CNN Host Criticizes Rush; Rush Slurs CNN Host As Gay

[Small Market Guy]

Anyone who's worked in radio long enough has raised money for some cause or another, but most of us don't pat ourselves on the back in an internet forum to try and gain credibility with it.

So you've done nothing to make radio better. All you do is complain on an anonymous forum. Got it.

 

[TheBigA]

Prove it. I want to see you start a thread about the next despicable thing Ed Schulz says.

To be honest, I've never listened to his radio show. Or watched him on MSNBC. So you'll have to help me out.

Mike Malloy is a gold mine.

Who is Mike Malloy? Never heard of him.

Sorry...I'm too busy to listen to angry talk radio hosts, regardless of their politics.

 

[Small Market Guy]

To be honest, I've never listened to his radio show. Or watched him on MSNBC. So you'll have to help me out.

I gave a few examples. Mostly Mike Malloy, but there were a few Ed Schultz ones as well. Just keep an eye on the news and next time one of them speaks up, do your part and make a thread bashing them. Then we'll know you're serious about being "impartial" with your criticism.

Personally I don't care what they say. If they want to do that kind of thing and no one wants to listen to them, good for them. It has absolutely no bearing on me or what I do. Which is my point. None of these hosts have any bearing on any aspect of our lives. It's childish to rant against them online.

 

[TheBigA]

It's childish to rant against them online.

I really don't feel I've been "bashing" Rush. I just feel that the top-rated host should be a better example. If he wants to call people names, that's his business. But it's not helping the overall format. It isn't going to improve his stature with advertisers.

 

[Small Market Guy]

I really don't feel I've been "bashing" Rush.

You've been fairer than most. I'll give you that. My apologies if I seem harsh to you, but I'm pretty sure you're the only other one here that even works in radio. I'm sure you know what Rush and hosts like him have done for the format. Sure it's not what it used to be, but it's also not as bad as cracked up to be.

 

[flybynight]

So you've done nothing to make radio better. All you do is complain on an anonymous forum. Got it.

How come anytime someone disagrees with you, you assert that they must not work in radio? Are you THAT childish, really?

Maybe I missed it, but what exactly did YOU do to make radio better? Your charity endeavors don't make radio better. If anything they make it more boring.

 

[Small Market Guy]

How come anytime someone disagrees with you, you assert that they must not work in radio? Are you THAT childish, really?

I'm that perceptive. Showing absolutely no knowledge of the business is a sure sign of not being in radio.

Maybe I missed it, but what exactly did YOU do to make radio better? Your charity endeavors don't make radio better. If anything they make it more boring.

I do the kind of show everyone around here claims they want to hear. I have local guests. I don't insult guests or callers. I give everyone a forum. I'm the highest rated talk show in the market, syndicated shows included. What I DON'T do is pretend that my way is the only way. I have RESPECT for those who came before me. I do my show the way I think is best. It works for me. Someone else might want to do things differently. My bosses like what I do. That's all that matters to me.

So again: What have YOU done to make radio better?

 

[flybynight]

I'm that perceptive. Showing absolutely no knowledge of the business is a sure sign of not being in radio.



I do the kind of show everyone around here claims they want to hear. I have local guests. I don't insult guests or callers. I give everyone a forum. I'm the highest rated talk show in the market, syndicated shows included. What I DON'T do is pretend that my way is the only way. I have RESPECT for those who came before me. I do my show the way I think is best. It works for me. Someone else might want to do things differently. My bosses like what I do. That's all that matters to me.

So again: What have YOU done to make radio better?

As snarky as we seem to get with each other occasionally, I do appreciate that you're doing what you're doing and not doing another talking-points robot imitation. What you're doing is what is keeping this format alive, IMHO.

All I can do is all any air talent can do: The best show you can do while you're on. Also, share/trade ideas of how the format can be better with those in programming and upper management who are in a position to effect widespread change. That of course is less effective now more than ever, thanks to many programming decisions being made at the corporate level. I never aspired to be in programming, as I would shoot myself if I had to actually listen to ANY station 24/7 and be awakened at 3AM because somebody is sick or decided to quit.

Other than that, I complain on messageboards.

 

[TheBigA]

Your charity endeavors don't make radio better. If anything they make it more boring.

I disagree. Charity work is usually done off the air, so it has no impact on the radio show. I think charity work makes radio more engaging.

Also, it's important to note that most of the most childish talk shows we've brought up in these threads are nationally syndicated shows. The local talk shows are probably not as bad. Why? Because they usually have other subjects to talk about besides the national issues. The hosts are also more accessible.

 

[Small Market Guy]

As snarky as we seem to get with each other occasionally, I do appreciate that you're doing what you're doing and not doing another talking-points robot imitation. What you're doing is what is keeping this format alive, IMHO.

All I can do is all any air talent can do: The best show you can do while you're on. Also, share/trade ideas of how the format can be better with those in programming and upper management who are in a position to effect widespread change. That of course is less effective now more than ever, thanks to many programming decisions being made at the corporate level. I never aspired to be in programming, as I would shoot myself if I had to actually listen to ANY station 24/7 and be awakened at 3AM because somebody is sick or decided to quit.

Other than that, I complain on messageboards.

See, we can see eye to eye at some point!

 

[Small Market Guy]

I disagree. Charity work is usually done off the air, so it has no impact on the radio show. I think charity work makes radio more engaging.

