Talkers Magazine, the self-proclaimed "Bible of Talk Radio and the New Talk Media," ranks the "100 most important hosts" in the business every year in its "Heavy Hundred."
It's an honor flaunted up by those who make it and pooed upon by those who don't. It's an annual ritual.
The list is dominated by conservatives, naturally.
The Heaviest Five are, not surprisingly: Howard Stern, Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Michael Savage, and Dr. Laura. Randi Rhodes at 10th beat out O' Reilly, (the bastard) who's at 11th; the nasty scold, Laura Ingraham, 7th; Progressive Ed Shultz came in at 13th; while Air America's Al Franken was 18th; and Hannity's bitch, Alan Colmes, 16th.
Local honors: Seattle talkers John Carlson, (no.76) Michael Medved (no.29) were ushered in this year, Medved for the second time. This is a big deal for Carlson who is not nationally syndicated, and hasn't even been doing that well in the ratings. These rankings aren't about ratings (we'll get to what they are about later).
Tony Snow, (KVI m-f, 9a-12p) the smarmy, neocon Bushmaster being
considered for White House press secretary and Fox News haircut is 40th. (We're doubting he'll take that position- he's recovering from cancer which is why he looks like Frankenstein).
Kim Komando (KTTH Saturdays 1-4p, Sundays 7-10p) the blonde tech goddess was 24th, beating out Hypocrisy Czar Bill Bennett, (KTTH m-f, 3a-5a) the most tedious man in radio besides Rabbi Daniel Lapin, (KFSO, Sundays 1- 4p) another world class values-bore who never made it close to any list except the federal prosecutors' list of Abramoff's heavy hundred best friends.
(We don't talk enough around here about Kim Komando, who may be the perfect woman- blonde with vocal chords all caramel and milk chocolate, AND she can fix your computer! Whoa. We'll do the cookin' honey- we'll pay the rent!)
Local blabbermeisters Dave Ross, (KIRO m-f, 3-6p) Kirby Wilbur (KVI m-f, 5-9a) and Dan Sytman & Dave Boze (KTTH m-f, 5-9a) were named in the also-ran "Talkers 250." Kirby might be miffed that Carlson made it into the A list and he didn't- Kirby has consistently pulled better numbers than the PM drive host; and has been just as influential in local political machinations.
That Dave Ross, probably the most talented talker in the market, be in Category C with Michael Reagan, Matt Drudge, Mark "Squeaky" Levin, and Sytman & Boze is a testament of either how phony-baloney this list is or how KIRO has squandered this great and beloved talent by bad programming decisions and foolish neglect of a once-great radiostation.
But young comers Bupkus & Bows, ostensibly on their way up, should be pretty happy about making the list- it's a plume in the chapeau made raggedy by being on the fading KTTH, sister failure of Entercom's crippled KIRO. Nobody gets good ratings on "The Truth," not even Rush "Big Pants" Limbaugh.
(We're just askin': If the snapping KTTH morning boys made it onto this list, whereinell's Dori Monson? Wearing his Gutter Helmet to political events and getting zapped by a stun gun on purpose, has gained him influence and enough local clout to have made nuns cry, invisible dogs to jump invisible fences, and many, many people vote for Ron Sims).
Gotta tell you, though, there are some pretty great folks on the Group W Bench w/Ross, Wilbur, et al. Like NPR's Terry Gross, KGO's Bernie Ward, Air America's Janeane Garofalo, sex talker Dr. Drew; and Dr. Dean Edell.
This year TM's patting themselves on the back for "a significant breakthrough" after they included Howard Stern and former NPR icon Bob Edwards who are both on satellite radio. They say they've expanded their definition of "spoken-word audio programming" to Internet radio as well, although no one in that category made the list.
Next year: they say they'll consider podcasting. (they fucking better!).
These kinds of lists appeal to the gigantic egos of these talk hosts, and ensure the magazine's appearance of being influential itself. And it's not because Dapper Publisher Michael Harrison is a conservative that he steps on no one of any consequence's toes. It's just that a preponderance of those of any consequence in talk radio are right-wing. Hardly anyone is left out.
So what's the criteria for who's "important?"
They write that Talkers editors "painstakingly" compiled the list based on a "combination of hard and soft factors" when making these evaluations. These include "courage, effort, impact, longevity, potential, ratings, recognition, revenue, service, talent, and uniqueness."
And brave, clean and reverent- o yeah. In other words, they pull it out of their ass.
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Got any talk radio poop to scoop? Dish it at [email protected]. Discretion? of course.
that super about Mr Dave Boze now if we can talk him in to working for KIRO NEws Talk Radio the night shift ! and I think Kiro might just have something going
Posted by: Brian Lacey | April 24, 2006 at 06:58 AM
I dont understand why Dr. Laura keeps an audience. The "leading voice in morality" ?????????????? Ms. " I have a Grizzly Bear Between My Legs so I am Going to Pose Nekkid" is America's Beacon of Decency?? Are there that many self-loathing people out there? Wow.
