ByANDY FLEMING
Omar is phoning from the future. "I'm in the year
2063," he declares during an open-lines segment on Coast to Coast AM, a highly popular US
nationally syndicated late-night radio show.
The show's host George Noory listens with the same attentive and respectful tone
he employs whether callers have a doctorate in microbiology or advanced degrees in
wacko. "So what's going on?" Noory states, getting an impenetrable answer
about the decline of money.
And then it's on with Coast to Coast AM's normal phone calls about alien abductions, the Illuminati, alien-human
hybrids, spiritual visitations and global conspiracies.
There are three basic types of guests on Coast to Coast,
each with their own special appeal.
The Sceptical Scientist or Researcher
These guests don't appear that frequently. but occasionally the Coast to Coast AM host will interview a sceptical scientist and ask interesting questions about relativity, astronomy cosmology, military technology, quantum physics and so forth. One of my favourites is Dr Michio Kaku, author of Parallel Worlds and a lecturer at City University, New York who is occasionally interviewed on String Theory, relativity, multiverses and ten dimensional space-time. Another is Sean Carroll, a theoretical physicist from the University of California at Berkeley who is heavily involved with the science of time and particle physics. Another favourite is Dr Seth Shostak from the SETI Institute in Mountain View, California who appears on the show, often unsuccessfully to promote a sceptical view of the UFO phenomena. More successfully, he popularises science especially his work at the SETI Institute: the scientific search using radio astronomy to detect intelligent life in the universe.
These guests don't appear that frequently. but occasionally the Coast to Coast AM host will interview a sceptical scientist and ask interesting questions about relativity, astronomy cosmology, military technology, quantum physics and so forth. One of my favourites is Dr Michio Kaku, author of Parallel Worlds and a lecturer at City University, New York who is occasionally interviewed on String Theory, relativity, multiverses and ten dimensional space-time. Another is Sean Carroll, a theoretical physicist from the University of California at Berkeley who is heavily involved with the science of time and particle physics. Another favourite is Dr Seth Shostak from the SETI Institute in Mountain View, California who appears on the show, often unsuccessfully to promote a sceptical view of the UFO phenomena. More successfully, he popularises science especially his work at the SETI Institute: the scientific search using radio astronomy to detect intelligent life in the universe.
The Semi-Nutter
These are guests who believe that we have been visited by advanced intelligent aliens in UFOs or believe in secret societies or ghosts and are able to make cases for their views that, while not convincing, can be fascinating. These segments return me to childhood, when I was captivated by the possibilities of gigantic ancient aliens and the Bermuda Triangle. Sometimes it can be difficult to distinguish between these first two types of guest because it’s the middle of a broadcast and the guest is saying something that seems possible, but far-fetched. George calls him “professor,” but is he a professor at the University of Washington or the Inter-dimensional Correspondence College of Grenada? My definite favourite is the 'eminent ufologist’ Stanton T Friedman, who has worked at every aerospace and nuclear company going and who in arguing from authority knows that we have been visited by aliens, hence the crashed saucers at Roswell.
These are guests who believe that we have been visited by advanced intelligent aliens in UFOs or believe in secret societies or ghosts and are able to make cases for their views that, while not convincing, can be fascinating. These segments return me to childhood, when I was captivated by the possibilities of gigantic ancient aliens and the Bermuda Triangle. Sometimes it can be difficult to distinguish between these first two types of guest because it’s the middle of a broadcast and the guest is saying something that seems possible, but far-fetched. George calls him “professor,” but is he a professor at the University of Washington or the Inter-dimensional Correspondence College of Grenada? My definite favourite is the 'eminent ufologist’ Stanton T Friedman, who has worked at every aerospace and nuclear company going and who in arguing from authority knows that we have been visited by aliens, hence the crashed saucers at Roswell.
Nuts in the Guts
Some of these guests are just plain old boring, like the “life number lady.” For the whole programme she talks about how from adding up the number of letters in your first name, your date of birth and some other arbitrary crap, she can tell everything about you in vague detail. Spell your name ‘Andy’ instead of ‘Andrew’ and your life number, and therefore your entire personality, will be different. For example, instead of desiring to succeed in life, you might value close friends, long for emotional fulfilment or be characterized by some other line of fortune cookie bullshit that applies to 99% of the population. Other members of this category are either just off their rockers or are charlatans selling books. Perhaps one of the best examples is David Icke, who not only believes that the entire world has been under a conspiracy headed by bankers and royalty for thousands of years, he states that these people are actually lizards from another dimension and that they have revealed their ultimate plans for humankind in a mural at the Denver International Airport. One of the best parts of the broadcast is when Noory “critically” interviews one of these guests with whom he agrees. He’s like the “sceptical” host of an infomercial.
Some of these guests are just plain old boring, like the “life number lady.” For the whole programme she talks about how from adding up the number of letters in your first name, your date of birth and some other arbitrary crap, she can tell everything about you in vague detail. Spell your name ‘Andy’ instead of ‘Andrew’ and your life number, and therefore your entire personality, will be different. For example, instead of desiring to succeed in life, you might value close friends, long for emotional fulfilment or be characterized by some other line of fortune cookie bullshit that applies to 99% of the population. Other members of this category are either just off their rockers or are charlatans selling books. Perhaps one of the best examples is David Icke, who not only believes that the entire world has been under a conspiracy headed by bankers and royalty for thousands of years, he states that these people are actually lizards from another dimension and that they have revealed their ultimate plans for humankind in a mural at the Denver International Airport. One of the best parts of the broadcast is when Noory “critically” interviews one of these guests with whom he agrees. He’s like the “sceptical” host of an infomercial.
