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WMEB 91.9, the student-run radio station at the University of Maine, has added another title to its airwaves. “Drive Time with Benny and the Jet” is a politically based talk show from 7 to 9 a.m., Monday through Thursday.
Ben Goodman and Pete “The Jet” Christopher have been cohosting the show since late Spring semester, 2009, but only recently expanded to a two-hour slot, taking guest calls or in-studio interviews. Guests are typically asked questions that affect students and UMaine, as well as a few tailored questions to their specific situation. Goodman said one of his favorite parts about hosting the show is getting to those harder questions the media may not be asking.
A recent political figure in the station was Alex Hammer, an independent running in the 2010 governor race who recently received negative publicity for a Twitter incident. Other guests include Maine Sen. Peter Mills, a Republican who is also running for governor next year, Eliot Cutler, an Independent candidate and Linda Valentine, R-Saco. Goodman and Christopher were reluctant to disclose the name of their next guest.
Although Goodman and Christopher are the cohosts, their team is not complete without producer Zack Jackman, Kate Rossing on sports and Beth Kevit with weather. The early risers split up their news and interviews with fun stuff as well.
“Once we did a segment on the ‘Angry Beavers’ for 15 minutes,” Kevit said.
The group tries especially hard to be fair to all sides during political discussions, and the mix of views tend to keep the conversation balanced. Goodman and Christopher are Democrats, but they do not feel their political preference make the show biased. Jackman, a Republican, lends to the diversity and hosts “Rock, Flag, and Eagle,” a conservative show on Tuesdays from 10 to 11 p.m.
The station reaches a large geographic area and by Oct. 31 a new tower will be in place, upping the watts from 680 to 10,000, which will put WMEB on the map as far south as Waterville.
“It’s great having them on drive time,” said program director Frank Digiacomo.
The show is objective and appeals to a bigger fan base, according to Digiacomo — most programs on the station appeal to specific tastes. “Das International Electron,” for example, plays post-classical music, and “The French Connection” plays French pop music.
The station’s Web site, wmeb.fm, is new and allows for direct streaming.
“It’s more flashy this year,” Digiacomo said.
The site also provides a schedule of programming. The one thing you will not hear on 91.9FM is mainstream music. A tour of the underground station uncovered shelves of CDs and boxes of records from Indie to Folk to Metal.
“No Lady Gaga here,” Digiacomo said.
