76 Comments so far

1. Jim on May 15, 2008 2:47 pm

   “The press release also claims CockyBoys is “examining a potential Federal court action seeking to block the merger on constitutional grounds…”

   And what was previously just a mildly stupid controversy, has now entered the realm of the totally absurd. Eyeroll!

2. Gerry on May 15, 2008 2:50 pm

   Some people really will do anything for publicity. But filing a complaint with the FCC is a new one in my book. “Eyeroll” indeed!

3. BetterPR on May 15, 2008 3:25 pm

   I don’t know Jason, except through his blog, but what I do know is that he made an egregious mistake by attempting to steer the interview. This is Bad PR 101. A skilled publicist knows that they cannot control an interview, and they should never attempt to. Having worked in PR for nearly 20 years, Jason’s actions have blown up in his face and, unfortunately, doesn’t seem to want to take any blame.

4. Mark on May 15, 2008 3:27 pm

   Yeah, and Jason’s side of the story is just that…his side. He didn’t tell the whole story, either. Jason holds a lot of the blame for the interview going awry, as does Jesse Santana.
   Let’s try to get along kids, it’s just porn and entertaining radio. Get a grip.

5. Will on May 15, 2008 3:51 pm

   Better PR and Mark - How did Jason try to steer the interview? By complaining in the first place about the Aaron James interview? That appears to be what got the hosts steamed and made them conduct the interview with Santana as they did, but they were being unfairly vindictive with talent over a perhaps heavy-handed publicist, nothing more, nothing less. Once Sechrest saw how they handled that first interview, he should have just pulled Santana from the show, granted.

   But NOW it appears he has totally undercut CockyBoys by finding this alternative venue for Santana. How are they going to argue that the merger is a de facto monopoly when there are obviously other outlets for this kind of programming?

6. BetterPR on May 15, 2008 5:12 pm

   Will, if you go and read Jason’s account, he attempted to steer the interview by suggesting how it should be conducted. A skilled PR person knows you just DON’T DO THAT. If Jason was unhappy about the Aaron James interview, he shouldn’t have allowed Santana’s interview to proceed.

7. BetterPR on May 15, 2008 5:15 pm

   I also wonder if Jason prepared Santana for the interview based upon how the Aaron James interview went. If you have a caustic set of interviewers, a skilled PR person will coach the interview subject on how to try and get things back on track. If Santana just stumbled his way through, this is probably due to the fact he did not get PR counsel from Jason Curious.

8. Will on May 15, 2008 5:29 pm

   BetterPR - Both very valid points. Sorry, I should have read Jason’s account before posting.

9. Damon Kruezer on May 15, 2008 7:06 pm

   Mr. Sechrest is hugely overrated as a publicist. The first mistake he made was to allow Santana to be interviewed on his birthday, obviously unprepared and uncoached. The second mistake was not to see all the signs of a looming disaster based on the Aaron James mashup.

   The 3rd and perhaps most egregious error Sechrest made was to steal Cockyboys’ thunder and divert attention from their press release to his own “alternative” interview as another poster has wisely observed.

   Now I hear Cockyboys is furious with Sechrest, Santana is nonplussed, and Jet Set Men’s confidence in Sechrest’s professional aplomb has been severely undermined.

   I think Jesse Santana - a great talent and a sweet guy - needs a new publicist.

   And Sirius Radio needs to replace Derek and Romaine with someone far more attuned to the industry and empathetic to the performers.

   Someone controversial and often imitated perhaps?

10. Will on May 15, 2008 7:21 pm

    Who are you and what have you done with DK?

11. The Porn Critic on May 15, 2008 11:06 pm

    Sechrest is a pain in the ass and should get himself a job cle

12. The Porn Critic on May 15, 2008 11:08 pm

    cont.
    cleaning cars or work in a flower shop. Santana while no intellect (there’s no shame in that) came over as a sweet, relaxed guy.
    And why on earth to porn stars need publicists????????????? Do they actually pay for that????????

13. Becky Isabech on May 15, 2008 11:28 pm

    The website should be renamed DorkyBoys.com because they’re all dorks if they think that press release about the FCC made any sense.

14. Casey Scott on May 16, 2008 5:34 am

    As a subscriber to Sirius, I WANT the merger with XM to happen! The more bullshit complaints the FCC gets, the less likely it will happen. FUCK YOU COCKYBOYS!

