Help Kickstart The Randi Rhodes Show

Radio Goddess Randi Rhodes retired a couple of years ago, breaking the heart of this daily listener. As much as I love The Stephanie Miller Show (even sans Chris Lavoie), Randi was always my girl. And now she's attempting a comeback. I'm presently on a bit of a financial diet while The Other Half and I pursue career changes, but then I thought. . .hey, I've got this here blog thingy! If nothing else, I can promote her. So, please, if you ever were a fan, check out this video, head on over to the site (bounce your boobies if you feel like it), and consider helping crowd fund this needed voice.

Randi Rhodes Air Force

Funny Lady Stephanie Miller Finally Releases Her Memoirs!

I know that sometimes the blog (when I'm actually posting) kind of resembles a Best of Stephanie Miller Show fan site. For the record, I was posting The Rude Pundit and several other areas of overlap before I heard them on Steph's show, but still. I'm a huge fan. So, I'm very happy that her long rumored memoirs are being released on Amazon! And she's got the first chapter available online for free, so, hop to it! Here you go!

[Excerpt]

Abandoned by Wolves, Raised by Republicans

In 1964, my father, Congressman William E. Miller of New York, was chosen as the Republican nominee for Vice President of the United States by Senator Barry Goldwater. Mostly, Dad's job was to start nearly every speech by saying, "What Barry meant to say was..." My dad and Barry were routed by President Lyndon B. Johnson and his running mate, Senator Hubert Humphrey, in a landslide of historic proportions. The Goldwater-Miller ticket carried just six states and lost by 16 million votes. I was three years old. . . .

Read more at: Huffington Post

Don't miss the uncensored Stephanie Miller's Happy Hour!

Liberal talk radio has always been squeezed out by conservative talk and other formats, which has made my listening day challenging. I listen via computer (because liberal Las Vegas has never had a dedicated liberal station), both for blogging ideas, and because I have liked many of the hosts (though they're dwindling). By far my favorite--especially since Randi Rhodes retired--is The Stephanie Miller Show. There isn't anything on the conservative side like SMS, mostly because it's funny.

Because the format is shrinking, Steph's getting creative in keeping her show going. Over the past few years, she's had the touring Sexy Liberal Comedy Tour, a hilarious, dirty, unexpurgated show, going further than she possibly could on radio. And now, she's bringing Stephanie Miller's Happy Hour, a podcast with all that raunchiness, plus drinking! It features Jim Ward, Chris LaVoie and Carlos Alazraqui, and is free for the first edition (a free taste to get us hooked).



And since we're on the topic, here's today's interview with The Rude Pundit, Lee Papa. It's a segment that is a highlight of my listening week, since I loved Rude even before I discovered Steph!

 

Liberal Talker Randi Rhodes Retires Today

Sigh. Yes, I know that Barbara Walters is retiring today. And as a pop culture icon, journalist and celebrity interviewer, Walters has really left a mark. If only the Saturday Night Live parodies of her were to be remembered, she would have really made it! But Barbara is nearing 85, so her retirement is no surprise.

Randi Rhodes, a liberal radio host with close to a 30-year career is also retiring today. And while she's not as well known to the American public, I'll miss her more. I understand that if you're a conservative, if you know of Rhodes at all, you probably have a negative impression of her. That's to be understood, because the only things you'd have heard would have been from right-wing sources. But Randi is not the liberal Rush Limbaugh. As brash and perhaps even abrasive as she might occasionally be, Randi never intentionally mislead her audience, or twisted a news story into  a pretzel in order to somehow blame the right for something.

In fact, routinely, Randi tells her audience that she knows the company she keeps on the radio dial, and that we shouldn't trust her contemporaries, or indeed she herself, and to do our homework. In fact, on her web site were homework links. Links to every important story she was discussing. I'm going to miss her a lot. As much as I love The Stephanie Miller Show, appreciate Thom Hartmann, and tolerate Ed Schultz, there's no one like Randi Rhodes. It's going to leave a hole in my day.

I've been listening since mid-2004, shortly after the 5-year experiment of Air America Radio started. Looking for The O'Franken Factor, less for its political content than because I was a fan of Al Franken, I found Randi Rhodes. And I've listened every work day since. On my computer of course, since Las Vegas has never had an outlet that airs liberal talk, though we can field more than one conservative station. And there's the rub. That's a big chunk of why Randi Rhodes is leaving while still at the top of her game: why put in 60-hour weeks of show prep, time on the air, and follow-up on the web site, when your outlets have dwindled to barely double-digits? As a hobbyist blogger, I get it. Why pump that much time and effort into something that has such a shrinking audience?

