THE 2025 BEE-OTCH OF THE YEAR!

-In discussing third place, Chuck explains that if something ain't broke, don't fix it.

-While discussing second place, Chuck says that if someone is not a nice person, it's ok to trash them when they die.

-And finally, when he discusses the Bee-otch of the Year, Chuck talks about voting for the most-blue candidates in the 2026 midterms.

Heroes of the Day: the strip club industry

Adult Entertainment Industry Advocacy

- The film 'Anora' highlights the struggles of sex workers.

- Strip clubs contribute significantly to community charity and disaster relief.

- The adult entertainment industry is unfairly stigmatized compared to other businesses.

Critique of Religious Institutions and Hypocrisy

- Churches are criticized for elaborate stage shows and materialistic leaders.

- Instances of financial fraud and sexual abuse by religious figures are cited.

- The speaker finds strippers more 'normal' and moral than many Christian women.

Personal Struggles and Social Isolation

- Chuck recounts childhood bullying and negative experiences with women.

- Challenges in dating are attributed to Chuck's disability and Grand Rapids' social environment.

- Experiences with a manipulative church member led to disengagement from the church.

Negative Perceptions of Grand Rapids and Dating Scene

- Grand Rapids is described as a 'lonely city' with a difficult dating scene.

- The city's ban on strip clubs is seen as detrimental to its social life.

- Chuck prefers strip clubs over other social venues for genuine interaction.

Comparison of Strip Clubs and Mainstream Establishments

- Strip clubs are portrayed as safer and more community-oriented than places like Walmart.

- Chuck praises Odyssey strip club in Muskegon for its atmosphere and treatment of dancers.

- The adult entertainment industry is defended as protected under the First Amendment.

Bee-otch of the Day: Amon-Ra St. Brown

Detroit Lions' Playoff Hopes Dashed

- Lions' Christmas Day loss to Vikings ended playoff chances.

- Jared Goff's poor performance and team's amateur play.

- NFL scheduling and officiating blamed for team's struggles.

Controversial Player Actions and Political Stances

- Amon-Ra St. Brown's 'Trump dance' and perceived political support.

- Tim Tebow's pro-life activism and commercial controversies.

- Harrison Butker's controversial comments on women's roles.

Critique of Chicago Sports Team Ownership and Management

- Chicago Bears' coaching changes and historical ownership issues.

- Chicago White Sox owner threatening to move the team.

- Chicago Blackhawks' ownership history, from Frederic McLaughlin to Rocky Wirtz.

Healthcare System and Financial Disparities

- Critique of Amon-Ra St. Brown's promotion of faith-based healthcare.

- Advocacy for universal healthcare in America.

- Impact of healthcare costs on average citizens, leading to bankruptcy.

Bee-otch of the Day: Rivertown Crossings

 Grand Rapids Shopping Mall Analysis

- Woodland Mall: Crown jewel with high occupancy and continuous store replacement.

- Rivertown Crossings: Newest, double-decker mall, but losing stores and built on sinking land.

- Rogers Plaza: Described as 'ghetto' with poor quality stores, except for the Secretary of State office.

Rivertown Crossings Security Incident

- A 30-year-old man with Down syndrome, dressed as an elf, was ejected from Rivertown Crossings.

- Security guard accused the man of 'giving Santa competition'.

- Rivertown Crossings issued an apology and promised to work with the security guard.

Personal Struggles and Grand Rapids Critique

- Chuck recounts a history of bullying, difficult relationships, and personal losses.

- Criticism of Grand Rapids as a 'depressing' and 'uptight' city, especially for single individuals.

- Personal negative experience with a Rivertown Crossings security guard while filming during COVID.

Mall Ownership and Redevelopment

- Brookfield, former owner of Rivertown and Grand Traverse Malls, sold off properties.

- Rivertown Crossings was sold to Poag Development, which plans to rebuild the parking lot.

- Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust invested over $100 million into Woodland Mall's redevelopment.

Bee-otch of the Day: my former stepfather

Yes, it's long, but something good happened to me a few weeks ago. John Lennon was only half right. Karma's gonna get you, but it isn't always instant.

Bee-otch of the Day: Trump (60 Minutes and other embarrassments)

Trump's Controversial Actions and Epstein Files

- Donald Trump's consistent controversial statements and actions.

- Epstein files trickle out, with alleged Republican cover-up.

- Trump's financial incentives for military and naming rights.

CBS Credibility Crisis and Media Mergers

- CBS's loss of credibility due to merger with Paramount and Skydance.

- Censorship of 'Cecot' story by CBS News editor Bari Weiss.

- Allegations of Trump's influence on CBS content and sales.

Critique of Megachurches and Political Hypocrisy

- Criticism of megachurches for prioritizing money over helping others.

- Turning Point organization described as a 'megachurch' for conservatives.

- Observations on racists marrying people of color.

Radio Industry Decline and Personal Anecdotes

- Decline of terrestrial radio due to satellite radio and streaming services.

- Anecdotes of mismanagement and poor decisions in local radio stations.

- Former DJ Cristi Cantle's career shift from radio to gym ownership in Alpena.

Critique of Donald Trump and Business Ethics

- Strong condemnation of Donald Trump's character and actions.

- Businesses' accountability to customers as their true 'bosses'.

- Anticipation of low ratings for the Kennedy Center Honors on CBS.

Bee-otch of the Day: Trump (re: Rob Reiner and immigrants)

 

Tragic Passing of Rob Reiner and Public Tributes

- Rob Reiner and wife tragically were stabbed to death in Los Angeles.