However, Noory also combines the unexplained with something totally unexpected -- in-depth chats with some of today's most respected scientists.
Between 10 and 20 million listeners tune in nightly to Coast to
Coast AM, apparently making the
programme number one in its time slot in cities from Los Angeles to Seattle. Among the programme's publicised is UK pop star Robbie Williams. The show can also be heard across Canada on talk AM stations or via podcast if you're willing to pay and subscribe to Coast to Coast AM's streaming providers.
Listening to Coast to Coast AM for free can be difficult outside its native US as affiliate radio station streams are blocked due to RIAA copyright. However, past shows can be heard on YouTube and also on internet cloud file storage sites and on bit torrent. For those who would like to listen live on the internet, and can't receive US AM radio then a good bet is to listen to one of the Canadian affiliate station streams that are unblocked such as that of Talk Radio Toronto 640.
Listening to Coast to Coast AM for free can be difficult outside its native US as affiliate radio station streams are blocked due to RIAA copyright. However, past shows can be heard on YouTube and also on internet cloud file storage sites and on bit torrent. For those who would like to listen live on the internet, and can't receive US AM radio then a good bet is to listen to one of the Canadian affiliate station streams that are unblocked such as that of Talk Radio Toronto 640.
This bizarre brew of the strange and the serious appears to
be on a roll, boasting nearly five hundred affiliates. Along with George Noory, other presenters include Art Bell, the original host, John B Wells, Ian Punnett and George Knapp.
"I've brought in new topics, seeking more answers and
the truth," said Noory, 62. "Will we have a cashless society? Will
they try to put chips in us one day? That's made us even more successful."
Ratings reportedly went up after the affable Noory began
hosting. He talks about more than alien
bases on the moon and Mars. Within the past few weeks, shows have examined
cosmology and galaxies, string theory and computer security.
One might assume mainstream scientists and what former US President George W Bush called the reality based community would steer clear of
the show's guest list of astrologers and psychics. Infact, many respected scientists and professors make regular appearances.
"We need to go on that show," said Tess Gerritsen, a physician and best-selling novelist who has discussed death and forensic
science on Coast to Coast AM.
"It's the way I feel (about) evolutionists and
biologists, that they need to go and argue about creationism," she said.
"You need to go out and say there's another point of view, this is what
science believes."
Frequent guest Michael Shermer, publisher of Sceptic
magazine, agrees. He appears on the show even though he devotes his life to
battling the very things Coast to Coast AM stands for -- the acceptance of time
travel and premonitions, for example.
"We want to chase out bad ideas with good ideas,"
Shermer said, "and just explain what science is. Why don't most scientists
accept psychic powers as real or UFOs are real? Why do we have high standards
of evidence before you accept something?"
And besides, many of the stories told on Coast to Coast AM are
"so outrageous that you have to really be a nincompoop to take the far-out
stuff seriously," said Peter D. Ward , an author and paleontologist at the
University of Washington. He appears on the show, which he views as
"entertainment with some good science in it."
It helps that Noory treats everyone with respect, even if
they're sceptics. "It's a non-confrontational show. At that hour of the
night and into the morning, people don't want some show host screaming and
yelling," Noory said. "They want to be informed and
entertained."
The show is certainly entertaining. More than a few callers
have outlandish stories to tell, and many of the guests aren't far behind.
Tales of spiritual visitations are especially popular -- the show transforms
into Ghost to Ghost on Halloween -- and more than a few callers claim to have
seen the now-infamous Old Hag lurking in their bedrooms.
Show host Noory is a believer in unexplained phenomena
himself: He had an out-of-body experience as a young boy and remains fascinated
by the paranormal. While he's sceptical of things like Ouija boards -- saying
"I don't know anyone who's had a good spirit come through that
thing," and worrying about their connection to evil spirits -- he's
probably the last person to challenge callers with scientific theories about
why they think they were abducted by aliens.
"If they think their dead grandmother is visiting them
at night, more power to them. They don't need me telling them (it's) true or
not true," he said. "There are those few people who may challenge the
facts and say some of the stuff may not be true. I say to them, 'Chill out,
relax and have an open mind.'”
Ultimately Coast to Coast AM is strangely addictive, compelling and if you forgive the expression, totally out of this world. As a strange hybrid of reality, science, science fiction and fantasy it must be seen for what it is: US syndicated radio's attempt to maximise listenership (and hence advertising revenue) in the wee small hours of the morning by invoking incredulity and revelation. Let's face it, these things sell books and advertising. If it brings some science to the masses in the process, well that's fine by me. The problem is however that many may be incapable of distinguishing fact from speculation and blatant fiction.
Coast to Coast AM's website: http://www.coasttocoastam.com/
Ultimately Coast to Coast AM is strangely addictive, compelling and if you forgive the expression, totally out of this world. As a strange hybrid of reality, science, science fiction and fantasy it must be seen for what it is: US syndicated radio's attempt to maximise listenership (and hence advertising revenue) in the wee small hours of the morning by invoking incredulity and revelation. Let's face it, these things sell books and advertising. If it brings some science to the masses in the process, well that's fine by me. The problem is however that many may be incapable of distinguishing fact from speculation and blatant fiction.
Coast to Coast AM's website: http://www.coasttocoastam.com/
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