 
|
 |
|
Al Martinez' column (subscribers only) in the L.A. Times Calendar section Monday visits with the other Michael Jackson, the longtime local radio host who has been off the air for a year and half. Martinez writes of Jackson, whose best years were on KABC before Rush Limbaugh's success at KFI altered the dynamic of talk radio:
Jackson never was a spokesman for any cause. His guests during more than three decades on the air in Los Angeles represented virtually every political opinion, and he treated them all with a civility today's bombast lacks. If he was perceived as liberal, it was only because he wasn't obnoxious...He thinks one of the news stations would be a good place for him. Or maybe National Public Radio. "Just be sure to say that I'm not bitter," he says again. "That isn't me. I had 32 wonderful years on the air. I just want to be a part of what's happening."
Well, there were other reasons to call Jackson a liberal. But unlike most of the AM talk hosts on in Los Angeles today, he did have guests from many persuasions. Jackson's website.
He could be an interesting guest host for Air America/KBLA...and he'd be a local name, among a certain demographic, at least, for the station.
I miss Michael Jackson. He was the voice of reason and stability and he had a lot of class. I didn't realize how much class he had until recently. There is no comparison between Michael and the shrill, bombastic talk show hosts we have nowadays. Guys like Sean Hannity and Bill O'Reilly think it's all about THEM. They promote themselves as if they were rock stars. It doesn't matter what "issue" they are discussing--they always turn the conversation back to THEMSELVES. Michael, on the other hand, never yelled, screeched or insulted his guests. His liberal point of view was stated in an intelligent and fair manner. He let ALL opinions be heard. And he never demanded that HE be the star of every single argument or debate.
Posted by: Patricia at March 24, 2004 01:23 AMI personally prefer the philosophy of a former colleague of Michael Jackson's, KLAC's Dennis Prager, who also avoids using a confrontational, bombastic approach to debate.
I still recall Jackson mischaracterizing part of the format of another person who remains at KABC, Larry Elder. Jackson derided Elder for using on his show the sound of gunshots. Anyone who had given 2 seconds of time to Elder's program would have known that such sounds were, in fact, supposed to be a judge's gavel being struck in a courtroom.
Posted by: Karl at March 24, 2004 01:19 PMI heard a rumor over the weekend that Michael Jackson is about to reenter the LA Radio scene very soon. Has anyone heard about this?
Posted by: Bob P at May 17, 2004 10:43 AM
of LA Observed
Michael Jackson was a class act from the days before talk radio was muscled out by the strident fringe. Now, unless you're determined to rant and belittle, there's no place for you on talk radio.
Posted by: Louie at March 23, 2004 07:08 AM