15. Will on May 16, 2008 5:40 am

    Can’t anyone file a complaint? Don’t they really mean squat? Isn’t this all just a publicity stunt?

16. Jim on May 16, 2008 6:58 am

    Yep. Yep. Yep.

17. Anonymous on May 16, 2008 9:48 am

    LOL! They are now getting even more publicty from the dust-up then they ever would have form just the interview alone! Mission accomplished…they all win because we are talking about it.

18. Trumpkin on May 16, 2008 9:59 am

    A lot of us think that Mr. D. Kruezer would be a very intriguing new host for a revamped version of the Derek and Romaine show - without those two houseplants of course.

    You just know so many people would tune in thinking they’d be hearing a trainwreck - and then they’d prolly say “DAMN! Damon’s better than Sechrest ever was and he likes the performers whether they hire him for viral marketing campaigns or not!”

    Worth a shot, after hearing Kruezer handle Derek and Romaine when he was on their show talking about Zeb Atlas a while back.

19. Will on May 16, 2008 10:05 am

    I am now convinced that DK has multiple personalities and should seek treatment immediately.

20. Jim on May 16, 2008 11:24 am

    Yep.

21. Will on May 16, 2008 12:17 pm

    Good ol’ Jim.

22. Tofer on May 16, 2008 1:23 pm

    Derek & Romaine aren’t going anywhere. There show is a lot more than just porn star interviews. Jason and Damon have had it out for them since they were asked to host the GAYVN Awards.

23. Will on May 16, 2008 2:53 pm

    It seems like everybody, just about, has had it out for them, just from what I read and hear.

24. robbie on May 16, 2008 3:19 pm

    what other week have you ever seen jesse’s name mentioned this much? looks to me like sechrest is doing a good job.

25. Will on May 16, 2008 3:36 pm

    Short answer: The week he attacked escorts. But you’re right otherwise.

26. Treasure Island Fan on May 16, 2008 5:23 pm

    I cannot believe the fuss over this! Has Jason Sechrest never listened to Derek and Romaine at all? That’s why I think this has to be at least partially manufactured. Jesse is a sweet little delicate flower and Aaron James seems naive and not all that swift, so throwing them in front of a couple of radio show hosts who are quick witted, and more than a little mean, is just asking for trouble.

27. DeWayne on May 17, 2008 6:15 am

    DeWayene was slipping this week I was distracted when I posted all the Jesse vs D & R flap on my blog and yet I should have seen the warning signs.

    Jim was all over my blog saying something did not “smell right” he was right and JC you probably made the correct call by not publishing early on. Jason is NOT inept as a publicist he set this up which is why Jesse was nonplussed on the D & R show and seemed to “react” by getting “upset” 2 days later!

    We all fell for a “manufactured story”

    Good move Mr,Sechrest

    Am I cynical or what!

28. Albert on May 17, 2008 8:14 am

    Derek and Romaine behaved according to their nature. They treated Jesse with disdain. Their reason for doing so had more to do with their own personalities than anything some third party may or may not have done.
    Jesse was treated very well on The Edge Radio interview. In both interviews he was a gentleman. That is his nature.
    The FCC complaint is just an absurd blip in the blogosphere. Not worth the time of day.

29. Jim on May 17, 2008 9:34 am

    “Jim was all over my blog saying something did not “smell right” he was right and JC you probably made the correct call by not publishing early on. Jason is NOT inept as a publicist he set this up which is why Jesse was nonplussed on the D & R show and seemed to “react” by getting “upset” 2 days later!”

    Yeah. Although I think this was done not so much to salvage Jesse’s reputation (that never really needed saving, IMO) but Jason’s reputation.

30. Will on May 17, 2008 10:20 am

    DeWayne and Jim - Wow, you think you might be giving JS just a little TOO much credit for being able to manufacture all of this so expertly? He’s gone from incompetent boob to junior Machiavelli in one thread!

31. BetterPR on May 17, 2008 11:09 am

    I do not believe it is manufactured - that is just spin for covering up one’s incompetence.

32. Tofer on May 17, 2008 11:23 am

    Does Cockyboys.com seriously think they can stop a merger that the sleazy terrestrial radio lobbyist couldn’t stop? Get real!!!

