The Maxwell Show
Encyclopedia
The Maxwell Show was a hot talk radio show which aired weekday mornings on classic rock
radio station WNCX
(98.5 FM
) in Cleveland, Ohio
. The show first began in April 2004 on noted Cleveland rock
station WMMS
(100.7 FM, "The Buzzard"), and over the course of the next five years, grew to become the Cleveland radio market's #1 afternoon radio program in several key demographics. However, relations between show host Maxwell (Benjamin Bornstein) and WMMS owner Clear Channel
turned sour in 2009, and by November of that year the show was cancelled.
Nearly one year later, on November 1, 2010, WMMS cross-town rival WNCX picked up The Maxwell Show for the station's morning shift. Less than ten months later, on August 25, 2011, the show was cancelled.
native Maxwell (Benjamin Bornstein) was hired on for the WMMS
afternoon drive in April 2004 following the departure of Tim Slats for rival station WXTM
. An experienced on air personality, Maxwell (aka Max Logan) had already worked for a number of rock stations before joining WMMS: WEBN
in Cincinnati, Ohio
; WDVE
and WXDX-FM
in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
; WXTB
in Tampa
, Florida
; and WIYY
in Baltimore
, Maryland
. Joining Maxwell were: WMMS Music Director Dan Stansbury, representing the younger male audience; Krackerman (Dana Smith), who, until his firing in 2007, provided the show's black
perspective; Chunk (Tiffany Peck), a young female phone screener whose role grew significantly following Krackerman's exit; Captain Showbiz (WMMS Program Director Bo Matthews); Chuck Galeti (then of the local CBS
affiliate WOIO
) who phoned in daily sports updates until 2008 when a heated on air confrontation with Maxwell drove him to quit; Andre Knott of WMMS sister station WTAM
, serving as Galeti's replacement for the duration of the show's run; and local comedian Ryan Dalton, a frequent guest.
The Maxwell Show began as a kind-of rock/talk hybrid, but gradually became all talk. The show usually began with conversations regarding the day to day lives of the cast, and later moved on to more topical stories in the news and pop culture. Maxwell would occasionally interview guests over the phone and, to a lesser extent, in the studio. Humor was always a major component of the show; jokes about Maxwell being Jewish
were known to generate controversy in the Cleveland Jewish community. The cast also delved into serious issues, occasionally recounting some of the darker episodes from each of their personal histories. As children, both Maxwell and Stansbury were victims of sexual abuse
, and Maxwell struggled with an addiction to heroin before entering rehab
in 2007.
of anger," Maxwell was known for having a number of feuds with other radio personalities over the years: Rover (Shane French) of Rover's Morning Glory
until his (Rover's) move from rival WKRK-FM
to WMMS in mid-March 2008 (Maxwell maintained he was "in the Rover business" during their mutual time at the station, though there were indications otherwise, such as Maxwell repeatedly voicing hopes that an F5
tornado would rip through RoverFest 2009); Opie and Anthony
and comedian Jim Norton
(Opie and Anthony originally aired tape delayed on WKRK-FM opposite Maxwell, revealing the origin of Maxwell's catch phrase "Good Morning!", or "Bordingk!", itself mocking the irony of O & A's morning show airing in the afternoon); and perhaps most notably, fellow Clear Channel
host Mike Trivisonno
, airing directly opposite The Maxwell Show on WTAM
.
— in Cleveland for the 2009 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony
the very next day — was playing a free show in the WMMS parking lot that evening. Citing legal concerns, management immediately directed Maxwell to tell listeners that it was only a prank, and later placed him on probation for 90 days. Mutual discontent grew during contract renewal negotiations, and in November of that year the show was cancelled.
(98.5 FM) announced it had picked up The Maxwell Show for the station's morning shift. The move replaced former morning co-hosts Scott Miller and comedian Jeff Blanchard, and show producer Dave Jockers. Regarding their dismissal, Program Director Bill Louis commented that "sadly, this a bottom-line business." The Maxwell Show was the fourth program in five years to air weekday mornings on WNCX following Howard Stern
's move to satellite radio
.
