Corey: If someone goes to your website, they may think Rusty Humphries looks like another right-wing talk show host. Where are they wrong?
Rusty: I am conservative but politics is only a portion of my show. I think of my program as sitting on a old porch with bunch of friends. We're outside; it's a warm evening ... maybe smoking cigars. That weird crew cut kid from Deliverance is playing the banjo in the background, and we're talking about what is interesting to us. The news of the day, politics, movies, music, friends etc... My show is very informal, fun and yet has a depth that many shows are lacking.
Corey: A big part of your show is humor - especially parodies. I happen to know you have a special background in that. Can you explain?
Rusty: I used to own a company, (The TM Century Comedy Network) and did parody songs for FM morning shows all around the world. I was working at WPLJ-FM in New York when I got to know the midday host at WABC-AM. His name was Rush Limbaugh. One day we were joking around, he was doing an impression of Howard Cosell (which was excellent) I said you need to do more of that ... Like what? He said, and I told him about my song parodies. The first one I did for him was called "Bomb Iraq" to the tune of Barbara Ann. He got an incredible response to that and he has added that element to his show ever since.
Corey: With all the other alternatives available to listeners these days (Satellite, Internet, iPods, cell phones, etc.) many are predicting the future death of AM and FM. What do you say to them?
Rusty: Honestly, I believe the strong AM's will stay strong, the weak will become religious or foreign language. I believe music on FM is in trouble. But what can radio offer that computers, iPod's can't? Personality! I believe there will be much more personality on the FM. Conservative talk, liberal talk, booby talk, sports talk, entertainment talk, money talk, relationship talk. You already see elements of this in talk radio but I believe they will become formatted and more targeted.
Corey: In your opinion: What's wrong with Radio today and what's wrong with listeners??
Rusty: Not enough innovation. We have all been told if it hasn't been done somewhere else then it shouldn't be done. I HATE THAT!! Listeners??? I don't think they can do anything wrong, it's our JOB to get them to listen. It's not their fault that technology and the shortsightedness of some in this industry have turned them away from radio. We have to bring them back!
Corey: Why do you love doing a radio show?
Rusty: I love being an innovator! I love being able to communicate with millions of people on a nightly basis and not just spout my beliefs but occasionally throw something out that they have never heard before. I love having fun and making folks laugh one moment and then turn it around and make them think... "Wow, he's so right!!! I get it now!!"
(Continued...)
