Sarah X Dylan
Encyclopedia
Sarah X Dylan is an American
radio producer and talk show co-host. Formerly of the The Rick Emerson Show and KOIN-TV, and current co-host of Funemployment Radio, and is based in Portland, Oregon
. Her name is a stage name, and she wishes to keep her real name private, for security reasons.
, is a huge fan of Futurama
, and wanted a distinguishing name for radio, so she chose to use a middle initial of "X", in much the same way as the producer of Futurama, David X Cohen chose "X" due to there being another David Cohen on the rolls of SAG
/WGA
. The addition of the "X" was done around the same time as the moving of The Rick Emerson Show to MAX 910, and many fans believe that it was an Entercom inspired change for the new station. She was not allowed to use the "X" while working on KOIN-TV. A local employer, Intel Corp. uses the letter X in name-based email addresses to differentiate between full time employees and contractors.
.
as a child. As a teenager, she lived in Oak Harbor, Washington
while her father was stationed at NAS Whidbey Island, and attended Oak Harbor High School
. Her sophomore year, her family moved to Bremerton, Washington
where she graduated from high school in 1998.
in Pullman, Washington
in 2002, with a Bachelor's Degree in Communications, Dylan began working for Metro Networks
as a traffic reported for Portland, based at KOTK. She began spending her off time with the The Rick Emerson Show, eventually being chosen as the producer of the show, after the exit of former producer Christina Carlson. She worked along with Executive Producer Matt "F-Matt" Peterson until the sale of KOTK from Fisher Communications
to Entercom Communications
, and Peterson's promotion. She and Emerson had great chemistry on the air, causing her role to slowly morph into a co-host, along with Emerson and newsman Tim Riley
.
When KOTK and KFXX swapped frequencies, came a new time slot for the The Rick Emerson Show, as well as a new show for Dylan. She began co-hosting Alternative Mornings on "Alternative Rock" KNRK
, which was also owned by Entercom, in addition to her duties on Emerson's show. She also hosted segments featuring the promotion of local independent bands, in a recurring piece called "Band-Aid", which aired on both KNRK and KOTK.
In April 2005, Dylan accepted a position to join the morning news on the local CBS
affiliate KOIN
as the morning traffic reporter. As a result, she quit the show on KNRK, with a strong desire to remain on Emerson's show. As a punitive measure, Entercom fired her from Emerson's show. It ended up being a moot point, as less than one week after her last show, KOTK became an oldies station, taking The Rick Emerson Show off the air. Dylan quickly became a vital member of the KOIN Morning News, and stayed with the show until late 2006.
In early 2006, Emerson announced a deal to bring his show back to the air. During the teaser video, Emerson walks past Dylan, sleeping on a bench, and tapping Tim Riley on the shoulder bringing the triumvirate back together, on KCMD. Initially, both KOIN and KCMD shared a building, and she had several hours between shows; however over time, the stress of both shows, along with a management change at KOIN caused her to rethink her decisions. In September 2006, she left KOIN and began working exclusively for The Rick Emerson Show.
In early 2009, Dylan partnered with Lisa Wood to host The Punk Show on Sunday nights on KUFO. This coincided with a format adjustment of KCMD, which moved Emerson's show to morning on KUFO. The Punk Show was cancelled in August, and the Rick Emerson Show was cancelled in October 2009.
Less than a week after being fired from KUFO, Dylan and former production assistant Greg Nibler
started a podcast named Funemployment Radio, from Nibler's spare bedroom. After nearly eight months, Emerson, along with Dawn Taylor, began two online radio shows, complete with studio space, which they share with Greg and Sarah. Funemployment Radio is available on iTunes and via Funemploymentradio.com daily.
In early 2011, Dylan and Nibler were approached by the Portland Trail Blazers
to host an online TV show that showcases the culture of Portland as well as the place the Trail Blazers have in the community. The new show was named Sportlandia, an portmanteau of "Sports" and Portlandia
(a common nickname for the Portland Metro, as well as a TV show about the city). Sportlandia originally aired each Friday at 4 pm, and at present airs at 12 pm Fridays. They would also broadcast a recap after each play-off game, during the NBA Playoffs.
in projects filmed in and around Portland, but her scenes have never made the final cut. Her motto is, "I'd rather be a has-been than a never-was..." and vents her repressed anger on celebrities via her gossip blog.
