Art Bell

[Meister_000]

http://artbell.com/the-future-of-midnight-in-the-desert-and-dark-matter-radio-network/

Midnight in the Desert

I will run Midnight in the Desert w/Heather Wade on the Dark Matter Digital Network for the next 30 days minimum. She will start in Art’s same time slot for Monday and Tuesday…

However, seeing as I’m obligated to continue feeding the terrestrial affiliate stations for the next 30 days, I’ll need to feed either Heather’s live show or replays of Art Bell’s archives, (which ever they determine the best for them yet to be decided). If I need to feed the Art Bell replays to them at 9-12, Art’s time slot,  I will have Heather do MITD from 6-9 pm PT LIVE to insure she gets to do shows for you also. If the radio stations are fine with Heather filling in for Art, we’ll keep her at 9-12 PT.

â€" Keith Rowland

I know you're doing your best to Juggle all these variables and obligations Keith, but I was just thinking that Heather or anyone at a 6-9pm Pacific slot is more of a stretch than most of us had envisioned, and also effectively takes much of the wind and prestige, out of her Debut, her Maiden Voyages. i.e. like the ceiling, headroom, soaring room, has just been lowered significantly. Just thinking about giving the girl a fair and full shot.

[twiki]

Live content always trumps replays, she will get a fair amount of stations giving her a shot.

I hope you're right because Heather worked hard for a shot but I think 6 weeks tenure is on the money. DMDN will close it's doors in a month. It's on life support as it is and when the subscriptions dry up and the ad revenue is gone that's all folks. This website might be a graveyard in a couple of months.

This is Falkie's time to shine.

[Catsmile]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mudlXF3MA8Q

[malachi.martini]

Live content always trumps replays, she will get a fair amount of stations giving her a shot.

With luck the hugbox here doesn't hamper her growth and she can create something special. The reaction to honest feedback doesn't inspire confidence. Convincing her the 'interview' with Art was great is a huge fucking disservice, as is supporting the notion that TIMEHICK smacking his lips was listenable, or even preferable to having a thoughtful, candid engagement with an audience wondering what the fuck is going on.

[Coffeeman]

I have always liked you on the Gabcast, and the interview with Art was very good.
You will get the hate and you know it, but personally i like the way you interview and you know the
format of the show well.
I wish you well, i will be listening for sure.

It was a farce and a slap in the face to the fans at the least. Heather, (Redacted), wtf she goes by, is going to need to grow some balls if she's going to be doing interviews.

[SixWeekTenure(tm)]

Live content always trumps replays, she will get a fair amount of stations giving her a shot.

How many affiliates did the show have before the retirement announcement, about fifty? Some stations immediately dropped the show after the post on Facebook; what station isn't going to just run Clyde Lewis or any other overnight talk show run by a professional in the MITD slot instead of an Art Bell replay or untested host in Heather Wade, if those are their only options? Keith hedging his bets and possibly having (redacted) do the show at an earlier time resolves many issues, but it also damages her radio launch right out of the gate when the only people that will hear it are the DMDN faithful, which we know was a paltry number before July and will return to those figures before long. Keeping Heather on at all is just a respectful gesture to Art from Keith, clearly.

[EarthAlien007]

Good for you, girlfriend! I am standing right there with you, right by your side.

That's really creepy, coming from you.

[Heather Wade]

It was a farce and a slap in the face to the fans at the least. Heather, (Redacted), wtf she goes by, is going to need to grow some balls if she's going to be doing interviews.

How was that interview a slap in the face to Art's fans?  I go by Heather Wade, and my balls are solid steel, thank you.

[cosmic hobo]

Cancelled my subscription today. Hopefully I get a refund for this month too. I paid to listen to Art. Good luck to Heather and DMDN. I wish them well but we got a dead man walking here.

[malachi.martini]

How was that interview a slap in the face to Art's fans?

It wasn't an interview, plainly. You chose to let Art interview TIMEHICK rather than use that limited time to thoughtfully address Art's departure for a devoted audience that deserves that small respect.

[Yorkshire pud]

It wasn't an interview, plainly. You chose to let Art interview TIMEHICK rather than use that limited time to thoughtfully address Art's departure for a devoted audience that deserves that small respect.

Has it occured to you AB didn't want to? And hence the FB/website message. No?

[HumanBeing]

[SixWeekTenure(tm)]

Has it occured to you AB didn't want to? And hence the FB/website message. No?

Art called in after the extended break once Heather floundered when the guest's cell dropped out, as anyone would, and offered to take calls with listeners for some length of time. During that moment, TIMEHICK called back and (redacted) instead opted to go with the phony time traveler interview instead of sensing what the audience wanted to hear. I'm not trying to take shots at Heather, considering what a bad position she was put in from the outset, but it was bad radio and an even worse interview.

