Now about Mr. Wells (was Bloomquist)
I do think WMAL is boring, at least up until Chris Core. Core holds intelligent conversation and asks thought-provoking questions. Rush has become a Republican shill who thinks listeners are very excited to hear all about HIM.
I will stand by my evaluation of your talk show. I'm not criticizing or commenting on your prep -- I have no idea how much or what your read to prepare. I will say though that you don't seem to "add" to your content. In other words, you (and many other talk hosts) say the same thing over and over again, seeking callers who agree with you and add their similiar comments. What I want to hear in a talk show is someone who puts out some information, talks about it, then adds some new information, talks about that, then adds more new information, etc. To continually talk about one aspect of any issue without exploring other avenues gets boring. Where's the "thoughtful, well-reasoned talk"? That's what I look for in a talk show. Not you asking the same questions to different callers.
It has nothing to do with a short attention span (and I will refrain from attacking you as you did me. I commented on your work, not on YOU proper.) Nonetheless, looking for comments from listeners, i.e. "exploding the phones" was something Bloomquist sought. He also wanted "shrill screams" to trigger "adrenaline-calloused nerve endings" as you say. That was Michael Graham's job, was it not????? If you admire Bloomquist, then it would follow that you would do similar work.
WMAL -- one of "the greatest talk stations in the country"? Sorry, doesn't seem so. If it was, then why does it not do better in the ratings? Why is it that talk radio flops in the nation's capital -- a place one would expect to be a hotbed of talk radio! Great talk stations??? Try WABC, WPRO, WSB, WLS, WBT. Those are some great stations.