The show began airing on WNCX the following Monday, November 1, 2010; officially, the show did not begin until 7:30 AM, though as a kind-of stunt
, the station played the Beatles'
song "Maxwell's Silver Hammer
" on a constant loop in the hours leading up to the show's debut. Joining host Maxwell at WNCX were: Stansbury and Chunk, both from the show's initial run on WMMS
; and a new addition, Ribz (Micah Manus), who began several months into the show's second run. Cleveland Scene
described Maxwell's first week on the air as a "scorched-earth
campaign" against his former station and its owner, Clear Channel
. Early metrics were "through the roof": visitors to the WNCX website increased tenfold, and online streaming tripled.
WNCX cancelled The Maxwell Show on August 25, 2011, less than ten months after the show's arrival at the station. Local media speculated that, in addition to "flagging ratings," WNCX cancelled the show to make room for "a new, high-profile, multi-person morning show" at sister station
WKRK-FM
(92.3 FM) as that station transitioned to a new sports
format.
Classic rock
Classic rock is a radio format which developed from the album-oriented rock format in the early 1980s. In the United States, the classic rock format features music ranging generally from the late 1960s to the late 1980s, primarily focusing on the hard rock genre that peaked in popularity in the...
radio station WNCX
WNCX
WNCX — branded 98.5 WNCX — is commercial radio station in Cleveland, Ohio, broadcasting a classic rock format. The station's studios are currently located in Cleveland's historic Halle Building, in the Playhouse Square District...
(98.5 FM
FM broadcasting
FM broadcasting is a broadcasting technology pioneered by Edwin Howard Armstrong which uses frequency modulation to provide high-fidelity sound over broadcast radio. The term "FM band" describes the "frequency band in which FM is used for broadcasting"...
) in Cleveland, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
. The show first began in April 2004 on noted Cleveland rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
station WMMS
WMMS
WMMS — branded 100.7 WMMS: The Buzzard — is a commercial radio station licensed to Cleveland, Ohio, widely recognized as one of the most influential rock stations in America throughout much of the history of FM broadcasting...
(100.7 FM, "The Buzzard"), and over the course of the next five years, grew to become the Cleveland radio market's #1 afternoon radio program in several key demographics. However, relations between show host Maxwell (Benjamin Bornstein) and WMMS owner Clear Channel
Clear Channel Communications
Clear Channel Communications, Inc. is an American media conglomerate company headquartered in San Antonio, Texas. It was founded in 1972 by Lowry Mays and Red McCombs, and was taken private by Bain Capital LLC and Thomas H. Lee Partners LP in a leveraged buyout in 2008...
turned sour in 2009, and by November of that year the show was cancelled.
Nearly one year later, on November 1, 2010, WMMS cross-town rival WNCX picked up The Maxwell Show for the station's morning shift. Less than ten months later, on August 25, 2011, the show was cancelled.
WMMS Cleveland
OhioOhio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
native Maxwell (Benjamin Bornstein) was hired on for the WMMS
WMMS
WMMS — branded 100.7 WMMS: The Buzzard — is a commercial radio station licensed to Cleveland, Ohio, widely recognized as one of the most influential rock stations in America throughout much of the history of FM broadcasting...
afternoon drive in April 2004 following the departure of Tim Slats for rival station WXTM
WKRK-FM
WKRK-FM — branded Sports Radio 92.3 The Fan — is a commercial radio station licensed to Cleveland Heights, Ohio. Serving Greater Cleveland and much of surrounding Northeast Ohio, WKRK-FM is owned by CBS Radio and broadcasts a sports format...
