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.”
Join my Facebook fan page and Twitter.
By Rodney Ho, rho@ajc.com, AJCRadioTV blog
accessAtlanta Partner Sites
Sections
Advertise on accessAtlanta.com »
Reach the audience you want by advertising on accessAtlanta.com
Join the Access Atlanta Network »
Advertisers and Publishers, expand your reach by joining the Access Atlanta Network.
Tell us what you think about the site
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement | About our ads
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
242 comments Add your comment
Scott "Yogi" Yoggerst
March 9th, 2011
5:00 pm
This is sad but I am so happy for my buddy Melissa!! I met her when she first started on the Bert Show and we became close friends. Good Luck Melissa I know something will be great for you around the corner! ( Hopefully in Chicago!! LOL) Love ya Yogi
MF
March 9th, 2011
6:32 pm
Bring back Toucher, Rich, and Crash!
Barb
March 9th, 2011
8:29 pm
I have listened to The Bert Show for 10 years. Will miss Melissa. At least she has integrity. Jeff makes me laugh. Bert is a good moderator. Wendy adds nothing. Over Jenn Hobby. Too bad it wasn’t her leaving instead. But then again Hobby won’t make it national or on TV – doesn’t have the talent. So, guess I’ll have to get satellite radio or switch stations.
BERT_WEISS
March 9th, 2011
9:03 pm
Some of the people on here are really JACKED up!!!
And that rumor about Jenn sleeping with the photographer is true…I’ve slept with her too.
Tomfoolery
March 9th, 2011
9:17 pm
I heard Dagmar Midcap is the target to replace her.
Philip
March 9th, 2011
9:34 pm
Thank God!!!!!! Now i can listen to Q100 again. Hopefully Bert will quit acting like a Duche.
Butch Carpetmuncher
March 9th, 2011
9:42 pm
I’m going to miss that stuff.
Butch Carpetmuncher
March 9th, 2011
9:46 pm
Pphhhuuuuuttttt, Dang hair caught in my teeth. I keep tellin Melissa to do some manscaping, but he’s all about being natural.
Butch Carpetmuncher
March 9th, 2011
10:05 pm
UUUUUmmmmmmmmm. I want some of the Dagmar Midcap as a nightcap.
JeffSucks
March 9th, 2011
10:35 pm
Now if they would just get rid of the rest of the cast, it will be all good. Jeff is just fat and obnoxious. He isn’t funny at all. Most of the stuff that comes out of his mouth is usually stupid, Melissa made a good move. She knows the show sucks.
Voice of Reason...
March 9th, 2011
11:35 pm
NEWSFLASH… If you listen to XM Radio, NO ONE CARES!!! No one cares that you’re stupid enuff to pay money to listen to radio! We’re NOT impressed! Really, we’re not! If you’re dumb enuff to pay for radio, whether it’s XM, Satellite, Terrestrial, UFO-ish… NOBODY CARES!!! YOU’RE AN IDIOT!!!
You obvious listen to regular radio, and the Bert show, or you wouldn’t know who/what the article is talking about… you freakin “i only listen to XM radio” LIARS and LOSERS!!!
To those lonely, miserable, SOB’s that are on here criticizing someone you don’t even know… GET AN F’N LIFE!!! YOU’RE A LOSER!!! You’re a bunch of jealous a$$holes, that are unhappy with your current situation in life. Think you can do better than anyone on the radio? THEN GIVE IT A SHOT YOU MISERABLE LOSERS!!! GET A LIFE!!! or turn off your radio… it’s that simple.
Miss Obvious
March 9th, 2011
11:43 pm
Voice of Reason = Frustrated By Not Having Satellite Radio
clix
March 10th, 2011
6:35 am
Does anyone who is straight, and male listen to that show?
