Monday, January 6, 2014

Michael Savage, More To The Point And Specifically

 Sure, it's only a couple of shows but if the early indications and insider news is only slightly correct, then Michael Savage's new entrée in an earlier time slot, (Noon-3 PM, PT --syndicated--heard locally on KSFO), is not ripe for future successful longevity.
 
As most people here know, I've been an ardent admirer of Savage, sometimes to my own personal and professional detriment.
 
Savage is a wide swath of audio buffet; a controversial, occasionally loud and rambunctious voice of political theatre, inner-thoughtful, (or thoughtless, depending upon your opinion), in-your-face imbroglio that is part-show, part-personal template and quite the setting for a national audience that Cumulus Media is hoping sets its table and more importantly, clearance, for all its hundreds of radio stations.
 
Early on, there's been problems. Some, self-inflicted, others not so. And while it might be unfair and way too early to paint a broad picture of the Savage show a couple of broadcasts into a new venture, first impressions provide a bevy of reservations.
 
For starters, Savage has gone ultra right-wing political with mucho Obama bashing with endless Socialist, Marxist, Communist verbal jousts; that's a common element in the conservative, right-wing radio echo machine only Savage's major forte has been his consistent detour from mainstream conservative talking points. It is the repetitive, bash Obama daily menu, (and W too for that matter), that has wrought ultra-conservative radio into a mindless, numb, and frankly un-entertaining radio program. It was Savage himself who has frequently decried the shortcomings of the Sean Hannity, (whom he replaced), Mark Levin, Laura Ingraham, and Rush Limbaugh programs whose main content is basically 100%  GOP talking points. Not especially creative even in an upcoming election year.
 
Savage is, of course, political , like all of us, but his mix of personal anecdotes, dietary stories, (the frequent Indian buffet and Chinese food adventures), and doggie updates on "Teddy", his canine buddy, has been noticeably absent. And really, that is the genesis, the genius if you will, of Savage although even in that area, it sounds as if he's become wary of talking about one of his best radio assets. Maybe it's Cumulus that wants him to become more political gung-ho like the rest of the horde but that won't work long-term because even the most loyal listeners tire easily of constant Groundhog Day offerings.
 
After my initial negative short take on Savage's first broadcast, I received much e-mail bashing from people ripping me because I dared offer a stark, frank review. Those of you that know me well here and have read my stance on Savage understand the foolishness of that reasoning. It's not my duty nor my pedigree to fawn. And that extends to Savage himself. To his credit, he's been steadfast in his unabashed, unpredictable support for non-conservative issues like raising the minimum wage, offering strong support for whistleblower Edward Snowden and calling out Rambo-wannabee, George Zimmerman in the Trayvon Martin murder case.
 
It is that part of his painting that we supporters, (generally speaking), hope to hear more of; we want, expect and delight in his off-beat, occasionally hilarious and again, unpredictable, views of the nation and world in general. We've waned on Limbaugh and Hannity. We don't even bother with an Ingraham nor care about the endless drivel of Levin's disingenuous "tyranny" rants. They don't register in today's rotten radio domain. So yesterday at best.
 
We hope Savage sets an immediate path back to his bread and butter. We hope the alleged, taped third hour reports are false, (in NY and some stations in the East). We appreciate the new "Give me 15 Minutes and I'll Give You America" mantra is more old-fashioned bits rather than the usual, tried and forced political shouts. After all, the "socialist" is a lame-duck anyway and Hillary bashing is much too early and seems dated even before its induction.

Should be an interesting year.

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39 comments:

  1. Rich, why do you continue to write posts about this annoying, loud, abrasive, and obviously dysfunctional man? He's a joke and an embarrassment and represents everything that has gone wrong in talk radio. Stop it please!

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  2. Hey Rich-whatever happened to Jared Hart, the guy you love to pillory at KGO radio? I haven't seen you take any shots at him lately.

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  3. Rich, you're one of a kind.....an apologetic Savage fan.

    I'm sorry to hear that you were burdened with derogatory email for having an opinion but I find it more troubling to find some people think you're entitled to it only if they agree with it. The password is "untrustworthy".

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  4. Aren't we done caring? Why again?

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    1. Rich has censored my posts with the following sentiment in the past, so we'll see if this makes it and I'll keep it way short...

      This is 415 Media playbook 101
      STEP ONE Like a figure, cozy up to them, sing the praises though with some reservations, etc
      STEP TWO Oh noes! Those reservations he voiced, remember them? Now, they are the main thing, and the battle is joined and RL (in his mind) is seen by the figure as the new sworn enemy, when the figure may or may not even be aware of RL's vitriol
      STEP THREE Iron out the reservations, detente is reached, the figure can move on from RL's approbation safely (whew! close call!)


