Coast to Coast AM

Last updated

Coast to Coast AM
Coast to Coast AM Logo 2024.webp
Genre Talk radio
Running time175 minutes, 20 seconds
Country of originUnited States
Canada
Philippines (2006–2010)
Syndicates Premiere Networks
Hosted by George Noory (weeknights and 1st Sunday)
George Knapp (Sundays)
AnnouncerDick Ervasti
Created by Art Bell
Recording studio Sherman Oaks, California
Remote studios Los Angeles, California (Noory)
St. Louis, Missouri (Noory)
Las Vegas, Nevada (Knapp)
Original release1988 –
present
Opening theme"Chase (Theme from Midnight Express)" by Giorgio Moroder
Ending theme"Inca Dance" or "Ghost Dance" by Cusco (Shows hosted by Noory and Knapp)
"Listening to Coast to Coast" by UFO Phil (Fridays)
"Midnight in the Desert" by Crystal Gayle
Website www.coasttocoastam.com
Podcast Streamlink

Coast to Coast AM is an American late-night radio talk show that deals with a variety of topics. Most frequently the topics relate to either the paranormal or conspiracy theories. It was hosted by creator Art Bell from its inception in 1988 until 2003, and is currently hosted by George Noory. The program is distributed by Premiere Networks, a subsidiary of iHeartMedia, both as part of its talk network and separately as a syndicated program. The program now airs seven nights a week from 1:00–5:00 a.m. ET. [1] It airs on over 600 affiliates, and has repeatedly been called the most popular overnight show in the country. [2] [3]

Contents

History

In 1978, Art Bell created and hosted West Coast AM, a late-night political talk/call-in show on Las Vegas radio station KDWN. [4] In 1988, Bell and Alan Corberth renamed the show Coast to Coast AM and moved its studios from the Plaza Hotel in Las Vegas to Bell's home in Pahrump. [4] After Bell's retirement, the show was hosted by various personalities, including Mike Siegel, George Noory, and others.

At its peak, Coast to Coast AM under Bell was syndicated by Premiere Radio Network, and aired on more than 500 radio stations and boasted a weekly listening audience in excess of 10 million listeners. [5] [6] [7] Since 2013 the weekly listener numbers have declined to 2.5 million. [8] According to estimates by Talkers Magazine , Coast to Coast AM has a cumulative weekly audience of around 2.75 million unique listeners listening for at least five minutes, making it the most listened-to program in its time slot. [9] By 2010 the program was known as by far the most popular overnight show in the country, [2] echoed by The New York Times in 2017, citing Nielsen ratings. [3]

The show is estimated to be carried by over 600 US affiliates, [1] along with a limited number of FM stations, as well as many Canadian affiliates, several of which stream the show on their station's website. The affiliate group is fronted by 12 clear-channel stations, among them WBT in Charlotte, WHO in Des Moines, WWL in New Orleans, WOR in New York City, KFBK in Sacramento, KFI in Los Angeles, and WTAM in Cleveland. The show is also carried by Sirius XM Radio, on its Road Dog Trucking channel 146. [10]

Criticism

Scholars have criticized Coast to Coast AM for promoting pseudohistoric and pseudoscientific ideas. Historian Ronald H. Fritze characterized the show as an "especially influential example" of the trend in modern media to disseminate false history and fake science. [11]

According to State University of New York (SUNY) professor Paul Arras, early shows hosted by Art Bell featured guests that were frequently pseudoscientists, but "regardless of their reputation, all guests are presented as experts." According to Arras "Bell seems to believe much of what even his wildest guests say". [12] Boston College professor Michael C. Keith noted a "characteristic of distrust and fear that is a part of the text of Coast to Coast —fear of the unknown, fear of invasion, fear of being taken over by some kind of evil force". [2]

Religious Studies lecturer David G. Robertson observed that "sweeping conspiratorial revisionist histories and ancient alien narratives" are a frequent feature of the show. [13] Nolan Higdon of California State University, East Bay speculated that programs like Coast to Coast AM that "propagate unsubstantiated claims" were "potentially dangerous". [3]

According to The Atlantic senior editor Timothy Lavin, host George Noory "lets clearly delusional or pseudoscientific assertions slide by without challenge". Lavin wrote that "Coast to Coast AM has perfected a charged and conspiratorial worldview that now pervades American media". [2]

In 1998, the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry awarded show host Art Bell their mocking "Snuffed Candle Award", citing his work "for encouraging credulity, presenting pseudoscience as genuine, and contributing to the public's lack of understanding of the methods of scientific inquiry". [14] CSI fellow Joe Nickell has appeared on the show occasionally as "a voice of skepticism", saying his goal was to explain and demystify the "bizarre topics 'Coast to Coast' deals with" such as Bigfoot and ghosts. [3]

Hosts

Art Bell

Bell was the original host of the show, starting in 1988. He announced his retirement in 2000, but would return as show host, retire, and return again a number of times. [15] Bell died in April 2018.