I've disagreed with Randi on several topics, so I'm no Rhodes ditto head. She has a dim view of bloggers, and other punditry. She has a dim view of people like Rachel Maddow and Franken, who used radio as a stepping-stone to career enrichment, rather than trying to grow liberal radio. But I'd be worried about myself if I found myself in 100% agreement with a radio host. And that's something I really dug about Randi: she makes you think, and occasionally scream back at the radio. She's engaging. And I doubt she'd ever have pulled a Rush, and made merchandise like bumperstickers saying, "Randi's Right!" or tell people they need no other source for news.

So, if you happen to be free and near a computer at 3:00 pm Eastern/Noon Pacific, tune into IHeart.com, and type Randi Rhodes in the search box. It's her last show. I'm recording it. And I'm really going to miss her. Randi, I hope you get some rest, enjoy your time off, and then return in some way, perhaps writing a--horrors--blog of your own, or at least calling into Steph's show on occasion, or even as a regular bit?

Liberal Talker Randi Rhodes Ending Show in May

Ouch. Well, at least this time, we Randi Rhodes fans got a little warning. Twice, we've endured sudden absences. As recently as a few months ago, The Randi Rhodes Show was slated for cancellation by Premiere Networks, and got a surprise year-long reprieve. So, this news is surprising, and not at all welcome.

The AM radio landscape is dying, led by a sponsor revolt at the whole format, mostly due to acerbic conservative host, Rush Limbaugh. Add to that the overall changes in media over the last couple of decades, and the concerted effort by radio network and station owners to squeeze liberal talk out of the market. Yes, yes, I'm aware that conservatives maintain that the people have spoken, and that they don't want liberal talk. If they'd ever gotten liberal talk on anything close to a level playing field, I might agree. But they haven't, and they didn't.

Randi, as well as The Stephanie Miller Show and others, were squeezed out of even Miller's own flagship station in Los Angeles in favor of Limbaugh, and the usual slate of conservative talkers. And is doing terribly. In fact, the whole genre is now doing terribly, and the right-wing side is only kept afloat by conservative think-tanks and like-minded groups. On the progressive side, not only are they fighting an uphill battle for programming, they don't seem to have the ear of monied liberal groups.

Randi has been hinting at a departure lately, and I figured this was coming. I thought it would be later this year, though. I know she has a good man in her life, and a home in Costa Rica, so maybe she's just sick of battling for a slot on the air. She seemed really bothered by several recent news stories, and has flat out said (paraphrasing) "it's time to go." As in leave this country.

In that, I wish her well. But I'll miss her New Yorker voice. Ironically, she herself admits she does not have a voice for radio! And she wasn't for all tastes. But since the days when I first found her, while looking for a new show called "The O'Franken Factor," way back in 2004, I've been a fan. And I'm hoping for some kind of revival at some point. Rest up, Randi, and come back in a new format!

[Excerpt]

Premiere: Randi Rhodes Show To End May 16th

A statement from PREMIERE said that RHODES "has decided to end her national radio program. We’ve had a successful partnership with RANDI for several years, and we wish her all the best for the future. PREMIERE NETWORKS will conclude syndication and production of RANDI RHODES on MAY 16th, 2014. . ."

Read more at: All Access

Liberal Talk KTLK-AM in Los Angeles to Become Conservative "The Patriot"

The drugster. Image from source, LA Times.

Well, crap. I've been listening to liberal talk radio at work since 2004, when searching for The O'Franken Factor, Al Franken's original show on the late "Air America Radio." Since those days, there have been several challenges to continue listening. We've never had liberal talk in Las Vegas (even though we voted for Barack Obama twice), so I've always had to seek out online stations to get my fix. iheartradio.com has been my solution, but I've still had to change stations here and there.

KTLK-AM out of Las Angeles has been my primary home. From that station, I can listen to The Stephanie Miller Show (highly rated in LA, by the way), and The Randi Rhodes Show. The rest of my listening day is really just filler, since I don't much care for Ed Schultz, and since The Thom Hartmann Program is on at the same time as Randi. But now that's going to change.

