America's longest running national talk show will cease broadcasting effective March 5th, 2010. However, Bruce is leaving the door open in case someone makes a good offer to him in the future. Right now Bruce's show is self-syndicated. He'll continue working with his other businesses and writing his column for United Features.
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Bruce Williams ending his program March 5th
- Thread starter livingfruitvirus
- Start date
D
del_griffith
Guest
I always loved it when some bonehead would call in with one of Bruce's third rail issues. "That's the stupidest thing I ever heard." and then close the call with "But thanks for calling."
Williams was an interesting individual when he was on TalkNet, but has morphed into a more crochety old man in recent years, out of touch with the demographics. I will still give the man his due, and am actually grateful for TalkNet; I got my radio start running the board for a TalkNet affiliate. I still kind of miss Sally Jesse and Leah Mirabal. Best wishes, Bruce. You are a radio legend, pre-dating Rush in the world of talk.
I'm not sure when Bruce Williams started his show, but the Jim Bohannan's over night show replaced Larry King's over night show on Mutual (today's Westwood One). So I believe it would be a longer run that Bruce Williams sort of like the Tonight Show on NBC-TV, has been on since the 1950's with different hosts (Steve Allen, Jack Paar, Johnny Carson, Jay Leno, Conan, and again Jay Leno), but still counts as the longest late night show on TV.
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jhguthlac
Guest
Many years ago, I got to hear Bruce Williams on WDEL, when they started airing talk at night (long before it was popular). Enjoyed his type of radio then, but haven't heard him in years.
Wyatt Cox said:
Barry is WAAAAY out of date. He sounds too much like a plantation owner. Bruce, I'd still give a pass to. But hey, it's about ratings, demographics and dollars, not what YOU or I like personally.
I too remember hearing Bruce Williams on WDEL way back when. He is pretty tame compared to the screaming, ranting, partisan "secular" preachers (Rush/Hannity/Beck/Savage, Press,Rhodes, etc) that have become what is "normal" for talk radio. Jim Bohannan on Westwood One at 10pm is a good host who doesn't just do political talk. He also has guests in studio and discusses other issues making for a fairly entertaining show. Unfortunately, he airs late at night. However, you can listen anytime online, google Jim Bohannan.
Unfortunately, we live in a world of who can be the angriest, and make the most noise wins the ratings game on commercial syndicated (network) radio . Thank heavens for non-commercial NPR where a more intelligent, civilized version of talk still gets ratings and in NPR's case listeners who support those programs with their own money.
Try tuning in to Talk of the Nation on NPR for a bit and then Rush. Both will probably be talking about the Summit on Healthcare with President Obama and Congress. Note how Rush will be foaming at the mouth as he rants on about it, while Talk of the Nation will discuss it the issue taking calls, etc, without all the ranting and screaming. One is trying to get you to have his view point, the other is having a round table discussion where more than one point of view is entertained and welcomed. That's what makes America great, the freedom to choose.
Unfortunately, we live in a world of who can be the angriest, and make the most noise wins the ratings game on commercial syndicated (network) radio . Thank heavens for non-commercial NPR where a more intelligent, civilized version of talk still gets ratings and in NPR's case listeners who support those programs with their own money.
Try tuning in to Talk of the Nation on NPR for a bit and then Rush. Both will probably be talking about the Summit on Healthcare with President Obama and Congress. Note how Rush will be foaming at the mouth as he rants on about it, while Talk of the Nation will discuss it the issue taking calls, etc, without all the ranting and screaming. One is trying to get you to have his view point, the other is having a round table discussion where more than one point of view is entertained and welcomed. That's what makes America great, the freedom to choose.
livingfruitvirus said:
How many stations has Bruce been on lately anyway? I remember that for the longest time his website featured KINS in Eureka, even after he was dropped by Westwood One and thus by KINS. Since self-syndication I haven't heard his program anywhere and his website was no help whatever.
He's sort of gone down for the third glub the same way Sally Jessey Raphael has. She has been trying to syndicate but to no avail. Her hubby even got the domain name "talknet" and started calling their self-syndication "Talknet", but obviously that was then and this is now and Talknet doesn't mean anything anymore. I think Sally eventually went just to podcasts once a week or so.
So, what stations have been carrying Bruce lately?
DavidKaye said:
I know there's one in Phoenix, and one in Atlanta, neither very impressive signals. He's mentioned others, so he clearly has some kind of network, but he still has not had an easy time selling advertising on the show. He's also carried on XM Radio channel 158 from 9-10 PM. From XM's launch to last March they carried his whole show. He made a pretty big deal about XM shortening the show to an hour for about a week and a half prior, and asking listeners to email him so he could forward the comments.
Bruce will ALWAYS be the major inspiration as to how I live my business and professional life. I cannot recount all the lessons, education, chastisment and encouragement he has given me!
A "crotchety old man"? Yes, he is not a young man and he has recently had a birthday. Bruce has suffered since the early 80's from the injuries of his plane crash however, he has never "given up" being a productive human being as others would have done. I will agree with those who have questioned his level of patience with some callers. At times, he was a bit short with some and it seems as though, the more pronounced your accent or lack of command of the English language, the more he lacked patience. However, these shortcomings pale to insignificance the great wisdom, intelligence and practical knowledge he displayed and freely gave.
You cannot compare Bruce with any of these other bozo's. His program was different...much different and much, much more useful than the current crop of WASHED UP, HAS BEEN, DRIED UP disc jockeys who suddenly thing they are experts on everything. NONE of these bozo's have the accomplishments Bruce has and NONE have the knowledge!