      A few months later, repeat steps two and three when RL needs a boost

      Delete
    2. I'll try to be as civil as possible, RantBot. I do not censor unless it's personal garbage, more to the point, I EDIT--it's MY blog. If that is counter to your feelings, and others for that matter, then nobody forces you to come here.

      I do my best. I call the shots as I see them. Good or bad, whoever, whomever...when there's good, I'll highlight--bad, I'll call out too, no matter. I've been pretty consistent.

      Yes, I had a "détente" with Raddy because endless ripping becomes tiresome and not good posts. Owens is a different beast that I won't go into now.

      If I rip too much I get harangued because I'm seen as a "hater" with an agenda; if I compliment I'm called a "hack"--maybe that's good. Shows that I take no prisoners.

      Like I said, doing the best I can which is only fair. If that's not good enough, you have the right to vacate the premises. Thanks for reading even if you leave and I hope you don't.

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    3. Yup, same move with Raddy...

      ...and with Dan Ashley

      ...and with Damon Bruce

      ...and with Kate Scott

      ...and with Ronnnn

      ...who can be next? STEP ONE AWAITS!

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    4. Just wait until Rich starts calling these guys out on his show

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    5. Rich, it is absolutely false that you do not censor except for "personal garbage." You routinely censor polite, articulate comments that disagree with your opinion about certain matters.

      The problem is that you pretend to be open and transparent when in fact you present an unbalanced and unrealistic picture of reader agreement with your opinions.

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    6. Rich, why is it people think you have your own show? Don't you think your failure to ever explain what became of your great new show demonstrates a lack of transparency on your part?

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    7. I explained the situation about my show. In fact, as we talk, I've been offered a weekend show on Saturday and Sunday. I don't owe you nor anyone else any more explanations, ok? So take care and have a nice day.

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    8. REALLY?

      After filling your blog for weeks hyping your fabulous, new radio program and then there is no show, some excuse about working out technical difficulties, and then nothing.

      You don't think you owe your readers an explanation? You lambast others for much smaller things but somehow Mr. Transparency doesn't owe anyone an explanation?

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    9. Peoples be runnin for cover when Rich starts his weekend show!!! Buckle up!

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    10. Leave Rich alone! He will have a LOT to say when MZ buys him the radio station!

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    11. Get in your best shots 'cause we be changin' soon.

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    12. Some of you people are SO cynical! It's very common in the radio industry for new shows to be held up weeks or even years due to technical difficulties. Once this stuff is all worked out, Rich is crackin' skulls, y'all!

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    13. I'm shocked Rich published the above posts. I've written the same things in the past without any curse words or personal attacks and the guy with the fedora censored them. You had loyal listeners such as myself on KOMY and your feeble explanation for what transpired is disappointing.

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    14. I'm shocked Rich is finally posting negative things. His excuse about what he does/doesn't post is disingenuous. Many of us know what posts he has scrubbed because we've made the posts! Something must be brewing for Rich if he's willing to post these things now.

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  5. Spot-on. Savage listener since 1998 when I worked at a radio station far away from the Bay Area. Don't agree with all his views, of course, but who does? Even Savage's views have changed over time, or he's made them more nuanced.

    I still laugh at his tribalistic nationalistic views of America ~ an America that never existed universally for all citizens and residents.

    If Savage were not a tired intellect, he would see the future of the world does not rest upon nationalism, which only results in many more fractures around tribalism, as is happening in the Middle East and in Africa.

    It's what got us World Wars I and II, the disastrous money-sucking Cold War, and many other previous European wars.

    If Savage were so bold and so gifted intellectually, he wouldn't rest his laurels on outdated mantras like "borders, language and culture."

    I still listen occasionally, but Savage has become so impressed with his own self. Jimmy Stewart and even Art Linkletter did not attribute their success only to themselves. They attributed it first and last to good fortune because there were so many other talented, and even more talented, individuals who just didn't have the good fortune of serendipity.

    Sure, hard work, smarts, dedication, skill and education all play a part in Savage's success; however, his success is much owed to timing and good fortune.

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    1. Art Linkletter was an extraordinarily vain and pompous man, sort of the way Bill Cosby has become. An omnipotent legend in his own mind. I can still recall that day in 1966 when Arts daughter jumped out of a window. sky high on LSD. My parents nevr let me forget the bad example.

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  6. I for one will listen and give him time. I never really listened much in the past but he is interesting radio.

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    1. If you treat Savage for what he is, a bloviating entertainer, then you'll probably enjoy it. If that's what you're into.