. An experienced on air personality, Maxwell (aka Max Logan) had already worked for a number of rock stations before joining WMMS: WEBN
WEBN
WEBN is a commercial radio station serving Greater Cincinnati, airing an album-oriented rock format. The station pioneered the concept of album-oriented rock, and is in fact the longest running AOR-formatted station in the United States, first airing this format in 1967. The station is owned...
in Cincinnati, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
; WDVE
WDVE
WDVE is a mainstream rock music formatted radio station in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA at 102.5 MHz. It is often referred to by Pittsburghers as simply "DVE." WDVE's transmitter is located on Pittsburgh's North Side...
and WXDX-FM
WXDX-FM
WXDX-FM — branded 105.9 The X — is a modern rock radio station based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Owned by Clear Channel Communications, the station broadcasts at 105.9 MHz with an effective radiated power of 15.5 kw.-History:...
in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
; WXTB
WXTB
WXTB — branded 98 Rock — is a commercial radio station in the Tampa, Florida area. However the station can be heard as far north as Ocala and Williston due to its strong signal...
in Tampa
Tampa, Florida
Tampa is a city in the U.S. state of Florida. It serves as the county seat for Hillsborough County. Tampa is located on the west coast of Florida. The population of Tampa in 2010 was 335,709....
, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
; and WIYY
WIYY
WIYY is a radio station in Baltimore, Maryland, USA, owned by the Hearst Corporation. WIYY broadcasts an Mainstream Rock format that mixes music popular in the modern rock, heavy metal and classic rock genres...
in Baltimore
Baltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
, Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
. Joining Maxwell were: WMMS Music Director Dan Stansbury, representing the younger male audience; Krackerman (Dana Smith), who, until his firing in 2007, provided the show's black
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
perspective; Chunk (Tiffany Peck), a young female phone screener whose role grew significantly following Krackerman's exit; Captain Showbiz (WMMS Program Director Bo Matthews); Chuck Galeti (then of 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 WOIO
WOIO
WOIO, virtual channel 19 , is the CBS affiliate in Cleveland, Ohio. It is licensed to the nearby suburb of Shaker Heights. WOIO is owned by Raycom Media and its sister station to MyNetworkTV affiliate WUAB . The two stations share a studio facility in Cleveland and WOIO's transmitter is located in...
) who phoned in daily sports updates until 2008 when a heated on air confrontation with Maxwell drove him to quit; Andre Knott of WMMS sister station WTAM
WTAM
WTAM — branded Newsradio WTAM 1100 — is a commercial radio station licensed to Cleveland, Ohio, serving Greater Cleveland and much of surrounding Northeast Ohio. Owned by Clear Channel Communications, the station broadcasts primarily a news/talk format...
, serving as Galeti's replacement for the duration of the show's run; and local comedian Ryan Dalton, a frequent guest.
The Maxwell Show began as a kind-of rock/talk hybrid, but gradually became all talk. The show usually began with conversations regarding the day to day lives of the cast, and later moved on to more topical stories in the news and pop culture. Maxwell would occasionally interview guests over the phone and, to a lesser extent, in the studio. Humor was always a major component of the show; jokes about Maxwell being Jewish
Jews
The Jews , also known as the Jewish people, are a nation and ethnoreligious group originating in the Israelites or Hebrews of the Ancient Near East. The Jewish ethnicity, nationality, and religion are strongly interrelated, as Judaism is the traditional faith of the Jewish nation...
were known to generate controversy in the Cleveland Jewish community. The cast also delved into serious issues, occasionally recounting some of the darker episodes from each of their personal histories. As children, both Maxwell and Stansbury were victims of sexual abuse
Child sexual abuse
Child sexual abuse is a form of child abuse in which an adult or older adolescent uses a child for sexual stimulation. Forms of child sexual abuse include asking or pressuring a child to engage in sexual activities , indecent exposure with intent to gratify their own sexual desires or to...
, and Maxwell struggled with an addiction to heroin before entering rehab
Drug rehabilitation
Drug rehabilitation is a term for the processes of medical or psychotherapeutic treatment, for dependency on psychoactive substances such as alcohol, prescription drugs, and so-called street drugs such as cocaine, heroin or amphetamines...
in 2007.
