Posted on 03/07/2005 6:48:28 AM PST by rface
Air America is adding radio stations to the stable as Clear Channel attempts to promote what they are calling "Progressive Radio." But the liberal radio network still can't get a host to crack the "not quite top ten list" of talk radio personalities. In fact, it's not even close. Conservative hosts are still dominating the talk radio scene and they continue to dominate the list for one reason--they have fun on the radio.
Each listen to Air America reveals bitter complaining, very little laughter and absolutely no fun. Angry radio just won't sell.
One thing, liberals don't have the material the conservative hosts are presented on a daily basis. It's hard to run out of subject matter when the Robert Byrd, Ted Kennedy and Howard Dean left fringe types are getting all the press for the Democrats. And when you factor in Eason Jordan and Dan Rather and pit them against Jeff Gannon (who?) it's not really a fair fight. Regardless, at some point the left wing radio hosts will want to learn that bitter just doesn't play well on air and they would be wise to copy these conservative hosts only with a liberal slant.
Here’s my second annual “not quite top ten.” (That’s why there’s only nine.) Last year's rank is in brackets.
9) Bill O'Reilly [6]: I really didn't believe that Bill O'Reilly on the radio would play well. Three full hours seemed like a bit much, but O'Reilly made the adjustments and pulls it off most of the time. It's far from the usual talk radio fare, but is still a decent listen.
8) Neal Boortz [7]: Neal Boortz has been doing talk radio forever. And when you give his show a listen it really shows. He's the perfect combination of entertainment and information and as his tagline says, [He's] not here to support your viewpoints. [He's] here to inform, challenge and entertain. He does that daily.
7) Don Imus [NR]: Don Imus leads every other MSNBC show in ratings with his morning radio/cable TV show. (Chris Mathews' numbers are close, even though he's in primetime) Imus gets tremendous "A" list guests and delivers nearly each day. He's a brilliant interviewer and his show would benefit from a later time slot so that the West coast could actually listen.
6) Sean Hannity [3]: Another good interviewer that presents "A" list guests nearly every day. Sean is a shameless self-promoter, but he still gets it to work and his show is wildly popular. Hannity's newest must listen is a Friday segment from a voice guy that features Bill Clinton, Bush 41 and 43, Michael Jackson, Phil Donahue and more. It's a classic segment and Hannity has a blast with it.
5) Tony Snow [2]: Tony Snow is on "injured reserve" as he recovers from cancer surgery. Our prayers are with him and his family. His show is a near flawless conservative presentation as he uses his experience and contacts to deliver a stellar program despite the fact that the show is only a year old.
4) Hugh Hewitt [NR]: Hugh springs into the "not quite top ten list" with an unashamed "new media" feel. His guests range from Mark Steyn to James Lileks to Ed Morrissey. (If you don't recognize these guys look them up, you are really missing out.) It makes for great radio, and proves that Hewitt gets the incredible power of the new media.
3) Michael Medved [4]: Medved continues to deliver the most intelligent radio in the business. He welcomes callers that disagree and even sets up a "disagreement day" for them to line up. His conspiracy theory segments are priceless. His audience ranges from critical thinkers to complete moonbats, but somehow he makes it entertaining.
2) Laura Ingraham [5]: Laura Ingraham's talk radio show has matured into a can't miss listen each day. She was always entertaining, but has now developed a routine that presents the absolute best TV sound bites for her to dissect. She gets extra credit for hammering away at Chris Mathews and Katie Couric with their own clips nearly every day. Lee Habeeb and her producer Matt Fox complete the package with their comments. This show is a blast.
1) Rush Limbaugh [1]: Limbaugh is still the best. His claim that he is the "crown jewel of the new media" is accurate. In fact, without Limbaugh, there likely wouldn't even be a new media. A cut and paste from last year's column still works. "His operation is now a media empire and his resources seem endless. He has unlimited sound bites available and is quick to offer his EIB analysis to each and every one. Until he retires or unless the keystone Palm Beach cops can round him up, it’s hard to see him ever leaving the top of the heap. It doesn’t hurt to have the best parody guy in the biz on your side either. Paul Shanklin never misses. Everyone in the business strives to be El Rushbo."
CK Rairden is the managing editor of the National Ledger.
Air America is adding radio stations to the stable as Clear Channel attempts to promote what they are calling "Progressive Radio." But the liberal radio network still can't get a host to crack the "not quite top ten list" of talk radio personalities.
IF they were as smart as they seem too think they are they'd look at Ron Rosenbaum. He's a local trial lawyer a tlk show host. Center left/libertarian, he often drives me up the wall, but he's very good at his job.
Ingraham is my favorite. It is great to see her at Number 2. Go Laura!!!
1. Rush Limbaugh: the original and still the best. His frequently devestating use of humor against the Left and his superb radio voice is the reason why he's so good.
2. Laura Ingraham: her use of sound effects to show the absurdity of the Left is one reason why I listen to her show on KTKZ (1380 AM) in Sacramento, even though the show is on 3-hour delay.
3. Hugh Hewitt: good speaking voice, pretty good sense of humor, and he is perhaps the best spokesperson for the rise of the blogosphere that has driven the MSM totally nuts in the last 3-4 years.
BUMP
Savage has to be in there. Better than Imus.
Ohhh ... the poem.
As Laura would say... painful. I can't ....
I love her show. We have it in Dallas from 8 to 11, which is live.
Ya think that warms the cockles of my heart?
No, I'm not CK Rairden.
Conservative talk radio as spead to the point where one has to choose.
In Dallas, we have EVERYBODY.
I do Laura and Rush.
Occasionally, I will catch some of Sean Hannity.
I don't care for Dennis Prager or Gallagher, but the rest are probably fine ... there's just not enough time.
Oh, if up early enough I enjoy Morning in America with Bill Bennett.
BTW, Laura is in a league all her own.
You go girl!
I thought you might enjoy it. By the way, I have not seen Andrea Mitchell on Imus lately. I have been sleeping later than usual so I could have missed her. I wanted to know if she was asked about crazy Al being a political hack.
*ping* ;)
TY
I missed the program this morning because of work.
She could be avoiding the I-Man just for that reason.
if you haven't been paged already
for my money, nobody beats Prager on ethics, morality and social issues.
I know he's good, but just not my cup of tea.
Fortunately, there are many people who like him and I'm sure he'll have a place.
1. Michael Medved
2. Hugh Hewitt
3. Laura Ingraham
4. Rush Limbaugh
I don't know where to put Sean. Something is wrong with his show for me. Just not like the good old days. I don't listen to him at all anymore. Don't listen to Rush much either but that is because he actually isn't on his own show much anymore. Not sure why that is ether.
But Medved, Hewitt and Ingraham are fantastic. Smart, on top of today's issues, entertaining and almost always correct. Medved must read 60 hours a week. Incredibly knowledgeable. The Right Wings resident philosopher and (like Horowitz) a Reformed Leftist. A True Believer.
Hewitt is all over the Blogs. Knows them like the back of his hand and has very good regular guests. Laura is sharp as a tack and and knows how to slide the knife between the ribs of the Dems Talking Points as well as anyone on talk radio. Right up there with Ann Coulter.
Savage is the best atleast he should be mention hes better then Imus and a lot of those guys
No I haven't LtheGOP. Thanks for the ping. Michael Medved ping for the rest of the gang!
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