She performed in the now-disbanded Tim Riley Factor, composed of various friends and members of The Rick Emerson Show. They performed original songs, including "Gene Simmons (took my girlfriend away)", which was later included on The Wonderstrucks' 2007 album "An American Education".
She is featured in the 2007 music video for the song "And It Becomes You" by the band Nicodemus.
In March 2008, she was half of a duo that performed the ObamaRama song "If You Like Barack". A parody of Rupert Holmes'
"Escape", it spoofed the media's infatuation with grassroots
songs promoting 2008 presidential candidates. Instead, some in the media mistook it for a legitimate rally of support and it received airplay, including on the Air America Radio
network's Thom Hartmann
show on April 2.
She occasionally models for local companies, such as Babygirl Boutique and Bishops Barbershop web and print advertisements.
Known to The Rick Emerson Show audience as the most social of the cast, she earned the 2007 Barfly Magazine award for "Best Drunk"; her self-professed favorite drink being "cheap vodka
sodas" and her favorite places to hang being "bars that serve cheap vodka sodas" especially during happy hour
. The award is given annually to the individual voted as the most enjoyable person to get drunk with. Despite the radio show's local cult following, Dylan lost in the previous year's "Most likely to be famous" category.
Dylan is also found racing in the annual Portland Adult Soap Box Derby
, where she and her teammates raced an extravagantly gaudy Popemobile
, while dressed up as nuns, in 2007. This year, the vehicle was designed as a parade float, with Dylan and friends dressed up as bloody beauty queens.
She undertakes various other odd jobs to supplement her "grand CBS paycheck" in order to live her hipster indie lifestyle; Rick Emerson having said on-air that "Everyone in radio has [to have] a second job.". She currently works as a barback
at an undisclosed Portland bar, and has also been known to work at a vintage clothing store.
, near the SE Hawthorne New Seasons Market
and the Bagdad Theatre, ("practically neighbors with Rick and Greg"). Whenever she made reference to someone she was dating, an alias was used to preserve their identity, such as "Raúl" or "The Comedian" while working on The Rick Emerson Show, but she has become more candid in naming names on Funemployment Radio podcasts and archive.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
radio producer and talk show co-host. Formerly of the The Rick Emerson Show and KOIN-TV, and current co-host of Funemployment Radio, and is based in Portland, Oregon
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
. Her name is a stage name, and she wishes to keep her real name private, for security reasons.
Professional Name
The only real part of Sarah X Dylan's name is her given name, Sarah. The "X" and "Dylan" are adopted only for professional use. She has not changed her name legally from her birth name."X"
The "X" in Sarah X Dylan does not stand for anything. She, along with Rick EmersonRick Emerson
Rick Emerson , formerly known as Rick Taylor, is a radio personality most known for The Rick Emerson Show, currently broadcasting daily from , and has been broadcast in Portland, Oregon, in one form or another, since 1997. The show was nationally syndicated for a period from 1998-2001 by NBG Radio...
, is a huge fan of Futurama
Futurama
Futurama is an American animated science fiction sitcom created by Matt Groening and developed by Groening and David X. Cohen for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series follows the adventures of a late 20th-century New York City pizza delivery boy, Philip J...
, and wanted a distinguishing name for radio, so she chose to use a middle initial of "X", in much the same way as the producer of Futurama, David X Cohen chose "X" due to there being another David Cohen on the rolls of SAG
Screen Actors Guild
The Screen Actors Guild is an American labor union representing over 200,000 film and television principal performers and background performers worldwide...
/WGA
Writers Guild of America
The Writers Guild of America is a generic term referring to the joint efforts of two different US labor unions:* The Writers Guild of America, East , representing TV and film writers East of the Mississippi....
