My Ranking of AM Radio Talk Shows

TOP:

Roe Conn Show
- My favorite. Irreverent, hilarious, and very entertaining - this is what I think talk radio should be. Its not simply stuck single-mindedly on the topic of politics, but rather has a good dose of celebrity gossip, plenty of interviews with local and national personalities, voice impersonations, and spot on humor throughout. But I have to say: bring back Christina Filiaggi!!

Neil Boortz Show - Neil Boortz doesn't toe the standard conservative line. Thank God! I get so bored flipping from one radio talk show to another, all saying the same damn thing. Moreovor, he knows his job is primarily that of being an entertainer, and he expects his listeners to make up their own damn minds. Even on his website he writes:
Don't believe anything you read on this web page, or, for that matter, anything you hear on The Neal Boortz Show, unless it is consistent with what you already know to be true, or unless you have taken the time to research the matter to prove its accuracy to your satisfaction. This is known as "doing your homework."
That is a breath of fresh air in the world of AM talk radio. Very entertaining, often insightful, and never stuck in a rut. I don't often agree with him, but he is fun to listen to.

Clark Howard
- He is all about defending the consumers. His shows are always packed with insightful tips and informative comments, and I generally feel like I've learned something when I tune in. My general sense is that he is well intentioned and not trying to make controversy where there is none (unlike most talk show hosts). There are also hints he may run for the mayor of Atlanta, GA in 2009. I'd like to see it!

MEDIUM:

Rush Limbaugh - There is no doubt about it: Rush is good at what he does. I've got to respect that. But there are a bunch of things that annoy me about him and his show. First, I get the feeling he's nearly forgotten that he is primarily an entertainer and that he makes a living brewing up controversy. He seems to want his listeners to trust him and believe his views rather than think for themselves. Its funny, his listeners actually refer to themselves as didoheads - such an appropriate name! Finally, his Us-v-Them mentality drives me crazy. He's part of the reason this country is so polarized nowadays (and he'd love to claim credit for it to boot).

Mark Levin - I'm not actually sure why he makes it into my middle category. His voice is very shrill and his show doesn't really seem to add much new to what's already out there. Its always: dems are socialists, if you don't agree with me then you're a dope, etc. Nonetheless, I'd much prefer to listen to this show then any in the category below. Maybe its just his passion - his single (and simple) minded passion about what he believes.


BOTTOM:

Sean Hannity - Always stuck in a rut. F*in' A': How repetitive can one get? Its like he has a list of 10 things to talk about, and that's all he's going to hammer every day. Illegial immegration, Jeremiah Wright, Bill Ayers, supporting the troops, attacking dems, lowering taxes, etc. (the list doesn't really go on much longer). There is almost nothing insightful that you haven't heard him say a thousand times before. How in the hell did he get to be so famous? And its all blantantly and mindnumbingly slanted. Who actually buy's into his shite?

Michael Savage - When did talk show hosts forget they were entertainers and start buying into their own sensationalist crap? And buy into it whole-heartedly he does. He's like the Farrakhan of the right. Its not even that I disagree with most of what he says, its just not entertaining - its only angry. Borrring! I'd rather watch Battlefield Earth than listen to his invective dribble.

Handle on the Law
- Quintessential lawyerism. Handle is also a braggit and bully. I don't really have anything else to say.

Btw, most of these can be listened to, at one time or another, on the internet. Go here and find what you want.

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Comments

Anonymous said…
DITTOHEAD IS FROM THE GREETING "DITTO" WHICH MEANS, I ENJOY YOUR SHOW. IT IS A WAY ON NOT HAVING TO HEAR THE SAME COMMENT OVER AND OVER. RUSH HAS ALWAYS SAID PEOPLE LISTEN BECAUSE HE EXPOUSES VIEWS THEY ALREADY HAD AND HE JUST CONFIRMS THEM. OF COURSE YOUR ONLY GOING TO GET ONE SIDE ON HIS SHOW, HE IS A DEVOUT CONSERVATIVE AND BELIEVES MODERATES ARE PEOPLE WHO CAN'T MAKE UP THEIR OWN MIND AND JUST GO WITH THE FLOW.

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