One of the things I miss most about living in the Bay Area is news talk radio.
I remember hating it as a child, but became hooked on it when I drove to class throughout college. Now each time I visit, I give my iPod a break and turn KCBS on once I make it over Mount St. Helena. My primary reason is for traffic and weather, but I always end up listening for more than an hour.
KCBS has a few recurring CBS Radio Network commentators that they play throughout the day, the two of which I know and enjoy the most are Charles Osgood and Dave Ross.
The men have striking voices and deliver concise, well-argued commentary that usually makes me chuckle and smile in agreement.
Osgood”s style is a bit more old-fashioned, which makes sense because he just turned 79. His gravelly delivery is very grandfather-y, almost like a lecture but pleasant. His segment, “The Osgood File,” is usually about an important piece of news, politics or a short human-interest story. He has occasionally done segments in rhyme, having earned the nickname of CBS”s “Poet in Residence.”
Another reason his commentaries strike me as older is that he usually breaks before finishing his report and does a short endorsement commercial. These are common in radio, but it always takes me aback when Osgood goes into one seemingly in the middle of his two- to three-minute segment. However, it doesn”t take away the enjoyment I get from his commentaries.
And then there”s Dave Ross. Each time I hear Ross”s voice, I smile. He has what I would consider an ideal radio voice: smooth, deep, bass-heavy, nuanced, even slightly smug.
Ross”s commentaries are usually much more political and opinionated than Osgood”s, which I like. Ross takes on an issue plaguing the country and presents his take on it, often with biting sarcasm, in 90 seconds.
His views can be polarizing, though never enough to cause a scandal. He isn”t afraid to inject a healthy amount of humor into an issue.
For example, last month staff members of Washington Congressman Rick Larsen took to Twitter after they had been drinking while on the job, boasting of their exploits and even calling Larsen an “idiot.”
Needless to say they were fired shortly after other staff members discovered the tweets.
Ross”s stance on the issue: amazement at the idiocy of documenting their exploits, but a sort of giddy amazement. “These tweets are some of the best I have ever read,” he said, calling them “compelling” and the very definition of the answer to Twitter”s “what are you doing?”
Ross”s use of humor in his arguments is absolutely brilliant. He had me in stitches with the line about the quality of the staff members” tweets.
He may not be a comedian but he certainly knows how to use political humor in the best way. I love it.
Osgood and Ross are breaths of fresh air whenever I am driving around listening to KCBS.
It is a welcome break from the news, while also being much easier to take than blatantly polarizing and shocking radio commentators such as Rush Limbaugh, Michael Savage or Randi Rhodes.
It”s a shame they only run Osgood and Ross a few times each day. But that also makes it all the more worthwhile for when I”m lucky enough to catch one of them. A little food for thought is always a good thing.
Kevin N. Hume can be reached at kevin.n.hume@gmail.com or call directly 263-5636 ext. 14.
