Dennis Miller, the former SNL comedian, sports caster turned libertarian, security conservative radio talk host and will take over KVI's 9 ta noon slot in early February. He left the Seattle market when KKOL flipped to business talk early this month.
The KVI slot is now filled with Dr. Laura Schlessinger who tells young women and gay men why they shouldn't sleep with their boyfriends. She tersely supports wives who are having trouble serving and servicing their husbands on demand as, she believes, is their Biblical role. (Laura's never lasted long in this market, though she's tried many times).
She is a "series of tubes."
"[Laura] produced an 0.8 in the the 25-54 Summer book," our KOMO source tells us, "Miller should do better."
There is, of course, persistent talk that KVI will one day bring Rush Limbaugh back to their schedule where he once anchored the whole station. KTTH, then owned by Entercom managed to steal the Big Fat Head, and helped start KVI on a descending trajectory.
Bonneville, it is said, hasn't the juice with Limbaugh that Entercom had -- and Fisher still has -- so hope springs infernal for getting back Big Pants. Or so goes the story...
Dennis Miller's show is convivial, not pissed-off, and sometimes funny. Miller often has on apolitical show business friends who he has managed to hang onto despite his sometimes obnoxious about-face rightward after 9-11. The conversations stray from the partisan fire-eating.
He's a weekly teevee guest of Billo Reilly, whom, judging by the frown and sighs, he seems to barely tolerate, We're probably projecting that on Miller, because we, ourselves can barely tolerate Billo (we watch him every day) but if it is true, it makes Miller slightly endearing.
This is great news. I could not get that other station well. KVI comes in great in the south end.
Posted by: chucks | November 19, 2008 at 12:38 PM
Sometimes Miller is incomprehensible on O'Reilly with his Hollywood name-dropping and references no one gets unless you live in LA or watch bad tv all day.
Posted by: mark | November 19, 2008 at 12:55 PM
references no one gets unless you live in LA or watch bad tv all day
Are you talking about Dennis Miller or Luke Burbank?
Whatever. If Dennis Miller is on KVI at 9AM that means he's airing on tape since his show starts at 7AM. With the addition of another rerun, KVI will now be less than 50% live --- 10 hours per day of live programming and 14 hours per day of reruns.
Is that a good programming concept? (I'm truly asking, I don't know but I'm curious about these things.)
Posted by: The Beast Rabban (formerly Gay Gary) | November 19, 2008 at 01:05 PM
Dead air is better than that shrill, shrieking shrew.
Posted by: mark | November 19, 2008 at 01:12 PM
thank you, Bla'm, for not linking to That Picture of Dr.Laura.
Posted by: sparky | November 19, 2008 at 07:31 PM
Dennis Miller isn't that funny anymore.
Posted by: lord.humungous | November 19, 2008 at 09:51 PM
He is more pithy than funny, but can be both when he has guests like Norm McDonald or Dana Carvey. I'll listen to KVI more after he is on.
Posted by: KS | November 19, 2008 at 10:20 PM
spot on KS
when he brings on people like a Norm McDonald, Dana Carvey, et al he can interact with them on a level that most hosts can't.
He doesn't pretend to have all the answers and comes across as a bright, literate, and fair person on the air.
He doesn't bully. What you really get from him is a conversation. But the best segments he ever did was with Vincent Bugliosi.
Move over Joanie.
Worst Case of Bush Derangement Syndrome:
And I enjoyed his Helter Skelter, JFK, and the one on the 2000 Election regarding the mistakes made by the Supreme Court on the Florida Recount.
I am really looking forward to the Vincent Bugliosi thread coming up. He was on Dave Ross today.
I heard Vince on Dennis Miller the other day. Miller was fairly considerate letting Bugliosi hang himself on his radio show. I was disappointed at first at Dennis’ polite demeanor, but Dennis came through and let Bugliosi reveal himself.
Miller had Bugliosi on for 24 minutes or three segments.
I got the podcast.
You literally hear a man become a parody of himself. Kind of sad.
After that performance, I am starting to have doubts about the guilt of Charles Manson.
Posted by: PugetSound | November 20, 2008 at 12:44 AM
Seattle is a weird radio market. Laura is the 3rd highest rated talk show host in America with an audience of over 8 million. She trails only Limbaugh and Hannity. Why isnt she a hit in Seattle? Tom Leykis used to be the hottest radio show in Seattle just a few years ago. Leykis is now relegated to an obscure late night slot in taped delay. Seattle is a strange and fickle market.
Posted by: orcas | November 20, 2008 at 01:03 AM
For Leykis I wonder how much of it was the Stations up here not wanting to get all the neg flack with what comes with his show. In the early 90's he was on KIRO then on FM 'The Buzz' for years until it went off in another direction.