For some reason, KTLK is being changed to a conservative station, in liberal Los Angeles, California, which already has talk radio on KABC, KFI, KBRT (Christian talk), KOSS, and KRLA. KFI (which currently airs Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity) will change to all local talk. This leaves my programming up in the air again. Allegedly, this is to somehow boost KTLK's ratings, when in fact it will lose its entire current audience, and apparently absorb most of KFI's. Since both radio stations are owned by Clear Channel, I'm not sure I understand what they're doing, besides killing two stations and alienating their audiences.

Stephanie Miller is much more entertaining than a
drug-addled gas bag.

I'm sure I'll be able to find Stephanie Miller and her mooks somewhere on the dial, as long as this squeeze doesn't force them off the air altogether. But this move inspires quite a bit of frustration, irritation, and anger for me. For one thing, how does the myth of a "liberal media" persist when there is so little outlet for liberal political opinion? Where does Clear Channel get off using a circa-2002 branding of "Patriot?" Why on earth would they think killing their KFI brand is a good idea (I'm no fan of KFI, but it's a huge name in LA for conservatives)? Why yank Stephanie Miller, who is huge in the LA market?

I know that radio is a fickle business, and that KTLK has managed to stay in one format for quite a while, despite shake-ups with Air America, Nova-M, shuffling lineups caused by time-slot changes, and other issues. And I also know that every station, pretty much, has an audience that feels alienated by every format change. I think this move is for the sake of movement though. KFI is already owned by Clear Channel, and already runs the shows that are shifting to KTLK. How can bumping both sets of audiences, and then paying a whole new roster of local hosts be more cost effective and profitable?

I will be sniffing the air for whatever station picks up Stephanie Miller and Randi Rhodes. If the LA market doesn't offer a suitable alternative, I'll take my listening ears elsewhere. And you know what? If that station offers something better than LA has on from 9-noon and after 3, I might just stick around for that too. And I really hope it's not Clear Channel.

[Excerpt]

Clear Channel moving Rush Limbaugh from KFI to revamped KTLK

Rush Limbaugh's radio tirades will have a new home on Los Angeles airwaves next year. KFI-AM (640) is losing the conservative host's three-hour show, long a fixture on the station, to KTLK-AM (1150), which owner Clear Channel is hoping to pump up as an outlet exclusively dedicated to right-leaning chatter. . .

Read more at: Los Angeles Times
 

Randi Rhodes Staying on Premiere Radio Network

Fun fact: I made this graphic on one of Randi's
returns after an absence. She's since used it on
her own site. So, yay!

Whew! As a fan of liberal radio hostess, Randi Rhodes, I'm breathing a sigh of relief. Randi let slip that she was likely to be terminated from her Premiere Radio contract at the end of December, sending her audience into gallows mode. Those of us who have followed her since the beginning of Air America Radio have had to endure two prior--unexpected--losses of our radio goddess. We know that in the radio business, only so many things can be said aloud, and that due to contracts and whatnot, Randi couldn't tell us where she'd be, when or why. So, we were girding ourselves for a Randi-free future.

Alas, she's been re-signed, and will be around for at least another year. Sure, I'd have survived listening to Thom Hartman (who I do like), but given the choice, I'd pick Randi any time. Already, I have the three-hour lull between The Stephanie Miller Show and Randi's show (yes, Ed Schultz is on then, but I'm not exactly a fan). There's nothing I like to listen to after 3 pm. So, I was gonna be stuck with half of Steph's show, and then kind of a doldrums. What would I do, switch to Sean Hannity? Blecchhh.

Conservative radio fans would say that Randi's near-cancellation is just an indicator that liberal radio doesn't work. Interestingly--though they insist that the media is awash with liberal programming--they claim there is no market for liberal talk radio. Cognitive dissonance of course, has never been an issue for the tea party crowd. But the truth is, when Rush Limbaugh went on his misogynistic, hateful, and completely ignorant rants against Sandra Fluke, advertisers left radio in droves. Rush (and Sean and the odious Mark Levin and Michal Savage, et. al) manage to stay on because of conservative think tank foundation money. And phony colleges. And paranoid, end-of-the-world seeds, and gold, and whatnot. Those options are not available to liberals in this "liberal media."

