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Thursday, June 26
Listeners panic about what seems to be a sudden format change. Danny Boi arrives in the studio at 6:30 p.m. and sees every call-indicator light glowing. He notices that the game is being simulcast from another Entercom property, Royals flagship station KMBZ 980. It's just a case, he says, of "Lazlo being Lazlo," testing his listeners' cardiac conditions and possibly violating that omnipresent Major League Baseball warning about inappropriate broadcast, transmission or reproduction of the game in any form without express written permission.
Back at the studio, Danny Boi soothes jumpy callers. Then, like many others who have survived near-death experiences, he decides to find religion. He places an on-air call to The 700 Club's prayer line and tells the operator his woes. "What's happening is, we're losing our jobs," he explains. "We need God's help."
"Father God, I lift Danny Boi up to you," begins a two-minutes-plus response that soon takes an unexpected turn. "We pray right now for this station that this station will become a Christian station and your word will be preached over this airtime," the volunteer improvises.
"We're saved," Danny Boi rejoices. Until he signs off for the night, he describes the station at each break as the "divine-protected Buzz."
Sunday, June 29
Such promising signs can only go so far toward alleviating the painful uncertainty. Danny Boi still has no guarantee that he'll be around for another Drive-In, and he vows on the air to enjoy this show as if it were his last. But the past week's shows of support suggest that, contrary to conventional corporate wisdom and recent ratings, attracting listeners and embracing local music and progressive programming might not be mutually exclusive. They've also made a disc jockey who identifies with the songs of the alienated feel as if he belongs.
"Whatever happens, I take the stance that Kansas City wants us here," Danny Boi says.
