Berman Stirring Things Up

Alan Berman is edgy. Alan Berman says and does as he pleases. Alan Berman pushes buttons and often upsets a lot of people in doing so. To some his humor is cutting edge while to others it is tasteless.

The simple truth is that after the fun, antics, and sometimes vulgar language are gone – Alan Berman gets it.

Alan Berman observes a Sullivan County that many people see, a Sullivan County that is suffering beyond belief.

Alan Berman sees an “Ole Boys Club” that keeps protecting their own, and does very little to improve the conditions in Sullivan County.

We have become one of the unhealthiest, poorest, and unemployed counties in New York State. Alan Berman wants to do something about it, and he wants to get the younger population involved.

Alan Berman the son of developer, entrepreneur, and owner of radio stations WSUL and WVOS, tried his best in bringing his rant to a local morning show similar to that of Howard Stern’s to WSUL – It lasted only four months. In Sullivan County that is a milestone.

As Berman began to speak his mind in comedy skits that he felt were entertaining while delivering his viewpoint, those who controlled the advertising purse strings were not so happy. These advertisers had the eyes and ears of those being attacked and parodied, so they embarked on a campaign to put pressure on management.  

Although this type of pressure is not uncommon, most broadcasters and publishers do not buckle to these types of threats and demands. Then again – This is Sullivan County.

Alan Berman did not want to interfere with his father’s business, so he decided to pull his radio show and instead take it to the growing Internet market in a podcast where no one could control him or his new on-air partner Carlos Torres.

And – Alan Berman is indeed pushing buttons with interviews with such newsmakers as Monticello Mayor Gordon Jenkins and Fallsburg Superintendent Dr. Ivan Katz among many others.

Last week Jenkins went on Berman’s show to deliver one of his racist rants after seeing his control of Monticello being squashed after the election of Douglas Solomon and Jill Weyer by and landslide.

Alan Berman began his quest to host a radio show after interning for Howard Stern in 2009. “From the moment I walked through those doors I knew I wanted to be in radio. I saw the amount of respect the people working for Stern had for him and knew I wanted that, I knew they genuinely appreciated someone who was honest with them on the air as well as being funny, the same way that I did,” Berman told me.

When Berman’s Internship finished he came back to Sullivan County to work at WSUL as a night jockey, but hi main focus remained on a live Internet based show that he did with his old sidekick Kris out of the WSUL studio at night.

They eventually got in some trouble because of some of the antics they were doing at night and were thrown out of the station. When that happened Berman quit his night position and went to work for a law firm.

While at the law firm, Berman listened to WSUL and WVOS and was not happy with how they sounded. “I knew if I could get on the air, Kris and I would get some attention and make some noise. I convinced the brass at WSUL to bring us in on the condition we would behave and play the game -I lied.”

Instead Berman talked local politics and did some bits from his former Internet show that included race and topics considered obscene.

Berman told me, “The reality is our time was cut short just as our momentum was starting to build because we didn’t fit the safe and friendly mold that this town has adopted to blind itself from the real issues and problems we have.”

“This town has the capability of being something special but we constantly shoot ourselves in the foot because we are scared of change. As we’ve all seen from the history of this town, if you’re perceived as someone who can change things and it’s not for the benefit for those already running things, you’re perceived as a threat.”

Berman admits that he and Kris were eventually thrown off for stirring the pot. 

Berman began podcasting on the Internet because he did not want to remain on the sideline and be silenced. “I also knew that there was no one who could hold me back from saying what I wanted to say, no restrictions on words or topics I could touch.” 

He found his new sidekick Carlos Torres through mutual friends. “The first show was a hit and we’ve been working together ever since.”

“I really respect Carlos,” Berman added. Torres is a fulltime self employed nurse, a father of four, still finds time to do the show. “Chemistry is something you can’t teach, you either have it or you don’t.”

Torres said he was an avid listener who was upset when Berman’s show was taken off the air. He was working on video blogs when Berman contacted him about another project and soon invited him to get involved in the podcast.

“I knew right away I wanted to be part of this. I immediately saw Alan’s vision and I was on board. Alan is a genius and an underrated talent, given the right opportunity I see this kid as an “A List” entertainer!” 

Berman and Torres have been working hard to produce an entertaining and informative product for their listeners. “I found my pace and we found our chemistry. And it’s apparent in the quality of show,” Torres claims.

“We have a solid product that still needs work, but that never ends.  We are putting out solid material to a rapidly growing fan base. Like us or not – People are listening and people are talking which is what we want. Now we just need to start calling attention to larger networks and see what happens next. I’m excited to see what the future brings. I’m anticipating some big moves, and I thank and appreciate everyone who listens to and supports the show, and also for Alan for giving me this opportunity,” Torres added.

Speaking of his podcast endeavor Berman said, “Hopefully this leads to something bigger, unfortunately I’ve been in this business long enough to know that nothing means anything until a contract is signed. At the end of the day, I truly believe this podcast will develop into something way bigger.”

Time will indeed tell where the Alan Berman Show will wind up – In the meantime he is stirring things up right here in Sullivan County.

Here is the link to listen to The Alan Berman Show podcast.

http://thebermanshow.podomatic.com/

 

Bill Liblick has made a name for himself on National TV Talk Shows where he spouted his outspoken views from the front row. Now he offers you his opinion every week in the “MOUTH THAT ROARS” Column in THE SULLIVAN COUNTY POST.