Michael Savage Ratings and Podcast: The Right Information; Syndicated Radio Host/Raconteur Moves The Needle; Streaming King; Heard Here on 560 KSFO

Michael Savage

 WHEN YOU SCREW UP YOU CAN MOVE FORWARD AND IGNORE IT, OR MAKE AMMENDS, acknowledge it and try to be more accurate.


Earlier this month I wrote that Michael Savage's ratings had flatlined and his much-hyped podcast wasn't moving the needle.


I was dead wrong.


I relied on information provided to me by a normally reliable contact who frankly was fed wrong information. It wasn't the person's fault --the info and data was simply not sourced and I didn't bother to check it out myself; my bad and inexcusable. I do my best to give you the right info and I errored.


Stupid me.


In Fact, Savage's ratings are off the chart. He is one of Cumulus's top syndicated radio forces (heard on KSFO here from Noon-2 PM) and offers one of the few conservative voices that is devoid of several of the usual GOP talking points that are repeated daily by the ultra-right-wing-radio echo machine. I've said repeatedly that Savage is not your normal politics-only radio broadcaster, he's much more than that. He is an audio tour-de-force entertaining personality who can mix and match wits on virtually any subject matter, including pop culture, daily news topics, Indian food and Chinese food deli. It's an always entertaining three hours and most amazingly, Savage can handle a quick detour and provide some of the most fascinating, exuberant content be it himself, or engaged with a caller. Either way, it's solid and refreshing, especially in this day and age of boiler-room radio piled high with stale steaks. Savage is prime rib, center-cut, with fresh baked potato on the side.


His podcast is excellent and just measured a record-high 4 Million downloads making him the King of Streaming audio and Cumulus' #-1-rated podcast with a different take, opinion, rehash daily on his website. It helps that Savage is allowed to create fresh content and often times, has luxurious freedom and independent thought on all things important and pertinent to daily life.


Oh, and he's pretty tight with this guy too and isn't afraid to criticize and engage when the situation merits. If you don't believe me, take some time out and give a listen. You might just have a whale of a time.


I do.

Michael Savage Causes a Stir (Again) in North Beach; Rare Interview With American Sniper, Chris Kyle, (Audio)

 This is beginning to be a regular weekly occurrence in North Beach.

SF-based syndicated talker, Michael Savage, was surrounded by hundreds of supporters as he departed the North Beach Restaurant the other night. As a few SFPD police cars sailed through the street to see the commotion , Savage managed to make it past the sea of humanity to his car parked on the other side of Columbus Ave.

Fat Tony and Joey Redbone-Loggia were among the throng who witnessed the patrons coming out of North Beach to high-five the clearly, but happily-flustered Savage and his pet poodle, Teddy. Word spreads fast in this town.

Seems Savage was out and about celebrating his TSL ranking as the #1-rated streaming talk show. He also played a riveting interview with American sniper, Chris Kyle on his show Monday.

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A Real Tale from the City: Michael Savage Gets Star Treatment in North Beach; High Fives and Fat Tony Adulation

 Quite a scene the other night outside the North Beach Restaurant where top syndicated-radio banana, Michael Savage, was outside roaming the streets and high-fiving, among others, Fat Tony from nearby Broadway.

Savage, who was no doubt celebrating his newfound radio ratings bonanza, went to see his friend, Lorenzo Petroni, the owner of the legendary Italian eatery who is battling a major illness.

Before Savage could make it into his splashy new vintage Jag convertible, several fans from across the street began converging on the SF-based radio star besieging the area into a sea of humanity.

The normally private sage, off the air, was blown away by the impromptu fans seeking autograph selfies and uber-high-fives! Looked like a scene out of Good Fellas --all we needed was Henry Hill.

After about 20 minutes of good, old-fashioned modern-day schmoozing, Savage took off in the Jag and left the North Beach corridor in style.

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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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