Glenn Beck Program
Encyclopedia
The Glenn Beck Program is an American
talk radio show
hosted by commentator Glenn Beck
on Premiere Radio Networks
. Since its inception as a nationally syndicated show in 2002
, the program has become one of the highest rated radio programs. Furthermore, it led to a television show
on Fox News Channel
, six New York Times-bestselling books (five of which debuted at #1), a magazine, and a stage tour. In 2009, many editorials, such as those on The Huffington Post
singled out Glenn Beck's radio and television programs for raising issues which led to the resignation of Obama advisor Van Jones
in Tampa
, Florida
. He inherited the 18th placed position at WFLA-AM and quickly gained popularity in its afternoon slot. Within one year of doing his first talk show in afternoon drive at WFLA, Beck
dominated the ratings, giving the station its first #1 program ever. Due to the overwhelming demand for live, news oriented programming after September 11, 2001, Beck was offered a jump start on national syndication. This resulted in early affiliations with stations such as KPRC
/Houston, WGST/Atlanta, WSPD
/Toledo, Ohio
and WOAI
/San Antonio. In January 2002, syndicator Premiere Radio Networks
launched the show on 47 stations. The show was then moved to "The Big Talker 1210" WPHT
in Philadelphia
, Pennsylvania
. Beck ran a series of rallies called "Glenn Beck's Rally for America" during 2003 in support of the troops fighting the war in Iraq. While generally attended by war supporters, Beck spoke of many who "disagreed with the war, but still supported the troops". He ran the final rally at Marshall University
over the Memorial Day
weekend. The event drew about 25,000 people. 2005 marked a year of substantial ratings growth. The program ended the year being heard on more than 200 stations, and was the third highest-rated national radio talk show among adults ages 25 to 54 according to Premiere Research/Arbitron. On January 17, 2006 Beck began a new television show at CNN Headline News
. To accommodate the new show, Beck relocated his studios to Radio City Music Hall
in New York City
.
The show added its 300th affiliate in 2008. Its 400th affiliate, KRLA
in Los Angeles, was added in June 2010.
On October 16, 2008, Beck announced that he has signed a "multi-year deal" that would put him in the popular 5PM ET time slot for Fox News. He has announced that he has decided not to renew his contract with CNN, instead taking the deal from Fox because Fox gave him permission to voice his opinion.
shows like Rush Limbaugh
, and Sean Hannity
, the Program has cultivated a unique style of humor, political commentary, and personal reflections from the host.
The first half of each hour of the show is usually monologue
by Beck, but occasionally will include a guest or some conversation with the production staff. During the second half of each hour, Beck takes callers and continues discussing the themes he has previously introduced.
In January 2010 Beck changed his show's theme music to a rock anthem with sampled voices overlayed. The music is performed by Anthony Newett, the vocals by Stephen Lyons and the lyrics written by Glenn Beck and Steve "Stu" Burguiere
. Lyrics include the refrain, "We must remember who we are, we will be the key."
In January 2011 Beck changed the tune of the show's theme music again. The song feels less serious than in 2010 but the keywords are basically the same, "We'll be the key, We will be the key."
Beck's style of expressing his candid opinions have helped make his shows successful, but have also resulted in protest. On November 14, 2006, Beck asked then-newly elected Minnesota Congressman Keith Ellison
, the first Muslim
elected to Congress, to "prove to me that you are not working with our enemies" and saying "And I know you're not. I'm not accusing you of being an enemy, but that's the way I feel, and I think a lot of Americans will feel that way." Beck later regretted the question saying it was "quite possibly the poorest-worded question of all time" and joked about his "lack of intelligence". While Ellison stated he was not offended by the question, it later spurred several Arab-American organizations, such as the Arab Institute and the Muslim Public Affairs Council, to publicly protest Beck's hiring as a commentator by Good Morning America
, accusing Beck of "anti-Muslim and anti-Arab prejudice".
season, Beck will pick an upcoming game (more often than not, the Monday night game) and then randomly call convenience store employees in the cities which are home to the opposing teams. Pretending to be "Flap Jackson" of fictional radio station "109.9 - The Big Frog" (a direct spoof of the Froggy franchise
of radio stations), Beck asks the unwitting guests easy questions about current events. Points are tallied for the competing cities when correct answers are given, but often people are unable to answer correctly, which is a source of comedy. Beck uses Moron Trivia to attempt to predict the winner of the upcoming football game and Mor(e)on Trivia has overall accuracy rate of 63.4 percent.
