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{{Short description|American radio host}}

<!-- Unsourced image removed: [[Image:barnard.jpg|right|200x|thumb|''' Tom Barnard--KQRS/Twin Cities''']] -->

{{BLP sources|date=May 2008}}

'''Tom Barnard''' (previously known by the handle '''Cat Man''') is a [[radio]] [[talk show]] host. Barnard was born in northwest Minnesota and raised in Minneapolis.

{{For|the film distributor|Tom Bernard}}

'''Thomas 'Tom' Mark Paul Barnard''' (born November 7, 1951) is an American radio host and former [[voice-over]] talent. He was released by Cumulus from the host of ''[[The KQ92 Morning Show]]'' on [[KQRS-FM|92.5 KQRS]] in [[Minneapolis]] at the end of 2022 after hosting mornings for 37 years.<ref>[https://www.insideradio.com/free/after-36-years-in-mornings-at-kqrs-minneapolis-tom-barnard-to-retire/article_be94b9e8-f882-11ec-933e-bb880438039a.html InsideRadio.com "Tom Barnard to Retire" July 1, 2022. Retrieved July 31, 2023]</ref> He currently hosts ''The Tom Barnard Podcast'', which is produced by [[Hubbard Broadcasting]].<REF>[https://www.insideradio.com/free/not-done-yet-after-37-years-at-twin-cities-kqrs-tom-barnard-to-launch-morning/article_784e289a-912d-11ed-be8e-532051c9bc08.html InsideRadio.com "Not Done Yet After 37 Years, Tom Barnard to Launch Morning Podcast" Jan. 11, 2023. Retrieved July 31, 2023]</REF>

==Personal==

He is currently the host of "The KQ Morning Show," which airs on [[KQRS]]-FM 92.5 from 5:30 to 9:20 am. For years the broadcast has been the highest-rated morning radio show in [[Minnesota]], and holds the distinction of the highest ratings of any morning show in a local market nationwide.

Barnard was born in [[Long Prairie, Minnesota]] and raised in North Minneapolis. He and his wife Kathryn Brandt live in [[Edina, Minnesota]].

Before coming to KQRS Barnard worked at numerous stations including KSTP-AM. For most of the 1980s Barnard was the booth announcer for KSTP-TV.

==Career==

With the recent introduction of the [[podcasting]] technology, the show has reached national and international audiences, but Barnard has allegedly rejected numerous offers to nationally syndicate the show. Regardless of the growth in his show's market, Barnard continuously assures listeners that "The Morning Show" will maintain its focus on the news, weather, sports, and traffic of the [[Twin Cities]].

Before coming to KQRS, Barnard worked at numerous stations including [[KFAN (AM)|WDGY]] and [[KSTP (AM)|KSTP]] (as "The Catman"). Until 1986, he was the booth announcer for [[KSTP-TV]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.startribune.com/tom-barnard-seriously/86721302/|title=The 2010 Minnesota Profile: Getting serious with radio kingpin Tom Barnard|work=Star Tribune|access-date=2017-12-20}}</ref>

Barnard, and then-partner Dan Culhane, started the "Tom and Dan" show in 1986 featuring sports reports from [[WCCO-TV]] sports anchor Mark Rosen. At one point, the team of Barnard and Culhane spearheaded a write-in campaign to elect Rosen For [[Governor of Minnesota]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2012/11/05/looking-back-mark-rosen-runs-for-governor-changes-mn-politics/|title=Looking Back: Mark Rosen Runs For Governor, Changes MN Politics|date=5 November 2012|accessdate=2013-06-30}}</ref> Culhane was eventually pushed out of the broadcast in a personnel move, {{Citation needed|date=May 2008}} while Rosen was "persuaded" by WCCO TV's parent company to move his morning sports to WCCO-AM.

Although he has recently retired from voice-over work, for many years Barnards voice was heard in various markets, introducing shows and appearing on commercials.

Barnard gave an in-depth interview to the ''[[St. Paul Pioneer Press]]'' in which he discussed his strained relationship with his deceased father and compared his radio persona to that of his actual personality. Earlier in his career, Barnard and Culhane were guests with two other Twin Cities radio show duos on a local morning television show in 1988.

