We wrote to KKOL and begged them for a press release. They didn't respond.
We'd read on Radio-Info that our old pal Mike Siegel was starting up a new show on KKOL, the Salem news talker that flipped to business talk last year.
No one else got an announcement either -- there was nothing no where about this new show. We ransacked the Interwebs and finally found a line on a page on the KKOL website: "6 A.M. -- Sound Business with Mike Siegel," it read.
That's it!... helluva way to launch a new show, eh?
Unless, of course,Siegel bought (brokered) the on-air time for his real estate and consulting businesses. They sell a lot of time over at KKOL, so that's a distinct possibility.
Read about Siegel's long radio career, here. He once ruled Seattle talk radio air waves, and does James Brown impersonations at parties. We described him thus at a KTTH Xmas party we attended shortly before he was canned:
As it turns out, Mike Siegel, 60, fancies himself as bit of a Negro. After self-describing as a "reverse Oreo, white on the outside, black on the inside," he launched into James Brown's Uptight, with his "hair" flying, and all the little hunch-fisted shoulder shimmy shrugs and "Yows!" you'd ever want. He wasn't bad at it, and was definitely a credit to his race- which is white and Jewish- the only black man in the crowd pretended he didn't see it. Mike's a sex machine and the Godfather of Talk, as Sytman described him, but after all these years, we think he maybe oughta give it up or turn it loose, as we used to say in 1969.
KKOL is the local flagship of Salem Communications, the conservative Christian company who specializes in low-powered, low-rated stations with right-wing talk, brokered Christian or Spanish language programming. In the Seattle/Tacoma market they also own KGNW-AM 820; KLFE-AM 1590; KKMO-AM 1360; and KNTS-AM 1680. None break a one share in the ratings.
i remember listening to siegel on the old king 1090 am and he was usually entertaining. one of my favorite shows he did was on the anniversary of his dads death with his mom contributing. i remember mike doing an interview on the evening news and it was obvious he had had hair plugs installed in straight rows as if weyerhauser was in charge of hair reforestation. siegel would do an open hour on fridays where listeners could call in with any topic, and i called and asked what happened with the hair. he answered honestly and said he hand done a trade with someone for advertising time, and if he had to do it over again would think better of it. he was very forthcoming when he really didnt have to answer the question at all.
Posted by: dave (not dave ross) | April 21, 2009 at 01:28 AM
Mike will always give you a straight answer when you confront him. It's one of his strengths. But if you DON'T confront him, he will schmooze and twist the truth to suit him.
When he was first hired at KING 1090 all those many years ago, he was a liberal talk show host. A telephone conversation with a friend in Detroit convinced him to turn conservative, on the eve of the original teabag protest in the late 1980's.
He keeps resurfacing in Seattle, I think, because listeners sense he is really a very sweet person at heart. Just insanely misguided at times.
Posted by: where's waldo | April 21, 2009 at 03:54 AM
If Mike Siegel could rein in his wild accusations and Art Bell-like theories he could probably go a lot further than he has to date.
He seems to be influenced by paranormal type temptations and then his creditablility suffers.
Stick to basic talk show banter and add the flavor of your legal background and political knowledge and you could do just fine Mike. Good luck with your new gig, if indeed it is that.
Posted by: KVIFan | April 21, 2009 at 07:33 AM
We wrote to KKOL and begged them for a press release. They didn't respond.
There's a shock. Aren't press releases for the press? (i.e. not local lunatic cyber-stalkers of local talk radio hosts)
Posted by: baz | April 21, 2009 at 01:02 PM
now that;s what i'm talking about. My man MIKE IN THE MORNING. He'll be more interesting than Dori and Dave. By the way, in case you were wondering why Dori and Dave weren't left on AM, instead of moved to a crappy-signalled FM spot on the dial to make room for sportsradio, take a listen to Monson right now, whining about taxes again And taking calls from whining, cheapass bastards who also are complaining about taxes. Whining about taxes and calls from those who hate them is absolutely the most boring crap in talkradio. Dori is a bore, mostly, as well as pompous, smug dweeb Dave Ross. As stupid and asinine as sportsradio is, I'll bet it outdraws the two local bores.
Posted by: Tommy008 | April 21, 2009 at 02:53 PM
Ouch, I am afraid the truth hurts, Tommy. I have long ago given up on the whiner (need I say; the boy with a girl's name). I can listen to opinions I don't agree with, but I don't listen to whining. As far as Dave goes, I love him, but maybe I am growing a bit bored with my nice-guy morning boyfriend. However, I will never listen to sportsradio, unless it is directly related to the Mariners.
Posted by: AprilMayJune | April 21, 2009 at 08:05 PM
Mondays are a must with Sirota. I'd listen to him anytime any day. I'm hooked on Ross even though he is occasionally irritating.
But then, people who aren't irritating now and then are neither fun nor interesting.
710DORI is a whiner. And it does get old. Except to other whiners.
I loved Siegel in the 70s? Dave (not Ross) and I must have been devotees at about the same time. He was such a passionate liberal during the Exxon Valdez campaign and I called him occasionally.
Anyone notice how the threads here seem to cycle? We've had this discussion before.
Posted by: joanie | April 21, 2009 at 10:30 PM
Siegel is like a bad penny. He just keeps turning up.
Sixty huh? My how time flies...
Posted by: joanie | April 21, 2009 at 10:31 PM
Inhofe Will Filibuster Judicial Nominee For Ruling Against Sectarian Prayers In Indiana Legislature
Would someone please explain to me why the dippy dems didn't let the rethugs blow up the filibuster waaaay back when they were threatening to? Sure scared the dems silly. What a bunch of idiots they all are.
Posted by: joanie | April 21, 2009 at 10:53 PM
That is great news and thank you for letting me know. I definitely will tune in. I love Mike Siegel and always thought that no one covers Olympia like he does.
I first heard him on KVI and it's true that he altered his opinions over the years. Nonetheless I think that he (and Dori) did it out of sincerity rather than as a mercenary thing. It would be really tough to project passion as a mercenary. In fact, that is exactly why Mike bombed as Art Bell's replacement. He didn't have true passion about UFO's and ghosts, and it showed.
Posted by: woody held | April 22, 2009 at 01:16 AM
There's no love lost for Siegel over at georgenoorysucks.com, they hate him almost as much as they hate George Noory.
What's this about Air America doing pledge drives to stay on-air? They're still going to play commercials, they're just going to ask for donations on top of it.
http://www.publicradio.org/columns/marketplace/scratchpad/2009/04/commercial_radio_doing_the_npr.html
NPR better get pissed.
Posted by: I Like Dennis ... (Kucinich) | April 22, 2009 at 11:07 AM
They have been doing this for a few years now. Not sure why this guy just picked up on it.
KPTK takes pledges but no money is involved. People call up and pledge to a certain number of hours they will watch...actually they are just telling the audience how much they already listen.
Posted by: sparky | April 22, 2009 at 05:19 PM
Whatever they've done in the past, they're asking for money - as in U.S. currency - now.
Posted by: I Like Dennis ... (Kucinich) | April 23, 2009 at 09:32 AM
This is CBS Radio begging for money. they'[re what, the 2nd largest broadcast media company? Radio is so screwed.
Posted by: Saigon66 | April 23, 2009 at 10:37 PM