TED STRYKER

It’s hard to believe that it’s time for another KROQ Weenie Rosat.  12 great bands at Verizon Wireless AMP in Irvine.  I think I’m most excited to see The Strokes. I love the new album as much as the first three. I’m also curious to see what the boys from Linkin Park are going to do.

If I had any other job in the world, I may complain for 5 minutes that I have to work on my birthday.  Weenie Roast and The KROQ Almost Acoustic are my two favorite dates of the year so I do NOT mind for one second that I will be “Working” on June 4th.  I am the luckiest guy to be able to have this gig.

If there is some sort of a spanking machine, I’m in. shots? I’m in. High Fives? Maybe. Low Fives? Yes! See you Saturday.

Yes I’m quoting the great Ferris Buehler. Life does go really fast, and I know that I rarely stop and look around. I hope I’m not missing it.

I’ve spent the past 48 hours in Sedona, AZ, I don’t know if I’ve ever been in a more serene and peaceful place. By the way it’s crazy that I’m even using the word serene. I was born and raised in the middle of Los Angeles, there is no serenity there. I’m not sure the point of this post. I kind of feel like I’m on a really good drug, I feel emotion, love, peace, inspired and healthy. My prediction? This drug will wear off within 3 hours. My plan the rest of the day is this. Two and a half hour ride to the Phoenix airport, 80 minutes to Burbank, find the shuttle which will drive me to a huge parking lot to find my car. I will drive home, let the dog out (who let the dogs out who who), pet the dog, feed the dog, then jump in the car for a 125 mile drive to eat dinner. After dinner I’ll drive home and the past two days will be a blur. I just feel blessed I’ve been able to experience that past two days in Sedona. Thank you so much for reading this blog or any of the blogs I’ve been writing. My goal is one blog a day. Sometimes it may seem like my diary, sometimes just opinions and sometimes just random events going on in my life. Have a great Sunday everybody. Oh, one last thing, Falling Skies on TNT! First episode next Sunday, it’s really good plus the cast was amazingly nice to us radio nerds which makes me root for the show.

I think it’s time I tell a little story that freaked me out and took my breath away.  On June 10th, just four days ago, I traveled to beautiful Sedona, AZ.  The only reason for me to be there was to interview the cast of the brand new show Falling Skies. I am now using the audio from the interviews to create commercials to be played on my station KROQ in Los Angeles.  Episode one, Falling Skies is this Sunday on TNT. It’s really good. Aliens, sci fi, character driven, family, drama all in one.

The show stars Noah Wyle.  Unless you’ve lived on Mars or have not seen a TV in 15 years everybody knows him. 13 seasons on ER.  I actually really liked him in his scene in A Few Good Men.  So the Friday night I got to Sedona, there was a dinner party followed by drinks and an outside viewing of Falling Skies. By the way, the interviews take place Saturday.  

As I was sipping on a drink or two (Shirley Temples), I noticed Noah Wyle making the rounds and saying hi to different people.  Before I knew it I was standing right next to the man.  Noah says “What station are you from”?  I say KROQ.  He says he loves the station and he’s lived in LA his entire life and had heard me for many years.  YES THAT EXCITED ME…..I’m human.

Now, here is where it gets nuts. I think he said something about his birthday party he had just had. I said…”It was just my birthday too”.

Noah-When was your birthday?

Stryker-June 4th

Noah-C’mon

Stryker-What?

Noah-Me too!

Stryker-What year?

Noah-1971

Stryker-me too!!

So obviously we have a connection.  I must say that it’s easy to see why he’s so successful.  Very nice, charming, funny, real, he listens. Just a good dude. (No comments about a man crush, it’s not like that, just telling you the story).  There is more.

Noah-So you were born in LA?

Stryker-I was. 

Noah-Where were you born?

Stryker-Cedars of Lebanon (Now church of Scientology)

Noah-C’mon!!!!!!!   

