Can someone fill me in on the medical issue responsible for his absence? Thanks.
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What's up with Bill Handel?
- Thread starter rosariorose9
- Start date
I have no first hand knowledge. My understanding is back surgery
I heard Gary Hoffman say yesterday, while he was filling in, that Bill was out because of back pain.
Thanks for the info. Much appreciated.
I just wonder if this health problem episode could cause him to retire in the near future?
You are right Doc and Bryan Suits coming on this morning with Gary & Shannon was even better. That guy is full of information. At one point, his cell phone signal weakened and had an awful echo to it so Shannon remarked while Bryan was talking about something serious: “Did Bryan just fall into the toilet?”
Regarding Bill, I also heard Gary and Shannon mention this morning that Bill would be back on Monday and that he was out due to back pain. Anyone who has ever suffered from serious back pain knows how debilitating that can be!
To quote Conway, "Ding-Dong!" *
KFI now has a Plan B for those days when Handel is out. Gary & Shannon sound like naturals in AMD and work together well like John & Ken. Whoever produces their show deserves a higher pay grade!
* Timmy Time could benefit from a revamp of a feature discontinued several years ago... "What The Hell Did Joe Biden Say (or mean)?". Plenty of material to last at least four years.
I agree Doc! I think the producer of Gary and Shannon is none other than Mando, who was actually working with Tim Conway Jr. before moving over to Gary and Shannon’s show. The smartest thing KFI did IMHO is get rid of Rush Limbaugh many years ago and go live and local all day and well into the evenings from 5:00 AM to 10:00 PM. Gary and Shannon, Bill Handel, John and Ken and Tim Conway Jr are much better to listen to then what you get from the National talking heads.
I also really like Tim Conway Jr’s show (Ding Dong to you too Doc!). Conway has got a great common sense prospective on a lot of things. I wish he would do more segment features too like you were mentioning (John and Ken’s daily visit to Bidenville is hilarious), but Tim Conway tends to follow any breaking news stories more so than the other shows with car chases, wildfires, even live play-by-play of Family Feud. For example, this past week on I believe Wednesday he had some wall-to-wall coverage on the wildfire that broke out up in Castaic and talked with some of the evacuees. I also like the guests he has come on like Dr. Ray every Monday and Thursday, Steve Gregory, Petros, Jay Leno, etc... The guest co-hosts are fantastic too like Mark Thompson every Tuesdays, who doesn’t necessarily fit the mold of a conservative talk show host so it’s nice to get a different perspective on things. Same with Mo Kelly. I also liked Gina Grad when she would come on, but she is busy with the Adam Carola Show now. The funniest thing about Tim Conway are his stories that he has from his childhood, dating life and about his dad. He also does good play by play anytime there is a chase in LA.
Finally, you can’t beat the KFI News Center. IMO, they do a better job than KNX, don’t spin the news like KNX has done lately with KNX In-depth. KFI also still uses a traffic chopper, something I don’t think KNX uses anymore. It seems like everyday, Mike O’Brien (KF Eye in the Sky!) is reporting about “another homeless camp fire.” I don’t think Detour Dan has to worry about those too much in Phoenix!
All in all, I thing whoever is running KFI is doing a fantastic job and the numbers show it.
Honestly, out of the more than 15,000 AM and FM stations in the country, there aren't that many that I would put into the truly great column. KFI is a great radio station. Distinct, interesting, heavily-differentiated, and compelling.
100% spot on. KNX over the last 2 years has gone from playing it pretty close to down the middle, to a clear "slant left", particularly that dreadful joke of a news magazine known as "In Depth". And now they cut business and sports airstaff for what one can only assume are financial reasons. Despite their wall to wall "Corona" coverage, KNX was one of the few all news stations to not see a significant ratings spike during this pandemic. Coincedence?
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What are some other great ones in your opinion?
Truly great is an exceptionally high bar, but WTOP immediately comes to my mind. I haven't listened as much in recent years, but WLW was great for a very long time.
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Nobody holds a candle to WTOP. Amazing station. Thank heavens Hubbard owns it (and not another certain company which starts with an "E").
KNX/KFWB were untouchable two decades ago. And KNX until just a few years ago. It's just sad now. Lived in California for three years now and haven't tuned into KNX more than maybe twice. It's a shell of budget cuts -- too sad.
BTW, Bill Handel is out again. His back flared up again. Between his separation with his wife and his brother getting busted, the poor dude just can't catch a break.
KNX/KFWB were untouchable two decades ago. And KNX until just a few years ago. It's just sad now. Lived in California for three years now and haven't tuned into KNX more than maybe twice. It's a shell of budget cuts -- too sad.
BTW, Bill Handel is out again. His back flared up again. Between his separation with his wife and his brother getting busted, the poor dude just can't catch a break.
You can't compare a news station in DC with one anywhere else. They get a tone of money from "influencers" such as PAC organizations, special interest groups and just "regular companies" that want to sell to government and government related people and organizations. There is far less interest in "key marketing demographics" and lots more in reaching influential people.
And those people listen to WTOP as it covers the things their jobs depend on. That is why it was the highest billing station in the US during a number of recent years.
Still no Handel. Word on G&S the other morning is that he's talking about back surgery. Ouch.
Gary and Shannon do sound good in the slot. While I'm not a fan of their show, I do feel they demonstrate the capability to own that time slot after Handel retires. Good energy. They'd fit in very nicely.
Gary and Shannon do sound good in the slot. While I'm not a fan of their show, I do feel they demonstrate the capability to own that time slot after Handel retires. Good energy. They'd fit in very nicely.
Yes indeed Doc! Bill is back and it’s even better to have Gary and Shannon back in their normal 10-2 time slot and doing all their regular segments again. Swamp Watch is one of my favorites!
I wonder if Bill’s extended absence, Tim Conway Jr’s suspension and the carousel of fill-in hosts for Gary and Shannon’s 10-2 slot led to KFI’s drop in the latest ratings?
Handel out again. This time all lips are sealed. Not a good sign. Maybe he is talking some time off to give his brother marginal legal advice..
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