Jim Trenton
| Jim Trenton | |
|---|---|
| Born |
James Trenton August 20, 1953 |
| Occupation | Radio broadcaster |
James "The Poorman" Trenton (born August 20, 1953) is an American radio broadcaster. He is best known as the host of Loveline on KROQ-FM in Los Angeles from 1983 to 1993.
He does not currently have a radio program.
Under "The Poorman" moniker, Trenton wrote and self-published two guidebooks about dining in the Los Angeles area on a budget. In May 1981, Trenton broadcast his first of several reviews of inexpensive restaurants on KROQ.
Trenton continued as the local "stoned" surf reporter who was the butt of jokes from the morning DJs on KROQ. From there, he became one of the station's most popular figures.
Trenton created Loveline in 1983 as a Sunday night dating and relationships segment on Los Angeles radio station KROQ, hosted by Trenton, DJ Swedish Egil (Egil Aalvik), and Scott Mason. As Trenton found himself unable to answer serious medical questions related to sexual issues, he added a segment called "Ask a Surgeon," and later "On Call with Dr. Drew," hosted by his friend Drew Pinsky, who at the time, was a fourth-year medical student at the University of Southern California.
On August 20, 1993, Trenton responded to a prank performed on him by fellow KROQ DJ Gene "Bean" Baxter. Trenton organized approximately 300 listeners to gather on the front lawn of Bean's house at midnight, to celebrate Trenton's birthday, and Bean complained to the station's management, which responded by terminating Trenton's employment. That month, he was replaced on Loveline by former MTV VJ Riki Rachtman.
The hugely popular Loveline continued to thrive without Trenton, earning many millions of dollars, and becoming syndicated. It also had a televised run on MTV for a number of years.
In 1994, Trenton sued KROQ, and demanded a piece of the revenues from Loveline. The court ruled against Trenton, citing that Loveline was created as part of Trenton's employment at KROQ, thereby making it their property. Trenton appealed the decision, but that was also unsuccessful.
On December 8, 1998, Trenton filed a $40 million copyright infringement lawsuit against MTV in the Los Angeles District Court, claiming the network stole his idea for their televised version of Loveline, which he had pitched to them several times in 1996. That suit was also dismissed.
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