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Dr. Laura Renaissance?

B

bigtalkradiofan

Guest
Dr. Laura Renaissance?

For a long time, I thought Dr. Laura was headed to obscurity; but in contrast, lately I keep seeing her pop up in a lot of mainstream places (that I hadn't seen her before) - which raises the question: Is Dr. Laura having a renaissance?

She seems to have generated a new audience with her recent popular, self-help books:
* The Proper Care & Feeding Of Husbands (recently came out on paperback, NY Times bestseller, I believe).
* Woman Power (follow-up to PC&FH).

Now she is coming out with the "The Proper Care & Feeding Of Marriage."

There is even a "Dr. Laura Action Figure" that her audience can buy that spouts quotes frequently said by Dr. Laura.

In addition, recent radio-info.com posts regarding Dr. Laura in 2006:

"Dr" Laura's Ratings Up
http://www.radio-info.com/smf/index.php/topic,50521.0.html

The Second Coming of "Dr." Laura?
http://www.radio-info.com/smf/index.php/topic,40636.0.html

NewsMax.com - Dr. Laura's Radio Audience Grows, Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2006
http://www.newsmax.com/archives/ic/2006/9/20/215132.shtml

Which raises the question: Is Dr. Laura having a renaissance?
 
She is reappearing, not on the dominant news-talkers where she held court six years ago, but on minor stations that have tried everything from nostalgia to oldies to liberal talk, approaching each half-hearted and half-arsed, and which have now settled on an "advice" format as something cheap that can be sold in combo with conservatalkers and not offend too many advertisers, except maybe credit card companies during the Dave Ramsey show, and draw maybe a 0.4 share.

Perhaps a more appropriate name for this phenomenon would be "dead cat bounce."
 
Smedge, you may be right, and your comment is a bit entertaining, but Dr. Laura is the one laughing. She's cleared in 7 of the top 10 markets and close to 250 total. She's not a huge force in a number of them (but, in the top 10, is in LA, SF, and somewhat in Detroit) but a clearance is a clearance. Her show generates a lot of cash.

You speak of the caliber of stations she's on, but keep in mind that forty-some percent of stations in the U.S. weren't profitable last year. There are a lot of half-assed stations that flip through formats because they're owned by people who had $300,000 ten years ago and thought it would be fun to own a radio station. Perhaps a bit of an exaggertion, but I was put some case studies on some recent brokered stations together and in almost every case, they were a news/talk or talk station before they starting selling all their time. Just because a station ran a format that the owner or a manager at the time personally liked, but didn't work, doesn't diminish Dr. Laura's presence on them now.

As to the conservatalk combo sales you speak, I would disagree. The fact is that much of news/talk, especially syndicated news/talk is ticking down, if not only because there are so many syndicated talkers. If I'm going up against Rush or Hannity, I either want a local talker to counterbalance their national perspective or I want a Dr. Laura/Dave Ramsey type show to counterprogram politics. Smart operators are realizing that running Mike Gallagher, Neal Boortz, or whatever other third- or fourth-tier synditalker against the 800 lb. gorillas just doesn't work, and are looking to shows like Dr. Laura's to bring a new type of listener to their station and the talk genre.

You are correct, however, in that Dr. Laura and similar shows form a nice basis for a station that sells shows rather than spots.
 
I am sorry to see her having a "Second Coming". I used to listen to her on WBT in Charlotte for a while, but I found that after a few weeks I could take no more of her. Why?

It seems that while I agree with most of her opinions and most of the "advice" that she gives out to here listeners, I cannot stand her "holier than thou" condecending attitude, and her constant rudeness to callers. I also hated how she would let a caller start with a statement then cut them off, assuming that she knew where they were going, and she would start dispensing remedies right then without hearing the callers entire story.

I found myself shouting at the radio, calling her rude and some names that I will not repeat here, so I just totally stopped listening to her at all. My blood pressure did not need that sort of treatment.
 
Well, you're right; I was driving with a client the other day and he asked "What would her perfect caller be?" One she wouldn't yell at or talk over. Then again, the listener doesn't care about minutia and the purpose of the show isn't to help listeners but to take strong positions that make for good radio.
 
