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Alan Colmes

P

PaulBWalkerJr

Guest
I've got a serious question

How do you guys think Alan Colmes rates as a talk show host? I heard him for the first time on WTSN 1270 and loved the show...
 
I've never actually heard his radio show. However, I watch Hannity and Colmes pretty often on TV. I'm a hardcore conservative, and Colmes makes me scream and occasionally throw things at the TV. However, I think he has plenty of talent, and I admire him for his willingness to still ask tough questions when the deck is stacked so solidly against him.

Anybody know how many affiliates he has?
 
I would do a search in this forum on his name and you'll find several threads devoted to him and people's views of him.

Alan Colmes is an anathema to most people on the left because we consider him ineffective, and essentially a Vichy-style collaborator working for Fox. His radio show is sold to conservative talk radio and their audiences, not to libtalk outlets. The liners for his show recognize that: "Give Alan a piece of your mind... call him now." "Alan just doesn't get it... call and tell him what you think!"

Alan Colmes show is distributed by Fox News Radio. The few libtalk stations that do carry his show usually drop it as other programs become available and liberal listeners complain about him. He was shows off the schedule on XM precisely for this reason, although he's now available on their Fox News Radio channel.

I have less of a problem with his radio show than I do with his passive "check his pulse" performance on H&C.
 
I used to listen to him back in the 90s and also briefly WRKO in Boston ran his current show. Not bad--he will take the Left to task if he disagrees with a Democratic President/Senator/media figure, etc. I think he still does that Radio Grafitti feature (one sentence, one sentence only). Mostly I enjoy conservative talkers
(though some, like Savage, are too far out for me) but Colmes wasn't bad.
 
Good show. Colmes is an entertaining host, but whenever I listen, I get the feeling that he's basically just FOX News' idea of what a liberal talk show host should sound like.

And I get the feeling that the people who listen to him feel sorry for him.

One advantage to his show is that a lot of wingnuts conservatives call his show. He's a bit more animated when Hannity isn't holding his leash.

As far as hosts that can hold their own against screaming conservatives that call radio shows, I think Lionel and Ed Schultz (who doesn't even screen calls) are better at this. Colmes is often too nice. Not a bad thing, but it can make one seem like a wimp.
 
I never could warm up to Alan.

His main problem is Lionel. Not contest there. His other problem is Fox as his radio distributor (ABC/Citadel distributes Hannity and Westwood One distributes O'Reilly) and the baggage he carries from his performance (or lack of it) with Hannity on FNC.

He seemed wimpy when he was local on WABC. The few times I caught him in syndication may have been nights he wasn't being nice. He may have been over-compensating for all the liberals who call him a wuss and came off as just another antagonistic, interrupting, shouting small time talk show host. He needs to follow the example of Rush and Howard. He needs to figure out who he really is and then be himself.

I get the feeling he has too many people telling him what to do - and unfortunately, he listens to them.
 
thebroker said:
I've never actually heard his radio show.
Click to expand...
I remember hearing him back in the 90's when he was on a talk-radio service called "DayNet". He was on from 3 to 5 p.m. ET followed by Barry Farber.
 
I think that part of the reason that a lot of people on the left don't like him, is that he is not as theatrical and bombastic as Hannity, so Colmes comes off weak on TV when they are together.

Another reason is that, I believe, many on the left view him as sort of an "Uncle Tom" one-and-only house Liberal at Fox, both radio and TV.
Some of my Liberal friends (I have all kinds because I am a moderate independent) have made the point to me that if you are going to have only one voice on Fox against loud, bombastic types like Hannity and O'Reilly, then they should have at least picked a pit-bull like James Carville.

Also, something that I noticed myself. I saw an industry publication which had a bunch of Fox full-page ads in a row, each featuring a different personality. The Hannity full-pager showed a soft-focus Hannity staring into the camera in front of a flag with his arms folded, with the tag line something like: "Sean Hannity: America's Concience". The O'Reilly had a flattering, soft-focus shot of him staring into the camera with the tag: "He's always looking out for you".

The Alan Colmes ad showed this extreme, close-up face, sharp focus shot of Colmes with a kind of spaced-out look, his eyes divered off camera. The tag was (I swear!) "Alan Colmes: He May Be A Liberal, But He's Not Crazy!"

Even to me....who is suspicious of all media consipracy theories left or right........this sure looked a little like Fox marketing was screwing with him.
 
I think you have some good points...my main problem with Colmes is he agreed that he could not argue with Hannity and came on Al Franken to defend this wimp-ery as if it was a good thing. If hannity thinks Alan Colmes is a threat to him, my god, it shows how weak he really is when he doesn't have full control...

Colmes should be ashamed of himself along with Juan Williams and anyone else who plays the stooge for FauxNews......

HHH said:
I think that part of the reason that a lot of people on the left don't like him, is that he is not as theatrical and bombastic as Hannity, so Colmes comes off weak on TV when they are together.

Another reason is that, I believe, many on the left view him as sort of an "Uncle Tom" one-and-only house Liberal at Fox, both radio and TV.
Some of my Liberal friends (I have all kinds because I am a moderate independent) have made the point to me that if you are going to have only one voice on Fox against loud, bombastic types like Hannity and O'Reilly, then they should have at least picked a pit-bull like James Carville.

Also, something that I noticed myself. I saw an industry publication which had a bunch of Fox full-page ads in a row, each featuring a different personality. The Hannity full-pager showed a soft-focus Hannity staring into the camera in front of a flag with his arms folded, with the tag line something like: "Sean Hannity: America's Concience". The O'Reilly had a flattering, soft-focus shot of him staring into the camera with the tag: "He's always looking out for you".

The Alan Colmes ad showed this extreme, close-up face, sharp focus shot of Colmes with a kind of spaced-out look, his eyes divered off camera. The tag was (I swear!) "Alan Colmes: He May Be A Liberal, But He's Not Crazy!"

Even to me....who is suspicious of all media consipracy theories left or right........this sure looked a little like Fox marketing was screwing with him.
Click to expand...
 
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