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Tim Rutten thinks that Schwarzenegger's use of AM talk radio contributes to his gender gap with women (along with violent movies and the Oui article). Rutten's LAT column today lets USC's Marty Kaplan, head of the Norman Lear Center at the Annenberg School and a former Democratic speech writer, explain the phenomenon.
"The anthropology of talk radio explains its predominately male audience. After all, when you listen to one of these shows, it's all about screaming and chest thumping — sort of like what you see in those studies of the great apes. Think of the host as the silverback: He screams and thumps his chest, and the listeners call in to emulate him."That's not a mating call," Kaplan says wryly, "it's a macho dominance game. In that sense, talk radio is no longer much different than the sports call-in shows, which use knowledgeability of the game as a kind of male bonding ritual..."
As to why Arnold, Kaplan suggests:
California's conservative talk show hosts turned their programs into "friendly arenas for Arnold," according to Kaplan, "because having a celebrity guest on is good for ratings."And Arnold is a recognizable celebrity, even on radio, because of his accent. If you're scanning the radio dial and hear his voice, you know right away who's talking and you stop. Not even the truest believer recognizes McClintock's voice."
I think they'll be talking about this column today on KFI. And KABC. And KRLA. Meanwhile, with Hugh Hewitt still on a Hawaiian vacation, the title of chief online Times basher remains with Mickey Kaus. In Tuesday's litany, Kausfiles says the the paper's unstated motto is "Why Be Interesting?"