The Big Three in Talk radio

I spend much of my day driving around at work, so I have a chance to listen to some conservative talk shows during the week. KGMI in Bellingham, Washington, carries Rush Limbaugh live, half of Glenn Beck’s show delayed by I don’t know how long, and Sean Hannity is delayed by two hours. Since I am in and out of my vehicle, my listening is broken up – but I have a pretty good feel for how the shows run.

I thought is would be interesting to give my take on those shows. Feel free to add your thoughts on those shows, and any other shows you may listen to. I do not have recent experience of listening to other shows, so it would not be fair to comment – but I would love to hear what you have to say.

Rush Limbaugh Rush is the king of talk radio. Two things put him on top. First, of course, is his analysis of the issues. He sees through the mud and clarifies things. I love it when he says “let me explain it so the state-controlled media can misquote me or take me out of context.” I have heard his original words then heard the media bastardize them too many times for me to doubt him. He is always spot on about what he says they are going to say. In the past, Rush has said that he puts liberals to the front of the line if they call – I assume he does the same now but he does not seem to get that many. He always eats those “seminar callers” for lunch. He refutes their points before they know what hit them. However, the thing that makes him the top is that he is a radio guy. He knows radio. He breaths radio. He knows what makes good radio work, and he incorporates it into his show. Everyone else just happen to be on radio – but they don’t know what really makes it work. Rush may be something of an acquired taste. He is sure of himself, but I don’t think he is arrogant. He may sound arrogant if you are not used to him, but he is just having fun. If you accept that he is having “more fun than a human being is supposed to have,” then you will have fun – and learn something, too.
Glenn Beck Beck is someone who has seen rough times and has turned his life around because of his faith. While Rush has been down, he has never been out. Beck has been down AND out. That experience shapes his views on things. I would not say that he proselytizes, but he does not hide his foundation. One problem I have is that he has a sidekick, Pat Gray. Gray has filled in for Beck before, and I like him. However, Beck’s and Gray’s voices sound similar to me, and I have a hard time telling which one is talking. Beck says he is the third-most listened to program in America. I enjoy his show, but it is more like I am listening to a conversation between two other people than someone speaking to me. He does spend a great deal of time talking about his TV show. I think he should realize that he is on the radio, and make his radio show stand on its own. It is not a long commercial for his TV show.
Sean Hannity While he does not say it, I assume Hannity is the second-most listened to program in America. I like Hannity, but he has some weaknesses. If he quit promoting his TV show and what big-name person he was going to have on in the next hour, he would have a half-hour show. I notice that he gets a lot of liberals spewing talking points. I think that may be because it sounds as though they rattle him. While Rush has a “How can you be so stupid” sound to him and refutes the callers, Hannity sounds flustered. Hannity sometimes seems to miss the points they are trying to make. Rather than refute them directly, he makes several related – but not direct – points on the subject. He also seems to get in shouting matches with his callers.

All in all, Rush, Glenn Beck, and Sean Hannity all sound like they know what they are talking about. I like listening to all three, but Rush is the king of them all. Air America could have learned from any of them.