Why Michael Savage should be back on SF Radio

My interview on Michael Savage last week, (http://www.trn1.com/savage_lieberman_interview) was met with some severe criticism from many people, including some of my most ardent fans. I understand, to a degree, your anger, but a lot of it is misdirected.

I'm an unabashed fan of Savage. As I have said, and told him directly on the air, I don't agree with a lot of his politics, but clearly, if you've ever listened to Savage, politics is but a small portion of the bulk of his performance, and clearly, Savage's main template is entertainment. Sure, he riffs a lot on Obama, he often goes ga-ga over liberal minutia and media, but the meat of his show is largely non-political.

Currently, Savage cannot be heard on SF radio. He's on KSTE in Sacramento, (where you can listen to his streaming on-line show) and he's big across the country. He just passed Sean Hannity as the second most-listened-to radio talk host in the country, (behind Rush Limbaugh).

Savage is a load. An often funny, bizarre, entertaining and meaty load who is the only character left on radio that makes many of us laugh. Some have called him downright genius. His monologues can range from haute Chinese food, Italian pasta, and the risks of a salty diet to his steady friend, his beloved poodle, Teddy.

He's not for everybody, then again, neither am I. When Savage goes off, he's often brilliantly vile and disgusting, in a creative way. Sure, it's like the accident on the freeway that everyone stops to take a look at, but it makes for entertaining radio. I'd rather listen to Savage rant while I find the meanderings of Randi Rhodes about as exciting as a C-SPAN2 re-run. Book notes, Savage ain't. Even Limbaugh, Hannity, Levin and Ingraham recite the same boring repetitious GOP talking points day in and day out. It doesn't move the needle--Savage does.

I told Savage that he should be back on Bay Area radio. He should. Yes, he's difficult to work for, with, and he's a hornet's nest with program syndicators, but that's their problem. Savage's ratings are off the chart. So he's occasionally a loose cannon, but he makes for impactful, enlightening, and provocative radio. Is it offensive at times? Sure. And that's why I love it. At least it's transparent, unlike, say, a Sussman on KSFO who couches his banality and tries to conceal his own form of bigotry--Savage is way out, front and center. He doesn't cower and hide, for better or worse.

Here's hoping a SF Bay Area outlet pick up the "Savage Nation." It is some of the funniest and most potent broadcast content left on the dial.

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