Best Talk?

[SandyG]

I have been a fan of 97.1 for a long time, but lately they are sucking. I am listening to (gasp) AM radio for the first time in a long time. I am not too political, but I am liking KRLA, KTLK, and KGIL...what are considered the best AM's here in LA and what do ya'll recommend for a former "hot talk" junkie?

 

[djmimi]

I like Leo LaPorte's Tech Talk midday weekends on KFI...he's great. I've also been a big fan of Dr. Dean Edell, used to listen to him on KGO in SF, so i was happy to find him here, also on KFI.

Those are for technology and medical talk, but for political talk, there's a plethora who I like (if only to rail at too...) Handel, Stephanie Miller, John and Ken, etc...

 

[nmoore6676]

I like Leo LaPorte's Tech Talk midday weekends on KFI...he's great. I've also been a big fan of Dr. Dean Edell, used to listen to him on KGO in SF, so i was happy to find him here, also on KFI.

Those are for technology and medical talk, but for political talk, there's a plethora who I like (if only to rail at too...) Handel, Stephanie Miller, John and Ken, etc...

I agree except for John and Ken. I detect a genuine nastiness in John Kobylt which I do not believe is schtick. I can disagree with anyone I listen to but I detest genuine nastiness and disingenuousness. Being a disagreeable dolt is why I sent in strong objections to the management of KGIL when they put on Michael Savage, who makes John Kobylt sound like Mr. Rogers. I also despise fatuousness which rules out Rush. I would add Dr. Drew on the medical side, then Glenn Beck for political commentary as well Ed Schultz. Doug McIntyre is also good, but not enough for the competition here in LA, he would shine much more brightly in Cincinnati, Cleveland or Columbus (I'm from Ohio).

 

[Ultimajock]

Doug McIntyre is also good, but not enough for the competition here in LA, he would shine much more brightly in Cincinnati, Cleveland or Columbus (I'm from Ohio).

...no way would McIntyre ever consider going east; that documentary film that he and wife Penny Peyser made about jazzman Jack Sheldon has been racking up a batch of festival awards, so I would expect him to go into films if KABC ever cuts him loose. That said, my vote for best talk in L.A. goes to Danny Bonaduce's 2:00 hour on KLSX. Tom Leykis is just as good whenever he gets away from the chauvanist junk...

 

[djmimi]

Ah, that is a good one to bring up. I did a show with Danny once and you're right, he's very talented and he impressed the heck out of me. His only fault is that he does tend to talk about himself quite a bit, but maybe it's the way they run that format.

 

[LARadioNUT]

Yes, I agree that Danny is good. You tune in and you can't tune out. He really is a train wreck. Leykis is also pretty good, but it gets repetitive sometimes. Carolla is a windbag and I have no idea how all of a sudden he is the top guy on 97.1 in ratings and Leykis is like #19. How is that possible? Carolla is the second worse interviewer in the world! (Leno is first) They both try to have something funny to say and NEVER let the guest be the star. (The way Stern does and Johnny Carson did)

As far as other stations, KGIL can't keep their line-up in order and they need a live and local show, as does KRLA.

Back to 97.1, does anybody know what happened to the car show on the weekends there? I used to listen cause I am in my car all day saturday afternoons and it hasn't been on in a while.

 

[nmoore6676]

Doug McIntyre is also good, but not enough for the competition here in LA, he would shine much more brightly in Cincinnati, Cleveland or Columbus (I'm from Ohio).

...no way would McIntyre ever consider going east; that documentary film that he and wife Penny Peyser made about jazzman Jack Sheldon has been racking up a batch of festival awards, so I would expect him to go into films if KABC ever cuts him loose. That said, my vote for best talk in L.A. goes to Danny Bonaduce's 2:00 hour on KLSX. Tom Leykis is just as good whenever he gets away from the chauvanist junk...

I didn't mean to imply that I thought he would, or should, go to Ohio, just that in comparison to what is on he would be the big duck in the pond. Here, against Handel and Bonaduce, he is destined to be the also ran. I used Ohio cities as an example because having lived there I know what their local talk is like whereas I don't in other markets. He is far better than anything they ever did back there that I can recall.

 

[3rdTicketHobo]

Doug McIntyre is also good, but not enough for the competition here in LA,

I've got to disagree. McIntyre is intelligent, can develop a unique perspective on news, and has a great sense of humor. He has what it takes to be a major talk player in LA. Imagine if he were on KFI or a similarly well-programmed station like KGO in SF. I think he'd be a talk radio superstar. Right now, he's handicapped by 3 things:

1) A barely adequate on-air team. Merrinko and the girl are passable talents, but not nearly as strong as the people around Handel.

2) KABC has no local news department. Merrinko is an affable sidekick, but Gary Hoffman is a solid newsman. KABC has a token sports minute, KFI has Marrotta.

3) KFI is just generally a better-programmed station than KABC. Have you heard the "midnight radio network" talk show out of Texas that KABC is now airing? They dumped the LA-centric Peter Tilden for that. How serious can they be?

I think McIntyre does the best he can with the tools available to him, but he'd really shine on a superior radio station.

 

[failsafe]

Daytime on weekdays the only host I really like would be Larry Elder on KABC. Been a longtime listener of his.
Leykis is entertaining when he's not giving classes in Leykis 101.
Weekends I really only listen to Motorman with Leon Kaplan on KABC.
Nights I'll alternate between Coast to Coast on KFI and John and Jeff on 97.1.
And for laughs I'll tune into Dr. Laura once in a while on KFI. I don't want to sound mean, but I find it hilarious when she's scolding the weak willed parents who've given too much control to their kids.

 

[nmoore6676]

Doug McIntyre is also good, but not enough for the competition here in LA,

I've got to disagree. McIntyre is intelligent, can develop a unique perspective on news, and has a great sense of humor. He has what it takes to be a major talk player in LA. Imagine if he were on KFI or a similarly well-programmed station like KGO in SF. I think he'd be a talk radio superstar. Right now, he's handicapped by 3 things:

I think McIntyre does the best he can with the tools available to him, but he'd really shine on a superior radio station.

I can not disagree with your assessment but I think that he is too laid back for LA. Actually Handel falls down after the six o'clock hour when he tries to go Dennis Prager on us. Los Angeles wants whacky silly and not too much nasty information. I think that Michael Jackson failed in his comeback, besides being on KGIL, because he was just a little too serious. I still maintain the McIntyre would be better accepted in Middle or maybe even East Coast America. I am old enough to recall Dave Garroway and Doug reminds me of him on many levels. I also enjoy Stephanie Miller, though you can’t call her local because her show is syndicated.

I have never cared too much for Larry Elder (my personal taste) but the ones everyone raves about are Leykis or John and Ken which underscores my take on LA tastes in talk radio. You can get some actual useful information on KGIL, KRLA or even KTLK in the afternoons but no one wants that. By the way I don't want to see the fairness doctrine but I try to listen to as much of both sides (Conservative / Progressive) as I have time for and can stomach. I was a devoted Stern fan so I'm not always afraid of being entertained either, he is the best at creating really good radio as there has been so far. It is just that Satellite radio doesn’t suit my lifestyle (train commuter) or I’d still be there.

 

[SandyG]

Back to 97.1, does anybody know what happened to the car show on the weekends there? I used to listen cause I am in my car all day saturday afternoons and it hasn't been on in a while.

I heard that some infomercial came up with a ton of dough and bought the hour. They really whore out the weekends there. I heard them on Sunday's not too long ago, but I don't see them on the website anymore. I hope they come back.