, Beck's program is the third most-listened-to radio program in the United States.
Radio in the United States
Radio is one of the major mass media of the United States.-History:The beginning of regular commercially licensed sound broadcasting in the United States in 1920 ended the print monopoly over the media and opened the doors to the more immediate and pervasive electronic media...
talk radio show
Talk radio
Talk radio is a radio format containing discussion about topical issues. Most shows are regularly hosted by a single individual, and often feature interviews with a number of different guests. Talk radio typically includes an element of listener participation, usually by broadcasting live...
hosted by commentator Glenn Beck
Glenn Beck
Glenn Edward Lee Beck is an American conservative radio host, vlogger, author, entrepreneur, political commentator and former television host. He hosts the Glenn Beck Program, a nationally syndicated talk-radio show that airs throughout the United States on Premiere Radio Networks...
on Premiere Radio Networks
Premiere Radio Networks
Premiere Networks is an American radio network. It is the largest syndication company in the United States based on popularity of programming...
. Since its inception as a nationally syndicated show in 2002
2002 in radio
The year 2002 in radio involved some significant events.-Events:*January 21 - A train derailment in Minot, North Dakota kills one person and knocks out power throughout the region, spilling 250,000 gallons of toxic anhydrous ammonia for fertilizer purposes. The designated primary station for the...
, the program has become one of the highest rated radio programs. Furthermore, it led to a television show
Glenn Beck (TV program)
Glenn Beck is a United States cable news show hosted by Glenn Beck that aired weekdays on Fox News Channel. The program, originally on CNN Headline News , premiered on FNC on January 19, 2009 and aired weekdays at 5:00 PM EST...
on Fox News Channel
Fox News Channel
Fox News Channel , often called Fox News, is a cable and satellite television news channel owned by the Fox Entertainment Group, a subsidiary of News Corporation...
, six New York Times-bestselling books (five of which debuted at #1), a magazine, and a stage tour. In 2009, many editorials, such as those on The Huffington Post
The Huffington Post
The Huffington Post is an American news website and content-aggregating blog founded by Arianna Huffington, Kenneth Lerer, and Jonah Peretti, featuring liberal minded columnists and various news sources. The site offers coverage of politics, theology, media, business, entertainment, living, style,...
singled out Glenn Beck's radio and television programs for raising issues which led to the resignation of Obama advisor Van Jones
Van Jones
Anthony Kapel "Van" Jones is an American environmental advocate, civil rights activist, and attorney. Jones is a co-founder of three non-profit organizations. In 1996, he founded the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights, a California non-governmental organization working for alternatives to violence...
History
In 2000, The Glenn Beck Program began airing on WFLA (AM)WFLA (AM)
WFLA is an AM radio station in Tampa, Florida, serving the Arbitron Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater market with additional listenership to the east in the adjacent Lakeland-Winter Haven market and to the south in the adjacent Sarasota-Bradenton market...
in Tampa
Tampa, Florida
Tampa is a city in the U.S. state of Florida. It serves as the county seat for Hillsborough County. Tampa is located on the west coast of Florida. The population of Tampa in 2010 was 335,709....
, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
. He inherited the 18th placed position at WFLA-AM and quickly gained popularity in its afternoon slot. Within one year of doing his first talk show in afternoon drive at WFLA, Beck
Glenn Beck
Glenn Edward Lee Beck is an American conservative radio host, vlogger, author, entrepreneur, political commentator and former television host. He hosts the Glenn Beck Program, a nationally syndicated talk-radio show that airs throughout the United States on Premiere Radio Networks...
dominated the ratings, giving the station its first #1 program ever. Due to the overwhelming demand for live, news oriented programming after September 11, 2001, Beck was offered a jump start on national syndication. This resulted in early affiliations with stations such as KPRC
KPRC (AM)
KPRC is a talk radio station in Houston, Texas, branded as "The 950 - Radio MOJO". Started in 1925, it is the oldest station in the market...
/Houston, WGST/Atlanta, WSPD
WSPD
WSPD — branded The Talk of Toledo - 1370 WSPD — is a news-talk radio station licensed to Toledo, Ohio. WSPD broadcasts on a full-time basis with 5,000 watts, including a directional signal pattern at night...
/Toledo, Ohio
Toledo, Ohio
Toledo is the fourth most populous city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Lucas County. Toledo is in northwest Ohio, on the western end of Lake Erie, and borders the State of Michigan...
and WOAI
WOAI (AM)
WOAI is a San Antonio, Texas, news/talk formatted radio station operating with 50,000 Watts non-directional day and night from a transmitter site near Marion, Texas. Current owner and operator San Antonio based Clear Channel Communications acquired the station in 1975 which founded the now...
