COAST-TO-COAST AM Sounding Arthritic

[boombox4]

From what I can gather from my spotty listening, his audience does not consist largely of rocket surgeons who are looking to unwind. Rather, his audience seems to consist largely of the sort of people who, while they may be pleasant company, are not the sort of people who spend a lot of time fretting over what sort of display case they ought to buy for their recently awarded Fields Medal.

If ever there was a chat show host who mirrors his audience, I am convinced it is G. Noory.

In other words, everyday America.

Most Noory listeners seem to be just regular folks. Noory has his standard set of callers, and then during interviews he gets callers that often seem to know their stuff. It depends on the show, and depends on the interview.

 

[Kelly A]

In other words, everyday America.

Most Noory listeners seem to be just regular folks.

Lord I hope that's not the case. That would be like saying MAGA and QAnon folks are just like 'regular folks.' More like; it shows how mental illness is a much more widespread problem than we'd ever imagined.

Noory has his standard set of callers, and then during interviews he gets callers that often seem to know their stuff. It depends on the show, and depends on the interview.

Yep, just the usual batch of 'regular folks'..

 

[boombox4]

Lord I hope that's not the case. That would be like saying MAGA and QAnon folks are just like 'regular folks.' More like; it shows how mental illness is a much more widespread problem than we'd ever imagined.

Yep, just the usual batch of 'regular folks'..

Do you even listen to the show? Noory seemed to be a Covid denier, but most of his show is paranormal stuff. What's QAnon or MAGA about Bigfoot, Ghosts, or UFO's?

And I've heard intelligent callers phone in questions when Noory interviews serious guests, like the guy who was in the mob, the guy who wrote a book on Elvis, and another guy who travels the world and visits dangerous places. Those guests, admittedly are few and far between, but the callers are often quite intelligent.

If you truly think all of Noory's listeners all mentally ill I'd hate to see what you may think of Sports radio listeners.

 

[PTBoardOp94]

If you truly think all of Noory's listeners all mentally ill I'd hate to see what you may think of Sports radio listeners.

Sports fans are some of the most vile people I've encountered on the radio. Like, so many of the callers are just plain mean.

Same goes for sports twitter.

 

[gr8oldies]

Sports fans are some of the most vile people I've encountered on the radio. Like, so many of the callers are just plain mean.

Same goes for sports twitter.

Sports Twitter is impossible. It's gotten 3 coaches fired in the last 10 years where I live. Bad game? "Fire the coach right now and don't let him even fly home!" and "Pay the next coach 30 million dollars"

 

[Mikey Radio]

Sports fans are some of the most vile people I've encountered on the radio.

Same for many hosts of sports radio shows and programs. Many are completely non-athletic, out of shape and have never played the game themselves, yet somehow they're absolute experts on the air and overly opinionated about most aspects.

As a side, it also often irks me when ESPN brings on Brian Windhorst as an NBA basketball expert, specifically regarding all things LeBron James. One quick glimpse at Windhorst and one can readily see that there's no way he could possibly even run up and down the court even once without collapsing, I'm guessing he's never once played basketball except maybe in grade school, but here he his, talking out his @$$ and being billed as some kind of expert on NBA basketball. Ridiculous.

 

[boombox4]

Some of the national sports talk guys are entertaining, though. Scott Ferrall was (no longer on terrestrial radio). Ben Maller can be entertaining at times, although he is provocative with opinions -- definitely wasn't a fan of Peyton Manning. Dan Patrick seems to be pretty good. I've only heard Jim Rome a few times (it apparently no longer plays in Seattle). He had his schtick. Mike and Mike had some interesting football talk.

I don't know what the stereotypical sports radio listener is like. I think of the guys in the extended family who listen during football season, when the Seahawks are playing. In other words, all over the map. But then, I never worked in a situation in the radio industry where sports was a big deal. The only talk shows at the company where I worked were nighttime, banter and music shows.

 

[gr8oldies]

Same for many hosts of sports radio shows and programs. Many are completely non-athletic, out of shape and have never played the game themselves, yet somehow they're absolute experts on the air and overly opinionated about most aspects.

As a side, it also often irks me when ESPN brings on Brian Windhorst as an NBA basketball expert, specifically regarding all things LeBron James. One quick glimpse at Windhorst and one can readily see that there's no way he could possibly even run up and down the court even once without collapsing, I'm guessing he's never once played basketball except maybe in grade school, but here he his, talking out his @$$ and being billed as some kind of expert on NBA basketball. Ridiculous.

Why would you have to have played to do a sports talk show? Certainly. every player can't do a sports talk show

 

[Kelly A]

If you truly think all of Noory's listeners all mentally ill I'd hate to see what you may think of Sports radio listeners.

Or some who are George Noory fans here..

 

[Kelly A]

Do you even listen to the show? Noory seemed to be a Covid denier, but most of his show is paranormal stuff. What's QAnon or MAGA about Bigfoot, Ghosts, or UFO's?

Because the common thread is: They're all delusional morons?