Anyway, I'm jazzed that I'm not losing my Randi, at least not yet, not this time. And to anyone who would sneer and say that she's just the liberal version of Rush (or any of the also-rans, wannabes and never-weres), I'll tell you this. Randi has always said, "don't believe a word I say." She says, she knows the company she keeps on the radio dial, and that you shouldn't trust anything any of them say, without checking it out yourself from real newspapers.* I've kept her motto here at my blog as well. Where Rush will tell you to trust him as your single information source, Randi is constantly urging engagement, and even assigns homework on her show and website (which includes sources and further reading on her topics, from legitimate news sites). Plus, she's funny as hell.

Congratulations, Randi!

[Excerpt]

I have good news—I’m not going anywhere. I know what you’re thinking—Toronto Mayor Rob Ford is saying the same thing. But in his case it’s probably not true... and in his case that’s not good news. But Premiere is going to renew my contract for another year, so the good news is that I’m staying put. The bad news is that I’m in Florida, but that doesn’t need to affect you. I’m not going to go away, no matter what Republicans might want. In that sense, I’m like Obamacare—I’m just a lot easier to access. That’s because I have a much better website.

Read more: Randi Rhodes


*My one quibble with Randi Rhodes is her disdain for bloggers, which--obviously--is my hobby. I agree with her that no one should take a blogger's or a radio host's word for anything. Most aren't credentialed in any way (not Randi, not me, certainly not Rush Limbaugh or Sean Hannity), and are just giving their opinion. An informed opinion in her case, but still just opinion. So, I get it, but I don't think bloggers are useless, I think we point people to news, much as she does. Still love her though.

And by the way, I must point out that the only way for me to listen to any liberal talk, I have to actively seek it out online or on my phone, via IHeartRadio.com, DAR.fm or other online source. Again, for all the talk of "liberal media," we have never had a liberal radio station here in blue Clark County/Las Vegas, Nevada.

Hal Sparks Hosting The Stephanie Miller Show

Current TV isn't long for this world, but it is still airing, and so is Talking Liberally: The Stephanie Miller Show. When Current gets replaced by Al Jazeera US, Steph will still have her usual 3-hour radio show, fortunately. More importantly, at least this week, the multi-talented, funny and adorable Hal Sparks (Queer as Folk, Lab Rats) is guest hosting this week. I know I'm late in pointing this out, but if you are up between 6 and 9 Pacific (9 - Noon Eastern) on Thursday and Friday this week, check out Hal and guest co-hostess Jacki Schechner. If it doesn't air in your town, seek out KTLK-AM on iheart.com. It's a hoot and a half (as is the usual show).

In Case You Missed It: Stephanie Miller's Live F-Bomb

Image from The Inquisitr

I've said in the past that Randi Rhodes is an acquired taste. Stephanie Miller is also. Since the two of them are friends, I suppose that stands to reason. Where with Randi, you have to grow accustomed to her voice, with Steph, you have to grow accustomed to her style.

If you're hearing The Stephanie Miller Show (or Talking Liberally on CurrentTV) from across the room, you'll hear a series of boinks, burrrps, farts and screeeeaaaams. It will annoy you. But, once you grow accustomed, all of those sound effects and sound cues will cause you to make those noises yourself, and possibly cause a li'l accident that requires cleanup. Stephanie, her voice guy Jim Ward, her producer Chris Lavoie, and their regular guests like Hal Sparks and John Fugelsang are not just very funny, they're very smart. And immature. And inappropriate. And back to funny and smart.

It's a mixture I enjoy and aspire to exhibit. I hope that comes across on my blog, and isn't a grand illusion on my part. Anyway, my sister got me hooked on the show, and elements of it have overrun my blog on occasion. I think I've even scared off Chris from ever responding to a tweet or email because my Linked-In keeps pestering him to add me.

Anyway, the other day, the Supreme Court smacked down some silly indecency rules from the FCC. And Steph just plum lost her shit. And isn't it funny that I can say shit here on the internets as much as I want to (shit! shit! shit!), and nothing happens? And I can put this clip of Stephanie saying fuck (fuck! fuck! fuck!), and the FCC doesn't give a shit! And yet, it is enough to inspire fear (and/or hatred) in producer Chris?

Thom Hartmann: Why is FOX "News" Supporting the Christian "Taliban"?

