Mike Malloy
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Michael Dennis Malloy is a liberal radio broadcaster from Atlanta, Georgia. He is now syndicated by the Nova M Radio network. Previously his show has been carried by WSB (Atlanta), WLS Chicago, the I.E. America Radio Network, and the Air America Radio network.
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[edit] Background
Mike Malloy (b. Aug 3, 1943?) grew up in a Democratic Baptist household and is now a professed atheist. He questions authoritarianism, politics, injustice and religious intolerence. Mike refers to his listeners as fellow "truthseekers".
Politically, Malloy is resolutely left-of-center, and is famous for his fearless presentation. He ridicules the current leadership of the Republican Party as "the flying-monkey right," and considers former President Bill Clinton to be "the last good Republican president." He is a self-described traditional Democrat working to return the Democratic Party to its historic liberal roots. Malloy is also an open critic of the Israeli government.
[edit] Style
While his on-air style features a variety of moods and themes, he is well known for his mocking, relentless satirical criticisms of U.S. Republican Party, Democratic Party, George W. Bush, right-wing Christians, politicians (especially rightist conservatives and neo-conservatives), and people he deems racist and homophobic. Following John Kerry's 2004 election loss, Malloy made public that he would remain a Democrat, but no longer donate money to the leadership of the Democratic Party, which he feels is weak and docile in comparison to the Republican Party. He has subsequently made public overtures to the Green Party while still occasionally speaking at selected Democratic Party fundraisers.
His supporters view his use of argument as cathartic and humorous. Opponents, however, have labeled such attacks as vitriol. Malloy has clarified that his on-air attacks are intended to be humorous, previously stating, "there are some good Republicans", but explaining "You know... I tried to be Mr. Nice Guy... I used to be on CNN's Talkback Live. I tried to be a nice man... you know, don't get ugly. What did I get for it? Pushed into the wall. Screw 'em." Malloy dismisses the notion of "try[ing] to see both sides", because "these [right-wing Republicans] are murderous sons-of-bitches who won't allow normal, rational discussion." Malloy labels "liberals", such as Alan Colmes, who try to "compromise with these bastards" as "whores."
[edit] Journalism experience
Prior to his radio program, Malloy was a news writer with CNN from 1984 to 1987, and editor of the weekly Atlanta newspaper Creative Loafing. His educational background focused on English and Political Science, and included study at N.C. State University in Raleigh, the University of Toledo in Ohio, Georgia State University in Atlanta, and Jacksonville University in Florida.
[edit] Radio programs
[edit] WSB (Atlanta)
Beginning his radio career in the early 1990s, Malloy was originally heard on Atlanta station WSB, where he gained an early following among Georgia liberals. However, when WSB moved his show from evenings to middays against Rush Limbaugh on WGST, Malloy was unable to continue his initial success and was eventually released by WSB.
[edit] WLS (Chicago)
Malloy was employed at WLS in Chicago from 1996 until April 2000. According to reports by Eric Zorn in the Chicago Tribune and King Daevid MacKenzie on RadioDigest.com at the time, WLS management cancelled Malloy's program because of his political perspective.
[edit] I.E. America Radio Network
Malloy first gained national popularity with a mostly Internet-based radio audience when his program was syndicated between October 2000 and February 2004 on the now defunct I.E. America Radio Network.
[edit] Air America radio
The Mike Malloy Show aired during the 10PM-1AM (EST) timeslot from 2004 until 2006 on Air America Radio. The Air America program was identical to the i.e. America program.
In January 2006, Malloy's show was removed from WLIB, Air America's New York City affiliate. He was replaced by the apolitical Satellite Sisters' show, whose distributors, ABC, bought Malloy's time slot out from under him. On August 11, 2006, he announced his pending return to the New York market on September 1, 2006, barring unforseen difficulties. A significant portion of Malloy's Air America audience listen to internet streams or Sirius Satellite Radio and XM Satellite Radio broadcasts of his show, a fact that he typically acknowledged in a sign-off comment such as "thanks for participating however you did that."
On August 30, 2006 the following notice appeared on his web site:
| “ | MIKE MALLOY FIRED BY AIR AMERICA RADIO: There will be no Mike Malloy program today - or any day - on Air America Radio as we have been terminated. We are as shocked as you are. We are told it's a financial decision. More details to follow as we hear them ourselves. | ” |
On October 13, 2006 the parent company of Air America petitioned for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy protection, listing salary still owed to Mike Malloy.
[edit] After Air America
Despite a large fan movement consisting of online petitions, e-mails, and phone calls to Air America Radio, the network never made any statement to the effect of rehiring Malloy. Malloy had also said in interviews on various talk shows, such as Air America's own The Majority Report that even if asked he would not return to the network while it operated under the present management due to the unprofessional way he was fired.
