to miss when you have a busy schedule?

Absolutely.

Even Oprah isn’t invulnerable to busier lifestyles.

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"Shaq Versus"

Gotta share this odd, new reality show coming to ABC…

ABC this week announced the premiere of “Shaq Vs.,” a new competition series starring NBA superstar Shaquille O’Neal. The one-hour series, in which O’Neal will take his athletic prowess beyond the basketball court and strive to become a champion in a new sporting event each week, will debut TUESDAY, AUGUST 18 (9:00- 10:00 p.m. ET) on the ABC Television Network.

 Over the course of the series, O’Neal will challenge Olympian and World Champion Michael Phelps in swimming; Ben Roethlisberger, Super Bowl-winning quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers, in football; reigning U.S. Open, Australian Open and Wimbledon Champion Serena Williams in tennis; championship fighter Oscar de la Hoya in boxing; two time NL MVP and St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols in baseball; and Olympic gold medalists Kerri Walsh and Misty May-Treanor in beach volleyball.

 “These athletes may be on top of their game, but I am up for the challenge,” said O’Neal. “I plan to train hard and win, so look out.”

 “Shaq is the only one with the athletic skills and personality to carry this unique project,” said John Saade and Vicki Dummer, co-heads of Alternative Series, Specials and Late-Night, ABC Entertainment Group. “It’s Shaq versus the best athletes in the world, competitors who aren’t afraid of the challenge… or Shaq’s humor.”

 The series will closely follow Shaq and his athletic adversary throughout the rigorous training process and the pre-game hype, including press conferences and interviews, all leading up to the final competition. To level the playing field, O’Neal will negotiate a handicap with his opponent and train with a coach for one week leading up to each challenge.

There you go!