The Boston media is buzzing over the announcement by radio station WBCN that WZLX’s morning DJ, Charles Laquidara is planning to do a live broadcast of the birth of Big Mattress newslady Debbie Emblem’s first child.

Although WBCN did not make the announcement on the air, sources say that the news leaked out after a private investigator, hired by WBCN to spy on Big Mattress personnel, spilled the beans to a friend over a few beers. After meeting Mr. Laquidara by pretending to be a parking garage employee, the spy befriended the DJ through frequent although brief encounters. He then also managed to successfully infiltrate WZLX , getting into the radio station offices and meeting the various crew members.

A WBCN employee who requested anonymity said “We expected that they would try to do something to revive the show’s popularity. Since they got booted from WBCN, those Mattress people have been very resentful, especially since the Howard Stearns show really stole their audience, and beats them in the ratings. But I’m really surprised Charles would stoop to these sensationalist tactics. It would be a day to day thing when the baby’s due, and the speculation would generate a tremendous interest, that would certainly increase their show’s ratings.”

Our source reveals that the tactics use by the private investigator were hardly ethical, ranging from renting a child to pose as his son, to spiking the Mexican salsa which he brought to the station with marijuana extract, to gain the crew’s acceptance and confidence. Wearing a wiretap, he got a recorded confirmation from Mr. Laquidara that “Debbie’s not taking any time off.”

WBCN management refuses comment, claiming to have no knowledge of any illegal activities done on behalf of the station. Efforts to reach the Big Mattress have so far gone unanswered. WZLX also continues to refuse comment, leaving everybody to wonder...

When is the baby due? © Tony Biscaia, January 1997