Bubba the Love Sponge

The Bubba the Love Sponge Show

Genre	Comedy, Talk
Running time	4 hours (approximately)
Country of origin	United States
Home station	Howard 101 and 102.5 'The Bone
Starring	Bubba "The Love Sponge" Clem Brent "Ballard" Hatley Mike "Manson" Waters Ned "Nedley" Mandingo III Matt "SpiceBoy" Loyd
Created by	Bubba the Love Sponge
Executive producer(s)	Brent Hatley Matt Loyd
Opening theme	"Voodoo Chile" by Jimi Hendrix and "Full Trucker Effect" by Johnny Socko
Ending theme	"Voodoo Child (Slight Return)" by Jimi Hendrix
Website	http://btls.com

Bubba the Love Sponge Clem (born Todd Alan Clem in Warsaw, Indiana on April 23, 1966) is a Tampa, Florida radio talk show host. His radio show can be heard on Howard 101 on Sirius Satellite Radio and on Cox Radio stations WHPT in Tampa, WFYV in Jacksonville, WHDR in Miami, WHTQ in Orlando, and WDYL in Richmond, along with Beasley Broadcast Group station WRXK in Fort Myers.

Bubba on terrestrial radio

Beginning initially on college radio station WISU in Terre Haute, Indiana, Bubba made his professional debut on April 1, 1985. After initially using "Rockin' Bubba Clem" as his on-air moniker, a fellow DJ gave Bubba the name "Bubba The Love Sponge" which became his permanent radio name. Bubba has trademarked the name, and he legally changed his name to Bubba The Love Sponge Clem in 1999[2].

By the time he was 25 years old, Bubba was doing morning drive radio in Chicago. He worked as a DJ in the CHR and Top 40 fields, earning multiple national awards from Billboard Magazine for his work. Bubba moved around a great deal in his early years, as many DJs have to do, working in markets like Grand Rapids, Cincinnati, San Antonio, Philadelphia, Milwaukee and Orlando.

Bubba began to develop his edgy style at WXXL in Orlando. After Bubba's contract with WXXL was not renewed, he moved to Chicago for a short stay as the morning man on the old Z-95 then to Milwaukee for a 6 month stint as the afternoon jock on WLUM, then onto Tampa's WFLZ-FM, known as "The Power Pig 93.3" to work nights. It was there he began to draw national attention for his controversial style. One of Clem's more popular on-air bits was "No Panties Thursday." In Conjunction with doing nights on the Power Pig, but was also somewhat of a pioneer in Radio Voice Tracking/Syndication. While he was doing his show live on 93.3 the Power Pig in Tampa, he was also heard on several Rock Radio formats across America. He cut this show earlier in the day and they played it at night as if Bubba was actually in their city. While he was doing this, he also was heard late nights from 10p-midnight on WJBT, 92.7 "The Beat" in Jacksonville, Florida.

In December 1996, WXTB, known in Tampa as "98 Rock", hired Bubba for the morning drive time slot. That was a departure from his usual pop radio environment, but he welcomed the new challenge. Clem was paired with comedy writer Mike "Manson" Waters to write sketches for Clem's show. "The Bubba the Love Sponge Show" rose quickly in the ratings, with Clem becoming something of a pop culture icon in the Tampa Bay area.

Clem often criticized local politicians and national leaders on issues when he disagreed with their views. Clem was also critical of a style of radio that he called "warm and fuzzy radio," which Clem claimed to be mind-numbing fluff. His brash style appeals primarily to blue-collar workers and long-haul truckers.

In 1997 Clem opened up "Planet Bubba," a nightclub in Clearwater, FL. He owned a series of restaurants and nightclubs in the Tampa Bay area, including Bubba's Ale House, Bubba's Beach Club in Ybor City, and Plush in Tarpon Springs, FL.

During January 2001, "The Bubba The Love Sponge Show" went into syndication. During its run in syndication, the show aired on stations in Jacksonville, Orlando, Hartford, West Palm Beach, Ft. Myers, Wichita, Shreveport and Macon. XM Satellite Radio carried the show as well, first on tape delay, and then live in east coast morning drive.

Radio & Records named Bubba the national Active Rock Personality/Show of the Year for 2002 and 2003. Many stations, however, declined to carry Clem's show when offered syndication rights due to its controversial nature. Bubba was also a 7 time Billboard Air personality of the year winner.

Pig Killing Controversy

Clem was arrested in 2001, along with two hunters and executive producer Brent Hatley, and prosecuted by Hillsborough County State Attorney Mark Ober on charges of animal cruelty after the hunters slaughtered a pig in an on-air event called "Bubba's Road Kill Barbecue" which played during regular morning time. The perception of cruelty resulted from a replay button on his soundboard (also called a trigger, or sound bite) that was linked to a recorded group of boar feasting from a trough that Bubba played several times in succession, giving the impression that the pig was being brutally slaughtered.

