Media Frenzy

By Rob Holbert Managing Editor

WZEW morning show regular Jolene Roxbury is making pretty big splash these days – big enough, in fact, to land her a gig at a Kendall Jackson wine convention in California this summer.

Roxbury, who appears weekday mornings with host Sean Sullivan on 92-FM, has been honing her act for the past few years. She also performs as the character Belle Cadeaux. She will be working the convention as Cadeaux.

Roxbury performs comedy skits and songs, and the Kendall Jackson gig stems from a song she recorded called “Kendall Baby.” Winery owners liked the song and developed a relationship with Roxbury.

“I sent it to them and they loved it,” she said. “They asked around Christmas if I would come out in August to Santa Rosa, California.”

Roxbury is also finding more success around Mobile, serving as a pitchwoman for Toomey’s Mardi Gras Warehouse. She is also doing some work with the Historic Preservation Society.

Some of her recordings have even made it across the pond to England, Roxbury said. Overall, she says she is happy with the way her career as an entertainer is progressing.

“I was just looking for it to pay for itself. It took a year for it to do that,” she said. “It was a stretch for a while.”

Roxbury has even gone into the beauty products business, designing a line of “Baff & Booty” products. She explains its popularity in her unique way.

“Even skanks want to smell nice. They don’t like to smell like skanks,” Roxbury said.

Overall, Roxbury says she has “a lot going on and I’m having a really good time.”

Like to wake up early?

WABB-AM is looking for a new addition to its morning public affairs radio show. Host Ron Frasier says former co-host Kathy Richardson has left the show to care for her elderly mother, and he is looking for someone to come in and mix it up in the morning.

The station has been “auditioning” potential candidates for the past couple of weeks, allowing Frasier to see if they have on-air chemistry. Among those who have sat in are former 710 AM news/talk host Shane McBryde and Louise Crow.

Frasier, an admitted conservative, says he would be most interested in having someone with a liberal point of view so they could mix it up. But first and foremost, he wants someone who is good on the air.

Dishing on the restaurants

WPMI TV-15 has filled the spot left by the departure of investigative reporter Josh Bernstein last fall. Varion Walton has joined the station as the new special assignment reporter/anchor.

“Varion joined us from WAFF TV in Huntsville, Alabama where she was the weekend anchor,” said news director Joe Raia. “While in Huntsville, Varion developed a very successful franchise known as ‘Restaurant Scorecard.’ Varion is no stranger to the area, Mobile is her home.”

Raia says “Restaurant Scorecard” reports on issues of cleanliness, things found in food, etc. So those running dirty restaurants may want to keep an eye out.

Rob Holbert is Lagniappe managing editor. Contact him at rholbert@lagniappemobile.com.

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