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Rich Valdes Replaced!

They were like a very over-exagerated satire of a news broadcaster. That's the only way I can describe them. I never got it.

Rich is pleasant, low-key and conversational, so it was quite a contrast.
 
They were like a very over-exagerated satire of a news broadcaster. That's the only way I can describe them. I never got it.

Rich is pleasant, low-key and conversational, so it was quite a contrast.
Thank you. I'm glad I'm not the only one who didn't like the intro. The music was fine, but the woman introducing Rich made the entire intro sound bad.
 
I'd put a few bucks down on the intro female announcer being AI-generated. That intro stuck out like a sore thumb to this AM DXer. I hope Rich can find a new outlet soon.
 
Oh I'm so happy about this! I loved falling asleep to Jimbo back in middle school and early high school. His show was like a window to the world as I was coming of age and it was wonderful. Toward his final days on-air, he got more and more political, which I didn't appreciate. I'm not sure if he was pushed in that direction or if he chose it, but I went from listening every night to listening every once in a while.

Then, when Rich replaced him, it became all-politics, all the time. Snore. Some politics and current news content is good, but what Rich turned the show into lost any "window to the world" luster it once held for me. Gone were the rocket scientists, musicians, authors... I'd still listen occasionally while falling asleep, but far from regularly.

You can imagine my surprise (and delight) when I tuned in a few weeks back and heard a different voice on the program. And one that wasn't talking about politics. I somehow managed to catch McGraw's first night! I've listened quite a few nights since then. I appreciate the balance he's brought back to the show (I don't just mean politically, but talk-wise in general). Last night, he was talking about some WWII history during one of the segments I caught. He talks about sports. Books. College radio. Interesting stuff. I get to actually learn while drifting off again, like back in the early Jimbo days.

I really like McGraw's honest, upfront personality. I appreciate the jazz bumpers as opposed to the awful bumpers and imaging Rich used (as others have mentioned above). You can tell McGraw is passionate about radio and is grateful for the opportunity to be at the helm of this show.

I think Rich was a fine host for what he was doing. But not the right fit for a nighttime show like that. McGraw is a far better fit. And for the first time in a while, radio has given me something I'm actually excited about! Here's hoping McGraw's tenure is a successful one and he sticks around for the long haul...
 
I like his planned approach to the show. I intend to listen on his first night.
What he said in the article you linked to is... wow. Yeah, that's what he's been doing alright. The more I learn about McGraw, the more I like him and his approach to this timeslot. I really hope he's successful!
 
Oh I'm so happy about this! I loved falling asleep to Jimbo back in middle school and early high school. His show was like a window to the world as I was coming of age and it was wonderful. Toward his final days on-air, he got more and more political, which I didn't appreciate. I'm not sure if he was pushed in that direction or if he chose it, but I went from listening every night to listening every once in a while.

Then, when Rich replaced him, it became all-politics, all the time. Snore. Some politics and current news content is good, but what Rich turned the show into lost any "window to the world" luster it once held for me. Gone were the rocket scientists, musicians, authors... I'd still listen occasionally while falling asleep, but far from regularly.

You can imagine my surprise (and delight) when I tuned in a few weeks back and heard a different voice on the program. And one that wasn't talking about politics. I somehow managed to catch McGraw's first night! I've listened quite a few nights since then. I appreciate the balance he's brought back to the show (I don't just mean politically, but talk-wise in general). Last night, he was talking about some WWII history during one of the segments I caught. He talks about sports. Books. College radio. Interesting stuff. I get to actually learn while drifting off again, like back in the early Jimbo days.

I really like McGraw's honest, upfront personality. I appreciate the jazz bumpers as opposed to the awful bumpers and imaging Rich used (as others have mentioned above). You can tell McGraw is passionate about radio and is grateful for the opportunity to be at the helm of this show.

I think Rich was a fine host for what he was doing. But not the right fit for a nighttime show like that. McGraw is a far better fit. And for the first time in a while, radio has given me something I'm actually excited about! Here's hoping McGraw's tenure is a successful one and he sticks around for the long haul...
I agree. I just hope McGraw goes light on sports ... there's plenty of that elsewhere.
 
What he said in the article you linked to is... wow. Yeah, that's what he's been doing alright. The more I learn about McGraw, the more I like him and his approach to this timeslot. I really hope he's successful!
What exactly do you like so much he doesnt even take calls with the guests and barely any at all.
 
What exactly do you like so much he doesnt even take calls with the guests and barely any at all.
He might take calls with the guests in the future... give him some time to adapt to the show. He's only been on a few weeks, after all.

I already outlined what I like about him above. After a change to an all-politics, all-the-time program with Valdes, it wasn't a very high bar for me when Milhaven took the helm. Rich did a fine job with what he turned the show into, but that's not what I'm looking for from a talk show, especially in that time-slot.

For example, last night there was a big discussion on sports betting with an author who recently wrote a book about it. Rich Valdes wouldn't have had an insightful conversation like that on the program. If he would have interviewed the author, it would have related to right-wing politics and not about the issue that online gambling is continuing to become. Milhaven did a show on the Grand Ole Opry a bit back. So many different interesting subjects. And it's great! I'm looking to learn... not be bombarded with more politics. There's enough of that elsewhere.

He might not be taking calls with guests at the moment because of staffing/technical constraints, too. That requires a producer and some tech to get right. Who knows, that might be in the works. Or it might not be. He doesn't take calls with the guests? Okay. He also has a lot of very, very interesting guests on that Valdes would never have had on the program. I'd rather Milhaven interview his stable of guests one-on-one than hear listeners call in with the guests Valdes had on.

Of course, that's my personal opinion. You might think something different, and that's fine...
 
Cumulus/Westwood One doesn't have an affiliate list online. Any suggestions for where to stream, what time. Any OTA affiliates in Southern California?
Pittsburgh's KDKA carries him. Not sure whether or not their stream is geofenced, as I've never actually streamed them before and just listen to their AM. They air the show delayed one hour from 10-1 EST (the show actually airs 9-12). So that's one way you could listen. Not sure about Southern California affiliates, sorry.
 
ā€œAmerica at Night with McGraw Milhavenā€ Adds 25 Affiliates

Cumulus Media’s Westwood One says ā€œAmerica at Night with McGraw Milhaven’ has added 25 new affiliates since the launch of the show in December, expanding the show’s national footprint to 280 affiliates coast to coast. New station partnerships include WCCO-AM, Minneapolis; KTRS-AM, St. Louis; WPRO-AM, Providence; and KCMO-AM, Kansas City.
 


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