Lynn Cullen on WAMO AM

[FightingIrishman]

I could have posted this on the latest Lynn Cullen thread, however, this is going in a separate direction than the posts on there. I have been listening to Lynn's show on WAMO this week and her new show on WAMO has a different 'tone' than compared to the one on 1360. It seems to be less formal and less politically intense than the one of WPTT. And it seems like she is talking to a smaller audience conversationally wise than before. But maybe that is just me. Nevertheless, WAMO runs disclaimers on her commercial breaks that the views of Lynn Cullen don't reflect the views of WAMO, etc. Now as someone who does listen to talk radio but is a radio novice compared to many of you who work in the business, why would WAMO run these disclaimers during each commercial break? I have never heard that done before for a talk radio show unless it is an advertisement for some natural herbal colon cleanser being advertised at 4AM on a Sunday morning on your local station. Any thoughts?

 

[talkjim]

Disclaimers are a terrible idea on talk shows. Whatever the intent, they have the ultimate effect of sounding like an apology for the show. Sounds like the kind of thing that would happen on a station not terribly familiar with the talk format, or perhaps somewhat uncomfortable with it.

In this case, it sounds like another of the many barriers to giving progressive talk a fair chance to succeed. I admit to being an ardent supporter of the format, but if its given a fair chance to succeed and fails, I'll say so. However it usually doesn't even get a shot, and when it does, its on a dead-end, low-power frequency, with no local news, traffic and outside promotion to support it. Or defective packaging and production, which sounds like what is going on here.

 

[Parttimer]

I admit to being an ardent supporter of the format, but if its given a fair chance to succeed and fails, I'll say so.

Really?

However it usually doesn't even get a shot, and when it does, its on a dead-end, low-power frequency, with no local news, traffic and outside promotion to support it. Or defective packaging and production, which sounds like what is going on here.

Actually both of the above. That was my original point in this whole thing.

 

[Pratte4Life]

Jim- When Rush Limbaugh first came on the air, many, many markets, including those as red as blood, would put disclaimers on the air for him.

He succeeded.

Now, I don't like disclaimers any more than you do. I've had them put on me in my career. Hate 'em.

Cullen deserves better and it does not speak well of WAMO-AM that they are attaching disclaimers to her show.

But they can be overcome.

For a station its size, WAMO-AM has done lots of advertising through the years. I've even commented on some of them where a group of white policemen are shown at what I think could best be described as a disturbance with a group of young black males. Simply put- I didn't care for the billboards and felt they promoted a racial and cultural divide.


And she could be on a worse signal than AM 860. That's not KDKA, but one could do worse.

My point is that she has many of the elements of success that you wish a liberal talk show to have.

By the way, who says Lynn Cullen hasn't been successful? This is a woman who had a popular radio and television presense in town for many years.

Her following is such that her loyal fans will not allow her to be off the air. I remember in the '90s after WTAE had changed their format and she bounced to some lousy station seeing flyers on every lamp post in town- "LYNN CULLEN IS BACK! with the station and time of her show."

 

[talkjim]

Mr. Pratte,

First of all, it's a pleasure to exchange opionions with you. I may not always agree with you, but you are a voice of logic, sanity and reason on this board.

"Now, I don't like disclaimers any more than you do. I've had them put on me in my career. Hate 'em.

Cullen deserves better and it does not speak well of WAMO-AM that they are attaching disclaimers to her show.

But they can be overcome."

I don't disagree--the negative power of disclaimers can be overcome. I'm simply making the same point you are--that a disclaimer is an unnecessary obstacle that shouldn't be thrown in Lynn's way. It should also be noted that this is another case in which progressive talk suffers under an unnecessary obstacle that right-wing talk is not subjected to.

Someone like Michael Savage can go on the air, as he did last year, and suggest, without a shred of evidence, that Hillary Clinton was responsible for the death of JFK Junior in 1999 because she wanted to keep him out of the New York Senate race, and no one bats an eye--no disclaimers on any of his affiliates. But Lynn Cullen gets a disclaimer on her show before she even speaks Word One.

You have to wonder on some days if Marconi would have bothered to invent the wireless, if he knew that this is what it would be used for.

