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Bubba the Love Sponge
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Bubba the Love Sponge Clem (born Todd Clem, he legally changed his name) is a Tampa, Florida radio talk show host who has had a colorful past. He currently broadcasts his radio show on Sirius Radio, channel 101.
Radio Show
Beginning initially on college radio station WISU in Terre Haute, Indiana, Bubba made his professional debut on April 1, 1985. Initially going by the name of "Rockin' Bubba Clem" as his on-air moniker, a fellow DJ gave Bubba the name "Bubba The Love Sponge", and it stuck and became his radio name. Bubba has federally trademarked the name, and he legally changed his name to Bubba The Love Sponge Clem in 1999.
By the time he was 25 years old, Bubba was doing morning drive radio in Chicago, and he proved to be a radio phenom at an early age. He worked as a DJ in the CHR (Contemporary Hit Radio)/Top 40 field, Bubba earned multiple national awards from Billboard Magazine for his work. Bubba moved around a great deal in his early years, as many DJs have to do, working in markets like Grand Rapids, San Antonio, Philadelphia, Milwaukee and Orlando.
It was at WXXL in Orlando where Bubba began to develop an edgy, in-your-face style of radio. After Bubba's contract with WXXL was not renewed, he moved onto Tampa's WFLZ-FM, then known as The Power Pig 93.3 to work nights, and where he began to draw national attention for his controversial style. One of Clem's more popular on-air bits was "No Panties Thursday", a term which was eventually copyrighted.
In December 1996, WXTB, known in Tampa as 98 Rock, hired Bubba to do morning drive. That was a departure for Bubba from his usual pop radio environment, but he welcomed the new challenge. Clem was paired with comedy writer Mike "Manson" Waters to write comedy "bits" for Clem's show. "The Bubba the Love Sponge Show" rose quickly in the ratings, with Clem becoming something of a pop culture icon in the Tampa Bay area.
Clem often criticized local politicians and national leaders on issues that he disagreed with their points of view on. Clem was also critical of a style of radio that he called "warm and fuzzy radio", which Clem claimed to be mind-numbing fluff.
Clem's brash style appealed primarily to blue-collar workers, a style of radio that is known as "trucker radio" due to the fact that a large portion of long-haul truckers listen to Clem's Show.
In 1997 Clem opened up "Planet Bubba," a nightclub in Clearwater, FL. He owned a series of restaurants and nightclubs in the Tampa Bay area including, Bubba's Ale House, Bubba's Beach Club in Ybor City, and Plush in Tarpon Springs, FL.
Clem was arrested during 2001, along with two hunters and executive producer Brent Hatley and prosecuted by Hillsborough County State Attorney Mark Ober on charges of animal cruelty after the hunters slaughtered a pig in an on-air event called "Bubba's Road Kill Barbeque." The suspicion of cruelty related to the bit was a result of a replay button on his soundboard that was linked to a recorded group of boar feasting from a troth that Bubba played several times in succession, giving the impression that the pig was being brutally slaughtered. In reality, Bubba had called the Florida Fish and Wildlife association in advance of the show and was given the state statute regarding the legal and humane ways of slaughtering wild boar, to which Bubba had instructed the regulations to be followed by having the professional trapper who had captured the boar be the one to slaughter it, and that it be performed under the supervision of two Tampa Police officers. Bubba and the others were acquitted by a six person jury in 52 minutes at trial in 2002.
During January 2001, "The Bubba The Love Sponge Show" went into syndication. During its run in syndication, the show aired on stations in Jacksonville, Orlando, Hartford, West Palm Beach, Ft. Myers, Wichita, Shreveport and Macon. XM Satellite Radio carried the show as well, first on tape delay, and then live in east coast morning drive.
Radio & Records named Bubba the national Active Rock Personality/Show of the Year for 2002 and 2003. Many stations, however, declined to carry Clem's show when offered syndication rights due to its controversial nature.
On Friday September 9, 2005, Howard Stern announced that he would bring Bubba with him to Sirius Satellite Radio. His show has made its debut on Sirius January 9, 2006 in its regular timeslot, 4-8 p.m. Eastern, 1-5 p.m. Pacific, live on Howard 101. His show now broadcasts slightly earlier, from 3-7 p.m.
In April 2006, Bubba shaved a man's genitals and sprayed them with carburetor cleaner. Most carb cleaners contain xylene, methanol and various other chemicals which cause great skin irritation even on the hands. Stern has made frequent references to Bubba "torturing" people on his show.
Clear Channel / FCC Troubles
The Federal Communications Commission issued a Notice of Apparent Liability (a precursor to a fine) of $755,000 against four stations owned by Clear Channel Communications on January 27, 2004 for complaints made by a single individual made for broadcasts that all took place in 2001. The fine consisted of the maximum of $27,500 for each of 26 airings of a segment the FCC alleged were "designed to pander to, titillate and shock listeners", plus $40,000 for record-keeping violations. [1]. This is considered to be the single largest ever fine to be illicted by the FCC to any entertainment medium.
Clem's contract with Clear Channel was terminated on 24 February 2004, and his syndicated program was cancelled. Clear Channel later reached a settlement with the FCC rather than fight the validity of the claims issued in the NAL.
Cast & Crew of the Bubba The Love Sponge show
Bubba The Love Sponge (Birth Name: Todd Clem): Host
Manson: On-Air Talent, Bit Writer, Song Parody Writer, Celebrity Voice Impersonator
Nedly Mandingo: Bit Writer, performs crank calls.
Brent Hatley: Executive Producer, On-Air Talent
25 Cent: Only Black Man On Show
Hulk Hogan: Not a real member of the show, but is a regular guest. Bubba claims that he is Hogan's number 1 fan. The two are close friends in real life.
Tony Stewart also not an actual cast member, but is a regular guest.
Gene Lasker: Frequent guest of the show who built Bubba's torture rack. Lasker is usually involved in the various shockings and other assorted fun stuff. Known for his bit "Gene Lasker Investigates". In April 2006, Bubba stated on-air that Lasker would either have to be tortured himself or not come back on the show.
Chip: Newest associate producer of the show, joining in April 2006.
Frequent Bits
Ned's crank calls (trademarked by repeatedly calling his targets and saying progressively more outrageous things to progressively more exasperated recipients; "You got your mailman drivin' around with a truck full of Malcolm X stamps and pretty soon he starts hearing little voices... kill the white man... kill the white man... kill the white man... next thing you know he's up on a water tower with a God-damned M16...")
Evel Knievel voice message (Callers call in looking to talk to Bubba, but are redirected to a soundboard of Evil Knievel controlled by Bubba. The voice recording is so convincing that most callers think they are talking to a real person. Evil Knievel yells and cusses at the caller which usually results in a befuddled or vulgar response from the caller.) This bit was discontinued after Bubba's termination at Clear Channel.
Various bits involving electricity, particularly tasers. Guests have been voluntarily shocked with "fish hook" tasers, men have had their testicles shocked and women have been the subject of a bit called "shock the puss".
See also
Howard 100
Sirius Satellite Radio
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bubba_the_Love_Sponge"
Categories: American radio personalities | Obscenity controversies | Tampans | Sirius Satellite Radio | Sirius Satellite Radio personalities | Living people |
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| BudMann |
| I read that Cowhead may be re-joining Bubba. |
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| fixedhate |
| Wow, torture. I guess this has nothing to do with the torture rack he has in his Tampa studios. |
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