Running time 6am-10am, Mon-Fri Language(s) English | Country United States Home station WWBA | |
Genre Talk show, Entertainment Opening theme "It's a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock 'n' Roll)" by AC/DC |
The Bubba the Love Sponge Show is an American radio show hosted by Bubba the Love Sponge Clem (born Todd Allen Clem) from his own facility in Tampa, FL.
Contents
1996-2004: Morning show
In December 1996, WXTB "98 Rock", hired Clem for the morning drive time slot. During January 2001, The show went into syndication. During its run in syndication, it aired on stations in Jacksonville, Orlando, Hartford, West Palm Beach, Ft. Myers, Wichita, Shreveport, Macon and XM Satellite Radio.
On February 27, 2001, while on the air at WXTB in Tampa, Clem aired "Bubba's Road Kill Barbecue" segment, which consisted of the killing of a feral hog named "Andy" that had been captured by a hunter. Sound effects of hogs feeding were broadcast to lead listeners to believe the hog was being harassed and aggravated. Andy was castrated live and then killed. Based on the incident Clem, his Executive Producer Brent Lee Hatley, and two other people were charged with felony animal cruelty. The trial received coverage outside Florida including Court TV. All four defendants were acquitted by the jury.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) issued a Notice of Apparent Liability of $755,000 against four stations owned by Clear Channel Communications (including its parent station, WXTB) on January 27, 2004 for objectionable segments of "Bubba the Love Sponge" show. The fine consisted of the maximum of $27,500 for each of 26 airings of a segment plus $40,000 for record-keeping violations. The segments included graphic discussions about sex and drugs and according to the FCC were "designed to pander to, titillate and shock listeners". One segment featured the cartoon characters Alvin and the Chipmunks, George Jetson and Scooby-Doo discussing sexual activities.
Clear Channel Communications discontinued Clem's show on February 23, 2004 and two days later, Clear Channel Communications CEO John Hogan testified in front of Congress, stating that the "Bubba the Love Sponge" show would no longer be broadcast on Clear Channel Communications.
2006-2010: Hey Now!
Bubba the Love Sponge was Howard Stern’s choice to join him in his launch on Sirius Satellite Radio on Jan. 9, 2006, where the show was broadcast nationwide weekday afternoons, on channel Howard 101.
For one year starting in 2008 the team did two shows a day, a censored show on WHPT and uncensored on Sirius in the afternoons. In 2009 Sirius opted for just FM replays during the week and one live uncensored show every Friday afternoon, though Friday live shows from Clem were few and far between. Sirius and Clem decided not to renew their contracts at the end of December 2010 so that Clem could work for the Internet radio company that his agent, Thomas Bean, was then the CEO of.
2008-2016: Terrestrial Re-birth
Clem began broadcasting a live morning show from Tampa, FL radio station WHPT 102.5 "The Bone" on January 8, 2008 which was simulcast on the Jacksonville, Florida radio station WFYV-FM 104.5 "Rock 105". During the second quarter of 2008, Bubba's show received a number one rating in his home market of Tampa, FL. (In 2015, the show's ratings came under investigation for possible Nielsen Ratings tampering.) In December 2016 his show was cancelled on his local Tampa station, WBRN. The show is also syndicated to other stations.
2011-present: Bubba Army Radio
Clem announced on January 3, 2011 he would have an internet show on RadioIO (A company which Clems Agent was the CEO of) and feature several programming features throughout the day starting on January 10, 2011.