Posted on 09/17/2006 2:07:58 PM PDT by DuxFan4ever
In 2001, ABC Radio Networks gave its brash, young WABC/New York afternoon host a shot at the brass ring by launching him into national syndication. Sean Hannity grabbed that ring and a few more over the next five years. Today, he’s heard by millions on more than 420 radio stations nationwide. n It came as no surprise to industry observers that Hannity was called up to radio’s big leagues. At WABC, he racked up stellar ratings for the ABC Radio news/talker since 1997 while also gaining national attention from his nightly role as co-host of Fox News Channel’s “Hannity & Colmes,” and from frequent fill-in stints for Rush Limbaugh.
In short, the unabashed conservative with boyish good looks and Irish charm seemed primed to take on the challenge of anchoring a daily national talk radio show. Little did Hannity or ABC realize at the time how a history-changing event would shape the future of the show and its host when the network debuted “The Sean Hannity Show” on Sept. 10, 2001.
I recently caught up with the seemingly always-on-the-run Hannity to talk about how his show, his life, the country and our world have changed since he first began hosting his syndicated program five years ago.
R&R: Are you surprised it’s been five years already? SH: I personally cannot believe this period of time has gone by as quickly as it has. In many ways it seems like yesterday that it all began. It has been the greatest time of my life, and I can say honestly that I love what I am doing more than ever. I’m fortunate to be doing a job every single day that I love, and I try hard never to forget that. It never becomes routine to me.
R&R: How do you think you and the show have changed in the past five years? SH: I’d hope that we’re a little smarter, a little more mature and a little bit better than when we started, but those are really little changes. The biggest change came on our second day in syndication—Sept. 11, 2001—because our world, what we do and what we talk about all changed that day. In late summer of 2001 the big story was Gary Condit and the Chandra Levy incident. Sort of seems superfluous when you look back at it now, doesn’t it?
Since the show launched in 2001, we’ve gone through war and all the politics that surround that, Katrina, the 2004 elections, the Terry Schiavo case, immigration and so much more. It’s been an unprecedented news cycle. We’re living in really transformative and consequential times, and from that sense, there is nothing I would rather do than be on the radio every day talking to people about the events and issues that impact our lives.
Another big change has been access to information. When I started out at WVNN in Huntsville, Ala., my only sources of information were the local newspaper and all the magazines I could read. Looking back, I don’t know how it was even possible to do a talk show. Today, I spend hours every night and each morning going through every imaginable Web site and reading every obscure newspaper looking for stories that listeners will relate to. I firmly believe that in the age of the Internet a host should never have a slow news day.
R&R: How have you managed to avoid the pitfall of losing your local success in the transition to national host? SH: I didn’t really change the show at all when we went nationwide. I was already doing a show that was more focused on national issues to begin with because that’s where my natural area of interest lies. I’ve always talked about national politics and issues, so I don’t think listeners in New York are hearing a show that’s really any different than what they were used to.
R&R: You frequently credit ABC Radio VP of news and talk Phil Boyce for some of the success you and the show have experienced. What kind of a role has he played? SH: I have always had the good fortune in my career to work for people who believed in me and supported me. It was Phil who really wanted to syndicate the show more than I did. I didn’t really have a great desire to do it at the time, but Phil had a vision and he believed in the program. He overcame my own fears and doubts about syndicating it, and he has been a rock-solid supporter since day one. I really give him as much credit for the success of the show as anything we’ve done.
R&R: How do you respond to critics that say you and other conservative talk hosts simply parrot so-called Republican talking points? SH: I’d say people who would make that assertion haven’t listened to the show. I don’t do my show for critics, program directors or anyone except the audience. The reason I think I’ve been able to connect with and build an audience is because they know I am going to be honest with them and true to what I believe.
I don’t consider myself a Republican. I’m a Reagan-type conservative. Did I want George W. Bush to win the last election? Absolutely. Do I think he was the right man for the job? Definitely. Am I proud I voted for him? I think he’s had a backbone of steel, and he’s never wavered on the most important issue of our time, and I’m proud I voted for him.
With that said, I have been openly critical—even more harsh on Republicans than Democrats—on issues like immigration, spending, the growth of government, the Dubai ports deal, Harriet Miers and other issues where I’ve found myself having an honest, intellectual disagreement. Frankly, I think the biggest vulnerability to Republicans today is that too many have abandoned their Reagan-conservative principles.