Despite his enormous popularity in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area and fame from his voice-over career, Barnard is very reclusive, refusing virtually all media interviews and rarely making public appearances.

Although he has recentlyis semi-retired from [[voice-over]] work, Barnard can currently be heard in radio ads for [[Home Depot]]. For many years BarnardsBarnard's voice was heard in various markets, introducing shows and appearing on commercials.

== Politics ==

Barnard calls himself a conservative, with ties to many prominent Republican politicians. Minnesota Senator [[Norm Coleman]], Minnesota Governor [[Tim Pawlenty]] and a variety of personalities from network news organizations.{{citation needed}} In the fall of [[2002]] Barnard made comments about the late Minnesota Senator [[Paul Wellstone]], joking that he wished Wellstone would "drop dead." Barnard had felt that Paul Wellstone used controversey with the KQRS morning show for his own political gain. Barnard often quotes Wellstone as saying "my proudest moment ever was standing up to the KQ Morning Show". After the senator died in a small plane crash days before the 2002 senate election, Barnard came under fire by Star Tribune gossip columnist CJ on his comments, and made an on-air apology several days after the election.

On September 29, 2009's Morning Show wrap-up, Barnard casually mentioned that he's planning to retire from live radio on December 21, 2012. Tom specifically said Terri would take over the Morning show, moments later the discussion moved to a "play off" for host during the year 2012. Tom explained that the 21st is a Friday and it's just before Christmas.

Independence Party Minnesota Governor, [[Jesse Ventura]], who was once a regular on the show, was congratulated upon winning the governorship in 1998, but had a falling out with Barnard shortly after and is now the butt of numerous jokes.

On March 29, 2013, Barnard announced on the air that he would be entering treatment for issues in regard to anger, not substance abuse as previously reported.<ref>[http://www.startribune.com/entertainment/tv/200590241.html KQ's Tom Barnard says he'll get treatment but remain on air]</ref>

== Religious Views ==

Barnard often states that he was raised Roman-Catholic and attended a religious school as a child. Despite these early roots he routinely criticises a wide gamut of religious beliefs on the show. While he has explicitly stated that he is not on the radio to air his religious beliefs, based on his commentary over the years it can be assumed the he is either [[atheist]] or [[agnostic]]. During an Oct. 10, 2006 discussion over the [[Pope Benedict XVI Islam controversy]], Barnard repeatedly stated, "those are my beliefs: leave me alone!".

In February 2020, Barnard and Cumulus Media announced Barnard had signed an 8 year extension to remain at KQRS until 2028, when he will be 76 years old.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Uren|first=Adam|title=KQRS signs Morning Show host Tom Barnard to new long-term contract|url=https://bringmethenews.com/minnesota-lifestyle/kqrs-signs-morning-show-host-tom-barnard-to-new-long-term-contract|access-date=2021-12-11|website=Bring Me The News|date=6 February 2020 |language=en}}</ref> In a 2021 interview with KSTP-TV he has announced his [https://kstp.com/kstp-news/local-news/tom-barnard-to-retire-from-kqrs-after-36-years/ retirement]. His final show was December 23, 2022. The KQ Morning Show continues with [[Steve Gorman]] of [[The Black Crowes]] replacing Barnard.

==Similarity to Howard Stern==

Barnard's style is lightly reminiscent of Howard Stern's rude, crude, and sometimes profane radio schtick. However, where [[Howard Stern]] focuses more on stories involving sex and strippers, Barnard and his irreverent team focus on stories about current events, mixed with celebrity interviews accompanied by sound bites, and rants against social programs, fecal matter related news stories, college professors, and what he believes to be the liberal media. Barnard's popularity is one reason Stern's show failed to penetrate the Minnesota market, making a brief appearance on a rival classic rock station (100.3 FM).

