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The Real Best of Detroit 2009

Best Local Style Website: Angela’s Eye
Part bombshell, part up-and-coming fashionista, 25-year-old, Angela Wisniewski is a force to reckon with. The writer, editor and "eye" behind Angela’s Eye is on the move with her fashion and style website, documenting the hip and cool in the Motor City. With video footage, underground reporting and celebrity interviews, the website has exceeded her expectations as it continues to grow.

“I’m always surprised at the variety of people that come across the site, read it and check in everyday," she said. "I assumed the majority of viewers would be younger girls, but guys and women much older than I am email me too. Now with Facebook, Twitter and other networking sites, I even get followers from other countries.”

After completing her degrees in PR and journalism from the University of Michigan, Dearborn and interning and writing for Real Detroit, Angela was soon after hired to work at WDIV Channel 4 in Detroit. Two months after learning the ropes doing odds and ends around the station, her boss Neil Goldstein came up with the idea of creating Angela’s Eye. More of a website than a blog, Angela’s Eye is a one-woman show. She comes up with the ideas and content, picks the writers and hires the interns.

“I have a love-hate relationship with the internet,” she said.  “It’s so immediate it can really stress you out. But whenever I feel stressed, I remember how lucky I am to work for such a great company and be able to do so much.  I love holding the reins and being able to write about what I want to cover.  Everything I write about is pretty much what I’m interested in.”

As for style, she says there’s a thin line between having a great style and going out of your way to look good. “We all look to trends, but be yourself.”  | RDW

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Best Radio DJ: Jay Hudson
If you listen to 89X, you know who Jay Hudson is. He’s the poster child for the station and Real Detroit readers loves him! DJing such fine programing as the People’s Choice, the Top Nine at Nine and fellow "Best Of" winner, the Homeboy Show, Hudson spends his time feverishly searching for new music for his listeners. Detroiters are picky but he’s never let us down. Our readers have spoken and they love Jay Hudson … and they apparently think he is kind of cute too! "I've never seen him in person, but his voice sounds kinda hot," Emily from Livionia says.Catch this music man and listen to him rocking shit out on the air, Monday through Friday from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. on 89X.  | RDW

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Best Local Music Show: Homeboy Show 89X At Necto
Real Detroit readers absolutely love the Homeboy Show on 89X. Why? Why not? Not only does our favorite homeboy and "Best Of" winner Jay Hudson host, but we also get to hear all of our favorite local Detroit bands as well as bands from Windsor on live radio! The Homeboy Show spins local rockers such as the Von Bondies, the Muggs,  Zoos of Berlin, Deastro, Paper Street Saints, and the Koffin Kats. Ever think, “I wish my band could be on the Homeboy Show”? Well it totally can! Send in your bands CD!  | RDW


Best Radio Station: 95.5
Wanna hear pop, hip-hop, rock and a little bit of techno all in one shot? Channel 955 has got you covered there and with their popular talk morning show. 955 has remained a strong Detroit radio staple throughout the years and refuses to give up its crown just yet. In being Detroit’s only Top 40 radio station, they've managed to recruit devoted followers of all ages, which keeps the station fresh and vibrant in a state where times are tough. So keep your head up, cause with this station, there’s nothing but blue skies ahead.

Best Radio Morning Show: Jay And Bill 97.1 The Ticket
Detroit has seen it’s fair share of morning shows. Some are bland and lack the essential jolt it takes to wake up many morning commuters and others are Jay and Bill. Brought back from the ashes of a format change, Jay and Bill have proven that they are here for a reason. Jay and Bill inform us about the many scandals that have plagued Detroit as of late as well as allow listeners to feast upon the often-scrumptious “Hottie of the Day.” With the lovely Sara on board to mediate the two, the trio mixes as well as vodka and Red Bull and sends thoughts of hilarity and wonderment coursing through our bodies at the time we need it the most.

Best Radio Sports Talk Show: Valenti And Foster
97.1 The Ticket has managed to produce some of the best radio shows in it’s short existence on Detroit airwaves. Valenti and Foster is just one of the many shows The Ticket has to offer, but it’s the blend of Terry Foster’s easy-going swagger and Mike Valenti’s fiery attitude that keeps listeners coming back. “It works because they both play devil’s advocate to each other really well,” Royal Oak reader John says. “They can get so mad at each other, but you can tell they are buds.” Foster and Valenti speak their minds and welcome listeners opinions, even if it means there’s a good-natured debate on the horizon. Sports radio will never be the same.

Best Local Podcast: The Oddist
When we first ventured into John Tenney’s basement we thought we heard a dark and sinister mantra emanating from the shadows (“She puts the lotion on her skin ...”). But no, as it turned out Tenney was simply putting an even keel on The Oddist, his weekly (bi-weekly? occasional?) podcast where he ruminates deeply on the state of the world and the poetic significance of burnt pizza. Sometimes he even invites the hoi polloi to jump into the stream of “consciousness.” Dennis Miller, look to your laurels, or get a podcast like John Tenney!

Best Late-Night Show: Chelsea Lately
There are tons of late-night shows on television right now. Tons! Yet, even though there are many hilarious and smart late night-shows, Chelsea Lately won our readers hearts over. “She really takes celebs to task,” RDW reader Craig says. “She’s also really hot.” The simple fact that there’s finally a woman on late-night, or the idea that she is pretty cute makes it easy to see why Handler was voted Queen of late-night! We don’t know about you, but our readers seem to be getting tired of the late-night sausage fest that’s been around forever!

