Art Bell

[Max_TO]

George will never stop saying Art's Name because I really don't think he wants people to know Art has left . One of the reasons he just avoids the whole issue , like come on he's only mentioned it ONCE ( Art leaving ) and  didn't even mention it till  end of the dam show .

He knows that he will lose listeners if this news get full attention by Coast listeners .

Art built that house and in all rights if Art has made it knowen that he is leaving coast then wouldn't one expect Coast to do a whole tribute show ? Wouldn't you have expected it ? But is this what happened , no .
In fact it's not even spoken of , VERY STRANGE  to say the least .

No , this is something that Coast / george , little g , wants kept secret . Could it be fear ? Could it be george's , little g , insecurity ? Or could it be do to ligial issues over some privet comment made by Art to Coast management , as well all know , Art doesn't speak to little g .

[MV/Liberace!]

...I really don't think he wants people to know Art has left .

i think that's the heart of the matter.  there's a lot of money at stake.  lots of streamlink subscribers continue to pay on the assumption they will catch art from time to time.  lots of affiliates probably carry the show expecting art to grace their airwaves from time to time.  it's a big selling point.  without art... it's all greatly devalued.

[b_dubb]

does anyone know if Art is short for Artemus?

[MV/Liberace!]

does anyone know if Art is short for Artemus?

http://www.parenting.com/baby-names/boys/Art

[anagrammy]

George will never stop saying Art's Name because I really don't think he wants people to know Art has left . One of the reasons he just avoids the whole issue, like come on he's only mentioned it ONCE ( Art leaving ) and didn't even mention it till end of the dam show .

He knows that he will lose listeners if this news get full attention by Coast listeners .

Art built that house and in all rights if Art has made it known that he is leaving coast then wouldn't one expect Coast to do a whole tribute show? Wouldn't you have expected it ? But is this what happened , no.  In fact it's not even spoken of, VERY STRANGE  to say the least .

No , this is something that Coast / george , little g , wants kept secret . Could it be fear ? Could it be george's , little g , insecurity ? Or could it be do to ligial issues over some privet comment made by Art to Coast management , as well all know , Art doesn't speak to little g .

I did not know Art doesn't speak to little g.  I remember  little g saying he wrote Art a three page email (another nooryism since email doesn't have pages-maybe trying to look techie while using quill and ink) and received no reply.

WARNING- Pure Speculation Follows:

Art Bell's personality and style is well-known to us, loyal fans.  Given the thinly-veiled information we received via his posting on Fantastic Forum, something happened that had Art throw up his hands.  It could have been the insistence on having screeners.  It's one thing to use screeners at your own discretion, it's another thing entirely to be forced to always use screeners.  Art would certainly balk at submitting to management control of his choices after he created and developed the show (refining over the years)==and  they liked enough to buy. 

Art argues for automony, they argue for consisency, pointing out the many compliments they get about how nice George Noory is to the guests and how relieved the listeners are that he doesn't confront the guests, but lets them get their information "out" (as he puts it).  They close by saying the Noory approach is working because market share is going up.  Art then tells them the truth, which he has been reluctant to spell out:  the new approach is changing the audience.  The audience is no longer shift workers, truck drivers and bi-polar intellectual insomniacs.  It is becoming a refuge for the lonely, those in need of stroking and Coast is already pandering to them by renaming Streamlink "Coast Insiders".

The show changes the audience and then the audience changes the show, says Art, the consummate professional radio host.  There must be a symbiotic relationship, says Art, between the show, the audience and the sponsors;  it is tricky business.  You are changing the model of proven success and the established fanbase won't stand for it.  They are not stupid.  Then someone chimes in with

"We have made a decision--we are going for the Noory approach and we have to have consistency--so, nothing unPC or controversial and we are willing to screen those callers out for you.  Also, we already have a program development team, so we can provide an overview and questions for you. We'll send you the book and the questions, so program prep should be minimal. This should make it easier for you in your semi-retirement and keep the Premier Channel lawyers happy." 