. The addition of the "X" was done around the same time as the moving of The Rick Emerson Show to MAX 910, and many fans believe that it was an Entercom inspired change for the new station. She was not allowed to use the "X" while working on KOIN-TV. A local employer, Intel Corp. uses the letter X in name-based email addresses to differentiate between full time employees and contractors.
"Dylan"
The "Dylan" in her name comes from her favorite Beverly Hills 90210 character Dylan McKay, portrayed by Luke PerryLuke Perry
Luke Perry is an American actor. Perry starred as Dylan McKay on the TV series Beverly Hills, 90210, a role he played from 1990–95, and then from 1998–2000. Much publicity was garnered over the fact that even though he was playing a sixteen-year-old when 90210 began, Perry was actually in his...
.
Early life
Dylan was born to a naval family and spent some time in SpainSpain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
as a child. As a teenager, she lived in Oak Harbor, Washington
Oak Harbor, Washington
Oak Harbor is a city located on Whidbey Island in Island County, Washington. The population was 22,075 at the 2010 census.Oak Harbor was incorporated on May 14, 1915.-History:Oak Harbor is Whidbey Island's largest incorporated city...
while her father was stationed at NAS Whidbey Island, and attended Oak Harbor High School
Oak Harbor High School
For the high school in Ohio, see Oak Harbor High School .Oak Harbor High School is a public grade 9–12 high school that is located in Oak Harbor, Washington on Whidbey Island. The school is in the Oak Harbor School District #201...
. Her sophomore year, her family moved to Bremerton, Washington
Bremerton, Washington
Bremerton is a city in Kitsap County, Washington, United States. The population was 38,790 at the 2011 State Estimate, making it the largest city on the Olympic Peninsula. Bremerton is home to Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and the Bremerton Annex of Naval Base Kitsap...
where she graduated from high school in 1998.
Career
After graduating from Washington State UniversityWashington State University
Washington State University is a public research university based in Pullman, Washington, in the Palouse region of the Pacific Northwest. Founded in 1890, WSU is the state's original and largest land-grant university...
in Pullman, Washington
Pullman, Washington
Pullman is the largest city in Whitman County, Washington, United States. The population was 24,675 at the 2000 census and 29,799 according to the 2010 census...
in 2002, with a Bachelor's Degree in Communications, Dylan began working for Metro Networks
Metro Networks
http://www.mediabistro.com/fishbowlny/files/2011/04/Metro_Logo_bigger.jpgMetro Networks is a broadcasting outsourcing company based in Houston, Texas. It was a subsidiary of Westwood One until its sale to Clear Channel Communications in 2011...
as a traffic reported for Portland, based at KOTK. She began spending her off time with the The Rick Emerson Show, eventually being chosen as the producer of the show, after the exit of former producer Christina Carlson. She worked along with Executive Producer Matt "F-Matt" Peterson until the sale of KOTK from Fisher Communications
Fisher Communications
Fisher Communications is a media company in the United States. Based in Seattle, Washington, the company owns a number of radio and television stations in the Western United States.- Radio Stations :- Television Stations :...
to Entercom Communications
Entercom Communications
Entercom Communications Corporation is the fourth-largest broadcasting company in the United States. As of November 2009, Entercom operates 110 radio stations in 23 markets across the United States....
, and Peterson's promotion. She and Emerson had great chemistry on the air, causing her role to slowly morph into a co-host, along with Emerson and newsman Tim Riley
Tim Riley
Tim Riley is a Northwest media personality in Portland, Oregon. He is currently an Anchor/Reporter with AM 860 and KKOV, Portland Oregon. He served as News Director/Anchor for Hot Talk 1080 KOTK, Max 910 during Imus In The Morning, and KUFO during The Rick Emerson Show from 2001 until 2009...
.
When KOTK and KFXX swapped frequencies, came a new time slot for the The Rick Emerson Show, as well as a new show for Dylan. She began co-hosting Alternative Mornings on "Alternative Rock" KNRK
KNRK
KNRK is a commercial Modern AC-leaning Alternative rock music radio station in Portland, OR, broadcasting to the Portland, Oregon area on 94.7 FM...
