Larry Elder's pathetic email

[westfield60]

Maybe his unemployment is running out, but I received a rather pathetic email yesterday from Larry Elder.

Obviously it was from some management firm representing Larry but it had a ring of desperation to it. Sure it was padded with the typical hype and hot-air BS about how there was a world to save and he apparently is the one to save it. But I guess after a year of being unemployed there was a strong stink of desperation to the whole thing.

The message of the email was to find out if there was any interest in Larry doing a podcast. It was asking if I’d be interested in subscribing to his podcast. I guess if enough suckers said yes they could justify charging for it. Also they asked if I’d be interested in attending speaking engagements of Larry. Once again seeing if anyone would pay for it. It really was quite pathetic.

I guess after trying to find employment everywhere else for the past year, he seems to have hit reality and is now doomed to an already crowded morass of podcasting folks and rejects. Unfortunately nothing about Larry is unique or entertaining enough for anyone to pay to listen to him on a podcast, particularly since hundreds of other hosts on free radio share his exact opinions and positions. He is doomed to fail once again.

If he couldn’t even beat John and Ken on free radio what makes him think anyone would pay to listen to his show now?

 

[westfield60]

Maybe his unemployment is running out, but I received a rather pathetic email yesterday from Larry Elder.

Obviously it was from some management firm representing Larry but it had a ring of desperation to it. Sure it was padded with the typical hype and hot-air BS about how there was a world to save and he apparently is the one to save it. But I guess after a year of being unemployed there was a strong stink of desperation to the whole thing.

The message of the email was to find out if there was any interest in Larry doing a podcast. It was asking if I’d be interested in subscribing to his podcast. I guess if enough suckers said yes they could justify charging for it. Also they asked if I’d be interested in attending speaking engagements of Larry. Once again seeing if anyone would pay for it. It really was quite pathetic.

I guess after trying to find employment everywhere else for the past year, he seems to have hit reality and is now doomed to an already crowded morass of podcasting folks and rejects. Unfortunately nothing about Larry is unique or entertaining enough for anyone to pay to listen to him on a podcast, particularly since hundreds of other hosts on free radio share his exact opinions and positions. He is doomed to fail once again.

If he couldn’t even beat John and Ken on free radio what makes him think anyone would pay to listen to his show now? The sage has turned out to be a weed.

 

[nmoore6676]

Maybe his unemployment is running out, but I received a rather pathetic email yesterday from Larry Elder.

Obviously it was from some management firm representing Larry but it had a ring of desperation to it. Sure it was padded with the typical hype and hot-air BS about how there was a world to save and he apparently is the one to save it. But I guess after a year of being unemployed there was a strong stink of desperation to the whole thing.

The message of the email was to find out if there was any interest in Larry doing a podcast. It was asking if I’d be interested in subscribing to his podcast. I guess if enough suckers said yes they could justify charging for it. Also they asked if I’d be interested in attending speaking engagements of Larry. Once again seeing if anyone would pay for it. It really was quite pathetic.

I guess after trying to find employment everywhere else for the past year, he seems to have hit reality and is now doomed to an already crowded morass of podcasting folks and rejects. Unfortunately nothing about Larry is unique or entertaining enough for anyone to pay to listen to him on a podcast, particularly since hundreds of other hosts on free radio share his exact opinions and positions. He is doomed to fail once again.

If he couldn’t even beat John and Ken on free radio what makes him think anyone would pay to listen to his show now? The sage has turned out to be a weed.

John and Ken are a different animal and for whatever reason enjoy great ratings. Maybe in the long run people prefer insincerity to reasoned discussion. Dennis Prager isn't anywhere near the top of ratings either, against Rush. But even an impassioned loudmouth like Ziegler can't stay on the air in La La Land. In the end the Dynamic Duo are entertaining and there are some facts buried in the hyperbole and theatrics so it may be the best the market will stand. There is also 50 thousand watts versus 5 thousand to be considered. KFI has a much higher signal penetration and with all of the noise now heard on AM radios that is no small consideration. I have also believed that Larry was let go as a cost saving measure, he had been carried in New York as well and his salary was likely not insignificant.