/San Antonio. In January 2002, syndicator Premiere Radio Networks
Premiere Radio Networks
Premiere Networks is an American radio network. It is the largest syndication company in the United States based on popularity of programming...
launched the show on 47 stations. The show was then moved to "The Big Talker 1210" WPHT
WPHT
WPHT is a CBS Radio station in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, broadcasting on 1210 kHz. A 50,000-watt clear-channel station, it broadcasts in an omnidirectional pattern that allows it to cover most of the eastern half of North America at night. It uses the nickname "Talk Radio 1210 WPHT." The...
in Philadelphia
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. Beck ran a series of rallies called "Glenn Beck's Rally for America" during 2003 in support of the troops fighting the war in Iraq. While generally attended by war supporters, Beck spoke of many who "disagreed with the war, but still supported the troops". He ran the final rally at Marshall University
Marshall University
Marshall University is a coeducational public research university in Huntington, West Virginia, United States founded in 1837, and named after John Marshall, the fourth Chief Justice of the United States....
over the Memorial Day
Memorial Day
Memorial Day is a United States federal holiday observed on the last Monday of May. Formerly known as Decoration Day, it originated after the American Civil War to commemorate the fallen Union soldiers of the Civil War...
weekend. The event drew about 25,000 people. 2005 marked a year of substantial ratings growth. The program ended the year being heard on more than 200 stations, and was the third highest-rated national radio talk show among adults ages 25 to 54 according to Premiere Research/Arbitron. On January 17, 2006 Beck began a new television show at CNN Headline News
CNN Headline News
HLN, formerly known as CNN Headline News and CNN2, is a cable television news channel based in the United States and a spinoff of the cable news television channel, CNN. Initially airing tightly-formatted 30-minute newscasts around the clock, since 2005, the channel has increasingly aired long-form...
. To accommodate the new show, Beck relocated his studios to Radio City Music Hall
Radio City Music Hall
Radio City Music Hall is an entertainment venue located in New York City's Rockefeller Center. Its nickname is the Showplace of the Nation, and it was for a time the leading tourist destination in the city...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.
The show added its 300th affiliate in 2008. Its 400th affiliate, KRLA
KRLA
KRLA is a radio station broadcasting a News/Talk format. Licensed to Glendale, California, USA, it serves the Southern California area. The station is currently owned by Salem Communications.- KIEV :...
in Los Angeles, was added in June 2010.
On October 16, 2008, Beck announced that he has signed a "multi-year deal" that would put him in the popular 5PM ET time slot for Fox News. He has announced that he has decided not to renew his contract with CNN, instead taking the deal from Fox because Fox gave him permission to voice his opinion.
Format
Combining elements of the comedy-centric hot talk format and more traditional talk-radioTalk radio
Talk radio is a radio format containing discussion about topical issues. Most shows are regularly hosted by a single individual, and often feature interviews with a number of different guests. Talk radio typically includes an element of listener participation, usually by broadcasting live...
shows like Rush Limbaugh
The Rush Limbaugh Show
The Rush Limbaugh Show is an American talk radio show hosted by Rush Limbaugh on Premiere Radio Networks...
, and Sean Hannity
The Sean Hannity Show
The Sean Hannity Show is a talk radio show hosted by Sean Hannity on Citadel Media and Premiere Radio Networks. The program is broadcast live every weekday, 3 p.m. to 6 p.m...
, the Program has cultivated a unique style of humor, political commentary, and personal reflections from the host.
The first half of each hour of the show is usually monologue
Monologue
In theatre, a monologue is a speech presented by a single character, most often to express their thoughts aloud, though sometimes also to directly address another character or the audience. Monologues are common across the range of dramatic media...
by Beck, but occasionally will include a guest or some conversation with the production staff. During the second half of each hour, Beck takes callers and continues discussing the themes he has previously introduced.
In January 2010 Beck changed his show's theme music to a rock anthem with sampled voices overlayed. The music is performed by Anthony Newett, the vocals by Stephen Lyons and the lyrics written by Glenn Beck and Steve "Stu" Burguiere
Steve Burguiere
Steve Burguiere, known better as "Stu," is an American radio producer and personality, and executive producer and the head writer of The Glenn Beck Program on Premiere Radio Networks.-Early and personal life:...