Mike Siegel

Mike Siegel hosted the show from April 2000 until February 2001. He became a frequent substitute for Bell in late 1999, and when Bell announced his retirement in early 2000, he recommended Siegel to succeed him. [16] Siegel maintained the format of the show that Bell had created, but his personal style was very different, and the show became less popular. Siegel hosted the show from Seattle, Washington, where he lived. Early in 2001, Bell decided to return, and Siegel left the show. [17]

Ian Punnett

Ian Punnett hosted the show sporadically, as either guest host or main host, between 1998 and 2012, and from 2018 to 2023. Punnett died in December of 2023. [18]

John B. Wells

In January 2012, John B. Wells replaced Punnett as host of the Saturday evening [19] and the second Sunday evening programs.

George Noory

George Noory first took over show hosting duties in 2003 as a replacement for Bell, but was temporarily discontinued after Bell returned citing disagreements with Noory. After Bell's death in April 2018, Noory said that the two were "not that close" personally and that there were major differences in their approaches. Despite this, Noory said that Bell was "instrumental in me being where I am right now." [20] Noory currently hosts the show on weeknights and on the first Sunday of every month.

George Knapp

George Knapp joined the show in 2007 and is currently hosting every third and fourth Sundays of every month.

Others

Guest hosts have included Hilly Rose, Barbara Simpson, Rollye James, Dave Schrader, Connie Willis, Lisa Garr, Richard Syrett, Rob Simone and Jimmy Church.

Guests

The show featured a number of guests, some recurring. [21]

Associated shows

Several shows associated with Coast to Coast AM have aired in the slot immediately preceding the late Saturday night edition of the program, from 6–10 p.m. Pacific Time.

Dreamland

Dreamland was another Art Bell creation, nearly identical to Coast to Coast AM but less caller driven. Bell recorded Dreamland on Friday afternoons where the show streamed live over the Internet and listeners could call in towards the end of the show. The show then aired at various times on different stations during the weekend, but doing eight shows a week got to be too much and he handed over control of the show to Whitley Strieber. Many affiliates aired the show before Coast to Coast AM on Sunday nights, but Premiere Radio pre-empted that time spot after it began to syndicate Matt Drudge, and then dropped the program entirely.

Coast to Coast Live

Upon Art Bell's January 2006 return, Ian Punnett hosted Coast to Coast Live on Saturdays from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Eastern Time. A spin-off of the original Coast to Coast AM, the show covered similar topics as its flagship program. With Bell's July 2007 retirement, Coast to Coast Live was discontinued, with Punnett returning to host the regular Saturday edition.

Art Bell, Somewhere in Time

Replacing Coast to Coast Live in the late Saturday time slot is a series of reruns of classic Art Bell episodes of Coast to Coast AM, airing under the title Somewhere in Time.

Midnight in the Desert

Midnight in the Desert was a live radio and podcast which Art Bell founded. The program was later hosted by Heather Wade and then by Dave Schrader.

See also

Related Research Articles

Talk radio is a radio format containing discussion about topical issues and consisting entirely or almost entirely of original spoken word content rather than outside music. They may feature monologues, dialogues between the hosts, interviews with guests, and/or listener participation which may be live conversations between the host and listeners who "call in" or via voice mail. Listener contributions are usually screened by a show's producers to maximize audience interest and, in the case of commercial talk radio, to attract advertisers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Art Bell</span> American broadcaster and author (1945–2018)

Arthur William Bell III was an American broadcaster and author. He was the founder and the original host of the paranormal-themed radio program Coast to Coast AM, which is syndicated on hundreds of radio stations in the United States and Canada. He also created and hosted its companion show Dreamland. Coast to Coast still airs nightly, now hosted weeknights by George Noory. Bell's past shows from 1996 to 2000 are repeated on Premiere Networks on Saturday evenings. They are retitled Somewhere in Time with Art Bell.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">George Noory</span> American radio talk show host (born 1950)

George Ralph Noory is an American radio talk show host. Since January 2003, Noory has been the weekday host of the late-night radio talk show Coast to Coast AM. The program is syndicated to hundreds of radio stations in the U.S. and Canada by Premiere Networks. Noory has also appeared in the History Channel series Ancient Aliens and in Beyond Belief, a subscription-based online video series presented by Gaia.

A shadow person is the perception of shadow as a living species, humanoid figure, sometimes interpreted as the presence of a spirit or other entity by believers in the paranormal or supernatural.

