BellGab.com Archive

"the devil's in the details."  you are missing the point.  I am talking about the power of Bell to bring down his own creation.  Sorry I missed a step in the sale of CTC.  Missing that step, however, in no alters my original post.

i greatly appreciate the clarity, but how does it change my main point.  ART SOLD THE SHOW

This post may end up getting merged, but I felt that my thoughts touched on a different topic (sort of).

So, I have stepped back from the shock that has occurred.  It has given me some time to think.  I am not an extreme fan that looks forward to the next picture of Asia Bell (in fact I could care less about that kind of stuff).  Regardless, this whole Art Bell quitting has almost had a funeral type feeling to it.  The further we get away from George's "he's winding down" comment, the more we seem to gain perspective. 

Art Bell has power.

Love him or hate him, the man has power.

Its incredible to think about:  Think of all the money Clear Channel PAID to buy his program.  Yet, at the end of the day, it is still Coast to Coast AM with Art Bell.  George still seems like a temp host waiting for the big man's (albeit few..15 a year) shows.  I listened to Art's shows from this spring.  I was remodeling my home, and stayed up all night listening to him and working.  I came to notice that as Art took un-screened calls, 75% of the callers didn't even really want to talk about the topic of the program.  They wanted to ask Art to host more or complain that the show has lost its way.

Having said that, how must Clear Channel's Executives feel?  ( I by no means am attempting to defend them).  However, they paid big money for his show and here we are a decade later and he still has control in many ways of the program's fate.  Looking back on it, it appears that forcing Bell to use a Premiere controlled call screener on his last hosting gigs was the "straw that broke the camel's back."  Yet can you really blame the executives?  George is their man.  They don't have to worry about him retiring five times and moving out of country.  They are there to make $$$.

So, back to my main point.  Are we only hoping (as humans sometimes do) or are we accurate when we think that Art may be making a power play to either 1) get Premiere to do what he wants with the show or 2) break free from Premiere and come back to radio in some capacity that he controls?  If it is true that he comes back, think about it....really think about it....he sold Premiere CTC and he might potentially be the one to destroy it....that is power my friends...that is power......is this why Clear Channel Pays Limbaugh upwards of $60 million a year NOT TO RETIRE........

It is truly a testament to the program that Bell created. 

I hope Im clear in why my post is a bit different.  I want to talk about POWER.  For Art to demand his NAME be taken down fro the COAST TO COAST AM website, there must be POWER involved.

Well, I'm not sure what's left.  I never listen to Noory.  Knapp is awesome, but is never on, and I'm starting to get sick of Ian.  I never thought I would say that.  He has had some REALLY great shows.  I mean REALLY great.  His Smiley Face Killer Show was the first show in a long time to give me nightmares.
However, the last couple months he has been getting REALLY annoying.  Take for example his recent interview of an ex-neo Nazi.  This was one of the worst interviews I have ever heard.  Ian was all over the place from the beginning.  He had no logical plan for the interview.  There could have been a nice chronological flow to the show, but Ian (sad to say) kept pulling a "Noory" and forced the guest to stray all over the place.  From a guest that Bell or even Knapp could have made unforgettable, Ian made a program that flat-out bored me.
Also, his humor has always been a bit off, BUT it was at least sporadic.  During his interview with the Nazi, he had some REALLY ill-paced, flow-destructing jokes.  I mean, you are interviewing an ex-Neo Nazi! Keep the jokes to a minimum.  Also, what's up with him cutting the guy off to inform him that the college he went to in Indiana has since changed its name?  Wow, Ian you are soooo bright.  I mean, even the guest sounded like.....ummm, o.k.?
All I am saying is this:  Noory is horrible, Ian is getting progressively worse, and they never put Knapp on: if something doesn't change, this show is going to have no listeners.  Art needs to step in (even though he has no say) and get Knapp to be the main host.

Coast to Coast AM is gone.  Sure, we all type on this board and have a lot to say, but we are like a bunch of people at a funeral who talk about the dead as if they still live.  We are too afraid to admit what has happenned.  Coast to Coast AM with Art Bell is gone; its dead.  Noory is a complete fool, Punnett sure tries (yet, fails by such a small margin), and Knapp will never host full time.  After listening to Bell host the last few times, I was really excited (much the way we often laugh a lot at funerals), but after the thrill was gone, I realized that Art seems (to quote another poster) like the yacht owner putting in only enough time to pay the bills. 

