Radio Personalities

 Radio is back and big time. At my ablutions in the mornings, my little red "transistor" radio is my yakking companion. It gives me the news and views, a bit of what is today called music and a taste of my local happenings. I left radio over a cell phone lying on my counter top or some other form of cyber clutter, for this small backward looking device. I  have far too many cyber devices everywhere. Somehow the little radio is easier to use and looks cute in its old fashioned fifties format complete with a aerial sticking up. When I used my cell phone previously, it buzzed and went off for some odd reason and needed charging because I forgot, or some other annoying thing. This little red guy needs an overnight charge bi-monthly and looks way cuter. So back to the program on morning radio. My favorite is an early morning blab by a chap who apparently has taken on a new role. He used to be a nice guy with kids and talked about family matters and joshed with the ladies also on the show, you know, the weather and traffic women and the token female newscasters all gorgeous.  Of course the sports and financial reports are still by male RPs. Were it ever so. In the last few months, however, my morning radio "personality" has taken up political sides. When he interviews now, his tone is not as friendly, although it continues to be couched in the same words. The edge in his voice is different. With it, he incites defense in his interviewees and persists in asking some of his favorite questions. He pushes the person a tad too hard and hey, Mr. RP, we hear you, and know what you're up to. We don't want you to be doing this. We want Mr. Nice back, the fellow who liked the people he interviewed, and who reported but didn't force further matters that needed to be defended. Sure, I know you will argue against this and deny that you are doing it, but doggone it, fella, we know your voice and it says way more than your words. Not that my RP can hear me, or would care. He should be aware and pay attention. I am one of those boring sorts who are the majority of his listeners and we love him. He means a lot more to us than he knows. But hey RP,  you are turning into one of those media reporters who don't fit the old tried and true of impartiality. Frankly, furthermore, I don't like your slant because it doesn't fit with mine and that is the crux of being a radio personality, not an editorial columnist. Now I am not so sure if I like you and I have to admit that, disloyally for awhile, I turned you off. Not that you noticed because there you are with your mike on and the ladies around you very supportive. If they want to hold onto their jobs, they'd better follow the unwritten rules, whatever they may be. Too many folks in the media lately have unfortunately, deliberately or not, said a so-called bad word and been kicked out. When I left you for awhile dear RP, the next RP I met at another station was a loud, outspoken woman who didn't have a slant in her voice and she outwardly made her personal views in plain English. Of course, she worked for a "privately" owned company which might belong to one of her relatives and the reason she got away with it. What do we nothing listeners know? Another RP, on my best beloved station, does the weekend show and she manages with her sweetness to make everyone feel right at home. She has a back like a duck and everything not nice, just slides right off like water. But I missed you and  I am back to you, Mr. RP. You have private obvious opinions about politics, but it's okay because I can read your tone like one of those gizmos whose lines jump up and down on a screen. You sound right on my little red radio. We're back RP.