I've abandoned Thom Hartmann since his radio show changed time slots, and went up against The Randi Rhodes Show. Sorry, Thom, I love you. But Randi is my radio goddess. And thanks a lot for leaving me with "Big Eddie."* Anyway, I thought I'd share a bit of Hartmann's stuff, since he really is one of the better radio hosts from the liberal side. And here, he's asking a damned good question.

*I'm really not intending to diss Ed Schultz. He's fine at what he does, and really does seem to care about the causes he covers. I just enjoyed Thom's style more.

Liberal Talk Radio Quake in San Francisco

Image from BradBlog

In 2008, my state of Nevada voted for Barack Obama. Were it up to the most populous county--Clark, home of Las Vegas--it would have been a landslide. But, Las Vegas has never had a liberal talk radio station. Conservative talk hosts and fans say that "the market has spoken," and that there is no market for liberal talk. But I don't believe that. In fact, it would be a difficult conclusion to draw, when a serious attempt at the format has rarely been tried on an equal playing field.

Air America Radio was an experimental liberal talk network, launched in 2004, ahead of George W. Bush's re-election. It was fronted by Al Franken (now a Senator), Rachel Maddow (now a successful MSNBC host), Janeane Garofalo (acclaimed actress), and Randi Rhodes (the queen of liberal talk). Unfortunately, the money guys and others behind the scenes weren't radio people. And most of the stations they secured were low-powered, with spotty reception. AAR hung on for several years, with much tribulation, and then went out of business. But by then, the stars were gone anyway.

Shows like The Stephanie Miller Show, The Ed Schultz Show, The Thom Hartmann Show and others survived (or were never a part of) AAR. They've managed to do well, but with a far smaller terrestrial radio reach. Most of the time, when the format has been tried, it has been on those low-wattage, smaller stations. When the format has succeeded in its market, often it is dumped anyway. In fact, a Madison, Wisconsin station dumped liberal talk, and ended up re-upping when the replacement format tanked. It then became one of the strongest liberal stations in the country. I have been listening to liberal radio since the birth of AAR on my computer. It's the only place you can get it here (well, and nowadays on your smart phones).

My image for my burned CD of the Sexy Liberal Tour.
Feel free to steal it, if you want it!

Right now, Stephanie Miller's Sexy Liberal Comedy Tour has been taking her show on the road, with John Fugelsang, Hal Sparks and local celebrity guests. The show is burning up the stages, outpacing many other established acts. Their online concert album is doing extremely well on iTunes and Amazon.com. They're selling out auditoriums in states that have no liberal media presence. But that didn't stop the owners of the only San Francisco liberal radio station from monkeying with the format. San Francisco. The most liberal city in America. See, there's no market for it. Bullcrap! "Liberal media," my gay, moonbat, lefty, liberal ass!

PS. Steph, bring Sexy Liberal to Las Vegas, please? And bring Chris LaVoie and Jim Ward with you!

[Excerpt]

Clear Channel Allows Progressives to Stay on Air in San Francisco, but Adds Glenn Beck to Line-Up 

You might call it splitting the baby. Sort of.
Progressive radio will be allowed to remain on our public AM airwaves in San Francisco, though with major schedule shake-ups, the removal of its popular progressive branding and several bizarre additions to the line-up, including far Rightwing extremists such as former Fox "News" phenom Glenn Beck in the place of what had been one of Green960's most popular morning shows. . .

Read more at: BradBlog

Notable Quotable: Randi Rhodes on Ed Schultz's Suspension

Fun fact: I actually 'shopped this picture myself, and
Randi now has it on her website, which is cool!

"Ed Schultz has been suspended for a week from MSNBC for calling Laura Ingraham a slut. Really, Ed? There are so many more accurate things you could call Laura Ingraham. Ed apologized for the comments. He said calling Laura Ingraham a slut was 'vile and inappropriate.' It would have been better (and probably more accurate) if he had just called Laura Ingraham 'vile and inappropriate' in the first place."

Source: Randi Rhodes

Radio Host Nicole Sandler Jailed After Asking Rep. West (R-FL) a Question

The first couple of days this week, The Randi Rhodes Show was hosted by Nicole Sandler of RadioOrNot.com, since Randi was out sick. Sandler and Rhodes both live in Florida, and are constituents of Rep. Allen West (R-Batshit). Since West was having a town hall meeting, Sandler decided that she'd be missing an opportunity if she didn't go and ask a question. She even told listeners that she'd be the lady with the long brown hair, and a blue dress that might show a little too much cleavage.