33. Will on May 17, 2008 11:27 am

    Short answer: No.

34. Jim on May 17, 2008 12:14 pm

    I should clarify: I don’t think any “manufacturing” occured before the D&R interview. That I agree would have been way too Machiavellian.

    I think the spinning began after the interview (ie, in order to clean up the mess).

35. Will on May 17, 2008 12:18 pm

    Jim - Isn’t half of a PR rep’s job cleaning up after messes?

36. Will on May 17, 2008 12:34 pm

    And I believe “spinning” is also part of their job description, no?

37. Jim on May 17, 2008 12:55 pm

    Yep. And yep. But in this case, all this mess cleaning and spinning was being done for the benefit of the PR agent, not the client.

    I thought Jesse did just fine in that first interview. He seems like a great guy, and came across as such.

    His publicist…well, not so much!

    Hence the need to paint Jesse as some sort of traumatized victim, pounced upon by eeeevil radio shock jocks! Thus distracting attention from the publicist (the real cause of this fiasco).

38. DeWayne on May 17, 2008 1:24 pm

    Jim,Will I would remind you Jason was working for E TV at 19 I give him more credit.
    I do not give Derek Hartly any! He was manipulated into this,,Jason knew full well how Hartly would react if he gave him “Talking points” So that is exactly what Jason did he poked Derek and then watched the “smashup”

    Jesses reaction is the clue he simply did not react until 2 days later when Jason told him “come on Jesse lets make this look good now,,more “rightous indignation”

    This was manipulated

    And a good job too!

39. Albert on May 17, 2008 10:25 pm

    Not reacting publicly or in an emotional manner is not the same as not having a negative reaction. To my knowledge, Jesse made no public statements until The Edge Radio show. During that show he expressed his reaction. Although he speaks as a gentleman, his meaning is clear. Jesse said to Cole Stevens, ‘It wasn’t a very wonderful birthday.’, ‘It wasn’t what I thought it was going to be.’, ‘Nothing about me mattered.’, ‘They didn’t care who they hurt.’
    Now some seem to suggest Jesse is being told to say this. It’s not how he really felt.
    It gets a little hard to follow the conspiracy theory here. Was Jesse prepared by Jason to expect this sort of treatment because Jason knew exactly how Derek would react or was Jesse totally unprepared and Jason baited Derek knowing Derek would attack Jason and then some bloggers would make him the center of attention?
    I think that is all blogger spin. Derek and Romaine admitted they do not know how to deal with porn actors. That is why they had played some irrelevant game on the previous interview.
    Jason asked Derek to ask question to ‘get to know’ Jesse. Not an unreasonable request. That is what an interview is for.
    Obviously Derek and Romaine have some issues. Just as obviously, Jesse does not. He and Viz and Cole at The Edge Radio got along very well.
    The problem was clearly with Derek and Romaine.

40. Will on May 17, 2008 10:36 pm

    Now I’m really confused. That’s a very well-reasoned and thoughtful argument, but what caught me short was “Derek and Romaine admitted they do not know how to deal with porn actors.”

    A) Isn’t that a staple of their show? Not being a listener or fan, I know next to nothing about them. But I thought porn and porn actors was one of their specialties. If not, I can see why their hosting the GAYVN awards was so controversial.

    B)When did they admit this? If they did, why object to JS’s talking points? Wouldn’t they welcome the suggestions?

    C)If that is what they said, why are porn actors being booked on this show?

    I am so confused.

41. Albert on May 18, 2008 1:57 am

    Good question Will. I am also not a listener of their show or a fan. Jimmy has provided us the audio of the complete show in question. It can be found at,

    http://jimyvr.blogspot.com/2008/05/d-address-fall-out-of-jesse-santana.html

    The recorded show is divided into three parts. I can address your second question. Consider this statement from Derek. The show ends at 14:46 in Part three. This is at 14:32 and he is talking to Jimmy in Vancouver. ‘I’m sorry that you don’t like the way we treated porn stars but, whatever! Believe me, if you had to interview porn stars you’d lose your fucking mind.’
    Will, I ask you. Is that the statement of someone who knows how to interview porn stars? I can refer to other similar quotes but do not want to hijack this blog.
    The question about talking points is easy. In part one, at 13:30 they comment that when they get, ‘prep sheets, we ignore them.’ Derek clarifies that in Part three. ‘When you put somebody out there for an interview, you don’t have any control over the questions that are asked or how the interview is going to go.’
    For Derek, it is a control issue. Romaine wants to blame the victim. She says in Part three at 6:12, ’There are porn stars that if we had hijacked them in the same way, they would have rolled with it.’
    So some people get raped and say nothing, for those that complain, it’s their problem.
    As for as why porn actors are booked on this show, I have no clue. Maybe Derek and Romaine’s listener will fill us in.

