Jenn Hobby leaves Q100’s The Bert Show after nearly a decade
Jenn Hobby's final day is Dec. 7 on Q100's Bert Show. CREDIT: Rodney Ho/rho@ajc.com
Loading ...Jenn Hobby is leaving Q100’s The Bert Show after nearly a decade, she announced this morning.
“It’s going to be a whole new chapter of life,” she said on air. “I wouldn’t be the woman I am without the Bert Show.”
Hobby got married two years ago and is pregnant with her first child.
Her voice cracked when she said that the Bert Show is how she met her husband Grant Rivera, who is a high school principal. She first met him when he showed up in studio when his school band came in. They later fell in love.
She will be officially leaving in two weeks. Her final day on air will be Dec. 7. Bert Weiss on air said he is in no rush to replace Hobby’s spot.
“I didn’t cry during the whole thing,” she said right after she was off air. But she did have to go to the bathroom and re-do her eye makeup.
In an interview after the announcement, she said she had pondered departing for awhile and with a contract renewal coming up, she had to make a call.
Hobby’s departure was my guess last week when Q100 started promoting a big announcement.
Over the years, she talked about her first marriage, her divorce to Ryan Newell of Sister Hazel and chronicled her engagement, then marriage to Rivera, as well as the upcoming baby.
In 2003, she came from what was then 95.5/The Beat, where she was a promotions director and (briefly) a morning producer for the short-lived Woody and the Morning Beat.
Weiss met Hobby in 2002 at Cosmopolitan nightclub in Midtown and he liked her. When Lindsay Brien left the show in 2003, he gave Hobby the job.
“I was getting into this new morning show. I was over the moon joining being part of such a cool group of people,” she said.
Jenn Hobby in studio Nov. 26, the day she announced her departure from the Bert Show after nearly a decade. CREDIT: Rodney Ho/rho@ajc.com
Hobby said she began thinking of leaving seriously in June while on vacation in Spain. “After 10 years, I wanted a new challenge. I’ve grown so much on the Bert Show but it’s time to push myself to grow more.” Her last contract ran out earlier this fall and she was working without one.
She said she’s going to miss the laughter the most. “We laugh more in one day than most people do in a week,” she said.
She has new job opportunities coming soon, she said, but she can’t say yet. (Could it be TV? She has done work locally and even won a contest to co-host “Kelly & Regis” in 2010)
Last year, Melissa Carter left the show, replaced by Kristin Klingshirn. That change ultimately didn’t hurt the Bert Show’s ratings, which remain solid on Q100. Will this have a negative impact?
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97 comments Add your comment
Jeje
November 26th, 2012
1:07 pm
I for one am glad she is leaving the whole my life is so great celebrity obsession was really annoying . Jeff would make a joke and everyone would laugh but Jenn because she takes everything so seriously . There is a twitter page called Hobby Humor that is hilarious it makes fun of her and her dumb ass comments I’ll miss reading that after every show . TBS will be alot better and loose not so uptight think about it when Jenn was on vaca the show was alot more fun and entertaining jmo. I was already over all of the pregnancy segments and celebrity sightings etc. Good luck Jenn Hobby I hope you find the fame you so desperately long for .
missnadine
November 26th, 2012
2:30 pm
She must have something else going on. I don’t see her losing that kind of income for a long period of time.
Wendylover
November 26th, 2012
2:37 pm
Bring back Wendy!!!!!!
dawgs81
November 26th, 2012
2:58 pm
Good riddance!
Cassandra
November 26th, 2012
3:00 pm
Hahaha on the 2 bring back Wendy comments. You must be two of the 80 people, out of millions in TBS markets, who “liked” her Bring Back Wendy Facebook page. That’s so embarrassing — Wendy, take it down! Give up! In addition, why do you have a “public figure” FB page? Being a midnight producer of a start-up (with no listeners) does not make you a “public figure.”
Cassandra
November 26th, 2012
3:02 pm
On second thought — don’t take down your “public figure” and “bring me back” pages, Wendy. I get a chuckle out of your limited vocabulary, misuse of words, and frequent misspellings.
Cassandra
November 26th, 2012
3:03 pm
She works for a sports station, and begs for free Falcons tickets on Twitter & Facebook. PATHETIC.
Atlanta Guy
November 26th, 2012
3:09 pm
Thank goodness. And I also believe it came down to a contract that wasn’t going to be renewed. Radio is a tough place to be these days and she knew she’d get a salary cut. Maybe she wants to concentrate on her simple life outside the Perimeter. She’s not the hip city girl she once was and still wants to be.
