Liberal Writer Blasts AAR's Flawed Approach

[fred flintstone]

A liberal writer says he's never agreed with anything Bill O'Reilly ever said or wrote - until now!  He adds if AAR doesn't reasses its approach, they may not make it.
From the Huffington Post (by Steve Young):

In participating as both a liberal talk host and listener, I have not changed my mind one iota as to what can make liberal talk work, and for the most part, it hasn't been the philosophy the present powers to be. When I was on the air I was told that we were supposed to be the right wing radio for the left. And for the most part, liberal talk and their hosts have mimicked right wing talk: hard driving, one note ideology with no risk-taking creativity to speak of. Nothing an intelligent, liberal listener would buy for more than a few moments. If someone likes rock and roll, you don't serve up country and western with new words. Just changing the rhetoric doesn't transform Toby Keith into Aerosmith.
Click Here For Complete Article. "Note to Air America: Watch The Daily Show"

Young's point, right wing talk radio for liberals is insults liberals.  He says Stephanie Miller is one notable exception to his criticisms.  Young offers some specific thoughts on how AAR can put its fat out of the fire before it's too late (in this he differs from Reilly; Young does not think it's already too late but he does suggest too late is coming if AAR doesn't make changes).

 

[Scribbler]

A liberal writer says he's never agreed with anything Bill O'Reilly ever said or wrote - until now! He adds if AAR doesn't reasses its approach, they may not make it.

This thread might better be called "Another Failed Talk Show Host Blasts Air America." He's a comedy writer who had a tryout on Clear Channel's progressive talk station in Los Angeles, KTLK, and was let go. Now he's saying that Air America should hire more comedians, which isn't exactly what Fred Flintstone has been advocating.

From Young's post:

Let's hope that Air America changes will bring on those who know how to be smart and funny on the radio. There are those in waiting that might be ready to step in. I mean, besides me. Stephanie Miller's fill-in host, Elayne Boosler, has always been smart/funny as a standup.
(snip)
There's plenty of comedy talent out there, but satire isn't enough. A sense of how you come across on radio is needed too. Funny can't be taught. Radio comes with experience. Air America, as well as local stations need to bring on the funny people and show them how radio can work for them.

 

[kaufcom]

It's interesting that this article was written by first local liberal talk host on KTLK who was canned.

A liberal writer says he's never agreed with anything Bill O'Reilly ever said or wrote - until now! He adds if AAR doesn't reasses its approach, they may not make it.
From the Huffington Post (by Steve Young):

In participating as both a liberal talk host and listener, I have not changed my mind one iota as to what can make liberal talk work, and for the most part, it hasn't been the philosophy the present powers to be. When I was on the air I was told that we were supposed to be the right wing radio for the left. And for the most part, liberal talk and their hosts have mimicked right wing talk: hard driving, one note ideology with no risk-taking creativity to speak of. Nothing an intelligent, liberal listener would buy for more than a few moments. If someone likes rock and roll, you don't serve up country and western with new words. Just changing the rhetoric doesn't transform Toby Keith into Aerosmith.
Click Here For Complete Article. "Note to Air America: Watch The Daily Show"

Young's point, right wing talk radio for liberals is insults liberals. He says Stephanie Miller is one notable exception to his criticisms. Young offers some specific thoughts on how AAR can put its fat out of the fire before it's too late (in this he differs from Reilly; Young does not think it's already too late but he does suggest too late is coming if AAR doesn't make changes).

 

[fred flintstone]

I don't know the guy's history.  It's interesting how some people are quick to use it to invalidate what the guy has to say - without even considering the merit of his comments. Unless you guys are mind-readers, you don't know his motives in writing.

Yes, I don't think AAR's approach should be more comedians.  I do think so comedy - better comedy and selectively used - could have a place. 

To me, Steph is funnier than Al (and more interesting - more on point).

I think his basic thesis that doing conservative talk with a liberal twist hasn't worked and won't worked is valid.  They are trying to out-Rush Rush and (1) Nobody at AAR is close to Rush in "talent on loan from God" and (2) Rush's act (ideology aside) is not talk radio the way liberals want talk radio.  Maybe AAR is so out of touch with its audience because they are so unwilling to listen to what anybody else has to say.

If AAR ever intends to go beyond being an XM channel-Internet audio stream-latchkey station provider, they need to do better.

 

[Scribbler]

I don't know the guy's history. It's interesting how some people are quick to use it to invalidate what the guy has to say - without even considering the merit of his comments. Unless you guys are mind-readers, you don't know his motives in writing.

