And for a comic, laughter is everything. We cannot take ourselves seriously. It is a raw medium. People know you. You cannot hide for long in radio. They will see who you are. But there is another Jim Krenn—Jim, the middle-aged man. Forty-eight years old, graying along his sideburns, Krenn sees his stubble and jokes that he should shave more often. The Krenns have no children, but they care for several dogs and cats. Krenn loves to drink and smoke, but he also has a personal trainer, Dee Barker, at the Center for Specialized Exercise; for nearly two hours a day, three times a week, he does elliptical and weight-training.
The first time we meet, Krenn wears suede shoes, straight jeans and a plaid shirt. He sits cross-legged on a studio couch. And he winks. His colleagues are also his friends, and when they sit around and joke, thousands of listeners stuck in gridlock traffic get to join in the fun.
Krenn loves Pittsburgh, and he is an expert on its people and culture—even its uglier, dimmer sides. Growing up in a neighborhood that included the hustle and bustle of shipping and receiving and the cacophony that accompanies wholesale marketing proved to be an inspiration for later life. Tough as the people were, the community was strong. This is where I found all my characters. I was always the observer. I was always a quiet kid. The Strip was true Pittsburgh.
Who gave him his big break? None other than Dennis Miller. For a while the two were fairly close. Krenn started playing local clubs—some comedy clubs, like The Funny Bone, and other venues that hosted occasional comedy, like Graffiti, which has since closed.
He started visiting other cities and taking official tours across the country, sometimes hitting two or three stages per town. He was tireless, playing stage after stage. Integral to this transition was Gene Romano, vice president of the station. He was like a coach. They always put me in a position to win.
Since , DVE has dominated the airwaves of western Pennsylvania. The classic-rock station has long ruled as the most popular among listeners ages 25 to 54—the most coveted demographic in broadcasting, rivaled only by KDKA. Producers are often perceived as humorless censors obsessed with ratings and FCC regulations.
They give me the space to do comedy. As his year radio milestone approaches and his fellow comics prepare their roast, Krenn entertains questions about the future: What is his next project?
Is there a next step? Does he hope to expand his circuit? He would consider writing a book, but he offers no specifics as to its potential content. He loves his morning show. You get into because you love the art of it. He is welcome at every local game of every sport.
The show was short-lived, but it also aired in Britain and Poland. And what hurry could there be? Krenn still remembers, with great fondness, the experience of seeing his face on a billboard for the first time—the strangeness, the ego-boost, the hint of fear. September 28, Tune In to listen or download all of the archived episodes.
Contact Jimmy via… David Sedelmeier by email talent network, inc. Jimmy, Bruno and Larry are headed to Italy in August for the dedication of a statue of Bruno in his hometown of Pizzoferrato. While at lunch, Jim and Larry ask Bruno about his mother fighting the Nazi SS in World War II, the worst injury in his wrestling career, the origins of the cage match, the time Bruno wrestled a monkey and so much more….
File Photo of Bruno Sammartino courtesy onlineworldofwrestling. Read More ».
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