“Ron & Jen’s Great Escape” 8-4-2021 – Ron St. Pierre & Jen Brien

by Ron St. Pierre & Jen Brien

McKee-Elorza Slobberknocker

Anyone who doesn’t think Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza’s recent dust-up wasn’t a campaign tactic really doesn’t study politics too well. It wasn’t exactly a private setting when he challenged McKee to release the proposed Providence teachers contract. Cameras were at the ready and reporters had pen in hand awaiting a Waterfire presser. Is it possible Elorza just has a fuse that short? I doubt it.

Although no punches were thrown, Elorza did manage to give the state a black eye when the national news picked up on the story. Perhaps the WWE’s ultimate promoter Vince McMahon will slot an Elorza-McKee match into the upcoming SUMMERSLAM PPV event.

Elorza certainly had a bad week. In addition to the brouhaha, crime in the city exploded over the weekend with six shooting victims, one homicide, 3 stabbings, one sexual assault and an armed robbery all generating a blistering rebuke of his leadership from the Providence GOP. This as six members of the Providence City Council called for defunding the police in 2020, one of which was now Lt. Governor Sabina Matos. Yea, defund the cops in Providence. That’ll help… NOT!

Set It and Forget It!

Legendary pitchman Ron Popeil went to the big infomercial screen in the sky this week at age 86. For the uninitiated, Popeil sold such items as the Pocket Fisherman, Veg-O-Matic and Mr. Microphone (the precursor to Karaoke). Thanks to his cooking inventions such as the Ronco Rotisserie, Popeil coined the phrase “set it and forget it”. More than that, Popeil is credited with creating the formula dominant in infomercials; while in front of a “live studio audience” (exactly how starved for entertainment must one be to sit though one of those?) he’d present a “revolutionary” invention that addressed minor problems. The one RONCO product we think proves there’s a fanny for every seat was the “Great Looking Hair Formula #9” which was basically a can of spray paint for your bald spot. Rest in Peace, Mr. Popeil and give our best to PT Barnum.

Taking MY Ball and Going Home

Pillow salesman and conspiracy theorist Mike Lindell says he’s pulling his ads from Fox News where he’s been a massive spender and a frequent guest. The My Pillow guy told the Wall Street Journal his beef with the right wing channel stems from Fox’s alleged unwillingness to run a promo ad for an August streaming event where Lindell is expected to show “proof” of the 2020 presidential election fraud with the Supreme Court returning Donald Trump to office later this month. Perhaps Mr. Lindell can use some of his pillows to pad the walls of his bedroom.

It’s Not Just Morning Aches and Pains

According to a recent poll of Millennials, apparently some of the everyday things you do are a sure tip off you’re of an older generation. If you use cash in your wallet you’re considered ancient. Other top signs of “old age” include:

Getting bills through the mail

Having fancy silverware for special occasions

Writing lists with pen and paper

Smoking

Calling for a taxi instead of using an app

Watching actual TV

And Reading Books!

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Ron St. Pierre is a veteran broadcaster whose career has spanned over four decades. Ron has programmed, performed on and managed WHJJ, WPRO, WWRX, 790 The Score in Providence, as well as WBZT and WKGR in West Palm Beach and WABC in New York City. Ron also anchored sports on WPRI Ch 12 in Providence. He is a member of both the Rhode Island Radio and Television and the City of Pawtucket Halls of Fame. He was born and raised in Pawtucket.

Jen Brien has over 20 years of radio broadcast experience having hosted shows on WPRO and WHJJ with Ron as well as her own shows on WRKO and WBZ in Boston, WXTK on Cape Cod and WHAM in Rochester, New York. Jen was born and raised in Woonsocket and served six years in the Army MP Canine Unit.

Hazel, Ron’s dog, makes regular appearances.

“Ron and Jen’s Great Escape” podcast, a more lighthearted reaction to the events happening around us, can be found on YouTube and wherever you get your podcasts, with new episodes premiering Mondays and Wednesdays.