Is the Stern gang laying about Billy West's departure

[thekingofnicotine]

They claim to not know why he left but it's been known for a while that part of Billy's new contract would have him assume responsibility for anything that came out of his mouth during character.

Anyone else think Howard is full of shit when he says he doesn't know? It's clear Billy hates them like poison.

 

[Chob]

That's one of those things that kind of flew under the radar when the caller said Billy had a bit of a bitter response to being prominently featured on one of the Howard specials.

And yeah, he spoke on his website about how K-Rock wanted him to sign a document saying that Infinity held no responsibility if someone sued over his impersonations.

It's a shame they can't work past it and that he's willing to do Jackie's show, but has yet to be on the Stern show as a guest.

 

[beaniemac]

its obvious. billy doesn't f*ck with the show, though he won't admit it. but his actions speak volumes.

then notice that he's still cool with jackie. so its obvious the problem he has is with either howard or the show.

probably something to do with $$$

 

[jef]

its obvious. billy doesn't f*ck with the show, though he won't admit it. but his actions speak volumes.

then notice that he's still cool with jackie. so its obvious the problem he has is with either howard or the show.

probably something to do with $$$

It would be interesting to get Billy's take on it. Wonder if Billy in the studio would be as uncomfortable as it was when John K. came in back in the day

I can see where Billy maybe thinks Howard should have stood up for him, but back in the day, Howard really didn't have as much control over the $$ as he does now. So maybe Howard thinks he did the right thing, but Billy thinks he could have done more. I remember once, though, Howard said that he wasn't aware at the time that Billy was even having contract issues - so who knows?

I do know, though, that I also would have moved on if I were asked to sign something that said "My employer has no responsibility for what I say" especially when said employer is more than happy to sell me to advertisers and is more than happy to have the #1 radio show in NYC. Can't have it both ways, Infinity Broadcasting.

 

[beaniemac]

It would be interesting to get Billy's take on it. Wonder if Billy in the studio would be as uncomfortable as it was when John K. came in back in the day

I can see where Billy maybe thinks Howard should have stood up for him, but back in the day, Howard really didn't have as much control over the $$ as he does now. So maybe Howard thinks he did the right thing, but Billy thinks he could have done more. I remember once, though, Howard said that he wasn't aware at the time that Billy was even having contract issues - so who knows?

I do know, though, that I also would have moved on if I were asked to sign something that said "My employer has no responsibility for what I say" especially when said employer is more than happy to sell me to advertisers and is more than happy to have the #1 radio show in NYC. Can't have it both ways, Infinity Broadcasting.

I call bullsh*t on that one. howard's a control freak when it comes to his show and his people. there's no way he would NOT know that billy was having contract issues. even if he was, jackie would have definitely spilled the beans.

 

[jef]

I call bullsh*t on that one. howard's a control freak when it comes to his show and his people. there's no way he would NOT know that billy was having contract issues. even if he was, jackie would have definitely spilled the beans.

Maybe, but Billy was hired by Mel and "loaned" to Howard initially. Until we hear Billy's take, it's all speculation. Man, I'd like to hear him come on the show for sure.

 

[Ifandorbut]

West in peace.

 

[Spokker]

He left the Stern Show to go be Bugs Bunny. Voice an iconic character or say nigger on the radio? I think he made the right choice.

 

[TheScionicMan]

At this point Billy's kinda being a douche about the whole thing, too. How many years is he gonna hold a grudge? Jackie probably poisoned him with his negativity...

 

[Kryptonite]

He left the Stern Show to go be Bugs Bunny. Voice an iconic character or say nigger on the radio? I think he made the right choice.

What about the guy from AC/DC? Highway to hell? Just what the hell is he saying there, anyway?

 

[TheScionicMan]

What about the guy from AC/DC? Highway to hell? Just what the hell is he saying there, anyway?

Season ticket on a one-way ride...

 

[JohnC]

Check out his Wikipedia..

Billy West - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I learned alot here. Seems like he had more issues than just Howard.

 

[Neigh]

Howard has always failed to see how his huge pay package affects independent performers like Billy West. To Howard it's apples and oranges... He negotiated his package and Billy had to negotiate his own. But when Howard gets paid so much there's not much left for the supporting cast... (I get sick everytime Tim Sabian comes on and smugly describes his latest humiliation of Riley...$400 a show?) For a guy like Billy West, he was probably thinking how can Howard be paid so many mulitiples of what I'm getting... The station could always count on Howard to stay out of the way... He definitely wasn't going to give up a penny...

 

[TheScionicMan]

For a guy like Billy West, he was probably thinking how can Howard be paid so many mulitiples of what I'm getting...

Do you think this way towards your boss? Is there a direct correlation between you and your boss's pay? That's the Jackie mentality and its completely off-base.

 

[jef]

Do you think this way towards your boss? Is there a direct correlation between you and your boss's pay? That's the Jackie mentality and its completely off-base.

And technically, Howard didn't hire Billy - Mel did, and asked if Howard would be interested in using him in some way.

 

[Neigh]

Do you think this way towards your boss? Is there a direct correlation between you and your boss's pay? That's the Jackie mentality and its completely off-base.

Luckily (in terms of stress) I work for myself. If I were Billy and I thought I was making a big contribution to the show and that I was being seriously underpaid and Howard was getting many multiples of what I was getting.... I would think that way... It wasn't just a boss and an employee... It was two established comic personalities... For me, I could listen to only so many Marge Shott bits and never missed Billy that much but I recognized his talent... Howard is not being honest when he pretends he is only an employee... He has brainwashed us into thinking that way..... He is the franchise and he could spread it around a little ... if he wanted to keep someone...

 

[jef]

It was two established comic personalities...

But it wasn't. Other than Ren & Stimpy, "Doug" is the only other real credit he had when he left in 1995. I don't get the impression that Billy is all that funny on his own, and you certainly can't look at his resume at the time and call him 'established'. He was a guy who read Fred and Jackie lines using funny voices.

I'm really interested in the dynamic and would love to know exactly what happened, though.

 

[TheScionicMan]

And at that point in time, Howard was completely an employee. He had a lot of clout, but still had to live by the decisions of the higher-ups. It wasn't Howard that was short-changing Billy, it was CBS or Infinity or whoever that was making a ton of dough off of all of them.

I loved Billy and think he added a lot to the show, but it was an addition, not the substance...

 

[TheScionicMan]

Billy West - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I learned alot here. Seems like he had more issues than just Howard.

"West has been in television since the late 1980s after being the first and only person to fail three auditions for Saturday Night Live"

:idunno:

 

[Chob]

It was interesting to hear this brought up today. I do hope Howard calls up Billy and they have a nice long chat. Hopefully Howard has been through enough therapy that he can understand where Billy's resentment comes from. Although I do think Billy is being a bit of a dick about it.