Bert Weiss, the lead on the Bert Show, laid out a bombshell Tuesday morning: he had to let go Davi Crimmins, who has been a full-time cast member since 2018 after several years as a producer.
He announced the news on air but didn’t say specifically why beyond vague issues with chemistry with other radio team members off the air. The Bert Show is syndicated in 23 markets including Nashville, Tennessee; Kansas City, Missouri; and Des Moines, Iowa, and is shot out of Q99.7 studios in Atlanta.
“For reasons I cannot detail on the show, this is the move I painstakingly chose to make,” Weiss said Tuesday on the show. “Some of you guys will get it twisted and assume that Davi must have been the problem. I assure you with all sincerity that is simply not the truth. In my eyes, the spirit of a studio is defined by all its members so this is not just a Davi issue and that’s why she’s not here anymore... We all have a responsibility in this.”
He noted that this is the part of his job he hates as the boss, but he had to make a move to get the show “back on a consistent, positive environment.”
Weiss said he was not commenting beyond what he said on air. Crimmins, on Thursday morning, released this statement: “I’m as shocked and disappointed as our listeners. I have put forth every effort to solve the chemistry issue and improve the off air relationship. My efforts were noticed and complimented by management. I wish I had more answers for our listeners but at this time I’m going to concentrate on my next move. A huge thank you for the overwhelming support to all my fans!”
In August of last year, Crimmins re-upped for three more years with the Bert Show.
This is the first time in his 21 years leading the morning show that Weiss has made this type of move with an on-air personality on his show. In the past, former cast members have left on their own. (Weiss owns the Bert Show and controls the content and employs its members, not the radio station.)
“This by far is the most painful change we’ve had because it is so deeply personal,” Weiss said. “Chemistry is everything when it comes to this job. If the chemistry sucks off the air, eventually you’ll hear it on the air but this has little to do with the on-air product. It has to do with people being happy at work. The chemistry in this studio has gotten to a point that wasn’t healthy. As much as I tried to fix it, the problem has existed for awhile and it comes and it goes too often.”
Weiss said it had become “exhausting” and “deflating.” He said he cares for everyone on the show personally and professionally “and I really love the on-air Bert Show, but the chemistry issue wasn’t going away.”
He then referenced a June 8 tweet Crimmins had made in which she wrote: “my proudest moment? this week when my therapist said ‘wow…you have a very high tolerance for suffering’.”
He presumed she was referencing what was happening with her and the show and “it sincerely broke my heart for her,” he said. “I have tried my best to navigate a super tricky situation with hopes we could keep this thing together as is for you guys but also for us. What this team has on the air is a very special thing and I held on tightly with the hopes we could keep this magic as is.”
He had good reason to do so. The Bert Show ratings in recent months have been especially strong. In Atlanta Nielsen ratings in May, the show was No. 2 overall with a 9.3 share behind only WSB’s Scott Slade with a 10.3. Among women 25-54, the Bert Show was far and away the No. 1 show with a 10.5 share, well ahead of Frank Ski’s 7.5 on Kiss 104.1.
But Weiss said “this has become a studio that hasn’t been a fun place to work way too often in my opinion. This is radio. This should be the most fun job in the world. It’s clear to me the atmosphere was impacting the happiness and health of multiple members of the staff so something had to be done.”
He said he truly loves Crimmins. “She is tremendously talented,” he said. “She makes me laugh harder than any person that has ever sat in that seat. I know you guys love her too... I am deeply protective of Davi... There are no good guys and there are no bad guys in this thing. It’s just a mix that wasn’t working anymore and I hope you guys can understand that.”
Kristin Klingshirn, the second-longest cast member since 2011, added her own thoughts on air, lauding Crimmins for her “quick wit, her humor, her infectious laugh and the unique perspective she brought to the Bert Show table.” Moe Mitchell, the other full-time cast member who joined in 2018, chose not to comment on air.
Wendy Hrkach, a listener of the Bert Show for 17 years, said she could sense the tension between Weiss and Crimmins leach on air recently. “If you go back and listen to the podcasts closely,” she said, “you can hear it. She was just over him.”
There is no shortage of speculation on Twitter why this happened but it’s unclear what actually precipitated this move.
Nonetheless, this leaves a major hole in the show and Weiss will have to hunt to fill it.
Crimmins began as an intern with the show in 2012 and moved up the ranks as a board operator, phone screener, writer and producer before becoming a full-time cast member in 2018. She also tours as a stand-up comic and has done a separate podcast with Cassie Young, the Bert Show’s digital and marketing VP.
Many of his past cast members have ended up competing against Weiss. On Star 94.1, Jenn Hobby now helms the morning show after working there with fellow cast member Jeff Dauler, now doing a podcast with his wife. B98.5 used to employ Melissa Carter. And 94.9/The Bull recently picked up Brian Moote.
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