Talk Show Host Ratings - Levin, Rush, Hannity, Ingraham, Crowley, Grant, Savage, O'Reilly (VANITY)

5/5/04 | Self

[NYC Republican]

I can only comment on the talk show hosts that are on WABC or WWOR radio in the NY Metro region, all can be heard live here http://www.wabcradio.com/ (except for Rush). Feel free to add your comments.

Top Tier:

Rush Limbaugh - Strengths -incredible insight, extremely politically savvy, good listener - patient, educational... solid conservative credential on all fronts, can be funny at times, excellent at satire. Weaknesses - can be full of himself at times. Even though many of his comments (talent on loan from God, maja-Rushdie, the all-knowing...) are said tongue-in-cheek, it gets a little old... his self-promotions can be a bit tough to digest, especially when his book was released.

Rush is the cream of the crop.

Mark Levin - Strengths -quickly becoming my favorite. NO self-promotion, shoots from the lip, says exactly what's on his mind... is EXTREMELY bright (constitutional lawyer), NOTHING politically correct about this guy - unlike Hannity, who tends to play softball with some of his guests, Levin only serves up hardballs. He actually seeks out liberal callers to destroy their logic... GREAT sense of humor... He's a fellow FReeper!!! Weaknesses: can definitely be VERY abrasive at times.. short temper.

If you haven't heard Mark Levin, treat yourself. Especially after a bad political day... He's a breath of fresh air (ABC from 6-7 EST).

Very Good

Laura Ingraham - Ok - NO apologies for having a bigger pic of Laura. She's hot! Strenghts - Very bright, sarcastic (in a good way), intuitive, enjoyable program... humorous, insightful, love the way she blows away the libs and their platforms, stoic delivery is fantastic IMO. Weaknesses - shameless promotion of her book... awful at mimicing others (her British accent during Travelocity ads is atrocious).

Sean Hannity Strenths- Huge exposure -can, and does, make a big dent in getting the message out... the hardest-working conservative around... right on target on all major conservative issues... will confront most libs head-on, though on occasion will play softball... DESPISES the Klintons more than just about anyone I know, does not hold back in expressing his outrage at libs... isn't afraid to challenge the J. Jacksons of the world... excellent at tearing apart libs like Kennedy, Dean, Huffington, etc... excellent at staying on message, and breaking it down to a level that the average non-political soccer-mom can understand... gets the TRUTH out, and exposes the LIB lies!... Weaknesses - shameless self-promotion of his book - thankfully that's ended... not the most informed (yesterday he was calling Kosovo a city)... throws softballs at people like Specter, other libs... Needs to improve his interview skills - needs to become a better listener.

Monica Crowley Strengths- very knowledgeable about international events... forceful, energetic conservative - no holds barred, shoot from both barrels, take-no-prisoners assault on libs... STRONG supporter of the War on Terror, enjoyable program, frequent contributer to the Batchelor (and formerly Alexander) show weaknessTends to spend an inordinate amount of time on the same topics. While Israel is important, the amount of time she spends talking about them is overkill IMO... not a very good interviewer -loses patience quickly.

Good:

Bob Grant StrenthsHas always had solid conservative credentials... not afraid to stand up to, or go head-to-head, with anyone... Excellent at discussing local issues... huge supporter of the WOT. weaknessesSadly, his best days are behind him - he's made a few strategic verbal blunders that have turned off his listeners, and had him PANNED by the media... can be VERY abrasive on the phone... Voice can be very grating, sounds like he's 85 (he's not that far off).

Below Average:

Bill O'Reilly strentgthswhen taking on the conservative side of an issue, can be very forceful, attacks the libs without mercy... HATES the Klintons and Franken as much as anyone... Very good speaking voice, speaks very clearly and fairly eloquently, is fairly patient with callers weaknessesA blowhard... tries so hard to shake the "conservative" label, that he bends over backwards to support liberal issues where ever he can... shameless self-promoter- of his book, of his various shows, etc

Poor:

Michael Savage Strengths - very conservative (though libertarian on other issues) on most issues - excellent views on immigration, despises the libs, Hollywierd... can be very funny and entertaining... very bright guy overall weaknessesThe most shameless self-promoter I've EVER heard. He brings up his book constantly, MONTHLY after its release, he offers tickets to his shows if callers answer questions correctly, he says that he, and HE ALONE, takes credit for having Bush elected, because of his "Passionate Conservative comment"... Is overly shrill - after President Bush proposed (note proposed, it's DOA), Savage called for Bush to be impeached... VERY nasty on the phone, interpersonal skills are awful... Had a caller yesterday say that he's sick of the Right-Wing Propoganda/Bias on talk radio, the same way he used to be sick of liberal bias. Savage agreed!!! He's part of it! He could have said that talk radio doesn't claim to be fair and balanced!... biggest ego I've EVER heard on the radio....