Art:  So you decide on the guests.
PR:   Of course, we have staff for that now.  It's progress, growth, it's not a one-man show any more.  You know that.
Art:  So you decide on the subject, the guests, provide the questions, and screen the callers?
PR:  Yes.
Art:  It isn't fresh.
PR:  Excuse me?
Art:  The show has a canned feel.  Not spontaneous--not "fresh", lacks energy.
PR:  Well, the ratings are up.
Art:  There are other factors, like the syndication bundling that could explain that.
PR:  We think its what the public wants.
Art:  It's crap
PR:  We think its what the public wants.
Art:  I can't be part of it because it is doomed to fail.  I am a night person and I know this audience.
PR;  Maybe it's a different situation now.  We're asking you to be a team player here.
Art:  Sorry, guys, that's not me.  Let the lawyers work out the details--I'm done.
PR:  What do you mean, done?  You still have a contract.
Art:  I can't be part of what you are doing to Coast.  To me, it's a crime.  The lawyers can work out the details about the contract and you can destroy my life's work without my help.  I'm done.
PR:  But, but-- (door slams).  Shit, now what--we're screwed.  No, we're not, we'll just clue all the hosts to be vague and we'll put Somewhere in Time up, we'll keep mentioning him in the credits and it will be months before the stations catch on.  The listeners will never figure it out; just keep saying "we'll see" or "he's fading out..."

Anagrammy

[morphiaflow]

Art's absence from Coast isn't really a "secret" anymore, at least to anyone who bothers to do a little digging. That cat IS out of the bag. That said, George and the producers are certainly doing all they can to downplay and minimize any attention drawn to the fact. They are just hoping that the less they mention it, the less people will bug them about it, and the issue will just go away. It's also possible that Art does not WANT them to draw any attention to it. He may see their doing a "tribute" episode as hollow lip-service (which, alas, is how we must interpret George's public deference to Art at least for the last several years.)

Art's recent public post is clearly a thinly-veiled reference to his relationship with the show, using Asia as the metaphor. Anyone who does not see this is either willfully blind or willfully ignorant.

I have absolutely no doubt that there are financial and contractual aspects to the overall situation, just as I have no doubt that at least in part, Art genuinely does want to devote his time to just living his life and spending time with his family.

That said, I think that Art's distancing himself from the show has as much to do with those things as it does with the tone, substance and content of the show of late. The show under Art was so open and so expansive, and could cover anything from the paranormal to the mundane, conspiracies to politics to science to medicine, and it was always compelling because of Art's approach to the subjects as much as to the subjects themselves.

The fact that increasingly in the last several years when Art hosted he was harassed by Noory loyalists (spoon-fed a particular agenda by the Alex Jones/Jeremy Corsi/et al types) who accused him of being an NWO shill (in so many words) because he DARED to disagree with the Birther/Young Earther/Abiotic/Bildeberger/911 Truth etc scripts that have promulgated under George...that must REALLY rankle him. He CREATED the sandbox that ALL of those people play in. Whatever his reasons for withdrawing from it, it was and is HIS baby.

Last summer, for example, Art was doing a show on environmental topics, trying to do a serious show, with serious guests--and he had to deal with every other caller labeling him a shill, a denier, etc. He handled them all politely, but I know how painful it was for ME to listen to Art deal with these people making accusations at him; and I can only imagine it was that much more painful for HIM, and doubtless helped drive home to him that he was now a stranger in the house that HE built. The unruly step-cousins had taken it over, and Old Uncle Art was no longer welcome.

Because, let's face it...it's not that Art has never been political. It's not that Art has never been Apocalyptic. It's that he never let ANY ONE THEORY DOMINATE, and he rarely endorsed any guest's stance. Politically, he featured everybody--fringe right, fringe left, fringe up, down & sideways, often in succession. Yes, he might spend a night on Revelations...followed by a Pagan shaman who would repudiate anything of a Judeo-Christian origin. Art was equal opportunity in his presentation of alternative points of view, and always maintained a level of levity and objectivity in his presentation. And he also made it clear that whatever his own beliefs or opinions might be, the show was not a forum for polemics.

But with little variation, the exact opposite is now the case. Coast under George is now pretty much aligned with the radical fringe right...those who stand well to the right of the tea party and the left of Hitler. (Not that they'd ever admit as much publicly.) The ones who are just waiting for the government to come stick a 666 chip in their hands as an excuse to declare civil war against the satanic socialist government that has gripped the US (in their eyes). Given that Coast is produced and distributed by Clear Channel and tends to air on the same stations that run Hannitty, Limbaugh (yes I know he's a friend of Art's, but that's irrelevant to the point), Beck, Levin, Savage et al, perhaps it was inevitable. There is money to be made in that particular brand of far-right, rapture-based paranoia, and the suits are all too happy to exploit it.