- Reiner's career highlights: 'All in the Family' and directing iconic films.

- Widespread tributes from entertainers and political figures, excluding Donald Trump.

Donald Trump's Controversial Remarks and Declining Popularity

- Trump's insensitive comments on Rob Reiner's death, attributing it to 'Trump derangement syndrome'.

- Criticism of Trump's character, political actions, and declining approval ratings.

- Trump's recent low-attendance rally and disparaging remarks about immigrants.

The Progressive Legacy of Hendrick Meijer and American Decline

- Hendrick Meijer, a progressive Dutch immigrant, founded the Meijer supermarket chain.

- Meijer's early experiences with worker exploitation influenced his progressive views.

- Comparison of American industrial decline and worker rights to other developed nations.

FDR's Vision for Post-War America and its Unfulfilled Promise

- FDR's post-WWII vision included a 'second bill of rights' for universal healthcare and education.

- The Red Scare and Eisenhower's presidency shifted focus away from progressive ideals.

- Other nations adopted similar progressive policies, leading to their current prosperity.

Immigration, Cultural Diversity, and Misconceptions

- Grand Rapids described as a melting pot with diverse immigrant communities.

- Critique of Donald Trump's rhetoric demonizing immigrants and foreign cultures.

- Personal anecdotes highlighting positive experiences with immigrants from various countries.

May 26th: A Day of Notable Deaths and a Dancer's Story

- May 26th - Chuck's birthday - marks the death anniversaries of several celebrities, including Eddie Albert and Art Linkletter.

- Flick Colby, a British dancer and choreographer, also died on this date.

- Colby's career with 'Pans People' and her later life in America.

Misguided Blame and the Nature of Violence

- Criticism of for Pan's Person Dee Dee Wilde's social media post blaming immigrant culture for a stabbing incident.

- Counter-examples of violence committed by white individuals and heroism by a Muslim individual.

- Donald Trump's rhetoric fostering hatred and division among Americans.

CBS's Disappointing Programming and a Cartoonist's Tribute

- CBS chose a town hall over a 100th birthday celebration for Dick Van Dyke.

- The town hall, hosted by Erica Kirk and Bari Weiss, reportedly lacked major sponsors.

- Cartoonist Clay Jones's tribute to Rob Reiner, celebrating his impact on entertainment.

Bee-otch of the Day: the media (re: Warner Bros)

 Family Thanksgiving Tradition and Personal Loss

- Annual 'Greatest Night of the Year' Thanksgiving celebration.

- Cousin's marriage and impending first child.

- Uncle's job loss and subsequent career struggles leading to early death.

Corporate Mergers and Media Industry Impact

- History of Warner Bros. mergers from 1923 to present.

- AOL-Time Warner merger as a financial disaster.

- Current merger talks for Warner Bros. Discovery by Netflix or Paramount/Skydance.

Decline of Traditional Media and Local Theaters

- Struggles of the print industry and local movie theaters.

- Hollywood's production of 'bad films' impacting box office and small cinemas.

- Call to support local movie theaters.

CBS News Integrity and Political Influence

- CBS News' perceived decline in integrity since Walter Cronkite's era.

- Hiring of Bari Weiss and town halls with Erica Kirk to appeal to right-wing viewers.

- Departure of CBS Evening News anchors due to internal issues.

Local TV Station Affiliation Changes

- Sale of KXGN Glendive, MT and KYUS Miles City, MT to Montana PBS.

- Complex history of TV station affiliations in Michigan's Upper Peninsula.

- WEYI Saginaw's upcoming flip from NBC to another network due to Sinclair acquisition.

Bee-otch of the Day: "Huge" Bill Simonson

 Thanksgiving Movie Tradition

- Annual viewing of 'Planes, Trains & Automobiles'.

- Celebration of 80s film era lacking modern tech.

- Memorable performances by Steve Martin and John Candy.

Radio Personality Career Transitions

- Tony Gates moved from WLAV to M106.3 in Greenville.

- Tony Gates' move driven by dislike for corporate radio.

- Darren Gibson's positive experience at M106.3.

Controversial Radio Station Ownership

- 1680 and 102.5 owned by Tyrone Bynum.

- Criticism of Tyrone Binom's management and listener disregard.

- Stations frequently off-air, impacting legal obligations.

Health Scare and Hydration Importance

- WOOD-TV's Tom Hillen's seizure at work, leading to hospitalization.

- Personal experience of collapsing due to dehydration.

- Emphasis on staying hydrated for health.

KLT Radio Station in northern Michigan's Evolution

- KLT's historical anti-metal stance under GM Richard Dills.

- Midwestern Broadcasting's acquisition and format changes.

- Introduction of a metal show after 30 years.

Critique of KLT's New Metal Show

- New show plays both common and rare metal tracks.

- Host Finster's improved vocal clarity noted.

- Delayed adoption of metal seen as a missed opportunity.

Grand Rapids Sports Radio Landscape

- Launch of Sports Radio 98.7 replacing a classic hits station.

- New network affiliation with Detroit's 97.1 The Ticket.

- Grand Rapids now has three sports radio stations.

Criticism of Bill Simonson

- Bill Simonson's perceived opportunism and elite connections.

- History of being fired from previous radio jobs.

- Listener dissatisfaction with his content and personality.

Negative Experiences with ABC Warehouse, whom Huge is doing remotes from

- Poor car stereo installation at Mickey Shorr/ABC Warehouse.

- Defective computer purchase with performance issues.

- Incomplete bed delivery and misleading sales practices.