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I'm sure I'll be flogged for some of my opinions, but they're just that, my opinions... Please enlighten us on any other talk show hosts that we should listen to (Melved, etc).

[bat1816]

I like Michael Medved and also Dennis Praeger. IMO, they are the two most intelligent hosts. Medved can go overboard talking about Israel and Praeger isn't on in a lot of markets, but both are quite good hosts.

[Dr Snide]

Laura's one problem is taking calls. I don't think she's all that comfortable yet with the callers although she typically gets such boring calls I can see why. Maybe they need to work on screening better? I get the sense that the calls are only to kill time. Other than that though I enjoy her show over all the others although Medved is good, particularly on conspiracy day Laura is just a bit more entertaining and looks like my wife so I have a soft spot for her.

[all_mighty_dollar]

Yes, the G-Man. I miss him also, used to listen to him on replay on San Fran bay area KSFO @ 8-10 PM. Was interesting, relaxing and informative. Still miss him a lot, he was dropped at least 7 years ago or so.

Not of the web either from what I caould find... have been looking.

[WhiteGuy]

I outgrew Stern in highschool.

Hey, good for you. Listen to whatever you want, ok?

[MNlurker]

He left for greener pastures...He wanted a better slot than 5-8 slot and I think his numbers should have meant that. Instead if I recall correctly the statement was that KSTP didn't want to have to tape delay Rush (I could be wrong on this). He left, the new morning show sucks, and Rush is tape delayed.

To make it even more useless now they run a tape delayed Hannity for 2 hours.

If it wasn't for Rush I have to think that 1500 would be in the toilet.

[Bluntpoint]

http://www.wtntam570.com/main.html

[NYC Republican]

I've got to check out Melved based on the various feedback on this thread. Thanks!

[NYC Republican]

Mark Levin just called the libs, and especially the war criminal (as he calls him), John Kerry, UNPATRIOTIC!!! Go Mark!!!

[earlyamerican]

I LOVE MALZBERG, BUT I CAN'T STAY UP FOR IT. HE HAS A GREAT SUNDAY MORNING SHOW AT 9:00 A.M. I STILL LOVE BOB GRANT THOUGH, HE HAS SOME OF THE BEST CALLERS. I LOOK FORWARD TO JOHN FROM STATEN ISLAND AND JIMMY FROM BROOKLYN. THEY ARE OUTSTANDING.

[PGalt]

Good post. I like them all. They are all very thought provoking. I enjoy Rush the most.

[earlyamerican]

I never tire of Bob, and you are so right about the callers. I listen just to hear Jimmy from Brooklyn, John from Staten Island. Has anyone heard Eugene from Albany? He is the rabid anti-semite. Bob never agrees with him but let's him have his ridiculous say.

[NYC Republican]

I really miss hearing Malzberg, like yourself, it's too late for me.

[NYC Republican]

Others have tried, but no one has knocked Rush off his throne. He's still the king.

[NYC Republican]

A couple more shows like today's first half hour, and Sean will drop a few notches... Horrible...

[NYC Republican]

If I could lower Savage's ratings, I would, but he's already scraping the botto, IMO.

[NYC Republican]

I would also raise Laura to be even with, or just above Rush.

[NYC Republican]

Savage was awful last year, he's only become progressively worse during the past year

[grassyno]

Here’s an oddball radio talk show host, very local but VERY funny (broadcasts from “high atop the Hoover Institution”). Kinda a blend between the humor of Stephen Colbert (only not an undercover liberal) and the short fuse of Mark Levine. He’s Papa Prell and many of his funnier bits are posted at his amateur looking website, www.PapaPrell.com. He’s been on and off radio since the late 1980s. He keeps getting removed because his backyard is San Francisco and they go ballistic! Currently, he is off the air again. (For how long, who knows?) Unfortunately, the website doesn’t have any of his regular call-in shows posted (just the special productions) but the call-ins are his regular format.

[Interious]

Dennis Prager, Mark Levin, Bill Bennett. Genuinely educated, supremely effective. Mature radio with Levin exceptions previously noted.