The Sean Hannity Show
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The Sean Hannity Show is a nationally syndicated talk radio program featuring the conservative host Sean Hannity along with a mix of listener call-in and guest segments. He is noted for his opening line to callers in which he greets them with the line "you're a great American." The Hannity program is broadcast live every weekday from the studios of WABC-AM in New York City and aired in syndication by Citadel Radio on terrestrial radio affiliates across the United States and the ABC News & Talk channel found on XM Satellite Radio and Sirius Satellite Radio Monday through Friday from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. (Eastern Time). The primary focus is the politics of the day, with regular interviews of liberal commentators, such as Al Sharpton and Bob Beckel, as well as noted conservatives.
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[edit] Syndication
Syndication began through the ABC Radio Networks on September 10, 2001, the day prior to the September 11 attacks. The program is carried on WSB-AM in Atlanta, Georgia, WBAP-AM in Dallas, Texas (delayed one hour), KSL Newsradio in Salt Lake City, Utah, KABC-AM in Los Angeles, California, KFYI-AM in Phoenix, Arizona and WKRC-AM in Cincinnati, Ohio, among others. As is the standard practice with radio, the show is carried in most markets by a Citadel Broadcasting radio station; the show is owned by Citadel Broadcasting, which acquired the ABC Radio networks in 2006.
Hannity's first version of his radio show was in the late 1980s as a volunteer broadcaster for the University of California, Santa Barbara's radio station, KCSB. He was dismissed from the station in 1989 following a controversial interview about AIDS. [1] Later, Hannity would bring his program to WVNN in Huntsville, Alabama and NewsRadio WGST-AM in Atlanta, Georgia.
Hannity is the second highest rated talk program, second only to The Rush Limbaugh Show, and is carried on over 500 stations.[citation needed] He is a two-time consecutive winner of Radio & Records National Talk Show Host of The Year Award in 2003 and 2004, as well as the National Association of Broadcasters' 2003, 2004 and 2005 Marconi awards for Talk Show Host of the Year, and the Talkers Magazine 2003 Freedom of Speech Award.[citation needed] In 2004, Hannity signed a $25 million, five-year contract extension with ABC Radio to continue the show through 2009.[citation needed]
[edit] Show format
The show features the occasional appearance of behind the scenes staff, including producers "Sweet Baby" James and "liberal" animal-rights proponent Flipper. "Man on the street" interviews are a frequent feature, where pedestrians are stopped and questioned about politics and pop culture on the New York streets. Gregger is the engineer Sean refers to to play clips on the show from time to time which include humorous montages of Gore, Hillary, and Sen. Ted Kennedy
Hannity has been known to call anyone a 'liberal' who disagrees with him on his support of the war in Iraq and the "War on Terrorism". Targets have included the John Birch Society, many libertarians and those of the anti-war right. He further goes on to criticize American liberalism which is more in line with democratic socialism rather than classical liberalism.[1][2]
[edit] Opening Themes
Each hour of the Sean Hannity Show opens with the following musical pieces, in order:
1. The refrain of "Independence Day" performed by Martina McBride ("Let freedom ring...")
2. Carmina Burana (Orff), over which deep-voiced announcer Scott Shannon proclaims "From coast to coast, from border to border, from sea to shining sea, Sean Hannity is on!"
3. The instrumental opening to "The Way It Is" performed by Bruce Hornsby and the Range, over which Hannity begins speaking.
Occasionally on the third hour, "Eye of the Tiger" from Survivor will replace both Carmina Burana and The Way It Is, with Shannon announcing, "Overlooking Madison Square Garden, deep in the heart of midtown Manhattan, the last beacon of truth in a troubled time! This is the Sean Hannity Show and the world-famous Final Hour Free-for-All!"
In the months leading up to the 2006 mid-term elections, an additional announcement was made after Carmina Burana, proclaiming the edition to be "a special edition of The Sean Hannity Show: The Battle for America," featuring a countdown until Election Day.
[edit] The "Hate-Hannity Hotline"
Hannity provides a phone line for people who disagree with him to call in. He plays some of these clips regularly throughout his show. The Hotline number is 212.613.3830
[edit] Guest hosts
WABC personality Mark Levin frequently filled in for Hannity during the host's absence until Levin obtained his own syndicated program. Guest hosts have included Barry Farber Mike Gallagher, Curtis Sliwa, Scott Hennen, Kirby Wilbur, Dennis Miller and Mark Simone.
[edit] Book Club
The Hannity show also has a book club with author interviews and discussions on topics. More recent books have included Strategery by Bill Sammon and Fight Back by G. Gordon Liddy. Hannity has also authored two New York Times bestsellers on politics and current events.
[edit] Show website
Hannity's website offers subscribers live and recorded streaming audio of the program. In addition, the program was added to the Armed Forces Radio Network in December, 2005. Audio streams of The Sean Hannity Show average more than 190,000 listeners per month who subscribe. There is also Hannidate a place where conservatives can meet to chat, make friends or meet a partner.
[edit] Hannity on TV
In addition to the radio program, Hannity co-hosts the Fox News program with Alan Colmes, called Hannity and Colmes, an hour program broadcast weekdays at 9:00 p.m. Many of the television show guests appear on the radio program prior to the evening TV program. In Jan. of 2007 he started his own Sunday Night show called "Hannity's America" that airs on FoxNews from 9 to 10 pm EST. Unlike his show with Alan Colmes, this show highlights Hannity's opinions only and has an investigative style.
[edit] See also
[edit] Links
- Hannity's radio website
- Hannity Show cast member- Flipper
- Show ratings via Talkers Magazine
- Hannity program added to Armed Forces radio
- Profile of host Hannity