AND MAKE NO MISTAKE--I HAVE A TON OF RESPECT FOR LYNN--I'VE BEEN A CONSISTENT ADVOCATE FOR HER AND DEFENDER FOR HER. You may have me confused with another frequent poster here, who has been critical--without citing any substantive reasons for his criticism, I might add.

"My point is that she has many of the elements of success that you wish a liberal talk show to have.

By the way, who says Lynn Cullen hasn't been successful? This is a woman who had a popular radio and television presense in town for many years.

Her following is such that her loyal fans will not allow her to be off the air. I remember in the '90s after WTAE had changed their format and she bounced to some lousy station seeing flyers on every lamp post in town- "LYNN CULLEN IS BACK! with the station and time of her show."

Once again, Pratte, I am with you all the way, and I wish nothing but the best to Lynn. And by the way, any doubters should remember that the general manager at WPTT is on record as saying that if he had had a few more hosts like Lynn, the format at WPTT would not have changed.

 

[Pratte4Life]

All I'm saying is that disclaimers- and they really are cheap- are not just applied to left-wing talk show hosts.

In fact, I believe Savage's show DOES have a disclaimer right before his "Master of Puppets" theme- "This show contains psycological nudity- listern discression is advised."

In the case of Cullen, a disclaimer before her show speaks poorly of WAMO-AM, not her.

 

[Parttimer]

I actually think she'd do fine if KDKA or 104.7 had the vision to put a non-conservative and female voice on the air. A little variety would probably be a good thing, especially at KD where there isn't much compelling and it's pretty much all Rush wannabees.

I'm not negative about Lynn personally, I just think 860 doesn't give her much of a chance. It's a talk show on a robo-jocked urban AC station. As a component part in a complete package she adds value. As the star of the show with no support, it's an uphill climb.

Yes, they have Bev Smith, but that's more about syndicating her than anything she can generate on 860.

And Pratte, I also enjoy trading posts with you. You're smart enough to tell the difference between me being serious and me just trying to push someone's buttons.

 

[Parttimer]

You may have me confused with another frequent poster here,

No one's confusing you for anyone. Trust me.

 

[Pratte4Life]

When you're dealing with passions, people sometimes can't see when a comment is made tongue-in-cheek.

I get upset when people make joking criticisms of Pittsburgh, for instance.

As far as Cullen on KDKA, she WAS on the station in the mid-90s after WTAE let her go. She was on weekends, but she was also well promoted.

I do not know why she didn't last there. Perhaps because WPTT was offering full-time work?

I will say this. I am not sure she is "mainstream" anymore. This does not mean she has not had a successful career or that she does not have a following. It to say she is probably a little more like Porky Chedwick- who is great to have at your oldies dance and will sell a lot of tickets but isn't going to get his old spot at WAMO-FM back.

My main recent memory of Lynn, who by all accounts is a very nice woman and a consummate professional, is a regretable promo spot saying "DON'T YOU DARE CALL ME A HATER! . . . EVICERATING HATRED FROM THE RIGHT!"

Am I spelling "evicerating" right?

Regardless, the promo made her sound not like an intellectual, but rather the Wicked Witch of the West.

It also made her sound like someone more in touch with, say, a '70s feminist movement than what is going on in politics today.

 

[talkjim]

"I am not sure she is "mainstream" anymore. This does not mean she has not had a successful career or that she does not have a following. It to say she is probably a little more like Porky Chedwick- who is great to have at your oldies dance and will sell a lot of tickets but isn't going to get his old spot at WAMO-FM back."

I'm not sure Lynn has been "mainstream" for some time, Pratte, but I think you could say the same thing about all of progressive talk--the entire format is viewed by the talk radio establishment in a very hostile manner that defies any kind of logic. "Mainstream" in the context of modern talkradio seems to be Rush Limbaugh saying that he hopes the new president fails and Michael Savage, without a wisp of evidence, saying that Hillary Clinton was behind the death of JFK Junior in 1999 because she didn't want a Democratic opponent for the senate seat from New York.

