Michael Savage has won a legal battle against the syndicate that runs his show. He's also off the radio, which if you're a fan of Savage Nation, as I am, is disappointing.
As difficult and complex it is to deal with Savage off the air, his on-air show is about as entertaining and funny as there is; a virtuoso of hilarious banter, brilliant monologues, and a magnificent ability to connect and often times, deliver highly engrossing content.
If that sounds over the top, so be it. And politics? I'm not a Savage believer, but politics is the least of the Savage performance--it's a form of radio that is lacking in the terrestrial world and as long as it moves the needle, then it works, and for me, Savage works.
(Full Disclosure: I have been a guest on his show frequent times.)
This latest twist presents a new programmer and/or syndicate to get Savage back on the Bay Area radio airwaves. Yes, you heard me right. In liberal San Francisco, Savage needs to get back on radio and I know at least one broadcast veteran already working hard to do just that, (more on this in a future posting).
Those of you who detest Savage because of his legendary rants are out there. Fine. Everybody has an opinion. I have tried to assert that I listen to Savage because he's entertaining. He makes me laugh, what can I say. He's unpredictable which is a part of his brilliance. If Hannity, Levin and Limbaugh were as half as talented as Savage, I'd give them a listen too but they bore me. They repeat the same old shit day after day. It's predictable and it doesn't entertain. (Conversely, other than Limbaugh and Hannity, Savage has more listeners.)
Savage has his moments. He's a royal pain in the ass, yes and he's difficult to work with--I personally know one PD that threatened to quit a local outlet because he couldn't deal with Savage. They ended up working it out because they had to. Nobody's perfect in this world. That aside, I'm looking forward to hearing Savage back on the radio soon. And here in San Francisco too.
*Hats off to a real pro retiring today after 51 years in the biz and 32 of those years at KGO Radio: Stan Burford. Probably the best traffic reporter ever. Burford didn't just report the accident on 880 or the fender bender on 101. He told you a story. He has a wry sense of humor. "Car meets tree--tree wins"--how fricking Burfordish is that!
More than anything else, Burford came out of the old KGO. A member of the club and not only a talented guy, but a good guy too.
I salute you, Mr. Burford and wish you a happy and healthy retirement.
*Those of you who inquired why I didn't write about the morning idiots that were "suspended" over some inflammatory remarks, I didn't post for a reason: I don't want to give any mention to gimmick radio. It's the most tired and lame thing in this business and I don't want to promote it.
The "we're fired/suspended" shtick went out the door many moons ago.
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Pretty much echo my thoughts on Savage. Its mostly idealogues who get pissed at radio guys. Nothing more boring or embarrassing than an ideologue. Regardless of persuasion. Whatever happened to attraction by example, instead of the ridiculous amount of proselytizing?
ReplyDeleteSavage isn't a idealogue?..he's MASTER of that.
DeleteWhy "E" make excuses for him? He's popular because the right loves to hate..ALL top rated talk radio are preachers of conservatism blaming the sick,poor,and elderly for this country's problems. They don't blame the big company's who have all the money,or the men who run them..nooo,they blame wino Joe.
As we who know say..the rich pit the country's middle class VS the poor..while they walk untouched.. and taxed lightly if at all.
Don't confuse that with the 47% who work and make so little they don't earn enough to pay income tax..YOU want to switch places with them? And those who do make a dollar more then the poor-like me-pay through the nose.
AND one more..the goddam wars George Bush put on to us at no personal expense to himself or any sacrifice, has nearly broken this country...the Army just ordered 5 BILLION dollars in new camo uniforms..in 3-D..JEEZUZ..the well for them has no end or bottome.
Look at the Libs above foaming at the mouth. Can't wait to hear Savage again on the bay area airwaves.
DeleteI love irony. The hater message by 1224 in support of the messenger of hate.
DeleteSo is Clear Channels Premiere going to pick him up so we can hear him on Newstalk 910 ( http://bit.ly/KKSF910 ) ?