So given that Art believes the environment is in trouble, doesn't believe 9/11 was a conspiracy, believes that peak oil is real, and supported Obama in the last election...well, none of that really jives with the Alex Jones/Jerry Corsi school of thought, now does it?

I'm not saying this is the only or even the main reason Art has cut his ties. But I'm saying it IS a factor, and probably a significant one. The show has taken on a reactionary, anti-intellectual tone, despite still featuring occasionally "cosmic" subject matter, and I don't blame him for being disgusted by it. I know I am, because Coast has gone from being one of the few things I looked forward to in the day, to something I consciously avoid unless Knapp or pretty much anyone but George is hosting.

I know some of this has been brought up before, but I really think the full extent of its impact on this situation has been so far underestimated in this forum. So there it is, for what it's worth.

[Max_TO]

I did not know Art doesn't speak to little g.  I remember  little g saying he wrote Art a three page email (another nooryism since email doesn't have pages-maybe trying to look techie while using quill and ink) and received no reply.

Exactly

I would love to have a peek at the email that  little g sent to art , even if Art didn't deem it worthy of reading .

[Agent : Orange]

The show has taken on a reactionary, anti-intellectual tone, despite still featuring occasionally "cosmic" subject matter, and I don't blame him for being disgusted by it.

/golfclap

Nailed it in one.

Well done Morphia! This sums it all up in one concise package. A very insightful, well-written and well thought out post. I wish I had something to add - instead I'll stand back and nod in silent agreement.

[anagrammy]

TOtally agree.  In fact, I think I will print Morphia's post and mail it to Premier.  Wouldn't it be a good thing if all of us did?  Somehow, mail bins of envelopes from Art fans echoing Morphia's sentiments seems more significant than a full inbox on the email.

We've been toying with the idea of taking some kind of group action--if Morphia echoes your sentiments as well.  Her post is succinct and maybe she could just take out the part about Art's post on Fab Forum being clearly about Coast (don't want to discourage Art from communicating further using that means).

Otherwise, dropping streamlink is the only action we can take, and that makes us a Coast Outsider (smirk).

Anagrammy

[b_dubb]

WARNING- Pure Speculation Follows:

i feel like this disclaimer belongs at the beginning of 98% of all C2C broadcasts

[MV/Liberace!]

In fact, I think I will print Morphia's post and mail it to Premier.

haha

[MV/Liberace!]

We've been toying with the idea of taking some kind of group action--if Morphia echoes your sentiments as well.  Her post is succinct and maybe she could just take out the part about Art's post on Fab Forum being clearly about Coast (don't want to discourage Art from communicating further using that means).

Otherwise, dropping streamlink is the only action we can take, and that makes us a Coast Outsider (smirk).

Anagrammy

the problem is, no matter what we do, there are not enough of us on this forum to make a difference.  we just don't have the numbers.  with the numbers our community gets, it would be difficult even to make it APPEAR as if we have any kind of power.  the solution?  we need more people participating on this forum.  we need more new blood and more regular participation from the veterans.  i encourage all of you to find people who might be interested in using this forum and encourage them to post regularly.  that's the first step.

[JustOneFix]

the problem is, no matter what we do, there are not enough of us on this forum to make a difference.  we just don't have the numbers.  with the numbers our community gets, it would be difficult even to make it APPEAR as if we have any kind of power.  the solution?  we need more people participating on this forum.  we need more new blood and more regular participation from the veterans.  i encourage all of you to find people who might be interested in using this forum and encourage them to post regularly.  that's the first step.

Facebook group? Myspace page(quit laughing dammit)? I stumbled upon the forum while looking for Art Bell clips, lurked about for a bit and said "Damn this is a kick ass forum! I'm gonna sign up"  The fact that this is an easy going group of people and no drama certainly adds to the capability for the forum to grow.

[MV/Liberace!]