Several weeks after retiring from KQRS-FM, Barnard began a weekday three-hour podcast, produced by [[Hubbard Broadcasting]]. The third hour of the podcast was also heard on [[WGVX|105 The Ticket]] from 6:00{{nbsp}}pm to 7:00{{nbsp}}pm in the [[Minneapolis-St. Paul]] area. As of February 2024, the podcast was no longer broadcast on 105 The Ticket.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tombarnardpodcast.com/ |title = The Family}}</ref>

==Controversy==

Barnard has been criticized by that the local community for remarks that have been regarded as racist. In [[1998]], he angered Minnesota's large [[Hmong people|Hmong]] community for his comments (and the character Tak, whose delivery was in a mock-Asian accent) about a news story regarding the murder of a newborn baby by its 13-year-old Hmong mother. Barnard apologized for the comments in early 1999. Despite this and other controversies, Barnard holds his ground, and refuses to apologize to his critics. Some fans say that he has toned down his antics recently in response to them. The KQ morning show enjoys a large internet following internationally and also is quickly picked up by many transplants who move to the Twin Cities from other parts of the country.

===Controversy===

Barnard angered the Somali community in 1998 over remarks made following the murder of a Somali cab driver. The remarks came after news reports showed angry somali men claiming that there is "no justice in America". Star Tribune columnist CJ quoted Barnard's comments which some believe inspired the rally. According to the hosts of the morning show, the demonstrators sped through streets, even speeding next to elementary school buses with their "stop" arm extended to protest at the station. Angry Somali men rallied at the radio station shouting, "Tom Barnard, this is for you!". According to the morning show and articles in the Star Tribune in the days following, many of the demonstrators held up the CJ article.

Barnard has long prided himself on what he refers to as his "insensitive" humor,<ref>{{cite web |last1=Karnowski |first1=Steve |title=Popular Radio Host Draws Fire |url=https://apnews.com/article/690cf9d74b8f39ed50b1ba91e9cf9d8b |website=APNews.com |publisher=Associated Press News}}</ref> notably in 1998 when, while working for KQRS, he made racist statements on-air following an influx in Hmong refugee immigration to the Twin Cities and subsequently declared Hmong immigrants should "assimilate or hit the goddamn road."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Brauer |first1=David |title=Mike Gelfand's 'KQ Morning Show' confessions |url=https://www.minnpost.com/braublog/2012/10/mike-gelfands-kq-morning-show-confessions/ |website=MinnPost.com |date=4 October 2012 |publisher=MinnPost}}</ref> After receiving criticism for his statements, Barnard responded on-air on October 20, 1998: “I will attack who I want to attack.”<ref>{{cite web |last1=Evans |first1=Melanie |title='Free speech' wins in KQRS case |url=https://mndaily.com/253156/uncategorized/free-speech-wins-kqrs-case/ |website=The Minnesota Daily.com |publisher=The Minnesota Daily}}</ref>

Following Barnard's remarks, Hmong activists formed Community Action Against Racism (CAAR), a "multiracial coalition of whites, Latinos, and Asian and African Americans",<ref>{{cite book |last1=Lee |first1=Erika |title=The Making of Asian America: A History |date=16 August 2016 |publisher=Simon & Schuster |___location=New York, NY. |isbn=9781476739410 |page=351}}</ref> which organized and drew attention to the issue. CAAR demanded an apology and "successfully organized an economic boycott of the station."<ref>{{cite book |last1=Lee |first1=Erika |title=The Making of Asian America: A History |date=16 August 2016 |publisher=Simon & Schuster |___location=New York, NY. |isbn=9781476739410 |page=351}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Uren |first1=Adam |title=KQRS signs Morning Show host Tom Barnard to new long-term contract |url=https://bringmethenews.com/minnesota-lifestyle/kqrs-signs-morning-show-host-tom-barnard-to-new-long-term-contract |website=Bring Me the News.com |date=6 February 2020 |publisher=Bring Me the News}}</ref> While KQRS issued an apology, many in the Twin Cities still called for Barnard's termination as Barnard had continued to make offensive and derogatory statements about "Somalis, African Americans, Mexican Americans and Native Americans" on air.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Evans-Nash |first1=Vickie |title=KQRS bigotry unites communities of color.|url=https://www.tcdailyplanet.net/kqrs-bigotry-unites-communities-color/ |website=Twin Cities Daily Planet.com |date=13 December 2007 |publisher=Twin Cities Daily Planet}}</ref>

Barnard has also critized the Hip Hop community by portraying how acceptable gang violence has become, especially in the neighborhood he once grew up in. Minneapolis local officials refused for years to acknowledge that Minneapolis had a gang problem, despite many well known crimes that started in the mid-1980's. Barnard also has been critical of community activists, who critize police action in predominantly ethnic neighborhoods. Many of these activists are quick to blame police for their actions. Most notable was in 2003 when an African-American man falsely accused police of abusing him with a toliet plunger. It was later proven he lied and falsified such claims. However, local community activists had riled the residents of the neighborhood against the police because of these false accusations.