ReplyDeleteWondering if this has anything to do with the "internal personnel issue" that Armstrong and Getty won't talk about.
ReplyDeleteThey swear it wasn't a publicity stunt, but maybe you know something we don't ...
ReplyDeleteIt is hard to choose which show is worse, the KSFO Sussman or the Getty show. Both are horrible. Kudos to Rich for ignoring them. It was obviously a publicity stunt. As for Savage, I agree with Rich, he is very entertaining. My favorite Savage line when talking about the 50s is: ”it was at a time when the chrome was thick and the women were straight”. I am a left leaning Marxist and the guy cracks me up. His show has a rythm, the best and funniest shows usually occur on Thursdays and Fridays after Obama bashing from Mon thru Wed....
ReplyDeleteagree with him or not, it's refreshing to dial back the time machine to a pre P.C. age...remember how good it felt to speak your mind?
ReplyDeleteI have always thought Savage's act sounded better in the original German.
ReplyDeleteArmstrong/Getty doing what they did was nowhere a publicity stunt than everything else they, or anyone else does on the radio. It's them trying to get ratings, being all white. It's who they are, nothing more or less.
ReplyDeleteAs for Savage, he is an entertainer. He's about as disingenuous a person as has ever been on the radio, but that does not make him bad at what he does. I completely agree he's more entertaining than Rush, Levin or Hannity (who shouldn't even be in the discussion). What he does works. He's an actor who started believing the part somewhere down the road.
He will surely end up somewhere in the Bay Area is Rush Limbaugh can beat out Ronn Owens at the time slot.
Sounds like you listen to them all.
DeleteI actually don't listen to either, but have both. As someone who has been in the biz for over 20 years, to some extent I am aware of what goes on. Haven't listened to Savage in at least 3 years.
DeleteBurford - Traffic's most true legend (even more so than the late Hap Harper, who was more a Don Sherwood - and later Frank Dill - buddy who knew a lot about traffic, aviation, and weather than he was a guru of the roads). Clear reporting with occasional humor - excellent combination, especially during KGO's greatest years!
ReplyDeleteAs for Savage? Well, I still stand by my view that other than a Chinese food story, since his fallout with a long time colleague - the late Bill Graham - the guy is an irascible bore. Hence, he's still Weiner and unworthy of respect to me, not to mention all of the followers who follow him like puppy dogs.
Give me any of the CBS commentators anytime. At least the stories can be entertaining and dignant more times than not.
any word on who will replace Stan?
ReplyDeleteno one can replace Stan Burford.
Deletewhat's up today with Savage? his pal Dr. Bill is on KSTE but makes no mention of 'sitting in for Michael Savage'???
ReplyDeleteNext time read Rich's post!
DeleteAnother good column, Rich. When Savage got put on the blacklist in the U.K., I wrote about it when I was an employed journalist. I don't think he saw it, but it's not that I agree with Michael on everything. Who does? I argue with my wife. Big deal. However, I like him for the same reasons as you: he makes me laugh, and also think, and he's like that Italian uncle I lost long ago. He has an angst, but some of us are stuck with angst. His comes out in politics. He also likes vintage/classic cars, which I love, and I'd like to hear him talk more about that. Hope to hear him soon. Keep up the good work, and thanks for not mentioning the two from Sacto who should be unemployed because they really lack talent. Almost as bad as your friend on KSFO and Sussman and the cat-scratch who does the traffic.
ReplyDeleteWhen Savage started out on KGO as fill in & weekends I listened to him and loved it. I followed him over to KSFO when the format changed to Hot Talk. But as time went on Savage became more full of himself and outlandish. I don't miss him one iota!
ReplyDeleteMichael Savage is a piece of work, but I really wonder if he actually believes some of the vitriol he spews. The guy has some anger issues that are seething, so I guess it's good he's got a way of releasing them. I just can't believe that people take him so seriously. It's not a good reflection on the intelligence of the average American. Oh, I forgot, he's 'entertainment,' so we shouldn't take anything he's says seriously, because it's all done to generate noise and ratings.
