Ron reagan: back on the air!

Dang it, the one thing wrong with KPTK's instantly signing up new Nova M talent, Randi Rhodes, is that now Seattle listeners won't get to get a listen to whomever replaces her.

Not even if it's Seattle homeboy Ron Reagan!

That hadn't occurred to us until we heard Thursday that he'll fill-in/try out next week in Randi's old spot in which Air America has created a new show called American Afternoon, which airs on the network's webstream, satellite feed, and a few terrestrial stations. It's live at 12-3p, Pacific time, weekdays .

If Ron makes it, (the chances of which we'll discuss farther down) he'd be not heard in his hometown where some 2-3.5% of the listening audience could be counted upon to listen to him. Those numbers are from his old KIRO time slot and weren't, actually, too bad in this market especially for the peculiar 1-hour radio spiderhole he used to have.

Others reportedly in the chute for Air America trial flights are comedian/TV personality Roseanne Barr (with Johnny Argent), and The View co-host Joy Behar. (We heart Roseanne, btw, who told one of the teevee night talkers recently: "I went and had vaginal rejuvenation surgery. No, I did! And now I have a va-junior. And I’m not afraid to use it.”)

This week it's been comedian/actor Richard Belzer, 64, who knows everybody and has had a parade of name-brand show-biz celebs cross from his microphone all week including Martin Short, Ice T, Tony Hendra, Paul Shafer, Jon Stewart, and Chris Meloni. He's smart, smart-ass, informed, and makes pretty good radio. Our AAR source wonder if he'd stick with the weekdaily grind of talk radio, living as he does half en France. (He doesn't have to work, it's said, after the large settlement he got from Hulk Hogan after a wrestling accident). 

We hear there's some kind of Air America management shake-up coming, we hear, so this decision could be delayed, but as the elections tighten up,it doesn't behoove them to wait too long.

Many AAR staffers are rooting for Sam Seder, whom they see as the rightful heir to the chair. A BlatherWatch friend; he's been there since day one and is tried and true to AAR despite their unpredictable meanderings that have alternately included and dis-included him through a swirling shitstorm of PD's, GM's, owners, caterers, and turf wars. He's a smart, high energy New Yorker; a great, loyalty-inspiring broadcaster with a solid, if not fanatical fan base. His Sunday show is terrific, but we miss his old show and so do many others.

Ron Reagan's a thoughtful, well-informed liberal who can articulate progressive issues consistently and intelligently. He has national name recognition; had at least two national teevee newstalk shows, a sense of humor, a vasectomy, and a unique personal narrative: he's the outspokenly liberal son of an iconically conservative President of the United States.

As you can imagine, he's got a helluva Rolodex.

We worry about the passion part. When his KIRO show ended, a radio programming suit told us, "Ron Reagan wasn't built for talk radio, he's not pissed-off enough." We'd argue about that, he can get steamed up when a topic tweaks him. The stem cell issue makes him raise this voice; as do right-wingers trying to tell him they know better than he does what was in President Ronald Reagan's heart. He's an outspoken atheist and the holy flimflamboozling of the religious right interests him, and torques him real good.

He wasn't fired at KIRO -- they didn't really have a spot for him that was acceptable. He'd been stuck in an odd noon to one spot that separated the two KIRO bread & butter (Ross and Monson) dayparts, and anx among other things, that made Dori Monson, the kiss-up, kick-down King of Seattle Talk Radio (m-f 12-3p) pretty pissed off. Ron left amicably.

He could benefit from having more resources than he got at KIRO for his one-hour show.

Air America is very New York-centric and Ron is from the West Coast. He's lived in Seattle since 1994, for chrissake, and is a native Californian. We know New Yorkers don't believe there's intelligent life beyond New Jersey, (which even might be a little far West) but there are plenty of us out here, and we vote with our ears. Ron Reagan could add western sensibilities to AAR which sometimes sounds like a New York City local station.

We heard that Reagan was being considered the Bernie Ward's old slot on KGO (10 p-1a) which are hours we can't see Reagan being interested in -- and besides, we're told that Christine Craft may have tied that up. (good on 'em if they hire her -- they need more women down there)

We're torn between Sam and Ron Reagan; we'll just have to say to Air America: let it be one of them.

Comments

[abob]

Ron Reagan got rejected by local KIRO listeners in Seattle. What makes Air America think a national audience is gonna listen to him?

[joanie hussein for obama]

a-boob, you have a reading problem.

I'm glad to read his numbers here weren't that bad. I didn't know that.

I love Sam and do consider him the heir apparent. Hope he gets it. One of the reasons I like Sam is that he gets a lot of guests. I would hope he keeps that up. I never listened to his previous show with Janine and three hours of comedy and ranting would lose me.

Having said that, I miss Reagan. He might be just a little too nice for a national show. However, if he were to take over the Sunday show slot that is currently Seder's, we could find out.

[Upton]

I can do without Christine Craft at KGO. She's one of these boomer aged woman who prefer Hillary solely on the basis of gender, like there is some kind of female entitlement to POTUS going on. Hence her program is filled with thinly vieled Obama bashing.

I would like to see Ron on in SF at KGO, I think he would fit in well there.