Hilly Rose was an American radio personality and a pioneer of the talk radio format. His professional career has spanned seven decades. He was inducted into the Bay Area Radio Hall of Fame as a "Living Legend" pioneer broadcaster in 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WNTM</span> Radio station in Mobile, Alabama

WNTM is a talk radio station based in Mobile, Alabama. The station calls itself "News Radio 710." WNTM is owned by San Antonio-based iHeartMedia and the broadcast license is held by iHM Licenses, LLC. Its studios are located in the same building as Channel 5 WKRG-TV on Broadcast Drive in Mobile, and the transmitter is just north of downtown. WKRG-TV supplies local news and weather, while Fox News Radio supplies national newscasts.

Mike Siegel is an American radio talk show host. Siegel is a native of New York. He has worked hosted the nationally syndicated radio program Coast to Coast AM, and worked at stations from Seattle's KVI to Boston's WRKO and hosted a webcast. He has substituted for nationally syndicated conservative talk show hosts, including Michael Reagan.

Case Ian Punnett was an American radio broadcaster, author, professor, and ordained Episcopal deacon.

<i>The Savage Nation</i> Radio show

The Savage Nation was an American conservative talk radio show hosted by Michael Savage. The program was heard by approximately 11 million listeners a week, which made it the 7th most listened to radio show in the country.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Long John Nebel</span> New York talk radio host (1911–1978)

Long John Nebel was an influential New York City talk radio show host.

Talk Radio was a talk radio channel available on XM Satellite Radio. Owned by Clear Channel Broadcasting, Inc., Talk featured terrestrial radio show simulcasts and tape delay broadcasts from across the United States. Advertising sales are handled by Premiere Networks.

Paranormal radio shows are programs focusing on paranormal subjects such as unidentified flying objects, alien abduction, possession, conspiracy theories, ghosts and cryptozoology. They are broadcast via shortwave, AM and FM radio stations or via internet streaming, often as late night shows.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">George Knapp (television journalist)</span> American journalist

George T. Knapp is an American journalist, news anchor and talk radio host. Much of Knapp's work has focused on the paranormal, particularly UFOs. Knapp is noted for bringing to prominence UFO conspiracy theorist Bob Lazar in 1989. Knapp is also known for his work as a television presenter and investigative journalist on non-paranormal subjects, for which he has been recognized with Edward R. Murrow Awards, Peabody Awards, and Pacific Southwest Regional Emmy Awards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WGSV</span> Radio station in Guntersville, Alabama

WGSV is a radio station licensed to serve Guntersville, Alabama. The station is owned by Guntersville Broadcasting Company, Inc. It airs a news/talk format.

Beyond Investigation Magazine (BIM) is an American magazine that features Beyond Investigation, a group that investigates paranormal and conspiracy theory claims. Beyond Investigation was founded by Patrick Wheelock in 2004 to investigate claims of paranormal activity and to publish those investigations and associated research in a printed periodical. Due to the expenses associated with publishing a limit circulation periodical, BIM has changed distribution formats to web and DVD, and only the first issue was distributed in print. In 2005, BIM began webcasting audio programming, most notably a weekly talk show called The Pat & Brian Show.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stan Romanek</span> US con-artist and sex offender

Stanley Tiger Romanek is an American author, documented con-artist and convicted sex offender.

Art Bell's Dark Matter was an American radio talk show hosted by broadcaster and author Art Bell. Dark Matter primarily focused on paranormal and scientific topics. The program was exclusive to Sirius XM Radio, a subscription-based satellite radio service. Dark Matter debuted on September 16, 2013, and aired live Monday through Thursday from 10 p.m. ET to 2 a.m. ET on Sirius XM Radio's Indie Talk Channel 104. Dark Matter was the first program hosted by Art Bell full-time since his departure from regularly hosting Coast to Coast AM in 2003. On November 4, 2013, Bell announced that he was abruptly ceasing the production and airing of Dark Matter following a dispute with Sirius XM Radio regarding Sirius XM customers experiencing technical difficulties streaming his show live via the Internet.

John B. Wells is an American talk radio host, voice actor, and former weekend host of Coast to Coast AM. In addition to his film and television work, Wells has worked at television stations and radio stations across Texas and around the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bruce Dwight Collins</span>

Bruce Dwight Collins is an American AM radio host, author, former pro wrestling promoter, and a nationally syndicated book reviewer from 2003-2005. Bruce has hosted The Bruce Collins Show since 2006 with co-host Chad Miles on WSMN 1590 AM in Nashua, New Hampshire, and WWZN 1510 AM in Boston, Massachusetts. Recently, The Bruce Collins Show has been broadcasting at WWPR 1490 AM in Tampa Bay/Bradenton, Florida, on Thursday nights at 10 pm EST.