My station wasn't the main one for the telethon, but I had the coordinator from the hospital on the air daily to talk about it and then of course had a little bit of fun with it as well. I challenged all of the listeners that wanted me fired when I replaced the Alex Jones/Glenn Beck wannabe to pony up to see me take a piece of cake in the face. They did.

And it had pink icing, which stained my skin. Took all day to scrub it off.

What I do isn't groundbreaking. It's not controversial. There's nothing shocking or crazy about it. I'll never make national headlines. But that's ok with me. I don't hold a grudge against guys who do that kind of stuff. There's room for all of us.

 

[flybynight]

I disagree. Charity work is usually done off the air, so it has no impact on the radio show. I think charity work makes radio more engaging.

I didn't mean to imply charity work wasn't important or not good, I've just found that 99% of the on-air charity fundraising is an unwelcome interruption in the expected content of a show. I've done more than a few radiothons for different causes in different markets and in different formats and it was often hard not to feel sorry for the listener who just wants to hear what they expect to hear when they turn your station on.

Also, it's important to note that most of the most childish talk shows we've brought up in these threads are nationally syndicated shows. The local talk shows are probably not as bad. Why? Because they usually have other subjects to talk about besides the national issues. The hosts are also more accessible.

True. I do find it especially disappointing when a LOCAL host is just doing a warmed over version of one of the national talking-point ideologues shows. It's such a waste of a great opportunity to be original.

 

[Small Market Guy]

I didn't mean to imply charity work wasn't important or not good, I've just found that 99% of the on-air charity fundraising is an unwelcome interruption in the expected content of a show. I've done more than a few radiothons for different causes in different markets and in different formats and it was often hard not to feel sorry for the listener who just wants to hear what they expect to hear when they turn your station on.

We do it on our country station and the breaks are just the regular length breaks. The music doesn't stop. I interviewed the folks from the charity, but I interview people doing fundraisers all the time. So that is the normal content on my show.

True. I do find it especially disappointing when a LOCAL host is just doing a warmed over version of one of the national talking-point ideologues shows. It's such a waste of a great opportunity to be original.

When they get fired for falsely accusing the mayor of taking kickbacks it's great for guys like me. By guys like me, I mean me.

 

[Avid Listener]

True. I do find it especially disappointing when a LOCAL host is just doing a warmed over version of one of the national talking-point ideologues shows. It's such a waste of a great opportunity to be original.

Good point. Those hayseeds and hicks listening to a local talk show can't understand the important things that the big city folk do. The rubes would rather hear about hog futures, or how Kim and Kenye are getting along.

And what's worse, on a local show, there's actually a chance to be a caller who gets on the air! God forbid the people in small markets can actually make an on-air comment about some important thing that was on the big national talk shows!

 

[Avid Listener]

How is saying that a homosexual is "gay" or that he "sleeps with men" a slur? Is that not the truth? How is the truth a "slur"?

Did Rush out someone who was in the closet? If the homosexual host was "out", what's the big deal?

 

[Goat Rodeo Cowboy]

Tone of voice.

 

[umfan]

Exactly the point I was attempting to get across, Avid Listener. To even call it a slur implies that the OP feels that there is something wrong with homosexuality. I don't disagree with such an assertion, but I doubt that was the intent of the OP.

 

[TheBigA]

To even call it a slur implies that the OP feels that there is something wrong with homosexuality. I don't disagree with such an assertion, but I doubt that was the intent of the OP.

The way in which it was done was meant to discredit him as a source of information. It's like saying you don't like Elton John's music because he "sleeps with men." It's irrelevant. It doesn't deal with the issue, but rather puts the focus on the other person, demonizing the source, rather than addressing the issue. Very common technique in conservative talk.

 

[flybynight]

Good point. Those hayseeds and hicks listening to a local talk show can't understand the important things that the big city folk do. The rubes would rather hear about hog futures, or how Kim and Kenye are getting along.

And what's worse, on a local show, there's actually a chance to be a caller who gets on the air! God forbid the people in small markets can actually make an on-air comment about some important thing that was on the big national talk shows!

As usual, I"m not surprised you missed the point.

Local shows can certainly cover national topics. As a matter of fact, the most interesting topic of the day should be the topic on the show, regardless of whether it's national, regional or local. However, if there isn't anything THAT compelling on any o those fronts on a given day, try to do something local---or at least as local as can be. Believe me, I've worked for guys who wanted EVERYTHING to be turned into a local issue, which was idiotic, since some topics just don't translate and are better discussed as a national topic.

Still, hearing a local guy try to imitate Limbaugh is, as I said, disappointing and a waste of an opportunity.

 

[flybynight]

How is saying that a homosexual is "gay" or that he "sleeps with men" a slur? Is that not the truth? How is the truth a "slur"?

Did Rush out someone who was in the closet? If the homosexual host was "out", what's the big deal?

"He's gay"

or

"He sleeps with men......proudly".

First of all, neither comment would've been at all relevant in the context of the commentary, except for Rush to demonize Lemon before his very conservative and homophobic audience.

Second, giving a more explicit definition of what he does; "sleeps with MEN....proudly" (as if that's shameful), was clearly meant to further inflame/disgust his audience with the guy.

The fact that you still don't understand the difference after having it explained a few times, means you'll never understand the difference. You either don't comprehend subtleties---or in this case, NOT-so-subtleties, or you are just to be chalked up as someone who's in Rush's corner, no matter what---in which case, you have ZERO credibility.