==Awards==

==Other KQRS Morning Show Crew Members==

Barnard won the 2006 [[NAB Marconi Radio Awards|Marconi award]] for Large Market Personality of the Year.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nab.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Press_Releases1&CONTENTID=5019&TEMPLATE=/CM/ContentDisplay.cfm |title=Large Market Personality of the Year |accessdate=2008-05-09 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20081109040243/http://www.nab.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Press_Releases1 |archivedate=November 9, 2008 }}</ref>

- '''Terri Traen''' (Pawelk): The only on-air female crew member. Unofficial "co-host" of Barnard's. Traen serves as the "[[Tommy Smothers]]" to Barnard's "[[Dick]]" while discussing the news of the day. Terri has larger breasts, a fact which is referenced numerous times by the show crew and listeners who call/write in. Also has her own portion of the KQRS website dedicated to men she finds attractive called "Terri's Hot Young Studs". Traen serves as a typically Minnesotan provincial foil to Tom Barnard's quasi-urbane emanations.

Barnard was inducted into the [[National Radio Hall of Fame|radio Hall of Fame]] in 2017, and the Minnesota Broadcasters Hall of Fame in 2018.

- '''Bryce Crousore''': The show's producer who also appears on-air. A former drug addict who freely speaks about his addiction and recovery. Often teased about his unabashed love for pornography and porn stars. Frequently references pornographic films and websites and is also teased when women who claim to have large breasts call in because it gets him aroused.

The Marconi awards recognize excellence in radio broadcasting.

- '''Mike 'Stretch' Gelfand''': Short (nicknamed Stretch for that reason), middle-aged, [[Jewish]] and [[liberal]], provides a stark contrast to the rest of the show's largely conservative views. Often uses wit or dry humor when commenting on an issue and runs the show's "Dead Pool" with listeners as well as a weekly football pick segment.

== References ==

- '''Phillip 'Philly Dawg' Wise''': A former [[NY Jets]]/[[Minnesota Vikings|Vikings]] player and the lone African-American crew member who is almost always referenced when a news segment or topic is about blacks (who Barnard jokingly refers to as "Philly's people"). Despite the show's racial humor element, Wise and Barnard are and have been good friends for years. Wise is often the subject of racial teasing and plays into the jokes, referring to himself as "a black man in America today".

{{Reflist}}

- '''Bob 'Sanny' Sansevere''': Sports columnist for the [[St. Paul Pioneer Press|Pioneer Press]] who gives daily local and national sports updates and also weighs in on other show issues being discussed. Sansevere also serves as a Councilmember in the City of Orono, MN.

- '''Brian Zepp''': The show's soundbite man who like Crousore is very open about his love for beautiful, large-chested women.

- '''Jeff 'Panthole', 'Passwa' Passolt''': Local (FOX 9) news co-anchor who, like Sansevere provides insight on news and sports topics being discussed. Often introduces news clips that were originally reported on his station. Though he keeps his political views neutral on the air, Passolt contributed $300 to the Allen Quist GOP Gubenatorial Campaign in 1994.

==Regular/Popular KQ Morning Show Segments==

- '''Real _____ Or Not''': A game show-style contest in which listeners (usually three) play against each other. Barnard will read them a clue or have them listen to a soundbite and the listener has to guess if what they heard was real or made up. While the segment is pitched as a contest, there is a "one tie, all tie" clause in which if any one player ties another, everyone wins the prize. Predictably, this almost always happens. Several varations used have been "Real [[Pornography|Porn]] Movie Title Or Not" and "Real [[Tabloid]] Headline Or Not".