ReplyDeleteGlad you avoided talking about the 'gimmick' radio nerds. There are too many people in the profession who like to wave their arms and yell: "Hey look at me! I'm on the radio!" I think this is one of the reason that the social media has become so popular. People are dying to be noticed.
We all have that basic human need to be loved and wanted. It's just gets a little ridiculous sometimes when people go overboard to try and draw so much attention on the air. But I guess the 'genius programmers like that kind of schtick!
Savage is going to have a live broadcast on his website Sunday night. I gotta hear this... michaelsavage.com
ReplyDeleteDid he belly ache about spending $900k in legal fees while receiving $1 million in arbitration? Did he ask his dumb listeners for $ for his ”legal defense fund” after Britain banned his ass?? Did he fail to mention he makes $10 million a year and his son owns Rockstar energy drinks? The Weiner whines too much....
DeleteBig freaking deal, anybody can read traffic news. Too much credit once again given to people who are paid to do a job. Car meets tree - tree wins! Not funny. Stan Burford told traffic news like he was curing cancer. Go work freaking 40 hrs hard labor job for 50 some years then tell me you are a legend. Go away and stay away!
ReplyDeleteProbably the biggest winner in the Savage issue is The Loyah Tillem. I will tune in to his show at 3pm now that Savage is out for a while.
ReplyDeleteYou people are idiots. Savage is right on. The only Nazi's are liberal zealots who think they know whats best for us. Obama is a commie monster who is ruled by hatred for America, christianity, and white people. He's a one term mistake just like carter. Just look at the state of the middle east and you can see the fruit of.obamad inept, naive policies. And finally len tillum is a joke. His show sucks.
ReplyDeleteI think its funny how all you liberal lockstep losers cinstantly cry about the awful rich people.your brains are so bent by obamas koolaid you cant see reality.if your poor its your own fault. The reason only a small percentage of people are rich is the majority of americans are sad little haters looking for a scapegoat to blame thier pathetic lives on. Most people are afraid of change. They ate.comfortable being poor because it takes minimal effort. The majority are lazy and want to be controlled.The dems need a legion of brainless robots who would rather scream against ”the man” than dream big for thier own future, and risk some money, make an investment and build thier own vision. Thats exactly what most successful people do. They work 70 hours a week creating success not vilifying it. Because Christ died for our sins, and we can all be new in Christ wr dream big. We dream big, and emulate the.rich because we know Jesus only want the best for us. I am shooting for the best.no hoping some skinny, big earred molato, paper messiah will go all robin hood and give me a.bag of someone elses money. The.dems need losers like you. Jealous, hateful, brainwashed nabobs. Godless golem all marching lockstep toward a dark shapeless future of totalitarianism.
ReplyDeleteYou are the exact moron who takes Savage seriously that is the problem. You'd probably have a heart attack if you found out he is a Jew.
DeleteWhat is the problem exactly? You never stated the problem. Your problem is your a pathetic loser who's butt hurt because you arent successful and Savage is. In fact your so weak and lazy you cant even type out an intelligent reply. Your some creep with congenital halitosis sitting on a semen stained, squeaky office chair surfing the internet for childhood pictures of Christy McNichol and pasting your boogers under your cheap Ikea computer desk.
Delete$4.95 to hear him on the internet? what is he? NUTS???
ReplyDeleteI'm listening to Jerry Doyle now. At least Jerry shows up to work everyday...and it's free.
ReplyDeleteI've known he was Jewish for years douche bag. Since, you have nothing thought out or intelligent to say its obvious your a vacant nabob. Whats wrong, havent gotten your talking points from the Democratic party yet? Next time you attempt to rebutt my comment dont bring a knife to a gun fight. Your comment shows how weak you are. Go back to studying Conan O'Brians wardrobe, and licking the foam off your weak chin from your testicularlly challenged caramel mocha makiato.
ReplyDelete