Art Bell

[GravitySucks]

Going to listen to my first GabCast tonight!
I just bookmarked the page. I'm caught  up in this, I admit it.
You can't make this stuff up.
   Is there a guest scheduled with Heather tonight? I believe it is Nick Refdfern - ever since the Limey Bastard got to Texas all he has done is write books and make the talk show rounds - not sure of the topic or what his book de jour is.
How long will MITD last? Only time will tell
Art needs to report an incident with the stalker-again.
The stalker issue, real or contrived, is the vehicle that Art used to withdraw from the air.
The resolution of that is paramount to Art's return or not.Agreed
There is of course the time frame constraint that comes into play if the stalker issue is not resolved.
I'm unclear if it was 30 days or ? before some plug is pulled or reconfigured. Who knows. My understanding is that they had some type of 30 day notice clause in their contracts, Unless Keith or rt call in, anything else is speculation
I wait with Bateman-d breath

FIFY

Thanks for the list.  If anyone ele has recommendations, try and post them in the GabCast thread.  I shouldn't have asked for them here. 

[Lilith]

I seem to recall one of the fine hypocrites above me jumping up my ass for suggesting Heather didn't belong on the program. I'm not saying which one of you it is, but it's you. YEAH, YOU.

I hear you. I went through the same thing, but I seem to have gotten my hurtful hateful negativity a bit more under control now.  Not by much mind you, but a little bit.

[Royal_Tenenbaum]

I hear you. I went through the same thing, but I seem to have gotten my hurtful hateful negativity a bit more under control now.  Not by much mind you, but a little bit.

Brig, I love ya, but I will always be very negative.

[MAX]

22 degrees here. 

At a pool US Virgin island ST Thomas 89 here... ha ha

[GravitySucks]

At a pool US Virgin island ST Thomas 89 here... ha ha

How do you handle driving on the wrong side with the wheel on the left side?  That would be the death of me for sure.

[SredniVashtar]

That's precisely the conclusion I reached.

How many of us here would have the stones to grab the mic and face the searing hostility following Art's sudden departure, on air live  five nights a week, with the world's lowest forms of slime simultaneously trolling here and the open lines? Merely considering it makes my skin crawl.  I'm amazed that anyone in her position made it a month without ending up in a straight jacket.  If I were in that position, and the bosses I was torching my sanity for didn't thank their lucky stars to my courage and resilience throughout this wicked shit storm, I'd probably go Full Metal Jacket on every poor fucker who stumbled into my sights.

You can't defend Heather and Art at the same time. Art put her in this position, and has been trying to weasel out of his responsibilities ever since. The reason she has got so much flak is because Art threw her in at the deep end, knowing she couldn't swim, without even giving her a pair of water wings. She couldn't refuse, because that is presumably what pays the bills, so she has to suck it up. Meanwhile Art is away in Las Vegas, and occasionally lets us know that she is getting better all the time.

Don't come on here with all this hysterical guff about the world's worst slime (do ever read a newspaper?), and try to make yourself superior to everyone else, when you get off on all this drama more than anyone else. You either pick a side in this: Art or Heather, or you are a miserable hypocrite.

[Lilith]

Brig, I love ya, but I will always be very negative.

I think I will always be as well, no matter how hard I try. 

[Chronaut]

[typical derisive derogatory SV bullshit]

I realize that you need to sunbathe to warm your blood, so these human concepts must seem alien to you, but we primates are pack mammals so we've evolved strange concepts like "loyalty," "self-sacrifice" and "gratitude."  Our species holds these qualities in high regard and we believe that they should be encouraged, respected and rewarded...although I understand this must seem wholly illogical to the entirely self-involved reptilian brain. 

I'd rather run into a burning building than step in as a novice host on a large live radio show as the fan base is erupting with outrage, and then spend a month taking one shitty harassing phone call after another from scumbags driven solely by contempt (some callers have been thoughtful people of course, but open lines has been like a minefield since she took the wheel).  If I had an employee of her caliber, whether a male or a female, I'd be circling the wagons and providing all the support I could, not fishing around for a replacement.  Even throwing the idea "out there" is appalling.