[SredniVashtar]

There has been a lot of hostile reaction to this change of direction, to put it mildly. The closest comparison I can think of is Pavarotti cancelling and being replaced by a bricklayer who likes to sing in the shower. I don't think we can blame people for speculating that Art is losing his marbles, because this is a very odd decision.

If he had said, for instance, "Heather is going to hold things down for the time being while we sort this out," there would have been a more understanding reaction. Instead, we are told that someone totally unknown and untried is actually good enough to fill his shoes permanently. It's not as if she has had a show on the network to cut her teeth on - Art didn't even have the foresight to give her that much. It's like those people who flatter themselves by calling themselves 'writers' because they can string a few sentences together. There is no obvious skill set to be a radio host - you don't study for it, for example - but that doesn't mean that it isn't an ability that takes a long time to acquire and hone. Art paid his dues over a long period of time, and no doubt made many mistakes along the way. We are supposed to be indulgent about this, but it looks as disrespectful to one's audiences as could be imagined.

You have to have pretty large brass ones to even think of giving this a go, and good on her for that, but Art shouldn't have put her in this position. She's on a hiding to nothing. I'm sure Art was pretty shitty when he started out, but he learned in small markets where he could afford to fail. Likewise Stern, and I'm sure almost every big name - it's a skill that needs time to develop. If it was a one-off deal, or a very temporary thing, then I'd say good for her, but putting her forward as a long-term replacement on a similar level to Art is thinking straight out of the madhouse.

[Yorkshire pud]

Art called in after the extended break once Heather floundered when the guest's cell dropped out, as anyone would, and offered to take calls with listeners for some length of time. During that moment, TIMEHICK called back and (redacted) instead opted to go with the phony time traveler interview instead of sensing what the audience wanted to hear. I'm not trying to take shots at Heather, considering what a bad position she was put in from the outset, but it was bad radio.

Exactly. But AB probably didn't want to discuss himself (for whatever reason). It's entirely possible AB told/asked Heather off air to not discuss his departure. As you say, no shots at Heather and as I've said, she was put in an invidious position and tried her best to get through it. Sure, she's not perfect, but if AB is the bar to reach for perfection (In character) , she's exceeded by a long way. I have no axe to grind one way or the other with Heather or AB, I see as I find.

[malachi.martini]

Has it occured to you AB didn't want to? And hence the FB/website message. No?

HW: "We would like to take a few calls if we could with art on the line if you don't mind Art"

AB: "I dont mind at all, lets do it."

HW: "Our first call here actually is Brendon Tarpley, our time traveler."

There are no other calls. After indulging TIMEHICK, the last thing we hear Art say is "We have to take a break." He doesn't come back on.

So when Art says he doesn't mind, you think he's lying?

[Yorkshire pud]

HW: "We would to take a few calls if we could with art on the line if you don't mind Art"

AB: "I dont mind at all, lets do it."

HW: "Our first call here actually is Brendon Tarpley, our time traveler."

There are no other calls. After indulging TIMEHICK, the last thing we hear Art say is "We have to take a break." He doesn't come back on.

So when Art says he doesn't mind, you think he's lying?

Lying about what? Taking calls? No, but that doesn't mean they can't be filtered. You're heaping stuff on Heather undeservedly; she isn't the villain here. And as for her disrespecting the listener, get over yourself. Shoot your arrows at AB if you need to fire off anything.

[EarthAlien007]

I'd like to see rotating hosts. Let Heather do a night or two a week and bring on guest hosts for the other nights. Take this opportunity to showcase DMDN's hosts, Steve Warner, Bryan Alvarez, Bill Birnes, ect., and maybe even invite George Knapp and Ian Punnet.

[Yorkshire pud]

I'd like to see rotating hosts. Let Heather do a night or two a week and bring on guest hosts for the other nights. Take this opportunity to showcase DMDN's hosts, Steve Warner, Bryan Alvarez, Bill Birnes, ect., and maybe even invite George Knapp and Ian Punnet.

That isn't a bad idea. Steve has more than earned his spurs. Yep...why not?


You don't see Rosegirl in that line up then?....No....I suppose not. Ahem....

[SixWeekTenure(tm)]

Exactly. But AB probably didn't want to discuss himself (for whatever reason). It's entirely possible AB told/asked Heather off air to not discuss his departure.

AB: Okay. Well I'm really sorry that you had a problem with Brendon Tarpley. I guess, uh, that's the world of Skype for you.

HW: Well it is and it's also the world of time travel but it looks like he's trying to call us back.

AB: [Pause] Okay, well I did want to, um, maybe... [chuckle] It's up to you, Heather, if you want to go ahead and take his call back or you want to talk to me for a moment and take any calls, we can try and do both.

They spoke for about seven minutes until the second hour began, where Tarpley is added back (see malachi.martini's previous post), and the interview resumes with the three of them. Art basically takes over until a break, where he's gone once the show returns after the bottom of the hour.

