Clinton Talk Show Discussions Confirmed

Move Over, Franken!

Could A Bill Clinton Radio Talk Show Debut Soon?


Will former President Bill Clinton soon take to the nation's airwaves?

This potentially earth-shattering radio industry announcement was buried in a lengthy Business Week report on the future of Clear Channel Communications, America's largest station owner and program syndicator.

Reporter Tom Lowry was able to get confirmation to back up speculation that Bubba himself might be the next liberal talk radio offering for the company's stations.

Bill Clinton has consistently turned down talk show offers in the past. BBC library photo, 2002.

For reasons unknown, the report so far has been virtually ignored by the rest of the media, even the radio trade press, save one new All Access report (note new updates below).

In the past, Clinton has turned down many offers to host both radio and television talk programs, which began before he even left office. NBC and CBS both courted him aggressively with TV show proposals in 2000, using prominent FOB's (Friends Of Bill) as lobbyists.

A brief exception was made in 2003, to appear with Bob Dole on "60 Minutes" for a point-counterpoint debate segment, that wasn't well received by viewers.

But he always left the door open for the right future opportunity. From a 2002 BBC report:

In an interview on the CNN show Larry King Live, Clinton said he would not be hosting a chat show in the near future, but did not rule it out completely.

"Maybe some time later in my life I'd like to do it," said the 56-year-old. "It would be intriguing to me because I like to talk to people."

However, he added that he would have to give up too many of his current commitments to take on such a job.

"You have to be here every day, and a lot of the work I do requires me to travel," Clinton said.

"I really believe I should always spend more than half my time on public service, so I just don't see how I can do it."

Clear Channel is using NBC's previously unsuccessful approach, utilizing Hollywood friend Harry Thomason in an undefined go-between role, but perhaps the timing is different now, or maybe Clinton's priorities have recently changed.

Clinton has always craved public attention, perhaps he isn't getting enough these days? What about his recent health concern, has that left him with a need to finish his "to-do" list?

Where in the past Bill turned down public offers for talk show positions, this time, his people have been conducting private talks with Clear Channel execs. That would appear to suggest more interest on his part, or they wouldn't be taking place.

And, it's Thomason himself indicating that a deal is likely, not something that would not be done in public without Bill's official seal of approval.

The new report raises many questions and provides a few answers, about liberal talk's future path, as well as what appeal it might have for Clinton himself.

For one, it gives us a clue as to why Clear Channel has so stubbornly hung on to the idea of liberal talk radio, even as stations report lackluster, or even zero ratings presence.

Obviously, the company is looking at obtaining what it sees as a virtual nuclear weapon, as conventional firepower misses its target.

Instantly, everything Air America is doing will be obliterated and Al Franken will cease to exist in the eyes of the liberal mainstream media.

Now, they'll have a Clinton show to tout endlessly, while Clear Channel will be able to put together an entire lineup of "progressive" talk shows, none of which will originate from Air America's studios.

What's in it for Bill? Other than another chance to take the spotlight, as so much attention is focused instead on Hillary's presidential ambitions, it's actually a fairly risky undertaking.

What if he isn't any good? A big question is whether Bill Clinton has the potential to be entertaining. His book was ridiculously long and he was never known for speechmaking brevity, either.

Can he deliver an interesting and compelling program, while listening to callers and having the agility to discuss a wide range of breaking news and developing stories? Most ex-politicians can't, that's why they fail in talk radio.

If Clinton crashed and burned, like other liberals, wouldn't that be quite an ego bruising? What both parties are obviously counting on, correctly, is that a huge curiousity factor would bolster initial ratings results. If he turns out to be any good, enough of that audience could remain, giving him staying power.

When would a Clinton radio show kick off? So far, Thomason isn't specific about a date, saying, "There's definitely a place for the former President on radio at some point," according to the Business Week report.

Remember that in the past, Clinton shot down talk show proposals outright, so clearly something's in the works this time.

Get ready for liberal talk's nuclear weapon. If Clinton tries and fails, however, it should signal a permanent end to their constant effort to counter conservative talk radio.

10am Update : John Mainelli of the New York Post now has a story on this, citing the same Business Week report.

Mainelli tried to get more details on the report, but Clinton's office hasn't yet returned calls. Mainelli says Clear Channel's refusing comment and industry folks are telling him Clinton could potentially be heard after Rush, a move I find doubtful. The leak is so far confined to FOBs.

The Radio Equalizer can't imagine Clinton being featured on Limbaugh stations, it's obvious his program would be designed to bolster the company's liberal talk outlets.

Update: Some talk shows discussed this today, including Glenn Beck's.

Meanwhile, a news/talk program director from a big southern city told me this afternoon, "I think Clinton is the one guy who would transcend right/left radio and work on any news/talk station. He'd get ratings alone on marquee value."