SENSATION ART BELL RETURNS IN RADIO SHAKEUP

**Exclusive**

Radio sensation Art Bell is planing to stage a dramatic return to the nation's airwaves, the DRUDGE REPORT first revealed Thursday afternoon, reclaiming his overnight slot with an expected 400+ station lineup.

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With legal dramas behind him [Bell sued a broadcaster for libel in a case that ended in settlement] and personal family concerns on the mend [his son was sexually assaulted by a school teacher that was carrying HIV], Bell inked a deal last week to return to the waves, according to sources.

"He's rested. He's ready," says a source close to Bell, who will once again broadcast to millions from his home in the Nevada desert.

Bell is expected to continue his trailblazing reporting -- 2001-style -- on science, earth changes and assorted religious themes.

Bell has drawn strong criticism for airing predictions of imminent massive earthquakes in South California and was at the forefront of the Y2K computer madness

Bell continues his relationship with syndicator PREMIERE -- with several key affiliate switches in play as this transmits.

Bell will jump stations in the nation's #2 market, Los Angeles [darting from KABC to KFI, which is owned by PREMIERE's mothership CLEAR CHANNEL]; and it was not clear if Bell will return to WABC in New York, the nation's top talk outlet.

One top ABC source cautions Bell's return to WABC is up in the air.

"He's quit twice, and come back three times. In two years?" the executive questioned late Thursday. "He could do a first hand testimonial on time travel."

Developing...

----------------------------------------------------------- Filed By Matt Drudge Reports are moved when circumstances warrant http://www.drudgereport.com for updates (c)DRUDGE REPORT 2001 Not for reproduction without permission of the author

-- Uncle Bob (unclb0b@aol.com), January 04, 2001

Answers

Cool, VERY cool! Art is da man.

Thanks Uncle Bob, this is the first good news you've posted in eons!

-- (yipeeee@iii.aaaaayyy!), January 04, 2001.

Eh, big deal.

I prefer Howard Stern.

-- nonehere (none@to.give.net), January 04, 2001.

KFI? Oh shit. That's my favorite 50,000 watt blowtorch.

Who is this Art Bell guy?

-- Carlos (riffraff@cybertime.net), January 05, 2001.

The Link to the story here

ART BELL BACK ON AIR FEB. 5, 2001

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 5, 2001 ­ Art Bell, the radio personality famous for his spontaneous and compelling conversations about all things unexplained, has announced his return to radio. Bell resumes his reign as host of the most listened to live overnight radio program, Coast to Coast AM on Feb. 5 from 1am to 6am ET.

Bell states, "The negotiation was brutal and bloody! The result... fewer commercials and back to five hours."

Bell resigned last April because of family and legal issues that required his full attention. These have been resolved. His passion for radio and his audience has propelled him back with a renewed commitment to the unique show he created in 1993. Coast to Coast AM airs on more than 430 stations nationwide.

"I am ecstatic to welcome Art Bell back to his program," said Kraig T. Kitchin, president/COO of Premiere Radio Networks. "It was a bloody negotiation – pulling someone out of retirement always is. I am wildly enthusiastic to bring the news to affiliates and listeners nationwide... imagine their reaction! I also want to add my thanks to Mike Siegel."

Premiere Radio Networks, Inc., a subsidiary of Clear Channel Communications (NYSE:CCU), syndicates more than 60 radio programs to more than 7,800 radio affiliations and reaches over 180 million listeners weekly. Premiere is the number one radio network in the country and features the following personalities: Rush Limbaugh, Dr. Laura Schlessinger, Jim Rome, Rick Dees, Casey Kasem, Dr. Dean Edell, Bob (Kevoian) & Tom (Griswold), Phil Hendrie, Leeza Gibbons, Michael Reagan, Dave Koz, Blair Garner, Lionel, and others. Premiere is based in Sherman Oaks, Calif., with eleven offices nationwide.

-- Uncle Bob (unclb0b@aol.com), January 05, 2001.

I always liked listening to Bell the next day, over the net. His site is great for that. You don't have to stay up till 4am! And that way you can fast forward through the commercials too.

-- kritter (kritter@adelphia.net), January 05, 2001.

If Bell fucks with my Phil Hendrie home commute I'm gonna be pissed.

-- Carlos (riffraff@cybertime.net), January 05, 2001.

Oh Carlos, you will just love ole' Art. For him, the peyote never runs out.