[MAX]

How do you handle driving on the wrong side with the wheel on the left side?  That would be the death of me for sure.

Taxi just getting away from the cold awhile

[Lilith]

You can't defend Heather and Art at the same time. Art put her in this position, and has been trying to weasel out of his responsibilities ever since. The reason she has got so much flak is because Art threw her in at the deep end, knowing she couldn't swim, without even giving her a pair of water wings. She couldn't refuse, because that is presumably what pays the bills, so she has to suck it up. Meanwhile Art is away in Las Vegas, and occasionally lets us know that she is getting better all the time.

Don't come on here with all this hysterical guff about the world's worst slime (do ever read a newspaper?), and try to make yourself superior to everyone else, when you get off on all this drama more than anyone else. You either pick a side in this: Art or Heather, or you are a miserable hypocrite.

I'm old and forgetful, and I certainly don't like to debate with the verbally affluent ShredmeBashedher, but didn't I hear Heather say that it was her dream on more than one occasion?  Women can refuse, just like men can refuse. We all make our own decisions. If people burn their bridges behind them, or neglect to make contingency plans, well, you can hardly call that "thrown in at the deep end"  IMO.

[SredniVashtar]

I realize that you need to sunbathe to warm your blood, so these human concepts must seem alien to you, but we primates are pack mammals so we've evolved strange concepts like "loyalty," "self-sacrifice" and "gratitude."  Our species holds these qualities in high regard and we believe that they should be encouraged, respected and rewarded...although I understand this must seem wholly illogical to the entirely self-involved reptilian brain. 

I'd rather run into a burning building than step in as a novice host on a large live radio show as the fan base is erupting with outrage, and then spend a month taking one shitty harassing phone call after another from scumbags driven solely by contempt (some callers have been thoughtful people of course, but open lines has been like a minefield since she took the wheel).  If I had an employee of her caliber, whether a male or a female, I'd be circling the wagons and providing all the support I could, not fishing around for a replacement.  Even throwing the idea "out there" is appalling.

If she was any good, why would they be looking for a replacement? She is out of her depth, and people like you have a misguided sense of...well, I don't think you even know what loyalty means. I don't think you can apply that in this situation, You either listen or you don't, loyalty doesn't come into it. Likewise, if an employer doesn't think you are up to the job, they don't keep you on as a favour. As you can see, they were trying to help her, because she is not handling the pressure well. Why is that appalling?

[Chronaut]

It was presented to me as 'taking the pressure off Heather' and filling in. What would have become of it after that, who knows. This is the email I sent to Keith after I thought better of the whole thing and cooled off after a couple days of seething over her little Monday night stunt. One of many concerns was her dumping the whole show in my lap.

It would've been fun to hear you live on the show from time to time, but I understand why you turned down the offer.  What I didn't understand is why you were pissed about the Monday night "stunt" as you called it - for one thing, it was a job offer, and that's not a bad thing.  And for another - you've known better than most of us, I gather, that she's had a rough go of it since this all happened:  why take it as an affront, rather than the impulsive move of an embattled fellow show host?

And moreover - why drop the bomb that they wanted your help in the first place?  Didn't that strike you as a betrayal of a personal and professional confidence?  Why not at least talk to her about it first before letting the cat out of the bag here?

[Lilith]

If she was any good, why would they be looking for a replacement? She is out of her depth, and people like you have a misguided sense of...well, I don't think you even know what loyalty means. I don't think you can apply that in this situation, You either listen or you don't, loyalty doesn't come into it. Likewise, if an employer doesn't think you are up to the job, they don't keep you on as a favour. As you can see, they were trying to help her, because she is not handling the pressure well. Why is that appalling?

I DO think people have different definitions of what loyalty means.  I would want a loyal friend to tell me the truth, NOT blow sunshine up my chimney.

[Showroom Dummy]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-9n2ImgJQ0

[onan]

Neither one of them raped someone's mom. Neither one of them had their dogs shit on another's lawn.

People do stupid things for both sound and stupid reasons. Art took a pass, too early for my taste, but he left. He wasn't my care giver. Heather Jumped in, why? I don't have a clue. She wanted to do radio, I suppose lots of people do. I know when I first entered college, being a radio host was one of the career choices suggested. Not anywhere near my dream job, but others, maybe it is.

