The Rush Limbaugh Show
The Rush Limbaugh Show
Noon to 3pm ET, weekdays
Since its inception on August 1, 1988, The Rush Limbaugh Show has become the highest-rated talk radio show in the United States, reviving AM radio and popularizing the conservative political talk format. It is aired from wherever Limbaugh happens to be, either from WABC in New York City (the traditional flagship) or from a studio near his home in Palm Beach County, Florida (near Clear Channel radio station WJNO). Limbaugh states that he avoids New York as much as possible due to that state's high taxes and that he spends an average of 15 days in the state, usually to keep updated with his staff and as a backup in the event of a hurricane (in the latter case, he is seeking an alternative location).
The Rush Limbaugh Show airs on a network of approximately 590 AM and FM affiliate stations throughout the United States. Limbaugh also hosts his own Internet streaming audio and video broadcast, through Streamlink, at http://www.rushlimbaugh.com. Premiere Radio Networks, a division of Clear Channel Communications, the largest U.S. radio station owner, owns distribution rights to the program.
The Rush Limbaugh Show has an effective format which has remained basically unchanged for two decades. It airs live for three hours and it primarily consists of Limbaugh's own monologues, based on the news of the day, interspersed with parody ads, phone calls from listeners and a variety of running comedy bits (some live, some taped.) He does a few live commercials for his favorite sponsors, and he also plugs his own books, live appearances, and other products. He only occasionally uses guests, but once in a while a politician or a fellow political commentator will appear on the show. An 800 number is announced for incoming calls from listeners: he only takes a few calls per show, but those calls tend to run for an entire segment.
An edited instrumental version of The Pretenders' “My City Was Gone” has been Limbaugh's theme song almost continuously since the start of his show. Briefly in 1999, Limbaugh stopped playing the song while negotiating with the song's writer, Chrissie Hynde. Limbaugh now pays her one hundred thousand dollars per year, which she donates to the animal rights organization PETA.