And I've heard intelligent callers phone in questions when Noory interviews serious guests, like the guy who was in the mob, the guy who wrote a book on Elvis, and another guy who travels the world and visits dangerous places. Those guests, admittedly are few and far between, but the callers are often quite intelligent.

Oh yes, SO intelligent. I'm sure many are MENSA members.

 

[davideduardo]

Same for many hosts of sports radio shows and programs. Many are completely non-athletic, out of shape and have never played the game themselves, yet somehow they're absolute experts on the air and overly opinionated about most aspects.

You mean just like most of the broadcast and new media professors at colleges everywhere who have never worked in radio and TV stations or run a web service or written software for the web.

Or just like Hollywood stars and producers who tell us how the government should be run yet have never held an elected position since they were the head of the drama club in High School.

America is filled with professional commentators who talk about things they have never done.

 

[davideduardo]

Oh yes, SO intelligent. I'm sure many are MENSA members.

Amusingly, in Spanish "Mensa/o" means "nitwit". I think it fits in this case.

 

[Kelly A]

You mean just like most of the broadcast and new media professors at colleges everywhere who have never worked in radio and TV stations or run a web service or written software for the web.

Or just like Hollywood stars and producers who tell us how the government should be run yet have never held an elected position since they were the head of the drama club in High School.

America is filled with professional commentators who talk about things they have never done.

Or dare I say; some people on this very site who still insist 6+ ratings are meaningful..

 

[seatownmedia]

I think curious teens might seek out AM stations. There are certainly many still out there. It is dangerous to call AM dead, when it really isn’t. Despite the bashing, many AM stations are still doing well and hanging in there as we approach 2023.

 

[seatownmedia]

.

 

[davideduardo]

I think curious teens might seek out AM stations. There are certainly many still out there. It is dangerous to call AM dead, when it really isn’t. Despite the bashing, many AM stations are still doing well and hanging in there as we approach 2023.

While there are a few higher power or low-on-the-dial good and viable AMs, most are a crutch that holds up an FM translator. If the FCC granted permanency to translators and allowed their AM partner to close down, I'll bet from 2,500 to 3000 US AM stations would be gone overnight... 50% to 60% of all AMs.

 

[boombox4]

Because the common thread is: They're all delusional morons?

Oh yes, SO intelligent. I'm sure many are MENSA members.

Are you implying I'm a delusional moron, because I listen to the show, Kelly?

And if you really think the people who view the TV station or network you work for are all MENSA candidates, there's a delusion right there.

Say what you will about George Noory's show, at least it's more interesting than the homogenized pablum that serves on most FM. Everyone here knows that FM music radio serves the lowest common denominator -- that's what makes it work. The music is researched to death, to serve the lowest common denominator.

Because it works.

It doesn't change the fact that the average FM listener probably doesn't have any higher an IQ than Noory listeners, or sports talk fans, or anyone else for that matter.

 

[Kelly A]

I think curious teens might seek out AM stations.

WHAT??? HAHAHAHAHA! Unless inferior-sounding-old-angry-white-male-talk is an app on their phone, you really see some interest there? OMG, that's hilarious.

There are certainly many still out there.

Many what? Old, white, angry males?

It is dangerous to call AM dead, when it really isn’t. Despite the bashing, many AM stations are still doing well and hanging in there as we approach 2023.

They hang in there as long as Boomer/old people listen. As old people die off, so will AM.

 

[Kelly A]

Are you implying I'm a delusional moron, because I listen to the show, Kelly?

Oh, sorry. I didn't know you actually listened. Okay maybe delusional moron was too strong. What about: 'delusional due to sleep deprivation'? I'm sure there must be a reason why someone would find that programming interesting.

And if you really think the people who view the TV station or network you work for are all MENSA candidates, there's a delusion right there.

Uh, I never said that. You said people who listen late at night to George Noory were potentially intelligent. Given most of the calls, my MENSA comment was meant to be sarcastic.

Say what you will about George Noory's show, at least it's more interesting than the homogenized pablum that serves on most FM.

Oh yes, talking about ghosts, demonic possession, aliens, poltergeist, and the government trying to alter the weather, is much more interesting than actual news or music. That's what most of the QAnon people think too. Forget the actual news. Let's make up our own reality!

Everyone here knows that FM music radio serves the lowest common denominator -- that's what makes it work. The music is researched to death, to serve the lowest common denominator.

Ah, but most people who like to hear popular music, also don't wear tinfoil hats. You might be onto something there Boombox.

It doesn't change the fact that the average FM listener probably doesn't have any higher an IQ than Noory listeners, or sports talk fans, or anyone else for that matter.

IQ is one thing, but I'm not sure if there is a delusional thinking-scale.

 

[boombox4]

OK, fair enough. But you know -- not every radio listener is into political punditry. They get their news overload on TV and over the internet. It clobbers people 24/7, along with the 24/7 news cycle.

It's the same reason they switch off the news station and tune into the music station. Reality overload.

And people have always been interested in the paranormal stuff. You ever looked at that section in a bookstore? Tons of books on that sort of thing. Doesn't mean that those who buy them are dense.