Melissa Carter leaving Q100’s Bert Show after 10 years
Melissa Carter at the Bert's Big Adventure kick-off party in February, 2010. CREDIT: Rodney Ho/rho@ajc.com
Melissa Carter is leaving Q100’s Bert Show April 15 after nearly 10 years.
Carter, who joined sister station 99X 15 years ago, started doing news when the Bert Show launched in early 2001, but quickly became a full-fledged member of the team. She said she chose to leave with no safety net, no defined plan for the future.
“I’m taking a risk and I’ve never done that in my life,” Carter said on the air this morning.
Jenn Hobby began crying. “I think it sucks,” she said. She then said she was proud of Carter to “see what life could bring. Selfishly, I’m really upset.”
Loading ...“We are family here,” Carter said. “It’s a tough decision.”
She plans to take a few months off but has no clue what the future will bring. “It’s this instinctual feeling to move on and try something else. That is it. I’m not hiding anything. I’m not playing games with anybody,” she said. “It’s just time.”
Carter, always known as the voice of reason on the team, was the first openly gay morning host in Atlanta radio. She also lived through a kidney transplant while with the show in 2002 and is now 100 percent healthy.
“I’m being stoic until the 15th,” she said afterwards in studio to the other Bert Show members. She hugged everybody but kept the tears in check.
This is the first significant departure on the show since 2002, when Lindsay Brien left, replaced by Hobby.
Bert Weiss said there were no negotiations when her contract came up. She simply told them that her heart wasn’t in it anymore and it was time to move on.
Chris “Crash” Clark, who worked with Carter for many years at 99X, took a break from doing traffic on Dave FM to call in and sing “Don’t Know What You Got Til It’s Gone.”
“I wish you the best,” he said. “The whole radio community is going to miss you.”
Then he joked, “Can I have your spot on Bert’s Big Adventure.”
Carter finally started crying when a caller, a closeted lesbian, has decided to come out at work today, inspired by her.
“Bert gave me a hard time wearing black today,” Carter joked during a break.
Thinking more seriously, she said: “I try to live my life as aggressively and honestly as possible. To think about it is overwhelming.”
Most radio personalities have to be shoved out the door. What Carter is doing, leaving on her own terms, is rare indeed.
As for the Bert Show itself, will they fill her seat? Eventually. Bert, after the show, said it’s been a draining week and the team will take Friday off. He said he will seek a replacement for Carter but will take his time doing so. “The show is strong enough with the players on it” to soldier on for now, he said. “Chemistry is so important.”
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By Rodney Ho, rho@ajc.com, AJCRadioTV blog
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242 comments Add your comment
Really?
March 9th, 2011
11:31 am
Okay “Billy Ray Valentine” aka Wendy! Can you please stop acting like you aren’t talking about yourself?? No one but YOU would even care enough to keep making all of those statements in your defense.
Rodney Ho
March 9th, 2011
11:31 am
@BehindEnemyLines: That is a surprise. “Southland” averages around 2 million viewers. Leverage? Around 3 million. White Collar averages about 4 million viewers. Rizzoli & Isles and the Closer? 7 million-plus viewers. One thing TNT is touting: DVR+7 numbers. “Southland” is popular on DVR–> it averages close to 3 million viewers counting those.
kelli
March 9th, 2011
11:32 am
I am proud of Melissa Carter for being “out” on radio. She is obviously one of the toughest people out there having to go thru a kidney transplant and come out the other side. Good for her for moving on when it is time, not just when it is safe to do so. Best of luck. You will be the most missed on the show.
kelli
March 9th, 2011
11:33 am
Oh, and remember “Life begins at the end of your comfort zone” Melissa.
jim
March 9th, 2011
11:40 am
Melissa, are you excited about leaving the show?
Melissa: Well. You know. I’m going to like you know when you do something different. Like for me at the stage, um, well. Basically, like it’s not like. Okay. I’m not leaving today. Like I will miss all of the listeners and you know my co-workers. Like the people that work with me. You know, I’m like it’s not like um don’t have any you know options.
RK
March 9th, 2011
11:45 am
The River dropped New? Sounds like they read this board…
Shower, if they were smart, they wouldn’t repeat segments and they would get a longer time of listening.
Nothing like hearing the same entertainment news — and jokes — in the morning.
JEC IV
March 9th, 2011
11:58 am
Wow, big shocker! I click on the story and lo & behold: it’s the same old low-rent comments from the Peanut Gallery. The AJC really should stop asking for reader comments. It’s never anything good. People use the space to vent their anger & frustration on people they don’t even know. Trashing people online is one of the most cowardly things in the 21st century.
I recommend that many of you aspire to the old saying: “If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.” And no, I’m not affiliated with Cumulus or the Bert Show.
Tim
March 9th, 2011
12:02 pm
the Bert show is the worst radio show on the planet. They are all attention-whoring whining morons.