[malachi.martini]

Lying about what? Taking calls? No, but that doesn't mean they can't be filtered.

I'm not at all suggesting Heather is the villain, if you had read a little bit, you'd see I want her to succeed. Not creating a fucking hugbox for her and offering honest feedback should be a priority. Yes, cleaning up after Art is a shitshow for anyone.

[malachi.martini]

AB: Okay. Well I'm really sorry that you had, uh, problem with Brendon Tarpley. I guess, uh, that's the world of Skype for you.

HW: Well it is and it's also the world of time travel but it looks like he's trying to call us back.

AB: [Pause] Okay, well I did want to, um, maybe... [chuckle] It's up to you, Heather, if you want to go ahead and take his call back or you want to talk to me for a moment and take any calls, we can try and do both.

They spoke for about seven minutes until the second hour began, where Tarpley is added back (see malachi.martini's previous post), and the interview resumes with the three of them. Art basically takes over until a break, where he's gone once the show returns after the bottom of the hour.

Like it's too much to fucking ask? Some calls, some understanding?

[nooryisawesome]

Just support the show. It is better it's on than not on.

Also what if they find the shooter. Come one people it's $5, that almost nothing. I get it if you don't want to keep your subscription but for $5 so what.

[sorefinger]

I write to you with a heavy heart tonight.

I had never wished failure for Art, and I don't for you, as well.

But let's be realistic, considering no one is exempt from being human.  If Art ever wants his chair back, you'll turn on him the same as Noory did, no matter how heavy you believe your heart is today.

Any effort you spend in this forum only dilutes the quality of the next show.  Art would tell you to put on thicker skin and ignor the ego we are blind to but we so easily see in others.

When it comes to talk radio, the most interesting moments are rarely from guests but from callers.  Guests are not the audience.  Callers are.  Only they truly represent the hearts and minds of those who make talk radio possible.  And when it comes to questions for guests, there isn't a radio host alive who has nearly as much creativity as the collective creativity of callers.

[SredniVashtar]

Just support the show. It is better it's on than not on.

Also what if they find the shooter. Come one people it's $5, that almost nothing. I get it if you don't want to keep your subscription but for $5 so what.

Art said 'perhaps' he'd come back if they found the shooter. What does that tell you? That sounds like a soft 'no' to me, and he'd  find some other reason to stay away. His immediate reaction to this was 'fuck it, I'm off!', rather than 'let's have a break and sort this out'. He doesn't want to do the show any more. That's pretty plain.

Fair enough. I wish he'd be up front about it, that's all.

[Yorkshire pud]

Like it's too much to fucking ask? Some calls, some understanding?

Understanding? Jesus Christ! Get a fucking grip. If and when you're all grown up one day, you'll be faced with things that really matter and will severly rock your world and ruin your day; things that right now you can't even begin to imagine possible in the dregs of the graph that has 'Utopia' at the top and 'How do I face this day?' at the bottom.

It's a radio show, it's over. The sun will rise tomorrow and children will still accidentally play with landmines and be killed or disfigured. Get some perspective.

[SredniVashtar]

When it comes to talk radio, the most interesting moments are rarely from guests but from callers.  Guests are not the audience.  Callers are.  Only they truly represent the hearts and minds of those who make talk radio possible.  And when it comes to questions for guests, there isn't a radio host alive who has nearly as much creativity as the collective creativity of callers.

Good god, what utter balls! The typical caller is a halfwit shut-in who'd struggle to put his trousers on without assistance. You sound like one of them. The caller portion of the show is just something they do to appease the audience, and it is almost always awful. It disrupts the flow of the show and reveals nothing of interest. I don't want to hear some witless hayseed tells us about what his gramma saw one night while taking a shit, thanks all the same!

[Lt.Uhura]

To all the whiners posting here since Friday night--seemingly without sleep:  Do you have a life outside of Art Bell's orbit?  Art is gone.  And whether his leave is temporary or permanent, posting a barrage of hate-filled messages won't bring him back.  In fact from the looks of it, many of the posts have morphed into infighting and personal attacks, with Art's departure secondary.  If you're not interested in listening to the next incarnation of MITD, simply turn off your radio/device and move on.

[Yorkshire pud]

Good god, what utter balls! The typical caller is a halfwit shut-in who'd struggle to put his trousers on without assistance. You sound like one of them. The caller portion of the show is just something they do to appease the audience, and it is almost always awful. It disrupts the flow of the show and reveals nothing of interest. I don't want to hear some witless hayseed tells us he's a long time listener and loves the show and about what his gramma saw one night while taking a shit, thanks all the same!

Just being helpful... 

[EarthAlien007]

If you want to ride the coattails of another person's legacy, in hopes of being their heir, then you aren't good enough in any business or venture.

So says the guy who keeps naming his websites after Art Bell's show names.