Time and Chance Read Free Page A

rug), blue eyes, long thin nose, small mouth, pointed chin. Just turned
thirty-seven, the photo didn't show his plumbing problems and bad back. His
plumbing problem is what is called “hyperhidrosis”, i.e. excessive
perspiration. He also has a chronic drippy nose which he blames on the Tylox
medicine he takes for his back pain. An avid amateur photographer, he likes to
take, I had heard, pictures of women in their knickers, on their knees, or
both, from various angles. He is also into big game, as in hunting wild
animals, which he kills, has the heads stuffed, and mounted on his office
walls.
    The other
distinguished gentleman in the photo, Joe Galbo, looked like a Mack Truck
crossing the white line and coming at 60mph. His passion was intimidation and
he loved goose liver.
    I flipped to page 1D
and read:

 
    TV12's General Sales Manager Joe.
B. Galbo has been named Assistant General Manager of local CBS affiliate, WBFN-TV12.
On making the announcement, Berry Frazer, owner, President, and CEO of WBFN,
commented, “Joe is a dollar-a-holler salesman, started his career selling radio
advertising at WDTF in Chattanooga.”
    Galbo, a native of Chattanooga,
before moving to Nashville three months ago, was General Sales Manager at WATT-TV
Atlanta. Joe said, “When Berry called, I had to think about it. Then when he
came up with an unbelievable package, I couldn't turn it down. It's hard to say
no to Berry Frazer.” Joe assumes his new duties as Assistant General Manager
immediately (More at 3D).

 
    I took a deep breath,
rubbed my head, clicked my silver Zippo, lit a Salem, turned to page 3D, and
read on:

 
    Once a Nashville broadcasting
giant, WBFN-TV12 lost its founder, Lamar Frazer, last year. As Berry said,
“Daddy bought the farm. Momma gave me the TV station to run. Then, God rest her
soul, she died six months after daddy.” Berry went on to say, “I had worked in
the family business all my life, part-time then taking over as General Manager.
Love to sell. So TV, it comes natural to me.”
    With the announcement of Galbo's
appointment, Berry added, “With Joe Galbo's Atlanta 'big market expertise', we
hope to get our overall numbers back on top.” He added, “Our news is gold,
solid as a rock.”
    Channel 12 News Director, Jack
Carr (third from left in photo) was not available for comment.

 
    I read on:

 
    TV12 was put on the air by
Berry's father, broadcast pioneer Lamar Frazer. Originally WNAS-TV (Lamar
signed on WNAS-AM in broadcasting's infancy) when Berry took over, he changed
the call letters of the TV station to WBFN-TV (BFN for Berry Frazer Nashville),
revamped local programming, and began The Sizzle promotion campaign.
    Regarding the recent changes,
local advertising agency movers and shakers have speculated openly that the TV
industry behemoth (popularly known as TV12) is charging blindly around, looking
for an identity, when it doesn't need to. A TV12 insider, who wishes to remain
anonymous, contends that Berry's changes have hastened the sudden drop in the
station's sign-on to sign-off ratings. The insider added, “It's all since the
Kid [Berry] took over.”
    As to sign-on to sign-off
ratings, NBC affiliate Channel 3 has overtaken TV12 and is now number one in
Nashville. ABC's Channel 5 comes in second. TV12 is third while FOX's Channel 8
is fourth.
    One silver lining, a main stay,
has been Channel 12's news ratings that have stayed on top mainly due to the
strength of weather icon Luther Mays.
    100% of the stock of TV12 is
owned by Berry Frazer. The TV station is a subsidiary of Smoky Mountain
Broadcasting, Inc., which recently expanded its portfolio when Berry opened The
Berry Inn, a 100 room hotel which features the gourmet French restaurant The
Pheasant & Grouse.

 
    * * *

 
    Contemplating what
gourmet really meant, I put the paper down and remembered what Terri had many
times told me, “Two plus two does not always equal four.” She also said, “Truth
is not cheap.” She was