. Lyrics include the refrain, "We must remember who we are, we will be the key."
In January 2011 Beck changed the tune of the show's theme music again. The song feels less serious than in 2010 but the keywords are basically the same, "We'll be the key, We will be the key."
Reception
Beck's on-air persona has been described as a "mix of moral lessons, outrage and an apocalyptic view of the future ... capturing the feelings of an alienated class of Americans." Beck has referred to himself as an entertainer, a rodeo clown, and has identified himself with Howard Beale: "When he came out of the rain and he was like, none of this makes any sense. I am that guy."Beck's style of expressing his candid opinions have helped make his shows successful, but have also resulted in protest. On November 14, 2006, Beck asked then-newly elected Minnesota Congressman Keith Ellison
Keith Ellison (politician)
Keith Maurice Ellison is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2007. He is a member of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party. The district centers on Minneapolis. He was re-elected in 2010. Ellison is a co-chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.He is the first Muslim to be elected to the...
, the first Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
elected to Congress, to "prove to me that you are not working with our enemies" and saying "And I know you're not. I'm not accusing you of being an enemy, but that's the way I feel, and I think a lot of Americans will feel that way." Beck later regretted the question saying it was "quite possibly the poorest-worded question of all time" and joked about his "lack of intelligence". While Ellison stated he was not offended by the question, it later spurred several Arab-American organizations, such as the Arab Institute and the Muslim Public Affairs Council, to publicly protest Beck's hiring as a commentator by Good Morning America
Good Morning America
Good Morning America is an American morning news and talk show that is broadcast on the ABC television network; it debuted on November 3, 1975. The weekday program airs for two hours; a third hour aired between 2007 and 2008 exclusively on ABC News Now...
, accusing Beck of "anti-Muslim and anti-Arab prejudice".
More on Trivia
During the NFLNational Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
season, Beck will pick an upcoming game (more often than not, the Monday night game) and then randomly call convenience store employees in the cities which are home to the opposing teams. Pretending to be "Flap Jackson" of fictional radio station "109.9 - The Big Frog" (a direct spoof of the Froggy franchise
Froggy (brand)
Froggy is a brand name radio format used for a variety of radio stations in numerous broadcast markets in the United States, most of which are country music formatted stations, with a few playing adult contemporary. Froggy is a brand name radio format used for a variety of radio stations in...
of radio stations), Beck asks the unwitting guests easy questions about current events. Points are tallied for the competing cities when correct answers are given, but often people are unable to answer correctly, which is a source of comedy. Beck uses Moron Trivia to attempt to predict the winner of the upcoming football game and Mor(e)on Trivia has overall accuracy rate of 63.4 percent.
Ratings
According to Talkers MagazineTalkers magazine
Talkers Magazine is a trade industry publication related to talk radio in the United States. Its slogan is "The Bible of Talk Radio and the New Talk Media"...
, Beck's program is the third most-listened-to radio program in the United States.
Substitute hosts
Every so often Beck is absent from the program due to sickness or vacation. On those occasions, The Best of Glenn Beck (a rerun) will be played, or a substitute host will be asked to fill in for Beck. Some of the hosts that have been used in the past include:- Chris BakerChris Baker (Talk Radio Host)Chris Baker is an American comedian and radio talk show host.As a comedian, Baker has toured with comics like Jeff Foxworthy, Larry the Cable Guy, Jerry Seinfeld, among others...
, host of the morning show on 100.3 KTLK FM in Minneapolis, Minnesota - Bob LonsberryBob LonsberryBob Lonsberry is an American radio talk show host, columnist, author and conservative political commentator. A newsman for 25 years, Lonsberry claims to have won in excess of 80 journalism and broadcasting awards, including top Associated Press commentary awards in newspaper, radio and...
, host of a conservative radio show on WHAM AM 1180WHAM (AM)WHAM is a clear-channel talk radio station in Rochester, New York, owned by Clear Channel Communications. Its 50,000-watt transmitter is located in Chili, New York, and the station broadcasts on 1180 kHz.The station first went on the air in 1922...
in Rochester, NYRochester, New YorkRochester is a city in Monroe County, New York, south of Lake Ontario in the United States. Known as The World's Image Centre, it was also once known as The Flour City, and more recently as The Flower City... - Dave Glover, host of The Dave Glover Show an afternoon drive-time show on KFTK 97.1 FM in St. Louis, MissouriSt. Louis, MissouriSt. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
. - Jeff Pats
- Joe "Pags" PagliaruloJoe PagliaruloJoe "Pags" Pagliarulo is an American, conservative TV/radio talk show host. He serves as morning drive host on The 950/KPRC Houston and afternoon host at Clear Channel's flagship talk radio station WOAI 1200 in San Antonio. Pagliarulo works with Program Director Peter Bolger, who previously worked...
