Its Own Reward
I, uuuuuuuuuuuuuh, actually heard, uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuh, Nick Coleman on, uuuuuuuuuuuuuummmmmmmmmmm, "Straight Talk Radio," the, uuuuuuuuuh, local FrankenNet affiliate last, errrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr, night.
Rocketman and Saint, naturally, got to writing about it before me.
Trunk:
I think Air America exists mostly so it can be ridiculed by conservatives, so a lengthy response probably isn't necessary, but two quick points suggest themselves. First, we are about as far from being "anonymous" as you can get. Apparently Nick Whoever hasn't thought to click on the "about us" link, nor has he read the articles about us in Time and other publications, nor has he taken the trouble to Google us. Great research, Nick.
Second, we have, in general, no objection to being paid. On the contrary. As it happens, though, we are not being paid by anyone, although we do get a little revenue through Blogads. Again, Nick Whoever's research skills seem primitive at best.
Saint:
The former host of the KSTP Sunday afternoon shift (before the marketplace decided an extra two hours of Car Talk was infinitely more listenable) and beleaguered Star Tribune lead columnist was on and talking fast and loose, and despondently, about politics. I didn't hear his specific shots at Hinderaker, but I did hear and jot down this verbatim comment (regarding conservatives in Minnesota): These people are working constantly to turn Minnesota into Alabama. I feel discouraged.
That last part should maybe be the new Wendy Wilde Show slogan. At least when Nick Coleman is substitute hosting.
I have, blessedly, little to add.
Oh, balonely. Yes, I do.
Among the "stuff" Nick Coleman knows, broadcasting isn't one of them. I'm not talking about content - more on that in a bit - but the mere Radio101 techniques you should know to get on the air, much less after wasting years of KSTP's weekend airtime.
First, Nick; take the food out of your mouth. It sounds awful. And if it's not food, then try talking into a tape recorder to hear what you sound like, and fix whatever it is that makes you sound like you're just waking up after a four-day bender.
In the fifteen minutes I listened, never once did Coleman mention the station's branding; not once did he give the phone number (assuming the local FrankenNet affiliate takes calls). And of the fifteen minutes I heard, at least three were taken up with Ums and Aaaaahs.
Which was, in retrospect, better than his interview with the local ex-marine who, if memory serves, headed Veterans for Kerry. The "salient" observation? That Rumsfeld is a disaster because he said "you go to war with the military you have, not the military you want"; Coleman muttered something like "well, he's sure doing a great job", sort of like Atrios on the air.
He also mentioned that he's "a journalist". On the local FrankenNet affiliate. As he guest-hosted a limpid but utterly un-detached, partisan, un-journalistic program that any good blogger would be embarrassed to associate with.
I'm going to let that just dangle out there.
Posted by Mitch at
December 14, 2004 07:32 AM
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Ahhh yes, the VOICE! One simply cannot fully enjoy the full complexity of Nick Coleman until one has actually heard his nasally, d-r-o-o-o-n-i-n-g, whiny voice for one's self.
He cannot help broadcasting condescension ('cause he knows stuff) even when preaching to his own choir.
The man is a GIANT intellect I tell you. (
Posted by: swiftee at December 14, 2004 07:45 AMHaving missed his KSTP stint, I am almost sad that I also missed his fill-in show yesterday. I don't think I've ever heard his voice, and the sheer train-wreck camp value of talk radio with His KnowingStuffness would certainly keep me interested (for a segment or so, at least).
Posted by: Steve Gigl at December 14, 2004 08:45 AMOf course, this post puts paid to any chance of Nickers appearing on your show. Also, of course, he'll go to his grave claiming that you've never attacked him on substance, just on his whiningly amateurish radio presence.
Come to think of it, sort of similar to what Air America is all about.
Posted by: Brian Jones at December 14, 2004 11:07 AMOh, that paid was put long ago. We've all been hammering on Coleman for years. The man is as inept and incompetent in his column as he is on the air.
File under "punching the ticket".
Posted by: mitch at December 14, 2004 11:38 AMMitch,
This is by no means an attempt to defend Coleman, but I had to shake my head when I read your comments about his not appreciating what he sounds like on air.
I have tried, really tried, to listen to your radio broadcasts. I am generally in agreement with your point of view and I am an avid fan of the blogs that make up the Northern Alliance.
Having said that, I find you unlistenable. First, you try to speak the way Lileks writes (who uses "nadir" in conversation?), and he's simply better at it than you.
Second, you have a major problem with your breathing. You sound as if you're trying to repress a gas attack when you're speaking, and once you reach the end of a sentence, you inhale like you've just surfaced after being underneath icewater.
You can be making the most intellegent, thoughtful argument, and all I'm can do is yell at the radio, "Breathe! breathe!"
Sorry, maybe it's me.
Posted by: mike at December 14, 2004 12:56 PMMike,
I don't try to speak like Lileks writes - I speak that way. For better or worse, and without reference to Lileks.
The breathing thing? Well, it usually comes from trying to get a word in; if I say something that I wish I hadn't, I frequently take a deep breath to get it off my mind.
Food for thought. Listening to a few old shows this week, I realize I have to watch the "Ums" and "Ahs" myself, as well as the breathing thing.
And it didn't take me years of Sunday broadcasts to figure it out!
Posted by: mike at December 14, 2004 02:17 PMMitch,
Glad to see in your response that you took my comments in the spirit in which they were intended.
Ironically, it was a KSTP appearance of yours - with Rosenbaum discussing the DFL deck of cards - that introduced me to blogs.
I can count on one hand the number of times I've listened to his show since, but checking in with the Northern Alliance has become a daily ritual.
Posted by: mike at December 14, 2004 02:44 PMSteve,
The preparations necessary for doing a Coleman impression are surprisingly similar to what people do to impersonate "the Godfather"...
except the cotton balls go up your nose.
That's right, just wedge 'em up there good and tight and let the nonsense roll out, add a large sign to fix your stare at that says "none of these people deserve my time" and you cannot fail to sound just like Nick.
Posted by: swiftee at December 14, 2004 03:57 PMIllegitimi non-carborundum, Mitch.
Although that icewater thing has crossed my mind, too.
Posted by: TMeier at December 14, 2004 04:45 PMMitch,
Posted by: Deep Breath at December 15, 2004 12:39 AMI, uuuuuuuuuuuuuuh, actually thought, uuuuuuuuuh, that you were imitating Al Franken, in your, errrrr post. With Nick's nasal intonations and stammering, no one probably noticed Franken had a sit-iin.