Maybe Larry needs to wait for Saul Levine's' next format flip on KGIL or until Roger Hedgehog flops on KFWB, whichever comes first.

 

[westfield60]

I think you hit the nail on the head nmoore. John and Ken are successful since they are entertaining. Same for Rush, Bill Handel and Howard Stern. Unfortunately Larry is not. If KABC management had not been brain dead for the last decade, Larry would have been replaced years ago. He never delivered on ratings. What many broadcasters fail to realize is that Radio is an entertainment medium. Too many hosts somehow think that once they have reached the world of radio their sense of self-importance should be enough. That is what causes them to fail - entertain first and success will follow.

 

[the golden boy]

I've been seeing Larry on the Ed Show on MSNBC. Does he get paid for those appearances?

 

[RBB05]

I've been seeing Larry on the Ed Show on MSNBC. Does he get paid for those appearances?

He does not get paid. He does it to keep his name out there.

 

[TristramShandy]

I've been seeing Larry on the Ed Show on MSNBC. Does he get paid for those appearances?

He does not get paid. He does it to keep his name out there.

Actually that's wrong. Larry is definitely a member of AFTRA and probably is a member of SAG too, given his many appearances on cable news shows as well as pilots and former shows. Members of these groups get paid every time they make a tv appearance.

 

[snickers]

You know, I received the same type of email in the mid-90's before Dr. Laura was syndicated. Asked if I listened, what about the program I found appealing, my demo, if I'd be interested in a mid-day show. Her program went national a few months later.

Not saying it's the same thing, but it doesn't always mean desperate. Could be he's got something lined up.

 

[TristramShandy]

You know, I received the same type of email in the mid-90's before Dr. Laura was syndicated. Asked if I listened, what about the program I found appealing, my demo, if I'd be interested in a mid-day show. Her program went national a few months later.

Not saying it's the same thing, but it doesn't always mean desperate. Could be he's got something lined up.

Agreed. Larry does not need to get back on the radio for the money. The guy has put out 3 books and worked for KABC for over a decade, while continuing to write columns which are nationally syndicated. Earlier this year in a google search I found that Larry was selling his mansion for several million dollars. The guy doesn't need the work for the money. I think he just misses being on the radio and communicating with his fans in real time.

 

[westfield60]

Well lets face it. No one is doing radio because of the love of radio or fans. Every last one of them has a motive which is to make money. Do you think if Larry has public appearances (as he was asking in his email) that he will allow his audience in for free. I highly doubt it -everything is done so he can make money, which I am not even saying is a bad thing, but let's be honest about it. Fans have nothing to do with it. Same reason other hosts sell mugs, tshirts and other knick knacks so they can make some money.

Also Larry was once syndicated by KABC but that failed, so I doubt anybody would be willing to pay large bucks to try that experiment again. Secondly Larry in his email is pushing openly that he is trying to get a podcast. That tells me that he has struck out everywhere else.

Larry is not dumb and knows that the longer he is off the air the less his chances are of landing another big gig, because with each passing day he becomes increasingly irrelevant, particularly in a field where thousands of other people are doing exactly the same thing as he does and in many cases much better than him. So he has to get his name out there and try as much as he can, whether it is books, articles or radio appearances so that it ultimately will lead to a gig that pays big bucks. Why would Doug McInyre leave a 5 hour radio slot for a 1 hour radio slot in NY. The reason is because it ultimately can lead to a bigger paycheck and I'm sure Doug lives in a Mansion too, and yet he tries.

 

[RBB05]

I've been seeing Larry on the Ed Show on MSNBC. Does he get paid for those appearances?

He does not get paid. He does it to keep his name out there.

Actually that's wrong. Larry is definitely a member of AFTRA and probably is a member of SAG too, given his many appearances on cable news shows as well as pilots and former shows. Members of these groups get paid every time they make a tv appearance.