, host of News Radio 1200 WOAIWOAI (AM)WOAI is a San Antonio, Texas, news/talk formatted radio station operating with 50,000 Watts non-directional day and night from a transmitter site near Marion, Texas. Current owner and operator San Antonio based Clear Channel Communications acquired the station in 1975 which founded the now...
in San Antonio. - Mac Watson, host on KTAR-FMKTAR-FMKTAR-FM is a radio station broadcasting a News/Talk format. Licensed to Glendale, Arizona, USA, the station serves the Phoenix area and is currently owned by Bonneville Holding Company...
92.3 (3–6 pm) in Phoenix, AZ - Mike McConnell, midday host at WLWWLWWLW is a clear channel talk radio station located in Cincinnati, Ohio, run by Clear Channel Communications. The station broadcasts locally on 700 kHz AM...
in Cincinnati and host of the syndicated The Weekend. - Joe Crummey, talk show personality on WABC (AM)WABC (AM)WABC , known as "NewsTalkRadio 77 WABC" is a radio station in New York City. Owned by the broadcasting division of Cumulus Media, the station broadcasts on a clear channel and is the flagship station of Cumulus Media Networks...
in New York City, New York. - Denny SchafferDenny SchafferDenny Schaffer is a radio talk show host based in Atlanta. He currently hosts a new morning show on WRNO-FM in New Orleans. He previously hosted an evening show on WGKA/920 in Atlanta from 9 - 11 pm which WGKA moved to 8- 10 pm a few months before Denny was offered his current gig in New...
, midday talk show host at WCWAWCWAWCWA is a radio station licensed to and serving Toledo, Ohio. It is the second-oldest radio station in Toledo, and during AM radio's heyday it was a close second in popularity to WSPD-AM for many years.-History:...
in ToledoToledo, OhioToledo is the fourth most populous city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Lucas County. Toledo is in northwest Ohio, on the western end of Lake Erie, and borders the State of Michigan... - Steve "Stu" BurguiereSteve BurguiereSteve Burguiere, known better as "Stu," is an American radio producer and personality, and executive producer and the head writer of The Glenn Beck Program on Premiere Radio Networks.-Early and personal life:...
, Stu - executive producer and head writer for the Glenn Beck Program - Pat GrayPat GrayPat Gray is an American talk radio host. He is a co-host of The Glenn Beck Program, a nationally syndicated radio talk show featuring host Glenn Beck. Gray was formerly the host of the morning show on radio station KSEV.-History:...
, Glenn's best friend and co-host of the Glenn Beck Program. - Doc Thompson, talk show host on 1140 WRVA in Richmond, VirginiaRichmond, VirginiaRichmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area...
.
Affiliates
The Glenn Beck Program is syndicated to over 400 radio stations throughout the United States as well as Sirius and XM radio. The show can also be heard online. The official program website makes both streaming audio and podcasts available to subscribers to the paid service, known as the Glenn Beck Insider. Streaming audio of the program can also be heard via the web sites of many of the show's affiliate stations.Tours
The Glenn Beck Program has put on three US-wide comedy tours.| Glenn Beck: On Ice (2005) | |||
| Tuesday, | June 7: | Orpheum Theatre | |
| Wednesday, | June 8: | Tenn. Performing Arts Center | |
| Thursday, | June 9: | The Forum | |
| Friday, | June 10: | Stranahan Theatre | |
| Saturday, | June 11: | Murat Center | |
| Monday, | June 13: | Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center | |
| Tuesday, | June 14: | Keswick Theatre | |
| Friday, | June 17: | Nob Hill Masonic Center | |
| Glenn Beck: An Inconvenient Tour (2007) | |||
| Saturday, | June 2: | Morrison Center | |
| Monday, | June 4: | Kimmel Center | |
| Wednesday, | June 6: | Landmark Theatre | |
| Friday, | June 8: | Ohio Theatre | |
| Saturday, | June 9: | Fox Theatre | |
| Monday, | June 11: | Meyerson Symphony Center | |
| Wednesday, | June 13: | Majestic Theatre | |
| Friday, | June 15: | CMAC | |
| Saturday, | June 16: | Koger Center | |
| Glenn Beck: Unelectable (2008) | |||