Takli
March 10th, 2011
7:10 am
For those of you who believe Wendy offers nothing to the show: I suggest you email each cast member. I just CCd all of them the same email. I was told by 2 of the members that they take anything on the blogs with a grain of salt. If change is to be made, they must recieve emails from people, as they do not put any weight on criticism conveyed through a comment section like we have here today.
jenn@thebertshow, jeff@thebertshow, bert@thebertsow, melissa@thebertshow
I urge you to write and let them know!
jd
March 10th, 2011
7:13 am
jesus the 6 am hour must be the repeat hour. 30 min of melissa making her announcement. Then Jenn Hobby pretending to give real advice via IM chat..what a boring segment. Come on Burt. Grow some balls and start doing real bits instead of repeats the first two hours of the show. I mean why not just wait until 7 am to come into the station if your gonna do repeats from 530-7am..Plus lose the jenn hobby bit on her sending ims to people cause thats just f’n boring to listen too
Jack Diamond
March 10th, 2011
8:01 am
Takli, no one cares that much…and that IM segment is awful.
trystme
March 10th, 2011
10:13 am
I will miss Melissa. I hope that she goes on to bigger and better things. She needs to be in a line of work where she helps people.
Clyde Crashcup
March 10th, 2011
10:58 am
I take back my comments about Melissa, Jenn, Jeff, Wendy, & Joanna. I don’t know these people and really could careless what they do.
Jazzy Jeff
March 10th, 2011
11:41 am
Thank Goodness it is her leaving….Tired of hearing about her partner! No one cares about her negative views on everything.
Jazzy Jeff
March 10th, 2011
11:44 am
I meant to say, Thank goodness “HE” is leaving!!!
Atlanta Guy
March 10th, 2011
12:09 pm
The show plays to the lowest common denominator. And the radio business is one where you have to do to shameless promotions to survive. No matter what happened with Melissa’s contract, she was the most well-spoken and intelligent one on the show. The rest of them suffer from deep insecurities that correlate directly to their inflated egos. I hope she goes on to something bigger and better.
Mom
March 10th, 2011
12:11 pm
Enter your comments here
Mom
March 10th, 2011
12:13 pm
FYI
Ed
March 10th, 2011
12:40 pm
@Jay — bigot!
Bert Weiss
March 10th, 2011
3:03 pm
We will all miss Melissa dearly. Don’t worry though, we will not allow Wendy any additonal airtime, nor will she ever become a member of the cast.
Allie
March 10th, 2011
3:32 pm
“Bert” – she is already on the website has a member of the cast.
Marilyn
March 10th, 2011
5:13 pm
Ironically, the two people you’d think would be the most douchey off-air are the nicest: Bert and Melissa are down to earth, always friendly, and not arrogant at all. It’s Wendy and Jenn that are the rude ones who actually think they’re significant.
Norma Higdon Lee
March 10th, 2011
6:14 pm
hey rodney is she gay u like U
Funguy70
March 10th, 2011
10:28 pm
marilyn… u def have the inside scooup..
those are the two I would have guessed were real too…
U ROCK!
Rickie
March 11th, 2011
9:02 am
Did y’all listen today? Nothing but repeats. Apparently everyone on the show has the day off. Unbelieveable.
Anne
March 11th, 2011
12:08 pm
Wow, I have not listened to them since 2 years and everything is news to me. Jeff and Jen are divorced and Melissa is leaving…. I wonder what major life changes did Bert go through? I had quit listening due to the snobbish attitude of Bert and frankly the show got to dull and annoying. But I did like Melissa. Best wishes to you.
Grandma10
March 11th, 2011
11:53 pm
I agree with Annie. They have attitudes that they think they are better than everyone and know everything.
Bert is whipped and needs to grow a pair. Wendy has to be the worst air personality in Atl yet they keep her on and talking. Go away Jenn and Wendy. The show was better last week with Bert gone for some reason
Grandma10
March 11th, 2011
11:55 pm
Bert Show should be renamed “The rerun Station”
Former Atlantan
March 12th, 2011
2:04 pm
Good for you, Melissa! Come out to Portland, OR. We are welcoming out here and love our Lesbians.
Danny Del
March 13th, 2011
10:51 am
Please get rid of that home wrecker Wendy. Can’t keep her toung out of married guys mouth’s. Sick.
Ted Sheckler
March 13th, 2011
11:40 am
When is Q and AJC going to get rid of Jeff Dauler’s soon to be ex wife. She is horrible and has no business being employed. Also, it still annoys me that people think Jenn is a good person. Everytime I hear a Sister Hazel song, I am reminded how she did that guy wrong. Shame!