If he appears in a TV show, etc. he gets paid. If he is interviewed on MSNBC as an expert on some topic he does not get paid. MSNBC, CNN and FOX do not pay interview guests on their news/talk/interview shows. Bill Bennett has a radio show and is a member of AFTRA but he does not get paid for his 20-30 appearances a year on CNN.

 

[TristramShandy]

If he's on as a regular panelist or an occasional panelist he's likely paid something. I don't think Larry's often put on tv as an expert on a specific topic, not like say a Cato Fellow or someone from the Hoover institute. Panelists can be paid. If anything, any expenses he endures by appearing on such shows is compensated in some kind of reimbursement.

 

[RBB05]

If he's on as a regular panelist or an occasional panelist he's likely paid something. I don't think Larry's often put on tv as an expert on a specific topic, not like say a Cato Fellow or someone from the Hoover institute. Panelists can be paid. If anything, any expenses he endures by appearing on such shows is compensated in some kind of reimbursement.

Right...his expenses are paid...not the same as actually making money or earning a living doing it. He does it to keep his name out there as he needs ork.

 

[TristramShandy]

Well lets face it. No one is doing radio because of the love of radio or fans. Every last one of them has a motive which is to make money. Do you think if Larry has public appearances (as he was asking in his email) that he will allow his audience in for free. I highly doubt it -everything is done so he can make money, which I am not even saying is a bad thing, but let's be honest about it. Fans have nothing to do with it. Same reason other hosts sell mugs, tshirts and other knick knacks so they can make some money.

Also Larry was once syndicated by KABC but that failed, so I doubt anybody would be willing to pay large bucks to try that experiment again. Secondly Larry in his email is pushing openly that he is trying to get a podcast. That tells me that he has struck out everywhere else.

Larry is not dumb and knows that the longer he is off the air the less his chances are of landing another big gig, because with each passing day he becomes increasingly irrelevant, particularly in a field where thousands of other people are doing exactly the same thing as he does and in many cases much better than him. So he has to get his name out there and try as much as he can, whether it is books, articles or radio appearances so that it ultimately will lead to a gig that pays big bucks. Why would Doug McInyre leave a 5 hour radio slot for a 1 hour radio slot in NY. The reason is because it ultimately can lead to a bigger paycheck and I'm sure Doug lives in a Mansion too, and yet he tries.

I'll be the first to say that being motivated by greed or self interest is not a bad thing in the slightest, but I don't think all things can be reduced to a literal dollar value. I know Larry loved doing his radio show. Often the loving the type of work you are doing can be worth more than a bigger pay check. I think that's the case with Larry Elder.

Furthermore, I don't think Larry's doing what other people are doing, and I don't think other people are doing it better. Much of talk radio is filled with anti-intellectual populist demagogues who love rant fests and shout matches rather than civil discussions and proving their points right. Larry Elder's not like that. Callers who disagree will lose in a debate with him, because he makes so much sense. Larry Elder is also unique in that he's a libertarian, not a conservative. (No Glenn Beck doesn't count)

 

[westfield60]

Tristram I don't necessarily disagree with some of what you say, but you really are fooling yourself if you think Larry is doing anything in life without thinking of how much he can gain from it. And as I said earlier there is absolutely nothing wrong with that.

Secondly, whether your like it or not Larry was considered a conservative host, and therefore he was compared to the hundred's of thousands of conservatives hosts out in talk radio land today and frankly he was one of the worst. He never delivered any sort of decent ratings for KABC.

Now "smart' listeners like yourself know that he was not a conservative but rather a liberatarian, but when you are bashing Hillary on a daily basis just like every other conservative host, the distinction of liberatarism somehow gets lost and therefore he gets compared with the others.

I'll even give you that he probably was smarter and more intellgent than 90 percent of the conservative hosts out there, but so is Dennis Prager and Michael Medved and yet they have only about three people listening to them.

