An announcement from Clear Channel’s Los Angeles Air America affiliate unveils an unimpressive new line-up for the station. I can’t say that I’m particularly upset about most of the cancellations, but the additions are atrocious.
Gone from the schedule are Mark Riley’s “Politically Direct,” Lionel, “Harrison on the Edge,” and “The Young Turks.” The only one I might miss would be the Turks. What’s truly unsettling, though, is the new schedule that KTLK ‘s program director, Don Martin, says is intended to be more “live and local.” If that’s his intention, he’s failed miserably.
The most heralded of the new hosts is Marc Germain, the former “Mr. KABC” (Mr. KFI before that). He is a terminally bland radio presence that has no political identity or history. Yet this flaccid call-letter chameleon is being given four hours of the coveted afternoon drive-time on a station that bills itself as “Progressive Talk.”
Then there is the addition of Bill Press, the former chairman of the California Democratic Party and one of the parade of neutered liberals that appeared on CNN’s “Crossfire” opposite fire-breathing conservatives like Robert Novak and Pat Buchanan. Press represents a distinctly establishment view of Democratic politics that doesn’t even approach progressivism.
Finally we have the notorious Alan Colmes. Notorious primarily for being able to keep his lunch down while seated next to the nauseating Sean Hannity. Colmes is Hannity’s lapdog whose syndicated program is distributed by the Fox Radio Network. How convenient that this Clear Channel broadcaster has a Fox program it can embrace. Expect Colmes to deliver the same mush that passes for liberalism that he spews on his master’s cable TV show.
As to the claim that these changes were meant to steer the station to more “live and local” fare, it should be noted that Press broadcasts out of Washington, DC, and Colmes is based in New York. Only Germain, an apolitical cipher, originates from L. A.
I guess I’ll just have to be grateful for Stephanie Miller and Thom Hartmann, two legitimate and committed voices for the left. But I do wonder if their positions are secure. A conspiracy theorist might speculate that Clear Channel is purposefully sabotaging progressive radio in Los Angeles. Given the evidence before us, it would be hard to argue with that.
Contact KTLK and tell them that Mr. K, Bill Press, and Alan Colmes, do not constitute progressive talk. And feel free to advocate for your favorite progressive host, i.e. Laura Flanders, Mike Malloy, Sam Seder, Amy Goodman, Taylor Marsh, etc.