-- Barry (bchbear863@cs.com), January 05, 2001.

Phil Hendrie is the drive- time bomb...Art Bell rules the nite...

-- Uncle Bob (unclb0b@aol.com), January 05, 2001.

Yes!!! This year is really beginning with a bang!!!

I know what you mean K. When he ditched his archives last year I nearly had a hissy fit. OK, I DID have a hissy fit.

I sleep with a portable radio under the pillow. Been a habit since I was a wee little runt. If I stir in the middle of the night, I turn on my AM/FM/SW portable - stashed under my pillow or close by - and scan the AM band. In the past when I'd hear Art's voice that was the end of my sleep for the night.

Entertainment, spirituality, goosebumps, civility, paranormal, skepticism without disrespect, all of it directed by a Joe Six-Pack who happens to be one of the few truly skilled interviewers in the talk show format.

Welcome Back ART!

-- Rich (howe9@shentel.net), January 05, 2001.

I first heard about Cydonia on his show, probably 7 years ago.. is that possible? I remember the gentlemen talking about "made" structures on Mars and feeling the hair on the back of my neck stand up. He had photos...soon everyone would know! How naive! :-)

I've heard some real crackpots on Bell, and some people I believed whole heartedly that were later debunked pretty well. The remaining few are the ones I believed and still believe. They're probably the real thing. Hell, SOMEBODY on that show has to be telling the truth!

(Rich, are you saying Bell removed his archives from his site?? I hope he puts them back when he starts up again...no way am I staying up that late!)

-- kritter (kritter@adelphia.net), January 05, 2001.

Yes, K. He removed them back in April. This was a harsh blow for those of us who need our regular Art Bell fixes.

-- Rich (howe9@shentel.net), January 05, 2001.

Hallelujah! My favorite nighttime host with the melifluous voice, and controversial topics and interesting guests is BAAACKKK!!!! I can hardly wait! The man is a master of words, and intuitively knows how to guide a interview to it's subject's most interesting aspects. A fine new start to the New Year, indeed!

-- Aunt Bee (Aunt__Bee@hotmail.com), January 05, 2001.

The guy you heard all those years ago speak on Cydonia, K, was Richard Hoagland. A fascinating and very frequent guest on Coast-To- Coast. He went off the deep end, IMO, the last year or so. But the give and take between he and Art was worth its weight in gold. Hoagland's web site is Enterprise Mission.

The number 19.5 will forever bring a smile to my face!

-- Rich (howe9@shentel.net), January 05, 2001.

Don't know why the above link is screwed up. Here's the URL:

www.enterprisemission.com

-- Rich (howe9@shentel.net), January 05, 2001.

Fart SMell is back? Gawd.....

Just when I thought the only lunatics left to get off the airwaves were Hovard Stern-o and RICH limp-paw!

-- (bell@is.NUTZNUTZNUTZ!), January 06, 2001.

Anyone want to drop by his place and welcome him back in person? Of course his electrified fence might slow us down a little. Just what is that big building behind his house really for? It's large enough to be a UFO hanger.

-- Mr. Pahrump (MrP@welcome.back.art), January 06, 2001.

It is a UFO hangar. Art flies around in his UFO to get everybody all worked up about sighting reports so that they will listen to his show.

Almost shot the silly bastard down one night with my AK-47 . The dogs in my neighborhood were raising hell, so I went out to investigate. Saw this frickin thing zippin around above the treetops, looked just like those flying cars on The Jetsons. I had my sights on it, ready to send it to Kingdom Come, but through the scope I was able to see the face of the driver... Art Bell! I couldn't do it, I like his show.

-- red johnsons neighbor (out in @ bumfuck. idaho), January 06, 2001.

kritter-

I just finished listening to Art's interview on CoasttoCoastam.com taped on 1/9/01. Art said he couldn't put the archives back up, as they were not his property. Oh well, only 21 days to go!!!

-- Aunt Bee (Aunt__Bee@hotmail.com), January 15, 2001.

Kritter,

You can still get shows from the past week or two -- the archives people are talking about was the huge library of realaudio files that I used to listen to all the time.

But you can still listen to last night's show today -- and FF through the ads. But it is Windose Media Player now (which is a misnomer because the media often does not play, and it is not just for Windose.)

-- Mac the Knife (long_time_pal@w/new.name), January 16, 2001.