I apologize for the vacation I took from writing. It's been a little crazy around here since Andy announced he's leaving. Here's the update:

Andy's still leaving.

I've also heard from, literally, dozens of people who know the perfect person for SoundOFF. The list of suggested co-hosts includes radio personalities, stand-up comics, newspaper columnists, television reporters and anchors at this station and other stations, a neighbor, the husband of a sales rep here, and Tom Arnold, who I'm guessing is not available (It hasn't gotten that bad has it?).

I love all the ideas and suggestions. I think it really proves many people are invested in the show, feel a part of it, and care what happens. As I've written previously, SoundOFF won't be the same without Andy; it will be something different.

We're, of course, really going to miss Andy. Leaving has kind of re-energized him creatively, which is good and bad :-) He's going out with guns blazing which has made for some appointment television these past few weeks. Sunday night we'll take an entire hour to look back on the best and worst of "What's Bugging Andy" and the Never Fales years at Channel 13. It should be fun. It will be a tough night for me. I imagine it's a bit like dropping your son off at college. You're proud, but it really hurts to see him go. Cheesy, but honest.

Also, check back at whotv.com soon. Due to popular demand---cliched, but true---we're selling a "Best of What's Bugging Andy" DVD for $9.95 plus S&H. It will run around two hours, and have some of the funniest, craziest, and thoughtful things to ever come out of Andy's pie-hole.

Other scattershots...

The Iowa Stars, and many of their fans, mistakenly think we're out to get them. We've pointed out what we see as the good & bad on SoundOFF, just as we do with all local sports. A few months ago we did a news report that simply asked the question, "Is it working?". It was fair, with no agenda, and in many ways positive, but we did ask some tough questions about atmosphere problems, high ticket/concession prices, and disappointing attendance. I find it interesting that today the Stars put out a release with the headline "IOWA STARS AND GLOBAL SPECTRUM JOIN FORCES TO CREATE INNOVATIVE SALES, MARKETING AND GAME ENTERTAINMENT. Lower Ticket Prices and All-Inclusive Food and Beverage Packages are Top Priorities." Exactly. We weren't out to get you. We just knew some changes need to be made. The original management and ownership team with the Stars misjudged this market. To their credit, they're making the right moves now...

Staying with hockey, props to the USHL for scrapping that RIDICULOUS playoff format. You needed calculus just to keep up...

Lindsay Lohan is Maxim magazine's choice as the hottest woman in the world???!!! Do you get that? I don't. Lohan is the hottest woman to drive Herbie the Love Bug, but that's it...

We threw a going away party for Andy, and it was one of those nights where I felt blessed even as I cleaned up the mess. Everyone who came was nice, fun, and considerate. "Life of the party" honors go to Colleen of Star 102.5. She now has a lifetime pass for parties at Murphy Manor...

Former Cyclone Paul Shirley is most famous in these parts for crying, but he's all about the laughs now. Shirley has a funny new book out, "Can I Keep My Jersey?". It's about his journeyman career as a professional basketball player. It's entertaining, in part, because Shirley doesn't care for pro basketball players...

Props to Greg McDermott for sitting down with Shawn Terrell and answering questions about a second year of transfers at Iowa State. McDermott could have ducked the interview---as many coaches would---but instead provided insight that comes across as honest and thoughtful (see 13 Raw video at whotv.com). Being accountable is always the best way to show you have nothing to hide...

Great move by NBC renewing "Friday Night Lights". I am concerned it's now on Friday nights, which on the surface makes sense, but in the Fall will find its target audience at games, not in front of the TV...

"Grey's Anatomy" keeps getting more ridiculous by the week. Meredith needs to go live by herself somewhere because then she'll finally have true love. Izzie is now supposedly in love with George? What happened to being so in love with Denny she couldn't cash a 9 million dollar check? And Burke finally gets what he wants, and walks straight off the alter? This show now belongs in NBC's old "Passions" slot on daytime television. Yes, I'll probably watch again...

I liked, not loved, Spiderman 3. In the Spidey trilogy, I rank them like this:
1. Spiderman 2
2. Spiderman
3. Spiderman 3 (and a distant third).
Thomas Haden Church was good as Sandman, although he was in serious need of some Chapstick. Tobey Maquire again finds different shadings to a superhero, no easy task. James Franco keeps improving, and he looked like he had the most fun in this movie. That all worked. But Kirsten Dunst was whiny and had the misfortune of singing, not once, but twice. You understood why she was fired on Broadway. Topher Grace played a villain, but he's about as scary as a kitten taking a nap. Bryce Howard was okay in an underwritten role. Overall, some great moments, terrific action, and a few laughs, but too many subplots, too long and not enough emotional payoff. B- I was disappointed, but I suppose that was inevitable after Spiderman 2...

I went to see Spiderman 3 at the Nova. You can't beat $6 to get in and $1.25 for both popcorn and a pop, but it was NUTS in our theater. It was like a daycare, my kids included. I understand bringing children---I did it---but I expect my kids to behave or I take them out of the theater. That etiquette seemed lost on about 37 people...

Did you catch that crap Grey's Anatomy pulled last week? Trying to pass off a long promo as a two hour movie event! I get it, Addison is leaving to have her own show, but do we have to meet every single character for that show while watching this show?! It was a mess with both stories suffering. It made me want to watch neither...

Check out the Cubs! They're playing like we thought they would. It's never too late after 99 years of suffering...