Best Reality Show: Rock Of Love
Here at Real Detroit we love all the reality shows. Everything from Survivor to the Real World. Lately we’ve developed a soft spot for all those crazy-ass reality shows on VH-1. You know: For the Love of Ray J, Flavor of Love, I Love New York, Daisy of Love, I Love Money … we love it all. However the one show that has won our affection season after season is none other than Rock of Love. Real Detroit even tracked down Rock of Love Bus winner, Taya Parker, when she visited the Penthouse Club last month to ask her how she felt about winning Rock of Love. “It’s very cool” Taya said. “Its crazy that even in its third season people still loved it!” Although, some reality shows fizzle out after a couple seasons —Rock of Love still remains at the top of our list.

Best Local News: Fox News
It’s no wonder Fox won for "Best Local News." They cover everything. Has somebody ripped you off lately or isn't making due with the services that you paid for? Get newspeople Scott Lewis, Amy Lange and Rob Wolcheck on the case and the "Problem Solvers" will tackle your problem and make sure those deadbeats pay up or give back. Got a product that just doesn't work like it's supposed to? Take it to Wolcheck again and he will ensure that if the product proves faulty it's put where it belongs — "The Hall of Shame." Even aside from the investigative pieces, Fox News coverage of sports, entertainment and health, runs the gamut of newsworthy topics. Their crew of amazing anchors including Huel Perkins, Woody Woodriffe, Jay Towers and Monica Gayle are an example of excellence daily. With all the crazy stuff going on in Michigan’s economy we need to be constantly up-to-date on local news and Fox always puts local news first with constant updates throughout the         day and night.

Best local anchorperson: Huel Perkins
Whether you heard him read aloud the former mayor’s text messages or listen to him deliver breaking news in the evening, Huel Perkins is Detroit’s go-to guy for all things important. Perkins’ bright smile and charming demeanor has lit up the television during his 13-year career at FOX 2 news. While Perkins is a smooth operator on and off air, one thing will always remain true: As long as Perkins loves Detroit — we have no choice but to love him back.

Best Sportscaster:  Don Shane 

The authoritative sportscasting of Don Shane makes WXYZ Channel 7 Action News a powerhouse in terms of local sports coverage. From Millen’s firing and the drafting of Matthew Stafford to the championships of the Detroit Red Wings and failures of the Pistons, the day-to-day grind of Detroit sports is one that never stops. Shane takes these daily sports stories and works them to make them interesting to sports diehards and non-sports fan viewers alike. During his 20-year career at WXYZ, he has earned 21 Emmy’s, which is enough to make any sports city proud. Though the road in Detroit sports is sometimes a bumpy one, Shane is here to stick it out and that is why he has been deemed "Best Sportscaster" in this years "Real Best of Detroit."

Best Sports Writer: Terry Foster
When he’s not on the air sparring with his co-host Mike Valenti, you can find Terry Foster in the familiar newsprint of the Detroit News’ sports section or on the DetNews website with his own blog. During his 17-year career in the city (11 of which have been spent at DetNews) Foster has covered nearly every sport of any importance, by Detroit standards, including auto racing, basketball, football and baseball. He’s even covered a couple Olympic games in his day. Foster has molded himself into a master of all media with his blog, radio show, news column and newly released book, 100 Things Tiger Fans Should Know and Do Before They Die. With all these aces in the hole, it’s not hard to see how Foster has managed to illuminate Detroit sports for all these years.

Best Local News Web Site: Model D
We don’t know about you, but each and every Monday night, we find ourselves glued to our computers and rifling through Model D’s latest weekly selection of news from Detroit and the surrounding suburbs. From job creation to artistic innovation, stunning, in-depth character profiles and regular speaker series, Model D not only gathers the weekly news that matters for easy digestion, but digs deep into stories that slip through the cracks. “Model D is always one step in front of the rest of their web competition,” says Real Detroit reader Michael S. “Their stories are extremely insightful, cutting edge and well writen.” There is no way that a person can head to the Model D web site and say they are unimpressed with the pleathora of information they will find.

Best Michigan-Based Magazine: Hour
Hour Detroit has made it a habit of presenting Detroit’s best in a classy, elegant style. From dining out to music and automobiles, Hour covers a wide variety of things, all of which are sure to please the palate of any reader who grazes over the glossy pages. Swanky gala’s and charity events are always featured in Hour’s pages, as are the most fashionable trends for any season. Pretty, poised and powerful, Hour Detroit stands alone as the city’s premier glossy magazine today, tomorrow and for many years to come.

Best Media Personality: Jay Towers
During his 11 years in Detroit, Jay Towers has managed to conquer both radio and television fans alike with his pearly whites and personable attitude. Whether it’s co-hosting 97.1 The Ticket with his buddy Bill McAllister or FOX 2 News Weekend, Towers delivers great bits of entertainment information that any Detroiter can appreciate. You can see him interviewing movie stars, broadcasting from many Detroit events or even out and about on a nice, sunny day. It’s clear that Towers is at the top of his game. Having survived two radio station debacles, he’s come out on the other side smelling like roses, proving that he’s radio's true superman and can be a viable asset to any media team.



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