THE GREATEST RADIO HOST IN THE WORLD, and the BIGGEST MORONS I EVER HEARD OF

[Cinnamon Girl]

The most brilliant, the most eloquent, the most entertaining talk show host on the air today, Michael Medved, has had his show spiked like a so-called meat burger in a middle school cafeteria dumpster. Apparently, his so-called home station in Seattle decided that Michael needed to be replaced by the Sean Hannity show.

I guess it shouldn't matter to me as long as I can still hear Michael every day, but after hearing his inspirational, and astounding holiday special today about "G-d's Hand in American History," I can't imagine that any station manager with a brain in his head would want to give this guy up.

[Mr. Mojo]

I'm not surprised you didn't like it. Guys have to have "action".

Not necessarily true. The late great Stanley Kubrick directed a few low-action films that are some of my all time favorites:
2001: A Space Odyssey
The Shining
Dr. Strangelove

....and there are too many more to mention by other great directors.

[soccermom]

No -- Medved had said on his own show that he still wanted to guest-host for Rush, but Rush won't do it. If you notice, Hannity doesn't fill in for him anymore, either. It is understandable that a host wouldn't want to promote potential "competition."

[soccermom]

Ahhh yes....The Shining....no action there....

[Mr. Mojo]

Only at the very end.

[Mr. Mojo]

Most of the film (The Shining) was a study in controlled tension. Now that was a scary flick.

[chaosagent]

Don't know about that. Hannity said that Rush encouraged him to go national.

Doesn't sound like someone who's scare of the competition.

[joeyman]

I think you're right. Isn't Kvi a clearchannel station? I've often wondered why Medvead wasn't on KOL.

[soccermom]

The Shining is, indeed, scary. I don't think Signs was intended to be scary. I think most men, my husband included, were expecting to see some epic battle. And, let's face it, a Steven King movie isn't scary without violence. Yes, some of his movies are more psychological than others. Now, if you want low-action scary movies, you gotta love Hitchcock.

[IslandJeff]

Boy, I'm not sure how all this network/licensing stuff works, but I do know that KVI is owned by Fisher Broadcasting, they of KOMO TV and radio (and, I think, Star 101.5 or somesuch). I just recalled Salem because I've heard Medved's show sandwiched in between Prager and Hewitt in other areas of the country, and he's mentioned on their website, rather prominently. Whatever the case, he'll definitely be missed (at least for the time being), and, thanks for the comment line number, Libertina!

[soccermom]

Have you heard Hannity on Rush's show since? Look, Rush is a pioneer in conservative talk radio and I like his show. But he is insecure, IMO. His call screeners are far more protective than the screeners of most hosts I've encountered.

[Mr. Mojo]

I think most men, my husband included, were expecting to see some epic battle.

I'm sure you're right, but the only review I had heard before seeing Signs was Medved's, and he played up the "scary" angle in a big way. So I was let down....in a big way.

Now, if you want low-action scary movies, you gotta love Hitchcock.

You know it. Hitch is the master. Too many great films to mention.

[Timesink]

Don't know about that. Hannity said that Rush encouraged him to go national. Doesn't sound like someone who's scare of the competition.

Hannity isn't competition. He doesn't come on the air until Rush goes off.

[Captainpaintball]

On some markets, they do overlap. It's neither practical, nor does it make sense to have a syndicated host who has his own show fill in for someone else. What does it say for an established (re: nationally syndicated) talk host when he fills in for someone else?

Also, Station "A" that carries Medved would not like it if Station "B" (their competition down the dial) had him on at the same time. They pay good money for Medved's services, why should someone else get him for free?

[Consort]

Was Medved's removal payback for the two dolts who got canned for that ST. Patrick's sex thing?

[soccermom]

I didn't hear Medved's review before seeing the movie. I know Medved likes movies that play up faith and family values. I did see other reviews calling the movie scary. Frankly, despite my adoration of Mel, I wasn't even planning on seeing the movie. My husband and dad saw it first and they weren't impressed. (That didn't surprise me about my dad -- he isn't easily impressed with movies.) But my husband usually loves Mel flicks. Then my mom saw it and said they were nuts -- that it was a good movie. So, I finally went because my 10-year-old son wanted to see it. I don't go for the alien movies, so I was reluctant to see it. But I liked it, precisely because it wasn't really an alien movie.

[Captainpaintball]

His call screeners are far more protective than the screeners of most hosts I've encountered.

How do you measure this? As Rush says, the purpose of the caller is to make the host look good. Let's face it, after listening to other talk shows, it's easy to realize most callers are idiots. I listen to Rush to learn and be entertained. I can hear idiot callers on every other talk show. I'd much rather listen to him.

[soccermom]

Look, you can try to spin it any way you want. Medved made it very clear that he wanted to continue filling in for Rush. If it were a syndication/contract thing, he would have known about that. He made it very clear that that was Rush's call.

[Mr. Mojo]

But my husband usually loves Mel flicks

So do I. And his crowning achievement was his directorial debut, Braveheart. (I'd probably place it in the top 4 or 5 films of the 90's).

[soccermom]

"As Rush says, the purpose of the caller is to make the host look good." Sure sounds insecure to me.

[soccermom]

LOVED Braveheart, LOVED The Patriot, but my favorite Mel Flick is We Were SOldiers. He reminded me of my dad in that movie. (Ewwww...that's a little scary. Mel going from sex symbol to father figure!)