General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsA Question about Rush Limbaugh
I am wondering why he NEVER appears on anyone else's shows, as a guest. And, unlike people like Ann Coulter, and Bill O'Reilly, he NEVER appears on any forum where there is a likelihood that someone might disagree with him.
HAVE ANY OF YOU EVER SEEN HIM ON TV, PERIOD? I wonder why this is the exception for him, and not the rule? It is for most other rightwingers.
quinnox
(20,600 posts)Lightbulb_on
(315 posts)He had a brief foray with TV back in the day and has stayed safely behind the golden EIB microphone ever since...
The Velveteen Ocelot
(115,693 posts)Th1onein
(8,514 posts)I think Rush is scared to be confronted by anyone who doesn't agree with him.
Ghost in the Machine
(14,912 posts)protect them from his toxic presence... or, they can't lure him out with young Dominican boys here? It's anyones guess...
Indydem
(2,642 posts)aint_no_life_nowhere
(21,925 posts)It was a complete flop. I think he also did color work for football although I could never bring myself to watch, not even once.
Ilsa
(61,695 posts)Sold a line of neckties that he wore on the show.
The show had a small audience of white people and Alan West, IIRC. it didnt last long.
aint_no_life_nowhere
(21,925 posts)Prager is another one who seldom goes on TV shows where he might face opposition.
Aristus
(66,369 posts)and dipshits were always coming in and asking if we had "Rush ties".
I always told them 'no.' Because we didn't.
Wounded Bear
(58,656 posts)and I only watched once or twice at most.....
anyway, there was a letter or comment that he read on air, commenting that he "wore vertical striped suits and shirts to hide his obesity" or something to that affect. He pooh-poohed it on air, claimed to be in good shape, blah, blah, blah.
But in the closing credits it stated: Mr Limbaugh's wardrobe provided by (and I forget the brand name) Big and Tall Shop.
LTR
(13,227 posts)It was a.pregame show. Got canned when he said something to the effect of Donavan McNabb being an affirmative action quarterback.
His early 90s show was also a stiff. It was essentially him behind a desk rambling for a half hour. Everyone in the audience wore suits and ties. Very creepy.
Dirty Socialist
(3,252 posts)Unless you want a political circle jerk. Then you take phone calls from paid callers.
MrSlayer
(22,143 posts)Whovian
(2,866 posts)Saw this years ago and it still brings a smile to my face to see him faced down by real people.
phasma ex machina
(2,328 posts)The camera panned Rush's live audience at some point in the show. That part mesmerized me in a freaky sort of way. "Who ARE these people and WTF are they doing?" I tended to move on after humpty dumpty started talking.
begin_within
(21,551 posts)phasma ex machina
(2,328 posts)Grammy23
(5,810 posts)of his radio show being carried on TV shows (like on The Ed Show or Politics Nation).
But this is my best guess.....Rush likes things just the way they are. He is in control of the whole thing and can talk and talk and talk. He obviously likes the sound of his own voice and can just go on talking without interruption from another show's host or anyone else for that matter. When you have an ego as big as his is, you just need that much time and space to spread your words of "wisdom". Gak....... Excuse me while I go get cleaned up. Just thinking about that pig makes me ill.
veganlush
(2,049 posts)Long answer and no time right now but this is an EXCELLENT question.
99Forever
(14,524 posts)He's a psychopathic control freak.
titaniumsalute
(4,742 posts)I'll disclose that I have work in the radio (primarily talk radio) field and worked with radio stations for many years. I've come to know a lot of talk show hosts and other announces (sports, production people, etc.)
It may be surprising to you but many who are successful entertainers behind the mic hate being on the "other" side. I have a good friend who's done talk radio for 30 years but if he's asked to do a personal appearance his anxiety level goes through the roof. He's very private and the thought of making a public speech terrifies him. Give him a mic and he's at home.
Rush seems to have some of the those sort of tendencies. He does his 3 hour show and then cashes those monster checks and does his own thing. (Whatever creepy things that may be.) He used to work from WABC in NYC but now he does his show almost exclusively from his house in Palm Beach.
He also doesn't like to be challenged. He screens out every left wing call he can get. If he appears on cable news that means he'll probably have an opponent. He doesn't want an opponent. He probably knows half of what he says is bullshit and he'll be called on the carpet. Right now he's Captain, Commander, Principal, CEO of his radio show and his tight-knit world is too comfortable to leave.
Howard Stern is a lot like that also. Besides doing some occasional late-night interviews on Letterman, Kimmel, etc. to promote something like a book, movie or new radio market, he hates going on TV. Of course he did America's Got Talent this past season but he was also paid $15 million.
Bluenorthwest
(45,319 posts)But the main reason is that his act can not be done with the presence of any other controlling element, Rush must control or his act does not fly.
He had a TV show for a few minutes, got booted for being so deeply offensive no one could endure him, calling children names, the works, just a vile program. Later he had a sports announcing gig on TV, fired very quickly for making racist comments about players.
In short, he had a few TV shots and he failed in each case, usually such a dramatic failure that his bullshit made headlines. Not just failure, nationally noticed failure. In TV, most failure is 'out with a whimper' and the failures that draw attention to themselves are wildly unpopular.
UTUSN
(70,695 posts)Same reason he doesn't have guests, it's all about him and the control freakdom that goes with it. Unfortunately, he has the most successful venue, period. It's a matter of not diluting it, neither guesting anywhere else or having guests. It's a funneling of making anybody who wants something of him to come to his venue.
One time a caller was kissing up and worshipping him with the vomit-worthy message that his message is so TRUE and NEEDED by the whole country that he needed to get out there and flog it everywhere. LIMBOsevic, of course, wallowed in it for as long as it went, then answered with fake humility. He said, "Where would I *GO*?!1 I have THE most (successful, top of the heap, venue) anywhere... Where could I go that would get my message out better than here?" (paraphrasing).
Believe me, I ain't happy saying this.
jackbenimble
(251 posts)Rush Limbaugh is an idiot.
brewens
(13,587 posts)brewens
(13,587 posts)JHB
(37,160 posts)He tried a cable show once, but he couldn't limit the audience to just dittoheads. And he just couldn't handle unfiltered pushback on his BS from people who did not conform to his caricatures of his targets. He couldn't counter live debate against people who could speak for themselves rather than have words shoveled into their mouths by him.
So he scurried back to his safe and comfy sound booth with reliable call screeners.
lunatica
(53,410 posts)I think he's basically anti-social, but loves the sound of his own voice.
Faygo Kid
(21,478 posts)My most despised person of my lifetime.