Posted on 02/14/2010 3:27:01 PM PST by bd476
San Gabriel Valley Tribune
By Richard Wagoner, Radio Columnist
Posted: 02/11/2010 09:34:47 PM PST
Ever since Doug McIntyre was shown the door at KABC (790 AM) last year, I have received letters and e-mails almost daily asking where he is or when he will be back.
McIntyre had been with KABC for years, first as the overnight host on a program called "Red Eye Radio," and most recently as the station's morning man. When he was dropped from the roster, he mentioned the possibility of resurrecting "Red Eye Radio" as a syndicated program. I figured the syndication would happen, but that there was no way he would be back on KABC.
I was wrong. As of Feb. 8, McIntyre is now heard weeknights coast to coast on WABC/New York and KABC in Southern California (from midnight to 3 a.m. here), with more markets being added.
Now something isn't quite right with that, since he can be heard in New York from 1 to 5 a.m. EST. That's four hours beginning at 10 p.m. our time. Where is the missing hour on KABC — and why the tape delay? Only the programming gurus at KABC can explain that.
If you've never heard "Red Eye Radio," you're in for a treat. This is McIntyre at his best, talking about whatever comes to mind: politics, history, music, sports - whatever. And he does it in a decidedly upbeat and intelligent manner that will help you stay awake on long drives, or keep you entertained when you can't sleep.
Schizophrenic radio
Considering he was let go by current management, I cannot fathom why McIntyre is back on KABC, even at night. More peculiar is programmer David G. Hall's statement regarding McIntyre: "I used to hate to compete with his shows. They had huge ratings and audiences that were way above average in listener loyalty."
Oh, really? Then why let him go?My instinct tells me something is up here. Either McIntyre was forced back on the station - indeed, the distributor for "Red Eye Radio" is Citadel Broadcasting, the same company that owns KABC and WABC - or Hall is admitting a mistake (which would be unlikely).
Consider KABC's overall programming: nice guy Peter Tilden in the morning with topical comedy; Frosty Heidi and Frank late morning with nothing serious going on; syndicated conservative fare the rest of the day with the exception of a paid infomercial investment program right in prime-time; and now the intelligence of McIntyre overnights. Does that make any sense?
With KABC at its lowest rating in the history of the station, I wonder how much time current management has left.
Digital power
One of the problems with digital HD Radio on FM is the reception. Without a good antenna, it generally isn't reliable.
Now the Federal Communications Commission has approved a power increase for FM HD stations, allowing many to increase power from the current 1 percent of analog power to as high as 10 percent with approval. Without approval, stations will be allowed to go to 6 percent as long as they don't cause analog interference to neighboring stations. This should put digital reception on par with analog for a great number of listeners.
While this may result in a sudden increase in digital reliability for those of us with HD radios, it may cause problems with interference. I'll be checking reception and interference on my end. If you notice anything different on either digital broadcasts or analog, drop me a line and I'll check it out
Listen to Heidi “laugh” on FHF. She has to exaggerate her laugh to be relevant. I listened to them going on about some silly subject, parked and went into a store, came out 30 minutes later and they were still yucking it up.
Tilden is a lightweight. I think he has no ideological center. Often he veers into being a straight Liberal with no apparent knowledge that he is doing so.
Doug McIntyre did not start out as a RINO but agree he sure seemed to be setting up stakes there before he left local radio.
If you could listen to or tolerate his entire show, he's not all about politics, he can be very entertaining in a mind stimulating kind of way, and in some of his best shows, at least he used to, start leaning far right, and way past the middle.
McIntyre took on local and State corrupt politicians and campaigned hard on many Conservative issues.
Of all the Coast to Coast hosts, I liked Art Bell the best and so only occasionally do I now listen to Noory. The one thing about Noory that I like is that he comes across as very kind and very patient with his callers.
One of the things which has me reaching for the off button is hearing a host rip into some nervous caller who trips over themselves trying to get the words out. Noory comes off as interested in most of his callers.
Art Bell still rules though.
And that Heidi, Frosty, and Frank show...please, are they kidding?? I couldn't listen to 3 minutes. How inane and dull can you get?
Added to WRKO 680 Boston which lost the rights to Noory. Coast 2 Coast is from Premiere, part of Clear Channel which is launching new Boston talker at AM 1200 Apr 1 (Coast 2 Coast already on there; otherwise Spanish)
This is nearly a month old thread, but I’ve just started listening to this show “Red Eye Radio”, hosted by Doug McIntyre, and I really like it.
THe reason I’m bumping this thread, is because it’s been driving me crazy as to WHO is singing the FIRST version of
Come Fly With Me, played right at the show’s opening.
It’s NOT Sinatra. SOmetimes later versions of the song are played as bumper music that obviously ARE recognizably Sinatra. THe opening version ISN’T. I’ve tried googling it to no avail. He plays lots of really good jazz on the show, did a well-received docu on trumpeter Jack Sheldon, and I’ve heard Jack Sheldon vocals also on the show, and think it just ‘might’ be him, but probably not. ANYONE KNOW?
BTT
:) Good to hear you like the show
Click here and turn up your speakers for a special treat.
In case you don't have speakers, the answer to your question is at the link. :D
McIntyre has always had the most interesting guests. One of my favorites was Keely Smith, the famous singer and ex-wife of Louis Prima.
When I first heard Jack Sheldon on McIntyre's show, my impression was that Jack Sheldon's vocals are about as close as you can get to Louis Prima without going to New Orleans.
yes! THAT WAS IT!
tHANKS. Now I want to search my RHAPSODY music service
to see if it’s on there.
Love those vocals.
Sounded to me a little like Louie Prima, a little like
some oldtimey great classical black jazz vocalist who I couldn’t place, and also a little like what little I’d already heard of Jack SHeldon.
I am also GLAD to see that something VERY good replaced that whacko Coast to Coast with George Noori show.
That was only a few degrees away from Art Bell and his intergalactic concerns. Nice to get back “down to earth”.
Whoops! I didn’t realize I’d badmouthed the previous holders of McIntyre’s timeslot until I went back and looked over the thread again.Saw a reply by you that indicates you liked both of them.
I admit they’ve got something going for them , and that Noory is good with his callers and guests, and Bell has a great radio voice.
But I was hankerin’ for something more like McIntyre , tuned down real low, as I fall asleep One AM-ish.
“
McIntyre had been with KABC for years, first as the overnight host
on a program called “Red Eye Radio,” and most recently as the station’s
morning man.
“
Doug is the radio-voice that kept me sane during the imbroglio
of the 2000 Presidential election.
He’s just a good guy that explained that Dubya had a long road to
haul to The White House after the Floridian electoral mess.
And as the gifted/popular historian he is, he explained how it was
very similar to an election that occurred about 100 years earlier
when Florida’s vote was the bone of contention.
Onward and Upward, Mr. McIntyre!!!
I miss hearing his stories about his hard-working immigrant grandmother.
And how she compared to the slouches that have a landbridge to walk
across when visiting/exiting/paratising the USA.
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