Stryker-What!?

Noah-Me too

Stryker-Holy crap. Are we twins?  Of course you are the good looking twin

Noah-I don’t know if we are.

Stryker-You know what’s strange.  The Dr. at one point thought my Mom was having twins. Poor old Margie.  I was so big and she’s very tiny.

Noah-My Mom’s name is Margery

Stryker-ummmm, I can’t breath. This is nuts

Noah-Let’s get a drink

Stryker-OK.

How crazy is that you guys?  I think thats a one in a lifetime occurrence.  Here is a pic of Noah and I. Is there any resemblance?  It was a really fun night hanging with him and talking and connecting.  I have a great feeling that we’re gonna move into a huge house together,get bunk beds and live like brothers.

I also took this picture as I was walking to do the interviews Saturday morning.

Dearest Chuck Lorre,

Wanted to let you know that in the history of your show Two and a Half Men (Up until May 1, 2011), I had never watched one episode. Not on CBS, not on FX, not on TBS, PBS or the Nature Channel, no where.  All that has changed Chuck but I’ll get to that in a minute.

Here’s the thing, I’m just a guy that talks on the radio, 106.7 The World Famous KROQ here in LA.  I don’t know who the behind scenes humans are on Two and Half Men (Especially since I never watched the show).  But I knew who you were Chuck  long before the Charlie Sheen stuff went down. My mailman, or possibly mailwoman, screwed up well over a year ago.  By the way, if my mail person is reading this, sorry I have never introduced myself, and while I’m at it,  shout out to my garbage man, thanks for the work every Thursday at 645 am. 

After throwing away the Bed Bath and Beyond save 15% junk mail (Sorry Bed Bath and Beyond, I’m good on sheets and shower curtains), I noticed a magazine called Produced By.  Who was this man on the cover I had never heard of and why did I have this magazine called Produced By in my mail box?  The answer is my mail person messed up, so, I did what any good neighbor would do, I kept the magazine and said I’ll put it the neighbors mailbox later (Never did, sorry neighbor).

Anyways, the man on the cover was you Chuck Lorre.  I was fascinated by your work ethic, knowledge of music, song writing skills and TV “Producing” work.  I have trouble getting up in the morning, brushing my teeth, and doing a radio show everyday, DUDE, you’re responsible for like 9 huge shows on TV.  Thanks for making me feel like I need to “Pick it up” a little.

Where do I stand on my Two and a Half Men knowledge now?  Well as of May 1st, I’ve seen maybe 60 episodes.  Sorry it took the Charlie debacle for me to watch the show.   My favorite character is Jake.  I think he’s a scene stealer.  Second favorite part of the show?  The vanity cards.  I sometimes feel like it’s me writing those vanity cards when I read them.  You’re spelling and grammar is a lot better, but the words and style feel like me.  How much of an insult is that?  I’m sorry.

Well I am done now.  Chuck, good luck with Ashton Kutcher, thanks for the inspiration, and if you ever need a nerdy radio dude to be on the show, or just work catering as we talk music, here I am.  Have a great day. 

Ted Stryker 

ps Tell Angus he rules, and tell Jon Cryer he’s going down at this years Malibu Triathlon

It’s days like this. The excitement of getting a new song from a band I like and the song has not leaked to the internet.

Thank you Blink 182 for putting “Up All Night” in my hands earlier today and letting me be the dude to play it. It’s hard to express how high the the energy in this room (Studio) was mixed with the excitement in our KROQ building.  KROQ was trending not only in Los Angeles but worldwide too. Crazy how times have changed.  Words like “Trending”, now there is Twitter etc. I’m sure you guys get what I’m putting down.

Over the years I’ve been so fortunate to be the first person to play songs from very big bands.  I’m just very thankful for today. My job has never felt better and I have never felt luckier. 

ps I have a video of the craziness in the studio as I played Blink today. Hope to have that up soon.  Thanks for reading.