COAST-TO-COAST AM Sounding Arthritic

[sdwulfdawg]

I realize that Coast-to-Coast AM with George Noory is a very successful show, but man alive, I have been listening to the show over the past several days and the show sounds really arthritic and old and dingy. It has gone past what I call "appointment radio." The top of the show isn't bad when Noory covers big news stories, but then it dies, dies, dies, dead.
The only people who the show might appeal to anymore have to be 55+-to-dead....
Ideas?

 

[CTListener]

I realize that Coast-to-Coast AM with George Noory is a very successful show, but man alive, I have been listening to the show over the past several days and the show sounds really arthritic and old and dingy. It has gone past what I call "appointment radio." The top of the show isn't bad when Noory covers big news stories, but then it dies, dies, dies, dead.
The only people who the show might appeal to anymore have to be 55+-to-dead....
Ideas?

55 to dead pretty much describes the audience for all talk radio that isn't sports-oriented.

 

[davideduardo]

55 to dead pretty much describes the audience for all talk radio that isn't sports-oriented.

And, while there is Nielsen measurement of overnights, the appeal of such a daypart to advertisers is somewhere between bizarre and unique. The show does not compete with "regular" daytime buys, of course.

I'd love to be a fly on the wall to hear how they pitch the show to advertisers.

In the old Art Bell days, I understood that part of the deal to get the show was giving up some daytime inventory. I do not know if that is true now, as it was several decades ago that I added Art Bell to a small market station in Florida.

 

[CTListener]

And, while there is Nielsen measurement of overnights, the appeal of such a daypart to advertisers is somewhere between bizarre and unique. The show does not compete with "regular" daytime buys, of course.

I'd love to be a fly on the wall to hear how they pitch the show to advertisers.

In the old Art Bell days, I understood that part of the deal to get the show was giving up some daytime inventory. I do not know if that is true now, as it was several decades ago that I added Art Bell to a small market station in Florida.

Late night audiences are different. There are a lot of lonely elderly folks out there who develop a bond with the hosts. I remember the days of Larry Glick in Boston. He had his loyal band of "Glickniks" who would hang on his every word and, in all probability, buy the products he would do live reads of ad copy for. I'm not sure how you go about selling such a show, especially with a sales staff that's young and can't even begin to understand the appeal of late night talk radio, but somehow the shows survive.

 

[davideduardo]

Late night audiences are different. There are a lot of lonely elderly folks out there who develop a bond with the hosts. I remember the days of Larry Glick in Boston. He had his loyal band of "Glickniks" who would hang on his every word and, in all probability, buy the products he would do live reads of ad copy for. I'm not sure how you go about selling such a show, especially with a sales staff that's young and can't even begin to understand the appeal of late night talk radio, but somehow the shows survive.

Selling overnights to advertisers who work the classic nine-to-five is really rough. In one Top 20 market I had overnight audience that was greater than four or five of the top 10 daytime levels of competitors, and we tried to sell at very reasonable rates.

Other than a couple of career colleges that wanted to reach people wanting to get off of overnight shifts, we could not get any permanent revenue. In the end, the effort to try to sell it took valuable seller time away from quality daytime sales, so we only promoted via sales literature and special offers like "duplicate your schedule on weekends, nights and overnights for just 35% extra..."

 

[sdwulfdawg]

George Noory is no Art Bell, at all. It seems to me that instead of taking the show in another direction, Noory is doing a very bad imitation of Art Bell's show. There will only be one Art Bell. Trying to imitate him is impossible. The segments themselves really have a tendency to drone on and on and that does not make good radio. The people coming on the show are so stuck in their bizarre stories, books, etc. It's one thing to let your guests talk, but it is a whole heck of another thing when they sometimes go round-and-round-and-round like an old dog trying to catch its tail.

Then you have Red Eye Radio which has totally lost the panache of Doug McIntyre.....

