# Favorite radio talk show hosts **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 29, 2002, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-radio-talk-show-hosts/145548 "2002-12-29T21:43:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Rico](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rico/32/3582_2.png) [@Rico](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rico)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2002, 6:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-radio-talk-show-hosts/145548/21 "2002-12-30T06:23:33Z")
Tom Leykis needs to find something new. He’s been doing the same schtick for 10 years. He hasn’t changed his show opening since he went syndicated in 1993. Rush is getting tired. You can tell it by listening to him. My vote goes to (drum roll please): **Phil Hendrie** One of the most innovative and funny hosts currently on the radio. And if you’ve never heard him, I’m not going to spoil his secret - but two years in a row, he’s been voted Los Angeles’ favorite evening radio personality by the readers of [laradio.com](http://laradio.com). A close second is **Bill Handel**. He is not syndicated during the week, but his weekend show called _Handel On The Law_ is. Gotta love a lawyer whose tagline of his legal advice show is: “I’ll give you marginal legal advice and tell you that you have absolutely no case…” ---
**Author:** ![Nobody](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/94ad74/32.png) [@Nobody](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nobody)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2002, 6:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-radio-talk-show-hosts/145548/22 "2002-12-30T06:29:57Z")
Yeah, Bill Handel is pretty good. I used to listen to Imas in the Morning a few years ago, but stopped because it was confusing, at least the way my radio station played it because they’d do something like play the last two or three hours live, and then play the first hour taped. Plus, he does A LOT of taped portions of the show, just sticks the tape in and sits there (Why in the hell did they do a TV show of his radio show?) The only funny person I found on that show was Bernard. ---
**Author:** ![peepthis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9d8465/32.png) [@peepthis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peepthis)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2002, 6:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-radio-talk-show-hosts/145548/23 "2002-12-30T06:31:03Z")
I’ve taken a recent liking to **Ron & Fez** , though I’m not sure how much they’re broadcast beyond NYC and DC. Hilarious interactions with their audience. These two have major potential. **Don & Mike** are good at what they do (i.e., relating to the Joe 6-Pack Listener, humiliating people, and telling a good anecdote), but neither of them is actually funny; they have to rely on gags, strippers, games, and so on. To an extent so does Stern, but at least **Stern** and his lackeys are quick and funny guys. Maybe this is why D&M are kings of second-tier markets, and can’t break into the Big Time (except in NY, but only after Opie and Anthony committed on-air hirikiri). Even though I don’t agree with a lot of his politics, **G. Gordon Liddy** has his moments. **The Sports Junkies** (again, might just be a DC area show) are fun to listen to, if only they’d update their slang from the mid-1990s. ---
**Author:** ![audit1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed8c4c/32.png) [@audit1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/audit1)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2002, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-radio-talk-show-hosts/145548/24 "2002-12-30T13:13:40Z")
My votes to to JIM BOHANNON. Every night interesting guests, from all over nut just polictics and BRUCE WILLIAMS. who does a more consumer advice show. ---
**Author:** ![unclviny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e274bd/32.png) [@unclviny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/unclviny)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2002, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-radio-talk-show-hosts/145548/25 "2002-12-30T14:31:12Z")
TOM MARTINO, the “Trouble Shooter” a consumer advocate (in the Marvin Zindler style) rocks my world. unclviny ---
**Author:** ![photopat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e95f7d/32.png) [@photopat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/photopat)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2002, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-radio-talk-show-hosts/145548/26 "2002-12-30T16:02:56Z")
Steve Dahl. I know he’s not syndicated, but he’s really one of the most original talk personalities around. He inspired Stern, and most of the newbies just try to do what Dahl was doing twenty years ago. ---
**Author:** ![Nobody](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/94ad74/32.png) [@Nobody](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nobody)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2002, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-radio-talk-show-hosts/145548/27 "2002-12-30T16:24:32Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by unclviny \* > \*\*TOM MARTINO, the “Trouble Shooter” a consumer advocate (in the Marvin Zindler style) rocks my world. > > unclviny \*\* I almost forgot about Tom Martino, yeah, he’s pretty good. I think he’s only on during the weekend, isn’t he? If not, I think he is, on the station I sometimes listen to him on. ---
**Author:** ![unclviny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e274bd/32.png) [@unclviny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/unclviny)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2002, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-radio-talk-show-hosts/145548/28 "2002-12-30T17:02:38Z")
Martino is syndicated, he is on daily in Houston (1 - 740 A.M.), check your local area at [www.troubleshooter.com](http://www.troubleshooter.com) . unclviny ---
**Author:** ![unclviny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e274bd/32.png) [@unclviny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/unclviny)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2002, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-radio-talk-show-hosts/145548/29 "2002-12-30T17:04:36Z")
1 - 3 P.M. on 740 AM ---
**Author:** ![Nobody](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/94ad74/32.png) [@Nobody](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nobody)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2002, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-radio-talk-show-hosts/145548/30 "2002-12-30T22:40:27Z")
On, one station, that I normally don’t listen to, he’s on weekdays from 6:00pm-9:00pm(Pacific Time) and on the station that I listen to, he’s on only on Saturdays 5:00pm-8:00pm. ---
