Reply #12: Gerry Springer was a talented Liberal Host before he went to TV and [View All]

turned into a cartoon character. I think the point is that they need people who are radio-talented to make this a go. I do not get Air America.. but I know that in Canada the talent of the Host makes mountains of difference in how popular the show is and many people follow it.

There was a radioshow on CBC in Canada done by a Radio Host named Peter Gwoski. He had the voice, intonation and journalistic ability to make every moment fascinating (even recipes for chicken soup ended up fascinating). Canadians were totally transfixed and adored the show. Three hours in the morning. They quickly repackaged the show and played a shorter version during prime time at night. Mostly small stories. The poor guy kept trying to quit because he was so bored. But his producers knew what talent they had and that he was irreplaceable. So they kept luring him back. Any he finally retired and died of emphysema. They have been trying one thing or another to replace him for years. And they had people willing to try for years one way or another to listen. But it just not the same without that specific talent. And those three hours of the day are now like any three hours of the day in the morning. They are no longer gold.

So your talent has to be talented and on radio that means something much different than in other formats. They have to be addictive in POV and voice aside from being good at so many other things. I think it is a smart thing to bring Gerry back. If his show takes off the past will become totally erased. And the young may be more forgiving.

Giving someone with such 'talent' three hours ..if you think you can build it into something national and with a life of its own is invaluable. Aside from having always been liberal, Gerry has also been a politician. People will forget if his show continues to march along. And the young ones will soon not even know that he had a past as a TV HO that exploited the troubles of others. (Who knows maybe the guy got some insight into the minds of your lower income exhibitionist freeper while he was at it).