Intellectualism doesn't count. Remember radio is ultimately an entertainment tool and that is why in-breds like John and Ken are hugely successful. If Larry had chosen to be a college professor he would be one of the best in his field. But he chose talk radio and he ended up being one of the worst. Remember you have to Entertain more than anything.

 

[ChannelFlipper]

If Larry chose to be a college professor he would be out of a job. He is too smart and dangerous for the lefty administrators to keep him around. White students who have never seen the inner part of the city would label him a racist - you know, the Uncle Tom variety.

 

[TristramShandy]

Tristram I don't necessarily disagree with some of what you say, but you really are fooling yourself if you think Larry is doing anything in life without thinking of how much he can gain from it. And as I said earlier there is absolutely nothing wrong with that.

Secondly, whether your like it or not Larry was considered a conservative host, and therefore he was compared to the hundred's of thousands of conservatives hosts out in talk radio land today and frankly he was one of the worst. He never delivered any sort of decent ratings for KABC.

Now "smart' listeners like yourself know that he was not a conservative but rather a liberatarian, but when you are bashing Hillary on a daily basis just like every other conservative host, the distinction of liberatarism somehow gets lost and therefore he gets compared with the others.

I'll even give you that he probably was smarter and more intellgent than 90 percent of the conservative hosts out there, but so is Dennis Prager and Michael Medved and yet they have only about three people listening to them.

Intellectualism doesn't count. Remember radio is ultimately an entertainment tool and that is why in-breds like John and Ken are hugely successful. If Larry had chosen to be a college professor he would be one of the best in his field. But he chose talk radio and he ended up being one of the worst. Remember you have to Entertain more than anything.

I never said he never did anything without thinking about what he could gain.  What I said was, money is not the only motivating factor in self-interested or greedy job decisions or any decision for that matter.  Liking your job is worth something.  A person can still be extremely self-interested and turn down a job that pays
$100,000 for one that pays $98,000 if that job's work is more enjoyable for them.  Some people will factor in work environment, location, commute, benefits, etc.  I don't think there's anything wrong with that either.  You  seem insistent on assigning a narrative to my post which isn't reflected in my words at all.

Larry's not a conservative.  He's a libertarian.  Whether people consider him one or the other doesn't change what he believes or what he stands for.  He would often talk about being a libertarian or a "Republitarian" as he would later call himself almost every show.  Your point could be taken in the opposite direction if libertarianism were the mainstream right wing ideology that conservatives are considered libertarians.  That wouldn't be right either.  Furthermore, libertarians have every right to bash Hillary.  The essence of any conservative argument against Hillary is based in libertarian ideas of small government.  Even Reagan said that the heart of conservatism is libertarianism.  That being said, even if many views coincide with other conservative talk radio personalities, Larry still was original. While many libertarian and conservative views overlap, what Larry did not do was be a shill for the Republican Party like Sean Hannity for example.  Larry also talked a lot about personal responsibility in the way other talk radio personalities didn't.  Larry had a great grasp of economics that other talk radio personalities didn't.  He didn't just get into shouting matches over traditional values, or insult groups of people like Michael Savage or Ann Coulter.

I still wouldn't go on to say Larry is professorial, whereas other talk radio hosts are down to earth.  Larry was very down to earth.  He was practical in his discussions.  If a tax was being debated he would simply explain that higher taxes means less money in people's pockets for them to spend.  If he was debating minimum wage, he could very simply and rationally explain how employers will logically pay people more if their skills warranted it.  When I say he was an intellectual, I'm not saying he was an elitist or something.  I'm just saying he's not a protectionist blowhard who bases his views on knee-jerk reactions or on "traditional values" or likes and dislikes.  He used reason to determine these things.

If you or others don't find Larry Elder entertaining, then that's your opinion, but I find him very entertaining and so do many other people.  I think there's clearly a market out there for his type of talk radio show and maybe that market would respond well to a podcast.  I know that I would be interested in something like that.  If it doesn't work out then it wasn't meant to be.