How Much Longer Does Alan Hunt's Contract Run?

[EW0350]

This guy is likely killing WSB's Saturday and Sunday night numbers, if they had any at all (sans UGA football and basketball). Heard him start a rant Saturday night. Kept saying "tonight" in reference to the Thursday night Tucson memorial service. Had be been asleep for 48 hours, was that show a repeat from Thursday night, or did he pre-tape his opening 10 minutes?

The guy kept squawking about the use of the theme from "2001" as the opening music for the event. Didn't anybody tell him it was Aaron Copland's "Fanfare for the Common Man," a piece ABC Radio used for years when announcing the death of a major personality? In any case there are religious significances to the "2001" theme anyway; the English translation of it's title is "Thus Spoke Zartosta," an ancient mythological god.

I posted as much on the WSB show page but they chose not to ever put it up.

Here is a man who walked away from a congregation without any explanation ("I have my personal reasons"), abandonned the denomination to which he had been ordained, converted to another, teaches a course weekly on that faith, but leans so far to the left wing, he most surely is not about "what is right of left but what is right and wrong." If Savage was lacking in balance enough for Cox to let him go, then they are certainly playing a double standard keeping Mr. Hunt on the air.

 

[Goat Rodeo Cowboy]

Though I live in the shadow of Dr Hunts home turf, I've never spent any time trying to understand him. The few times I tuned him in, I found his "oral delivery style" a little over the top for my tastes but your claims surprised me. I assumed him to be one more Georgia based conservative. In those few instances where I have stumbled into his program, he was always venturing into some position way off over on the right side of the political spectrum so I guess I'll have find myself a score card and listen to him for a while.

There was a time, particularly in the South when moving from one denomination to another was borderline scandalous and that seems to be part of your take on his transaction. Now if the two denominations involved in his change were a couple of small unknown groups, your sense of "sneer" might be a bit understandable. But when a man who's theological education involves a PhD (not a overly common set of credentials in today's world) and he leaves one of the largest congregations in what I believe is the second largest protestant denomination in the county (The United Methodist Church) and makes a move to a group as significant as The Catholic Church, I think I would want some details before I made any comment on the validity or appropriateness of the change.

O.K. You don't like his show. Do what I do. Reach for the OFF button on the radio. But why come here scatter feathers from a busted pillow about the guy?

 

[artiemad]

The OFF button works and fear not, very few people are listening to his show on WSB, perhaps the lowest rated program in their schedule.

 

[EW0350]

I listened to him at first, yeaers ago, because I thought he was going to be different. Once I heard him go on a left-oriented tangent, I ceased listening. I only stumbled across him Saturday trying to get more information on Royal Marshall's untimely passing. The comments that are posted by others on his show page seem to indicate he waffles remarkably, swinging from one side of the spectrum to the other, possibly blown by the preponderance of listener reactions. So perhaps I ought to retract my views about his leanings.

How long will Cox let it run in such bad number range?

 

[ClarkKent]

Maybe I'm picking nits, but:
First, the host is ALLEN Hunt. WSB has an Alan Hunt, too, and he's a stand up guy.
Second, the "2001" theme is "Also Sprach Zarathustra."

And yes, the off switch works. If his numbers are as bad as you think, many are already using it.

 

[fortt3]

Which of them had the son pass away over the weekend in Tennessee?

 

[secondchoice]

There was a time, particularly in the South when moving from one denomination to another was borderline scandalous and that seems to be part of your take on his transaction. Now if the two denominations involved in his change were a couple of small unknown groups, your sense of "sneer" might be a bit understandable. But when a man who's theological education involves a PhD (not a overly common set of credentials in today's world) and he leaves one of the largest congregations in what I believe is the second largest protestant denomination in the county (The United Methodist Church) and makes a move to a group as significant as The Catholic Church, I think I would want some details before I made any comment on the validity or appropriateness of the change.