, which was also owned by Entercom, in addition to her duties on Emerson's show. She also hosted segments featuring the promotion of local independent bands, in a recurring piece called "Band-Aid", which aired on both KNRK and KOTK.
In April 2005, Dylan accepted a position to join the morning news on the local CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
affiliate KOIN
KOIN
KOIN is the CBS affiliate television station serving the Portland metropolitan area. Its transmitter is located in Portland, Oregon, United States; it broadcasts its digital signal on UHF channel 40...
as the morning traffic reporter. As a result, she quit the show on KNRK, with a strong desire to remain on Emerson's show. As a punitive measure, Entercom fired her from Emerson's show. It ended up being a moot point, as less than one week after her last show, KOTK became an oldies station, taking The Rick Emerson Show off the air. Dylan quickly became a vital member of the KOIN Morning News, and stayed with the show until late 2006.
In early 2006, Emerson announced a deal to bring his show back to the air. During the teaser video, Emerson walks past Dylan, sleeping on a bench, and tapping Tim Riley on the shoulder bringing the triumvirate back together, on KCMD. Initially, both KOIN and KCMD shared a building, and she had several hours between shows; however over time, the stress of both shows, along with a management change at KOIN caused her to rethink her decisions. In September 2006, she left KOIN and began working exclusively for The Rick Emerson Show.
In early 2009, Dylan partnered with Lisa Wood to host The Punk Show on Sunday nights on KUFO. This coincided with a format adjustment of KCMD, which moved Emerson's show to morning on KUFO. The Punk Show was cancelled in August, and the Rick Emerson Show was cancelled in October 2009.
Less than a week after being fired from KUFO, Dylan and former production assistant Greg Nibler
Greg Nibler
Greg Nibler is an American radio producer, talk show host, musician and actor. Formerly of The Nibler Show and The Rick Emerson Show, he is the current Host of Funemployment Radio.- Early life :...
started a podcast named Funemployment Radio, from Nibler's spare bedroom. After nearly eight months, Emerson, along with Dawn Taylor, began two online radio shows, complete with studio space, which they share with Greg and Sarah. Funemployment Radio is available on iTunes and via Funemploymentradio.com daily.
In early 2011, Dylan and Nibler were approached by the Portland Trail Blazers
Portland Trail Blazers
The Portland Trail Blazers, commonly known as the Blazers, are an American professional basketball team based in Portland, Oregon. They play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The Trail Blazers originally played their home games in the...
to host an online TV show that showcases the culture of Portland as well as the place the Trail Blazers have in the community. The new show was named Sportlandia, an portmanteau of "Sports" and Portlandia
Portlandia
Portlandia is a sculpture by Raymond Kaskey located above the entrance of Michael Graves' Portland Building in downtown Portland, Oregon, at 1120 SW 5th Avenue...
(a common nickname for the Portland Metro, as well as a TV show about the city). Sportlandia originally aired each Friday at 4 pm, and at present airs at 12 pm Fridays. They would also broadcast a recap after each play-off game, during the NBA Playoffs.
Projects and notable appearances
Outside of the radio studio, Dylan has been involved in numerous side projects. Dylan has been an extraExtra (actor)
A background actor or extra is a performer in a film, television show, stage, musical, opera or ballet production, who appears in a nonspeaking, nonsinging or nondancing capacity, usually in the background...
in projects filmed in and around Portland, but her scenes have never made the final cut. Her motto is, "I'd rather be a has-been than a never-was..." and vents her repressed anger on celebrities via her gossip blog.
She performed in the now-disbanded Tim Riley Factor, composed of various friends and members of The Rick Emerson Show. They performed original songs, including "Gene Simmons (took my girlfriend away)", which was later included on The Wonderstrucks' 2007 album "An American Education".
She is featured in the 2007 music video for the song "And It Becomes You" by the band Nicodemus.
In March 2008, she was half of a duo that performed the ObamaRama song "If You Like Barack". A parody of Rupert Holmes'
Rupert Holmes
Rupert Holmes is an American-British composer, singer-songwriter, musician and author of plays, novels and stories. He is best known for his number one pop hit "Escape " and the song "Him", which reached the number 6 position on the Hot 100 U.S. pop chart in 1980...