I am sorry to see her having a "Second Coming". I used to listen to her on WBT in Charlotte for a while, but I found that after a few weeks I could take no more of her. Why?

It seems that while I agree with most of her opinions and most of the "advice" that she gives out to here listeners, I cannot stand her "holier than thou" condecending attitude, and her constant rudeness to callers. I also hated how she would let a caller start with a statement then cut them off, assuming that she knew where they were going, and she would start dispensing remedies right then without hearing the callers entire story.

I found myself shouting at the radio, calling her rude and some names that I will not repeat here, so I just totally stopped listening to her at all. My blood pressure did not need that sort of treatment.
Click to expand...

That's why Err Amerika failed. Progressive talk radio is one thing, but having hosts which are Kool-Aid drinking liberals who kept spouting platitudes about the "Shrub in Chief" is another. Dr. Laura's success is that her show is a bit like watching a gladiator match....who is going to win...the Christian or the lion.
 
If I'm going up against Rush or Hannity, I either want a local talker to counterbalance their national perspective or I want a Dr. Laura/Dave Ramsey type show to counterprogram politics. Smart operators are realizing that running Mike Gallagher, Neal Boortz, or whatever other third- or fourth-tier synditalker against the 800 lb. gorillas just doesn't work, and are looking to shows like Dr. Laura's to bring a new type of listener to their station and the talk genre.
Click to expand...

That is a great observation KJCB and one that I often wonder why others don't share. When I am in my car listening to talk radio and Rush or Hannity are going off on something that I care little about or am tired of hearing, the last thing I want is another version from another mouthpiece. Counter-programming with Dr. Laura or Dave Ramsey (maybe even Glenn Beck becasue he does a bit more of a pop-culture thing sometimes) makes sense in that case. And you are right that people who listen to a Ramsey or Laura will sometimes not be talk radio people at all.
 
I'd agree with that assessment too, that having "topical", "cultural", and "selfhelp" type talk shows running against the political style of talk does make sense. Other good non-political talkers for my ear include, Kim Kommando, NPR's Car Talk, and the NPR quiz/call in show "What Do You Know". Of course those last two aren't available to commercial stations, but they are entertaining and do bring in a different type of listener. I'm surprised that there aren't more of those types of syndicated shows out there available, as frankly I believe the market has become too flooded with political talk. I guess the bigger question would be, is there a large enough demo that advertisers want for this non-political talk format? Or are those listeners already lost to music on FM? Could they be lured back to AM for non-political talk?
 
"What would her perfect caller be?"

Someone whose sob story was really compelling and a bit salacious. Face it, hearing Dr. Laura's advice isn't half as entertaining as listening to the strange sorts of problems the callers call in about. If she gets more calls like "My cheating, no-good husband impregnated me, my sister, and the baby-sitter. How do I get him to help with the dishes?", she'll get ratings success.
 
I guess there's a market for listening to mostly women each day, who call in and say, Hi Dr. Laura, I'm my kid's mom. I've listened to your show for years and have read all of your books, but I have a dilema. I shacked up with the man who became the sperm donor of my three children. (the caller knows all the Dr. Laura lingo) He's a boozer, a cheat, and I can't seem to get him to the wedding altar or chapel as he runs around with every skit in town. I know Dr. Laura, he's not going to buy the cow now that he's gotten the milk for free, but I don't know what to do, please help me ( or some variation to that).

It amazes me that so many women (most callers are women) who claim to be "followers of Dr. Laura", who know her views on the above types of issues, who know from listening each day that Dr. Laura is going to go ballistic on them in front of 12 million radio listeners for being so stupid in how they've lived their lives, etc. Yet they call in day after day so that they too can receive such abuse in public. Apparently there are plenty of women who need or like receiving such a tongue lashing and plenty of listeners, my guess mostly women, who enjoy hearing those women get such a tongue lashing. Maybe it's sort of like listening to a real life "soap opera". There might be made the case for some network or syndicator to start airing soap opera's on the radio again. I hope not, but it would appear they could generate enough listeners based on Dr. Laura's show. Of course what may make this sort of show so popular with the women ( it's my assumption that women would be the target and the largest portion of the audience) who listen, but don't call in, is they can feel better about themselves as their life isn't as "screwed up" as those callers that Dr. Laura is lecturing.

