Broadcasters vs. Jockocracy

[Jackpine Savage]

Was listening to Rush today ( No, not that Rush. THE Rush. Love him, hate him, or indifferent, he is an icon.) and he had something interesting to say about broadcasting. It immediately brought to mind Coast and the succession that took place after Art's departure.

Now Art and Rush both have something in common. Neither are classically educated, neither are particularly intelligent in a conventional sense, but both can make the absolutely most mundane topic interesting to listen to. They are both BROADCASTERS. The idea that talk radio is something that can be done by anyone who likes the sound of their own voice is the greatest fallacy in radio.

So love him or hate him or indifferent, enjoy Rush while he's on the radio. He's one of the few true artists left in his medium. Art Bell certainly was, and they both have their personal demons. But perhaps that's what it takes...

The transcript:

RUSH:  I've gotta go here, but there's one other element, going back to your original premise here of why this program is a success, and I'm gonna probably tick off a lot of people when I say this.  But I started in this business when I was 15.  I am a radio guy.  Too often this business has plucked people off the street and put 'em on the radio, thinking that's all you have to do.  Go get a psychiatrist, go get a couple car mechanics. I've known radio stations that put wacko callers on the air and given them shows.  Howard Cosell used to talk about the jockocracy, which is a bunch of people that don't have the slightest knowledge, experience in broadcasting who are nevertheless installed in top positions 'cause they played the game.


They may not be able to talk, may not be able to know how to communicate, but it doesn't matter, they're put in the booth because of their name recognition.  And he always lamented what that meant for the business of broadcasting.  I understand what he means by it.  But there's a reason why the people in any industry succeed.  The people at the top, there's a reason why, and that is they're veterans. They're experienced. They've been at it a long time. They love it. They understand it. They're devoted to it.  It's special to them.  They respect it.  It's not just some place to go be famous.  It's about just someplace to have people hear what you think.  It's not just someplace to maybe get a TV gig out of it. It's radio. It's specific. It has specific requirements. It has specific talents that are called for, and it's not everybody that can do it well.

U listen' George?

[Juan]

Now Art and Rush both have something in common. Neither are classically educated, neither are particularly intelligent in a conventional sense, but both can make the absolutely most mundane topic interesting to listen to. They are both BROADCASTERS. The idea that talk radio is something that can be done by anyone who likes the sound of their own voice is the greatest fallacy in radio.

I disagree that Art and Rush are not intelligent - I think they are. And both are educated in broadcasting.  Broadcasting (and news writing) are crafts, first of all.  Far, far too many people never learn the craft.  And like all art forms, one must learn the craft before being able to make art.

George claims to have decades of broadcasting experience, but I see little evidence that has learned the craft of broadcasting.

[Gay]

George Knapp would be an exception to what Rush is saying.  He's been a TV guy, yet he totally gets the art of overnight broadcasting.

[onan]

there is a great deal of difference between Rush and Art. I don't think Art ever marginalized differing political beliefs. He would debate with some listeners but he has never been devisive that I know of.

[MV/Liberace!]

there is a great deal of difference between Rush and Art. I don't think Art ever marginalized differing political beliefs. He would debate with some listeners but he has never been devisive that I know of.

they're two very different hosts doing two very different types of shows... so i think it's a bit awkward to compare them much in this regard anyway.  also, if i'm looking to hear a political show, left or right, a host who marginalizes no differing political belief and never offends would be rather boring to listen to.

[Eddie Coyle]

, if i'm looking to hear a political show, left or right, a host who marginalizes no differing political belief and never offends would be rather boring to listen to.

Don't worry about running into that creature. The show you describe would likely be shitcanned before the first "traffic on the 8's".

          I think Jim Bohannon tries that format, but I haven't heard him since 1988.

[MV/Liberace!]

          I think Jim Bohannon tries that format, but I haven't heard him since 1988.

exactly.  that's just not what people want to hear.  politicians like john mccain and various media people are always lecturing about how much the american public loves bipartisanship, but i don't buy it for a minute.  we're anything BUT bipartisan.  never have been, either.  if anything, american political debate is more toothless and docile than it's ever been.

[FightTheFuture]

         Don't worry about running into that creature. The show you describe would likely be shitcanned before the first "traffic on the 8's".

          I think Jim Bohannon tries that format, but I haven't heard him since 1988.

I listen to JimBo regularly, and he`s the most meticulously prepared talk host on the market. The man ALWAYS "reads the book" and always asks great questions. However, he definitely leans hard to starboard and is known to be a tad short with callers, and guests.