I think we should move on.  Why are we here?  To lament about a show that has been dead for ten years?  Art is not coming back full time.  George is unlistenable.

I know some of you will say that we should be happy that Art hosts once and awhile.  I understand your point.  But how many more times can we listen to Art takes open lines where every caller essentially begs him to come back?  That has gotten really old.  Remember the old Open Lines?

I don't mean to be negative, but sometimes I wonder what we all are really looking for.  We will never find it.  Art isn't coming back.

When I know Art is going to be on I usually put a pot of coffee on and stay up for the whole thing.  I had to get up early this morning so I couldn't stay up.  Anyone know where I can listen to it?  (Premiere, if you are reading this...lets make a deal, you fire Noory, I'll pay for Streamlink.)

I am all about conspiracy theories.  Trust me, I "get it", but....I feel so bad for Ian and Knapp when they are trying to keep it real and someone calls in (an obvious Noory fan) and starts talking reptilians.  I was listening to Ian talking to a guy about Nazi technology (a pretty good show to say the least) and then some douchebag calls in and starts talking about reptilians.  I honestly think Noory has gone so far in not challenging calllers that we are left with complete morons who think they know what they are talking about and call in when George is out and Ian and Knapp are on.

ALSO, I KNOW ART DOESN'T SCREEN CALLS, BUT DID ANYONE NOTICE THAT LAST WEEK WHEN HE TOOK CALLS NO REPTIALIANS/SHADOW PEOPLE CALLED? MAKES YOU WONDER....DO THE NORMAL PEOPLE WAIT TO CALL IN UNTILL ART IS BACK??? SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO SAD WHAT GEORGIE BOY HAS DONE.

Is George's Ego so big that no other host is allowed to take unscreened calls (except Art)?  OR is Ian and Knapp too afraid to take unscreened calls?

As a side note, I can't remember: did George take unscreened calls when he first took over? (never really liked him, thus never listened to him closely; I saw through him much faster than most)  Also, has Ian ever taken unscreened calls (I never gave him a shot untill about 2 years ago, and he hasn't taken them in that time).

Also, say what you want, but George Noory might be the biggest scum bag of all time.  I honestly think ANYONE could host the show better than he.  His knowledge base is soooo weak.  What is the highest level of education he has achieved?

After listening to Art's show last night, it is even more clear (as if we didn't already know) that George is a complete hack.  I know I am beating a dead horse, but last night it became clear that Noory is sooooo much worse than we have already discussed.  It feels as if George isn't even a sub-par host of Coast to Coast, instead, it feels as if George's show isn't even Coast to Coast.  What Art did last night was Coast to Coast.  Sure, George may have some of the same guests Art used to, but his show is not the same thing that I heard come from Art last night.  Art's timing, ability to leave you hanging, to ask a great question right when the commercial music starts (sure, we all know its coming, but its still great) and make you wait, his ability to ACTUALLY HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH SOMEONE, all made last night truly enjoyable.

He said last night that it (hosting Easter weekend) would probably happen. 


admin edit:  merged this post into this thread. 
admin edits are in red.

Quote from: valdez on March 27, 2010, 06:27:01 AM
          Art's emphasis on the word "unscreened" (open lines) was definitely a shot across the bow to George's super controlled love fest, and I dug the fact that Art doesn't feel the need to say, "yeah, I remember you!", every time some yokel mentions that he spoke to Art five years ago.
   

           I also noticed Art's mentioning of the term unscreened probably about a half a dozen times.  Also, I enjoyed how he hemmed and hawed at the caller that said that he really liked George.  I especially liked when Art said "not as much as you would think" when the caller asked how much of a role Art had in picking George.  Despite all of this, however, I think it was more clear after last night that Art is very happy with only hosting occasionally.  A bright spot, I feel is that Art will still be guest hosting long after George is gone. 
           Last night was the most "old Art" I have heard from Art in a long-time.  Great program that kept me up till 5am EST.  George hasn't been able to keep me up for more than 15 minutes.