42. Will on May 18, 2008 2:56 am

    WOW!!! Even before reading your post I want to thank you for providing that link. I was wondering if I’d ever get to hear this. And I have insomnia right now, so maybe this will be perfect in more ways than one! Thanks again!

43. Will on May 18, 2008 3:10 am

    OK, just one thing in response to what you wrote. It sounds to me, before listening, that they aren’t admitting incompetence but revealing their contempt for having to interview those dumb-ass porn stars. In a way that’s a worse admission, showing contempt for their listeners also. It’s not that they don’t know HOW to do it, it’s that they have no interest in doing it. But I’ll have to listen to be accurate about this.

44. Jim on May 18, 2008 6:37 am

    Listen to the recodings, yes.

    You do that, and you’ll see it’s not so much they are admitting “incompetance,” it’s that they are saying interviewing ANY 18-24 y/o gay male with limited life experiences, whose primary focus in life at this stage is partying and clubbing and having sex…is going to be a challenge for an interviewer.

    If you listen to their side of the interview controversy, you’ll see they don’t have contempt for porn stars (they repeatedly refer to Jesse as a very nice guy), just a different philosophy towards interviewing them.

    What they DO have contempt for, and they say this EXPLICITELY, is for the host of “useless hanger-oners” on the fringes of the industry they frequently are forced to deal with in order to get a porn star booked on their show.

    But in any case, YES, listen to the recodings, and make up your own mind how YOU see this. As you can see, Albert and I listened to the same recordings and came to radically different conclusions.

45. Will on May 18, 2008 8:43 am

    HELP!! I can’t get any sound on the Flash Player. I feel like such a dork.

46. Will on May 18, 2008 9:22 am

    Jim and BetterPR - If that account by JS that he calls an “open letter” to D & R is what you base your claims of him trying to “steer the interview” with Jesse on and making himself so irritating, I just don’t see it. I thought everything he said made perfect sense.

47. Will on May 18, 2008 9:33 am

    JCA - Is this neverending thread OK with you and your webmaster? It’s by far the longest I’ve ever seen here.

48. Jim on May 18, 2008 9:41 am

    Will,

    No, I don’t think we are talking about the same thing.

49. Albert on May 18, 2008 10:27 am

    FYI, Jason Secrest chimed in this morning in a dierct response to the blogosphere on DeWayne’s blog in the comments section to last weeks Mashup. His explanation of what happened is here.

    https://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=28302775&postID=1236014744592479616

50. Will on May 18, 2008 10:52 am

    Just read JS’s post, and you know what? I like him. I agree with him. Jim and BetterPR don’t. This argument could literally go on forever. Is this the place for it? Don’t know. That’s why I posted to JCA earlier. But I think MAYBE this has run its course here. What do you think?

51. Albert on May 18, 2008 11:06 am

    Yes indeed Will. Hopefully The Edge Radio show will have their interview up soon. It will be in the guests section when it is posted. They are at http://www.edgeradioshow.com/
    The latest entry in theit guest section is Brent Corrigan on page three of the guests. His interview runs about 45 minutes.

52. Will on May 18, 2008 11:10 am

    Thanks again!

53. jimyvr on May 18, 2008 11:44 am

    I have to defend Jason a bit. Jason could’ve just tell his side of the story without those audio clips. But he did. He didn’t hide anything. If Jason is hiding about the timing thing, then Derek is ignoring the fact that Jason was not COMPLAINING which finally confirmed by the show’s producer that he was not complaining but charming.

    By the way Will, I tried the mp3 flash player, it is still working as far as I know. Because they’re about 20-30mb per clip so it might take a bit longer to load.

