Tom Collins let go at Mix
Don @ IdahoRadioNews | July 2, 2009
Peak Broadcasting continues to drop people from its roster – this time letting go of long-time employee Tom Collins. Tommy is one of the nicest guys in the business — and this news frankly comes as a surprise. He worked in production for the group, made appearances with Mike & Kate on KCIX/Mix 106 and held down the mid-day fort with the station.
A note to employees says his layoff “was not a performance issue, but a necessity as we continue to work our way thru the changes that 2009 keeps hitting us with.” I guess that means the economy – but it could mean something else. More on that in a moment.
He has been part of the KCIX fabric for more than a decade – he’s been paired in the mornings with Russ Novacs, Steve & Steph and Mike & Kate. He gained the nickname “Tommy the Stunt Boy,” but his always genial attitude and positive outlook made him a fast friend to many. He even anchored weekend morning weather at KTVB for several years.
Just six months ago, KCIX was a fully staffed station – with live talent in the morning, Tommy mid-day, and live jocks in the afternoon and evening – six on-air employees. Now? Now the station is left with its live morning show and voicetrackers.
There’s more to this story. Just this week, Peak hired Miggy Santos from Citadel and KZMG/Magic 93.1. Rumors continue to swirl – and the official line is he is headed for the group’s Fresno stations. However, Santos was seen in the Peak Boise building yesterday, leaving lots of people to speculate. Peak does not own a CHR or urban station in the Fresno market — instead it has news/talk, oldies, country and a hot AC station. That station – Y101 – is currently well staffed… making you wonder…
Stinks when bad things happen to very nice people.
In other news, KTVB is looking for weather talent. It’s the circle of life, Tommy.
This Sucks, Tom has been in the biz so long, even I worked with him!
You are a class act and we all hope you land on your feet my friend.
I just have to say, having worked with Tommy twice now, he’s probably one of the most valuable people in this town. He works 16 hours a day (or at least it seemed like it) and always has a smile on his face, and I can’t imagine working that much you would ever get paid even close to what you’re worth. He was always out at all station events, even when he didn’t have to be, and does such a great job on-air, production, promotions, etc.
Having been out of radio for about 7 months now, I will say it is becoming rather easy to get a job in town (which it was not at all 6 months ago), so I don’t quite believe this whole economy excuse, except maybe buying stations you can’t afford. I’m curious to see what happens with them in the next year with no air staff. It’s such a great station so it’s really a shame.
Sorry to hear the news…. Keep your head up….something much better is coming your way…. Its just the way it goes when you need an exit strategy and you didnt even know it at the time…. In the long run it was Peak that will be the loser not you Tom!
Of all the guys this could happen too… DANG! Tommy is a class act all the way! I remember when he came to work with us at KF95 and he impressed me as one the good guys back then. He it one of the hardest working guys and even on the crappiest of days he’d hold on to a good attitude. BAD MOVE, Peak. I hope someone picks him up quick. He’ll be a real asset to your company.
Tommy, all the best to you my friend. I am sad to read of this news. Hang in there and hold your head high. I’m grateful to have worked with you TWICE over the years!
The best thing about Tommy is that he’s the kind of guy that will willingly give you the shirt off his back if you need it. I’m sure I speak for a lot of great folks out there when I say that Tommy, if you need A N Y T H I N G, all you have to do is ask. All that great Karma you’ve been puttin’ out in the universe for so long is about to be given back to you – at least that is my hope.
I would love to sit here and bash Peak…as they rightly deserved to be…but I’d rather the focus be on Tommy, so I will choose to take the high road, and let karma take care of them too.
Dumbfounded! All of us. Could happen to any of us. Sorry it was you.
Tommy’s funny stories of talking dogs and stupid criminals will be sorely missed. Keep your head up Tommy…..somebody smart will snatch you up!!
Umm.. WOW! I am without words… Which, in my case, is rare, I know…. I really don’t understand this. It just does not make any sense, no matter which way you try to spin it. Well, I for one can say it was an honorable experience to work with Tommy. When I was trying to learn Vegas and do more than one track of production at a time, I would call in Tommy to listen to it and give me his opinion, no matter if it was good or bad. I wanted it to be the best possible, and Tommy knew how things should sound, and was an unbelievable asset to me. Thank you so much, Tommy! I appreciate everything you did for me. I truly hope you find a new gig and get through this quickly.
Jim
Oh by the way… no one, and I mean NO ONE can wear a TUTU like Tommy! I don’t think anyone else had the guts to walk around Boise Town Square in one, except Tommy.