In reality, Bubba had called the Florida Fish and Wildlife association before the show and was given the state statute regarding the legal and humane way to slaughter wild boar. Bubba instructed the regulations to be followed by having the boar slaughtered by the professional trapper who captured it under the supervision of two Tampa Police officers. Bubba and the others were acquitted by a six person jury in 52 minutes after a 2002 trial.

Forced Sex Act Controversy

In 2006, Clem was sued by Brooke Skye, a Fort Lauderdale based internet porn model, over an incident which allegedly occurred during her second appearance on his show.

Skye alleged that when she refused to allow another internet porn star, Melissa Midwest, to penetrate her with an oversized strap-on dildo, Clem threatened he would "kick your ass out of my studio and tell everybody not to visit your website." Skye further alleged that Clem plied her with alcohol despite her being underaged, and that members of Clem's staff then held her down while Midwest penetrated her with the dildo against her expressed will, causing injuries to her vagina. No police report was filed.

Skye named Clem, Midwest, Sirius Radio, and several of Clem's staff in her suit, asking for a total of $150,000.

Clear Channel and FCC troubles

The Federal Communications Commission issued a Notice of Apparent Liability (a precursor to a fine) of $755,000 against four stations owned by Clear Channel Communications (including his parent station, WXTB) on January 27, 2004 for objectionable segments of "Bubba the Love Sponge" aired on its stations in five Florida cities: Callahan, Clearwater, Port Charlotte and West Palm Beach, and Jacksonville.

The segments included graphic discussions about sex and drugs that were "designed to pander to, titillate and shock listeners," the FCC said. One segment featured the cartoon characters Alvin the chipmunk, George Jetson and Scooby Doo discussing sexual activities.

The fine consisted of the maximum of $27,500 for each of 26 airings of a segment the FCC alleged were "designed to pander to, titillate and shock listeners", plus $40,000 for record-keeping violations.

Clear Channel Communications immediately cancelled their contract with Bubba The Love Sponge over the incident.

Renewal; Return to Terrestrial Airwaves

On December 10, 2007, Bubba announced on The Howard Stern Show that his show would be with Sirius Satellite Radio on Howard 101 for another year. Also on that same date, Cox Radio announced that Bubba will begin broadcasting a live morning show from Tampa radio station WHPT (102.5 "The Bone") on January 8, 2008 that will be simulcast on Jacksonville, Florida radio station WFYV (104.5 FM). It is reported that Bubba is being paid over $3 million combined annually for his two gigs. During the second quarter of 2008, Bubba announced on his show that he was now number one in his home market of Tampa.

On November 24, 2008 it was announced that the show will soon be heard on four more radio stations, covering the Florida cities of Miami, Orlando, Ft. Myers and Richmond, Virginia. Cox Radio stations WHDR-FM Miami (93 Rock), WHTQ-FM Orlando (96.5), and WDYL Richmond (Y101), along with Beasley Broadcast Group station WRXK-FM Ft. Myers (96 K-Rock), will begin broadcasting the Bubba the Love Sponge Show on Monday, January 5, 2009. The show is broadcast live from 6 am to 10 am ET from Bubba’s own custom, multimedia studio in Tampa, which is regularly visited by stars from the worlds of sports, comedy, music and film/TV/video. The show currently operates with a 75-second delay (35 seconds for profanity, 30 seconds to reach the affiliate station, and 10 seconds to reach the station's transmitter).

However, regardless of where he broadcasts, Bubba remains controversial -- on December 3, 2008, Bubba's live broadcast on Howard 101 was cut short before 5PM ET, as he and regular commentator Tucker Carlson were discussing the prospects of Bubba's contract renewal with Sirius. Following a newsbreak, a repeat broadcast was substituted. The incident occurred because of a construction incident caused by Verizon, who was digging a ditch and cut the T1 line that transmits the show to Sirius. On December 19, 2008 Howard Stern called in during the live Bubba the Love Sponge Show on Howard 101 to announce that Bubba has re-signed on with Sirius/XM for another 2 years. Negotiations went late into the night and Bubba insisted this was not a work, but in fact that it was a deal that came down at the last possible second. Follow-up calls from Scott Ferrall and Artie Lange cemented the fact that Bubba and crew will be around and a part of the Howard Stern family until January 2011, albeit, with the morning show being repeated on Mondays - Thursdays and a live Sirius show on Fridays, from 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM. Stern did mention however, that it was possible for Bubba to be Sirius/XM exclusive if he were fired from Terrestrial radio if an incident were to occur. Stern then mentioned that he and his crew loved Bubba.

See also

• Sirius Satellite Radio

External links

• Official site
• Official News Forum site