Facebook group? Myspace page(quit laughing dammit)? I stumbled upon the forum while looking for Art Bell clips, lurked about for a bit and said "Damn this is a kick ass forum! I'm gonna sign up"  The fact that this is an easy going group of people and no drama certainly adds to the capability for the forum to grow.

the problem with the whole facebook thing is that i don't have the time to manage and/or maintain it.

[morphiaflow]

Thank you for the kind words and I'm flattered if you want to post my words elsewhere or forward them to premiere (even if Annagrammy gave me a sex change, haha! Now THERE'S a Coast topic for you).

I don't mind if you do send my words on, but I don't think anything's gained by cutting out the line about Art's post. They aren't SO stupid that if they saw that post they wouldn't know what it was about, and I think Art would only be in trouble if HE pointed that out. Anyway, if you guys are all correct,

And incidentally, while it's reasonable to assume that he was speaking in code/metaphor for legal or contractual reasons, there's always the possibility that he was simply pulling his punches out of some sense of decorum--being a gentleman, for lack of a better term. As much speculation as is going on here, I'm not putting any words in his mouth, other than assigning the fairly obvious meaning of his statement. So let us all consider "What would Art do?"

That said I don't think it'd hurt to send anything to Premiere, but I also don't see it amounting to much. They know how the Art loyalists feel--I made it clear when I told them I wasn't renewing my Streamlink--and I think that we are, indeed, in the vast minority in terms of sheer radio numbers. As long as they have those, we will be a footnote and at most an irritant.

I'm not discouraging responsible actions of protest. Just saying...I don't think it will lead to Art's coming back or George leaving. MAYBE we can hope to raise the tone of the show, but that would mean we'd have to listen to it to find out if we were having any effect!

But personally I'd rather see an effort to promote and support Art Bell over one to take down Coast, if that makes any sense. It's easy to be against something. Being FOR something is harder, but...always much more worth the effort. And anyway, we can sit back from afar and watch the Noory train wreck. It may be cringe- and wince-inducing, but at least it's unintentionally entertaining!

This is rambling, sorry, but I hope it makes some sense. Bottom line, do as you will, but if you do pass my words along--all I ask is that they be unaltered.

[morphiaflow]

*dropped a line:

Anyway, if you guys are Correct, both Art and the Coast/Premiere folks keep an eye on THIS forum, so I'm sure they're all well aware that we've connected the dots, even if they don't see fit to confirm or deny any of our speculations.

[northernknight]

Hi all,
Again, I am a newbie here, but C2C AB fan for years.  Just a thought, maybe another additional  approach.....  Art always made his email address readily known to all......  ArtBell@mindspring.com   Perhaps additionally as many fans as possible should simply email Art and express that we REALLY would welcome his consideration of a  comeback to the Kingdom of Nye night air waves. ( I know Art  very well  may  routinely view this site on occasion and knows hes missed)  Additionally if fans contact the knuckleheads at Premier with some of the aforementioned ideas,  AND also Art,  (in LARGE numbers) then maybe that may also help to intensify  results???

[Scully]

Hi to all of you --  I'm a brand new newbie, but I've been monitoring this site for a while, and it definitely feels like home to me already.  I'm so glad to get here just as Morphia posted his summation of what has happened.  His words express everything I've thought about all this, while I've been whistling in the wind by writing to Noory as a Coast Insider but achieving nothing.

I honestly can't imagine Art ever coming back to the shambles that is Coast.  I CAN imagine him doing another show of some kind.  What's wrong with "The Art Bell Show"?  Or anything he likes!

[guildnavigator]

Hi to all of you --  I'm a brand new newbie, but I've been monitoring this site for a while, and it definitely feels like home to me already.  I'm so glad to get here just as Morphia posted his summation of what has happened.  His words express everything I've thought about all this, while I've been whistling in the wind by writing to Noory as a Coast Insider but achieving nothing.

I honestly can't imagine Art ever coming back to the shambles that is Coast.  I CAN imagine him doing another show of some kind.  What's wrong with "The Art Bell Show"?  Or anything he likes!

Nothing wrong with that as far as I can see.

And welcome!

Art has asked that his name be removed and then intentionally went out of his way to avoid mentioning his relationship to radio in his only subsequent public communication.