That, and the fact that Thom Hartmann gets a lower rating than Ed??????
Bogus.
Posted by: sparky | April 24, 2006 at 07:36 AM
It's kind of an offensive list. Sorry to see it gets any pr at all.
Posted by: joanie | April 24, 2006 at 08:22 AM
Well, Im not offended by it, and its kind of interesting to see who is popular around the nation. It might be interesting to stream some of these people and see what they have to say.
I think if Thom Hartmann had wider national exposure, he would be way up there....
Posted by: sparky | April 24, 2006 at 09:10 AM
I don't think it is based on popularity around the nation. Didn't B'M write a pretty subjective criteria list for it? That's why I don't put much stock in these polls. Am sorry people do . . . Hannity, Stern, Dr. Laura and Limbaugh?
Kind of like rating the survivor shows as being best in TV land! (LOL)
Posted by: joanie | April 24, 2006 at 09:42 AM
This list is a joke.
Posted by: sclub | April 24, 2006 at 10:21 AM
Michael..."who" comes up with the list?
I think its interesting to read, but as you might guess, it would not influence my listening habits.
also, do stations use this kind of info to set advertising prices???
Posted by: sparky | April 24, 2006 at 11:33 AM
Whenever I see these arbitrary valuations or watch more than a couple minutes of Hollywood's 100 Most [insert something here] I feel much closer to death than I did the minute before.
What do we have? Some loser fucks ordering something based on their opinion, which itself isn't even provided, and the sum worth of their efforts is less than zero.
Humans like to categorize things, it seems to be a natural tendency of the brain, we have a comulsion to do it even when it serves no purpose, like masturbating, but atleast masturbating wards off prostate cancer. Masturbation, 1, talk radio rankings, 0.
Posted by: Andrew | April 24, 2006 at 11:41 AM
sparky said also, do stations use this kind of info to set advertising prices???
Why would they?
Posted by: Andrew | April 24, 2006 at 11:44 AM
I dunno..I guess I imagined them publicizing it and using it as "proof" that they have a popular person who people listen to...I know, I know, it doesnt mean they have good ratings but I was just wondering, thats all....
Kinda like how the TV stations say they get Edward Murrow awards....whatever...
Posted by: sparky | April 24, 2006 at 01:34 PM
If that's true they might as well have stopped after #10. I don't think Tom Leykis would boast about being ranked in the mid 30's.
Posted by: Andrew | April 24, 2006 at 02:31 PM
Because KGO's Ray Taliaferro wasn't on it, this list is a joke.
Posted by: Ted Smith | April 24, 2006 at 04:07 PM
Well that is what I was referring to..the top 10...anything lower than that would be silly.
Posted by: sparky | April 24, 2006 at 04:21 PM
&rew sez: "masturbating wards off prostate cancer." Link, plz....
Posted by: Fremont | April 24, 2006 at 05:01 PM
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/3072021.stm
Posted by: Andrew | April 24, 2006 at 08:13 PM
Wow! Thanks, &rew! I wonder if it works for women....
Posted by: Fremont | April 25, 2006 at 12:42 PM
Yes, but beware, side effects include blindness, baldness, hair-hands, impurity of thought and abandonment of your Lord and Savior.
Posted by: Andrew | April 25, 2006 at 03:15 PM
"Gotta tell you, though, there are some pretty great folks on the Group W Bench w/Ross, Wilbur, et al. Like NPR's Terry Gross, KGO's Bernie Ward, Air America's Janeane Garofalo, sex talker Dr. Drew; and Dr. Dean Edell."
The last two are very good - apolitical also. The second and third are partisan leftwing kool aid drinkers who love to hear themselves blather away - Terry Gross is very partisan left also - Middle of the road is too far right for any of the first 3 mentioned to comprehend, so they lose credibility in my book. For objective views - I'll try Dr. Drew and Edell. I also like Gene Burns on KGO who is pretty close to the middle, who deserves to be in the top 100 if he isn't already.
Posted by: KS | April 25, 2006 at 06:19 PM
Taliaferro is the Mike Webb of SF.
Posted by: KS | April 25, 2006 at 06:21 PM
KS - the "K" stands for "Klueless"
Posted by: joanie | April 25, 2006 at 08:30 PM
One more thing, KS, you wanna hear left - tune into Mike Malloy on line Air America. He doesn't come on until 10 pm over KPTK but he's on 7-10 on line Air America. You'll love to hate him!
