When Tom Leykis talked about politics.

[Cascadian]

I was rummaging through some old tape cassettes and I ran across some tapes of the Tom Leykis Show from 1995-96. I used to listen to Tom Leykis on the old Buzz 100.7 FM in Seattle around that time. I would tape some of his shows if he had an interesting guest or topic. I am struck by how much it has gone from a show that had more interesting and political topics to becoming nothing more than a cheap imitation of Howard Stern. Sure he had topics about girls and relationships but at least he had more variety! My favorite show was when one of his guests was this man who supposed to be a former homosexual turned born-again Christian who had this organization to help gays "change". Tom and this guy got into it. Tom pegged the guest for not being an expert and not citing sources. The guest walked out on Tom. I also remember Tom would even come across as sympathetic to single Moms who were struggling to get by. Now Tom just bashes them.

I stopped listening to Tom Leykis about 1997. His show went from "The Issues You Really Care About." to nothing more than a one-trick pony show of women's body parts and relationships. Tom had a good thing going and just became a Howard Stern wannabe. At least I give Howard Stern credit for at least being original.

I also happen to run across a recent photo of Tom Leykis. Man! He looks awful! I know he has always been a little pudgy but looks worse than he did the first time I saw him in person at one of his remote shows at the Bite of Seattle and that was 1995!






Any former Tom Leykis listeners around DU would know what I mean.

[Pendrench]

1. He was on the radio here in Maryland for a short while...he must have already been

in his "Howard Stern" phase, because I just remember him being incredibly crude and rude. For all I know he might still be on the air here, but I wouldn't listen to him if he was.

Tim

[Tennesee Jed]

2. He could pass for the Savage Weiner's brother in this picture.

Not that he sounds THAT bad, of course.

[darkstar]

3. Tennesse, Tennessee

Ain't no place I'd rather be....

:hi:

And welcome to DU !!!

[yewberry]

4. I know EXACTLY what you mean.

I used to listen to him on the buzz. Jim Hightower, too.

Yes, Leykis used to talk about real things once upon a time--then he went "all misogyny, all the time." Truly awful.

I stopped listening to him a very long time ago. The very last thing I ever heard from him was a show about how he could "help" market the WNBA teams by suggesting new names for the teams: the Nashville Nipples, the Austin Aureolae, the Seattle See-You-Next-Tuesdays, that kind of thing. (While mens' teams would never get that kind of treatment, of course; they wouldn't ever be defined by their genitalia because they're--what?--real people?) The entire show format became pretty nauseating. It still maks me mad to think about it.

Yeah, that was the end of the road for Leykis in my book.

[Cascadian]

6. Yeah I listened to Jim Hightower was well.

At night I would keep it on the Buzz and I would always look forward to Saturday mornings because I would wake up to the theme music of Kim Kommando's Computer Show. The Buzz was a decent talk radio station until they dumped Pat Cashman and built the station around Leykis gutter schtick. Glad to know that's gone!


John

[Cascadian]

10. I almost forgot! Remember Amy Alpine's Show?

That was a good program too!


John

[yewberry]

12. Oh, now that you mention it

I do.

Dang, I miss good FM talk radio here.

I like the AirAmerica radio, but I sure do miss more local liberal programming. I'd completely forgotten about some of that!

[sakabatou]

5. I only listened to him for 2 min

I almost threw up.

[Cascadian]

8. Trust me. His show used to be good.

I guess it paid better to be try to be a clone of Howard Stern. It was fitting his show got kicked out of the Bite of Seattle. His show isn't even running live on the Seattle airwaves anymore. He's been shoved to the overnight on Seattle's hard rock station KISW. All and all, Tom's just a has-been.


John

[devilgrrl]

7. Yes, I know what you mean.

Leykis used to be good then he got into the "Leykis 101" thing and it was over. I don't get it. :-(

[Cascadian]

9. At first I could tolerate it.

On Fridays, he would only talk about relationships and stuff and it was the only time he would loosen things up and anybody could chat about anything. Leykis 101 came from that and then it grew to just overtake the show. I even loved his "First Beer of The Weekend" thing he did with his old producer Dooley and assistant Stanger (sp). The show had variety but it just went downhill and now I think it's on it's last throws. I suppose he will join Stern on Sirius at some point as soon as his Westwood One contract expires.

John

[Missy Vixen]

11. Hoo, boy, now you've dinged my dinger

Shortly before Tom Leykis was unceremoniously dumped off the Buzz (they changed formats, I believe,) someone caught up with him in the parking lot of a local establishment at what, 3 a.m. or whatever, and meted out quite a beatdown. It seems Mr. Leykis had said something rude to the guy in a previous broadcast, so the guy thought he'd look him up.

I don't approve of violence. I don't condone what happened. Am I surprised? Hell, no. Leykis said something to my husband a couple of years before his unfortunate incident on the air that I believe MOST guys would have had the same reaction to. He's not a nice person. I'd also like to submit that he truly hates women. I listened to his crap more than once; I was consistently amazed at the women who'd call and attempt to win him over or whatever. I had to laugh at his insistence that he'd stopped dating American women and looked for female companionship in other parts of the globe. Gosh, a guy who's been married, what? Five times? Had at least one domestic violence arrest that we know about? Amazing he can't seem to find a date in the USA, huh?

I'm more than willing to bet a $20 donation to DU that he will NEVER end up at Sirius. Howard Stern might be offensive, but the guy's funny. Even when he's making you mad, you can't turn it off. Leykis doesn't have that kind of talent. He's not a has-been. He's a never-was.

IMHO, YMMV,
Julie

[Cascadian]

13. The establishment is the named the 5 Point.

I had been there many a drunken and buzzed night. Of course I don't drink anymore and I am no longer in Seattle.

I guess Leykis decided it was better to bring out who he really was and so he is a piggish lout. Though he did have a good show prior to his transformation to a fat old woman-hating buffoon. Like I said, he is just trying to be like Howard Stern and he does it very poorly.


John

[Cascadian]

14. duped

[Cascadian]

15. Seattle P-I's Horsey response to Tom Leykis

From 2000. You have probably seen this before but for the benefit of those who have not....







John

[Pushed To The Left]

16. I miss the old Leykis!!

I remember listening to him on KFI in the late 80s. He was actually a very good progressive talk show host. However, I think he finally "sold out" and discovered he could make more money doing a Stern-type show. While I do sometimes still listen, and find the show entertaining at times, it's hard to believe that this is the same guy who was so passionate about progressive issues back in the day. He sometimes comes off like a right wing talk host now because of how judgmental he is of people who aren't successful or women who don't look a certain way. He and Dr. Laura Schlessinger actually have a lot in common!