For a long time, Mike Ransom thought the cable television show, Mike and the Coach, which he co-hosted with Chuck Singer, as the minor leagues when it came to media.
The show which airs on Channel 19 every Monday at 8 and 11:30 p.m. and on Wednesdays at 5 p.m. has always served the Bayonne Community as something of a welcoming committee, but instead of meeting new neighbors with a basket full of fruit, Mike Ransom and Karl “Chuckie” Singer greeted them with a joke and questions.
Ransom said the idea was to introduce Bayonne residents to the movers and shakers in the community, and since first airing in 2002, has had a parade of local personalities that include sports, political and social people, all of whom have had an impact on the city and its residents.
But this year, Mike and the Coach climbed out of the minor leagues to become the focus of attention in Bayonne. Although unabashed supporters of Mayor Joseph Doria, Ransom and Singer took on a new role during the 2006 mayoral election by hosting the only debate among the four mayoral candidates.
This show, which filmed in April and aired up to the Sunday prior to the May 9 election, gave many Bayonne residents a significant view of the mayoral candidates in action.
Moderated by a reporter from the Bayonne Community News, the show was seen as a significant public service since it was the only debate in which all four candidates took part.
In a new show air in early August, Ransom and Singer recall the details behind the debate, seeing it for the first time in its historical perspective.
“We did the best job we could but it could have been done better,” Ransom said off camera. “What we did is step up to the plate. But I wish someone else had hosted it and let us film it.”
The duo, who years ago took their TV roles seriously enough to buy some of their own equipment for the show, often split duties with Ransom taking on the political reporting chores, while Singer focused more on social aspects and sports. While Singer claims Ransom is “the brains of the outfit,” Singer often displays a practical wisdom and a sense of humor that allows the show to transcend the minor league.
Singer, a coordinator for the City’s Department of Public Works, calls Ransom “intense and articulate,” while viewing himself as “carefree.”
Yet Ransom, a retired firefighter, credited Singer with the idea of the debate, although pulling it off became something of a media miracle when they thought they had an agreement with the original three candidates only to find Vincent Militello had decided against it.
“That left us with Mayor Doria and Lenny Kantor,” Ransom said. “That’s was hardly a debate. What made everything work was Judge Pat Conaghan declaring for mayor.”
Ransom believes Conaghan’s entering the election forced Militello to reconsider his position and join the debate. The rest is history.
In fact, some lines broadcast during that debate have already become living legend, such as when Kantor promised to take a lie detector test and Doria’s quick comeback against Conaghan questioning where the judge actually lived.
While the moment will go down in local history, Ransom hopes he won’t have to repeat the broadcast. “Next time, I hope someone else steps up to the plate,” he said. “Let us broadcast it, but someone else should host the debate.”
This is not to say that the debate has changed Ransom’s mind about politics. He is still a fervent Doria supporter and recently aired a cartoon parody of what is locally called “signgate” in which Councilman Anthony Chiappone allegedly tore down Doria campaign signs.
Ransom has strong negative feelings towards Chiappone, and one of the motivations for his show came as a counter to a show Chiappone aired. The cartoon parody of Chiappone’s alleged acts, of course, continues the long standing feud.
Chiappone, of course, reacted with indifference to the show by shrugging his shoulders and saying, “What do you expect?”
What you can expect from Mike and the Coach Show are laughs, tinged with more than a little satire.