IIRC John Wesley, one of the founders of the Methodist Church, converted to Catholicism before his death. There are a lot of similarities between the Episcopal (the old Church of England) and Catholic Church but one of the major exception is divorce. One of the Kings of England, King Henry (7th ?) want one and the Pope would not give him one so he “switched” the official Church of England. There are a lot of Catholics still in England. IIRC a couple of The Beatles were Catholic.

John Wesley grew up in England so there is a large Episcopal / Catholic influence in the Methodist Church. The Methodist Church has Bishops who move Ministers around like Catholics does. I am a member of a Methodist Church, and we have several Ex Catholic families. In fact one guy (ex Catholic) is studying now to be a United Methodist Minister. So Allen Hunt flipping to Catholic is not that earth shaking. Religious Faith or the lack of is a personal choice guaranteed by the Constitution. If Allen felt he could not go on as a Methodist at least he was honest.

That being said: if a talk show (not advice show) whose host who does not belittle, cut in, cut off, or yell at someone who might have a different opinion does not do well, it is just another indication of the down word moral and social standards this country is experiencing. How bad or good is the show doing in the rating?

 

[Goat Rodeo Cowboy]

Excellent observations and good information, secondchoice.

We've had about 500 years now since protestantism separated itself off from the big, original, "mother church". The protestant movement has spent a lot of its energy assuring people they have made the right decision by NOT going with the old, big church but a poor job of teaching their people what are the IMPORTANT differences.

Now that the indignation and panic of 500 years ago has finally become old news, a LOT of protestant theological training today focuses on what GOOD THINGS the old original version of church handed down to us, and we see what are referred to as "mainstream" (protestant) churches adopting teachings and practices that were shunned and avoided in some cases for the last 500 years, so yes, for those with some "sophistication" in their theological training, moving back and forth between the various groups is not the scandalous thing it once was.

Talk Radio today is tightly lashed to the political process, and I think it is NOT controversial to say that a big portion of Talk Radio is tied to conservative politics. During the 20 or so years that the current style of Talk Radio has developed, conservative politics has enjoyed a very warm and fuzzy relationship with that part of the protestant Christian movement in America which is probably much less cozy with this "Hey, we can get along with the Catholics just fine!" mentality.

That part of the protestant church that IS comfortable with holding hands with the Catholic church is all over the place in the world of civil governance politics so it is understandable and predictable that someone like Allen Hunt is likely to express an eclectic collection of views which will "curdle the cream in the coffee" of Talk Radio's most loyal/large audience.

 

[CONSultant]

In answer to this question posted above: "Which of them had the son pass away over the weekend in Tennessee?"

That is Alan Hunt who has worked sports coverage and produced for WSB for many years. Please pray for his family.

 

[secondchoice]

Just a personal note: My sympathy to the WSB Family, I knew about Royal but I did not know the other Allen Hunt had lost a son. This was a bad weekend.

Back to radio:

The show does not fit the typical “right” or “left” wing talk show. I am not a Cox insider, but my guess either the show is making money or one or more of the Cox heirs likes it.

 

[jabba17]

During the 20 or so years that the current style of Talk Radio has developed, conservative politics has enjoyed a very warm and fuzzy relationship with that part of the protestant Christian movement in America which is probably much less cozy with this "Hey, we can get along with the Catholics just fine!" mentality.

That part of the protestant church that IS comfortable with holding hands with the Catholic church is all over the place in the world of civil governance politics so it is understandable and predictable that someone like Allen Hunt is likely to express an eclectic collection of views which will "curdle the cream in the coffee" of Talk Radio's most loyal/large audience.

I see your point (e.g., http://carm.org/roman-catholicism ) , but I think you are grossly overstating it. Yes, there is a segment of the evangelical movement that has issues with the Roman Catholic Church, even to the point of saying that it is not Christian. As you state, that is NOT new (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protestant_reformation ) . But to classify conservative politics or conservative talk radio as being owned and run by (or at least "warm and fuzzy" with) Catholic-hating evangelicals is patently wrong.

Sean Hannity is Catholic. So is Pat Buchanan. So is Bill Bennett. So is Laura Ingraham.