- '''Listener's Segment''': Usually beginning between 7:30-8:00 AM, the show has a segment dedicated entirely to listener mail. Mail read on-air often includes references to recently covered stories by the show or humorous moments.

- '''Vegas Show''': One time a year, usually in November, the show travels to and broadcasts live from [[Las Vegas]]. Even though Las Vegas is on [[Pacific Standard Time|Pacific]] time, the show still comes on at its regular time. Many KQ listeners travel with the show to Vegas and listen live as it is broadcast from a hotel conference room. Several running gags in regards to the Vegas show is how drunk all the listeners in attendance (as well as the show members) are despite it running from 3:30-7:20 AM as well as women flashing their breasts and comparing size. Comedian [[Louie Anderson]], a Minnesota native and good friend of Barnard who has a regular show in Las Vegas, frequently drops by.

- '''Football Picks''': Show member Mike "Stretch" Gelfand (called so because of his short stature) and ex-Vikings/Jets player Phillip "Philly Dawg" Wise make weekly picks on that week's NFL action. Stretch and Wise keep a running total of how their picks (made from an imaginary pool of money) do during the season.

- '''Stretch's Dead Pool''': Shortly after New Year's, Stretch, the show crew and several listeners participate in a contest picking people who they believe will die within the current year. The pool is run in a sports draft format with each person picking a predicted death in order.

- '''Sound Bites''': Like many radio shows, KQRS has a wide variety of sound bites that are played by sound man Brian Zepp at various times during the show. Several of these mock the show members themselves. For example, Barnard once read a news story that had quoted someone as saying "I love being gay". The recording of this is now played at various times to tease Barnard. Others include famous celebrity slip ups and racial humor such as a soundbite with an African-American man saying "where all the white women at?" which is actually a line from the movie [[Blazing Saddles]]. Many of the sound bites are from popular television shows such as [[South Park]], [[The Simpsons]], [[The Office]], and [[Da Ali G Show]].

- '''Mike Evans Live From Hollywood''': Celebrity gossip reporter Mike Evans calls in and reports the latest celebrity gossip as well as reviews new and upcoming movies. Evans has gained popularity with his "Aloha Friday" song which he sings when reporting on Fridays. Evans is often made fun of by the crew for pronouncing celebrity names and other words wrong.

- '''The Arrest''': An actual audio recording of an American-African man being arrested by Minneapolis police. The man is clearly unhappy with his situation and berates the arresting officers, refusing to give them his personal information. Highlights include him noting his name as "Bitch", then spelling it "b-i-c-h" when asked to by the officer. Many letters in the aforementioned Listener's Segment begin with 'Dear KQ Biches'. The man also referrs to the officer as "yo mammy" several times and when asked by the police if he has ever been arrested before, he repiles "yup!...for kicking white folks' ass".

- '''You Kicked My Dog''': The KQ Morning Show is one of few today who still reference the cult Internet comedy prank call [[You Kicked My Dog]]. Many soundbites from this call are used by the crew, most notably the line "you know damn right!" which is often played when talking or reading a newswire story about [[terrorist|terrorists]].

== External links ==

*[httphttps://wwwweb.archive.org/web/20090105170405/http://92kqrs.com/morningshow.asp KQRS Morning Show] (official site)

*[http://www.radiotapes.com Radiotapes.com] Aircheck samples of Tom Barnard's radio career including WDGY-AM as "Catman," KQRS "Cat and Kincaid" and additional current airchecks from the KQRS Morning Show.

*[http://www.mndaily.com/daily/1998/10/21/world_nation/wn1.ap/ Article] from the [[Minnesota Daily]] describing some of Barnard's controversial remarks on air

*[http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/style/86721302.html Star Tribune] Profile of Tom Barnard from the Minneapolis Star Tribune, March 10, 2010.

*[http://www.tombarnardpodcast.com Tom Barnard Podcast] (official site)

{{DEFAULTSORT:Barnard, Tom}}

{{US-radio-bio-stub}}

[[Category:1951 births]]

[[Category:Living people]]

[[Category:People from Long Prairie, Minnesota]]

[[Category:American talk radio hosts]]

[[Category:Radio personalities from Minneapolis]]