I expected to hear a report back from her on Wednesday, whether she was hosting or not. I didn't expect that she'd end up spending the night in jail for having the temerity to ask a question of the loony Congressman. Nice.

[Excerpt]

About That Town Hall Meeting, Mr. West…




 
It figures, my blog is the last place you’ll read about my arrest and subsequent incarceration after attending Allen West’s so-called Town Hall Meeting last night.



Since I spent last night in jail and, thanks to the sickeningly awful people at the Broward County Jail was subjected to three hours in solitary confinement in a 7×10 room, and then maced. Nice, huh? . . .

Read more at: RadioOrNot.com

The Politics of Fear

There are times when fear is a motivator. There are times when fear is justified, and where reacting to it can save your life. But fear is a very unpleasant state, and not all fears are rational, justified or necessary.

One of my favorite political commentators/pundits is Randi Rhodes, a liberal talker. She's got a loud New York accent, and is quick to either laughter or irritability. If you are a conservative, you probably react to her name--if you know of her at all--with derision and scorn. But you've probably never listened to her, outside of an out-of-context clip on the internet. Randi is a somewhat out sized personality, and is not for every taste (even if you're a liberal/progressive). But she is somewhat unique in this area: she tells you not to trust her. Seriously. She says that she knows the company she keeps on AM talk radio, and that you should trust none of it. Question everything, and do your homework.

That's quite a bit different from someone like Rush Limbaugh, who tells you that you need listen to no one else, he'll do the work for you. Right? And one of the big points Randi has been making of late is that her political opposition on radio and tv are exploiting fear. This is not new of course, but it is perhaps more prevalent right now. She said--and I agree--that if your favorite politician, tv personality or radio host spends the bulk of their time trying to make you afraid of something. . .there's probably something wrong.

Think about it for a second. Picture Sean Hannity, Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck, Mark Levin, Bill O'Reilly, Michele Bachmann. About what percentage of the time to they spend trying to scare you about something?  Think about what you're watching and listening to, and analyze it with a little objectivity, please. That's all I'm asking. Don't buy everything you hear lock, stock and barrel (to use a favorite right-wing gun metaphor). Consider that just maybe there is an agenda behind all the fear.

Here's an example of blatant fear mongering from the most recent election cycle. Do you see through it?

Talk Radio Right vs. Left



Image from source, Politically Illustrated


While I confess that I'm excerpting and linking to the article below mostly to justify running the accompanying cartoon, I do have thoughts about why talk radio is more than 90% conservative. And my thoughts for the most part do not align with the writer (who has used a headline that doesn't have much to do with his article).

I've been a talk radio listener for quite a while, and a left-wing talk radio listener since 2004, when Air America Radio debuted. I had to listen on my computer at work, since there is no liberal station in Las Vegas. There are at least two conservative stations though, and there have been (and still may be) more of them I haven't sampled. At least two of them were--at least until recently--actually run on both AM and FM, making four right there.  This is not due to the political makeup of the Las Vegas valley or of Clark County, both of which are the most liberal areas of the state. It's not due to the availability of hosts, who manage to fill the schedule in some other cities. What is it due to?

I honestly don't know, but it it isn't entertainment value, as the writer below contends. The Stephanie Miller Show is uproariously funny most days, and quite entertaining. The Randi Rhodes Show would be entertaining to most liberals (at least those who don't have an aversion to strong New York accents). Thom Hartmann can be a bit cerebral, but his debates with bona fide conservatives are fascinating. But if you're like most people, you don't know who any of those people are. Air America went out of business a couple years ago, and the remaining active liberal hosts are thus at the mercy of station programmers. Station programmers who want talk radio go for conservative hosts by and large. Sometimes putting Rush Limbaugh or Sean Hannity on more than one station at the same time.

If this were solely a ratings game, I'd get it. But it's not. In those areas where left-wing talk has managed to get a foothold, many times they've been replaced by formats that perform worse.  Stephanie Miller beats Laura Ingraham when put head-to-head, and yet Ingraham is on many more (and higher power) stations. The writer below says that Limbaugh and Glenn Beck are endlessly entertaining. Okay, but how does he explain Michael Weiner Savage (certifiable) or Mark Levine (worst voice in radio)? The B-list, C-list, D-list and Z-list right-wing talkers far outnumber the A-list left-wing roster. They can't all be doing well in the ratings. There are just far too many of them, and they're all operating from virtually the same talking points!