Malloy also stated on the Guy James Show that he was in New York talking with various companies, including Sirius Satellite Radio.
[edit] Head on Radio Network
As of August 30, 2006, Malloy can be heard on the Head On Radio Network. The network is rebroadcasting Malloy programs from his i.e. America and Air America Radio runs nightly at 10:00 PM EST [1]
[edit] Nova M Radio
On October 15, 2006, Mike Newcomb, CEO and Chairman of Nova M Radio announced that The Mike Malloy Show "will be born again live on the public airwaves" on October 30, 2006. The show airs weeknights from 9:00 pm to midnight EST on the Nova M Radio network. Its format is identical to the i.e. America and Air America Radio programs. [2][3]
Several of Malloy's former Air America Radio affiliates should return Malloy to their schedules once technical issues are resolved. [4] On the December 13, 2006 broadcast, Malloy mentioned that the program will also be aired on Sirius Satellite Radio beginning Monday December 18, 2006, as well as on Seattle's 1090 KPTK and Sacramento's 1240 KSAC according to MikeMalloy.com. Miami's 940 WINZ, San Francisco's 960 KQKE and San Diego's 1360 KLSD also now are back on board. Mike has said many times recently that 620 KPOJ in Portland OR will return him soon, and Air America stations in Ann Arbor MI and Madison WI are rumored to as well. The Little Rock Nova M owned station 1380 KDXE will return Malloy when possible, but currently airs only Air America content.
Robert Feder of the Chicago Sun-Times reports [5] on February 7, 2007 that: "Mike Malloy, a former evening host on ABC-owned news/talk WLS-AM (890), will be heard online at www.wcpt850.com from 8 to 11 p.m."
[edit] Program content
[edit] Catch-phrases
Malloy is frequently heard employing a number of catch phrases that have become trademarks of his style, among them are:
- "Have I mentioned yet tonight how much I hate these people?" - In reference to right-wingers.
- "Maaaaaarge!" - Mike's excited introduction of Marge, a feisty, senior single mother from Merrillville, Indiana, who has been a popular regular caller since Malloy's days at WLS
- "Batsqueeze" - euphemism for the word "bullshit"
- "Press the Meat" - Mike's name for the NBC news show Meet the Press
- "Focus on the Phallus" - Mike's name for the James Dobson organization Focus on the Family
- "The Bush Crime Family" - Mike's epithet for George W. Bush, the first President Bush, and their associates
- "Watch your backs." - Mike's signature sign-off from his show while on Air America.
- "Keep it lit." - Mike's signature sign-off from his show on Nova M.
- "Moron sounds." - Sound clips of President Bush with commentary.
- "Go Pound Sand." - Telling someone to take a hike.
[edit] Nicknames
- George W. Bush: Chuckle Nuts, the Giggling Killer, President Bunny Pants, Man-or-Monkey, Dim Son, Weak-and-Stupid, Raisin Brain(s), Too-Stupid-to-Be-President, Too-Stupid-to-Chew-a-Pretzel, Too-Stupid-to-Ride-a-Bicycle, Diphthong, MENSA Man, the Bush Bastard, the Toy President, Guaca-Moron, Cinco de Moron, Prince Valium, Too-Stupid-To-Wear-His-Pants-Forward
- Dick Cheney: Darth Cheney, Cyborg Man, Bionic Man, Deadeye Dick, The Shooter
- Laura Bush: Pickles
- Lynne Cheney: Lon Cheney, The Empress Of Evil, The Ghostess With The Mostess
- Condoleezza Rice: The Schoolmarm, Condoleezza Valdeez, The Shoe Lady
- Donald Rumsfeld: Rumsferatu, Rumskull, The Ghoul, The Zen God of War
- Alberto Gonzales: Bush's Tejano, Torquemada
- Tony Snow: Foxy the Snowman, Snow Job
- Wolf Blitzer: Former German u-boat captain (in a German accent) Vulf Blitza
- Rush Limbaugh: The pig man, The Oxy-Moron
- Sean Hannity: The Baby Jesus, cockroach
- James Dobson: Devil Demon Dobson
- Dana Perino: Legally Bland, Too Much Cappuccino Perino, Spinderella, The Ditzy Chick, The Atomic Blond, The Neutron Blond
[edit] External links
- Mike Malloy's web site
- Profile of Malloy by Salon
- Documentary about Mike Malloy
- The White Rose Society - The Official Archive of The Mike Malloy Show
- "The 14 Points of Fascism," vocal narration by Mike Malloy
- "Mike Malloy myspace fan profile"
- " NovaMradio network Mike Malloy's syndicating network"