 

[Kelly A]

And you just made this observation now? Coast to Coast has sounded arthritic for years. That's why a lot of stations have dumped it. How do you know your radio show has 'jumped the shark'? When even crappy AM stations won't carry you in the middle of the night.

 

[Gregg.]

I'm not sure about all this negative chatter about George Noory and Coast to Coast AM? Is he Art Bell? No. But out of all the other hosts who've been on the show over the years, Noory is fine. It's a show about the paranormal and unexplained. I don't like that the show occasionally strays from those parameters, especially on weekends when Noory isn't there. But what would we like Noory to do differently?

It is the MOST successful syndicated talk show, in terms of affiliates, in the post-Rush era. It is in virtually every market you can think of. Hannity doesn't quite have that coverage. He's not in Boston and a few other markets. Glenn Beck is missing more markets. Same for Dave Ramsey. Those two have no NYC affiliate. Beck is missing from many West Coast cities where his show is live from 6 to 9 a.m. PT, too early for stations with a live, local wake up show. A few stations that don't run any other syndicated daily shows, such as KFI Los Angeles and KOA Denver, have Coast to Coast on the schedule. On the West Coast, many stations DOUBLE-run Noory. He starts at 10 p.m. PT and repeats until 5 a.m.

What does "arthritic" mean? He should play more contemporary bumper music? OK. He shouldn't let the guests talk too long without a follow-up question? Well, it is a four hour show while most syndicated shows are three hours. So a guest has to last for 90 minutes to two hours. And how dynamic will your guests be if it's 2 or 3 or 4 a.m. local time for them? I'm not sure how a more youthful host would combat that built-in problem. (Noory is 71.)

Do you listen to the Saturday evening Art Bell "Somewhere in Time" show? It's heard on most medium to small market iHeart talk stations but not on in the large markets. Yes, Bell was excellent. I try to catch Somewhere in Time when I can.. It airs 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Saturdays ET. I've heard the other hosts who tried to replace Bell, such as Mike Siegal. Noory is the best replacement. He may be doing the show longer than Bell by now. Noory became the full time Coast to Coast host in 2003.

.

 

[Kelly A]

I'm not sure about all this negative chatter about George Noory and Coast to Coast AM? Is he Art Bell? No. But out of all the other hosts who've been on the show over the years, Noory is fine.

Art Bell created the show and WAS the show for many years. Noory was a good fill-in, but hasn't been able to carry the same weight as Bell did.

It's a show about the paranormal and unexplained. I don't like that the show occasionally strays from those parameters, especially on weekends when Noory isn't there. But what would we like Noory to do differently

The program is just tired. It sounds tired. Has for several years.

It is the MOST successful syndicated talk show, in terms of affiliates, in the post-Rush era. It is in virtually every market you can think of. Hannity doesn't quite have that coverage.

Apples and eggplant. Hannity overnight was a replay of the prime time show. That, and Hannity's bread is buttered via FOX News, not exclusively radio anymore.

He's not in Boston and a few other markets. Glenn Beck is missing more markets. Same for Dave Ramsey. Those two have no NYC affiliate. Beck is missing from many West Coast cities where his show is live from 6 to 9 a.m. PT, too early for stations with a live, local wake up show.

Over the years Beck has become a polarizing figure in the eyes of 'conservatives'. His rants and targets of discussion have gone off the rails too far, not being consistent with the talking points of the other 'conservative' talk hosts, or the GOP. I know one group owner that dumped Beck because they just received too many listener complaints to make retaining the show worth the effort. Some station owners are concerned about Beck's comments getting them sued.

A few stations that don't run any other syndicated daily shows, such as KFI Los Angeles and KOA Denver, have Coast to Coast on the schedule. On the West Coast, many stations DOUBLE-run Noory. He starts at 10 p.m. PT and repeats until 5 a.m.

That's because it's cost free filler on overnights where ad agencies don't want to buy spots anymore. Been that way for easily twenty years.

What does "arthritic" mean?