VANESSA
March 9th, 2011
12:02 pm
IT’S AMAZING THAT BY MELISSA LEAVING THE BERT SHOW IT BRINGS OUT MEAN IGNORANT COMMENTS TOWARDS WENDY! REALLY PEOPLE! THIS IS ABOUT MELISSA! WENDY GIVES ALL 20 YEAR OLDS A BAD NAME??? DIDN’T YOU STACY BY MAKING SUCH A COMMENT!?
IF YOU WANT TO SEE STUPID AT IT’S FINEST THIS IS THE PLACE TO BE.
ANYWAY- GOOD LUCK MELISSA- WENDY -JEFF-BERT- CONTINUE TO DO YOUR THING!
VANESSA
March 9th, 2011
12:04 pm
ALSO — JEC IV AMEN!!
RK
March 9th, 2011
12:04 pm
All caps? Really? And JEC, just ignore the crap…
Bill
March 9th, 2011
12:06 pm
I rather put my genitals in a garbage disposal than listen to the Bert show.
VANESSA
March 9th, 2011
12:09 pm
Excuse me RK – I was in agreement with JEC IV- all caps and you didn’t get that? I WAS IN AGREEMENT! AMEN for his comments- and ALL CAPS yes- REALLY -you read everything thing I had to say too huh?
amanda
March 9th, 2011
12:09 pm
Jim, you forgot to insert “yeah” in the middle of each of the sentences. In the coming weeks, listen to Melissa say that constantly. I’m really surprised that TBS doesn’t at least have some professional urging them to stop with the “like” and “you know.” Not to mention the upspeak. Jenn ends most of her sentences like they’re questions, as does Wendy. Very ’80s Valley Girlish.
Billy Ray Valentine
March 9th, 2011
12:12 pm
Hey Bill,
I’d be happy to flip the switch for ya.
RK
March 9th, 2011
12:17 pm
Duh, it was obvious you agreed with her. But who uses all caps? Are you 90?
Allie Cate
March 9th, 2011
12:19 pm
All joking aside, I feel like the intellect of the Bert Show just went downhill quickly. I enjoy Jeff for his sarcasm, Bert because he really is good at what he does, Jenn, well I guess I just like her. I am very concerned that they will turn to Wendy, and frankly, I believe she offers nothing. I have called TBS before and they say to email about complaints. I wonder if we all actually did it, would it make a difference? I fear a drop in listeners after Melissa leaves. With her gone, there are more opportunities for Wendy to speak up. Shoot me.
JEC IV
March 9th, 2011
12:23 pm
Vanessa, were all the caps for effect?
jim
March 9th, 2011
12:24 pm
amanda – I can’t believe I missed “yeah”. You are totally correct. I don’t listen all that much. Seems like her trend was favoring the use of “yeah” recently.
alissa
March 9th, 2011
12:25 pm
Agreed, Allie Cate. Melissa was the smartest on the show. I have e-mailed the show before with no response. Parts of the show I enjoy (Jeff’s and Bert’s stories), but I always change the station when Wendy starts. She truly is not very bright. At all.
VANESSA
March 9th, 2011
12:26 pm
How did you guess my age? WOW is that a talent? If the only thing in life that bothered me was CAPS I’d be in paradise at my old age.
Kat
March 9th, 2011
12:27 pm
Jim: too funny, dude! Vanessa: I didn’t read any of your post – too juvenile with the all caps to bother with.
VANESSA
March 9th, 2011
12:30 pm
Truly just making a point about mean people and Yes JEC for effect I used caps,a statement about mean people and someone is upset and mean that I used caps- this is really the world we live in and it’s scary. Maybe I was wrong for even calling people ignorant but it is what it is.
Peteetong
March 9th, 2011
12:31 pm
Hire Danger Woman.
Constitutionalist
March 9th, 2011
12:32 pm
Jim, that really does sound exactly like a transcript from the show (if you iclude ‘yeah’ in the middle of a few of the sentences). LOL.
Jack Diamond
March 9th, 2011
12:32 pm
You are as rude as those you are point a finger at…the irony…
VANESSA
March 9th, 2011
12:35 pm
I’m a 90 year old juvenile! Fantastic!
godoggo
March 9th, 2011
12:38 pm
Yes, Melissa can be a little annoying…..but most people that are annoying, are the ones that “Give you that voice of reason”….think about it : ) ??? Good luck.
Try 106.7…..True Rock oldies is fresh and new…….
-
Matt
March 9th, 2011
12:44 pm
Thanks, Rodney! Lol I knew it was off topic, but I also knew you’d respond! I appreciate it!
juan carlos diego raul sanchez
March 9th, 2011
12:45 pm
please go down the hall and get SS Steve – he sucks the air right out of the regular guys show…
Teacher
March 9th, 2011
12:45 pm
I won’t miss her. A whole lot of babbling but never makes a point.