Heck, Glenn Beck is Mormon. If you want a controversy, that one is ready-made for you. Here's a starter: http://www.politicususa.com/en/beck-mormon-evangelical

 

[onetake]

I didn't know this guy was still on the air and often wondered how he got on to begin with.
Got to be more to this story than we know. It felt like he was trying to bring conversation to moral issue type topics in the beginning. Then it felt like the radio bug bit him hard and more and more..it became all about him. But from day one, he was on several cox stations..Jacksonville, Orlando (WDBO) etc..and WBT Charlotte...it was like when WSB was forced to carry Rick and Bubba because of some agreement from up high. Now he's on a ton of stations.
The puzzle is, this seems to be his main source of income (unless private donors are backing him) but I can tell you, revenue from weekend radio shows is weak to begin with and even with a lot of coverage, a Sunday night or Sat & Sun night feed isn't prime dollar territory. Supposedly he dreamed of growing to a daily show. I'm rather surprised he's still at it. Possible WSB CAN'T pull it.

 

[Benji_Kurtz]

A couple points of clarification regarding the two A. Hunts involved with WSB:

1) Allen Hunt is the talk show host, Alan Hunt is the board-op producer who lost his son this week.
2) Allen Hunt's show is a weeknight show, airing live 9p-12a, although it does not clear here in his home market. You can find out more about the show and see the complete affiliate list at allenhuntshow.com.

 

[Goat Rodeo Cowboy]

I think you are grossly overstating it. Yes, there is a segment of the evangelical movement that has issues with the Roman Catholic Church, // SNIP // But to classify conservative politics or conservative talk radio as being owned and run by (or at least "warm and fuzzy" with) Catholic-hating evangelicals is patently wrong.

Sean Hannity is Catholic. So is Pat Buchanan. So is Bill Bennett. So is Laura Ingraham.

Heck, Glenn Beck is Mormon. If you want a controversy, that one is ready-made for you. Here's a starter: http://www.politicususa.com/en/beck-mormon-evangelical

Overstatement? Maybe so. I thought some of what I expressed was pertinent to a discussion of a talk show by a "resigned minister" but I tried to hold back and not turn this into a religion discussion rather than a discussion of Talk Radio and Allen Hunt.

But the Republican Party by it's silence and the Talk Radio Industry by it's silence during the years where this alliance that left Evangelicals thinking they owned the Republican Party can be seen as an affirmation of that claim during the years that Jerry Falwell and others were assuring their flocks that the Republican Party was their captive tool... and that God was the author of that arrangement.

Think of it being like the concept of "Adverse Possession" in the legal twists and turns of real estate custom and law.

 

[EW0350]

Re: How Much Longer Does Allen Hunt's Contract Run?

Then it felt like the radio bug bit him hard

Originally he convinced his former church to "sponsor" him as a ministry outreach. His early shows were quite balanced and he did confine himself to religious topics and views. Then when Cox started the syndication the bug bit. As long as he was loca he did great. Then something snapped when he realized he was speaking to different communities. Finally the show seemed to consume him and he abandonned the pulpit altogether.

And with his show running in other markets weeknights explains his comments on the Saturday night airing on SB to "tonight" and "earlier tonight" when referring to the Tucson event. You would think someone (a producer perhaps?) would catch and note such time references and either have someone edit them out (I guess that would be too time-consuming or technically challenging for some) or junk the broadcast completely. What would have been wrong with airing a Friday night show? Oh, well, sometimes there is no comprehending Cox operations.

 

[nightmanager]

I didn't know this guy was still on the air and often wondered how he got on to begin with.
I'm rather surprised he's still at it. Possible WSB CAN'T pull it.

Maybe I am imagining things, but I thought he was paying WSB for studio time to do the weeknight syndicated show with the hopes they'd pick up the show. Which did not happen.

It seemed like the weekend version they do carry might have been part of that deal somehow. Buy five get one free.

Clearly WSB currently has other ideas for weekday evenings: they did something entirely different even when they had the chance to take the easy way out and clear his existing show.