Pardon my language, but ART is hosting this FRIDAY.  I just did a shit load of shots and listened to Al Stewart's "Year of the Cat."  Thank god I have an understanding wife.
I LOVE YOU ALL.
LETS PRETEND LIKE ITS THE 90'S, THE ECONOMY IS BOOMING, AND ART IS LIVING IN NEVADA.
HOPE YOU ALL TUNE IN FRIDAY, I KNOW I WILL
(I am EST, so I might take a nap Friday night, just so I can listen to the whole show, 1am-5am)
BY THE WAY, F*CK GEORGE NOORY I HOPE HE ROTS IN HELL FOR WHAT HE HAS DONE TO CTC.

sorry everyone for forgetting the site.  dumb on my part.  he is on live 10 to midnight est.  I listened to his entire program last night, it was great.  going to give it a shot again tonight.  He is very knowledgeable, but the best part is the unscreened calls (I am assuming that they are unscreened because he asks name and location when he picks up)  and his ability to have a conversation with the callers (not just make stupid comments)

just found a guy, Kevin Smith, that talks similar topics to the OLD coast.  HE TAKES CALL UNSCREENED!.  Thats all that matters.  Its very enjoyable and he seems like a reasonable guy.  i have only been listening for an hour.  this might be posted in the wrong forum, but traffic is so light i wanted to make sure people saw it

1) we know Art is rich because of his sale to Premiere
2) we know that Art loves his new life, and enjoys travelling

but....
1) do we have any clue if Art still cares for his show?  by this I mean really care, as in more than a guest host cares.
2) do we have any clue if Art maintains ANY level of creative control over the program?
3) do we know why Art never met Noory in person untill just recently?
4) do we know if Art monitors any of the coast forums that criticize Noory?

I know the man was a salesman, and thus any of his actions must be taken with a grain of salt...but....ive heard shows of his from as recently as 2002 where he seems to passionately talk about the show, the guests, and the listeners...talking as if he was very proud of the show and the topics it brought forward.

most importantly,
1) is there any chance he would come  back to at least full weekend duty?

2) is there any chance he would force Noory out or create a competing program now that his non-compete clause with Premiere has expired?

I fell asleep with the radio on and woke up at about 300 am EST.  The guest (as per usual) had talked for about 5 minutes straight.  Some really interesting stuff about ancient history (can't really remember, but it sounded well thought out).  George comes out of nowhere and says, "is there anyway to tie this in to 2012."  Not that 2012 isn't somewhat interesting (despite being beaten to death already, two years out...) but his question had nothing to do with the conversation and totally botched the flow.

Wow...I too am not a big believer in much of what is discussed on CTC, but I do believe there is something strange in the air:  I was planning on posting a topic much like yours.  I sat down, went to the website, and there was your post.  I could have wrote it myself.  I agree with your comments 100%.  (I bear with Ian only because I believe he means well, despite the fact that he can not deliver).

Time can make us forget much.  I listened to Bell religiously when he was on.  I stuck around for awhile with Noory, but after a few months of him being full time, I slowly gravitated away.  I have only recently come back on board, and only for Ian and Knapp shows.  I NEVER listen to Noory, it only makes me depressed.  I have caught most of Art's recent shows, but overall I forgot how great he was. Untill last night.  I found the link on this site to the 24/7 streaming Art Bell and I caught some shows that included string theory, einstein and open lines.  It kept me glued to my computer (while I played Tetris) for 3 hours.

My main point that I want to focus on is his abilities to command open lines.   Not just his ability to handle them, but the type of callers that called in:  People mostly sane who had legitimate knowledge of science.  PEOPLE THAT ARE COMPLETELY GONE NOW AS LISTENERS.  Judging by the calls that make it on to Noory shows, serious people don't waste their time calling in to talk to a dumbass like Noory.

I feer that was has been lost can never come back.

My advice, try not to  lost sleep (you have no motivation to as long as Norry is manning the phones).  Try downloading old time radio shows like Suspense, lights out, and Dragnet.  They will give you theatre of the mind much like Art did.  There is a radio station out of PA called WNAR AM  it plays old time radio 24 hours a day and is available for streaming.  Mix that with old streaming Art, and you will enjoy your life. 

Say what you want about Ian, but the man actually takes his duties seriously.  He does have weak jokes, but that is because he is from the MidWest, not because he is Ian.  George Noory has done more to destroy Coast To Coast AM than I would have ever imagined.  The sad part is, I don't think the show could ever go back to unscreened calls after him.  The goodwill of the listeners has been ruined to the point that any host will need to have a call screener.  Art got pranked (and still does), but at least people believed he cared.  Ian and Knapp are so much closer to Art than Noory could ever hope to be.  The man actually said (on the nightline interview) that Leprechans and the possibility of a shadow government are on the same level.  One is a cute joke, the other one (as shown by history) could quite possibly be a fact that we need to know about.