Omar Little
November 26th, 2012
3:10 pm
I found her to be annoying in recent months. A know-it-all. That’s crazy about her affair with Ben Rose.
Lately I find myself listening to Elvis Duran more. I still like Bert himself though.
TG
November 26th, 2012
3:17 pm
I think her “my life is perfect” schtick will be missed less than people think. Time for someone with a little more depth imo.
Gene
November 26th, 2012
3:17 pm
“….her husband Grant Rivera, who is a high school principal. He showed up in studio when his school band came in and they fell in love.”
Rodney, you AND Jenn keep trying to re-write history. Grant asked her out almost a year after he was in studio.
Grant also said on TBS he “wished he’d met Jenn sooner.” Grant, then why did it take you a YEAR to ask her out?
Jenn and Grant are probably both nice people, but you two are a match made in heaven in terms of how politically astute and self-promoting you both are. Grant, you didn’t go thru what others did to get your doctorate. Jenn, I doubt you “accidentally” ran into Bert in a bar 10 years ago. You’ve managed to get yourself and Grant on HLN. (Grant – talking about childhood obesity?)
Alexis
November 26th, 2012
3:22 pm
Can’t see her being with a school teacher. Not enough benjamins. I guess we know who wears the pants in that household.
Hobby Humor
November 26th, 2012
3:29 pm
Follow @HobbyHumor1 on Twitter for up-to-date tweets about the twit even after she leaves TBS.
Another comment
November 26th, 2012
3:41 pm
My bet is that Hubby grant is busy apply for higher administration positions in education all over the country. Grant Rivera is a great self promoter, who thought he was on the fast track in Cobb then his Mentor Fred left. Dale non-renewed him, so he got stuck at the worst of Fulton County. Parents from Cobb have let Fulton’s Supt. know all about him, so there is no upward movement with the ladies on the board in Fulton. With her husband’s desires to move upward in school administration, Jenn couldn’t lock herself into a new contracts. My bet is he has his résumé out to every district in the country and she will follow for now.
Wut?
November 26th, 2012
3:53 pm
pssst, most principals make 6 figures, depending on the school system.
A-HA!
November 26th, 2012
4:10 pm
“Another comment” has it NAILED! I agree and hadn’t thought of that. Google Grant to see how he manipulated and back-slapped to not have to have the number of hours others did in order to get his degrees. His contract in Cobb County was not renewed (he was fired). Jenn never mentioned THAT on the radio, but Kristin (refreshingly and honestly) talks about Bart’s ups and downs. Jenn never mentioned details of her divorce on air because “I have a microphone; he doesn’t.” Um — Jenn — he SINGS into a mic, has publicists, websites, etc.! Oy.
Greg
November 26th, 2012
5:00 pm
Could she moving to another radio station? Maybe she doesn’t want to do early mornings any more especially with a new baby. Just a thought.
MeMe
November 26th, 2012
5:45 pm
I haven’t liked her since she made that “racist” comment. When a few callers confronted her, she cried “crocodile tears”. Melissa …. come back. Then again, they need some “diversity”. Who is the Black guy that comes on every now and then (he was an intern). Will Jeff be the next to leave? He takes so looonnnnnnggggggggg to get out a sentence … boring!
Jack Diamond
November 26th, 2012
5:45 pm
What if Jenn is going to work for Bert’s buddy Jimmy Alexander?
Maybe Jeff won’t be castrated anymore; I hated how Jenn would always think he went to her. It’s called humor.
I still think Bert needs a nose job.
Fire Wendy!
Just Saying...
November 26th, 2012
7:21 pm
If you people all hate everyone on the show that much why do you spend time commenting on it? In the time it takes to write a comment you could have switched stations. Think we all knew it would be coming that she was leaving after she got pregnant. She is my least favorite on the show but you don’t need to bash her into the ground. Just saying….
Don't remember
November 26th, 2012
7:29 pm
What did she say that was racist?
Just Saying...
November 26th, 2012
7:44 pm
To bring back the best post from when Wendy left:
ObviousTroll
June 22nd, 2012
11:00 am
Everyone is way overthinking this.
1. The only thing that matters to broadcast media is ratings + demographics. If Wendy’s role did not support either of these in the right combination, then it makes business sense for them to cut her and would make no sense for Bert to re-hire her to TBS staff.
2. TBS has been in flux with supporting cast members far too long. I don’t care about Jenn’s new-found Christianity or Jeff’s ‘I’m divorced now, so I’m going to get healthy to cope with it’ issues. Kristin will always be a 3rd wheel. And please quit with the white 80’s rap guy.