Pam
March 9th, 2011
12:45 pm
Love the Bert Show! Good Luck Melissa…you will be missed. I never turn the radio station when you are speaking. I do turn when the awful laser hair removal commercial’s come on or just about anytime Wendy speaks. I’m not a Wendy hater…I just think she belongs more behind the scenes,not even doing traffic, perhaps as a producer. How about bringing Johanna onboard. She’s fun, upbeat – could never replace Melissa but would add flavor to the show.
Jay
March 9th, 2011
12:47 pm
Mark… Us straight people were here first.. Born and raised here… Melissa wasn’t.. Retard
WRIK Radio AM
March 9th, 2011
12:49 pm
I don’t listen to the babble on the FM stations. I tune in FM to listen to music. I tune in AM for blathering. What little I have listened to is too left-wing fringe.
'trtainmntatitzbest
March 9th, 2011
12:51 pm
I loved Melissa, only had one complaint. We don’t need a play-by-play on life with the girlfriends.
If still in media wherever you end up, please leave the Kati-Jo updates out of the Show comments.
hokie4life
March 9th, 2011
12:55 pm
WOW I really don’t understand all the hate! I will DEFINITELY miss Melissa. She really was the voice of reason on the show for me. I hope she reconsiders…:(. Today’s weather is perfect for this kinda news…bummer!
To Jay
March 9th, 2011
12:56 pm
Hate to break it to you, but some of your friends and family have been lying to you. They are gay and are born and raised here too.
Billy Ray Valentine
March 9th, 2011
12:57 pm
we must all be on different pages here, some folks say they turn the station when Wendy speaks, I for one don’t see her voice as annoying. I enjoy her comments (and her voice)
and no, I am not Wendy
SamE
March 9th, 2011
1:01 pm
Never did care that much for Melissa, couldn’t deal with all the KatieJo talk, who freaking cares!!! Will not miss her, at all. Looking forward to a good replacement.
SamE
March 9th, 2011
1:02 pm
PS: nothing is wrong with Wendy, she’s not the best of even entertaining but there’s no need to make mean comments about her. And I’m definitely not Wendy, in case you’re wondering.
Zoe
March 9th, 2011
1:08 pm
Stopped listening to Bert and his crew about two years ago. As for Melissa – I am tired of self serving lesbians who constantly need to remind the rest of the world that they are indeed, lesbians. Enough already. Heteros don’t constantly seem to feel the need to advertise their sexual preference. What exactly is so special about gays and lesbians that we need reminders of their existance on a daily basis?
To Zoe
March 9th, 2011
1:13 pm
How about laws that treat them not so special?
Mike
March 9th, 2011
1:25 pm
I am glad that man basher is gone…another post said she mentioned katie joe every other word…we know your gay move on.
Mick
March 9th, 2011
1:27 pm
I am sad to see Melissa go. She was my favorite person on the show when I have listened in the past. And AMEN to everyone who has commented re:Wendy. Her increased air time is the reason I have stoped listening almost completely. She is a complete twit.
Freddie Mercury
March 9th, 2011
1:31 pm
Atlanta radio SUCKS !
Me
March 9th, 2011
1:37 pm
WOW! I am amazed at the stuck up people that live here in Atlanta. You have a problem with gays? Good for you, who cares? Don’t like Q100? Good for you, don’t listen, plenty to choose from. Don’t like Melissa? Don’t worry, she will be gone soon. Be a freaking adult and quit your whining about why you hate listening to the Bert Show. Frankly the cast members on that show have done more for the Atlanta community than any of you will in your lifetime. But I don’t see anyone getting their head out of their ass long enough to see that. Let the woman go in peace and live her life. Thanks for the years Melissa! Best of luck!
Keno
March 9th, 2011
1:40 pm
lol! Haters are gonna whine like little children, I suppose. Best of luck to Melissa in all her future endeavors!
Constitutionalist
March 9th, 2011
1:43 pm
“Me” sounds like Jeff Dauler has joined the discussion. Me: People are venting what they don’t like about the show. Parts of it, they like. Of course there are parts liked; otherwise, they wouldn’t listen. When will Cumulus listen to the listeners? Have they ever done a focus group?
Tami
March 9th, 2011
1:43 pm
Wow, it’s amazing how rude and vulgar people are when they are anonymous. It’s really a sad commentary on our modern culture. What ever happened to treating other people like you want them to treat you? What ever happened to decency, kindness, and self respect? When people come on here and rip up others so viciously, they aren’t showing the best of themselves.
Sending best wishes to all of the members of the Bert show.
You Asked
March 9th, 2011
1:52 pm
Melissa is a great on air personality. As a straight conservative there are more than a few issues I disagree with her on. However her handling of her own sexuality and politics on air has been very professional and insightful. There are also many areas where I agree with her on nurturing relationships and raising children. Without her professional and considerate discussions of sensitive issues I would missed out on her wisdom.
Thanks for 10 years of great morning talk and best wishes to you and your family Melissa.