Posted by: joanie | April 25, 2006 at 08:32 PM
Just because O Reilly walked off her interview which rarely happens on Fresh Air is a lame-o excuse to call Gross left-wing, but I guess if Bill is paranoid about fessin' up to his own BS on the air, then so be it.
Posted by: chris | April 25, 2006 at 09:28 PM
Ray Talliefero is not gay, is not white, is not paranoid, has better taste in music, has not tried to bilk an insurance company.....so how again are he and Mike Webb alike???
Posted by: sparky | April 25, 2006 at 09:40 PM
Mike Malloy uses the last 10 min of his show to read from 1984. Downright eerie!
Posted by: joanie | April 25, 2006 at 09:47 PM
To finish my comparison, Mike Webb (originally from SF) probably learned how to be arrogant and foam at the mouth when talking to conservatives from Talifferro on the air. Unlike Talifferro - he is white and probably gay and bilked an insurance company and is probably more of a phony. I'd like to hear Mike Malloy and Michael Savage in the same room - unchained.
Clueless spelled with a K - thought you said you were a teacher, Joanie ?
Posted by: KS | April 25, 2006 at 10:29 PM
Actually, Gross slandered O'Reilly on "Fresh Air" and basically lied about it - why don't you tell the rest of the story ? I'd say Gross doesn't fess up to her own BS. You've checked Gross's side, now check out O'Reilly's - to really be fair and balanced, or does it pain you too much ?
Posted by: KS | April 25, 2006 at 10:35 PM
Jaysis, KS. I heard O'Reilly on Fresh Air. Terry Gross asked him a couple of very direct questions, and he got steamed up rather suddenly, called her some names and walked off. I later heard her tell the story- it was so phony and so obviously planned so he could brag to his Fox News choir how he stood up to the liberal media. If you listen to the tape- and it's on the internet at NPR and elsewhere, he obviously didn't wanna answer her questions and blatantly feigned outrage. The man is a liar, he's been caught over and over lying. He's a creepy harasser of women- if you don't believe me, read the court papers on smoking gun.com. He's a real role model for the values crowd. I hope his dick falls off...
Posted by: blathering michael | April 25, 2006 at 10:55 PM
If Terry Gross had slandered him, he'd have sued her. Geez, KS, get with the facts - he's got history - or haven't you heard?
Posted by: joanie | April 26, 2006 at 07:57 AM
Joanie - I got history - you say you got history, Why does someone have to sue everytime they get offended ? Sounds like victimhood.
Blathering Michael must have heard a different interview than I did. O'Reilly is no angel, but Gross was clearly distorting him as much as she could get away with, which was quite a bit since it was her show. O'Reilly got fed up with her repeated lies, distortions and insulting demeanor and walked out - I didn't hear her back up much of anything of what she said with facts just innuendo, so I take the side of Big Bad Bill here. Bill played the entire uncut interview on his show which is where I heard it. Hopefully, she is able to be more honest with her interviews, than with O'Reilly. You say Bill lies, I say Terry lies...
Posted by: KS | April 26, 2006 at 06:59 PM
What excately were Gross' "repeated lies, distortions and insulting demeanor"?
Posted by: stodge charger | April 26, 2006 at 07:06 PM
The first part should read; "I know O'Reilly has history - he was in the wrong and paid ~$2Million for the out of court settlement a couple of years ago. Time will tell if that has an effect on his person.
Posted by: KS | April 26, 2006 at 07:08 PM
Does anyone have the link of that audio clip so Stodge person can play it and hear it ? I heard it about 2 years ago and would not mind hearing it again.
Posted by: KS | April 26, 2006 at 07:10 PM
If his dick falls off he can always use a loofah
Posted by: sparky | April 26, 2006 at 07:11 PM
I heard the interview , no need to remind me and B'M is correct--O Reilly had a chip on his shoulder like all neo-cons and wanted to play it like he does when cornered. He also stated he wished san Francisco would be destroyed in another earthquake, which is a lame excuse for him not getting any hot, gay action when he was down there after his falafal incident, indeed!
Posted by: stodge charger | April 26, 2006 at 07:15 PM
His dick is getting knocked into the dirt everyday by Olbermann
Posted by: stodge charger | April 26, 2006 at 07:16 PM
Olberman is a real reputable and credible source. NOT. Why is he so obsessed by O'Reilly, yet on the other side O'Reilly never acknowledges him - probably because he is so small...
Stodge charger- Guess we heard different interviews. When leftist hosts like Gross think they have someone cornered, they blather away and don't shut up and start fomenting emotion which is BS alot of the time - and of little substance. That's why I believe she only won in her own mind and in the minds of those who dislike O'Reilly, like you.
Posted by: KS | April 26, 2006 at 08:46 PM