Wow! This is a huge mistake on Peak’s behalf. There are only a handful of people on the radio that I genuinely enjoy listening to, and Tommy was one of them. Wherever he lands has a new listener, that’s for sure!
While doing events and marketing at the Discovery Center some years ago, Tommy hosted a couple of things that we did at Thursday thunder. What a class act! Had a chance to run into him from time to time and he always remembered me, even my name…and was so NICE! Guys like Tom in the radio biz are rare. I know he’ll be on to bigger and better things. I just gotta wonder what is going on at Peak? They strung me along for a bout a month with a supposed job offer only to pull it back at the last minute…(in retrospect, good thing for me)!
Hey Tom, maybe you and the many others that seem to be lacking a job in this area should get together and buy your own station! Too much talent out there being put on the street for no apparent reason. Good luck Tommy…you know everyone is rooting for you!
Tommy … You’ll land on your feet. I’m here to help in any way possible. If I owned my own signal, you’d be one of the first guys I’d call! (Now, Dave Arthur is a different story… )
Dang Tommy, that purely sucks. Time to take off for the sky huh? Radio has been fun, but now might be the time to chase your dreams if you can, there might be a helecopter out there with your name on it. Shoot me a line with your new e-mail address, I gotta have someplace to forward my senceless and purient crap. Props my friend.
M
Gosh, guess I forgot the spell checker, go ahead, beat me down.
that’s too bad. Tom is such a nice guy. Good luck
I agree with Mitch, Tommy. Now’s the time to break from Boise market radio and grab the tiller of a chopper! The only thing that made my undistinguished month as morning personality on KF95-then-Mix 95 back in the mid 90’s tolerable was that Tommy was my very talented, supportive and cooperative newscaster/sidekick. I went. He stayed.
Dave Arthur called and said something about how he likes to give a eulogy while people are still alive to enjoy it. I can’t thank you all enough for the kind words and encouragement. It means the world to me. When I was let go from KF95, the best thing that could have happened was Stephanie Kelly calling the very next day to ask if I wanted to work for K-106. Hopefully this will also turn out well. Some mentioned the helicopter dream, however I have a lot of hours to rack up….and probably should have a job to pay for them first! Now, before I start getting all verklempt…thank you all again. Hey, Google says it’s Nikola Tesla’s birthday today!
Tommy: Thanks for crediting me with your break into the k106/Mix family. Do they know what they let go? Your the hardest working man in that crazy business. The total utility guy-commercial work, voices, shifts, remote set-up. You could do it all and always did with a smile on your face. Even when Steve and I were making you do crazy stuff for us. Who could forget Tommy the Lounge Lizard or Ballet Parking Mayor Coles Car at Boise Towne Square. You truly are and always will be the nicest guy I know and I hope that you land on your feet somewhere really soon. Whoever gets you is lucky. You da man!! Lyle, Connor and I send out our love to you and Lisa!
My dear friend Tom…I feel as though I’m writing an obituary!! If the listeners knew what we know Tom would be crowed MR. KCIX. Not to mention Prince Production and Duke Copywriter.
Tommy and I go back to my first years in Boise…BSU Radio…in about 1993. What a great ride huh Tommy?
He was one of the few remaining of the “original crew of the cluster” so to speak. Let’s count who’s still hanging on:
Nadene
Holly
Lee
Crystal C
Susan
Ray
Blair
Deb
Robin
Have I missed someone?
What a family we had back in the day and what great radio eh gang? We were lucky to have had the times we did. I think about you all and miss you very much.
-tobin
Seriously? Guess there’s no respect for loyalty. Tommy, you know how much we love you. You rock! You made me look good when I had no idea what the heck I was doing way back in the day. Plus you are absolutely the most fun person on planet earth. You ARE the hardest working, most loyal guy I’ve ever watched buzz a microphone. I’d love to say the powers that be will some day realize their huge misstep in choosing this direction, but it’s hard to make people see when they have their heads up their behinds. It’s just too darned dark in there!
Believe me, with your talent, work ethics, and super-duper personality (not to mention you’re cute as hell), the phone will be ringing off the hook! If you choose the copter route, feel free to buzz our house. We’re still out in the boondocks.
Love to you and Lisa. And don’t forget where I work so we can do that lunch we’ve been trying to fit in!
Dang, it just won’t be the same.. don’t like listening to 106 in the afternoon anymore… I’ve started going to other stations.. nothing against the 10am to xx but they just aren’t interesting.. Will continue to listen in the morning but they lost me for the afternoon.