Just Saying
March 13th, 2011
11:40 am
Oh no, now my wife and her wife will have to listen to someone else in the mornings. I just haven’t been that impressed. Famous, not for skill, but for preferring fish to beef.
Just Saying
March 13th, 2011
11:49 am
On review, that was mean spirited. I just think we never hear the full story. She could be leaving because of her and Jeff, wanting kids, or just over stayed her welcome. Happiness is hard enough to find without petty comments. Sorry. Hope God blesses you and your journey.
Jane
March 13th, 2011
1:11 pm
We wonder why kids are so mean and like to bully. If these comments are any indication I would say they learn from their parents.
nobama12
March 13th, 2011
9:50 pm
Fred Toucher rules!!!!!!!!!!!
Jeff
March 14th, 2011
12:59 am
Who cares? My god, who LISTENS to Atlanta FM radio anymore? Let’s see — nobody plays music… the “new” music that’s out there these days is pretty much crap… and how interested can people possibly be to listen to these uber-trendy people at Q-100 babble on about their average lives???
The only reason to listen to FM radio is to get traffic and weather updates and some news — that’s it. The “witty banter” and “new rock” gets old. And, to be perfectly blunt, a lot of people like Melissa kind of offend the moral sense of some people, so they really don’t care to hear her talk about her life every freakin’ day.
Q-100 had some decent moments when it first came out, but just like the majority of Atlanta FM radio, things at EVERY station got stale and boring by the mid-2000s, and EVERY attempt by so-called program directors to fix them has not worked at all.
With satellite radio and Ipods now available to consumers, the need to be glued to an FM radio station during a morning or afternoon commute is unnecessary and worthless. The only good that FM radio can provide is background music in an office or doing some live remote broadcast at some event.
I’m a big fan of radio… I’ve even worked some in the industry… but aside from a SMALL core of dedicated listeners, most Atlanta people I know don’t give a crap about the FM dial, nor do they listen for more than 2 minutes at a time. Bad management by mega-companies like Cumulus and Clear Channel, coupled with failed format changes and increased competition, have pretty much killed every station in one way or another. When I was a kid, Z-93 had a HUGE audience… 94-Q was separate and had a HUGE audience… 96 Rock appealed to a different group and STILL had a HUGE audience… Kicks 101.5 had the country audience… etc. etc. etc. Now, you can’t tell one station from another, and like I said — with Ipods and smartphones and satellite radio, FM stations are really hurting.
As a consumer, I either listen to my Sirius radio or some of the AM stations — 680 for sports and 750 for news. That’s about it. I haven’t had an Atlanta FM station on my radio at night or during the morning rush in almost 10 years. And it’s sad, because I have a lot of great 80s radio memories. But unless some smart person comes along who is IN TUNE with the public and can radically shake things up at a station, Atlanta FM radio will continue to be stale, boring, sophomoric, offensive to many, trite and quite silly.
Somebody please just come along, play some classic rock hits of the 70s and 80s, mix in a few lost tracks and deep tracks that are fan favorites, and have a decent news, traffic and weather team, and you’ll be fine. No more silly schtick, no more cackling laughter, no more fart jokes, no 14-year-old boy humor, no metrosexual programs with a lesbian vibe — just play some U2 or Bob Segar or Jackson Browne or R.E.M. or Cheap Trick or Styx or Bruce Springsteen, tell me if it’s gonna rain, tell me if the interstates are clear, and what happened in the news overnight… that’s all I need.
Matthew
March 14th, 2011
12:04 pm
I listened to the show when the announcement was made, and while I fully support anyone’s right to do as they please, I also support the listener’s right to react.
To be blunt, I was disgusted at the notion that what she is doing is “courageous.” Leaving without having another opportunity is a luxury that few can afford. I support anyone “moving on” and “making a change” if one’s current path is not desired, but most can not do this.
The factory worker hates his job, hates his boss, has no advancement and would very much like to take a few months off to “find him or herself” before moving on to another job. However, he or she has kids to support, and can’t quit without another opportunity lined up.
The office worker performs boring, repetitive, mind numbing work. How many times would these workers love to walk out the door? They can’t. They have obligations.
It takes no courage to leave. It takes courage to STAY.