Guest Host Anniversary

[at40petebattistini]

Based on comments posted here, it would appear that most AT40 fans that access this site can relate to programs from the mid-70s and later. But I would like to note that today (June 16) is another anniversary for the AT40 program (from 1973) hosted by Don Bowman.

Of all of the guest hosts in AT40's history, Bowman may be the least favorite. But each host has brought their own personality to AT40, like it or not. I'll admit that Bowman's country flavor just didn't seem right, especially when introducing rock acts -- Edgar Winter, Alice Cooper, Focus and Deep Purple, for example -- who were in the countdown that week. However, he's a part of AT40 (and American Country Countdown) history and I treasure the show he hosted.

By the way, if you've never heard this particular program, he closed the show with a sample of his oddball humor, often heard on ACC:

"Keep your feet on the ground and don't step on any stars!"

[bandit73]

Wasn't there a period of several years in the '90s when Casey got a bad cold about once every 2 weeks or so and had to have a guest host fill in for him? Wasn't it usually Mark Elliott or David Perry?

In the episodes from the '70s, I don't think he ever got a cold. It's almost as if colds weren't invented yet. I know there was an episode in late 1979 in which Casey had Robert W. Morgan fill in for him because smog ruined his voice for a week though.

[BrettVW]

I doubt that Casey caught a cold once every 2 weeks in the 90's, although I am pretty sure that some of the WW1 years had more than enough guest hosts. My guess is this was due to Casey's schedule for both other work and vacation.

I would go out on a limb and say that most of Casey's off weeks are not voice related, but rather scheduling conflicts or vacations. As has been discussed in the past, now that Casey's schedule is not nearly as full he has only had one guest host in the last two years. Which actually was for a cold!

[Adrian]

Casey got a lot of "colds" even before the 90s. As AT40 became more popular, Casey was probably able to negotiate a contract that allowed him more weeks to take time off.

Speaking of colds, the last time I remembered hearing Casey complaining of a cold, it was some time in April (I think) of 1998, soon after AT40 came back. Outroing a song by Chumbawamba, Casey said, "they may have amnesia (title of the song), but I've got a cold". Thought that was funny.

[Indycolt]

Don Bowman as a guest host was my least favorite show. And now that I have several of his old ACC shows,his countryish style didn't really fit--but for one week,what the heck. Jerry Bishop was another guest host in 1976 that had a different style to his delivvery--but I still enjoy listening to it. Ditto for Wink Martindale as a guest host during the fall of 1975.

SteveO

[Radioman]

psycboy said:

Casey got a lot of "colds" even before the 90s. As AT40 became more popular, Casey was probably able to negotiate a contract that allowed him more weeks to take time off.

Speaking of colds, the last time I remembered hearing Casey complaining of a cold, it was some time in April (I think) of 1998, soon after AT40 came back. Outroing a song by Chumbawamba, Casey said, "they may have amnesia (title of the song), but I've got a cold". Thought that was funny.

The show you think about is not from April of 1998, but the broadcasting date was May 9th, 1998; He only did one other show in that bad condition once before in 1992. Others than that, only very close listeners recognize various health conditions from Casey.

I was just wondering how people came up with the idea of numerous colds for Casey in the 90's ? I can't remember a single guesthosted show of the 90's, where this is officially mentioned.
Having a large guesthost routine was simply a fact of contract.
If Casey had a contract for 42 or 44 shows a year, there have to be a guesthost to fill up at 52 or 53 weeks, right ? That's why Mark Elliott and David Perry were the (only) frequent GH's.

There were only very few shows of Classic AT40 and the show from March 2002, were it was officially stated that Casey is out sick.

[bandit73]

I seem to remember the guest hosts in the '90s frequently saying, "Casey has a cold this week." But maybe it's just my imagination.

I know Shadoe did shows with a cold, but why I don't know. You'd think having a cold would put a person in such bad condition that they wouldn't be able to record a show. But I do seem to remember Shadoe saying, "I have a cold, muchachos!"

[Deleted]

I believed that would happen more in the 80's since by the 90's it was almost like the show was dehumanized....same show, same way, every week.