It's all shit and putting cream on top of it doesn't really improve the taste.

It's just shit.

[Lilith]

It would've been fun to hear you live on the show from time to time, but I understand why you turned down the offer.  What I didn't understand is why you were pissed about the Monday night "stunt" as you called it - for one thing, it was a job offer, and that's not a bad thing.  And for another - you've known better than most of us I gather that she's had a rough go of it since this all happened:  why take it as an affront, rather than the impulsive move of an embattled fellow show host?

And moreover - why drop the bomb that they wanted your help in the first place?  Didn't that strike you as a betrayal of a personal and professional confidence?  Why not at least talk to her about it first before letting the cat out of the bag here?

Again, I'm old and forgetful, but I think I recall bateman long long ago, saying that if he had been asked, he would have said no. Bateman has also been very transparent about the fact that he likes to pre-record his shows, so that he can edit them and make them up to his own personal standards.  If I was in a bind, like Heather and Keith sound like they might have been, why not just ask Bateman if they could throw on one of his previously recorded shows?  Let him pick his favorite.  Maybe that's a bad idea, but that's what I would have done.  Also, they could have asked MV, themudking, eddie-dean, jaz.........the list goes on.

[bateman]

It would've been fun to hear you live on the show from time to time, but I understand why you turned down the offer.  What I didn't understand is why you were pissed about the Monday night "stunt" as you called it - for one thing, it was a job offer, and that's not a bad thing.  And for another - you've know better than most of us I gather that she's had a rough go of it since this all happened:  why take it as an affront, rather than the impulsive move of an embattled fellow show host?

And moreover - why drop the bomb that they wanted your help in the first place?  Didn't that strike you as a betrayal of a personal and professional confidence?  Why not at least talk to her about it first before letting the cat out of the bag here?

She wasn't asking for help, she was yelling at me to take the show that night with 30 minutes notice after she had just gotten off the phone with Pete asking for his thoughts on her performance. We know how that went. She called in a rage and thought maybe I'd be dumb enough to say yes. This was just a few weeks after I stayed on the phone with her until 6am after one of her open lines fiascos and had offered nothing but help to her. I will no longer be taking her calls.

[chefist]

It was presented to me as 'taking the pressure off Heather' and filling in. What would have become of it after that, who knows. This is the email I sent to Keith after I thought better of the whole thing and cooled off after a couple days of seething over her little Monday night stunt. One of many concerns was her dumping the whole show in my lap.

You made the right choice...keep things simple and don't complicate your life...

[WOTR]

Completely agree. I hate that because 'I am a woman' crap. It does us no favors. The better person, regardless of their gender, should get the job.

Generally, I agree. But when it comes to radio where it is 100% voice, I would say that there are people who would automatically not like a womans voice late night.  You read how many people liked Wells based completely on his voice, and how many people would complain even of hosts like Schrader and others not having a deep enough voice, (and those here, during her first co-hosting position how many outright said that they did not want a woman's voice after midnight and it felt wrong.)

[SixWeekTenure(tm)]

And moreover - why drop the bomb that they wanted your help in the first place?  Didn't that strike you as a betrayal of a personal and professional confidence?  Why not at least talk to her about it first before letting the cat out of the bag here?

Keith's latest network update made it clear Heather wasn't their first choice as a host.

It’s too bad, because Howard would have been the one to sit in for Art, had he already been doing a LIVE show here on DMDN. We really liked Howard’s show, style and broadcast professionalism.

http://midnightinthedesert.com/time-for-another-update-from-keith/

[Kolchak]

She wasn't asking for help, she was yelling at me to take the show that night with 30 minutes notice after she had just gotten off the phone with Pete asking for his thoughts on her performance. We know how that went. She called in a rage and thought maybe I'd be dumb enough to say yes. This was just a few weeks after I stayed on the phone with her until 6am after one of her open lines fiascos and had offered nothing but help to her. I will no longer be taking her calls.

Will you be making an appearance on tonight's Gabcast?

[VtaGeezer]

That's precisely the conclusion I reached.

