Talk Radio, Springfield: Chuck Booms, the Other White Meat

Chuck Booms, of Kiley and Booms fame, is a recent addition to KWTO's Morningline. I'd never heard of Booms before, but Jason (Life of Jason) has.

If it weren't for all bitching from callers on the weekends to Morningline, I wouldn't even have known there was a new guy in town. He's causing an insurrection among longtime listeners of that station, seemingly egged along by the remaining old timers at the station.

So what's their beef? Ostensibly, it's his voice, which is unlovely. But if Mark Levin can rocket up the talk radio charts with his voice, it shouldn't be an insurmountable problem for Booms.

No, the real problem is the change in policy. Long-time callers are being banned from calling the weekday show. They can call in on weekends and do, to complain bitterly about the ban. I get the impression that a lot (most) of them have nothing else to do except call KWTO. My heart goes out to them, really it does.

I also completely understand the ban. Most of these banned callers are elderly. Bless their hearts, their halting conversations take a long, leisurely trip, destination nowhere. It's like being seated at a table of  friends who have known each other for 80 years. You're the odd man out because there's a long history there and you are privy to none of it. You have no point of reference. You are left out of the conversation.

Not exactly compelling radio. I'm guessing the ratings verify that. It remains to be seen if Chuck Booms can turn that around. Let's hope, for the sake of Springfield radiophiles, that he does.

*Disclaimer: I'm already favorably inclined toward Booms because, even though a conservative, he has not displayed the usual, knee-jerk dissing of Ron Paul that you hear from right-wing radio talkers. Rather shocking from someone with close ties to Faux News. Kudos Chuck.

Comments

[Jason]

Chuck's my first choice in the morning.

[tom]

I stopped listening to KWTO during the second term of Bonnie and Billy. I used to refer to that station as death talk radio since it was so boring. Bless the oldtimers but listening to 5 minutes of something that could have been said in under 10 words is enough to drive you nuts

[P Campbell]

Death talk radio. Heh. Can I steal that?

It is actually painful to listen to, isn't it. And yet, I feel so sorry for a couple of them. It seems as though their lives revolve around calling into the show on a daily basis.

[tom]

you have my permission. I listened to KWTO this morning on my way to Licking, MO and it is the same old callers calling about the same doldrums type of crap that they used to discuss during the week.

[Liz]

I've loved Morning Line since Chuck came along! (I can't take Dr. Ed, though... too much like the weekenders.) What better way to start a day than laughing so hard you cry?! I love his incredulous rants, because they're just funny; shouldn't be quoted as serious when he says he wants to punch someone right in the nose! That's funny!

[Ellelyn]

He is great.....