Long story short, the days of Melissa’s insightfulness and great re-occuring segments like ‘Around the World Susie’ or ‘Paraonmal Invesigations’ are gone. Now it’s ‘call in give-away promos’ and an audio version of Jerry Springer.
A-HA!
November 26th, 2012
8:12 pm
@MeMe ~ Yes, Jeff can definitely overthink how he wants to tell a story and the words just don’t come out. Sometimes, I think he’s trying to create anticipation. Sometimes, I think he just can’t tell a story. He does get some quick-witted jokes in, though! Plus, now everyone is using Kristin “I’m not gonna lie” Klingshirn’s “said (whatever)” phrase — e.g., “Did she confront said sister?” Just ask, “Did she confront her sister?” Sheesh.
Caling It Like It Is
November 26th, 2012
8:23 pm
Mara Davis does not belong with this group. She’s a little on the old side and out of touch with the target demographic. There are a lot of unsubstantiated accusations being thrown out there. Reading Amber’s post is like trying to read a text message. You have to read it 3 or 4 times in order to understand it.
Kristen is a good addition, despite what everyone says about her voice. You can’t get on to her because she has an accent. Her voice is no more annoying that anyone else who is one there. And definitely no worse that the queen everyone wants, Mara Davis.
Everyone is bashing the jocks’ looks. These guys get paid good money to do what they do. They are not paid to be models. And they obviously get paid to entertain their audience. And all of the bashers…if you think you can do better, go to broadcasting school and see if you can do better. I bet not.
Even though I’m not in the target demographic, I do listen to them…they beat the hell out of what’s available. Star….no, Project….no wait, I mean Power 96.1, Rock 100, TRG, I don’t want to regress to 3rd grade, B98..not a snowball’s chance in hell, Dave….I mean CBS Sports….not going to last, The Bone….er Project/96 Rock/99x…they don’t even know who they are, V103…..definitely the wrong demographic, 94.9 The Bull…definitely the wrong demographic, and satellite…I’m not paying for radio. Hey, it’s estrogen radio, but what choice is there on terrestrial radio? And I don’t want the standard answer of “satellite”.
Their rating are what they are for a reason and why stations are flipping to Top 40 because they want to be like them. As a matter of fact, I turn off my radio in my office at 10:00 when they sign off because this market sucks unless you like the same 20 songs played over and over or 2 stations fighting to be the Rock station in this city and neither of them are doing it successfully.
Until one comes along, we have to learn to deal with what we are given or turn off the radio and listen to our mp3 players.
jackass
November 26th, 2012
8:46 pm
she will be going to all news 106.7 and join her gay girl she used to work with
Val
November 26th, 2012
10:30 pm
Best of Luck Jenn!
I will miss the unintentional comedy of Jenn flying through the real news in a snarky tone, and minutes later lingering and gushing at the celebrity news!
05girl
November 27th, 2012
10:23 am
@Val so silly, they obviously only schedule 2-3minutes for real news and a whole segment block of 10-15 mins for celeb news. I’d also venture that only the local ATL broadcast gets the real news segment; when it’s over they switch back over to syndication.
Kristian Bush At Eddie’s Attic & Flywheel LOL « Mara Davis
November 27th, 2012
10:42 am
[...] ran into Jeff Dauler and Melissa Carter and of course we had to talk about Jenn Hobby’s recent announcement (so happy for her!). Could this be a publicity shot?! HA! I [...]
Chloe
November 27th, 2012
11:42 am
WOW I saw that coming when she said she was pregnant. Jen is to upper class for a immature morning show. Give it some time, it’s going to be called The morning show soon
It's ok Y'all
November 27th, 2012
2:03 pm
Atleast it will be less people talking over each other….I have to take a Xanax just to handle it.
Bert's Bad Adventure
November 27th, 2012
4:57 pm
Ouch! Bad week for Bert – his best friend becomes his direct competition at the same time his own show takes a big hit…Lose-Lose situation.
Looks like they are going to have to replace some of the “telethon” content with something slightly more entertaining AND actually show up everyday to put in some effort.
Andee
November 27th, 2012
5:22 pm
I always thought Jen brought a good big sister type of persona to the show, and seemed to provide a good counterpoint to some of the immature (but admittedly fun) commentary that the others engaged in. I agree Klingshirn’s voice is grating — which is weird for someone in radio — and I don’t care as much for her personality. I will miss hearing Jen every morning!
