A reader made this comment about the Curtis and Kuby program on WABC:
"I think Mark Simone should replace Curtis. He's more informed on issues and doesn't let anybody walk all over him and he brings humor at the same time."
Now that would be interesting. I don't know if Mark is more informed. He doesn't do schtick and is pretty up front. I like that sometimes he does not have an answer and he will say so. I don't want to say I would like Curtis to leave but I would not be disappointed if Mark took over. I don't know. Everyone has their place. Mark's right now is Saturday mornings.

Glenn Beck's show is more enjoyable now since most other shows seem to be only about the whole Swift Boat Vets thing. Glenn goes off on tangents and gets totally unpolitical at times. I'd like to hang out with him sometime. We're about the same age and we're both off-the-wall when it comes to humor.Last night was one of the few times that I heard Hannity's "Man on the Street" segment. Looks like lots of young people will be voting for Jim Kerny in November. Some facts about my affair with talk radio: I first started listening in the fall of 1992. Rush Limbaugh was the first show that I listened to. WWDB from Philadelphia was the station that I listened to. It was an FM station. Nice. No static. Clear. The station switched to hit music around 2000. They had a real variety of liberals and conservatives. Not a very common thing these days. Wait, I don't know any station that has that variety at all. I mostly listen to WABC out of New York City and every host is coservative with the exceptio of Ron Kuby on the Curtis and Kuby show in the morning. WWDB had great hosts though. Some that I remember are: Irv Homer, Dom Giordano, Paul W. Smith. Like I said, they had a great mix and reflected the whole political spectrum which made for challenging, thought-provoking listening. It gets tedious when all programs are conservative. When I first heard Sean Hannity I thought he was a gray-haired, fifty-something. Wrong. When I first heard Monica Crowley I figured she was blonde and hot. Right. I don't have a television so I did know what these two looked like until I went to their websites. I hear Phil Henry's show covers off-beat things. I've never stayed up for it though. One day soon. Robert Hitchcock was great filling in for Rush this week. I really enjoyed listening to his take on things. I listen to talk radio mostly driving around. It must be a conspiracy or something - - every time a host/caller hits on a great point/topic I drive under power lines and get annoying static and miss crucial information/points of view. I bought a powerful Grundig radio which has two shortwave bands. It also picks up AM stations really clearly, especially at night so I try to listen to talk radio as I fall asleep.

Greetings talk fans. Thanks for checking out Talk Radio Fan. It's been a miserable last three weeks. Had my gall bladder taken out. Last Wednesday someone ran into my car and totalled it. I will get on the ball and do updates more often, I promise. Is anyone else getting tired of Ron Kuby being on vacation? His voice was a nice compliment to Curtis Sliwa on the Curtis and Kuby show. Who's his sidekick now? George Webber? I'd rather only hear him do the news. Nothing personal. I have to switch to a local talk show most morning because I get so tired of Curti's voice and phrases: moola schmoola, smoochey koochey, camaflewjee subterfewjee, disgracia..... He's a hell of a guy but... Ron Kuby has a very pleasant, kind voice which balances out Sliwa's Howard Beach New Yawk accent... I can't wait for Ron to come back... Any opinions on all this? Just click on "comments" to leave your thoughts...

Talkers Magazine Online
http://www.talkers.com/talkaud.html
These folks did an interesting study and it's worth checking out. The study has interesting breakdowns of news/talk radio listeners - their political leanings, etc. None of the results are that shocking but it's still interesting. They also give a rundown of the most listened to hosts.
Am I the only one who is getting sick and tired of hearing the John Kerry sound byte: "I will fight a more sensitive war?"

Some folks do not understand how to post their own comments here at Talk Radio Fan. Here's what you do: Click on "comment" then click on "post comment" then click on "post anonymously" which you have to do unless you have a Blogger site of your own. If that is too much trouble just click on "email Chris Francz" and send me your comments and I will post them. If you have something you want to say about Talk Radio in general or want to start a discussion feel free to drop me a line.

Readers respond to Mark Levin posting
Here are two unsolicited comments from readers in regards to the letter from Mark Levin and my reply to it. Just so you know, there is no blood feud between Mr. Levin and myself. We exchanged a couple of emails and it's all good.

"Who cares what he has to say? I think his is probably the worst show on the radio and since I don't like many shows that says a lot. He is arrogant and his voice could wake the dead when he is screaming, which is often."

