Filling in for conservative talk-show host Michael Berry Tuesday morning, Houston lawyer Geoff Berg was direct with KPRC radio’s listeners…. “I am a moderate,” he announced. “Michael is a right-wing fanatic. We are going to disagree.”…. He was on point. Listeners ‚Äî and apparently advertisers ‚Äî disagreed so much that KPRC/950 AM fired Berg after one day on the job, ending his brief stint as a talk-radio host…. “Right after the show, the producers told me that I’d done a great job as host,” Berg said Wednesday…. “(But) later in the day, they said don’t come back.”
This sorry episode illustrates everything that’s wrong with radio in Houston. John Cobarruvias has addressed this issue much more than I have, but you cannot find a voice on Houston talk radio that isn’t firmly ensconced on the far right side of the ideological and political spectrum. When the “best” Houston has to offer is Sam Malone and Michael Berry…well, you can understand why I detest talk radio. It’s not about honest discussion, or open debate, or tolerance for those who might think a bit differently. No, ultimately it’s about bigotry, ignorance, and slavish lock-step Right-wing propaganda.
You simply cannot find talk radio in Houston that doesn’t focus on far-Right politics and ideology. Geoff Berg’s experience on KPRC should serve as proof positive that Houston radio is not about open, honest debate. It’s about reinforcing those on the far Right who’ve long since shut their minds to anything but their own narrow ideology. They may not necessarily be able to defend their opinions, but they’ll sure as Hell be able to insult and demean yours if you have the temerity to think and believe differently.
I bet some of the calls were hilarious, and the guest host felt like the lone atheist at an evangelical revival!
The way I see it, commercial broadcasters exist to pander to their audiences and advertisers, not to ensure all opinions are aired according to an arbitrary interpretation of "fairness."
Houston is a big market, and there's room for a more moderate talk outlet, as well as a pretty liberal one. Here's today's schedule from FM 90.1 KPFT:
Berry is a puss.