(not counting the cryptic hamcam message)

something feels like it's brewing. might not be, but it sort of feels like it!

[anagrammy]

Thank you for the kind words and I'm flattered if you want to post my words elsewhere or forward them to premiere (even if Annagrammy gave me a sex change, haha! Now THERE'S a Coast topic for you)....

This is rambling, sorry, but I hope it makes some sense. Bottom line, do as you will, but if you do pass my words along--all I ask is that they be unaltered.

Sorry about the gender confusion, Morphia.  I will certainly respect your wishes and appreciate you lending your writing talent to the pool here.

I am also thinking about the futility of writing to Premiere, but perhaps sending a copy of your post to the Coast sponsors.  It's amazing how responsive sponsors can be compared with radiohead management types.

Anagrammy

[anagrammy]

Hi to all of you --  I'm a brand new newbie, but I've been monitoring this site for a while, and it definitely feels like home to me already.  I'm so glad to get here just as Morphia posted his summation of what has happened.  His words express everything I've thought about all this, while I've been whistling in the wind by writing to Noory as a Coast Insider but achieving nothing.

I honestly can't imagine Art ever coming back to the shambles that is Coast.  I CAN imagine him doing another show of some kind.  What's wrong with "The Art Bell Show"?  Or anything he likes!

Welcome, Scully.  I'm fairly new here myself and I liked the tone of the forum and the caliber of the posters.  Most are intelligent and witty-- the thing I like most is that no matter what kind of a day it has been, I can drop in at Coastgab and I will a) learn something new, and b) laugh out loud.  Priceless.

Anagrammy

[aldousburbank]

I am also thinking about the futility of writing to Premiere, but perhaps sending a copy of your post to the Coast sponsors.  It's amazing how responsive sponsors can be compared with radiohead management types.

Anagrammy,

I was thinking... the wives tell me I'm not so good at it, but...  Sitting here mentally synthesizing various threads and comments pertaining to show sukdom, host change possibilities vs Coast euthanization, cancellation letters, notes to sponsors, and etc., this is what I'm left with in terms of suggestions- What if we CoastGabbers, acting as a listener's committee, drafted a letter/petition which we could send and/or post for viewing by sponsors and program directors?  Sort of a unified response without appearing like a bunch of trekkies with a form letter.  Elements for inclusion that I am thinking of include:

Asinine GN quotes, perhaps listed by show date and magnitude of ignorance.

Select, non- salacious, commentaries as to why GN is not an appropriately intelligible or intelligent host.

List of suggested full-time host replacements.

A petition style list of email addresses(?) of as many of us as care to agree?

I mentioned to Michael V. (in PM) that I'm not a big fan of online petitions that nobody sees except the choir.  Perhaps hundreds of individually drafted, unique letters to sponsors/program directors would present a better effect?  This is just a thought for discussion, as if there exists a means to redeem Coast, I dunno, wishful thinking I guess.  I'm spurred onto this idea by George's "Billions of planets in our solar system" comment the other night, thinking that there are sponsors and radio suits who have half a brain and groan along with us in the disturbing knowledge that GN is an entirely intellectually inadequate host for an international radio program.  One thing I am fairly sure of is that you Anagrammy, would be a great candidate for drafting such a thing, if such a thing were deemed not to be a completely ineffectual proposal.  I can see it now... "When in the course of human events.... signed, Anagrammy." 

[b_dubb]

hey did you guys hear that Art Bell quit Coast to Coast?!!!

[Agent : Orange]

hey did you guys hear that Art Bell quit Coast to Coast?!!!

WHAT NO WAI

[aldousburbank]

hey did you guys hear that Art Bell quit Coast to Coast?!!!

Or was it vice versa?

[aquagoat]

Hey guys == as we sit around and go through those seven steps of acceptance, or whatever that thingamabob is called ( ya know, disbelief, anger, denial etc etc), we are slowly getting around to the nitty gritty of an answer.

We've had our fun kicking the can of C2C around for a while, but when the talk turned to us taking some 'group' action, I could see we are getting close to the end of the line.

Which is a good thing, and here's why.  As  Michael, I think it was, mentioned, we don't have the numbers to make a dent against the HolyRoller SteamRoller GeorgyPeorgy is driving at us,  so any action pointed toward C2C, Premier, whomever, is bound to be pointless.