**Author:** ![vandal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/858c86/32.png) [@vandal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vandal)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2002, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-radio-talk-show-hosts/145548/31 "2002-12-30T22:58:42Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Igloo \* > \*\*I like Howard Stern but it’s a total dysfunctional affinity. I wish he would just grow up already. I enjoy his banter back and forth with his underlings but hate, hate, hate, the stripper/raunchy guy talk. I’ve listened to him for years and it’s just getting stranger as he gets older. \*\* I dunno, I actually like the over-the-top-immature-stripper-raunchy-guy talk. Back when Jackie was around, I didn’t really listen because I guess it wasn’t crude enough. Now that Artie is in his place, the show is a lot more funny. Not to say that Artie himself is the reason it’s funnier; it’s just that the show, overall, has been better with Jackie gone. ---
**Author:** ![ceyjen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3bc359/32.png) [@ceyjen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ceyjen)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2002, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-radio-talk-show-hosts/145548/32 "2002-12-31T01:33:28Z")
I like Ken Hamblin–he will have guests who represent issues or organizations with which he doesn’t necessarily agree just because he truly believes in the First Amendment. I like that no matter what (with a few exceptions), he will hear someone out and allow them to offer their opinions…as long as they extend the same courtesy to him. I used to listen to Mike Reagan, but they either took him off the air in my area or moved him to another time slot…can’t find him anywhere. I like to listen to Michael Savage just to hear what he is ranting about today. Sometimes I agree with him; sometimes I do not. I think I just like the sound of his voice. ---
**Author:** ![monster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@monster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monster)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2002, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-radio-talk-show-hosts/145548/33 "2002-12-31T01:55:37Z")
I love Kevin Matthews. He is my talk radio God. ---
**Author:** ![sj2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/65b543/32.png) [@sj2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sj2)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2002, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-radio-talk-show-hosts/145548/34 "2002-12-31T02:16:03Z")
Tom Martino CAR TALK- listen at [http://cartalk.cars.com/Radio/Show/](http://cartalk.cars.com/Radio/Show/) Dahl ---
**Author:** ![Hermann\_Cheruscan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b782af/32.png) [@Hermann\_Cheruscan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hermann_Cheruscan)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2002, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-radio-talk-show-hosts/145548/35 "2002-12-31T03:54:57Z")
These are my favorites, according to time of day: Early AM: Bill Handel on KFI, 640 AM in LA. Late AM: Laura Ingraham, on repeat from the night before. She’s a hell of a lot more interesting than my ex favorite, Rush Limbaugh. Who sounds more and more like a checked pants Repubican every day. Early PM: George Putnam, the geriatric whos got a hell of a lot more life and vitality than Schlessinger. 4PM. The Savage Nation rolls around. My favorite talker. 7PM: Phil Hendrie. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2002, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-radio-talk-show-hosts/145548/36 "2002-12-31T05:53:36Z")
Former DC-area DJ [Paul Harris](http://www.harrisonline.com). I used to listen to him every day when [KTRS](http://www.ktrs.com/) was bitcasting. Of course, I always found something else to do when Paul Harvey came on. ---
**Author:** ![Mudshark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f04885/32.png) [@Mudshark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mudshark)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2002, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-radio-talk-show-hosts/145548/37 "2002-12-31T06:10:43Z")
Art Bell or Phil Hendrie ---
**Author:** ![Glory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7cd45c/32.png) [@Glory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Glory)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2002, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-radio-talk-show-hosts/145548/38 "2002-12-31T06:11:28Z")
Ira Glass - This American Life ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Frink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/977dab/32.png) [@Mr.Frink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Frink)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2002, 6:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-radio-talk-show-hosts/145548/39 "2002-12-31T06:13:55Z")
**Roe & Garry** …Chicago afternoon drive guys. They’re basically the antidote to the Rush-wannabe’s. No long-winded political diatribes here. You’re just as likely to hear Roe lead an inquiry into why his ice cubes aren’t clear like the ones at resturaunts, as you are to hear a political debate. They’re very low-key, and on a good day, they can be hysterical. **Nick D. & Gary Lee** –a hidden treasure on Chicago’s talk radio scene. They’re on late-nights & weekends on the legendary WGN…but they aren’t your stereotypical WGN hosts. They really sound like they could be fellow _SDMB_ members. They like to talk about the Simpsons, cool movies, old TV shows, and other quirky material. It’s the best show that nobody listens to. I think they have a great future in Chi-town radio, though…Anyone else every listen to them? ---
**Author:** ![skaterboarder87](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@skaterboarder87](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/skaterboarder87)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2002, 8:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-radio-talk-show-hosts/145548/40 "2002-12-31T08:13:02Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Rico \* > \*\*Tom Leykis needs to find something new. He’s been doing the same schtick for 10 years. He hasn’t changed his show opening since he went syndicated in 1993. > \*\* You obviously haven’t listened to his show much since '93. I’ve noticed several small transitions across the years. Also, why fix something that’s not broken? There’s a reason why he’s the #1 radio show in copious cities. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-radio-talk-show-hosts/145548.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-radio-talk-show-hosts/145548.md?page=3)