I guess it's must be a similar thing that would compel someone to appear on one of the many TV courtroom shows where their private business gets aired nationwide and one of the two people is going to get their clock cleaned by the TV judge in front of millions of TV viewers. Again maybe the folks who watch, but don't appear on the show can feel better about themselves much in a similar manner to those who listen to Dr. Laura's show on the radio. There must be a market for such shows and if the radio or TV stations and networks can make plenty of money airing these shows, then they'll be on the air for all to see. I guess TV court shows and radio talk such as Dr. Laura are the "real life" soap opera's and appear to have a large following on both radio and TV.
 
I guess TV court shows and radio talk such as Dr. Laura are the "real life" soap opera's and appear to have a large following on both radio and TV.

Bingo! You got it exactly right. The concept isn't new. Baby Boomers might remember their moms watching "Queen for a Day", where women told sob stories to win new household appliances. Frankly, I'm not surprised at Dr. Laura's success. I'm only surprised that there aren't a dozen more like her on the air.
 
I'm not surprised, although she's most definitely not my bag and I find some of her views repugnant. Political talk is crashing because there's just too much of it and only a few shows are doing all that well. Hot talk doesn't fly outside of top 20 markets or the Northeast and CBS seems determined to kill the whole format with the messes they're putting on the air anyway. Advice/entertainment talk is a logical niche that'd never be a ratings juggernaut, but it could hit the right demos and bill really well.
 
More recent mainstream media coverage of Dr. Laura:

More recent mainstream media coverage of Dr. Laura (for her book tour for her new book the "Proper Care & Feeding of Marriage"):


CBS News Video
http://www.cbsnews.com/sections/i_video/main500251.shtml?id=2329623n

'Care & Feeding Of Marriage'

Dr. Laura Schlessinger, radio personality and author of "The Proper Care And Feeding Of Marriage," sits down with Hannah Storm to share tips for couples trying to build a better marriage.


NBC Today Show
http://video.msn.com/v/us/fv/msnbc/fv.htm??f=00&g=03d391a4-c856-481a-b007-70aabc6690ba&p=hotvideo_m_edpicks&t=m5&rf=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16442606/&fg=

How to save a marriage

Jan. 3: Dr. Laura Schlesinger talks with TODAY host Matt Lauer about her new book, "The Proper Care and Feeding of Marriage."


MSNBC Scarborough Country
http://video.msn.com/v/us/fv/msnbc/fv.htm??f=00&g=f26f85ff-f57c-47f1-a190-5b7bd2fa0f0e&p=source_scarborough_country&t=c1151&rf=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3036789/&fg=

Dr. Laura in the country

Jan. 4: Dr. Laura says the key to saving your marriage is a little less conversation and a lot more sex. MSNBC's Joe Scarborough gets marriage tips from Dr. Laura Schlessinger.


Fox & Friends
http://www.foxnews.com/video2/player06.html?010507/010507_ff_laura&FOX_Friends&Sex%20and%20Marriage&acc&Health&-1&News&291&&&new


http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/16461166.htm

Posted on Mon, Jan. 15, 2007

Dr. Laura is in
HER OLD-FASHIONED VIEWS APPEAL TO LEGIONS OF LISTENERS, READERS

By Brad Kava
Mercury News

Radio host Dr. Laura Schlessinger is on the phone, about to do a book signing in El Cajon, when she gets the news that in its first week out, her book "The Proper Care & Feeding of Marriage,'' is No. 2 on the New York Times bestseller list.

"Boy, how cool is that?'' says Schlessinger giddily, showing off the laugh, timing and humor that have made her one of the top talk show hosts in the country.

