Bet your ass KVI programmers and marketing honchos were drooling Thursday as KOMO TV's Ken Schram took the wheel for the vacationing John Carlson (m-f, 3-6p).
He led by announcing that Carlson and Kirby Wilson had gone to Vancouver BC to marry. Even though it's legal up there, the conservative audience was not amused.
(The afternoon with Schram was hot-talking, confrontal nudity. It was like going to Lutheran choir practice and having Mad Maxx show up as Choir Director).
It was great radio and even the choir loved it.
Aside from that BlatherWatch mostly agrees with Schram's politics, we'd have loved the show even if the philosophical tables had been turned. There was tension.passion, plenty of surprises, real give and take--very different than the standard fare of most talk shows stuck in the rut of the ol' day-to-day.
(We listen to talk radio a lot--we get angry, for sure, but even more, we get bored.)
Schram's a veteran TV guy whose weekdaily diatribes on the KOMOTV evening news sometimes infuriates liberals, sometimes warms our hearts, but they're always are true...to Ken Schram.
(He's what BlatherWatch calls a "fuck-you liberal." Top-rated KIRO overnight guy, Lou Pate would be his counterpart, a "fuck-you conservative." They're libertarian, no-party-line, one-issue-at-a-time, call-'em-as-they see-'em, and if you don't like it--fuck-you very much and have a nice day).
He's good on the liberal big picture issues: marriage choice, abortion, the war, I-912 and G.W. Bush, but gets downright cantankerous--mean even-- on a host of smaller issues, offending everybody in sight at least once a week.
The audience for the Carlson Show doesn't get its fur petted the wrong way very often. The popular Carlson is a nice Seattle boy, who skillfully manufactures and directs the outrage without scaring the horses.
Schram, on the other hand, was a rhinoceros in a room full of waffles, as the saying goes, challenging callers to shoot their best shot, pummeling them with heresy, always quick to laugh in their faces. KVI listeners heard things they never hear from a talk host, like, "I support marriage for gays and lesbians 100%."
We're telling you, they loved him.
Don't get us wrong, Carlson runs a good and successful talk show; and to his credit, he frequently has guests with opposing views. They sometimes get ganged-up on by Carlson and his conservative callers, but they're there and they're heard.
But while KVI listeners are accustomed to liberal guests, they're not used to a liberal host. Hosts have all the technological advantage in radio debate--call screening, the mute button, the flush lever, and the control of time.
Schram pressed these advantages like any talk host would, taking on all comers like one of those twirling, kicking ninjas fighting 16 brutes with 23 weapons.
Ken Schram is a likable, regular guy, (at least he plays one on TV); he smiles good-naturedly as he pulls your face off.
We got lots of mail today about the show. We like to think it was good for the Carlson audience--liberal medicine for them to be force fed by a harsh taskmaster...but they had a terrific time because it was terrific radio.
Schram would be tremendously successful in radio--he definitely has the looks for it--but those radio execs are never gonna get him--he's already got the best broadcast job in town.
Michael, you are absolutely correct. Ken Schram does have a face only radio would love. I occasionally agree with him...10 to 15% of the time. My main problem with him is arrogance. If that is only a "schtick", I don't care for it. I have never been amused by that style, by anyone.
Perhaps Ken is what KPTK needs for their local voice. BUT, my guess is Ken would NOT leave the cushy Fisher family to go to a chancey Air America operation. Time will tell if AA will be commercially viable. Honestly, I think AA chances for long term survival is not good. Many national ratings for AA have not been generous.
Posted by: Duane | July 23, 2005 at 11:46 AM
When I think of you, Duane,(and that's often, brother) the word 'humble' always comes to mind. You don't care for arrogance as schtick?? I thought you were a big Limbaugh fan...he invented it as talk radio schtick. Who said anything about Air America? Schram's at the end of his career, he has a great job, and radio doesn't pay like TV. He'd kick ass if he did, even if you'd be listening to humble conservatives like Dori Monson, Michael Savage, Bill O'Reilly, Rush or Bryan Suits.
Posted by: blathering michael | July 23, 2005 at 01:55 PM
Perhaps, like art, beauty is in the eye of the beholder...listener in this case.
Rush is a great entertainer,often with some great insights. I do enjoy listening to him, BUT, that dosn't mean I agree with everything he has to say. I have never thought of him as arrogant, in the style of Ken Schram. I guess this is just another of those points we would have to agree to disagree. By the way, I bet Ken would love to have just 10% of the Limbaugh audience. Many, many times I have disagreed with some of his opinions or observations. A very good journalist, editor friend, once said to me "if you were to agree with me on everything I had to say I'd be worried." I am assuming, Michael, that you don't buy into everything that is said on air america?