    ChiChi weighed in on Thursday. She directly stabbed D&R and telling them they were shitty right away. But everyone moved on. I’m moving on too.

54. Will on May 18, 2008 11:51 am

    Thanks, I should have said I managed to figure out you had to click on the clip you want to hear.

55. JC Adams on May 18, 2008 11:52 am

    Folks — Carry on this debate for as long as you feel you have something to contribute; that’s why we’re here.

    Regards,
    JCA

56. Will on May 18, 2008 11:53 am

    Should I say Yay! or Oh. My. God. ?

57. Jim on May 18, 2008 12:10 pm

    We now we basically have a “he said, she said” situation, with different people calling each other liars.

    So, that’s where it ends I think, at an impasse. I too am over it, time to move on.

58. Jason on May 18, 2008 12:25 pm

    Hi guys… was going to copy and paste the response here this morning, but it looks like Albert already provided the link. Thanks!

    Also, it looks like some of you have been anxious to hear Jesse’s full interview on The Edge. It’s been up on my site for days if you want to grab it there: http://www.jasoncurious.com/desk/ — scroll down to Thursday.

    You guys are really cool for having given Jesse so much support and for caring enough about porn stars as real “people” to even engage in this conversation so deeply. It’s really very cool of all of you. Regardless of whether some of you were supporting me or not, your support of adult entertainment itself is overwhelming and I appreciate that.

59. Will on May 18, 2008 12:47 pm

    Caller: “I totally see your point [about JS’s interference] but you totally took it out on that porn star. He felt like maybe he was frying in the pan a little bit for what was maybe the publcist’s fault.”

    Romaine: “Uh, I wouldn’t disagree with you on that.”

    Isn’t that the definiton of “vindictive”?

60. Will on May 18, 2008 12:56 pm

    Actually, what seems at the bottom of this whole thing, which hasn’t been mentioned often, is that JS changed the time of the interview and had Santana do it from a cell phone at his birthday party. That is what set them off, not JS telling them how to run the show.

61. Will on May 18, 2008 1:03 pm

    correction: He tried to change the time. They only moved it five or ten minutes earlier than scheduled.

62. Will on May 18, 2008 1:29 pm

    One more thing? Then I will SHUT UP.

    The only reason JCA thought this was even worthy of mention here was the “constitutional battle” that CockyBoys wants to wage. That has been dismissed by people, me included, as total BS. Given that, I have to kind of agree with JCA that none of this really matters!

63. BetterPR on May 18, 2008 2:57 pm

    I never said I did not like Jason. I don’t even know him. But here is an excerpt from Jason’s blog entry regarding the Santana interview: “I felt it my job, as their publicist, to ask that you please focus a little more on the star himself for the next interview, Jesse Santana, who happens to be one of the most nominated performers of the year.” THIS IS ATTEMPTING TO STEER THE INTERVIEW. Any skilled publicist know this is now how you go about doing the job professionally. Jason may feel he is good at conducting interviews for his own media endeavors, but how would HE feel about being told about how to do his job.

64. Albert on May 18, 2008 3:05 pm

    So, asking an interviewer to focus on the interviewee is attempting to steer the interview?

65. Will on May 18, 2008 3:17 pm

    BetterPR - Oh God, sorry, that’s just a case of bad writing. I only meant that to say that I agree with JS and you and Jim don’t. Sorry again.

66. jimyvr on May 18, 2008 3:33 pm

    Jason didn’t demand. He was just asking, how’s that steering the interview? He didn’t even use any words like “You guys MUST…” or “You guys NEEDS to change….”

    Jason gave me a heads up on the CockyBoys’ thing when that webpage was launched. I understand Kyle Major is upset because Jesse is also a CockyBoys exclusive, but taking this matter to the FCC and use it as an attempt to disapprove SIRIUS/XM’s pending merger is simply blown out of proportion.

    The reason why OutQ landed on SIRIUS not XM was because XM was under the pressure from GM who is also under the pressure from the right wing conservative “out-of-realitic-touch” group. So in this case, it’s already a monopoly, the GLBT community who wants to listen to GLBT content will have no choice but to go to SIRIUS anyways.

    If you don’t like what you heard on SIRIUS (or XM), call their customer service line. If you think it is still not enough, you then go to the FCC also FCC dos not have the power to regulate satellite radio’s contents.