Feuds
Often referred to by co-host Stansbury as "the never ending powder kegPowder Keg
A powder keg is a barrel of gunpowder. The powder keg was the primary method for storing and transporting large quantities of black powder up until the 1870s and the adoption of the modern cased bullet...
of anger," Maxwell was known for having a number of feuds with other radio personalities over the years: Rover (Shane French) of Rover's Morning Glory
Rover's Morning Glory
Rover’s Morning Glory is a syndicated hot-talk radio show airing weekday mornings Monday through Friday from 6:00 AM to 11:00 AM ET on 100.7 FM WMMS in Cleveland, Ohio. Hosted by Rover , the show is distributed by Clear Channel and features a blended discussion of current events and pop culture,...
until his (Rover's) move from rival WKRK-FM
WKRK-FM
WKRK-FM — branded Sports Radio 92.3 The Fan — is a commercial radio station licensed to Cleveland Heights, Ohio. Serving Greater Cleveland and much of surrounding Northeast Ohio, WKRK-FM is owned by CBS Radio and broadcasts a sports format...
to WMMS in mid-March 2008 (Maxwell maintained he was "in the Rover business" during their mutual time at the station, though there were indications otherwise, such as Maxwell repeatedly voicing hopes that an F5
Fujita scale
The Fujita scale , or Fujita-Pearson scale, is a scale for rating tornado intensity, based primarily on the damage tornadoes inflict on human-built structures and vegetation...
tornado would rip through RoverFest 2009); Opie and Anthony
Opie and Anthony
Opie and Anthony are the hosts of The Opie & Anthony Show, a talk radio program airing in the United States and Canada on XM Satellite Radio and Sirius Satellite Radio. Since the merger of the two satellite companies, this is now called Sirius/XM...
and comedian Jim Norton
Jim Norton (comedian)
James Joseph "Jim" Norton, Jr. is an American stand-up comedian, radio personality, author, and actor. He is an on-air personality, often dubbed the 'third mic' on The Opie and Anthony Show, which airs on Sirius XM Radio...
(Opie and Anthony originally aired tape delayed on WKRK-FM opposite Maxwell, revealing the origin of Maxwell's catch phrase "Good Morning!", or "Bordingk!", itself mocking the irony of O & A's morning show airing in the afternoon); and perhaps most notably, fellow Clear Channel
Clear Channel Communications
Clear Channel Communications, Inc. is an American media conglomerate company headquartered in San Antonio, Texas. It was founded in 1972 by Lowry Mays and Red McCombs, and was taken private by Bain Capital LLC and Thomas H. Lee Partners LP in a leveraged buyout in 2008...
host Mike Trivisonno
Mike Trivisonno
Mike Trivisonno is a Radio Broadcaster, best known for hosting his own self-titled afternoon talk show on Cleveland radio station WTAM-AM/1100...
, airing directly opposite The Maxwell Show on WTAM
WTAM
WTAM — branded Newsradio WTAM 1100 — is a commercial radio station licensed to Cleveland, Ohio, serving Greater Cleveland and much of surrounding Northeast Ohio. Owned by Clear Channel Communications, the station broadcasts primarily a news/talk format...
.
The Metallica Prank
On April 3, 2009, The Maxwell Show went on the air claiming (falsely) that MetallicaMetallica
Metallica is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1981 when James Hetfield responded to an advertisement that drummer Lars Ulrich had posted in a local newspaper. The current line-up features long-time lead guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo ...
— in Cleveland for the 2009 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum is a museum located on the shore of Lake Erie in downtown Cleveland, Ohio, United States. It is dedicated to archiving the history of some of the best-known and most influential artists, producers, engineers and others who have, in some major way,...
the very next day — was playing a free show in the WMMS parking lot that evening. Citing legal concerns, management immediately directed Maxwell to tell listeners that it was only a prank, and later placed him on probation for 90 days. Mutual discontent grew during contract renewal negotiations, and in November of that year the show was cancelled.