Posted by: Duane | July 23, 2005 at 03:34 PM
Ken or other hosts dosen't worry about catching up with Rush as much as Rush worries having to debate another host, which he'll never do...but Rush is not arrogant when he claims guards at Abu Ghraib "were just blowing off steam"....in the aftermath of the prisoner abuse scandal?
Does he have another side to him beside perscription drugs that he indulges in?
Posted by: chris | July 24, 2005 at 09:14 PM
Duane - c'mon... you never thought of Rush as arrogant? This from the man whose lead in was "From God -To Me - To You!" Keep those blinders on though... it helps with the glare.
Posted by: Nindid | July 25, 2005 at 10:27 AM
Schram did an Hour with Suits when Suits filled in for Carlson about a month ago. Actual offers to sponsor the one-time "show" began before they were done. It was a great hour because Schram never gets to play off anyone who can keep up. (Suits kept up)
Posted by: Parity | July 25, 2005 at 04:31 PM
thank-you, Bryan.
Posted by: blathering michael | July 25, 2005 at 05:21 PM
A message to John Carlson & Ken Schram regarding topic of arming teachers. Nothing is more appalling & inside out, that this notion that the more school shootings occurr, the more it's a bad idea to arm teachers. Just the opposite. The inherent risks of having a gun are the same no matter what. Before there were school shootings, it was not risk effective to bring a gun to school, because the chances that it would be necessary to stop a situation weren't great enough to justify the risk of having one, yet it was acceptible to bring one. Now that the risks of not having a gun are on their way to outweighing the risks of having one, you want to make it unacceptable?
I DON'T THINK SO!
Posted by: rogerfancher | September 29, 2006 at 09:55 AM
Oh the lawyers would love you....
Posted by: sparky | September 29, 2006 at 10:41 AM
My son was stabed 8 months ago. thay finally went to court.They said the kid was not gilty.Even with witnesses.What is up with our system.Did he just have a bad prosecuting attorny,or did the kid just have a good attorney,Why wait 8 months,They said there was know blood on the knife when they found it,G maybe he washed it,plese E Mail me back.
Posted by: Richard Markham | October 19, 2006 at 05:28 PM
It is simple...all teachers should carry big ol' knives
Posted by: sparky | October 19, 2006 at 07:20 PM
I've always liked Ken Schram. I was a regular watcher of Town Hall just 'cause he handled it so well.
Didn't know he was so irascible - perhaps opinionated? - till he started doing those TV commentaries. Just love that spirit, common sense and in-your-face plain speaking.
Posted by: joanie | October 19, 2006 at 08:58 PM
Off topic, but caught Clinton's speech yesterday at the Center for American Progress and it just about made me weep. Such character (YES, I said CHARACTER!) and such wisdom. Got a standing ovation and an extended applause.
Posted by: joanie | October 19, 2006 at 09:06 PM
Character? What in the hell are you trying to say, little lady? That The Decider doesn't have character? What in the hell kind of blue state, sissified, candyass crap is that? That man can cut a "big blaster" right in front of you, if you're new here at the ranch, and embarrass you in front of his pals. Now that there is character. And hell's bells, if you're losing your hair, or a total baldass, he can think up a nickname for you , that reflects that, and ridicule you with it in front of the other reporters, to show you he's an alpha male, who the hell's the boss here kind of guy. Now that's character, little lady.
Posted by: Ranchhand Rick | October 19, 2006 at 11:54 PM
Ranchhand Rick, I defer to your wisdom. You seem to reflect the times in which we live very well.
But, as Dylan sang, "the times they are a changin' . . . " (hopefully)
Posted by: joanie | October 20, 2006 at 08:24 AM
I am posting a Blog about the King County Counsel voting to close our state run shelter Kent Animal Shelter. It has been in operation since 1970, and rather then fix it "let's close it". That is not an option, what the heck. The total number of animals in foster care that was recording is 1,796
Kittens to young-866
Moms with babies-445
Cats/kittens with colds-290
Puppies to young-105
Medical-61
Kennel cough-29
This is the actual numbers.
Also the adopt-a-thons that are run through the shelter and the free spade/nurture for locals in the area. The vet at the shelter helps in the investigation of deaths in animal cruelty for King County Animal Control.
I am a Volenteer w/King County Animal Control, I can tell you HOW DEVISTING it would be if this shelter was closed. But if King County thinks these million dollar council (our monorail) are more important. Well Heck they really do Have tunnel vision for our out line communities.
Posted by: April w/ Kents King County Animal Control Volenteer | January 10, 2008 at 12:02 PM