And speaking only for myself, if this is mainstream, I am pleased and proud to take a pass on mainstream. And by the way, if this is "entertainment", I don't find it entertaining. But wait a minute--I almost forgot--I'm not mainstream.

It's much like the attitude that a lot of Top 40 people had when progressive rock began to break through--they tried to categorize progressive jocks as a bunch of no-talent stoners, and all the time they did that, progressive rock only became a larger ratings presence.

One notable difference between that era and this one is that you had an underdeveloped radio band (FM) and numerous independent owners--these factors allowed alternative formats to get a chance and in some cases break through. K-SHE 95, the classic rock station in St. Louis, which is usually #1, 25-54, and got started in rock as a so-called underground station, was at one time literally "underground." It began in the basement of the original owner's home in a St. Louis suburb.

One of the lies frequently told by advocates of radio consolidation in the mid-90s was that consolidation would result in more alternatives and more radio choices. The sad reality is that in many large markets it's resulted in three right-wing talk stations, up to four sports stations and nothing more.

And please don't tell me that demand dictates what's on the air. If that is true, why did Portland, Oregon have to wait 15 years for a progressive talk station, which in short order became the #1 talk station (25-54) against four conservative stations and an alleged comedy station? Or why were supposedly knowledgeable radio people saying in the 1980s that Top 40 would no longer work in New York--right before the onlslaught of Z-100?

Radio...what a business....

 

[Parttimer]

I'm not sure Lynn has been "mainstream" for some time, Pratte, but I think you could say the same thing about all of progressive talk--the entire format is viewed by the talk radio establishment in a very hostile manner that defies any kind of logic.

I agree with everything else you said, save for the above comment. I think the downfall of Progressive talk in general and Air America in particular is that it was perceived by many as nothing more than angry liberals wanting to get even with Limbaugh.

Some people who don't like conservative talk dislike it because they aren't conservatives. (Some liberals like conservative talk regardless of the ideology). Others don't like it because it can be shrill and mean-spirited. These people are the available audience, and as someone who was forced to listen to Air America in an office for several months, I found the majority of it be just as one-sided and mean-spirited as conservative talk and therefore not appealing. The opposite viewpoint wasn't enough, it needed to be a different tone as well.

Remember that my frame of reference is primarily Al Franken and Randi Rhodes' AA shows. If they were atypical then maybe I would have a different opinion upon hearing others. I never heard Hartmann when he was on 1360, I have only heard bits of Schultz's show (never had an affiliate here to my knowledge) and enjoyed what I heard. I don't listen to conservative talk to any great degree either. Rush has lost his fastball, I find Savage completely unlistenable and Beck was 100 times better as a local host in Tampa.

 

[Pratte4Life]

Jim- I don't understand.

You were championing NPR recently as having some of the most listened to talk shows in the country, such as Democracy Now.

Would that not make left-wing radio mainstream?

I agree with Part on the idea that left-wing radio can be as shrill as the right. You mention Michael Savage- I have heard liberals accuse Ann Coulter of being a transsexual because she has a large adam's apple. Extremism is extremism- no side of the political spectrum has a monopoly on it.

I happen to think Rush still has it. My opinion is now that the White House is picking on him, he will only get MORE attention and therefore more of an audience- which I didn't expect because two years ago I thought Sean Hannity was about ready to overtake him. But Rush is a HUGE kingmaker within Republican circles- Mike Huckabee really destroyed his chances for the Presidential nomination by going up against him.

 

[talkjim]

"You were championing NPR recently as having some of the most listened to talk shows in the country, such as Democracy Now."

You are mistaken, Pratte. I might have said that NPR has high-rated news shows--which it does--Morning Edition and All Things Considered--and again, those are news shows--very little opinion--and what is opinion is clearly identified as such. Democracy Now is not an NPR production--it's produced by an independent organization headed by the award-winning reporter Amy Goodman. She certainly has a progressive ideology, but she's also first and foremost a reporter, and she's won a lot of praise from people who disagree with her, for the quality of her reporting--she makes no secret of her ideology but unlike some right wing talk hosts (such as the ones who deny global warming), she doesn't let it get in the way of her reporting. By the way, Amy has risked death in her coverage of numerous foreign wars, while schlubs like us poke at each other on message boards.