67. jimyvr on May 18, 2008 3:40 pm

    In regards to why Derek & Romaine has porn stars booked because it is the only source for the gay porn stars to be heard on a mainstream national radio. That makes it different. However, the unofficial stats shows OutQ probably have about 20-30K audiences. I’m not sure whether Jason knows the number of audience KSEX used to reach or what’s the number of audience QueerNation will reach, but 20-30K is still quite a good number, especially with the word of mouth effect. You might ask why not Howard, who has audience of over 2 million on SIRIUS alone. Because Howard’s show is pretty hard to get booked anyways and probably 90% of the listeners are straight listeners so having gay porn stars on all the time seems to be irrelevant.

    On a listener perspective, it is fun to have variety. I would love to get to know about them more in a personal way, not just seeing them fuck-n-suck in the movies. Also, although I question D&R’s claim for being supportive to the gay porn industry, they have good relationships with ChiChi, John Rutherford and few other stars over the years. Because of this bond, they like to have porn stars on but not really conduct any formal interview.

    Although I’m moving on, but I’m still imposing few week ban for myself from listening to their show. Like Derek used to said on the air, it’s fine to boycott something but when the practicality gets in, that’s when you should stop because you know you already made your own stance.

68. DeWayne on May 18, 2008 8:18 pm

    Wow 67 comments and how many of us actually listened to the D &R show live? See this is all good PR and Jesse comes away lookin good!

    Again Better PR is correct Asking “Talent” in this case Derek to focus on the interview IS STEERING THE INTERVIEW. And something you should never do BUT in Jasons defense the show with AJ the week before was pretty horrible. (I believe Jason said he wanted to gnaw his arm off after 15 minutes)

    Publicists walk a mine field here they want to keep their Clients happy but must not bruise the tender egos of the On Air Talent! In the case of Derek Hartly Jason had to handle Dereks fragile EGO easily bruised like an overripe tomato!

    It is a truism in any field that the more lacking in talent the more easily the ego is bruised!

    notice although offended the Porn Star again proved to be the better man while Mr.Hartly is the ogre of this story.

69. BetterPR on May 18, 2008 8:49 pm

    As I said before, if Jason was uneasy about Aaron James’ interview afterwards, then he could have pulled Santana’s interview rather than attempt to try and steer it. I am not in any defending the actions of the radio hosts in question. But you don’t keep a media person by trying to tell them how to do their jobs. It is up to the publicist to do his or her homework and to anticipate and provide the right counsel.

70. jimyvr on May 18, 2008 8:50 pm

    I wouldn’t say and I don’t think it’s necessary to paint Derek Hartley as ogre or thinking he’s a bad human being.

    The whole incident was just simply personal feud derailed on air and one thing leads to another.

71. Albert on May 18, 2008 9:26 pm

    DeWayne writes that, “Better PR is correct Asking “Talent” in this case Derek to focus on the interview IS STEERING THE INTERVIEW. And something you should never do.”
    So my partner chimes in. Damn we are going to have some hot sex soon. Look, if I ask the driver of a car to focus on driving, some will interpret that to be my attempt to direct the driving of the car. The fact is, I want the driver of the car to drive the car.
    Jason asked the interviewers to actually conduct an interview. The Jason haters want to make this a problem for Jason.

    That pretty much wraps it up.

72. Will on May 18, 2008 10:09 pm

    Something I didn’t know before listening was that D & R’s “problem” with JS goes back five years when he snubbed them at an event. Vindictive and hold grudges!

73. DeWayne on May 18, 2008 10:52 pm

    Well one final comment Albert you are talking the “real world” real life If you “Ask the Driver” to mind the exit or keep his eye on the road that is real life!

    When speaking of Publicists and radio “talent” and shows we are talking about Lotus Land,Hollywood,Pornowood a fantasy world where EGO is paramount just like the mountain on that logo! Real world behavior and rules simply don’t apply here. Sorry luv thats the way guru bounces!

74. Sinu' on May 19, 2008 6:57 am

    ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!

75. jimyvr on May 19, 2008 8:25 am

    Time to move on everyone.

76. Will on May 19, 2008 9:06 am

    NOOOOOOOOOO!