I've been meaning to bug, (again), Len Tillem, "The Loyah", about the umpteen times some of those in the biz agree with me that he could go syndicated anytime he chooses.
Right now, Tillem is concentrating on his new local show on NewsTalk 910, (KKSF-AM 3- 4PM).
Tillem's game is prime real-estate territory for the TRN's, Premiere's, and Galaxies of the world. I know a few of their reps who would love to talk shop with The Loyah.
And when you go syndication, you tend to get big bucks. Tillem can still do his local show and have a national show too.
I'm going to call him and bug him again and tell you what he tells me.
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Best show on the radio, in my opinion. I actually learn a lot of valuable info from Len.
ReplyDeleteThe quality of his calls has declined since the switch, but I'm sure that will change.
Ohh...I don't agree that the quality of calls has declined. Seems like Len has picked up where we all left off and he hasn't missed a beat (except for Day 1, but who wouldn't have done the same thing?)
DeleteGreat show and unequaled public service.
ReplyDeleteHowever, it would be tough to do in syndication because laws vary greatly from state-to-state.
This guy would be a natural in syndication...have heard a couple of syndicated law shows and they are snore fests...might take some getting used to in Des Moines but this is a slam dunk.
ReplyDeleteI wonder how it would work since he focuses on California law with a lot of DUI's and landlord-ternant issues. Also, I always think that he does radio to expand his business in Sonoma. He's definitely one of a kind, but I don't know if he wants the life changes that might come with syndication. Maybe, maybe not.
ReplyDeleteI would also question whether this would be a good idea; part of the show's charm is derived from the fact that it is essentially a local show; the number of callers is low, the amount of time spent with them is high -- as is the amount of behind-the-scenes work that happens with his staff to support the legal research, which you don't "see" on the radio.
ReplyDeleteSeems to me if he took the show national he would have to take a lowest-common-denominator approach, for a net loss to the show, specifically he'd have to:
- dumb it down so it isn't CA or Bay Area specific
- do a lot broader research for laws in all 50 states
- either take more calls (thereby reducing the quality of all the calls), or disappoint / leave on hold a higher percentage of callers, and
- deal with national broadcast standards, hard clocks, tones, national sales issues, etc. -- all of which is unnecessary for a local show. Len's style is not very conducive to any of this.
Thus, I respectfully disagree; the show belongs on a local station, as a local show. Remember, the show has its' roots in community radio in Sonoma County; KGO lured him away from that and made his practice quintuple in size already.
I agree, may be hard to do a national show with the differences in the laws per state. I listen to him every day, have learned so much.
ReplyDelete@10:36 can't disagree with much of what you wrote. You thought it through and I think you got it right. As it is the switch to 910 has affected the "quality" of calls. Switch the show to a national level and call quality would decline even further. The reason Edell's show was great in syndication was because health is universal, a hemorrhoid in CA is the same in NY. The same can't be said of a DUI
ReplyDeleteIsn't "Handel on the Law" syndicated? Seems I've heard that show on various road trips throughout the country. I do agree that it would be harder to address concerns due to the differing state laws, which could actually misinform listeners who aren't pay a lot of attention to regional jurisdictions.
ReplyDeleteHandel is syndicated by Premiere (ClearChannel) and is carried by at least a couple hundred stations. I doubt they would want to offer a second legal show. That might make Len ripe for picking by TRN.
DeleteHandel's style is WAY different than Len's and he's very generic (lots of landlord/tenant issues, trusts/estate law). He doesn't wade into more complicated things the way Len does.
Keep Len Local! "Handel on the Law" sucks.
ReplyDeleteI don't wanna share him!
ReplyDeleteI totally agree..I don't wanna share him either! People in CA find NY accents fascinating..He is a breath of NY -Jewish -Loyah- that is informative and fun to listen to in the bay area where everybody's accent is the same..(none) I love Len Tillem!!
ReplyDeleteI don't want to share him but I think I would deal with it. That would be great for Len and he would be on the air longer making the big bucks, as he would say.
ReplyDelete