About time...
November 28th, 2012
1:08 am
Seriously folks, Ms. Hobby is a joke of a “radio talent”.
FYI … she was never a promotions DIRECTOR at 95.5. She worked IN promotions but didn’t DIRECT promotions.
She’s got the “J-LO Efffect” Totally talentless, but somehow raking in the $. Shame that she took a job, for 10 years, from more talent radio folk. Just sad. Only in America.
CarolinaGrl
November 28th, 2012
9:44 am
I have always felt Jen came across self-important and disingenious but thought I was the only one who felt that way based on the way others seem to be in awe of her. I did not know about her affair until now but that only further confirms what I already thought about her.
Russ
November 28th, 2012
9:56 am
Same here, CarolinaGrl. The Bert Show has become almost unbearable to listen to but like smoking, it’s a bad habit I can’t break..even though I pretty much hate it now…my morning routine is set to it. I can’t stand how at least one of them always seems to be missing/on vacation/etc. They run more re-runs than I can count, they have dumb and boring bits when they are live, they spend 3 minutes on the news and 15 or more on the entertainment buzz,…I could go on and on. I for one will NOT miss Jenn. I hate how she used to talk about how her friends who were pregnant or parents always talked only about their kids and how it made her sad because she couldn’t conceive and listen to her now!
Loni Ross
November 28th, 2012
1:40 pm
Russ – I totally agree with you about it being a bad habit! I’ve been listening for so long that it has become a morning routine for me and I can’t seem to move on even though the show has totally flat lined.
After being so annoyed that the cast took off SOOO many days and played re-runs constantly, I started listening to the Elvis Duran show from time to time. It’s pretty typical ‘radio quaky’ but at least it’s another option. I miss the Bert Show from about 3 years ago! Bert and Jeff seemed to have just given up at this point! Melissa made a smart “Seinfeld” move and left while the show still had momentum. Hasn’t been the same since, in my opinion.
cp
November 29th, 2012
9:37 am
heard Jenn is going country??? how is she going to sell that?
ManJ
November 29th, 2012
2:04 pm
Cp- also heard the country comment. Good luck with that one. Rodney, journalism = fact check. Jenn was hired to replace Lindsey from The Real World… Lindsey was sent packing and didn’t see it coming. You would be a sell out on a jury.
Lynn
November 29th, 2012
4:57 pm
I agree with Serena they should bring back Wendy!!!
Karma
November 29th, 2012
6:17 pm
Glad there’ s no room in the budget for her. Hard to take anyone who gives relationship advise seriously after they cheat on their spouse. No one in Atlanta is going to hire her in media anyway. Watch her fade into obscurity.
Gcort49
November 29th, 2012
6:30 pm
An affair?
Must have been some desperate guy..
She ain’t all that hot.
Candy
November 29th, 2012
7:50 pm
Wow! There’s a lot of people throwing stones in glass houses around here. First, you act like the affair is public fact when she and her ex-husband have never confirmed or denied it. Why should they? None of anyone’s business. Second, please reach deep in to your own closets and look at your own sins before judging others on theirs. I’m sure NONE of you are perfect. Whether you’ve had an affair of your own or not, a sin is a sin and you’ll be judged quite the same. I’m sure of that.
Bert Show’s Jenn Hobby’s new gig: mid-day host at Kicks 101.5, replacing Sari Rose | Radio & TV Talk
November 30th, 2012
7:46 am
[...] Who will replace her? Jenn Hobby of Q100’s Bert Show! The rationale: she wants more normal hours now that she is about to have a baby. She announced to the Bert Show Monday that she was leaving after nearly a decade. [...]
Evelin
November 30th, 2012
1:54 pm
I agree with Candy. No one knows that she even had an affair. I’m not her biggest fan and will admit she’s a bit high and mighty lately, but I don’t think people should be calling her a “cheater” as if it’s an actual fact.
Stephanie
November 30th, 2012
2:05 pm
Bert is going to have to hire someone overweight to fill Jenn’s position. Ever since Jeff lost all that weight, Bert has had no one to berate to make himself feel better. He’s had to get by on just inserting “back when you were fat” into every conversation he has with Jeff.
Q100 Listener
November 30th, 2012
5:17 pm
@Stephanie – don’t worry, he’s found a new “fat” person to pick on. Tommy. It’s relentless. Almost to the point of awkward.
GirlQ
November 30th, 2012
7:23 pm
Jeff is still fat and Jenn is still a cheater. Wendy sucked. Bert is cool. Who is Kristin?