A Question of Syntax: "My Show" vs. "The Show"

[RecoveringNoorholic]

Wow - I've only been a member since this AM and already my third topic. I promise this one will be it for awhile, I just had a lot to get out of my system.

Art used to always refer to the program as "my show." It's not just George but a lot of talk hosts seem to use the more socialist "our show" or "the program" ... I really preferred Art's possessive use of the word "my" ... I prefer this image of Art having a private conversation on the phone with Loren Coleman or Nick Begich or whomever and he just happens to have bumped the transmitter on and I happened to come across that frequency on the dial  ... not this communal, "we all contribute to Coast's success" kind of crypto-socialist crap.

BTW - does/did Art socially interact with any of his guests etc.? I know George and Ian have only met him once but then Art, when he was in the Phillipines, said Bob Crane of C. Crane had come out to visit him in Manila. And when he married Aryn wasn't it a group wedding with MAJ Ed Dames or someone (I'm sure I got that wrong)?

[Dead-Time]

Art took ownership of his show, he made it clear that he was responsible for what was on it and even how things were advertised. I remember when Art use to say he would never advertise anything unless it had a money back guarantee and that he had used it himself. Art took responsibility for what he aired.

George is waiting to retire, hes doing a job that allows him to live in Los Angeles and write emails to combs (of Hannity and Combs) speaking of that how many times will George drop the fact that he emails combs? George could be running any talk show, he doesn't care what its about hes all about for the cash. George could be running a radio swap meet show and as long as it paid well he would use his silly deep thought voice (we all know when he uses it) to get someone in Covina to trade a lawnmower to a guy in Azusa for some Hummel figurines.

George takes no responsibility for the show it isn't his, he's nothing more than a pinch hitter on a long term stint.

[11angeleyes11]

If he's a pinch hitter, he just struck out with George Knapp throwing the knuckle ball.

In defense of George, I think he feels that he cannot take ownership of the show in deference to the Master, Art Bell.  I think George knows that he is stepping on to territory that was very well-established before he came on the air and in respect of that he does not refer to it as "My Show".  He has made some changes and he has admitted that to reflect some his programming agenda, but those things have been minor in relation to what he could change.  For instance, except for Friday nights, he kept the same intro and exit songs.  Basically he has kept the same format, with the minor change of a floating format.  He keeps the same subjects and even when he deviates he attempts to approach the subject with a Coast to Coast spin.  Linda Moulton Howe was a reporter for Art and George has given her a platform on the show.  I could go on and on, but the show in my opinion as Coast to Coast will never be entirely George's show.  He may host it every evening and bring it on air, but at this point the name Coast to Coast can stand on its own.   If George wanted to host another show and call it George Noory. . ..,then he would have one hundred percent rightful ownership of it.

As for George retiring, I think he will be here long after 2012 has passed, if we still are!

[RecoveringNoorholic]

What does it mean when he says "I'm going to go to floating format"? What does "floating format" mean? He started using that phrase and he always uses it like he's just hit some emergency red "floating format" button but never explained it.

[EvB]

What does it mean when he says "I'm going to go to floating format"?

This is what I think it means:  As a rule, the show starts with a one hour guest or, if none, some open lines, then a guest, then more cal ines either open or for guest question.  That's the basic format.  When George says "floating format" - he's mixed that up some, so - maybe his main guest is on first followed by news and open lines, for example. 

I never had the impression the format itself was anything innovative- but rather a name to throw at a situation where the guest says "Aww, George - I gotta be done sometime before dawn!"  Or some such.

[RecoveringNoorholic]

I would like it if Tommy could activate a sound effect, like a Klaxon or a 2-tone siren or something every time George calls "floating format."

[Pirate King Atomsk]

When I googled "floating format", all I got was a bunch of random stuff about scripting and unix. Maybe George is an ub3r-1337 h4x0r.  ;

[11angeleyes11]

What does it mean when he says "I'm going to go to floating format"? What does "floating format" mean? He started using that phrase and he always uses it like he's just hit some emergency red "floating format" button but never explained it.

This is my interpretation of "floating format", however, it is not taken from "The Danheiser Dictionary of Production Terminology."  The original format of Coast to Coast was rather fixed, usually news of the day, then some Open Lines the first hour, two hours of one-on-one interviewing with the guest and then questions with the guest from callers fielded by the host.  "Floating format" is just what it implies it floats and is not rigid, it give the host flexibility to set the format for the show as needed.  Sometimes it might be with the one-on-one guest interview starting the first hour with Open Lines the last hour.  Another example might be with a guest for one hour, questions with the guest the second hour and then another guest the third hour.  This allows for George to play with it as it works best.  Basically, it just means the format of the show is not fixed, it can be changed as the situation calls for it.   

This can work out in a listener's best interest.  If the guest is just a total loser, then I have heard George said that it can be detected from Fast Blasts and e-mail comments.  In that case, George can graciously excuse the guest or shorten the interview.  It is my personal feeling that this is extremely rarely used or even thought as an option, but it does give the host that control, and you know that George likes control, or so I have read on the sites.

[Spikegirl]

What does it mean when he says "I'm going to go to floating format"? What does "floating format" mean?

Floating format means that he cannot handle doing a 3 hour interview like Art did. Snoory cannot focus for three straight hours due to his apparent ADD and needs to hop from guest to guest. It also means no one agreed on being on his 3 hour infomercial.

[11angeleyes11]

Floating format means that he cannot handle doing a 3 hour interview like Art did. Snoory cannot focus for three straight hours due to his apparent ADD and needs to hop from guest to guest. It also means no one agreed on being on his 3 hour infomercial.

On second thought, to meet the needs of the attentionally challenged, the floating format could be PreRad's "reasonable accomodation" to George's ADD handicap.  You know his Sci-Fi show is only going to be a half hour and should just fit with that attention span.  Imagine, if you will four hours of George on a prime-time show talking at you.  Maybe that's what they show on Saturday morning.

[EvB]

Wow - I've only been a member since this AM and already my third topic. I promise this one will be it for awhile, I just had a lot to get out of my system.

Post away!  We love new blood - and new threads.