Chris Stigall has arrived at WPHT-AM in Philadelphia, which is owned by CBS Radio. He is replacing the morning show that had been done by Michael Smerconish as a syndicated show (Smerconish is moving to the afternoons on January 17th)
Chris Stigall did a weekend show for a while on TRN, but mainly has worked on KCMO in Kansas City, Missouri as the local morning guy. You’ve probably heard him a few times sitting in for national syndicated hosts.
CBS announced today what all of “big stupid radio” (that does not include Premiere – Clear Channel) does with a male conservative host – try to turn it into an “ensemble” show to attract a female audience. CBS thinks they are doing a morning TV show and having a single conservative voice by themselves just “isn’t right”. So they’re adding a co-host named Ellen Kolodziej who used to be a TV reporter.
Let’s review the top 10 most streamed hosts and see which of them needs a co-host of the opposite gender:
- Rush Limbaugh
- Glenn Beck
- Laura Ingraham
- Michael Savage
- Sean Hannity
- Dennis Miller
- Mark Levin
- Jim Rome (sports)
- George Noory
- Dave Ramsey
Now let’s review a list of Male+Female co hosted radio talk shows that have gone nowhere (no particular order)
- Bob & Sheri
- FreeFM (choose your city)
- Quinn and Rose
- Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski (how’s that retooling coming?)
“On the House” on the weekends recently added a female co-host to lecture the boys about their ignorance in home repair subjects, and the other day I heard Barry Farber (who?) with a new “diverse thought minder” to keep his White Southern knowledge of actual history under control.
Unlike other things in life, Radio can’t force people to listen to things they don’t want to listen to (yet). You can argue about the why, but there are few successful female talk show hosts (Laura Ingraham, Dr Laura, Kim Komando) and virtually no examples of a successful male/female “team” in national or major market talk that works (there are a few exceptions in Chicago – but they are husband and wife teams – Don Wade & Roma (WLS) and Steve & Johnnie (WGN)) .
There have been several attempts to create “themed” radio oriented to women – none lasted past the second ratings book. The only talk radio station that I can think of that deliberately targets female listeners is the one Ian Punnett does a morning show on in Minneapolis / Saint Paul on KTMY-FM where he plays the role of the submissive “yes dear” husband to his wife. on the 16th ranked station in the market.
Keep in mind that Minnesota elected Jesse Ventura (9/11 was an inside job!) as governor and Al Franken as US Senator, thought it was a good idea to allow large numbers of Somali refugees to resettle there, elected the first Muslim Congressman, and allowed a major bridge on an Interstate highway to collapse by overloading it with construction equipment during rush hour.
Let’s not forget the abysmally rated “Parker-Spitzer” program.
They have a radio show?
Quinn and Rose – I love the show, but Rose needs to do more producing and less jawing. Quinn is quite sharp, does excellent prep, has an acid wit and is very entertaining. Most Conservatives should feel right at home there. Rose tries her best to be the perfect foil, but she’s the family nudge and really does not help ratings. A while back she appeared on Hannity and Coombs, and was plebeian in her performance … and I simply did not understand why Quinn wasn’t there instead. It’s his show, damn it.
It is so booooring to read all you geniuses…Have you actually LISTENED to the show? Ellen does the news. Co-host might be a little generous but when she speaks she contributes nicely. It’s great how you determine which shows are and aren’t successful. Ooh number 1, 2 and 3. Some of you really need lessons in how to read ratings. Finally, for those of you radio experts so desperately trying to find a male with a female co-host have you ever heard of Howard and Robin?
see: http://streamingradioguide.com/radiochat/2010/12/17/what-radio-didnt-learn-from-howard-stern/
Batman and Robin? Sure I’ve heard of them. Oh, and just because some people have divergent views about sports, politics, weather and even radio programs does not make them serial killers, baby rapists, rubes, douche bags, cads, villains, scumbags, hicks, hayseeds, hillbillies, dumbasses or other assorted sumps for over-the-top opprobrium. Actually we do listen to programming or we wouldn’t be here, dude.