Posted by: PugetSound | November 20, 2008 at 07:04 AM
pathetic little weenies are the only people who would subject themselvest to the withering, callously delivered humiliation served up by the cruel,cackling egotist known as Dr. Laura. It's simply a pure ego trip as the bigshot bitch Lord's her self-imagined brilliance and substandard training over the mewling, pewling little munchkin callers. Sickening. Thanks KVI.
Posted by: Tommy008 | November 20, 2008 at 07:37 AM
T008: On that, I agree with you 100%!!!
Posted by: Duffman | November 20, 2008 at 07:45 AM
Michael
Give Laura a break, She has a consistent point of view and does not pretend to be anything but an orthodox Jew looking at the lessons her tradition ffer to all.
In contrast, DM is boring. He feigns a false sarcasm that is as unconvincing as Rush Limbaugh's outrage at the Minnesota recount.
If I were mangain a radio station in Seattle I would collect strongly flavored folks like Schlessinger and dump poseurs like Monson, the tow duffuses, etc. As I think about it, she really does stand out in this way. The only others I an think of are on AirAmerica. It would be fun to listen t the Laura Rachel debate!
Posted by: Seattle Jew | November 20, 2008 at 08:25 AM
'If I were mangain a radio station in Seattle..'
WADR: you'd be out of ratings and broke!
Posted by: Duffman | November 20, 2008 at 08:38 AM
Tommy008- 2 Dr. Laura and Brian Suits-0 bwaahahahahaaha
Posted by: Tommy008 | November 20, 2008 at 09:25 AM
we ran your sorry asses out of this town.
Posted by: Tommy008 | November 20, 2008 at 09:26 AM
...and then you go and ruin it by knocking Suits...tsk, tsk!
btw: how's your prediction that Suits wouldn't last at KFI doin?
Posted by: Duffman | November 20, 2008 at 09:30 AM
maybe Suits jingoism and apeman stuff will catch on with the huge uneducated underclass in LA, enough to keep his ratings up. Who cares? we're not L.A. We read books here, we have advanced degrees . As long as he's out of my town I'm happy.
Posted by: Tommy008 | November 20, 2008 at 09:38 AM
btw didn't KFI decide they had to team Suits up with Kennedy a woman talkjock in order to make him more palatable? Hardlt a sign of strength and management confidence for Suits, AND I BET HE WAS SECRETLY FURIOUS.
Posted by: Tommy008 | November 20, 2008 at 09:47 AM
oh oh big bad Suits will chime in here any minute now that we're talking about him. he's such an LA bigshot now you'd think he'd have better things to do than constantly monitor our smalltime city(according to him) talkradio chat board.
Posted by: Tommy008 | November 20, 2008 at 10:25 AM
There's times when nothing need be said...and one can just let the spider entwine themselves in their web of spin. BwahahaBwahahaha
Posted by: Duffman | November 20, 2008 at 11:09 AM
Making it in Seattle ...
I dunno bit it seems to me that part of the reason Rush and Hannity appeal to folks is that they do a goos imitation of the World Rasslin Federation.
Air America has a bit of that flavor too. I suspect people WILL listen if they identify with the stuff they hear and gert outraged or horny.
I got it . Sarah Palin needs to do a call in show on cookin whtcha kill!
Posted by: Seattle Jew | November 20, 2008 at 08:13 PM
"There's times when nothing need be said"
LOL - You've made my day. Thanks Duff.
Posted by: Mungo | November 21, 2008 at 10:52 AM
Seattle Jew, LMAO on the visual.
Palin would be killer diller for sure on that.
I agree both the Rush/Air America fans like their red meat.
Speaking of Red Meat, I've been out of town.
I still think in Seattle the best Burger for under $8 is at the Phinney Ridge Red Mill Inn. Get the sauce on it and that thing rocks. Still lines out the door last time I was there.
Posted by: PugetSound | November 21, 2008 at 11:08 AM
Mungo ..... SIT !!!
Posted by: Duffman | November 21, 2008 at 11:50 AM
Posted by: Duffman | November 20, 2008 at 07:45 AM
"Michael
Give Laura a break, She has a consistent point of view and does not pretend to be anything but an orthodox Jew looking at the lessons her tradition ffer to all."
======================================
Sorry Duffman, Laura Schlessinger tried (years ago) but failed to become an orthodox Jew -- I think she lasted about a year -- it interfered with sailing on Saturday, doncha know?
SusieQ
Posted by: SusieQ | November 26, 2008 at 03:29 AM