Sounds old and tired. Uninspired. Painful.

He shouldn't let the guests talk too long without a follow-up question? Well, it is a four hour show while most syndicated shows are three hours. So a guest has to last for 90 minutes to two hours. And how dynamic will your guests be if it's 2 or 3 or 4 a.m. local time for them? I'm not sure how a more youthful host would combat that built-in problem. (Noory is 71.)

Remember that AM stations aren't getting any younger either, nor are there new listeners coming on board. The audience for Coast to Coast is dying off, literally. So goes the audience for AM. C2C has been doing the same shtick to the same base of declining listeners for decades. If you only have listeners going away, eventually the relevance of the show becomes into question.

Do you listen to the Saturday evening Art Bell "Somewhere in Time" show? It's heard on most medium to small market iHeart talk stations but not on in the large markets. Yes, Bell was excellent.

Newsflash: Art is dead. Has been for a while. Listening to radio shows from his hay days isn't my thing.

Noory became the full time Coast to Coast host in 2003.

Yes, that would make it nineteen years ago.

.

 

[RenBuddy]

Well, I've been listening to talk radio since my 20s and as a matter of fact, I still remember the day I stumbled upon Coast to Coast while driving home from college late one night 20+ years ago. It sounds corny, but it was magical. Was driving thru Southeast Ohio, thru those foothills in the utter darkness, hardly anyone on the road, and I hear someone talking on the radio about cow mutilations and then crop circles. I'll never forget it. Gotta admit, it spooked me! That night started my love for talk radio, and in particular Coast to Coast AM.
Yeah I miss the old days with Art Bell (who could forget that Area 51 phone call, and yes I know it was fake, but I don't even care). Its not what it used to be, but what is? I actually don't mind George Noory. I wonder what happened to Ian Punnett? Love the Somewhere Back In Time segments. So yeah, I still listen and always will.
On a side note, for a while my local AM station played a show called Ground Zero (Clyde Lewis if I remember correctly was the host). Really enjoyed it, but they took it off the air, and I suspect it was because the station didn't like what was being discussed on there. Coronavirus, etc.

 

[seatownmedia]

Art Bell succeeded because he was the perfect host for a late night audience. His topics were usually fascinating and fed that audience. I think Noory is quite good but when you replace a legend it can be difficult. But I am glad they have found a good talent to replace Bell. Late night radio is barely alive today so more power to Noory and ilk.

 

[boombox4]

Ian Punnett is the weekend host every other weekend or so.

Art Bell was good, but a lot of the success of his show was its timing. He nationalized the paranormal/UFO talk show idea at a time when AM radio was rejuvenating as a vehicle for talk. The idea of a paranormal/UFO show had been done previously, on a local or regional level, by guys like Long John Nebel, but Art took the format to a new level.

Hence, he had a few imitators, including a show my former employers started as a competitor, a show which folded within a month or two. Obviously, there were only so many overnight listeners for paranormal talk, and Art Bell (and maybe secondary competitor Jeff Rense) pretty much had the field locked up.

Also, when Bell's show peaked in the early to mid 1990s, there wasn't really much of an internet to speak of, and social media was very limited. Radio and magazines were the only sources for paranormal information.

George Noory is okay. Sometimes the show is more entertaining than others. Just tonight he interviewed an ex mafia guy, and it was interesting. Some shows are better than others.

 

[davideduardo]

Hence, he had a few imitators, including a show my former employers started as a competitor, a show which folded within a month or two. Obviously, there were only so many overnight listeners for paranormal talk, and Art Bell (and maybe secondary competitor Jeff Rense) pretty much had the field locked up.

If you look at LA's overnight ratings from 1996 to around 2000, KTNQ with the Spanish language Víctor Camacho talk show beat Art Bell on KFI consistently. Victor's show, "Los Desvelados", several times broadcast directly from a hill over looking Area 51. Aliens and the paranormal were his specialty.