"Escape", it spoofed the media's infatuation with grassroots
Grassroots
A grassroots movement is one driven by the politics of a community. The term implies that the creation of the movement and the group supporting it are natural and spontaneous, highlighting the differences between this and a movement that is orchestrated by traditional power structures...
songs promoting 2008 presidential candidates. Instead, some in the media mistook it for a legitimate rally of support and it received airplay, including on the Air America Radio
Air America Radio
Air America was an American radio network specializing in progressive talk programming...
network's Thom Hartmann
Thom Hartmann
Thom Hartmann is an American radio host, author, former psychotherapist and entrepreneur, and progressive political commentator. His nationally-syndicated radio show, The Thom Hartmann Program, airs in the United States and has 2.75 million listeners a week...
show on April 2.
She occasionally models for local companies, such as Babygirl Boutique and Bishops Barbershop web and print advertisements.
Known to The Rick Emerson Show audience as the most social of the cast, she earned the 2007 Barfly Magazine award for "Best Drunk"; her self-professed favorite drink being "cheap vodka
Vodka
Vodka , is a distilled beverage. It is composed primarily of water and ethanol with traces of impurities and flavorings. Vodka is made by the distillation of fermented substances such as grains, potatoes, or sometimes fruits....
sodas" and her favorite places to hang being "bars that serve cheap vodka sodas" especially during happy hour
Happy hour
Happy hour is a marketing term for a period of time in which a restaurant or bar offers discounts on alcoholic drinks, such as beer, wine, and cocktails.-Basic information:...
. The award is given annually to the individual voted as the most enjoyable person to get drunk with. Despite the radio show's local cult following, Dylan lost in the previous year's "Most likely to be famous" category.
Dylan is also found racing in the annual Portland Adult Soap Box Derby
Soap Box Derby
The Soap Box Derby is a youth soapbox car racing program which has been run in the United States since 1934. World Championship finals are held each July at Derby Downs in Akron, Ohio...
, where she and her teammates raced an extravagantly gaudy Popemobile
Popemobile
Popemobile is an informal name for the specially designed motor vehicles used by the pope during outdoor public appearances without having to employ the antiquated and often impractical sedia gestatoria. The Popemobile was designed to allow the pope to be more visible when greeting large crowds...
, while dressed up as nuns, in 2007. This year, the vehicle was designed as a parade float, with Dylan and friends dressed up as bloody beauty queens.
She undertakes various other odd jobs to supplement her "grand CBS paycheck" in order to live her hipster indie lifestyle; Rick Emerson having said on-air that "Everyone in radio has [to have] a second job.". She currently works as a barback
Barback
A barback is a bartender's assistant. Barbacks work in nightclubs, bars, restaurants and catering halls. Barbacks stock the bar with liquor, ice, glassware, beer, garnishes, and so on, and usually receive a portion of the bartender's tips; often around 10% to 20%, or a portion of total sales; from...
at an undisclosed Portland bar, and has also been known to work at a vintage clothing store.
Personal life
Dylan lives in Southeast Portland, OregonPortland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
, near the SE Hawthorne New Seasons Market
New Seasons Market
New Seasons Market is a chain of privately-owned neighborhood grocers operating in the Portland Metro area of Oregon. Founded by three families and 50 of their friends in 1999, the chain currently operates ten stores in Portland, Hillsboro, Beaverton, Happy Valley and Lake Oswego with a new store...
and the Bagdad Theatre, ("practically neighbors with Rick and Greg"). Whenever she made reference to someone she was dating, an alias was used to preserve their identity, such as "Raúl" or "The Comedian" while working on The Rick Emerson Show, but she has become more candid in naming names on Funemployment Radio podcasts and archive.
External links
- Sarah X Dylan's Myspace profile
- KOIN news report Dylan was a victim in a hit and run that tossed her unoccupied parked car 20 feet.
- "And It Becomes You" music video, by Nicodemus