"I enjoyed Mark's letter, him and his show. Everyone has their style. I turn off people I don't like. In fact, I don't even bother to turn them on. Mark keeps the show light, with his hang-ups. I like his voice, plus it's the one he was born with and it has personality and sweetness all its own. He already knows where the caller who he hangs up on is going. They show their hysteria when talking to screener; and IMO the rest is what Mark, in his wisdom, picks up on and knows is going to be a battering match, so he stops it with humor. "

Mark Levin Responds to Critiques in Talk Radio Fan
The following is an email from Mark Levin sent 8/10/04 21:07. (Mr. Levin requested that this letter be posted on Talk Radio Fan)
"Stop listening if you don't like my voice, my comments, etc. Someone informed me you were using your little website to trash me. Your comments are sophomoric. You say nothing of substance about the show, the constitutional discussions, why certain callers are cut-off (beyond disagreeing with me), etc. So, let me analyze you. Your self-aggrandizing website has a long way to go, and so do you. Try to get past the superficial and actually listen to what's discussed. And if you don't like it, move on. The competition on the radio dial is enormous."
Response from Talk Radio Fan/Chris Francz:
Talk Radio Fan at this time is not involved in giving in-depth analyzations of talk radio programs. At this time, Talk Radio Fan is a solo project. I give my opinions every day or so of the shows that I have listened to. Some of my comments are "sophmoric" as Mr. Levin stated. What could be more sophmoric than asking readers questions like "What host has the best hair?" Talk Radio Fan is supposed to be fun. If I feel a host cuts some people off too much then I will write about it. I don't think anything that I've written could be interpreted as "trashing." I'm a listener not a hater! Over time, readers will see that even though I may criticize a host here and there I continually mention these very hosts over and over again because I am a fan of theirs and a consistent listener. If anything that I have written about Mark Levin has been construed as "trashing" then I apologize.

"I hope she takes a permanent vacation. I can't stand her voice, and she looks like a guy."
This is what someone wrote on the WABC Message Board today regarding Laura Ingraham being on vacation this week and having fill-in hosts for her show. Does anyone really think that Laura Ingraham "looks like a guy"? I think she's pretty. Tell me what you think of Laura's looks. You can post comments anonymously. I listened to Mark Levin tonite. As soon as he figures out that someone disagrees with him he makes up his mind that he will hang up on the person or turn them down so listeners cannot hear him/her. This tactic gets old fast. It's not even entertaining. Hannity gets the same way at times - he doesn't hang up on people but sometimes he won't let the person speak or he will refuse to answer their question and throw a new question at the caller.

Interview with Mark Simone by Chris Francz

I first became a fan of Mark Simone when I heard his Saturday morning program on 77WABC this past April. Mr. Simone has the perfect "radio voice" - filled with passion, bass, and very gentleman-like. This interview was done by email. Below the interview is a link to Mr. Simone's website which will give you a better idea of all that he's been up to, as well as photos, interesting news stories, and some links.

You have the perfect voice for radio. Was there ever a time when you realized this?
Thanks for the compliments. As far as voice, we all have our own styles and sounds. It doesn't matter what type of voice you have, the important thing is to make it as expressive as possible. Since people can't see your face on radio, all facial expressions have to be shown in your voice. The voice has to let the audience know when you're smiling, when you're just kidding, when you're angry, etc.. The words are important, but the color and expression you put in your voice give it the impact. Clinton has a weird voice but is a powerful speaker. Kerry has a booming, strong voice and is a horrible speaker. Clinton can move an audience to tears with a speech. Kerry could read the same exact speech and put the audience to sleep. No expression in his voice.
Despite these trying times politically, you have an air of optimism that is very admirable. How do you stay so positive on air? You always present yourself in a polite way despite the sometimes heavy topics that you cover.
I am actually an independent and not tied to either party, so I don't really have a dog in the race. While I might be conservative on some issues, I am pretty liberal on others. So, I am not really fighting for a candidate, but for straight answers. That is one reason I give Kerry such a hard time. Since, at the moment, Democrats seem to have no specifics to offer and are trying to persuade with anger and attacks, they are the easiest target and you can't help being amused at some of their current double standards, like being anti-war while campaigning for a guy who was so pro war.
You're currently filling in for Curtis Sliwa on 77WABC. If you had to fill in for two other talk show hosts who would they be and why?
I can't think of anyone I haven't filled in for. Thanks for writing and keep up the good work with the web site.