[joanie hussein for obama]

one more thing: Ron is currently featured frequently on Air America with Mark Green and Ariana Huffington
Seven Days in America. He's okay but doesn't have the same presence as Green and Huffington. Somehow, he's just not quite as interesting.

[NYLefty]

>>>Ron Reagan could add western sensibilities to AAR...<<<

Huh? Thom Hartmaann broadcasts from Portland and Jon Elliot is in San Diego. Those places aren't western?

[abob]

Ron Reagan can take comfort in the fact that he is the son Nancy loves the most because he is her biological. The Reagan family picked Michael Reagan up at the dog pound.

[AuthenticAndrew]

Nothing shows a lack of character like denouncing non-biological family.

[gregrocker]

Randi is ragin all week on her new home Nova M. She will take that network national and I predict it will soon eclipse AAR but not before they go through 2-3 new owners. For those of you who hate Randi so much, we know your secret and remember that no one sees your tiny little shriveled penis during the hours Randi is on, anyway.

[Rich]

I would like to see them dump Mike Malloy, can't believe they brought him back. Ron at 6 Randi at 9. Imagine two hosts back to back with the same initials. The promo possibilities abound.

[nevets]

Go GayRea. You know, with Bernie gone from KGO I think he would fit perfectly for the listeners of San Fran.

[PugetSound]

Nevets
We got 'Randi' all set to take the Bernie Ward slot...you know, out of control and irresponsible on the air. Doing who knows what off the air...

[nevets]

With Randi and Malloy both at Nova M there Puts, how many more stations do you think will go "Gospel" the rest of the year to get some advertisers.

[palouse]

That's because Puts likes talking about Bernie Ward. Usually the ones who are the most squeamish about them are the ones most involved behind the scenes.

[Anonymous]

Whomever “called out” TBTL on their blog-site for “plagiarizing”, if that person reads this blog-site, they should really cut it out. Some of us enjoy that show (TBTL) and, during the Friday night episode, after Luke exploded over the comments on his blog-site, the last half hour of the show was clearly off as he was audibly distracted, though Jenn did an excellent job as always. I’m betting there are a lot of other angry “tens” who will come here now that Luke is giving out this blogs name during his show. It’s going to be a rumble! In any case, whatever its faults may be, at least TBTL is innovative. Do you all really want Shiers back in that spot? Give me a break and grow up!

[joanie hussein for obama]

...Shiers back in that spot?

Wait, wait...I'm thinking...

[joanie hussein for obama]

Reagan was featured on Dan Abramson (sp?) tonight on MSNBC along with Lawrence O'Donnell and another guy both of whom out-shouted and out- dissed him.

He's too nice for those kinds of shows. I really miss him but he's not the product for a currently insipid hate-loving listenership.

Actually, I think he'd be perfect for KUOW! I'd listen to him on KUOW because he's not really dry but he's respectful. Scher is dry, dry, dry. So is Ross Reynolds but at least he asks interesting questions.

I agree with the poster who criticized Scher. He sort of mails it in.

[joanie hussein for obama]

Finally, on this thread, Steven, does white-trash talk come naturally to you and chucks or do you actually work at it?

[AprilMayJune]

I would love to hear RR again; NPR, Air America, KGO. Any of those work for me. Although I can take Randi Rhodes in small doses, I truly prefer someone who can remain calm and discuss the issues, such as RR. But I am one of those boomer women, so my vote probably doesn't count. BTW, I am definitely an Obama girl, but I will vote for Hillary without a doubt.

[Duffman]

AprilMayJune: YES, you will! Thanx.

[Andrew]

Whoever wrote that stuff about TBTL is not a regular on this site, the writing was heavily styled and I've never seen anything like it here. I bet that guy is just intimidated by Luke Burbank's ego and wit and couldn't miss a chance to attack him on those fronts, because yes it's obvious the guy was grasping for straws and googling for prior art. I doubt that guy has any interest in radio blogs.

[nevets]

Joanie wrote.

"soldiers coming home without benefits - can't even go to school on the public dime - 17 a day committing suicide - and families on welfare - and those at the top benefiting ."

Help Joanie, I have looked all over the web. Where did you get that number of 17 soldiers commiting suicide a day.

[Gay Gary]

I just finished catching up on the drama; if the originator is to be believed it was a high school bet if they could get Burbank to lose his cool on-air. To which I query: Monson gets an on-air case of the crazies over a tete-a-tete with a US Congressman while Burbank gets an on-air case of the crazies over a tete-a-tete with a 16 year old? I guess that leaves no doubt that KIRO finally got the show they wanted.

Whatev’ … it’s probably all a ploy to get me to start listening again because they know I’m a sucker for drama.

On a SERIOUS TOPIC, I caught “COP TALK” on KVI this afternoon during our drive back from the Bay and it had some of the most blatantly racist one-liners I think I’ve ever heard on the terrestrial airwaves. In preparation for their Asian guest they played “Chink Chink Chinaman” and were doing over-the-top impressions of Confucius. I don’t care it’s brokered time. Apparently you can’t get a Podcast of it but I’m spending the hundred bucks to order a copy from National Aircheck on Monday for the AAJA. Back in the day my monicker used to be Galactus the Ravager of Worlds (after the comic book character), not Gay Gary (now I'm a ravager of something else - LMAO!!!!!!!!).