The morning laughs. Desperately dialing (and redialing) 1-800-242-0100 in hopes of scoring “Jingle Ball” tickets. Getting a birthday shout-out from Elvis Duran (a BIG deal for a 15-year-old in 2003). As a native New Yorker who grew up listening to Z100, watching Worst to First: The True Story of Z100 New York was pure nostalgia.
The hour-long documentary, directed by Mitchell Stuart, recounts the tale of popular New York radio station WHTZ (a.k.a Z100), and its history-making ascension to the top. Viewers get a peek inside the station’s five-month journey – from its launch in 1983 to landing the coveted #1 spot in the fall ratings.
Worst to First excels in its intent to pay tribute to Z100’s unlikely, yet quick, climb to notoriety. Peppered with celebrity cameos and entertaining stories, the documentary largely feels like a salute to Scott Shannon – the driving force behind Z100’s success – rather than a robust look at the station’s history. It took a mere 74 days between Z100 signing on air “from the swamps of New Jersey” to its reign as NYC’s top-rated FM station. It’s quite mind-boggling (read: aspirational).
Scott Shannon from Mitchell Stuart’s WORST TO FIRST. Photo Credit: Gunpowder & Sky.
Shannon’s comedic wit and storytelling ability make for an entertaining watch. From purchasing his first radio to his “morning zoo” success in Tampa, Shannon recounts his eccentric path to stardom sharing, “You had WABC, WNBC, WPLJ, and here comes this punk from Florida and they didn’t think it was gonna work.” But…spoiler alert…it worked. His aggressive, albeit wacky, marketing tactics paired with the strong team of DJs he assembled helped amass the station’s army of diehard listeners. After all, who doesn’t love hilarious parodies and prank phone calls?
Industry legends, like Clive Davis and Elvis Duran, as well as other Z100 staffers and record label execs underscored the station’s influential rise in the ranks, and its ability to disrupt the hyper-competitive New York media market. Celebrated artists like Bon Jovi, Joan Jett, and Debbie Gibson also shared their own personal stories, reinforcing the importance of radio in supporting their love of music. Bon Jovi, in particular, recalls hearing his song on the radio and immediately hitting the gas pedal – hoping a cop would pull him over so he could share the news. Hysterical.
With so many talented individuals responsible for Z100’s rich heritage and fame, the documentary left me craving more – especially for content that stemmed past the Scott Shannon era. The legacy is undeniable. In fact, the station still reaches eight-digit audiences daily, continuing to deliver entertainment and ear-pleasing tunes.
Worst to First: The True of Z100 New York is now available to rent or buy on Apple/iTunes, GooglePlay, Amazon, Vudu, and other streaming platforms.
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Either typing away on my keyboard or nose-deep in a good book. Say hi to me on Twitter @Kkantro.