Camacho now has a show online. Eventos - los desvelados con victor camacho ovnis y fenomenos paranormales has the link.

 

[sdwulfdawg]

The worst is when he starts to have some unknown "scientist" starting to advocate the drinking of some alchemy potion for immediate relief of this and that. The topics on the show need to be way more interesting and reflective of what is going on in 2022 and not trying to copy Art Bell.

As for "arthritic" - the show comes off as what your parents would listen to in the middle of the night and discuss at a bingo game the next day. It drags, drags, drags, and drags....

 

[Mike Sheridan]

I haven't considered overnight talk radio to be worth staying up to listen to ever since Larry King left his radio show. Larry knew how to hold an audience.

 

[boombox4]

I haven't considered overnight talk radio to be worth staying up to listen to ever since Larry King left his radio show. Larry knew how to hold an audience.

There are three basic reasons for Larry King's success, when compared to Coast To Coast today.

First off, Larry's talk show hours were earlier in the evening, (at least in the Mountain and Pacific Time Zones). His show started at midnight Eastern Time, which was 9 p.m. Pacific. C2C starts an hour later.

Secondly, Larry also interviewed big name authors, big name entertainment figures, and many sports figures. Oftentimes it sounded like a sports talk show. At the time, there were no national sports talk networks. I don't even think there was a national sports talk show, although there were a few local sports talk stations, some of which might have had some nighttime reach.

And third, Larry's show was the only national, live, overnight talk and interview show. There was no competition in his particular field of talk radio. Other overnight or late night talk shows were just a host talking to the callers about various issues and taking calls while giving advice, like Bruce Williams or Sally Jesse Raphael.

Larry "held" an audience because his show was similar to an interactive version of Johnny Carson or David Letterman, minus the musicians on stage. The guests were bigger names. Callers could conceivably ask these big stars and big name authors and sports figures questions. It had an appeal for those reasons. And Larry was an excellent interviewer.

I'm not denying any overt appeal due to Larry's ability. He was a great interviewer and his anecdotes livened up the show when needed. I used to listen to Larry King every night. I bought some books by authors he interviewed. But one of the reasons his show was so successful was it was the only game in town.

Right now, one could say Coast To Coast is the only game in town in overnight talk, along with Red Eye. But radio is not the only game in town -- not to the extent it was in 1979 or 1983 when Larry King was indeed talk radio. The internet offers thousands of alternatives, from streaming movies to social media to podcasts. Even if Coast had the hallmarks of Larry King during his heyday, it wouldn't be much more popular. The content field is so much wider in breadth today.

 

[frankberry]

I realize that Coast-to-Coast AM with George Noory is a very successful show, but man alive, I have been listening to the show over the past several days and the show sounds really arthritic and old and dingy. It has gone past what I call "appointment radio." The top of the show isn't bad when Noory covers big news stories, but then it dies, dies, dies, dead.
The only people who the show might appeal to anymore have to be 55+-to-dead....
Ideas?

I'm thinking that the word "anemic" would better describe the show.

 

[Mike Sheridan]

Talking about conspiracy theories and paranormal activity may be okay for the tin foil hat crowd but I never found it very interesting.

One night I heard Nory and his guest talking about some wild assertions involving the Kennedy assassination. That was an important time in history but it was over 50 years ago. Time to move on!

I believe Jim Bohannon took over the radio show from Larry King. Seems like a nice fellow, great voice but extremely boring. (sorry).

 

[Mikey Radio]

One night I heard Nory and his guest talking about some wild assertions involving the Kennedy assassination. That was an important time in history but it was over 50 years ago. Time to move on!

And with respect, King's overnight show was on the air from I believe 1976 until 1994, so it hasn't been around in about 30 years, but here we are waxing poetic and talking sentimentally about it. Have mercy.

 

[Silkie]

People have started moving away from the occult, paranormal and temporal. Some are still out there, but they're not as numerous. Their attention seems to be focusing on more permanence.