I do agree with the writer though, that the right-wing talk radio listener prefers to have his own beliefs echoed, likes to get stirred up with the latest faux outrage, and is largely unencumbered by concern about fact-based radio hosts.

[Excerpt]

A Moment of Silence: Should the Fairness Doctrine Be Revived to Prevent Polarization in Politics?



The question was particularly intriguing considering its source: the host of a progressive radio show in Central California.


In terms of audience size, the canyon between right and left on radio’s political spectrum is huge. Top conservatives – Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Glenn Beck and Michael Savage – reach a combined audience of roughly 50 million listeners a week. The most successful liberal talk hosts, such as Ed Schultz and Randi Rhodes, each pull about 3 million weekly. . .

Read more at: Politically Illustrated

Dr. Laura Rises from the Dead

Image from source,
Joe.My.God.

Gahhh. I knew it was too good to be true that the rictus-grinned Dr. Laura Schlessinger would simply retire and go away. After her n-word diatribe months ago, she pulled the plug on her own show, because her free speech rights were being taken away. Which was weird, because they weren't, she never shuts up, and she wasn't fired, she quit. Anyway, though we can be glad that she's on satellite, and only available to paying customers, this means she'll still be a celebrity of sorts, and will still pop up and frighten us on the teevee from time to time.

[Excerpt]

Dr. Laura Signs With SiriusXM



. . .Schlessinger says her new show will be about the "morals, values, principles and ethics" that she has long stood for. A campaign calling on advertisers to boycott her new show has already been launched. . .
 
Read more at: Joe.My.God.

Michelle Malkin vs. Stephanie Miller & Aisha Tyler

Image from ShortsShortsShorts

I'm a big fan of The Stephanie Miller Show radio program, even though I only get to hear about half of it at work.  Like lots of talk radio shows, if you aren't the one in the office actively listening, you'll probably be annoyed by it.  But unlike the voices of Michael Weiner Savage or Mark Levin (horrible, unlistenable) or Rush Limbaugh (windbag), you most likely won't be annoyed by the voices. The show uses lots of sound effects, snippets from movies and TV, and other pop-culture soundbites. They also employ a gifted impressionist, Jim Ward, to imitate--usually to hilarious effect--both celebutards and politicians.  So with all of these whistles and sounds, if you aren't actually listening, you could wonder, "what the hell IS that?"

But if you are listening, the show is a hell of a lot of fun.  I warmed up to it in a single hour, years ago.  As Stephanie says, "she grows on you."  It is political, but politics is just one of its many ingredients.  Lately, on most days of the week, Miller has adopted a celebrity guest, including "Mondays with McClurg" (character actress Edie McClurg), "Humpdays with Hal" (the adorable Hal Sparks), "Fridays with Fugelsang" (wry comedian John Fugelsang) and most recently, "Tuesdays with Tyler."

Image from SFWeekly

That would be Aisha Tyler, the lovely and talented actress and comedian.  She's a hoot, though I did notice a high amount of near-blue material when she was on.  Stephanie often describes her show as, "Senator. Fart joke. Senator. Fart joke" (and that's how I likes it!). With Aisha, it was just a little more so.  It was only when they started cracking jokes about Michelle Malkin, Rush Limbaugh and other conservative creatures that I knew there'd be blowback.

There wasn't a thing that Stephanie, Aisha, Jim or Chris LaVoie (the show's producer) said that was possible to take as any kind of serious threat.  When Aisha said that if she ran into Malkin, she'd "kick her in the nuts," it's simply physically impossible to take seriously.  Unless you are a conservative and have no sense of humor. Guess which camp Malkin falls into.  The best part though?  On Thursday morning's show, they turned the excerpted piece below into even more comedy.  And Ms. Malkin, they're not laughing with you.

[Excerpt]

The vulgarity of liberal female “comedians”



Left-wing female comedians are proving that they can be as crude and stupid as their male counterparts. Who knew that striving for gender equality meant pursuing the dream that one day, someday, liberal women would be able to mock their conservative counterparts’ sexuality with the unfettered vulgarity of Andrew Dice Clay? . . .