Sure, there are other "advice" oriented programs. Consider them...the guy from Atlanta...a consumer reporter...who doesn't have the guts to tell you plain and simple that you screwed up and what you did was "industrial strength stupid". Yes, just pat the caller on the head and heaven forbid you offend him. And then you have the "alleged" Christian from Nashville with his foul mouth and obvious attitude problem. This guy has a nice con-game going. Tell church members how much of a great "Christian" you are, lay a guilt trip on them by telling them credit is a sin. Then sell these "financial advice" seminars to churches and make millions! By laying a guilt trip on people, you can then get them to donate more to the church and what church wouldn't be willing to pay for such a scheme? (Of course they don't listen to his language on the air, using substitutes for the "F" word, the "GD" phrase etc etc.)
Bruce was and still is #1 in my book and IS the source of "fatherly" advice I never received from my real father. Bruce's advice has made me tons of money. His advice has helped me tremendously in my professional life. His advice both via radio and via personal contact has hit me over the head and kicked me squarely in the a-- when he didn't mince words telling me how much of a STUPID mistake I did...and he did it that way to HELP me rather than pat me on the head, tell me what I wanted to hear and send me way to screw up again.
Bruce's advice always was and always will be directly IN TOUCH with ALL DEMOGRAPHICS.
And Bruce, if by chance you are reading, you are a ILLION DOLLAR asset to your family, your listeners, your friends, your readers, your listeners. And as I've said to you before, I hope I will not live to see the day to read a BHW obituary!
A "crotchety old man"? Yes, he is not a young man and he has recently had a birthday. Bruce has suffered since the early 80's from the injuries of his plane crash however, he has never "given up" being a productive human being as others would have done. I will agree with those who have questioned his level of patience with some callers. At times, he was a bit short with some and it seems as though, the more pronounced your accent or lack of command of the English language, the more he lacked patience. However, these shortcomings pale to insignificance the great wisdom, intelligence and practical knowledge he displayed and freely gave.
You cannot compare Bruce with any of these other bozo's. His program was different...much different and much, much more useful than the current crop of WASHED UP, HAS BEEN, DRIED UP disc jockeys who suddenly thing they are experts on everything. NONE of these bozo's have the accomplishments Bruce has and NONE have the knowledge!
Sure, there are other "advice" oriented programs. Consider them...the guy from Atlanta...a consumer reporter...who doesn't have the guts to tell you plain and simple that you screwed up and what you did was "industrial strength stupid". Yes, just pat the caller on the head and heaven forbid you offend him. And then you have the "alleged" Christian from Nashville with his foul mouth and obvious attitude problem. This guy has a nice con-game going. Tell church members how much of a great "Christian" you are, lay a guilt trip on them by telling them credit is a sin. Then sell these "financial advice" seminars to churches and make millions! By laying a guilt trip on people, you can then get them to donate more to the church and what church wouldn't be willing to pay for such a scheme? (Of course they don't listen to his language on the air, using substitutes for the "F" word, the "GD" phrase etc etc.)
Bruce was and still is #1 in my book and IS the source of "fatherly" advice I never received from my real father. Bruce's advice has made me tons of money. His advice has helped me tremendously in my professional life. His advice both via radio and via personal contact has hit me over the head and kicked me squarely in the a-- when he didn't mince words telling me how much of a STUPID mistake I did...and he did it that way to HELP me rather than pat me on the head, tell me what I wanted to hear and send me way to screw up again.
Bruce's advice always was and always will be directly IN TOUCH with ALL DEMOGRAPHICS.
And Bruce, if by chance you are reading, you are a ILLION DOLLAR asset to your family, your listeners, your friends, your readers, your listeners. And as I've said to you before, I hope I will not live to see the day to read a BHW obituary!
Oh Jesus. XM replaced Bruce's slot with a delayed broadcast of Alex Jones, probably to FTL_Ian's dismay (instead of GCN live, it's GCN delayed). This is not what I would call a worthwhile replacement for a financial/business talk show.
I am helping out with a small AM in my market/hometown and we had Bruce on weeknights. I found him to be refreshing in this day and age of the Righty talkers, the lefty talkers, and little in between.
He had been on KQV-AM in Pittsburgh for many years, I just discovered online this past week when reading articles about his retirement. They replaced him with Laura Ingraham, not exactly a Bruce Williams! But, there really aren't any.
Not to say he didn't talk politics, which he did, and, he more disagreed with the policies of the current President than agreed, but he definitely didn't come on the air on a bully pulpit or "agenda driven".
He talked, engagingly about anything and nothing. He seemed to handle all his advertisers in house (most of them using his 800 office number for DR). I, for one, will miss him.
He had been on KQV-AM in Pittsburgh for many years, I just discovered online this past week when reading articles about his retirement. They replaced him with Laura Ingraham, not exactly a Bruce Williams! But, there really aren't any.
Not to say he didn't talk politics, which he did, and, he more disagreed with the policies of the current President than agreed, but he definitely didn't come on the air on a bully pulpit or "agenda driven".
He talked, engagingly about anything and nothing. He seemed to handle all his advertisers in house (most of them using his 800 office number for DR). I, for one, will miss him.
Dude welcome to NC.FTL_Ian said:
Who was running Bruce Williams here?
50kWer KXEL/1540 Waterloo/Ceder Rapids also carried Bruce right up to the end (IIRC, through Talknet, Talk America and his self-syndication).
Wow, I had no idea Bruce was still on the air. Used to be you could twirl the AM dial at night in the late 80s and you'd pick him up everywhere, a lot like you could get Art Bell everywhere in the 90s. His show was ubiquitous and I listened quite a bit. Wish him well.
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