Buzzing with radio's Richard Todd

EDITOR'S NOTE: "15 Minutes With Bryce" is a feature in which columnist Bryce Donovan sits down with local celebrities and asks them things most people would never think to -- or want to know the answers to, for that matter. This week, he sits down with Richard Todd, host of "The Morning Buzz" on WTMA 1250 AM.

Q When you're at home, do you say stuff like, "And joining us at the breakfast table is my wife" and "Coming up next: Bedtime!"?

A. I tend not to play radio at my house. My wife doesn't need me to do a talk show in the living room. But the funny thing is, the other day, at the Charleston Battery game, because I'm the P.A. announcer there, my son came up into the booth right after the game and he said, "Can I get in the chair where the microphone is?" and I'm like, "Yeah," and he jumps into the chair and goes, "Good evening ladies and gentlemen this is Richard Todd's son, Tyler!"

Q. So clearly, he isn't old enough yet to be embarrassed that his dad is Richard Todd.

A. Not yet. But I can see that coming.

Q. Ever see him following in the old man's footsteps?

A. God, for his sake I hope not.

Q. What time do you normally get up during the week?

A. The show's called "The Morning Buzz." I get up at 4:20 a.m.

Q. You ever thought about just playing a recording of a show from three years ago to see if anybody's paying attention?

A. (Laughs.) I'd get busted. You know what, the difference between FM and AM radio is on FM they hear you a lot, on AM radio they listen to you a lot. They would notice that in a second.

Q. Tell me the truth: During your days with 96 Wave, at the peak of your show's popularity, you could have had any woman with really, really low-self esteem you wanted, couldn't you?

A. Oh, yeah. Absolutely. At Wave, we used to call them "open-net goals." You shoot, you score!

Q. Have you ever done anything besides radio?

A. Yeah, I taught high school for four years. I taught at Fort Dorchester, and I taught a year in Columbia. But amazingly, I've been doing radio for the rest of my life.

Q. What was the cheesiest DJ name you ever had?

A. You know what, my name from the very beginning has always been Richard Todd.

Q. OK, then what would it have been if you didn't go by your real name?

A. I worked at WUSC in Columbia and I was known as the Eggman. I drove a 1986 red Honda Civic hatchback that looked like a little red egg. So Eggman.

Q. Who's the coolest person you've ever met or interviewed?

A. Wow. That's a good question. The first two that jump to mind ... I got to interview Trey Anastasio, the lead singer and guitarist of Phish, for 15 minutes backstage at the Gaillard back in 1994. I would give anything to have that interview back because I'm a big fan now. Also in '94, at the Final Four in Charlotte, I got to talk to Bill Walton. ... He was great.

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Q. If you could make anybody in Charleston mayor, who would you pick?

A. Joke answer: Mike Veeck. Serious answer: Leon Stavrinakis.

Q. What's tougher, battling cancer or getting a coherent answer out of Alvin Greene?

A. (Laughs.) Well, you know what, I beat cancer, but I don't know if I could ever get a straight answer out of Alvin Greene.

Q. Finish this sentence: I wish I was Bryce Donovan because ...

A. ... I could say that I'm skinny as hell.

Got a person you think Bryce should "interview" next? Reach him at bdonovan@postandcourier.com or 937-5938.