Read more (if you can take it) at: MichelleMalkin.com

Rachel Maddow's Political Enthusiasm Creates Stir

Image from source, TV Squad

I've said several times here that I occasionally listen to the conservative talk radio station on my short drive home from work. We have no liberal station here in Las Vegas, and I like to keep tabs on what the right-wing talkers are up to anyway. It can get difficult to even attempt, because on  my ride home Mark Levin is the voice I have to hear (unless I want to completely scramble my brain, and listen to Michael Weiner Savage).  Levin is nearly as bombastic, much more whiny, but--I suspect--more sane, at least when the microphone is off.

Liberal talker Randi Rhodes (who I can only listen to on my computer) does a great Levin impression: "Statist! Marxist! America hater! THERE, I SAID IT!" And she's dead on the money. Anyway, today Levin played a clip from MSNBC's primary election coverage, and it sort of mystified me. It was a clip of Rachel Maddow expressing enthusiasm about the political news of the day. Levin was implying something about the clip below, but what it was I can't be sure. He called her a misogynist, which made zero sense to me.  I'd forgotten about it, until I saw that it was an item on TV Squad, one AOL's entertainment pages. They're not usually political, so I figure this event must've been making a bigger dent than I supposed.

Is it because she used the word "vibrating?" Something sexual? Something to do with the fact that she's a lesbian? I still can't be sure. Because in the context of Rachel's overall personality, excitement about election night is par for the course. She's not excited by a particular candidate, or by a particular party, she's just excited about democracy and politics in action.  I'm still baffled by the fuss.

[Excerpt]

Rachel Maddow's Chris Matthews Moment: "I Am Vibrating Off My Seat" With Excitement



. . .Describing her enthusiasm, she told Keith she was having "election night sweats," and that she was "vibrating off my seat at a height of about six inches." Olbermann visibly struggled not to burst out laughing, and instead warned Rachel that she was "getting into Matthews territory here," a reference to his co-host's infamous "I feel a thrill running up my leg comment" after listening to a Barack Obama speech. Always self-deprecating, Rachel laughed it off and told Keith she appreciated the warning. . .

Read more at: TV Squad

The United States Seven Deadly Sins of America

After the liberal talk radio network Air America Radio expired, my usual routine of listening to The Ron Reagan Show at the end of the day was over. So, while seeking out something else to provide background noise, I stumbled upon The Karel Show, on Green960 out of San Francisco (I have to do this on the computer, as there are only conservative talk radio stations in Las Vegas). I recognized Karel by his picture, but I'd no real idea who he was.

It turns out he's a long-time California radio personality, and a writer, and has something of a tumultuous employment history. His program is at turns entertaining, off-putting, funny, irritating. . .I'm really not sure what to make of it yet. The production values seem kind of low, like they're still working the kinks out, and Karel himself--an out gay man who makes no bones about it--is rather mercurial. But when he has a point, he really has a point.

[Excerpt]

A Sinful Nation

. . .on a recent Saturday afternoon [I] found the Brad Pitt/Morgan Freeman movie Se7en on IFC. I've seen the film a few times, but it's so well acted and directed that out of the 546 channels it seemed the best option.

Well, that was a bad idea. Because as I watched the film and watched Kevin Spacey's killer kill his way through these medieval constructs I realized that these seven "deadly" sins are not only no longer "sins," but have replaced the very fabric of our nation. America is "Guilty!" as charged of almost every one. . .

Read on at: Huffington Post

Time Magazine Covers the Death of Air America Radio

Image from source, Time

This is a pretty good post-mortem of Air America Radio, which has gone out of business. My fondness for the network is mostly nostalgic, as the only program I still listen to from that source is The Ron Reagan Show. I hope Ron secures a new syndicate for his program, as it is most enjoyable (particularly the first 20 minutes).

[Excerpt]

RIP: Air America Goes Off the Air

Air America Radio was born at noon, eastern time, on Mar. 31, 2004, and on that first show the host, Al Franken, proclaimed his first mission: to defeat George W. Bush in that year's presidential election. It died a year and a day after Barack Obama's Inauguration, and two days after Obama's Democrats all but officially became a minority party in the U.S. Senate. The liberal radio network — which provided Franken, the ex-Saturday Night Live comedian, with a conduit to his own Senate seat, and gave the first significant exposure to MSNBC darling Rachel Maddow — expired nine weeks short of its sixth birthday, after waging a heroic battle against advertiser indifference and listener apathy.

Read more at: TIME