Is there anyone in sports more disingenuous than Roger Clemens? Every year we have to hear how he's either retired or not sure if he's coming back, when there's absolutely no doubt he'll return, and to whomever pays him the most. I understand Clemens can get away with missing spring training and part of the season. I know he's go great---he really is---that he can set his own rules and travel schedule. I realize baseball is a business, and he's a hired gun, but why would he want to roll this way? He should be better than that. Taints his legacy just a bit in my mind...

Just listened to a voicemail from a passionate fan explaining to me that steroids won't help you hit a baseball, so Barry Bonds was not helped even if all the allegations are true. WRONG! Steroids help you work out longer, recover faster, and hit the ball farther. A lot of warning track outs become home runs. Bonds was a first ballot Hall-of-Famer before his head grew bigger than Ted Kennedy's and his feet passed B-Ross', but the Bonds of ten years ago would not be anywhere near 755. As far as ABC/ESPN's poll, the only thing black & white about this issue is that Aaron shouldn't lose his spot in history to a guy who I believe beyond the shadow of any doubt cheated, and cheated for years. Yes, Bonds is a jerk, and has always been a jerk, but the world of sports is full of people like that, including some adored by misled fans, but that's not what this is about... (Are you rooting for Bonds? Vote on the whotv.com sports page)

We just went through a sale. The New York Times sold us to Local TV LLC. We're currently in the process of changing e-mail systems, and I know many of you have had some of your letters bounced back. I apologize. People smarter than me are working hard to get everything switched over and running smoothly as soon as possible. If you've sent anything to me in the past week, please don't assume I got it. If you haven't heard back, I probably didn't...

Jenny and I went to see Larry the Cable Guy. Thanks for the tickets Round Guy. I have to admit, I laughed a lot. It's not the most sophisticated humor, but funny is funny, and I'm not above a good poop joke. Some of you are, I know. I can't help it...

Later that night we went to the new Funny Bone. Bravo! What a great place, and smoke free! Business is way up at the new place, and it's not hard to see why. They've taken it to a new level...

Harland Williams will be at the Funny Bone soon. He makes me laugh. When Cade was a toddler, he'd watch "Rocketman" over and over, and I could even take it the 37th time in 30 days. Harland has been the best so far on "Thank God You're Here". My kids love it, and I enjoy it when I'm not suffering second-hand embarrassment....

The most interesting thing to cross my desk lately is a fitness product called Jump Snap. It's a ropeless jump rope that burns calories like crazy, and even makes the sound of a jump rope, but since there's no rope, you never have the need for high ceilings or a big room, not to mention the rope never gets caught under your feet. Erin Kiernan was checking it out for one of her fitness classes because some people don't like old fashioned rope jumping for the reasons just mentioned. If you're interested, check out www.jumpsnap.com You can get in shape while watching our newscasts or SoundOFF...

Nice job out of Chuck Reed and The Coaches vs. Cancer at Prairie Meadows last weekend. First class event...

Loverboy at the Venue in Boone?! Wish I could go, but I work six nights a week this month and need every hour I can get with the kids. If you go, let me know if they close with "Lovin' Every Minute of It" or "Working for the Weekend"...

Andy and I will be on KXNO all week from 2 to 4 p.m. We're filling in for Jon Miller, who was nice enough to ask us back. It's harder than it looks, which we'll prove in no time...

Thank you for all your comments. Keep them coming please.

Keith

Yes, Andy's leaving.

"Is Andy really leaving?"... I've been asked that at least 100 times in 72 hours. I thought I'd use the blog to answer some of the most frequent questions, and if I missed yours, please leave feedback, and I'll get to that too. Okay, here goes...

Is Andy really leaving? Yes. I'm sad to report he is.

Where is Andy going? KMBC in Kansas City.

What will he do there? He'll be the weekend sports anchor. The top sports guy at KMBC is Kansas City icon Len Dawson, who is 71 years old.

Did Channel 13 try to keep Andy? Of course. Everyone from the top boss down made sure Andy felt wanted and appreciated, but ultimately Andy decided it was too close to home (St. Louis) and too good of an opportunity to pass up.

Was it a tough decision? That's really a question for Andy, but I think it's fair to say he knows he had a good thing going here, and it was hard to leave.

Who will take Andy's place on SoundOFF? We don't know yet. I've already received a dozen phone calls and e-mails from people who are interested in the position. The only thing I know for sure is that the show will continue to evolve and won't be the same without Andy, it will be something different. We're not going to hire a guy named Randy or a woman named Mandy and start "What's Bugging Randy or Mandy?". We'll continue to make SoundOFF interactive with our viewers, and the new co-host will bring his or her own strengths. It goes without saying Andy left quite an impression.

How much are you going to miss Andy? A lot, both on and off the air. However, I'm happy for him. He wants to leave his comfort zone and try something new, and he has my support.

What about Shawn Terrell? We're blessed to have Shawn. He's a good anchor, top notch reporter, and does a fine job filling in on SoundOFF. There's no doubt Shawn's role will continue to grow at Channel 13.

What's Andy really like? Thoughtful, intelligent, and funny... to name a few. He doesn't suffer fools gladly.

Are we making too much out of this? Absolutely, but we appreciate it. Viewer loyalty is nothing we take lightly, and if nothing else, SoundOFF, in particular, has loyal viewers.

Anything else to add? The ox is slow, but the earth is patient.

(Leave Andy a "comment" and I'll make sure he sees it. Leave me one, and I'll make sure I see it).