Also, I never said that Democracy Now was one of the most listened-to talk shows in the country. For one thing, it's more of a news show than an opinion show, and it's not one of the most listened-to shows. That's not to say that it's not of high-quality--in fact, sometimes I think that the fact that it has fewer listeners means that it might be a higher-quality show. The listeners it does have are walking around with brains in their heads. I would guess that the show is growing, but it's not yet in the top tier.

"You mention Michael Savage- I have heard liberals accuse Ann Coulter of being a transsexual because she has a large adam's apple. Extremism is extremism- no side of the political spectrum has a monopoly on it."

And name me one progressive talk host who has said such a thing about the Coultergeist, Pratte. Just one name will do.

 

[Pratte4Life]

Al Franken certainly wasn't adverse to taking personal shots at conservatives on his show.

Locally, John McIntire openly questioned the sexual preference of Kevin McClatchy, the former Pirates owner. I believe he was taken of PCNC for it.

Yet you say not commenting on Ann Coulter's sex life is the progressive thing? Right after I say that many liberals have?

Jim- prejudice or rudeness is hardly only present in one political party or agenda. To try and say otherwise would be akin to arguing the earth is flat.

 

[talkjim]

"Al Franken certainly wasn't adverse to taking personal shots at conservatives on his show."

Name an instance and we can discuss it. This statement by itself tells me nothing.

"Locally, John McIntire openly questioned the sexual preference of Kevin McClatchy, the former Pirates owner. I believe he was taken of PCNC for it."

I'm not in Pittsburgh, I didn't hear it, and I would have to hear it in context before I would be willing to make a judgement. If he in fact made a hostile statement about someone's sexual orientation--I condemn it. But Pratte, if you think that right-wingers don't have a humongous lead over the left when it comes to gay-bashing, you are living on another planet. Opposition to gay rights has been a leading talking point for many Republicans and conservatives for years, and this opposition gets particularly ugly on talkradio. Limbaugh bashes gays. Savage bashes gays ALL THE TIME. I'm not a fan of Hannity, but I will say that to the best of my knowledge, he seems to avoid this stuff. I don't give credit to people for NOT being bigots, but I am willing to single out those who don't follow the pack.

'Yet you say not commenting on Ann Coulter's sex life is the progressive thing? Right after I say that many liberals have?"

You've cited your interpretation of one instance. That's a long way from "many". And given that this is a radio board, I'm interested in hearing about progressive radio hosts who have done such a thing--don't think you'll be able to come up with too many. It's also true that radio hosts have particular influence because many have widespread public access for several hours a day on multiple statons..

And Pratte,while I condemn gay bashing at all times from all sides, it's also important to remember who started the fire here. The Coultergeist invited trouble her way with statements such as calling Al Gore "a total ***". You know and I know she loves this stuff and the book sales that it generates.

The sad thing though is that it's bad for humanity and its bad for our culture. I also doubt that on a fundamental level Ann is a very happy person, and I imagine that she will probably eventually reach a point in life where she has some regrets about all this. But I have to tell you Pratte that when I make my periodic list of who to feel sorry for in this life, the Coultergeist ranks fairly far down the list.

 

[Boss Radio]

McIntire was out at PCNC because he turned down a new contract at greatly reduced pay. The station couldn't make money on Night Talk and didn't want to pay as much for talent. That's why it's been a succession of part-timers since he left.

He made the jokes about McClatchy many, many times over a long period of time, so it apparently didn't bother WPXI/PCNC.

 

[Pratte4Life]

Jim- Locally John McIntire has been ultra-left and ultra tasteless, going so far after Gerald Ford died to comment that he'd just had sex with Betty now that the former President was out of the way and like fine wine, she improved with age.

For these reasons, I try to ignore him. I don't read his blog, nor do I watch him on WQED.

Unfortunately, outlets similar to this one often discuss him. It is usually in the context of "this is an abomination, how is this guy given a forum, no wonder he can't keep a job."

If anything, these criticisms come more from the left simply because he tries to cater to that audience.

 

[in3media_be1]

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