But .......... we do have an avenue open to us, and a positive one, one that would quite simply let us walk away from those who we've come to disregard so much it is actually in danger of becoming a toxic problem if we keep on the negative.

SO here it is folks ........... the answer is ........... Art Bell.

If we are to take any serious action, make any serious, deliberate and considered step, it is this:   Thoughtfully and logically appeal to Art to come back in some form or fashion because, quite simply ........ we are at a time when the calibre of man that he is, and represents, is not just a happy diversion for all us bipolar dipsticks (to paraphrase someone above) he is NEEDED now more than ever.

As Noory so 'articulately' says all the time, "Something is happening" out there (duhhh).

Well, what IS happening is that, all fun and games and giggly name calling aside, is that it is time for all of us to step up and be counted.  I have misgivings about putting it this way, and laying so much on Art's doorstep, because Lord knows if anyone has done more than his share to "do the right thing" it has been Art, time and time again.

But it is Art that we need send our petitions to, not the corporate greed heads that have banks of paper shredders just waiting for anything we could send them.

"The best lack all conviction, while the worst are filled with passionate intensity: wrote Yeats a century ago, and it was never more true than today.

It is to Mr. Bell that we need channel our appeals and all our positivity and love and respect. We can never beat the Corps at their game, we are not made of that stuff, and praise be the fates for that.  But we CAN make a difference if we can appeal to Mr. Bell;s higher sense of right and wrong, and petition him to step up to the plate for us one last time, to put together the team that can lead us into the future and be all the things we believe in - honest journalism, fresh, uncanned programming that lets all view points have their day, and an honest HUMANE belief in the positive power of what can be accomplished by leaving those who find it all so much easier to hate than to seek true dialogue  and discourse with EVERYONE we share this planet with.

It is true, we are not of a size in numbers to go toe to toe with the CorpHeads, but we CAN build a small cadre of Rebels WITH a cause, and once again send out a voice in the dark of night to bring some Humane sanity to the table for liberated discussion.

And - of course -- have us some fun again too.

So that's the sermon --- who can give me a hand with the logistics?

Dileas gu brath

Rick O'shea Rabbit.



"Now its a bar stool and blinkers, he couldnt sleep yet anyway
he's low inside the taste of fame has turned the tide
He;s got a Coast to Coast Fever and
Highways on his mind."

David Wiffen performs Coast To Cost Fever -Live on CJOH
. ..

[Agent : Orange]

^ this

[onan]

I would like to have the Art Bell that I remember... Pre-Noory. And maybe I am just too jaded, dunno for sure.  Art has given us some damn fine radio and no doubt still can. I do wonder though if that is what he wants. He is 66 and may not want to invest the kind of time it took to develope his (and always will be) C2C.

Yeah I think we are all loyal and would listen every chance we had but even if there were 10,000 of us strong those are not numbers to support the kind of show we want.

People tell us things in two ways: what they say and what they do. Art has been pulling away for a long time and his reasons... I can only speculate.

If Art comes back to his type and choice of show I will be there. I am not getting that kind of vibe from what I have been reading.

[Marc.Knight]

I would like to have the Art Bell that I remember... Pre-Noory. And maybe I am just too jaded, dunno for sure.  Art has given us some damn fine radio and no doubt still can. I do wonder though if that is what he wants. He is 66 and may not want to invest the kind of time it took to develope his (and always will be) C2C.

Yeah I think we are all loyal and would listen every chance we had but even if there were 10,000 of us strong those are not numbers to support the kind of show we want.

People tell us things in two ways: what they say and what they do. Art has been pulling away for a long time and his reasons... I can only speculate.

If Art comes back to his type and choice of show I will be there. I am not getting that kind of vibe from what I have been reading.

The business institution of C2C would have to change way too much if Art came back to any significant degree.  George has been a permanent 'placeholder' since he first arrived, allowing the show to be driven by others.  I believe that at this point, C2C as a business, would not be able to adapt to the way Art used to run things.  It has devolved from being an Eagle to a Pigeon.

I think Art has Retired (yes, with a big R this time).

[onan]

  It has devolved from being an Eagle to a Pigeon.

The most precise evaluation anyone could make.