R&R: Whenever there’s a lull in ratings for news/talk, pundits are quick to suggest that listeners are tired of political talk. I take it you’d disagree? SH: What’s always amazed me is that there are people in this business that don’t really understand what our business is. Our business is the news and talking about the news. If the news just happens to be in a slower cycle, then the format may not have the highs it gets during an intense election year or a major crisis. There is always a natural ebb and flow to news/talk’s ratings.
Sure, after five years on a war footing in this country, I think there is probably some day-to-day fatigue by listeners on the issues surrounding that, but there will be other events—probably sooner than later—that will capture the entire nation’s attention and news/talk’s ratings will reflect that. I think, for example, we are heading into the Super Bowl of all elections in 2008. It will be an election where who we elect will probably be more important than at almost any other time in our lives.
R&R: Are you optimistic about talk radio’s future? SH: I am more optimistic about this format’s future than ever. I think we can say that phase one of talk radio’s success is what we would all call the Rush revolution—the period from about 1988 when he went on the air until now—when Rush, rightfully so, is credited with saving AM radio.
I think we can probably also say that phase two is beginning right now as talk begins to replace music on the FM band with many different forms of personality radio. I really think the format is headed for another major growth spurt, and the future of personality talk radio looks very bright to me.
It's called having a core value system.
It's called putting on a radio show.
It's done for ratings and money.
I remember when he was beaten like a drum in a 'debate' with Janeanne Garofalo. It was embarrassing to listen to Hannity utterly unable to come up with a counter-argument that didn't involve playing old sound-bites of Al Gore.
Pathetic. Haven't listened to the little dimwit since.
Now, how did I know you'd be here? ;)
While I like Sean,Rush is EVACTLY RIGHT when he descibes his show as"PREP"for other broadcasts!
My bionic thumb ROCKS! And it's approved by Rush Limbaugh.
(Wanna buy some Oxy?)
Sure wish I could get Howie!I'm moving to Marlboro(VT.)Maybe I can get WRKO/670 from there.
Why is every edition of his program a "special edition"?
Not sure why.........
Hannity is just a rube construction worker with no substance.
Actually, I wear a tool belt every day. Just don't listen to someone that sounds like George Castanza on Seinfeld.
But you're "a Great American Sean!"
I think Hannity provides a sanity check. I end up listening to Beck, Rush, Sean, Levin and Savage almost daily through the week. My absolute favorite host used to be on WRVA his name was Jerry Lund. He emphasized intellectual honesty which I think has mostly been lost in today's political climate. Sean is clearly biased(who isn't) but he has stood against the administration on several issues. He just doesn't try to beat the President to a pulp and go off the cynic deepend when things don't look good like too many conservative has-beens who have taken to parroting liberals because they aren't in the limelight like they used to be.
Sean does a good job. He holds the left to the fire and is willing to debate even the most rabid of them. I think we need more of that because the left can not stand when confronted by a conservative unafraid. Bush has enough rabid critics and we should be ashamed for allowing so much of the leftist propaganda to go unanswered. They do not love the America we love. What they love is European socialism and urban "moral" relativism. Sean is exposing them for what they are and doing it will a smile. I can't fault him for that.
Sure wish I could get Howie!
Can't listen on the web? He has a Podcast.
There is broadcast from a Springfield Mass station too I think?
Hannity's Freedom Concert is in a class by itself. Hey, he is a Conservative commentator and freely admits to it. When he disagrees with the administration he says it.
He takes the left on every day and he can argue with the best. However, he isn't the most entertaining person. Both Rush and Levin are stronger, but Hannity can hold his own.
What I find distressing about Conservative talk radio is that they are calling Democrats Liberals. I want one of them to get a set of cajones and call Michael Moore, Streisand, Reid and Pelosi Marxists. That's what they are.
It almost seems that they were told calling someone a Lib is as far as you can go.
You're a great American is supposed to be akin to DITTOS...but it just don't get there. Sounds too contrived.
I didn't know thatI'm not"The Sharpest Knife In The Drawer".There's a lot of Freepers who will testify to that!
While I can't listen to Sean every day and I'm sure others can't or won't either, you have to give it to him. He has a very successful radio and T.V. show. He is a patriot. He supports our troops greatly and has been a greater support with his Freedom Concerts.
Criticize all you want, but at the end of the day you've got to ask what you have done with your life and what have you done for conservatism?
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