How many of us here would have the stones to grab the mic and face the searing hostility following Art's sudden departure, on air live  five nights a week, with the world's lowest forms of slime simultaneously trolling here and the open lines? Merely considering it makes my skin crawl.  I'm amazed that anyone in her position made it a month without ending up in a straight jacket.  If I were in that position, and the bosses I was torching my sanity for didn't thank their lucky stars to my courage and resilience throughout this wicked shit storm, I'd probably go Full Metal Jacket on every poor fucker who stumbled into my sights.

Preposterous.  MITD is a commercial show business endeavor, not a convent or support group.  And now your fantasizing about killing people...over a remarks about a webcaster. Snap out of it before you end up on the Six O'Clock News.

[ponyboysunset]

Generally, I agree. But when it comes to radio where it is 100% voice, I would say that there are people who would automatically not like a womans voice late night.  You read how many people liked Wells based completely on his voice, and how many people would complain even of hosts like Schrader and others not having a deep enough voice, (and those here, during her first co-hosting position how many outright said that they did not want a woman's voice after midnight and it felt wrong.)

You'll get no back lash from me sir. If that is what the masses want forcing a woman on them for whatever reason is not going to improve your results. You make the best decision for the business.

And brig please tell Star that your account isn't hacked and that these are your true views. LOL. She thinks otherwise.

[Dateline]

Here is my answer to this firestorm frenzy:

Art get off the A and appear back on MITD to sooth it down.  Give Heather back the producer job.  Then, take a week or two and select two other hosts that could carry MITD.  Art would air one week a month.  Heather would air one week a month.  Maybe Hoagland could do double duty and go one week a month.  Select someone for the other week that would work.  I think the variety would keep interest peaked and move the show forward and kick A.

[ponyboysunset]

Here is my answer to this firestorm frenzy:

Art get off the A and appear back on MITD to sooth it down.  Give Heather back the producer job.  Then, take a week or two and select two other hosts that could carry MITD.  Art would air one week a month.  Heather would air one week a month.  Maybe Hoagland could do double duty and go one week a month.  Select someone for the other week that would work.  I think the variety would keep interest peaked and move the show forward and kick A.

I have successfully been a manager and small-business owner, so I am not speaking from no experience.

One question does your business involve mice 

[Kolchak]

Here is my answer to this firestorm frenzy:

Art get off the A and appear back on MITD to sooth it down.  Give Heather back the producer job.  Then, take a week or two and select two other hosts that could carry MITD.  Art would air one week a month.  Heather would air one week a month.  Maybe Hoagland could do double duty and go one week a month.  Select someone for the other week that would work.  I think the variety would keep interest peaked and move the show forward and kick A.

Be gone, logic!

[Dateline]

Another thing is that there is so much talent among the posters on this board, and we are watching the drowning of Dark Matter Network.  We should form our on consulting company, Bellgab Consultants, and administer the public relations for the network. 

That would be so much more productive than the slinging going on last evening. 

[ponyboysunset]

Another thing is that there is so much talent among the posters on this board, and we are watching the drowning of Dark Matter Network.  We should form our on consulting company, Bellgab Consultants, and administer the public relations for the network. 

That would be so much more productive than the slinging going on last evening.

All kidding aside what makes you think they would listen?

[pate]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vk0Qytn6iQM

Moderators:  If this is off topic please move to "Plays/Minstrel Shows I am currently watching"

Next on my list of entertainments:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ncs3VO_TtjI

Thank yew, Carry On...

[transistorundermypillow]

The saddest part of this nightmare is that soon after Art built up the show (with considerable help from BellGab), added affiliates, sold subscriptions, then promptly handed the whole thing over to an unknown host, is that he immediately began to distance himself from all of it. He offloaded the material onto a separate website, starting focusing on trolls and group hate even though there were still a lot of fans willing to continue with MiTD, and then proceeded to burn every bridge - seemingly overnight. 'Self-sabotage' is an understatement.

Down in freakin' flames.... The whole thing.

MV, my suggestion for renaming this site (that will continue to be fine IMHO despite all of the death knells) is "RadioGab" which has a nostalgic sentiment and would cover the podcasting world as well.