WNCX Cleveland
On Wednesday, October 27, 2010, WNCXWNCX
WNCX — branded 98.5 WNCX — is commercial radio station in Cleveland, Ohio, broadcasting a classic rock format. The station's studios are currently located in Cleveland's historic Halle Building, in the Playhouse Square District...
(98.5 FM) announced it had picked up The Maxwell Show for the station's morning shift. The move replaced former morning co-hosts Scott Miller and comedian Jeff Blanchard, and show producer Dave Jockers. Regarding their dismissal, Program Director Bill Louis commented that "sadly, this a bottom-line business." The Maxwell Show was the fourth program in five years to air weekday mornings on WNCX following Howard Stern
Howard Stern
Howard Allan Stern is an American radio personality, television host, author, and actor best known for his radio show, which was nationally syndicated from 1986 to 2005. He gained wide recognition in the 1990s where he was labeled a "shock jock" for his outspoken and sometimes controversial style...
's move to satellite radio
Satellite radio
Satellite radio is an analogue or digital radio signal that is relayed through one or more satellites and thus can be received in a much wider geographical area than terrestrial FM radio stations...
.
The show began airing on WNCX the following Monday, November 1, 2010; officially, the show did not begin until 7:30 AM, though as a kind-of stunt
Stunting (broadcasting)
In radio broadcasting, stunting occurs when a station abruptly airs programming that is seemingly uncharacteristic compared to what they normally play...
, the station played the Beatles'
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
song "Maxwell's Silver Hammer
Maxwell's Silver Hammer
"Maxwell's Silver Hammer" is a song by The Beatles, on their album, Abbey Road, sung by Paul McCartney. It was written by McCartney, though credited to Lennon–McCartney.-Background:...
" on a constant loop in the hours leading up to the show's debut. Joining host Maxwell at WNCX were: Stansbury and Chunk, both from the show's initial run on WMMS
WMMS
WMMS — branded 100.7 WMMS: The Buzzard — is a commercial radio station licensed to Cleveland, Ohio, widely recognized as one of the most influential rock stations in America throughout much of the history of FM broadcasting...
; and a new addition, Ribz (Micah Manus), who began several months into the show's second run. Cleveland Scene
Cleveland Scene
The Cleveland Scene is an alternative weekly newspaper based in Cleveland, Ohio. The newspaper includes highlights of Cleveland-area arts, music, dining, and films, as well as classified advertising...
described Maxwell's first week on the air as a "scorched-earth
Scorched earth
A scorched earth policy is a military strategy or operational method which involves destroying anything that might be useful to the enemy while advancing through or withdrawing from an area...
campaign" against his former station and its owner, Clear Channel
Clear Channel Communications
Clear Channel Communications, Inc. is an American media conglomerate company headquartered in San Antonio, Texas. It was founded in 1972 by Lowry Mays and Red McCombs, and was taken private by Bain Capital LLC and Thomas H. Lee Partners LP in a leveraged buyout in 2008...
. Early metrics were "through the roof": visitors to the WNCX website increased tenfold, and online streaming tripled.
WNCX cancelled The Maxwell Show on August 25, 2011, less than ten months after the show's arrival at the station. Local media speculated that, in addition to "flagging ratings," WNCX cancelled the show to make room for "a new, high-profile, multi-person morning show" at sister station
Sister station
In broadcasting, sister stations or sister channels are radio and/or television stations operated by the same ownership....
WKRK-FM
WKRK-FM
WKRK-FM — branded Sports Radio 92.3 The Fan — is a commercial radio station licensed to Cleveland Heights, Ohio. Serving Greater Cleveland and much of surrounding Northeast Ohio, WKRK-FM is owned by CBS Radio and broadcasts a sports format...
(92.3 FM) as that station transitioned to a new sports
Sports radio
Sports radio is a radio format devoted entirely to discussion and broadcasting of sporting events. A popular format with an almost exclusively male demographic in most areas, sports radio is characterized by an often-boisterous on-air style and extensive debate and analysis by both hosts and...
format.