http://www.hometown.aol.com/marksimone/index.html

What a week. I went into emergency room on Wednesday morning around 4:30. I had extremely bad pains in my stomach. They did some tests in the ER and it turned out that I had Gall Bladder disease and had to have my Gall Bladder removed. I came home yesterday afternoon. I missed most of the week on WABC. The hospital walls don't allow many AM stations to get through. I listened to a few talk programs on shortwave channels though. I am excited because Monica Crowley will be filling in for Laura Ingraham on WABC this Mon. and Tues. 8-10pm.

Here's a great line from the WABC Message Board regarding fill-in hosts for Curtis Sliwa of the Curtis and Kuby Show: "I want to see Mark Levin fill in for him. Levin vs. Kuby would be better than Godzilla vs. the Smog Monster. "

I was so stinking busy at work today that I didn't have a lot of time to hear much radio. Mark Simone is on The Curtis and Kuby show again this week. Ron Kuby is on vacation all week. So that makes two Rights on the program. I actually miss Ron. He's got a good radio voice, is very articulate and I always like hearing the contrast he provides to Curtis Sliwa. I used to hate The Curtis and Kuby show but have grown to enjoy it. Glenn Beck is back from vacation. Thank goodness. He's grown more laid back over the last month or so. Maybe it's just me or I am looking at it the wrong way - too many talk show hosts spend too much time focusing on the shortcomings of John F. Kerry. I think that they should give equal time as to why they think people should re-elect George W. Bush. On an unrelated note. I only hear Neil Boortz when I visit my dad in Georgia. When I first heard Neil in 1992 I actually thought he was Rush Limbaugh since their voices are so similar. Once I was in a AAA airport bus and the driver had talk radio on. I thought, "here's an African American listening to Rush (nuts call Rush a 'racist')." Turns out it was Neil Boortz. Keep talking, America...
(I added some talk show host links today as well as a ton of links to talk radio stations from all over the country that you can listen to online. They are all worth checking out if only to see the diversity in the scheduling. Check 'em out!)

MAN BUSTED IN STALK OF RADIO HOST By ZACH HABERMAN
August 1, 2004

A man was busted outside Madison Square Garden yesterdat after allegedly stalking radio personality Monica Crowley for more than a year, The Post has learned.
Crowley, a talk-show host for WABC and political analyst for the Fox News Channel, was leaving the radio station's Penn Plaza studios when she spotted Ronald Martin outside the Garden about 2 p.m., authorities said.
Martin, 40, who has been living in an abandoned building in the Battery for the past year, sent more than 460 e-mails to Crowley over the past 15 months, sources said.
The e-mails began as infatuation then turned more hostile as she repeatedly denied his overtures, the sources said.
He had made numerous attempts to meet face-to-face with Crowley, including trying to sneak into the Fox News Channel's offices. Building security guards caught him.
Martin made another try July 24 when he followed Crowley into a Manhattan subway station and grabbed at her arm, according to sources.
Martin was charged with burglary, stalking and aggravated harassment.

http://www.nypost.com/news/regionalnews/28385.htm

I feel horrible for mentioning in a previous entry that someone accused me of having an "obsession" with Monica Crowley. In light of the news above my mentioning this takes on a creepy tone. I've emailed back and forth with Monica Crowley a few times and when I started Talk Radio Fan I told her about it. I don't know if she actually ever visited this site so maybe she never read that "obsession" line. I should just delete that part of the entry.

The personal safety of talk radio show hosts...

Since most talk radio show host are not known for mincing words or hiding their feelings, I don't understand how a lot of them don't exit their respective studios with a certain degree of paranoia. Things are really heating up on the political landscape and emotions are flaring. Curtis Sliwa was shot and beaten by the mob - I am surprised that other hosts have not been accosted - especially in New York City. Maybe a lot of them have bodyguards. Obviously, Monica Crowley does not employ them. Just thinking about the whole thing gives me the creeps. I don't even want to try to surmise online about what hosts should have bodyguards because that brings a bit of suspicion on my own head!

Steve Malzberg today on WABC 9am - 12pm

The spokeperson of the DNC hung up because he could not answer Steve's question. The whole interview was pretty funny.