References

  1. 1 2 Randy Dotinga (February 15, 2006). "Coast to Coast AM Is No Wack Job". Wired .
  2. 1 2 3 4 Lavin, Timothy (January 2010). "The Listener". The Atlantic . Retrieved June 13, 2019.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Bromwich, Jonah Engel; Wertheim, Bonnie (February 20, 2017). "Does Bigfoot Have a Soul? A Radio Host's Audience Ponders". The New York Times. Retrieved June 13, 2019.
  4. 1 2 Knight, Peter (2003). Conspiracy Theories in American History: An Encyclopedia . ABC-CLIO. p.  120. ISBN   1-57607-812-4.
  5. ↑ "Radio Host Art Bell Dead At 72". Inside Radio. April 16, 2018. Retrieved April 18, 2018.
  6. ↑ Fisher, Marc (March 29, 1998). "The outer limits: A lone voice in the desert lures 10 million listeners". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 28, 2014.
  7. ↑ "The Top Talk Radio Audiences". Talkers Magazine . Archived from the original on February 9, 2014. Retrieved July 28, 2014.
  8. ↑ "The Top Talk Radio Audiences". Talkers Magazine. Archived from the original on February 9, 2014. Retrieved March 29, 2015.
  9. ↑ "The Top Talk Radio Audiences (Updated 2/15)". Talkers Magazine . Archived from the original on February 9, 2014.
  10. ↑ "Road Dog Trucking Shows". Sirius XM Radio. Retrieved August 4, 2020.
  11. ↑ Ronald H. Fritze (2009). Invented Knowledge: False History, Fake Science and Pseudo-religions. Reaktion Books. ISBN   978-1-86189-674-2.
  12. ↑ Paul Arras (2018). The Lonely Nineties: Visions of Community in Contemporary US Television. Springer. pp. 137–. ISBN   978-3-319-93094-7.
  13. ↑ David G. Robertson (2016). UFOs, Conspiracy Theories and the New Age: Millennial Conspiracism. Bloomsbury Publishing. pp. 101–. ISBN   978-1-4742-5321-5.
  14. ↑ Roberts, Sam (April 17, 2018). "Art Bell, Radio Host Who Tuned In to the Dark Side, Dies at 72". The New York Times . Retrieved June 13, 2019.
  15. ↑ Dickey, Jack (September 23, 2013). "Insomniac Radio King Art Bell Reclaims His Crown". Time . Retrieved December 11, 2013.
  16. ↑ Judith Michaelson (April 11, 2000). "Veteran Talk-Show Host Mike Siegel to Succeed Bell". Los Angeles Times . Archived from the original on May 9, 2009.
  17. ↑ Edward Mazza (January 6, 2006). "Weird Radio Host Art Bell Returns". ABC News.
  18. ↑ "Coast To Coast Am". Coast To Coast Am. August 20, 2022.
  19. ↑ "Ian Punnett To Step Down From Saturday 'Coast To Coast AM,' John B. Wells Named Host". All Access. December 5, 2011. Retrieved December 3, 2020.
  20. ↑ "Coast to Coast AM". Talkers. Retrieved April 17, 2018.
  21. ↑ "Guests". Coast to Coast AM. Retrieved March 29, 2015.
  22. ↑ "David Edward – Guests". Coast to Coast AM. Retrieved October 1, 2023.
  23. ↑ "Katherine Albrecht – Guests". Coast to Coast AM. Retrieved March 29, 2015.
  24. ↑ "Capt. Martin Bayerle – Guests". Coast to Coast AM. Retrieved February 7, 2023.
  25. ↑ "Howard Bloom – Guests". Coast to Coast AM. Retrieved March 29, 2015.
  26. ↑ "9-11 Theories & Evidence – Shows". Coast to Coast AM. February 23, 2006. Retrieved December 11, 2013.
  27. ↑ "Catherine Austin Fitts – Guests". Coast to Coast AM. Retrieved March 29, 2015.
  28. ↑ "Richard C. Hoagland: out at Coast, in at Dark Matter Network". Dark City. Retrieved July 15, 2015.
  29. ↑ Darby, Seyward (July 21, 2020). Sisters in Hate: American Women on the Front Lines of White Nationalism. Little, Brown. ISBN   978-0-316-48779-5.
  30. ↑ "Zecharia Sitchin – Guests". Coast to Coast AM. Retrieved March 29, 2015.
  31. ↑ Spotlight on UFO Phil. Coast to Coast AM. October 12, 2010.

34°9′12″N118°27′56″W / 34.15333°N 118.46556°W / 34.15333; -118.46556

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.