I didn't say anything about his motives, although I have my suspicions. But he's obviously bitter about being fired by KTLK:

When I was on the air I was told that we were supposed to be the right wing radio for the left.


But KTLK is owned and operated by Clear Channel, not Air America.

So what's the lesson from his experience? Maybe it's that comedy writers have a hard time translating their talents to talk radio.

 

[Radio_Realist]

"So what's the lesson from his experience? Maybe it's that comedy writers have a hard time translating their talents to talk radio."

Or maybe it's that most people possess more than one skill, but that doesn't mean that everyone who possess skill A automatically possess skill B. Nor does it mean that everyone who possess skill A automatically doesn't possess skill B. Maybe it means every candidate for every on-air position needs to be evaluated on his own individual talents, and not be judged by some unrelated past examples of other people.

So the lesson from his experience is that he didn't work out. It happens. The failure of one person at anything only proves that one person failed. It can't be extrapolated to prove whether or not someone else with a similar background will succeed or fail.

Except maybe back in the gravel pit.

 

[evnlee]

I
To me, Steph is funnier than Al (and more interesting - more on point).

I think his basic thesis that doing conservative talk with a liberal twist hasn't worked and won't worked is valid. They are trying to out-Rush Rush and (1) Nobody at AAR is close to Rush in "talent on loan from God" and (2) Rush's act (ideology aside) is not talk radio the way liberals want talk radio. Maybe AAR is so out of touch with its audience because they are so unwilling to listen to what anybody else has to say.

If AAR ever intends to go beyond being an XM channel-Internet audio stream-latchkey station provider, they need to do better.

I would agree with FF on this one.

Steph is light years ahead of anything currently on AAR, because she is entertaining, and knows how to 'use comedy' in radio. Franken can be funny in various environments, but admit it, he's just not that funny on radio. Marc Maron had possibilities, but couldn't learn how to set up a bit without running into a hard break.Sam Seder had some moments, but they were few and far between.

Plus, from the few times I've heard her show, it's a little more rounded. Yeah, she will talk politics and world affairs, but she can also breakdown American Idol. She can grill Bush, but I've heard her take Nagin to task. She will comdemn Condi Rice, and then work in a comparison to Mel Gibson. And she does it without that screechy, whiny tone used by Garafolo or Rhodes ( even though Rhodes comes closest to Rush in the 'outrage' factor ). And, cmon, she's a female that isn't afraid to wander into non-PC or childish ( fart humor ) territory.

I do love watching the AAR defenders get thier thongs in a bunch when some former lefty slams them.

There's just not enough sour grapes to go that far, and sometimes the truth hurts

 

[evnlee]

I
To me, Steph is funnier than Al (and more interesting - more on point).

I think his basic thesis that doing conservative talk with a liberal twist hasn't worked and won't worked is valid. They are trying to out-Rush Rush and (1) Nobody at AAR is close to Rush in "talent on loan from God" and (2) Rush's act (ideology aside) is not talk radio the way liberals want talk radio. Maybe AAR is so out of touch with its audience because they are so unwilling to listen to what anybody else has to say.

If AAR ever intends to go beyond being an XM channel-Internet audio stream-latchkey station provider, they need to do better.

I would agree with FF on this one.

Steph is light years ahead of anything currently on AAR, because she is entertaining, and knows how to 'use comedy' in radio. Franken can be funny in various environments, but admit it, he's just not that funny on radio. Marc Maron had possibilities, but couldn't learn how to set up a bit without running into a hard break.Sam Seder had some moments, but they were few and far between.

Plus, from the few times I've heard her show, it's a little more rounded. Yeah, she will talk politics and world affairs, but she can also breakdown American Idol. She can grill Bush, but I've heard her take Nagin to task. She will comdemn Condi Rice, and then work in a comparison to Mel Gibson. And she does it without that screechy, whiny tone used by Garafolo or Rhodes ( even though Rhodes comes closest to Rush in the 'outrage' factor ). And, cmon, she's a female that isn't afraid to wander into non-PC or childish ( ------ humor ) territory.

I do love watching the AAR defenders get thier thongs in a bunch when some former lefty slams them.

There's just not enough sour grapes to go that far, and sometimes the truth hurts

I cannot believe I used a 4 letter word for gaseous emissions that starts with F and ryhmes with 'parts', and that got bleeped out.

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