      If you're looking to this guy to be right, consistent, honest, or anything in between, you won't find it with him, or any other right wing talk show host. It's not KQED.

      If he wasn't so impressed with himself he probably wouldn't be that good. I for one got over his show years ago. Now it's just old news and old noise.

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  7. Maybe the high priests of media, the ones who've done so much over the last few years to "improve" radio and the media -- the consultants -- have influenced Savage enough for him to "improve" his show.

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  8. Savage is great, but his problem is that his type of show is tailored for evenings when people are unwinding after a long day. The daytime crowd is filled with political junkies, who want nonstop updates on the goings on in Washington. For that type of program, Hannity was ideal since he could interview just about any big named politician on the spot. Could you see Savage interviewing John Boehner right before he runs to the House floor to vote on extending unemployement benefits? I don't think so.

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    1. Hannity wasn't ideal. It is what was available. Ideal would be someone who is actually covering those topics and is ALSO entertaining. Not Hannity.

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    2. I found a couple of stations on Tunein.com that still carry Savage at 6pm PST. They are KWOS and KERN. I stream them on my Roku. I prefer my Savage fix in the evening.

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  9. Savage is a lunatic and a pretty terrible person. All I can tell you is he basically got Cumulus to give him the money to pay his staff directly so he could have full control over them, and fire them at his own will. He got David Weintraub fired from the show as well who may have been working for either him, Cumulus, or both. I can't believe the two of them worked together in the first place since Weintraub isn't known to keep to himself. You should have heard the fighting that took place between the two of them. Walk past Savage's studio on any day and you'll hear him screaming at his producers, or you'll hear them screaming at each other. The worst part is he doesn't even need a studio at KSFO but I'm told he wants it because it makes him feel like he won. That by coming back to the station and having his own place it makes him feel more important. The best part was the first day he showed up at the building and walked around KGO, hoping people would be excited. No one knew who he was and no one cared. He's so delusional it's almost sad. I believe the guy when he says he has no friends, and it's not because he's choosing to have no friends! The studio thing is terrible too because by having one in the building he makes it more difficult for everyone else to do their work since they're already in a space that's too tight. He basically drains resources from the building and for no reason since he has been to the building at MOST 5 times in over a year. Maybe he comes more. I doubt it though.

    I don't think Cumulus directs him as to what to say or talk about in any way. I think his crazy looking producers just come up with stories and they go with it. At least that's how it was explained to me. He used to complain about every single promo done for him, and they were good. He used to argue against what he said on air! 'Someone' said last year that no one has ever told him he did a bad segment even when they are terrible. That they tell him he did great because they're scared to tell him the truth for fear of their jobs. And when they're bad and he knows it he starts complaining that no one is complimenting him. That he is sitting all alone by himself and doesn't get any feedback. The whole thing is just a terrible mess, and if I had to say one thing in particular about the show it's that I feel bad for anyone and everyone who has to work with him, or deal with him.

    The guy is an old man whose attitude and personality seem to get worse every day.

    Appreciate what I'm telling you because I've not divulged info on this guy for over a year, but now I am free to do so. Carry on.

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  10. Savage, another bigot with a Mic. Who cares.

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  11. Lieberman only wishes he could be Savage, or Ashley, or Kate Scott, or Damon Bruce, or Ronn, or anyone else who actually has a paying gig in broadcasting.

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    1. I was paid back then when you were PAID. As opposed to today's nickel and dime crowd, or you, probably a 7/11 worker or Cumulus intern but thanks for confirming one thing: Darwin was wrong.

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  12. Speaking of Cumulus, did you hear Jennifer Jones Lee was back today?

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  13. Rich, where's Jared, the guy that hired Monte manture, the 'witch' from NYC Maureen Langden, and Karel?

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  14. It's only been 3 shows in the new time slot. I think the good Doc Savage will get better as he becomes more comfortable and adjusts. Even so. waaaay better than the tiresome Hannity.

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  15. Weiner is a dishonest bum. He is entertaining when he stays away from politics. The time change is a disaster. I think his best time slot was 3-6pm back in the day. Plus doing only two live hours and the third one taped is disrespectful to his employers and the audience. This is the same idiot who attacks the poor for supposedly not working hard yet he gets paid $10 million a year and is too lazy to do three hours of radio a day. What a prick!

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    1. $10 million a year? What universe? Maybe a million.

      But I agree. I do love it when morons like him talk about having a summer job and a part time gig to get thru college. Try that today you jackass.

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  16. Savage just doesn't do it for me, and I'm one of 11 known Bay Area conservatives.

    And you haven't arrived until Rich has accused you of working at 7-11.

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