Radio Daze
Being stuck is a position few of us like. We want something new but cannot let go of the old – old ideas, beliefs, habits, even thoughts.
Rush Limbaugh
June, 2005
Some things never change.
You can get a fair idea of the cultural climate of a region by listening to its radio stations. After all, they know their market.
There are 33 radio stations in Oklahoma City. Of these, only two play contemporary, non-country music. There are five Christian stations, five oldies stations, four Spanish-language stations, four country music stations and seven talk stations – most of them spewing a constant stream of hate and anger.
The highest-rated talk station, and one of the top-rated stations in the market, is KTOK, “Oklahoma’s Information Source.” Its daily lineup of nearly all syndicated broadcasts reads like Jerry Falwell’s vision of heaven’s radio band:
5:30 – 8:30: Reid Mullins. Illegal aliens are planning to take over California, New Mexico, Arizona, Texas and southern Colorado and carve out a new state to be called “Aztlan.” Watch ‘em swim across the border. Watch ‘em breed.
8:30 – 10:30: Glen Beck. Torturing prisoners at Guantanamo Bay is hilarious. “Not letting them go potty” is good for 30 minutes of laughs. “Here’s an idea: We should make them spend hours watching Oprah, or some other liberal show.”
10:35: Paul Harvey. Bless the dear old fellow. A conservative commentator with a sense of humor and not an ounce of hate. I used to listen to him 40 years ago. But can he really still be alive?
11:00 – 2:00: Rush Limbaugh. Love him or hate him.
2:00 – 4:00: Sean Hannity. “Let Freedom Ring – Winning the War of Liberty Over Liberalism.”
4:00 – 6:00: Mike McCarville. Local rantings, local call-ins, news, traffic and sports.
6:00 – 7:00: More Sean Hannity.
7:00 – 10:00: Tony Snow. “The prisoners [at Guantanamo Bay] live in posher surroundings than their guards, who live in tents. They get better meals, too.”
10:00 – 5:30: George Noory. Mystery beasts in south Texas. UFOs over Ontario. Call in your favorite story told to you by a friend of a friend.
Naturally, I kept the rental car’s radio tuned to KTOK, and only occasionally shouted back at some of the commentators’ more outrageous pronouncements. I have a feeling we’re not in NPR country anymore, Toto.
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