Highs and lows of radio in '06

Here are some of the highs and lows of Salt Lake-area radio stations and personalities during 2006. My choices are listed first, followed by the most popular from a poll by the Web site utradioguide.com. (There were 29 who responded to the online poll, with a disproportionately high number of KWCR listeners.)

Best overall morning show: Me: "Radio from Hell," KXRK; Online: 1. "Radio from Hell" (Kerry, Bill and Gina), KXRK; 2. (tie) Grant and Amanda, KSL, and Jay Parker, KUDD ("The Mix")

Most entertaining morning show: Me: "Radio from Hell," KXRK; Online: 1. Jay Parker, KUDD ("The Mix"); 2. "Radio from Hell," KXRK

Best news show: Me: KSL staff; Online: 1. "Shift Crashers" (Mike and Kurtis), KWCR (FM-88.1); 2. (tie) KSL morning team and "Scott and Maria," KSL

Friendliest morning radio show: Me: (tie) Mark and Gayle show and Danny Kramer show, both on KDYL; Online: 1. "Johnson and Johnson," KUBL; 2. Jay Parker, KUDD

Best midday DJ: Me: Shawn Stevens, KBEE; Online: 1. Marci, KHTB ("The Blaze")

Best afternoon DJ: Me: (tie) "Rockin' Rob" on KODJ and Mick and Allen on KBER; Online: 1. (tie) "Outlaw" Pat Garrett, KUBL; "Big Rog," KHTB; "Flip," KWCR; and "Mark the New Guy," KWCR

Best evening DJ: Me: Michael Kane, KBZN; Online: 1. (tie) Ethan Daniels, KSFI; Victor Cade, KHTB; "Darby," KBER; Gary Michaels, KRSP

Best weekend DJ: Me: Rick Shane, KBEE; Online: 1. (tie) "Wes," KUDD; "Scooter B," KBEE; "Mad Prophet," KWCR; "M.J.," KXRK; and Rick Shane, KBEE

Best talk-show host: Me: Doug Wright, KSL; Online: 1, Tom Barberi, formerly on FM-97.5; 2. (tie) Doug Wright KSL and Doug Fabrizio, KUER

Best traffic reporter: Me: "General Gridlock" on KUBL and other stations. Online: 1. "JT, the Traffic Babe," KXRK and other Simmons Media stations; 2. "General Gridlock," KUBL

Best newscaster(s): Me: Dan Bammes, KUER; Online: 1. Dan Bammes, KUER; 2. (tie) Lara Jones, KCPW; Tim Hughes, KSL; and Mary Richards, KSL

Best local radio sports show: Me: "Manly Morning Show" (David James and Patrick Kinahan), KZNS; Online: 1. (tie) Matt Thomas, formerly on KALL; "Hardball," KFNZ; "Jazz Talk," KFNZ and "Riding the Pine," KFNZ

Best overall voice(s): Me: Bob Nelson, KSFI; Online: 1. A total of 12 DJs got one vote each

Sexiest male voice(s) Me: Not applicable; Online: 1. Jay Parker, KUDD