"Of course I'll never be No. 1. You cannot beat a diet book. I could say this is a book about how to bring the dead back to life and I would still not be able to beat a diet book.'' ...
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http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/16461165.htm

Posted on Mon, Jan. 15, 2007

About Dr. Laura
Here are some things you may not have known about Dr. Laura

Here are some things you may not have known about Dr. Laura:

• Her career started as a caller to Bill Ballance's Los Angeles talk show in 1974. He was so impressed with her, he gave her a weekly segment.

• She sold ownership of her show to the company that became Clear Channel Communications, for $71 million. ...
Click to expand...
 
Re: More recent mainstream media coverage of Dr. Laura:

bigtalkradiofan said:
Here are some things you may not have known about Dr. Laura...Her career started as a caller to Bill Ballance's Los Angeles talk show in 1974. He was so impressed with her, he gave her a weekly segment
Click to expand...

He apparently liked her so much that he published nude pictures of her on the internet.
 
Two Dr. Laura listeners, in response to the popularity of her book "The Proper Care and Feeding of Husbands," created a club based on the principle of "wives committed to Loving Your Man Everyday" (or LYME).

==========================================================

Recognizing that men communicate and receive love and affection physically we commit to putting our "mood" aside and to seeking out our men everyday with loving touch and sexual affection. We will vigorously participate in sex as not just a willing, but an active partner. We will leave no doubt in the minds of our men that they are sexy, attractive, and desired. (Quote from Club LYME Bi-laws)
Click to expand...


http://www.clublyme.com/

Club LYME-Love Your Man Everyday!

Welcome

Welcome! Join the movement of women who are actively seeking the benefit of loving their man everyday. ClubLYME is a place where women know the joy of caring for their man and want to share that with other women. If you are looking for a group of girlfriends who will build into your marriage relationship and cheer you on as you strive to love and cherish your husband then you've got to join the club. ClubLYME! We will be here for you with quotes to encourage you, books to motivate you, and ideas inspire you to make the most of your marriage and your life.



[EDIT]


[EDIT-post truncated because originating material is copyprotected. Unauthorized use of copyrighted content is in violation of Radio-Info's TOS.]
 
bigtalkradiofan said:
Two Dr. Laura listeners, in response to the popularity of her book "The Proper Care and Feeding of Husbands," created a club based on the principle of "wives committed to Loving Your Man Everyday" (or LYME).

==========================================================

Recognizing that men communicate and receive love and affection physically we commit to putting our "mood" aside and to seeking out our men everyday with loving touch and sexual affection. We will vigorously participate in sex as not just a willing, but an active partner. We will leave no doubt in the minds of our men that they are sexy, attractive, and desired. (Quote from Club LYME Bi-laws)
Click to expand...


http://www.clublyme.com/

Club LYME-Love Your Man Everyday!

Welcome

Welcome! Join the movement of women who are actively seeking the benefit of loving their man everyday. ClubLYME is a place where women know the joy of caring for their man and want to share that with other women. If you are looking for a group of girlfriends who will build into your marriage relationship and cheer you on as you strive to love and cherish your husband then you've got to join the club. ClubLYME! We will be here for you with quotes to encourage you, books to motivate you, and ideas inspire you to make the most of your marriage and your life.
Click to expand...

Interesting that they chose an acryonym that is similar with a deadly disease caught by blood sucking ticks, that is also very rare....

"ClubLYME is a place where women know the joy of caring for their man and want to share that with other women.

Sign me up! ;)

Thanks Dr Laura! :D
 
clichemoth said:
Political talk is crashing because there's just too much of it and only a few shows are doing all that well.
Click to expand...

True. Problem is, the people who call the shots in the biz have this narrow idea in their heads of what "talk radio' is supposed to sound like - and all the evidence in the world won't change their minds. I fear the industry will go under before the lemmings in charge get the message.
 
Problem is, the people who call the shots in the biz have this narrow idea in their heads of what "talk radio' is supposed to sound like - and all the evidence in the world won't change their minds.

Why should the people in the biz who control talk radio have any broader perceptions than the people who control music radio? Music formats, talk formats, they're all stuck in the late 1950's.
 
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