I have long thought that there might be a market for a real late night science oriented show. One with hosts that have the background to critically challenge the claims of the guests. Art may be a nice guy, and a ham radio operator and all that, but once things get past sunspots, log periodic arrays, propagation characteristics on 20 meters, the happenings in downtown Manila, or how his cat “sees” things, he folds like a cheap suit. All very entertaining if you’re looking for the next diesel stop, but hardly truly informative. Bill Wattenberg is better, but even Bill gets bogged down explaining the basics for the millionth time. There is one word you will never hear on Coast to Coast and that is “preposterous”. Phillip Plait aka the Bad Astronomer won’t debate Hoagland because he (Hoagland) quickly degenerates into non rigorous methods of debate like raising his voice, interjecting false arguments, and evading the question amongst other techniques at hiding his ignorance, and I don’ blame Plait one bit. There is little to be gained by besting a fool.
Bell is a late night comic book on radio. That has been the appeal, the fact you really don’t need to think while trying to go to sleep.