Amid Surging Demand, Talk’s Amateur Hour Continues
by Brian Maloney, January 8th, 2009 at 04:14pm
Earlier today, Rush Limbaugh was talking about his frustration in watching radio programmers hire rank amateurs as talk show hosts over the years. Between doctors, lawyers, newspaper columnists and even callers, the broadcast industry has tried them all and failed miserably.
So in this period of surging demand for conservative, issues-oriented talk radio, has our industry learned its lesson? Hell, no!
Instead of hiring experienced broadcasters with a track record of passion, stamina, insight, breadth, perspective, maturity, patience, listening skills and a real nose for compelling news stories, radio executives are still trying to make that BIG DISCOVERY, someone plucked out of obscurity that will be the next radio STAR.
All of those other guys and gals, of course, are mere “retreads”. Their experience counts for nothing.
That brings us to a great example of that outdated mentality: the new “lifestyle” show that has just been added to WTKK’s Saturday morning lineup. Unless the show is brokered (paid programming) and it may well be, it’s hard to fathom what the station was thinking in bringing this aboard.
Until now, it has been heard on a handful of tiny stations, including WXBR in Brocky-town. All are known primarily for running infomericals and per-inquiry advertising.
WTKK should be using its weekend hours to build a bench of future weekday issues-oriented (not lifestyle fluff) talent, especially since it clearly prefers live and local programming over syndication. Because only about 50% of the station’s Monday - Friday lineup could be considered remotely successful, there’s not much room for error.
November’s election results have already led to an unprecedented boom in conservative talk radio. Right now, the sky’s the limit. If station management is fighting this as a result of their own political beliefs, it’s time to step aside and bring in others who have a vision for future ratings and revenue.
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8 Comments Add your own
1. NHradiofan | January 8th, 2009 at 4:35 pm
Mega-dittoes, Brian.
I think local radio should look for its next stable of talk all-stars in the ranks of “community organizers” - they seem to make good Presidential candidates as well. NOT!
God, this industry sucks.
2. WRKO Staffer | January 8th, 2009 at 5:42 pm
Yup….look at Joe from “Joe and Huggy”. One minute he is a foul mouthed video poster on youtube, the next minute he has his own show (albiet a very smallish show). Granted, he did have a semi-internet buzz about him before he was hired but most of that came because he was cross-eyed, fat and used f*&k and s*&t ever other word. Regarding some others, look at McPhee…her show is actually getting worse. Eagan is another example. Although, she seems to be fading with each year.
3. ChrisNH | January 8th, 2009 at 5:55 pm
It is very nice and refreshing to be on the offense for the next four years. I hope we all collectively make the most of our ammunition. Libs are reduced to blubbering and stammering as they try to explain their own impotence. Oh-Bama says we’re going to ’spend our way’ out of this recession by having millions of people building bridges to nowhere and millions more creating potholes so another three-person crew (one to do the work; two to watch) can fill them in. Meanwhile, I will save my money and refuse discretionary spending in a self-imposed effort to make Oh-Bama’s first year (and his remaining three!) a disaster.
4. NHradiofan | January 8th, 2009 at 6:35 pm
ChrisNH - I like the way you think! Can I subscribe to your newslettter?
5. Mega Therion | January 8th, 2009 at 9:48 pm
Good looking broad…but I’m sure her show is awful. “Life Coach”..typical new age scam.
6. Larry | January 9th, 2009 at 8:35 am
TKK appears to be have moved away from issues programming in favor of the Jim and Margie model. I have even switched off Michael Graham recently as he rants on some trivial lifestyle issue. Menino and his son, the Washington plans for the economy and the Mass government mess get very little discussion on thes station. My New Years’s resolution is to never listen to any program with the Andelman’s non-sense on it. They appear to be the rising stars at TKK… These moves are clearly a sign of the dumbing down of America and TKK is ready to exploit it.
7. Celtic Frost | January 9th, 2009 at 8:39 am
Larry, are you the KISS 108 guy the Andelmans fired from the Phantom Gourmet when their Daddy bought it for them? You sound bitter about them. Ah, well.
8. susan mcbride | January 12th, 2009 at 6:42 pm
I like Huggy………..he actually knows how to talk……………..why, why, why………..is that fat bastard on the radio.
he is so ignorant. he cant put a noun or verb together……..he is so ignorant………get rid of joe……………….huggy, from philly is a real guy………………..joe………….is a fat pig.
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