[Jackpine Savage]

I disagree that Art and Rush are not intelligent - I think they are. And both are educated in broadcasting.  Broadcasting (and news writing) are crafts, first of all.  Far, far too many people never learn the craft.  And like all art forms, one must learn the craft before being able to make art.

George claims to have decades of broadcasting experience, but I see little evidence that has learned the craft of broadcasting.

This is the point. Of course they are intelligent, just not in a conventional sense. Neither is particularly academic, but both have mastered broadcasting and learned how to connect to an audience, not just talk. And if you think Art didn't piss people off, you weren't listening in the 90's.

The kind of guy Rush was talking about describes george noory perfectly. Plucked off the street because he "had an interest in the paranormal". It just shows most execs (the "jockocracy") don't care or understand what qualities are truly important in a host. They see Rush succeed as a right-wing talker and think the key is to find a right-wing blowhard and give him a microphone. Witness all the Rush-clone hacks like Hannity, Levin, Beck, etc.  Similarly with Coast, they beleive the key to continuing Art's success in dealing with the paranormal was to simply find another  jock who could talk about ghosts.

[Tara]

I don't know if Art agreed with Rush's politics, but Art did acknowledge Rush's radio ability.


Both guys were born to do radio, starting in their teens.  Both of them are college dropouts, were DJ's, love radio.  Compare this to sNoory. 

[Gay]

You may recall that Rush Limbaugh gave Art Bell an alien statue.

That alien is now in Joshua P Warren's museum

http://www.ashevilledailyplanet.com/index2.php?option=com_content&task=emailform&id=2634&itemid=6

[Gay]

Also, I think that Rush's quote was probably about Mike Huckabee, who Clear Channel is trying to promote as an alternative to Rush (who is with premiere).  They'd like to replace Rush with Huckabee on Clear Channel stations the same way that they've replaced Coast with Red Eye Radio

[Jackpine Savage]

Also, I think that Rush's quote was probably about Mike Huckabee, who Clear Channel is trying to promote as an alternative to Rush (who is with premiere).  They'd like to replace Rush with Huckabee on Clear Channel stations the same way that they've replaced Coast with Red Eye Radio

Wow, I did not know that. That is interesting. So the comparison is even more appropriate. Huckabee could almost be considered the George Noory of R-W talk.

[Juan]

Also, I think that Rush's quote was probably about Mike Huckabee, who Clear Channel is trying to promote as an alternative to Rush (who is with premiere).  They'd like to replace Rush with Huckabee on Clear Channel stations the same way that they've replaced Coast with Red Eye Radio

Premiere is owned by Cheap Channel which syndicates both Rush and Coast.  Huckabee is syndicated by Cumulus, as is Red Eye Radio.

[Gay]

Premiere is owned by Cheap Channel which syndicates both Rush and Coast.  Huckabee is syndicated by Cumulus, as is Red Eye Radio.

My mistake. Thanks for the correction

[Dreamlander]

Hey, Neal Conan will be available soon.  Maybe we should recruit him for Coast.

[Pragmier]

Was listening to Rush today ( No, not that Rush. THE Rush ... )

BBT center in Sunrise, Fla last night - great show! The guys were on stage about 2½ hours.

[NowhereInTime]

As a left leaning lad I have often listened to Limbaugh just to get my own dander up.  I've heard Rush for years (not regularly, but time to time) and even watched his tv show circa 1992 election.  One truth; he is a captivating broadcaster.  Talented.  (I don't know about "on loan from God"...) No other conservative broadcaster, from Hannity's baiting to Savage's vitriol comes close to Limbaugh's fluency.  Mike Huckabee, a moral man, has the radio charisma of a routine traffic report.  I agree with the jockocracy argument - a real "broadcaster" can take you on a ride for a three hour show and leave you wanting more whereas a "jock", who may have "played the game" will stumble through a cliche' laden three leaden hours of meandering amusement and make you relieved to have to rake the lawn.

[Mind Flayer Monk]

I have been around baseball scouts and some of these guys should be in radio.  They are good talkers and lots of fun and everyone has a great story.  Back and forth chatter between scouts is a thing of beauty.
Here is a great quote:
"be sure to tell people things that they might already know or will find out soon enough on their own, while always being on the lookout for information from others you might not have."
That is broadcasting excellence



Also some "names" of scouts
S

Wish Egan

Jocko Collins

Socko McCarey

Pidge McCarthy

Gust Poulos

Monte Basgall

Qui-Que Acevedo

Zinn Beck

Sloppy Thurston